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Chapter 16

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Reckless

Domino-

He's still asleep.

Sighing, Domino watched as Jana curled up on his small cot. His face was still flushed and dark circles surrounded his eyes like little monocles. Why isn't the medicine working? It's just a damn cold. He grumbled to himself, even though he knew that it had been a lot worse during the previous week.

What was really worse, was that each time he tried to take care of him by either pressing cold cloths to his forehead or helping him eat or drink, Jana would freak out. His aggression steadily got worse until Domino was forced to just sit back and watch. For once, he was the one hurting, and it wasn't even from physical pain.

"Dammit Jana, wake up already."

"I'm going to move you to another cell if you keep talking. He needs to sleep." Christopher said as Tommy unlocked the cell for him and quickly stepped aside so that he could enter.

Noting the medicine bag in the doctor's hands, Domino bit his tongue on a response and watched silently as he walked over to Jana. Strangely enough, he could tend to the man without so much as a fidget most times. It was frustrating, but Domino supposed that it was at least a good thing that he didn't go after the doctor.

"His temperature has gone down a bit more," Christopher said, more to himself than to him or Tommy as he slipped his thermometer back into his bag, then took out a stethoscope.

As if on cue, Jana rolled over onto his back, the blanket moving down just enough to reveal his chest. Christopher carefully leaned over and pressed the end-piece to Jana's warm skin after putting the two ear-pieces into his ears. After a quick glance at his watch, he began counting quietly aloud.

Before he managed to get very far, however, Jana jerked his right arm up. The hit completely missed Christopher, but not for lack of trying. The momentum, though much weaker than his normal punches, made Jana roll onto his left side, then slowly onto his belly.

Domino was already standing near the bed by then, his hands up but not knowing what exactly he could do in the situation.

"It's fine. His fever's still too high to do much. I think you got the worst of it when his strength hadn't been drained yet by the days of vomiting and exhaustion." Chris said as he reached down again, this time pressing his fingers gently to the pulse at Jana's neck.

He would have likely used one of his wrists, but Jana had tucked his left hand under the pillow after he'd moved, and the right one was a risk to grab. None of them wanted to move him unless they had too. He was still dangerous, even if he was extremely tired and weak.

"A little high, but that's likely because I startled him awake." He said after a minute, withdrawing his hand and standing after pulling his medical bag back up onto his shoulder. "Alright, I'm going to head out for the evening. If there are any problems, get Tommy's attention and he'll call me in. I don't want the other doctor working with Jana. That was one thing my brother requested if anything were to happen to him and he was still here. His notes said that whenever Jana got sick in the past, which was pretty rare, that it got really bad."

Domino nodded silently and waited until both Christopher and Tommy had left and locked the cell before turning his attention back to Jana. To his surprise, the man was staring at him, his face buried in the pillow except for a small portion of the left side. After only a moment he noticed that Jana's lips were shaking slightly and quickly stepped forward and knelt down.

He's cold. He thought, then smiled slightly. "Your fever looks likes it's about to start breaking. You're gonna have to fight through it, Jana."

The other man didn't seem very happy with the idea, as he hurried to grab the blanket around his waist. Before he could pull it up, Domino reached forward and snagged it, holding it still around Jana's waist.

"No. You need to keep the blanket off." Domino said, wanting to remove it completely, but not having the heart to do so as Jana's shaking began to get worse. His breathing also grew more ragged, spurring on coughs that drew Tera's attention. She eagerly climbed into the bed with him, but was immediately grabbed in the vice-grip of his arms. She yelped and struggled a little, but there was no way she could break his hold on her by herself.

Domino glanced toward the door to the cell, then back to Jana. "Jana, you're hurting her. I know you want warmth, but you're hurting Emmet's precious gift to you."

By the time he'd finished speaking, Jana had Tera against his chest and was trying to curl around her while still keeping an eye on Domino. "Shit, um..."

Sifting his fingers through his short hair, Domino looked back toward the entrance to the cell and frowned. He didn't want to have to call security. That would definitely get Jana in trouble, and right before his next hearing? He couldn't do that to the guy.

Shaking his head, Domino scooted closer to the bed, being careful to pay attention to Jana as the man's only visible eye narrowed on him. Normally, he'd be afraid. Well, he still kind of was. Jana was definitely not someone to take lightly, sick or not. But seeing the man's gorgeous dark red hair plastered against his forehead, his body shaking and sweating, and the way he held Tera so desperately...

Pushing back the warning bells chiming in his mind, Domino turned and grabbed the blanket from his own cot and situated it mostly in his lap. He left just enough extra so that he could hold up either of the shorter ends, both arms partially out to the side, but mainly facing Jana.

"Come here, please? I'm pretty damn hot, especially my body temperature." He said, trying to throw in a joke to lighten the tense atmosphere in the cell.

