Guardian Angels – An Interesting Life (4)

Evan went back to the kitchen to get Vic's sweatshirt. He helped him put it on and then to stretch out on the sofa, saying as he did, "I'd offer you the use of my spare bedroom but I don't think making you walk upstairs is a good idea at the moment."

"The way I'm feeling, you'd have to carry me," Vic admitted. "I don't suppose you have any painkillers handy."

"Aspirin or Tylenol-3, but I'm hesitant to give you the Tylenol in case there's more head trauma than just the obvious bruising."

Vic cocked an eyebrow. "The medic in you speaking?"

"Yep."

"I'll take my chances." Vic grimaced as he tried to get comfortable, which didn't seem to be possible at the moment.

"I'll be right back."

Vic watched Evan as he walked out of view, one part of his mind wondering what the attractive blond man looked like in something less baggy than a pair of sweatpants. I shouldn't be going there—but it does take my mind off of everything else, at least for a second.

Evan returned with a bottle of pills and a glass of water. "You need to sit up again," he said. "I'm afraid I don't have a flexible straw handy."

"I can take them dry." Which Vic did, once Evan handed him two pills. While he waited for them to kick in, he asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm a sucker for anyone that's been hurt?"

"Is that why you were a medic? Are you still?"

"I was an EMT before I joined the Army. Now"—he shrugged—"no, I'm not. I had enough of it to last a lifetime."

The look on Evan's face said 'more than enough' but Vic wasn't going to pry into that. "So what do you do now, if I'm not being too nosy?"

"I own a security company."

"You're a PI?" Vic asked in surprise. What are the odds I'd run into another one in this situation? A million-to-one?

"No. My company installs and maintains security systems."

"Then I'm safe here."

Evan grimaced. "You will be in a minute. With all that's happened I forgot to rearm the system."  

When Evan returned, Vic said drowsily, "I think the meds are kicking in."

"Good. The bottle's here"—he pointed to the coffee table—"if you wake up and need more. Just go easy on them."

"I know."

"Somehow I figured you might. I've got the feeling this isn't the first time you've run into trouble."

"Not… even…" Vic murmured before his eyes closed and he fell into a fitful sleep.

* * * *

"Don't tell me he's one of the bad guys, like Dave was," Dom mind spoke to Paddy as soon as they arrived in Evan's living room, remaining invisible to both men.

"Somehow I doubt it. From what little I heard his attackers saying, they wanted to know how much he knew, although they didn't say about what."

"Still doesn't mean he's not a crook," Dom pointed out.

"True. I guess we'll find out when Evan quizzes him when he wakes up, because you know he will."

"Unless he's an idiot, he will," Dom agreed as they watched Evan go upstairs and return a minute later with a blanket that he spread over Vic's sleeping form.

"Given what he said he does, I rather doubt that he is. Once he asks then we'll all have a better idea of what we're dealing with."

Dom grinned maliciously. "At least I got the one who we know is, excuse the expression, on the side of the angels."

Paddy just shook his head, instead of replying and feeding into Dom's superiority complex. I have the feeling Vic is too, but I'm not saying anything until I know for sure.