Conversations in Real Time Read online

  Send a few Hollywood stunt makers this way sometime, huh?

  Okay, I know I've kept you up typing and it's late over there. What was I thinking? Your arm must be killing you. You need to rest and focus on getting better.

  I'm sorry, I just had be sure you were okay. Not knowing if you were alive or dead has just driven me insane.

  So I'll make you a deal. I'll cook for you one day, if you rest that arm so you can play the piano for me? How does that sound?

  surfdudecop: Sounds like a deal. Talking with you has done more for my healing than laying in the hospital.

  bikergeek: Okay then, that's good. Now if I could afford the flight I'd come mother hen you for a while. Get some rest JC. Take your meds. I'm willing to bet that Nellie has to force them down your throat like one of your cats, right?

  Let’s talk again tomorrow when your arm's not hurting.

  I'll be here.

  Just ping.

  surfdudecop: I'll rest. Hell, I'll even take my meds like a good little boy if you swear not to run off to Nellie.

  I'll ping you.

  Goodnight and thank you for this. It's been a pleasure.

  bikergeek: You're welcome. I'm just so glad you're still with me. I mean, I'm glad you're still in the land of the living...

  surfdudecop: It'll take a lot more than a few bullets to take me down, Daniel. And just in case you don't get the news over in sunny old England *grins* the one robber that survived has pleaded out and is going away for a long time.

  bikergeek: At least those who died that day will get some justice.

  surfdudecop: Irony of it is, on that day they were filming in the Downtown area for a movie, so the camera crew got it all on film. He had no choice after seeing himself on screen shooting a cop.

  bikergeek: He wasn't shooting you was he? *headdesk repeatedly* Oh God, that was crass. Why the hell did I just ask that?

  surferdetective: *blink* I was just wondering if you were psychic.

  bikergeek: Jesus! It WAS you!!

  surfdudecop: I'm surprised it wasn't all over the news. I heard it was a spectacular camera shot. The damn producer has been whining about ownership rights and wants to use it in his movie!

  bikergeek: What the hell?? Spectacular? Damn it! You could've been killed!! Only in fucking Hollywood, right?

  surfdudecop: I'd be shrugging right now if I could. Daniel seriously, no fretting okay. I'm fine. No permanent damage done. I'll just have another scar is all.

  bikergeek: You're here, that's the important thing. Still alive and kicking. I won't fret too much, but I'll worry about you because you're my friend.

  Good night James, sleep well. Hope you feel better tomorrow.

  surfdudecop: That means a lot to me. Good night.

  surfdudecop has signed out

  * * *

  surfdudecop has signed in

  surfdudecop: Hey, you there?

  bikergeek: As usual. How are you feeling?

  surfdudecop: Sore has hell. I strained my shoulder.

  bikergeek: Wait. You're out of the hospital not even a day and you strain your arm?

  surfdudecop: *blushes* Well I took off my sling so I could type.

  bikergeek: *smacks*

  surfdudecop: And to make sure I don't get smacked for real by my local mother hen, I was wondering if I could call you?

  bikergeek: 011443756235897 My mobile. That's what they call it over here.

  * * *

  James picked up the phone and stared at it for a few moments. He had already checked his calling plan and set up a package to call internationally. All that remained was to push a few dozen buttons.

  With a deep breath he dialed and followed the instructions.

  Nerves shattered, he waited as it rang, noting the strange double ring that came from calling the United Kingdom.

  “James?”

  “Hi, Daniel. Yeah...”

  They both laughed at the nervousness they were sharing. It was ridiculous and yet sharing more than just type written words felt like taking their relationship to a whole new level.

  James chuckled into the phone, “I feel like a school boy calling that cool kid he just met in class.”

  “I'm far from being the cool kid, more the geek. Way more,” Daniel replied, well aware that the grin on his face was echoing through his voice. He had to admit that James didn't sound quite the way he was expecting; his tone was lower, somehow more gruff than he had imagined.

  “For a New York boy you do have a slight British twang there,” James teased, though in truth he very much enjoyed the sound of his voice. It was already settling his own nerves.

