Acceptable Risk
Title: Acceptable Risk
Pairing: Wouter Weylandt/Wouter Bos
Rating Teen
Disclaimer: This is total fiction and any similarity to reality is most definitely a mistake.
Summary: Wouter suffers from heat stroke and Jacob worries about him.
Author's Notes: Written for the April amnesty challenge at hc_bingo using the prompt heat stroke.
By the time they reached the hospital Wouter Bos was very glad he had a driver. If he didn’t then he would’ve been forced to drive and then he’d probably have needed medical assistance too and that wouldn’t help anyone. His hair was tousled from here he’d ran his fingers through it so many times and he was desperate for some news of his lover’s condition.
How the hell had Wouter got heat stroke? His team should’ve damn well taken better care of him and this should never have happened. He rushed through the hospital’s main entrance and then spent an intolerably long time being forced to read the map on the wall. The lift also seemed not to be moving either so by the time he reached the right floor he was about ready to yell at someone if he didn’t get to see Wouter immediately. “I’m looking for-”
“Jacob,” his enquiry was interrupted.
“Where is he?” he asked Kim.
“He’s down here,” Kim pointed.
They walked in relative silence to where Wouter’s bed was in intensive care. He came to an abrupt stop when he was confronted by the image of Wouter with an oxygen mask over his face. The drip and a nurse taking his vitals did nothing to reassure him. “He’s fine, they-”
“He’s in intensive care, that is not fine Kim!”
The Dane held his hands up in an attempt to placate him but he wasn’t sure it would help. He’d had the whole journey here to think about how Wouter might die and being here wasn’t making that fear go away. “They got his temperature down fast and he’s doing a lot better than he was when he first got here. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet so it’ll probably be a while before they know the full extent of the damage.”
“How?”
“He collapsed at the end of the stage. He didn’t look too good and he was pretty out of it. He got worse on the way to the hospital but he’s improved since he got here.”
“Have they let you see him?”
“This is as close as I’ve been. They’ve been really busy and I’ve just tried to stay out of the way.”
He’d been trying so hard not to think about the possibility that Wouter might not be alive by the time he reached the hospital but now, faced with the condition of the man in the bed, he couldn’t hide from the reality of the situation. He was lucky the situation wasn’t worse and that possibility wouldn’t completely go away until Wouter regained consciousness. Kim put a hand on his arm and he tried to compose himself. “They’re taking good care of him.”
The words did little to reassure him and he knew he wouldn’t feel better until Wouter was looking at him again. With Parliament in session he’d been busy and they’d hardly seen each other. He couldn’t remember the last time they’d had an actual conversation, it had to have been at least a week. Given how busy he was it was more likely to have been two or three weeks since they’d done much other than promise to call the other one back when they had more time. It seemed so ridiculous now.
It was hours later when Wouter finally regained consciousness. Kim had gone to find a phone to check in with the team when the nurse came to find him. “The doctor’s finished with him now so he’d probably really appreciate seeing you for a few minutes.”
“How is he?”
“Disorientated and confused so he might not make a lot of sense.”
He crossed the room and stood by the bed awkwardly. “Hey,” he said unsure of what to say.
Wouter frowned and he tried to say something but in the end gave up and reached out for him. Jacob perched on the edge of the bed as requested and reached out to take Wouter’s hand. “You gave us a pretty good scare.”
“Where am I?”
“In the hospital.”
“Why?”
“You collapsed at the end of the race today with heatstroke.”
“Running?”
“Cycling,” he corrected.
“Who are you?”
The question shocked him and for a few moments he wasn’t able to do anything other than stare in horror at the man he’d come to know so well over the past year. “Jacob.”
“I don’t remember.”
Jacob forced a smile to his face. “You’ve had a rough day.”
Wouter nodded briefly before drifting off again. He just sat there for a while before realising he should probably do something about accommodation. He got up off the bed and brushed Wouter’s hair back from his face before bending to kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back later.”
“Stay,” Wouter murmured.
He was surprised by the words, he hadn’t thought Wouter was awake. “You need your rest.”
“Stay,” Wouter insisted. “Jacob.”
He wasn’t sure if there was more recognition in the tone or if it was merely a repetition of the information he’d relayed earlier. Wouter struggled to open his eyes and focus on him. “Stay,” Wouter repeated. “Been so long since I saw you.”
“You’re not really seeing me now,” Jacob quipped without thinking and then immediately felt guilty.
