Final part of Valdangelo Series!!
The night in the hospital had been hell. The second try for the contrast had gone just as poorly as the first, and ended with Leo insisting he couldn’t do it.
With the Latino on the edge of tears and his intimidating boyfriend glaring daggers at them, the doctor settled for a CAT scan without contrast. They’d try again later if they couldn’t get the proper results.
By the time 8 AM rolled around, he test had been preformed hours ago and Leo was out cold, snoring softly from his spot in the hospital bed. Nico had just signed the discharge papers, (thank gods) and the nurse was about to come in to undo the IV.
The vomiting had stopped around 6, and the doctor had come in with a diagnosis. They wouldn’t know for sure until they could get a more solid scan (they’d return in a day or two, after Leo had had time to rest,) but the doctor highly suspected kidney stones, and Nico wasn’t about to argue.
With a prescription for some high dosage painkillers and advice to keep pushing fluids, Nico sat back at Leo’s side, more than eager to get home so he could get some sleep. Something told him Leo would be okay with resting the day away.
Gently, Nico began carding his fingers through Leo’s hair, matted and sweaty from all of the evenings plights. “Hey, McShizzle. Time to go home.” He murmured, voice hushed.
Leo shifted, groaned, and cracked one eye open, looking not to happy to be awake. “Hey.” He croaked. “Five more minutes.” His voice was shot from all of the puking he’d done, his hand still hovering at his side where he was bound to be hurting.
“Leo, it’s 8 am and I haven’t slept. We’ve gotta drop off your prescription then we can sleep all day. Let’s just get home.”
Looking grouchy and reluctant, Leo carefully sat himself up, moving at a snails pace as he pushed his feet over the edge of the bed and stood, with some of Nico’s help. “Sorry you had to stay up for me. I know that was a total downer. Forgive me?” Leo was still sweaty and clad in a hospital gown, but it didn’t stop him from pressing a sleepy, sloppy kiss to Nico’s cheek.
The Italian rolled his eyes, helping Leo into his shoes and out of the hospital. “I guess. Only because you look so damn pathetic.”
“It’s not nice to be so mean to your boyfriend when he’s just out of the hospital. I’m medicated, Neeks.” Despite what Leo tried to make sound lighthearted, Nico could tell he was struggling a bit.
Rubbing his side gently, Nico guided his boyfriend to the car, helping him shuffle in when they got there. It still smelled a little like puke, but he’d gotten it mostly cleaned up after they’d arrived at the hospital. Leo made a slight face at the smell anyways, and Nico wondered if he was still feeling nauseous.
The drive home was mostly uneventful, aside from the fact that Leo winced or groaned every time they stopped and started, or went over a bump. Nico began to feel guilty after dropping off his prescription.
“An hour?” Leo asked uneasily, one arm balanced over his stomach.
“Yeah, an hour.” Nico affirmed, frowning at the face he made. “Is the pain bad?”
Leo shrugged, but the tight lipped, white knuckled expression was answer enough.
They arrived home just in time for Leo to scramble with the seatbelt and throw up onto the concrete next to the car. Nico was glad he’d managed to keep it out of the car, but he still hated to see Leo like this, regardless.
An SOS text to Jason once they made it inside seemed necessary, sent just after Nico got Leo situated under a thick quilt. He looked pathetic, really, all fever flushed with his face screwed up in that pained expression. Nico didn’t have the heart to leave him, perching at the edge of the couch a stroking his hair while they watched cartoons.
“I love you-” Leo started. “But I really need you to go get those painkillers.” He said, voice catching as he looked up at Nico. “They should be ready now, right?”
Nico sighed, tapping his cheek. “You must be crazy to think I’d leave you alone when you’re this sick. Jason picked them up, he’ll be here any minute.”
The tension slipped away after that, Jason showing up with Leo’s medication and some takeout soup not even five minutes later, with Piper in tow.
They all had lunch together, after Leo was properly drugged up and Nico had had a few minutes to shower. Having company brightened Leo’s spirits, Nico could practically feel it, but by the time he’d finished most of his soup, he was starting to doze off.
Nico took the remaining soup, setting it on the coffee table before moving in for a gentle goodnight kiss. Leo smiled tiredly against his lips, grabbing his wrist and pulling just hard enough to get Nico on the couch with him.
After that, Nico didn’t get up. Not even to say goodbye to Jason or Piper.
