“Yeah?” Paul asked, his eyebrows lifting as a smile tugged at his lips. “I didn’t safe word.”
“Yeah, great,” Danny said dryly, looking over to Jason. “He must be legitimately sick.”
“His fever’s pretty high,” Jason said in concern as he studied Paul. “And it looks like he’s been losing weight. Have you been eating?”
Paul didn’t answer him.
Danny rolled his eyes, knowing the answer for himself. Though Paul was still big, all muscles and broad shoulders, his face was thinner than it had been three weeks ago. It was obvious he hadn’t been eating. Even if his back wasn’t torn to shreds, Paul needed medical attention. Who knew how long he’d been sick like this? “Paul Guy, we’re gonna take you to the hospital, okay?”
“I don’t wanna go,” Paul said, his voice pleading. “Can I do something else? I’ll do anything you want.”
“No,” Danny said firmly. “You’re sick. You need to be in the hospital, but I’m gonna go with you. It’ll be okay.”
“It will?” Paul asked, sounding completely trusting. “You’ll tell them you’re proud of me?”
Danny opened his mouth, not totally sure how to respond to that. He was definitely dealing with a different Paul than he was used to and it left him on very unstable ground.
“He’s afraid they’ll commit him.” Jason’s voice cut into the silence. “If you tell them you’re proud of him then they’ll know he did it to please you, not because he’s self-destructive.” Jason stared at Danny steadily, giving him a pointed look. “That’d be one hell of a promise. It’d be almost impossible to keep.”
“Can I keep it?” Danny asked, terrified he already knew the answer.
Jason gave him another look, his eyes wide to convey the message as he silently mouthed, no.
“He can keep it,” Paul said confidently.
“Paul Guy.” Danny reached out to Paul once more, touching his cheek until his eyes were focused back on him. “I’m gonna go talk to the doctor. But I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” Paul whispered, giving a smile that made his entire face light up. It made his beauty almost hard to look at when it was so pure and radiant. “I’ve missed you. I’m happy you’re back.”
That choked Danny to the point he couldn’t respond. He shakily got to his feet and followed after Jason. He paused in front of Arty, who’d been standing in the corner, watching the scene unfold like a train wreck.
“Don’t speak, just watch him. If he needs me, come get us,” Danny growled, his voice so vicious it startled even him. “And if you touch him I will hurt you in a way that is not sexy. Got me?”
Arty nodded quickly. “I gotcha.”
Hating to leave Paul in Arty’s hands even for a second, Danny leaned back against the door once he and Jason were out of the room and asked, “Who do I have to blow to keep him out of the psych ward?”
“There is no way,” Jason said with a grim laugh. “Masochism is defined as a mental disorder and he’s the most hardcore masochist I have ever seen. They will have to keep him. He’s seeking out severe physical trauma for the fun of it. He’s a threat to himself—a serious threat.”
“Fuck,” Danny groaned, banging his head back against the door as he looked to the ceiling and thought about everything Paul had worked so hard for. His football scholarship, being on the Dean’s list for the past two years, his Pee Wee football kids who were heading to the championship, he’d lose it all if this got out. Losing Eve was bad enough, but to take away everything Paul prided himself on—it’d kill him. “He can’t be committed. It’s not an option.”
“He needs to be in the hospital,” Jason said seriously. “I cannot stress that enough.”
Danny got it. He knew that’s where he should be. He also knew Paul. He would never be able to deal with failure to that extreme. It was outside his programming. His pain fetish was terrifying because a guy who got off on pain like Paul did needed something to live for. Take it away and he wouldn’t survive. Getting Paul committed would be the equivalent to signing his death warrant.
“What kinda doctor are you, Dr. Jason?” Danny asked, making his voice sharp and sarcastic on purpose as he looked down at the handsome doctor whose warm brown eyes and dimples reminded him of Eve’s.
“I-I’m a pediatrician.” Jason’s shoulders slumped, his eyes flashing with the glassiness of submission Danny was starting to spot easily.