C o l e

My footsteps were one of the few sounds echoing in the hall as I walked down them with my mop and bucket. Visiting hours have long since ended and most patients are either asleep or just watching their TV's quietly.

Other doctors have gone home while those on the night shift were wherever they needed to be. I continued to mop until reaching one of the rooms I planned to check out. Opening the door, I left my cart outside and entered. It was dark and obviously it needed to stay that way so I used the lowest setting on my phone's flashlight.

There was a cabinet of medicine inside and I flashed my light on it. There were lots of medicines with long ass names that I couldn't care to read for, but none of them were what I was looking for. It's pretty obvious that they wouldn't have that drug just out and about so I needed to think.

Suddenly the room was brightened with light and I cursed under my breath.

"What are you doing?" The scratchy voice came from that doctor I'd seen earlier. Turning, I eyed him as he came closer.

He had stopped right in front of me and took a good look at my face before backing away.

"I knew you didn't look familiar. Who are you?" He asked. There was no way I could jeopardize the mission by talking to this guy so I opted for ignoring him.

Pocketing my phone, I stepped to the side so I could walk away but Nixon didn't seem like he was going to let me slide.

"Hey, I'm talking to-" when he grabbed my shoulder, I used my other hand to hit his inner elbow before pushing him away.

"Touch me again and I'll kill you" I said, glaring at him so that he'd get the message just in case words weren't enough because for some reason they never are. I don't know what he wanted but I wasn't particularly interested in listening either.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you. God damn..." he grumbled as he held his arm. Nixon cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Well seeing as you clearly aren't just a janitor, I'll be open with you. I'm a cop and I'm here investigating this hospital. We potentially could be on the same side" He said.

I can't say I wasn't surprised to learn that he was a UC but that didn't make the situation any better.

"What part of this looks like we're on the same side?" I said coldly. Nixon just sighed before scratching his head.

"Well, you're not taking anything that's for starters" he said.

"What's your name?" Nixon asked but once again I stayed quiet. Seeing as I wasn't going to answer, Nixon continued with a frown.

"Okay, well, my name is Floyd. Floyd Nixon" I wonder if he thought opening up to me would make me want to do the same. It wasn't working but I guess he's just trying to use whatever training he's had.

"You know about the patients, don't you? The ones that are dying after taking one dose of the chemotherapy administered here. You had to be looking for something regarding that, right?" Floyd asked and by then, I had already started walking to the door.

He followed.

"I wasn't" I said simply and this time Floyd laughed.

"So we are on the same side" he concluded and I stopped at the door, turning to give him a final glare.

"We're not" I stated.

"Just hear me out, maybe we can help each other" Floyd reasoned but I wouldn't listen as I opened the door and grabbed my cart.

"I don't need your help" I said.

"Your friend that I saw earlier, is he in on this too?" Floyd asked as we walked. I kept quiet, letting my irritation for his many, many questions sit on a low simmer.

"You guys doing some kind of operation?" He tried again and this time I stopped.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" I said.

"Because I'm trying to have a conversation here" Floyd said, pointing between the two of us.

Shaking my head, I started walking again.

"Well how about this, you tell me what you know and I'll tell you what I know" Floyd said.

This guy really had no idea what he was trying to poke his nose in. Obviously doing this was already a big risk, if my father had any kind of suspicion that this hospital was infiltrated, he would pull all his resources out and go into hiding. But before that he would make sure to take care of those who were sticking their nose in his business.

"It's in your best interest to shut up and leave. Getting involved will only make you a target" I said quietly.

"Well that's fine, if they kill me at least we'll know who did it" Floyd's words were careless because he didn't know who he was dealing with.

"No...you won't" I said and that seemed to make Floyd stop talking as he stared at me.

I, however, had nothing left to say so I walked away. Thankfully, Floyd didn't follow. His intuition must be good if he was able to sniff me out just from looking at me, and those kind of people are not who I want to deal with at the moment.

My hours couldn't have gone by any slower, I wasn't able to leave until midnight. I was tired and honestly sort of hungry since I didn't eat lunch, my stomach growling in agreement.

I could probably get something to eat from one of the convenience stores around here so that's where my feet took me. This morning Johnny had driven me to the hospital and I was supposed to text him before I got off but that stupid cop distracted me.

