Cora was placing Owen’s books into boxes when he walked in. She grinned at him. “Leena told me that Dade agreed, guess you’ve got your witnesses?”
Owen nodded and grinned. “Would have done it without any if I had to.”
She smiled. “I know you’re a sweet man, Owen Grey.”
He laughed and carried a box out the door.
When he came back, she watched him for a moment. “Did Dade have any problems with the bathroom? I haven’t been down to look yet.”
Owen shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to him. The key was sitting on the counter when I came in this morning.”
“Oh well, he must be happy with it then.”
He nodded and took another box out the door.
She continued to put the books into the box, no longer glancing at the titles. Okay she was worried now. Just because she was upset with him didn’t mean she didn’t care.
He hadn’t come to brunch, Steven had to chase him down to ask him about being a witness. He hadn’t come to the temple this week, either. Not that everyone always came each week, but Dade was pretty consistent, he’d never pass up a chance to gather and drum or listen to the stories of the elders in the temple.
Owen hadn’t heard from him since asking him to do the work. Okay, she was very worried.
“I think that one’s full.”
Cora turned to see Leena standing in the door. She motioned to the box. Looking down, Cora saw she’d continued to place the books, stacking them higher than the box by at least a foot. “Oh! I was lost in my head and not paying attention.”
Leena smiled. “I get lost in my own from time to time. Is everything all right?”
Cora bent to get an empty box. Quickly she began moving the extra books into the empty box. “I don’t know.” She glanced up at Leena. “I’m worried about Dade. No one has really seen him since we got back from Mabon.” She stopped and looked at her hands. “We had a…well I’m not sure what, but no one’s really spoken to him and he didn’t come to the temple.” She sighed trying to relax. “I’m concerned, but I don’t want to just show up on his doorstep.”
Leena nodded and turned towards Owen as he came into the room. “Owen, would you run over to Dade’s and check up on him?”
Owen frowned. “He needs checking?”
Leena shrugged. “We were just discussing how no one has really seen him in two weeks and we’d feel better knowing everything is all right.”
He shrugged. “I’ll run over in your car. Am I supposed to tell him I’m checking up on him?”
Leena smiled and patted his cheek. “No, tell him to stop being an ass and to return people’s phone calls.”
He leaned down and kissed her grinning. “With pleasure.” He stopped in the door and glared at her. “No lifting anything. I’ll do it when I get back.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She said placing a hand on her tummy.
Owen looked in the window. The van was here and a light was on. Why didn’t he just answer the damn door? Walking to the door he grabbed the handle and was surprised it turned. Opening it he stepped in. “Dade…”
What was that smell?
Closing the door, he walked into the living room. “Shit,” he muttered.
The living room floor and table were scattered with empty bottles. Stepping over something, he wasn’t sure what, he walked over to the couch to the man half sprawled on and off it. “Dade.” No movement. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in at least a week, and the smell said no bathing either.
He turned and looked around the room. Where the hell was the light? Spotting a lamp, he walked carefully through the items scattered in his path. Flicking the light on, he squinted towards the man on the couch.
“What the hell happened to you?” He said more to himself then the passed-out man on the couch. “What the fuck are you doing?”
He leaned over and glanced in an ashtray on the table. Dade didn’t smoke. Recognizing various items, he hadn’t seen since high school he straightened up and stood over the man on the couch.
He nudged the leg hanging over the side. A bottle of vodka fell from Dade’s hand onto the floor. Quickly, Owen grabbed it, only to notice it was empty. “Aw shit, Dade.” He squatted down and pulled open one of his eyes then checked his pulse.
Cursing, he walked into the kitchen and pulled his phone out. Hitting a button, he glanced around the kitchen. It didn’t look in any better shape than the living room. “Rach, hey it’s Owen, is Doc around? Thanks.”
“Owen what’s up?”
“You need to find a damn good excuse and get your ass to Dade’s, yesterday.”
“Uh…why?”
“Leena sent me here to check on him, they were worried. The place is a fucking dump, Doc and Dade is passed out. At least I hope that’s all he is in the middle of this mess.”
“Really. What from?”
Owen looked around the kitchen. “From the looks of it, anything with alcohol and, Doc, I found a pipe and bag of weed on the table, I don’t even think he’s eaten in a week, nothing here but empty bottles…”
“I’ll be there shortly…uh…don’t start without me.” He hung up.
Owen hung up and then dialed Leena. He had to tell her something, but Cora couldn’t know, Dade would never forgive him if Cora saw him like this. “Baby. Yeah, I’m here.”
“Is everything all right?”
He cleared his throat. “If you’re near Cora walk the other way, you need to tell her Doc is here and we’re, I dunno discussing the handfast plans or something. Dade’s in bad shape, baby. I’ve got Doc on his way and there’s a chance we’ll be taking him to the hospital to have his stomach pumped.”
“Oh.”
“Just keep puttering there and I’ll get back as quickly as I can.”
