FIC: Western Lovers: Cowboys and Geologists (5)
Title: Western Lovers: Cowboys and Geologists
Author:sassywitch
Beta by the talented hisniblets
Pairing: OB/DW
Rating: NC-17 for the series.
Summary: Craig is bitter and broken, can the Sean soften both their edges enough for a good fit?
Feedback: Feedback is love
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. These men whilst adorable and perfectly happy to slash themselves, their actual relationship is something that they only know. This story is loosely adapted from a series of books that I adored when I was younger written by Elizabeth Lowell.
Word Count: 1275
Previous Stories: Can be found at Western Lovers: Cowboys and Archeaologistsand Western Lovers: Cowboys and Biologists
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1|
Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4| Chapter 5|
Pushing the door open with the end of his cane, the rubber stopper on the end squeaking as it slid across the painted wood.
Wincing as the door slammed against the wall with the force of its opening and the room full of hungry men turned to look at the noise.
Embarrassed, he turned his attention to crossing the polished wood floor. Each halting step an achievement, a cold sweat broke across his brow as sharp pain stabbed through his thigh. The noise as a chair clattered against the floor, pushed by a booted foot startled him. His eyes followed the leg that had kicked the chair back, finding Sean hadn’t even looked at him as he continued to eat from the mountain of scrambled eggs on his plate.
As he stood there, he watched as Billy pushed his chair back and stood, intent on helping Craig to his seat.
“Sit down, Ramrod. He’s fine.” Sean spoke.
“He needs help.” Billy stated, concerned.
“He’s in the room.” Craig muttered annoyed at them speaking about him as if he wasn’t there, moving ever closer to the proffered chair.
“You’re in pain.” Billy hissed as Dom’s hand closed over Billy’s wrist.
“He’s fine, Billy. Aren’t you, Soldier Boy.” Sean looked up at Craig.
“If you say so.” Craig answered through gritted teeth as he dropped into the chair. Hooking his cane on the edge of the table, he gripped the seat of the chair and pulled himself closer to the table.
“See?” Sean looked up at Billy. “All good.”
Billy sank back into his chair, his eyes narrowed as he watched his baby brother closely.
Sean poured a glass of juice and pushed an empty plate in front of Craig.
“I can’t.” Craig hissed under his breath.
“Then don’t eat.” Sean shrugged.
“Don’t be an asshole, Sean.” Billy stated, his muscles bunching as he flexed his arms ready to push to his feet and protect his sibling. Dom’s hand on his thigh the only thing keeping him in place.
Craig’s eyes met Sean’s as Billy spoke.
“Stay out of it, Pip.” Craig responded his eyes never breaking Sean’s gaze.
“He’s fine.” Sean replied as he pushed the pan of eggs closer to Craig.
Billy’s eyes narrowed as he watched but he sat down without further conversation or interference.
The possibility of an altercation diffused, the rest of the hands went back to their own breakfast, heads down over their plates all wanting to avoid the wrath of their ramrod, thankful that their Segundo was away at his new house for the week.
Craig clumsily gripped the heavy cast iron pan and ladled some onto his plate. He dropped the pan back onto the table top with a clang. One of the hands passed him a plate of bacon which he plunged a shaky fork into, lifting several rashers onto his plate.
Sean passed the plate of toast and waited while he took a couple of slices and put it back on the table.
Realizing that he was no longer the centre of attention, Craig breathed deeply in relief. Closing his fingers around the handle of the fork, he struggled to balance the egg on the tines as his quivering muscles shook.
Wordlessly and without looking up, Sean pushed a spoon closer to Craig, which he accepted gratefully.
“Where’s Daisy?” Craig asked quietly amidst the quiet rumble of conversation that had resumed around him.
“Spending some quality time at his new house.” Dom answered, “It’s good to see you down for brekky.” He added with a smile as he reached across to wipe a smear of jam from Daisy May’s face.
“You need some sun.” Liv stated watching Craig closely.
“I guess I do.” Craig looked at his bare arms. “I am a bit pale.”
“I’ve packed a picnic lunch, when that brother of mine is finished slave driving make sure he takes you somewhere nice so you can get some colour.”
“Not too nice.” Dom snickered, his hand sneaking under the table to rub gently across Billy’s thigh. “You won’t want to come home.”
“You two are quite sickening you know that?” Liv giggled as Billy leaned in to press a kiss against Dom’s neck.
“You’re hardly one to talk.” Dom replied as Viggo kissed Liv’s forehead with a loud wet smack.
“So Craig, what are your plans for the day?” Viggo asked.
“Not sure. I got an offer I apparently couldn’t refuse.” Craig answered around a mouthful of toast and egg.
“He’s going to help me today.” Sean responded.
“What is it that you do?” Dom asked.
“A lot of things. At the moment I’m cleaning and classifying some rocks I brought back from my last trip.”
“How can I help with that?” Craig frowned.
“Extra hands for polishing are always welcome.” Sean replied enigmatically. His own breakfast finished, he downed the last of his coffee and pushed his chair back.
“C’mon Soldier Boy.” He directed at Craig. “Daylight’s burning.”
Shoveling the last bite of egg into his mouth, Craig lifted his glass with both hands and swallowed from it gratefully.
“Looks like I’m going.’ He spoke into his chest.
“Was good seeing you here again Craig.” Viggo spoke. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Craig nodded, then grabbed his cane with gnarled fingers and hobbled outside.
While Craig had been making his slow unsteady exit from the room Sean had been busy moving his truck closer to the dining room door.
Waiting beside the passenger door, Sean watched Craig’s approach.
Wordlessly he helped Craig up into the passenger seat. Making sure he was secure Sean loped around to the drivers side and swung into the seat.
“Tomorrow we’ll take the automatic truck so that you can drive. You should be able to handle it without the clutch.” Sean spoke as he drove away from the main buildings in a crunch of gravel.
“Where the hell are we going?” Craig asked testily, the pain increasing in his thigh.
“My house.” Sean answered simply.
“Your house?” Craig questioned, gripping his thigh to confine the sharp knife points of pain as Sean hit a divot in the dirt road.
“technically, it’s a barn.” Sean shrugged wincing at the pain he could see Craig was suffering through, unable to conceal it.
Pulling the truck to the side of the rutted track, Sean braced his feet on the floor and moved to fish a white plastic bottle from his pocket.
Flicking the cap off, he palmed two pills and recapped the bottle. Extending his hand palm up to Craig he watched as the younger man shook his head. “Take them, you don’t have to be brave with me.”
“Don’t want to.” Clenched his teeth as the heel of his hand ground into the pain.
“Soldier Boy.” Sean unclipped his seat belt and slid across the seat. “You’re not doing either of us any favors suffering. Take them, be strong tomorrow, you’ve already done more than I expected today. You’ve done better than I did.”
“I hate what they do to me.” Craig gestured to the pills as he spoke from between gritted teeth.
“I know, me too, but one step at a time.” Sean pressed them into his hand.
Reaching out with long fingers he kneaded the damaged muscles gently, feeling the leg slowly relax under his fingers as the medication began to work.
“We good to go?” Sean asked quietly brushing the hair back from Craig’s face.
“Yeah.” Craig murmured, not opening his eyes. “Why do you bother with me?”
“Because you’re worth it.”