“Feel better now you’re here.”
Somehow he doubted that was true but he appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. Until he remembered the situation they were in and his face fell. “Jacob?”
“I can only stay the weekend and then I have to get back.”
“S’okay.”
Jacob felt awful, he shouldn’t have to be rushing back to work so soon but he couldn’t take more without having to explain why he wanted it. He wasn’t ready for that yet and he wasn’t sure his career could handle it. He didn’t have that many years left as it was and he didn’t want to regret it when he left. “I’ll come back later,” he said and left the hospital room in a hurry.
It was a couple of hours before he plucked up the courage to go back to the hospital and he nearly didn’t go. Kim’s name had flashed up on his phone for the second time today and he’d nearly stopped breathing. The call had been enough to bring him back to the hospital though, at the patient’s request, but it didn’t make the walk to intensive care any less daunting.
Kim looked up when he arrived and then back at Wouter. “I need to go check in with the rest of the team, I’ll be back.”
Wouter looked a lot more alert than when Jacob had seen him a few hours ago and it reassured him. Kim didn’t look worried so that could only mean good things. “I’m glad you came back,” Wouter said and then paused. “I wasn’t sure that you would.”
Jacob crossed the room and then hesitated by the bed until Wouter patted on a space beside him. “I’m sorry, I just...” he let the words trail off because he didn’t want to admit that yet, he wasn’t ready.
Hands reached out to touch him and he felt fingers tilt his head back up making him aware he’d turned away as he’d been speaking. “I know you have to go back and it’s fine. I knew what I signed up for when we got together.”
“You’re-”
“I know and I’m sorry. You must have been so worried.”
“I’m fine, you’re-”
Wouter brushed lips against his ending his protestations. “If everything goes well I’ll probably be discharged before you have to go home. Kim told me how worried you were and I’m really sorry.”
“It’s-”
He fell silent when Wouter placed a finger on his lips. “It’s going to be a while before I can get on the bike again and get some proper training in. I’m not even sure I’ll be back competing this year, it all depends how my body heals. The doctors don’t think there’s any permanent damage,” Wouter continued when he went to say something. “I was lucky.”
He desperately wanted to say something but he forced himself to just sit there and let the words sink in. He shifted forward and felt Wouter wrap arms around him as he settled his head on Wouter’s shoulder. “I’m sure this is meant to be the other way around,” he said.
Wouter said nothing, just ran fingers through his head and kissed the side of his head. After a few minutes he exhaled and just stopped fighting it. It felt so good to be back in these arms even if the situation could do with a lot of improving. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, unspeaking, and for once he didn’t look at his watch to check. “How would you feel if I didn’t go home again when I got released?”
“What do you mean?” he asked and reluctantly moved from his comfortable spot.
“Nothing,” Wouter dismissed and looked down his hands. “I just thought maybe I’d go stay with someone for a bit.”
Jacob wasn’t quite sure what it was that Wouter was trying to say and he wasn’t entirely sure his emotions really cared. “Stay with me,” he offered before he could think better of it.
Wouter looked up in surprise. “What?”
“I don’t want you any further away from me than you have to be,” he insisted.
“I meant closer to you, obviously.”
Jacob tilted his head and tried to read the expression on Wouter’s face. They’d never talked about this before, about what it would mean for both of them and this probably wasn’t the time to bring it up. This was just so complicated and to simplify it was risky. “The House is only in session for another month and then I’ve got nothing but time. We can get out of the city or I could stay with you. It’ll be fine.”
Wouter didn’t look entirely convinced but he still had time before a decision had to be made. Pushing aside his desire to know he leant forward. “We can talk about it later.”
Wouter smiled and closed the gap between them. Their lips met again and until that point he hadn’t been aware of just how much he needed it. Earlier he hadn’t been certain he would get to do this again and now it was the sweetest feeling he’d experienced for a while. It made him certain that his suggestion was the right one. He didn’t care what he had to do, Wouter was coming home with him and that was the end of the matter. “Fine,” Wouter said resignedly when he broke the kiss.
Jacob didn’t care too much for that even if he was getting his own way and encouraged that delectable mouth closer. This time Wouter clung to him tightly and it seemed to soothe something inside him. “I’m not going anywhere,” Wouter promised against his lips.
“You better not!”
He felt Wouter’s lips curve against his and then those lips were kissing his and he stopped caring about anything else. They’d argue about living arrangements later he decided as Wouter shifted over and tugged him down onto the bed. He couldn’t wait!
