Olivia and NPCs David and Billy Paige; St. Martin's Hospital; Thursday
Olivia walked toward her brother's private room in St. Martin's Hospital a little slower than usual. She'd been going non stop since the accident on little to no sleep, and she was beat. It didn't stop her from checking on him, and bringing his boyfriend Landon some soup to give him a break from the horrible hospital food. Billy was sleeping mostly. They were keeping him doped up for the pain and to give him a chance to heal, so Landon seemed to appreciate the company too.
She was surprised when she walked in the door to find her father sitting beside Billy's bed with his head in his hands instead of Landon. She bit her lip and almost turned around and walked back out when her father lifted his hand and gestured her in.
"Hey Liv," he said with a tired smile. "Have a seat."
She moved to sit in the other chair and looked curiously at her father. "Did you have today off?"
"No," he replied, looking at his son. "But I rearranged a few meetings and took it off anyway. Has he woken up yet?"
"Landon says he has once or twice, but he's so drugged up he just goes right back to sleep. Doesn't do or say anything."
David nodded. "Landon is a good kid, isn't he? He's been good for Billy."
"Olivia nodded. "Yes, he has."
"I talked to him earlier," David continued. "Landon. It's embarassing the way I've treated that boy. You should've heard some of the guys I go golfing with when they started dating. I was the guy with the queer son dating the black guy, and that was that. I was so embarassed." David sighed. "But that kid - he's good. Got his head on nice and straight. Responsible. He loves my son, and Billy's going to need all the love he can get."
Olivia's throat tightened a little. She didn't know if her father was actually talking to her or to himself, but she answered anyway. "Yes, he will."
"I've been a shity father almost his whole life, and I almost lost him before I got the chance to make it up to him." He gave a great and weary sigh, then turned to look at her. "Landon told me Billy was in town for a, uh, event."
"A rally," Olivia nodded. "Gay pride. They want to get the gay marriage thing put on the ballot again this year. Billy was supposed to speak, but now... Well, they're trying to find someone else on such short notice."
David looked at her for a moment, then glanced down at his hands. "See if they'll have me instead."
Olivia blinked. "What?" Was he serious?
"My son can't speak, so I'll speak for him. Call someone and have them arrange it. Security will be a nightmare, but... I'll do it."
"Daddy..." Olivia said, looking at him with big, moist eyes. David Paige wasn't the sort of father that had eagarly handed out hugs, so Olivia didn't feel like she could just through her arms around his neck, even though that's what she wanted to do. "Billy would love that, I'm sure. And my friend Laura, her boyfriend Smith runs his own security firm. Supposed to be the best, so I bet she could wheedle him into doing it on such a short notice."
David nodded. "I'll call my assistant to arrange it, you get your friend to get her boyfriend and his crew on the scene, and I'll be there."
Olivia smiled and against better judgement, moved to hug him.