Hetch (Men OF S.W.A.T #1)(100)

“The last time I saw him, he almost broke my nose, and one of his crew put you in the hospital, Liberty. I don’t care if he was playing a part. He put you in the hospital.” My heart warms at his loyalty, but I try not to let it show. Instead, I look to Hetch, hoping for some kind of help.

“What? He has a point, sweetheart.” My eyes grow wide in a silent are-you-kidding-me stare. I told Hetch this morning we should wait to tell Mitch, but he said something about him being his person, and it would be better coming from him. He went on about how we shouldn't keep this from him a moment longer.

“Well, you don’t have to make any decisions right away. We still have some time before we have to set something up. Maybe you should think it over.” I try a different tactic.

“I’m not changing my mind. I’m not seeing him. I don’t trust him. You can go back and tell them no.” I understand where he’s coming from, and don’t blame him. But the last thing I want for him is to make such a rash decision without thinking about it. “No one asked me what I wanted.” It's the change in his tone, the vulnerability in his voice that has Hetch speaking up.

“Well, tell us. What do you want, Mitch?” His eyes lock onto Hetch's as he finally chimes in on my side. The room fills with even more tension as they stare one another down. Like this moment is too important to be spoken, so instead of using words, they're talking with their eyes. “Because the only thing B and I want is for you to be happy. Remember the day I said sometimes family is in here?” I watch as he pats his chest with his hand right over his heart. Mitch's stare drops down to Hetch's hand with a slight nod. It's so slight I almost don't catch it. “We're always gonna be your family. Rebuilding a relationship with him won't change that. You don't have to choose between us because we aren't going anywhere.” I see the realization of Hetch's words as they hit Mitch. How the tension all but evaporates.

Did he think we wouldn't be there for him if he wanted to see Dominic?

Before I can dwell on the question, Mitch steps toward Hetch and wraps his arms around him. But it's not what pulls me out of my own head. It's the fact there is no uneasiness in Hetch, no hesitation at all as he wraps his arms around Mitch.

A few seconds pass us by before they finally release one another and Mitch's eyes land on me. His silent words wrap themselves around me.

Please don't make me.

I don't want this.

And it's the raw honesty that has me relenting.

“Okay, Mitch,” I tell him. It’s for the best anyway. There won’t be any getting through to him today. The whole ordeal has too many wild emotions spiraling around all of us to be settled in one day. “I’ll talk to your caseworker. We’ll set a meeting up for you two so you can explain everything you're feeling and what you want, even if it's nothing at all.” I don’t know how that conversation is going to go down. But it is what it is. At least it gives Mitch a chance to get some things off his chest to the people who can actually change this outcome.

Happy with my stance on the matter, Mitch takes a seat back beside Hetch’s bed and reaches for his backpack. “I brought the board. You want a game?” He pulls out his chess set and starts setting it up on the small table in front of Hetch.

“Only if you let me win. I am at a disadvantage here, you know?” He points to the bandage on his neck.

“Sorry, not going to work on me. I don’t do special treatment.” He doesn’t seem as affected as everyone else who has walked through the door these last few days, but I see it. I see the slight flash of panic in his eyes every time they land on Hetch’s bandage. The way he’s been quietly regarding him. He’s been just as scared. But unlike the rest of us, he's kept himself together.

“Harsh.” Hetch lets out a gurgle for a cough. I’m starting to get used to the sound and am no longer panicked at hearing it. I reach for the water and hand it to him.

“Okay, well I'm gonna head down and get a coffee, leave you boys to it.” I stand, wanting to give them some space.

“You don’t want to stay and watch me kick his butt?” Mitch looks up, his teasing tone much easier to hear than the panicked one.

“Nah, you boys have fun. I'll be back in a few. You need me to get you two anything?”

“We're good.” Hetch reaches for my hand and squeezes briefly. I squeeze back before pulling away with one thing on my mind.

We are good.

And nothing will change that.





Forty-One





Hetch





“You two like to break the rules, huh?” The nurse I’ve come to know as Liberty’s favorite, whispers across a sleeping Liberty as she checks my blood pressure and vitals.

“Don’t blame her. I made her climb on up,” I whisper back, careful not to wake her. It’s been seven days since I woke up and not only did Liberty not leave my side the three days I was out of it, she hasn’t left me since.

“I think she loves you.” She continues to write in my chart, not looking up. I see why she’s Liberty favorite. Even though she may be a little too chatty and maybe a bit too nosy, she does have a way of putting you at ease.

“I don’t know. She still hasn’t said it.” I feel Liberty tense beside me, but she doesn’t stir or wake. We haven’t had much alone time these last seven days. Between my mom, my sister, and my teammates, my room has been a revolving door for visitors. Doesn’t mean I don’t think she does. I’m just waiting to hear where we stand.