Pairing: Wouter Weylandt/Wouter Bos
Rating Teen
Disclaimer: This is total fiction and any similarity to reality is most definitely a mistake.
Summary: Wouter suffers from heat stroke and Jacob worries about him.
Author's Notes: Written for the April amnesty challenge at hc_bingo using the prompt heat stroke.
By the time they reached the hospital Wouter Bos was very glad he had a driver. If he didn’t then he would’ve been forced to drive and then he’d probably have needed medical assistance too and that wouldn’t help anyone. His hair was tousled from here he’d ran his fingers through it so many times and he was desperate for some news of his lover’s condition.
How the hell had Wouter got heat stroke? His team should’ve damn well taken better care of him and this should never have happened. He rushed through the hospital’s main entrance and then spent an intolerably long time being forced to read the map on the wall. The lift also seemed not to be moving either so by the time he reached the right floor he was about ready to yell at someone if he didn’t get to see Wouter immediately. “I’m looking for-”
“Jacob,” his enquiry was interrupted.
“Where is he?” he asked Kim.
“He’s down here,” Kim pointed.
They walked in relative silence to where Wouter’s bed was in intensive care. He came to an abrupt stop when he was confronted by the image of Wouter with an oxygen mask over his face. The drip and a nurse taking his vitals did nothing to reassure him. “He’s fine, they-”
“He’s in intensive care, that is not fine Kim!”
The Dane held his hands up in an attempt to placate him but he wasn’t sure it would help. He’d had the whole journey here to think about how Wouter might die and being here wasn’t making that fear go away. “They got his temperature down fast and he’s doing a lot better than he was when he first got here. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet so it’ll probably be a while before they know the full extent of the damage.”
“How?”
“He collapsed at the end of the stage. He didn’t look too good and he was pretty out of it. He got worse on the way to the hospital but he’s improved since he got here.”
“Have they let you see him?”
“This is as close as I’ve been. They’ve been really busy and I’ve just tried to stay out of the way.”
He’d been trying so hard not to think about the possibility that Wouter might not be alive by the time he reached the hospital but now, faced with the condition of the man in the bed, he couldn’t hide from the reality of the situation. He was lucky the situation wasn’t worse and that possibility wouldn’t completely go away until Wouter regained consciousness. Kim put a hand on his arm and he tried to compose himself. “They’re taking good care of him.”
The words did little to reassure him and he knew he wouldn’t feel better until Wouter was looking at him again. With Parliament in session he’d been busy and they’d hardly seen each other. He couldn’t remember the last time they’d had an actual conversation, it had to have been at least a week. Given how busy he was it was more likely to have been two or three weeks since they’d done much other than promise to call the other one back when they had more time. It seemed so ridiculous now.
It was hours later when Wouter finally regained consciousness. Kim had gone to find a phone to check in with the team when the nurse came to find him. “The doctor’s finished with him now so he’d probably really appreciate seeing you for a few minutes.”
“How is he?”
“Disorientated and confused so he might not make a lot of sense.”
He crossed the room and stood by the bed awkwardly. “Hey,” he said unsure of what to say.
Wouter frowned and he tried to say something but in the end gave up and reached out for him. Jacob perched on the edge of the bed as requested and reached out to take Wouter’s hand. “You gave us a pretty good scare.”
“Where am I?”
“In the hospital.”
“Why?”
“You collapsed at the end of the race today with heatstroke.”
“Running?”
“Cycling,” he corrected.
“Who are you?”
The question shocked him and for a few moments he wasn’t able to do anything other than stare in horror at the man he’d come to know so well over the past year. “Jacob.”
“I don’t remember.”
Jacob forced a smile to his face. “You’ve had a rough day.”
Wouter nodded briefly before drifting off again. He just sat there for a while before realising he should probably do something about accommodation. He got up off the bed and brushed Wouter’s hair back from his face before bending to kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back later.”
“Stay,” Wouter murmured.
He was surprised by the words, he hadn’t thought Wouter was awake. “You need your rest.”
“Stay,” Wouter insisted. “Jacob.”
He wasn’t sure if there was more recognition in the tone or if it was merely a repetition of the information he’d relayed earlier. Wouter struggled to open his eyes and focus on him. “Stay,” Wouter repeated. “Been so long since I saw you.”
“You’re not really seeing me now,” Jacob quipped without thinking and then immediately felt guilty.
“Feel better now you’re here.”
