Twenty-two - Conversations

Nathaniel jolted out of his slumber as a whimpering voice pierced his ears. At first, he was bit out of it, but within few seconds of darting his eyes across the room, he finally remembered where he was.

The whimpering came again. His head snapped towards Chloe who was asleep but struggling to stay still. Hurriedly, he went to her side and placed his palm over her forehead which was very hot to the touch.

She mumbled something as she clutched the sheets covering her tightly.

Even more worried, his face moved closer giving him a better view of her face whose side was lined with a line of tears. He frowned. She had been crying ever since he met her struggling to move in her room.

Without exactly intending to, his hand drew forward and grazed over her cheek. Slowly, like it were a dangerous valley, he set a finger over her line of tears and wiped them off.

Then, his eyes moved to her lips. He smiled.

He still thought of that night. He could never forget how good she felt, how amazing she tasted.

"No," her whimper came again. "No, don't. Don't go." The tears came flowing again as she struggled in the realm she was. "Please brother..." Her face fell, her body stopped moving so aggresively.

Nathaniel slowly stood straight, his eyes never leaving the woman whose face seemed even sadder than it was moments ago. He knew so well that she just had a terrible dream. But it was not just any dream, it was about something that had happened in the past.

He was already thinking of waking her up to hug her assuredly when he withdrew with caution. His attachment to her... Nathaniel knew he wasn't liking it so much. It wasn't something he was used to.

But, at the same time, he couldn't help it. He wanted her, he knew it so well. But he wasn't prepared for the craziness that came with the desire, the wanting.

He didn't want the drama that came with it.

With a dragged exchange of breath, he stole one more look at the now peaceful woman before he walked out of the ward.

~

"Well, it is good to see your face not looking like a tomato," Amir greeted Chloe whose eyes had just opened after sevreal hours of sleep. Amir got off his seat and walked towards her. "How are you feeling?"

She nodded as she toured the room with her eyes which twitched as soon as she realized where she was. "I am in the hospital, aren't I?"

"Yes."

Her shoulders slumped. That was why the nightmares came. But she decided to man-up and act like she wasn't in a kind of hell. "Where is Nathaniel?" she asked as she recalled he had helped her.

"He left before I came here."

"Oh."

"Why?" A teasing look took over his face. "Don't you want me here? Do you want your lover instead?"

"He is not my lover. Please," she quickly replied, her eyes maintaining a little frown.

"Yeah, yeah. You do know that he didn't mean to sound so rude the other day right?" Amir asked with a serious tone.

"I know." Her fingers played with each other. "He was just worried."

"Good."

Chloe, who was actually feeling a lot better, looked up at Amir and said, "Thank you, Amir."

He reached for her shoulder and patted gently. "Anything for a friend." A short silence full of small smiles ensued before Amir said, "Sebastian has found out who the man on the tape is."

Chloe's senses fully came alive. For a second, she had forgotten about her job. Well, who remembers such when weakness befalls one in a terrible way? "Who is he?" she asked.

"That is of no importance." Chloe's mind damned his statement. She needed every information no matter how irrelevant. "What is important is what he does and who he works for."

She frowned. "He is working for someone?"

"Yes. He has no reason to want to personally frame me. Trust me, I checked."

"Huh..." Chloe wondered where their bits and bits of discovery would eventually lead them.

"Sebastian is keeping a watch on him, soon we will know who he reports to." Chloe nodded.

"What are you guys murmuring about?" Gabriel cut short what Chloe was about to say. As he came to her bed, he faced Amir, "Surely you aren't trying to steal her from me."

Amir scoffed. "Please, if I wanted to, I would have weeks ago."

"Err..." Chloe's finger went up. "I wouldn't have given in to your advances, just like I did not when you tried to sleep with me."

"You are cruel. Why did you have to bring that up?" Chloe threw him a silly smile.

"Well, you heard the lady. So, don't even think of it."

"Oh please, we all know Nathaniel's her man," Amir replied Gabriel.

"Well, not for long."

"You guys do know I am right here, yeah?"

"Yes cupcake." Gabriel faced her with a huge smile which made his face bolder. Or maybe it was his packed hair that made that effect. "How are you feeling?"

"Better actually." She watched as Amir went to get seats for both men. "I still hate hospitals though."

Gabriel chuckled as he had his seat. "So, I got you cupcakes." Chloe's eyes went on to roam his space. With a brow up, she met his eyes with a single question. "Yeah, I ate them all."

"Why did you tell me that you got cupcakes then?"

"Because I wanted you to know I did." Chloe shook her head at him.

"Gabriel, are you really serious about what you said in the conversation room the other day?" Amir who had his eyes narrowed at his friend asked.

"Yes. I have grown to like Chloe a lot." Gabriel's eyes did not leave hers as he responded. And after, they stayed that way.

Amir gave a short laugh which wasn't so pleasant. "Even though you know that Nathaniel likes her too?"

"He- I want-"

"You know so well that this will be his first attempt at this kind of thing, yet you want to ruin it?"

"Can't I be selfish just this once?" Gabriel faced Amir. "Can't I try to reach out for someone I like for once without being questioned or asked to sit pretty?" Amir gave no response giving the air more tension.

Chloe knew she had to do something fast before the two men gave a lot more people to hate hospitals- well, maybe not hate. It is not everyday you see two good looking men arguing in a hospital ward. "Uh... I just want to put this out there. I have never been in a relationship."

The duo who were already silently exchanging heated words turned her way instantly. Chloe gave them a small smile accompanied by a shrug.

"You are joking right?" Amir asked with this huge look of disbelief.

"No." Chloe knew they would react that way but it was better than seeing them tear each other off with words.

"I find that hard to believe."

"Same here," Gabriel added.

Chloe shrugged again. "You guys make it seem like a bad thing."

"No. It- it is interesting, not terrible." Gabriel seemed to be pondering as Amir expressed his shock more. "Well, you and Nathaniel are similar in that case."

"Wait," her interest peaked without her meaning to. ",he has never been in a relationship too?"

"Well..." Amir dragged. "He has been in a few situations." He smacked his lips. "He has had flings and one night stands that he tried to keep hidden from us. But he has never been in a serious relationship. We think you are going to be the reason he finally goes into one."

"Oh." Chloe just couldn't get used to them talking about Nathaniel liking her so openly. "What about you? Have you ever been in a serious relationship?"

He chuckled as he and Gabriel shared a look. "Oh yes, I have. I have had two of that."

"But he got tired of the whole seriousness thing and decided to become a man-whore."

Amir glared at Gabriel. "I swear, the next person that calls me a man-whore will get it from me."

"Man-whore," Chloe threw in as she cleared her throat.

"Not you too." As Amir got up, a ringtone filled the air.

"Hello?" Gabriel listened quietly to the person that called him. After a minute or so, he disconnect the call. "Uh... that was Sebastian."

Amir turned to face him. "Does he have something for me?"

"No," Chloe wondered why his voice was being so low. ",he has something for all of us. Something bad." His eyes darted with confusion as soon as he went silent.

"Well, say something."

Gabriel met Chloe's eyes then Amir's. "It is Nathaniel. He just met with an accident."

Something fell inside Chloe.