  “I've been here for more years than I want to count,” he replied, suddenly self-conscious and very much aware that his accent was thickening. “Do I detect a small twang in yours?”

  “Yeah, I plead the Fifth.” James grinned as he leaned back into the pillows. “My family's from Georgia but I was born and raised in California. Sometimes the accent spills out when I'm tired and pissed...”

  “Good warning sign then,” Daniel laughed. “I should remember that. I hope we can talk more often. It's damn expensive calling abroad from here but I think I can get a discount on my cell rate or something. I'll check it out. I mean, that is, if you want to keep talking...” He chewed his lower lip pensively, suddenly having visions of asking Maisie Davis to the Prom and waiting for her to give him an answer that wasn't a resounding 'you're kidding me right?'.

  “Of course I do,” James said swiftly, trying not to sound too anxious. “We're friends aren't we, just getting to really know each other?”

  Daniel nodded, then realized James couldn't actually see him doing that. “Yes, we are.”

  His sigh of relief wasn't lost on either of them.

  “So, how's your day been?” James asked, as nonchalantly as possible.

  “Busy. Besides worrying myself about you, I've been in the lab with a couple of research assistants I could quite cheerfully throttle. Until I get a real job I'm the Prof's 'go to guy'.”

  He sat himself down behind his desk and looked at the blinking cursor on his computer that just seemed to be teasing him with the report he had to write up. He hated blank white screens, and with a mutter he slammed the laptop shut.

  “Problem?” James heard the noise.

  “I'm going to get someone fired. Let's just say they mixed the wrong chemicals and nearly blinded themselves.” He sighed. “Ever feel like you're the last sane person left on the face of the earth?”

  “Frequently. But then I found you, and realized I wasn't alone.”

  Daniel smiled to himself, astonished at how such a simple statement seemed to warm him. “You're putting a lot of faith in my lab skills.”

  “You're worth it. Hell, if I thought I could get away with it I'd have you working for me, but y'know what it's like with budget constraints and the economy and having to justify why I need another tech. Plus we'd have to ship you over here.” He sounded lame and he knew it. “Shutting up now.”

  For his part, Daniel rolled his eyes. “I'm here because of budget constraints and the economy, and for those very same reasons I can't get out of here now. Wow, irony can be a bitch.”

  James contemplated that for a moment and found himself agreeing. “Then I should marry you and get you over here as my partner.”

  That won him a delighted snicker. “I can't see anyone over in California giving up all that lovely sunshine for the cold wet streets of Oxford.”

  “You have a good point there, but I still think you'd be worth it.”

  Daniel wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that...

  “They must have you on some serious pain meds there, James.”

  ...so he changed the subject a bit.

  In Los Angeles, James Caldwell eyed the small box of tablets he'd been given when the doctor had discharged him from the hospital. They were on his bedside table, right beside his gun oddly enough. He hadn't taken any medication yet that day and only ga
ve in to them when he was in too much trouble to sleep. But he didn't say that to his friend.

  “Okay, the long pregnant pause tells me you're not taking your meds, are you?” Daniel just couldn't bear the contemplative silence.

  “If you're about to tell me I'm stubborn, don't. I know I am.”

  “Actually, I was about to ring Nellie and get her over to your place,” he replied casually.

  A loud snort met his ears. “Don't even joke like that!”

  “Then take your meds, or I'll get your mother hens nagging you. Either that or I'll have to fly over myself just to smack you.”

  There were too many choice comments to choose from for James to actually pick one at that point. His brain however, decided to play him a collage of images that were too damn sexually explicit for their first phone call together.

  “James you still there?”

  “Yeah, I was er...”

  “Taking your meds?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Then what?”

  “I was wondering which of us would enjoy the smacking part more.” His jaw fell open when he realized what he'd just said, and for a second he wasn't sure if he'd said it out loud or just thought about it.

  “Nellie,” Daniel replied, without a moment's hesitation, although he too was smirking in a fashion that went way past simply being amused. “You know she'd watch.”