He wasn't sure if Jana would even consider him an option for warmth, but Domino knew that he couldn't let the guy smother himself with the other blanket, and climbing into bed with him? That would get him neutered.

There's a big difference between a three second hug in the rain, and getting into bed with someone. Not to mention that he ran away right after he was able to stumble to his feet. He thought as he stole a quick glance at Tera. His heart jumped a bit and he felt a cold sweat find its way onto his own skin. He's cutting off her air. He thought, worried.

"Jana, please. Your dog is going to be really hurt!" He said, looking between the two repeatedly as he tried to figure out if he was even getting through to the man. He was getting close to just taking Tera and dealing with whatever Jana could manage to throw at him for it afterward.

He hated not being able to tell people what to do, and having them listen. He'd tried telling Jana several times not to do something, or vise-versa, but it never worked. He always rebelled. Always.

When he saw Tera's eyes begin to roll back in her head, Domino narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. "God dammit, Jana! Stop hurting your dog. Now!" His voice had dropped in depth, the dominant in him finally making a true appearance after months of having to be cautious. Well, fuck that. He wasn't going to let Tera get hurt by backing down from the sick man.

He was about to stand up and start wrestling the dog free, when he saw her begin to struggle again. Jana tightened his hold in response, but then slowly loosened it after Domino glared at him. When Tera could finally squirm her way free, she surprisingly she didn't run off into a corner like he expected her to. Instead, she stayed close, but just out of reach. It was clear that she was still worried about him, as she was whimpering quietly and her tail was wagging a little as she watched him.

"Thank you, Jana." He hurried to say, having forgotten to do it right away because he was worried about Tera. "If you want to warm up, you need to come here. You can't have that blanket completely covering you."

He opened his arms a little wider, hoping that the gesture might make Jana consider him, but he ended up having Tera in them in moments. She eagerly snuggled up against him, licking his face. Not really what I wanted in my arms. He thought as he gave her a pat on the head, making her affection increase ten fold.

"Come on, Tera. Now isn't the time for this. You don't even really like me, anyways." Domino said, trying to get her off his lap, though having no luck. She just kept jumping back in when he managed to move her, never really able to get her completely back onto the floor.

It was during one of those struggles that he noticed something. Jana was watching them, his dark eyes slightly more alert than they had been. More focused, yet somehow confused at the same time.

Wait... Maybe?

Figuring that it was worth a short, Domino quickly turned his attention to Tera and began pouring on the love. It was odd to have the dog coming to him for attention when her master was so sick and needed her, but he wouldn't let the opportunity pass, if Jana might do what he thought he might.

It took several long moments of doting on Tera before he noticed Jana moving from the corner of his eye. He forced himself not to react, and instead kept his focus on Tera as she wiggled in his arms. It wasn't until at least five full minutes had passed that Tera slipped from his arms abruptly and was replaced by Jana sliding into his lap. He leaded against his chest with a shaky sigh, his entire body shivering enough for Domino to easily feel, even through the blanket.

It was a relief that Jana was able to move, but even more so to have him close for a second time without violence. They remained completely still, except for Jana's labored breathing and shivering, for another length of silent time. When Domino was just about to slowly get them turned so that he could lean against Jana's bed, he felt the man move in his arms and immediately held his breath.

Slowly. Ever so slowly, Jana reached over and gently grasped the edge of the blanket Domino still held in his right hand, then tugged. Unable to think at all, Domino let him move it, but also brought his arm along as Jana settled the blanket around his shoulder. Domino's hand gently rested atop it. He was fighting with himself internally, trying not to make any wrong moves. He was already pushing Jana, sick or not, by touching him.

When the man reached over for the other side of the blanket, Domino made sure to let him tug it where he wanted, too. It was settled a little lower, as Jana's hand had dropped before making it all the way to his other shoulder. Domino thought about lifting the blanket up so that it was completely wrapped around his shoulders, but then remembered that it wasn't safe for Jana while his cold was ending. So, he licked his lips nervously and slowly let his hand bring the blanket to rest on the side of Jana's lower torso.

When the man didn't respond with anything but a tired nuzzle against his chest as Tera settled in by his right leg, Domino blew out his breath quietly and felt his lips stretch into a small smile.

I can't believe it. He thought as he looked down at the man in his arms carefully, being sure not to make any sudden movements. I've got Jana in my arms. Jana.

Pursing his lips, Domino looked out of the cell. The lights had been dimmed for the night.

He didn't realize it, but over the next thirty minutes, his mind began to grow weary. His eyes began to close as he drifted in and out of consciousness. When he felt himself lean forward slightly and his cheek came to rest against something soft, Domino felt himself drift off to sleep.

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