Somehow he doubted that was true but he appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. Until he remembered the situation they were in and his face fell. “Jacob?”
“I can only stay the weekend and then I have to get back.”
“S’okay.”
Jacob felt awful, he shouldn’t have to be rushing back to work so soon but he couldn’t take more without having to explain why he wanted it. He wasn’t ready for that yet and he wasn’t sure his career could handle it. He didn’t have that many years left as it was and he didn’t want to regret it when he left. “I’ll come back later,” he said and left the hospital room in a hurry.
It was a couple of hours before he plucked up the courage to go back to the hospital and he nearly didn’t go. Kim’s name had flashed up on his phone for the second time today and he’d nearly stopped breathing. The call had been enough to bring him back to the hospital though, at the patient’s request, but it didn’t make the walk to intensive care any less daunting.
Kim looked up when he arrived and then back at Wouter. “I need to go check in with the rest of the team, I’ll be back.”
Wouter looked a lot more alert than when Jacob had seen him a few hours ago and it reassured him. Kim didn’t look worried so that could only mean good things. “I’m glad you came back,” Wouter said and then paused. “I wasn’t sure that you would.”
Jacob crossed the room and then hesitated by the bed until Wouter patted on a space beside him. “I’m sorry, I just...” he let the words trail off because he didn’t want to admit that yet, he wasn’t ready.
Hands reached out to touch him and he felt fingers tilt his head back up making him aware he’d turned away as he’d been speaking. “I know you have to go back and it’s fine. I knew what I signed up for when we got together.”
“You’re-”
“I know and I’m sorry. You must have been so worried.”
“I’m fine, you’re-”
Wouter brushed lips against his ending his protestations. “If everything goes well I’ll probably be discharged before you have to go home. Kim told me how worried you were and I’m really sorry.”
“It’s-”
He fell silent when Wouter placed a finger on his lips. “It’s going to be a while before I can get on the bike again and get some proper training in. I’m not even sure I’ll be back competing this year, it all depends how my body heals. The doctors don’t think there’s any permanent damage,” Wouter continued when he went to say something. “I was lucky.”
He desperately wanted to say something but he forced himself to just sit there and let the words sink in. He shifted forward and felt Wouter wrap arms around him as he settled his head on Wouter’s shoulder. “I’m sure this is meant to be the other way around,” he said.
Wouter said nothing, just ran fingers through his head and kissed the side of his head. After a few minutes he exhaled and just stopped fighting it. It felt so good to be back in these arms even if the situation could do with a lot of improving. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, unspeaking, and for once he didn’t look at his watch to check. “How would you feel if I didn’t go home again when I got released?”
“What do you mean?” he asked and reluctantly moved from his comfortable spot.
“Nothing,” Wouter dismissed and looked down his hands. “I just thought maybe I’d go stay with someone for a bit.”
Jacob wasn’t quite sure what it was that Wouter was trying to say and he wasn’t entirely sure his emotions really cared. “Stay with me,” he offered before he could think better of it.
Wouter looked up in surprise. “What?”
“I don’t want you any further away from me than you have to be,” he insisted.
“I meant closer to you, obviously.”
Jacob tilted his head and tried to read the expression on Wouter’s face. They’d never talked about this before, about what it would mean for both of them and this probably wasn’t the time to bring it up. This was just so complicated and to simplify it was risky. “The House is only in session for another month and then I’ve got nothing but time. We can get out of the city or I could stay with you. It’ll be fine.”
Wouter didn’t look entirely convinced but he still had time before a decision had to be made. Pushing aside his desire to know he leant forward. “We can talk about it later.”
Wouter smiled and closed the gap between them. Their lips met again and until that point he hadn’t been aware of just how much he needed it. Earlier he hadn’t been certain he would get to do this again and now it was the sweetest feeling he’d experienced for a while. It made him certain that his suggestion was the right one. He didn’t care what he had to do, Wouter was coming home with him and that was the end of the matter. “Fine,” Wouter said resignedly when he broke the kiss.
Jacob didn’t care too much for that even if he was getting his own way and encouraged that delectable mouth closer. This time Wouter clung to him tightly and it seemed to soothe something inside him. “I’m not going anywhere,” Wouter promised against his lips.
“You better not!”
He felt Wouter’s lips curve against his and then those lips were kissing his and he stopped caring about anything else. They’d argue about living arrangements later he decided as Wouter shifted over and tugged him down onto the bed. He couldn’t wait!