By: Thursday’s Child

Spoilers: Ummm, I’m not good with the names…but the one with the bad cops and the one with the Senior Partners.

Couple/Pairing: W/G…sort of….

Rating: PG nothing but sweet thoughts and one cuss word…but it’s a mild cuss word…wow, that’s new for me!

Summary: What’s going on in Wesley’s hospital room while Cordelia is yelling at Angel.

Author's Note: I have a thing for veins...I'm just fascinated with them...so excuse this fic, if you think it's a little weird, okay? Thursday

Please, please send me feedback @ because37@hotmail.com

I consider our entwined hands. My blacker than black fingers laced through his limp, incredibly pale white hands. Mine are so big and thick, they seem like a monster’s compared to Wesley’s. His thin, fine bones are easily traced beneath frail skin. Long tapered fingers curling against my own. His veins are neon blue, shocking and straining against his skin.

I’ve never noticed how blue his veins are…Not just in his hands, but up his arms as far as I can see, thick cords along his pale, defined muscles. I wonder if they are so clear everywhere else and I must restrain myself from pulling back the sheets and checking.

Seeing him like this, paper white and sea blue, I wonder how the vamps see him. How Angel saw him. Did he stare at the veins as I do now? Was he drawn towards the clusters of blue? Was it difficult for him to restrain himself everyday?

He’s here, now, Angel. I can make out a few of Cordelia’s angry heated words. She’ll be sorry later that she said them, but not me. Good for her.

Wes stirs in his sleep, trying to turn on his side, but unable. He winces and I along with him. I should be the one in pain. He got shot trying to save my sorry ass. Trying and succeeding, getting himself nearly killed in the process. I know he never saw it coming.

My heart stopped when that shot rang out. My mouth felt as though a cotton ball had soaked away all the moisture there. And I felt cold in my veins, like ice…like Wes’ veins. Did I mention what a nice blue Wes’ veins are?

His lips are working now, but his vocal chords are not. Is he trying to tell me he is in pain? Or is he just dreaming? Or does he hear Cordelia yelling at Angel in the hall and want to help her. I know I do, but I won’t leave Wesley’s side.

I’ll never leave Wesley’s side. The man, whether he realizes it or not, demands loyalty in every way. His quiet support, his unassuming manner, hell, even his eyes, his breath, his being…all demand undying loyalty. I don’t know how those fools in Sunnydale ever could’ve rejected him. I don’t know how Angel could’ve. Cordy and me, sure. But Wes?

Well, I’ll never, ever leave Wesley’s side.

He stirs again and his face looks so relaxed and dreamy. My heart swells with the love I feel for him. I never loved a man before, but I love Wes.

I love Wesley Wyndem-Price. Stuffy, reserved, stuttering Wesley. British Wesley. White Wesley. Oh, the boys would flip. Cordelia would flip. Wes would flip. Hell, I *should* be flipping. Any minute now…

My thumb absently rubs the raised vein running from his index finger. He grimaces, opening his eyes at last.

“Charles Gunn.” His raw voice holds mild humor, despite his obvious pain. “I always knew I’d eventually wake up to see your face above mine.”

I grin, embarrassed at his choice of words and I think Wes realizes his mistake, cause his smile is freezing. “I didn’t mean…”

“Shh.” I whisper gently, squeezing his hand in mine. “I know what you meant.”

His large grey eyes become large and serious. I can’t meet his questioning glare. All the things we are saying are laced with double meanings. He probably wants to know why I’m holding his hand in such a tender manner. Why my shy eyes won’t look his way. I gulp nervously and wet my lips. Oddly enough, or perhaps not odd, all things considered, Wesley’s motions mirror mine.

“Virginia?” He asks, desperate for a new line of conversation. Our old one was going to lead us down a path neither of us is ready for.

“She came by earlier. There was a party she was required to attend.” I pause, trying to sound indifferent, “She sends her love.”

“And Cordelia?”

“Currently bitching Angel out.”

“Nope, finished.” Cordelia stands slightly away and I can tell she is scrutinizing our joined hands. After a moment she seems to accept something and move on. She looks so tired, her short hair limp, her skin unusually pale and her eyes dull. “It’s hard to believe that I used to find his lurking a bit endearing.”

Wes and I regard her strangely. “That’s hard to believe, period.” I say.

“Yes, quite odd, Cordelia.” Wesley adds.

She crosses her arms a bit defensively but doesn’t retort. I guess she’s Really tired. One quick glance at Wesley tells me he thinks so too.

“Uh, Cordy, maybe you should go on home and get some sleep. You don’t need to hang around. I’m here and Virginia will be by later.”

But Cordelia, despite her exhaustion shakes her head. “Nope, Gunn, you’ve been here eight hours, standing watch. I at least got some sleep in the waiting room. You are the one going home. For a few hours, just rest, okay?” She pleads.

I’m going to refuse, of course. I’m sticking by Wesley’s side. But his eyes tell me to just go. He’s worried about me. Silly Wes, gets shot for me and now, while he lays in a sterile hospital bed, barely held together by a few stitches, he’s worried about my health.

“Fine. But just a few hours.” I answer, finally. As I stand, Cordelia turns slightly away, giving us privacy. I lean over him and he regards me with an odd look in his eye. I think I might kiss him. Just a little kiss, on his forehead and he seems to know I’m going to. He watches with no sign of emotion as my lips descend and meet his smooth skin. The kiss is lingering, once I realize just how soft his skin is, I want to feel more of it.

I’m going, though. I stand again and he just looks at me. And I know, sooner or later we’re going to have a big discussion. I keep my hand in his for as far as his arm will stretch and then let it go, with one last stroke of his vein.

TBC…especially now that Virginia is out of the picture!