“Okay, we’ll be here.”
“Love you, baby.” He whispered. “I’ll take care everything.”
She sighed. “I love you too, see you soon.”
Not knowing what else to do he went back out and sat watch over Dade, hoping Steven got here quickly. He got up and checked Dade’s breathing a few times and was just standing up for the third time when Steven walked in.
“Whoa, haven’t smelled a stench like this since college.” He looked around the room and then shook his head. “First thing, open the damn windows, turn on a fan, then go wade through the kitchen and see if you can find any coffee.” Owen nodded and went to the windows.
Steven stood and looked down at Dade. “You dumb fuck,” he muttered.
He reached down and pulled Dade’s eyelids back then checked his pulse. “You’re so far down it’s going to take a crane to reach you.” Bending down, Steven flipped his legs off the side of the couch. “Jones!” He said loudly while pulling him by his shirt, attempting an almost upright position.
Steven tapped his face. “Come on, don’t make me have to carry your ass to the car.”
Owen came back out of the kitchen with a pitcher in his hand. “Try this.”
Steven took it and looked down to see it filled with water. “Cold?”
Owen nodded. “Might wash some of the smell off him too.”
Steven sighed and tipped the pitcher over Dade’s head. He rolled his head to the side then dropped it to his shoulder. Handing it back to Owen he smiled. “Refill please.”
He bent down and gripped Dade’s chin. “Dade wake the fuck up!” Nothing. He straightened and took the pitcher when Owen walked back out. Taking a deep breath, he tipped it over the man’s head again.
“Wha…?” Dade moaned.
Owen put his hand over his heart and sighed. “Bastard! You scared the shit out of me!”
Steven reached down and grabbed Dade’s face again. “Dade! Open your eyes, come on, man.” His eyes fluttered but didn’t quite open. “Dade!” Steven smacked his face a little harder. “Look at me.” The eyelids fluttered again and opened once before closing.
Steven glanced up at Owen. “You might want to find a large pail, I know phase two very well.”
Owen’s mouth formed and o and he quickly went back in the kitchen.
“Dade! Come on, bro, let me see those bloodshot holes in your head.”
“Dawg,” he mumbled.
“Yeah, soon to be your worst nightmare. Come on, I need you to open your eyes.”
“Stick.” He muttered trying to lean his head back but finding Steven’s hand held it so he couldn’t.
“No, they’re not stuck, come on.” Steven glanced up to see Owen return with a mop pail and another pitcher. He grinned. “That might do it.” He took the pail and stuck it between his feet and then took the pitcher and tipped it over Dade’s head quickly this time.
“Whoa fuck! Brrr!” Dade wobbled, then blinked to try to focus. “S’nasty,” He slurred.
Steven grabbed his head and tilted it up. “Would have been a lot nastier if anyone else had found you like this.”
“Doc.” Dade grinned at him.
“Hi. Can you actually see me?”
Dade closed one eye and his head dropped back a few inches. “S’most.” He whispered. Then he grimaced at him. “Leggo.” He tried to lean back to lie down.
Steven grabbed the back of his head to stop him. “I don’t think so. You’re going to sit here with your eyes open until you start heaving your guts out and then, we’re going to have a shower.”
“Noo…” Dade’s eyes rolled back. “Is movin’.”
Steven smirked. “Nothing brings it all back up better than the spins my friend. It’s either this or I haul your ass to the hospital and have your stomach pumped.”
Owen walked over behind the couch and put his hands under Dade’s arms and pulled him more upright. “Up you go.”
Dade moaned and tried to lean to the side again. “Leggo.”
Steven pulled his head upright and held it completely straight. “First heave and we’ll aim you. Don’t make me stick my fingers in that mouth, Bro. That’s just—eww.”
Owen grinned at him over the shaky man. “In your profession, you can still say eww?”
Steven shrugged. “You want to stick your fingers in that mouth right now, go for it.”
Owen shuddered. “Eww, no.”
Dade swallowed and started trying to take deep breaths.
“Here we go.” Steven watched him swallow a few times then let go of his head to pick the pail up and put it under his face.
Owen scowled at the cup of coffee he handed Steven. “Our kids get sick and Leena’s on her own.”
Steven took the cup and sipped it slowly. “Well, I’m sure they won’t smell like a week’s worth of bad booze.” He set the cup down. “You want to climb in the shower with him, or start cleaning up?”
Owen was rummaging under the sink looking for anything he could spray or squirt to get rid of the stench. “As appealing as dragging his ass into a cold shower sounds, I’ll pass that fun along to you.”
Steven smiled. “Fine, come help me get him off the couch. His stomach is as empty as it’s going to be.” Walking back in, he sighed. “Where is the camera when you need it?”
“Oh!” Owen reached for his phone. “Right here.” He held up the phone. “Don’t touch him yet.” He walked closer to the man kneeling on his own couch with a pail between his legs and took several pictures.
Reaching down, he turned Dade’s head and took one more. “Okay, now off to the shower.”