  James nearly choked on the mouthful of water he'd been drinking while he tried to gather his rapidly shredding thoughts. “Oh, please God, no!” he whined.

  “Then take your meds, lie down and close yours eyes. We can talk again tomorrow.”

  There was a gentle tone in Daniel's voice that had James reaching for the pills before he even realized he was doing it.

  “Damn,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What?”

  “You're a good influence on me.”

  Daniel blinked. “You say that like it's a bad thing.”

  “Trust me,” James replied, fiddling with the blister pack that held his medication and seemed steadfastly determined not to give it up, “it's really not.”

  “Take them both.”

  “Are you spying on me now? Don't tell me the cats are sending you coded messages...?”

  “No, I'm listening to you pop pills out from a foil wrapper.”

  “Damn, you've got good ears.”

  “And that's not all I've got that's good.”

  That one hung on the air a moment as James obediently swallowed both his tablets with the rest of his glass of water.

  “Good boy. Now, lie down, just close your eyes and let yourself drift off to sleep. Dream of catching bad guys.”

  James settled himself on his bed and messed with his pillows. “How about letting me dream of you?”

  “Only if you want nightmares,” he joked. “We'll talk again tomorrow. This could get to be fun, y'know.”

  “Totally,” came the sleepy reply.

  And less than a heartbeat later, Daniel heard the long, soft exhalations of sleep in Los Angeles. He listened for a little while before hanging up the phone with a sigh, and a more than satisfied grin on his face.

  It was definitely going to be fun getting to know James Caldwell a whole lot better.

  * * *

  surfdudecop: Daniel you there? No? Damn, I'm not sure even what time it is. Just needed someone to chat with.

  I'm guessing that you're away from the computer. When you get this, ping or email me.

  bikergeek: James? Damn it, I actually take a nap and that is when you ping me. You there?

  We're so doing good on the whole being online at the same time thing.

  * * *

  Sender: James

  Subject: Unknown

  Random rain storm.

  Electricity out.

  Me and the cats are sitting in the dark telling ghost mice stories.

  I'm afraid of my cats now.

  Sender: Daniel

  Subject: Re: Unknown

  I see the drugs are working.

  Sender: James

  Subject: Re: Unknown

  I may have taken more than 2 pain pills.

  Tripped.

  Don't ask.

  * * *

  James wasn't really surprised when the phone rang.

  “Cat's fault.”

  Daniel wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or not. “Seriously, your physiotherapist must hate you.”

  James shifted in his chair, getting a glare from one of the she-demons that controlled his life. “Yeah well...”

  “You are seeing your therapist?” Daniel's voice dropped. “Do not make me call Nellie.”

  “No worries there. I canceled one too many times, and my doctor decided to send a therapist out to me instead. They'll be here on Friday.” James growled lightly.

  “I really need to meet Nellie. I'm guessing that was her doing.”

  James snorted, “Yeah, well she wants to meet you too. According to her all I've been talking about is you. Daniel this, or Daniel that. You're the only thing I think about, or talk about. I think of you through out the day. Shit. I'm rambling.” He leaned his head back on the recliner, knowing he wouldn't be saying half this stuff if it wasn't for the pain meds.

  Daniel was ready to respond when his phone died. Cursing, he tossed it onto the desk and pulled up his laptop.

  bikergeek: Did your mobile phone battery quit? Mine did too.

  But when there was no sign of James online and no reply forthcoming he knew he was right and the power was still out in L.A.

  It was three hours later when his own mobile phone buzzed at him with a text message that had clearly taken quite a while to arrive on the other side of the world.

  Sender: James

  Subject: Re: Unknown

  Cell about dead so hope you get this.

  Sorry for rambling.

  Crashing now.

  Talk later.

  * * *

  Pain wasn't the word for it.

  Exhaustion.

  Weariness.

  The Physical Therapist had just left, leaving James as a withering mass of disturbed nerve endings lying prone on the floor. With a sigh he struggled up and made his way to the en-suite bathroom. Right at that moment all he wanted was a nice hot shower, some painkillers and his laptop to talk to Daniel.