After texting Johnny the location of the store, I walked in. It was quiet and pretty much vacant since the only people who'd come here were likely nurses and doctors on the night shift.

As I was going through the aisle, the sound of the store's door opening rang throughout the store. I glanced up and immediately wished I hadn't because I made eye contact with Floyd.

Oh how lovely.

"Didn't know you were a stalker too" I grumbled when he stepped over to me.

"I'm not...okay maybe I did follow you but it's cause-" not needing to hear the rest of his excuse, I cut him off.

"You want to talk but I don't. I'm not a suspect in your investigation nor am I your friend, which means I am not obligated in any way to speak with you" I said.

Floyd's eyes widened a bit at my words but then he did something that surprised me.

He laughed.

"I didn't tell a joke" I said with a frown. Irritated by his presence, I grabbed the first sandwich that I saw without really paying attention. I wanted to get out of here as soon as I could.

"Sorry, that's just the longest thing you've said to me" Floyd said.

He had followed me around the store like a lost puppy and by the time we got out, I was just about ready to sock him in the face.

"What will it take for you to leave me alone?" I finally asked.

Floyd smirked before handing me something.

"Here" he said and I looked down at it. It was a card with his name on it and a number scribbled to the side.

"If you ever change your mind, feel free to give me a call" he said. Frowning, I handed it back to him.

"Don't want it" I said.

"But you do want me to leave you alone right?" Floyd said, a brow raised at me.

"..."

He got me there.

Seemingly satisfied, Floyd smiled before turning away from me with his hands in his pocket.

"Goodnight" he said before walking away.

I sighed in relief when he was finally gone, I've never met such a persistent person in my life. Well, Eros was persistent but I don't think he was as bad as that guy. Or maybe I just haven't seen him in his true form.

A car rolled in front of me and when the windows rolled down, Johnny flashed me a smile.

"Hey kid" he said and I got in the passenger seat.

"Long day?" He asked as we drove off.

"Something like that" I muttered.

Heaving out a deep breath, I decided I should just eat my sandwich but once I looked down at it, I wanted to curse Floyd to hell.

A tuna sandwich...just fucking great.

As soon as I got back in the apartment, I tossed the sandwich in the nearest bin and headed to my room.

Eros was probably in his room sleeping so I just headed to my room. I didn't bother to change my clothes, the plan was to just get in bed and knock out, I'd shower in the morning. But when I looked at my bed, I noticed there was already someone in it.

Why...

"Eros" I called his name while shaking him. Though it was dark, the moonlight illuminated his face, giving him an almost angelic look but I knew that he was far from that.

"Mm...Cole, you're back" he murmured.

"Why are you in my bed?" I asked.

"I was waiting for you and then I fell asleep" he said, a yawn falling from his lips after he finished his sentence.

Ignoring the warmth growing in my heart, I sighed.

"Well I'm here now so you can get in your own bed" I said. Eros frowned and then closed his eyes.

"Mm, no thanks. Just come in with me" he said, opening his eyes again to look at me.

"No, it's too hot" I said as I shook my head but that wasn't the only reason. I don't think my heart could handle sharing a bed, even if I was extremely tired. It'd just be hard for me to fall asleep.

"I can strip" he said as he sat up and started taking his shirt off but I stopped him.

"I'd rather you keep your clothes on" I said hurriedly and Eros put his arms down.

"...so you're going to strip?" He asked and I blushed. He's so shameless...

"I'm kidding...partially" Eros said and I just pushed him out the way.

"Move over" I grumbled before sliding in the bed. Eros beamed at me before wrapping his arms around me. Contrary to his usual warm skin, Eros was a bit chilled this time around which made me thankful since the last thing I wanted was to melt in the bed.

"You don't seem to be in a good mood. Did something happen?" Eros asked.

I immediately thought back to that annoying cop and shook my head. He wasn't a big deal and he hasn't disrupted our plans so there isn't any real reason to talk about him. Not that I wanted to anyways.

"No, it's nothing. I just want to sleep" I said and Eros nodded.

"Alright, if you say so. Goodnight" he said and kissed the top of my head.

That same warm fuzzy feeling swelled within me but my tiredness had begun to take over, making me shut my eyes closed.

"Night" I whispered before letting sleep consume me.