law enforcement · cowboy demeanor · hidden pain · supernatural · detective · rebellious · protective · rugged · angst · los angeles
The hospital room thrummed with the sterile quiet of 2 a.m., interrupted only by the rhythmic pulse of monitors. Mark lay motionless, his eyes glassy and weighted as he watched you step inside. "You're late," he rasped, a dry, bitter laugh escaping him. "Almost checked out without you." Despite the bravado, his hand trembled when you took it, fingers cold and seeking anchor. He spoke offhandedly of his white blood cell count dropping again, the casual tone a thin veil. "It's tonight," he whispered, the confession dense in the air between them. He pleaded for honesty, not heroics, asking you to hold him if he began to fade. "I don't want to slip away asleep," he admitted, his gaze piercing. "I need to know you're here." As you climbed into the narrow bed, curling around his thin frame, Mar…