Halfway there, they had to stop and rest. “Has he moved so much as a toe?” Steven asked huffing out a breath as they reached the top of the stairs.
“No—fucker weighs two tons at least.” Taking a deep breath, Owen hefted his arm higher around his neck and continued to drag the unconscious man toward the shower.
Pushing him against the wall Steven grabbed his own shirt. “Hold him while I get some of my clothes off, I didn’t bring a change with me and explaining this to Rachel is going to be stressful enough.”
Owen nodded. “I told Lee but told her to not tell Cora. So as soon as I clean up a bit, I have to get back to my place before they come looking.”
Steven nodded and set his pants far from the shower. Stepping into the stall he nodded to Owen and watched the large man drag Dade towards him. “I’m gonna freeze my balls off for this idiot, retribution is going to be sweet.”
Owen had just stepped into the hall when he heard Dade howl and swear. He turned back to see Steven holding Dade’s head under the spray with outstretched arms as he pushed and fought, trying to get out.
“Fuck! Cold! Fuck!”
Steven grinned. “Woke your sorry ass up, didn’t it? You dumb son of a bitch.” He held him under the spray until Dade started to shiver. Reaching around Steven he flipped off the water and stepped out.
Grabbing a towel, he threw it to the fully clothed, sad looking male dripping in the shower. “How are you now?” He smirked when Dade squinted at him.
“When the fuck did you get here?” Dade dropped his face into the towel. “Uhhh.”
Steven dried himself off before pulling off his wet underwear and grabbing his pants. “Yeah, you’re going to feel a whole lot worse in the morning.”
Dade wrestled the wet shirt from his body and patted himself with unsteady hands hoping the towel would dry him instantly so he could lie down. “What day is it?”
Steven pulled his shirt over his head and leaned back crossing his arms. “Thursday, night.”
“Huh.”
“What day should it be?” He watched Dade take a slow step from the stall, trying to step out of his jeans.
“I finished at Owen’s Tuesday morning.” His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“Lost a few days then.” Steven watched him open his eyes to squint and look at himself in the mirror. “Sexy sight huh?”
Dade looked and saw a dripping, scruffy man that could have been him squinting in the mirror. “Fuck.” He sighed under his breath.
Owen walked up beside Steven and tossed a sarong at Dade. “Was the only thing I could locate for you to wear.”
Dade turned and looked at him with a surprised expression. “Thanks.”
Owen grinned. “Hi.” He grinned at Steven. “I gathered as much of the mess as I could, it’s in the kitchen. When his head feels better, he can get rid of it,” he reached into his pocket and set a bag and pipe on the counter, “and this. I’m going back over to Lee and Cora before they think I got lost.” He watched Dade with slow movements trying to wrap the sarong around his waist.
Dade sighed. “Where are they?”
“Packing up my stuff at the house.” He reached over and grabbed the ends from him and tied them quickly.
Dade looked at him. “They know why you’re here?” Just talking hurt. If he could just get his chin to reach his chest maybe his neck would stop twitching.
Owen shook his head. “No.”
Dade closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over them. “Thanks.”
Owen slapped Steven on the shoulder then turned and left.
Steven picked up the pipe and looked at it. “Have you regressed to adolescence, Jones?”
Dade dropped his hand from his eyes and reached for his toothbrush. His mouth was coated in a film he didn’t even want to identify. “Apparently.” He looked at the pipe in Steven’s hand. “Honestly, I don’t even know where I got any of that from, or when.”
Steven shook his head and opened the bag over the toilet. “I suggest you take some aspirin, drink a bottle or two of water than go sleep for about twenty-four hours, my friend.” He flushed the toilet and turned to see Dade hanging over the sink moving a toothbrush slowly around in his mouth. “And when you’ve done that, we’re going to talk.”
Dade nodded, at least he felt like he was nodding. He rinsed his mouth and rested his face in his hand. “Yep.”
Steven opened the cabinet and fished around for aspirin then set the bottle in front of him. “Don’t try this again. I have no issues with sending your ass to rehab, a little bit of drunken stupidity is doable from time to time but any more, and I don’t know if I could have helped.”
Dade put both hands on the counter and sighed. “Ever just pile one fuck up on top of the other until you don’t know where it started?”
Steven nodded and stood in the door for a moment. “Yeah, but trying to drown them never makes it better.”
Dade sighed again. He just wanted to lie down in the sink right now, maybe the shower stall, he’d fit better. “Thanks man. I’m doing as the doctor ordered and swallowing a couple of these, then lying my fat head down.”
Steven grinned. “You’ll have to let me know how that works out. I have to go home now and explain why I bolted out of the house after talking to Owen for thirty seconds.”
“Fuck…sorry…tell her to call…in a few days if she needs confirmation.”
Steven laughed. “I’ll try not to sick her on you unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Appreciate it, now go home.” He whispered while wrestling with the bottle Steven had set on the counter.