Wish the Pain Away

  Love Medicine - Book Four

  Cecilia Fyre

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to others. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Published 7 July 2020

  © 2020 Cecilia Fyre

  Cover: Lyss Em

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Thank you!

  About the Author

  Also by Cecilia Fyre

  1

  Ricco closed the front door with a sigh. He rubbed his eyes, wincing at the grit scratching the corner of the sore one. His head wasn’t exactly aching, but there was a numbness on that side of his face he knew only too well. He had worked too hard, for too long without a break, and now his head wanted to let him know that it was payback time.

  Filming hadn't even started yet, but he'd been in costume all day, posing with the bike and with his castmates for the new season's promo shots. Holding one position for what felt like hours had done a number on his back. How could just standing around be so tiring? You’re definitely not as young as you were. That thought made him snort derisively.

  He pressed a hand against his side and rubbed his back hard, to his spine and back. Why was it so sore? He made his way into the living room. The house was quiet, which was a relief after the long day of chatter and noise, but it felt a little lonely. Having his doc here now would be great.

  But she had her job, and she loved it dearly. She couldn’t just uproot to Canada just because his main gig happened to be here for seven months out of the year. He’d never been arrogant enough to suggest to any of his girlfriends that they should give up what they loved just so they could follow him around. But with Lea, the separation was especially difficult. He missed her constantly. They had only just gotten over the break-up, which had easily been the most painful time in recent years. Would he be able to stay true to her when she was so far away, and her presence couldn’t remind him just how lucky he was to have her? Ricco wanted to make this work and he would do his best.

  His side gave a twinge as he dropped onto the sofa and pulled his phone from the back pocket. He unlocked it, but then paused. Was Lea working tonight? She had told him her hours on the phone last night, but now he couldn’t remember.

  Ricco sighed and rubbed his eyes again. Great start to the filming season, for fuck’s sake. Maybe he really was too old for this job. He felt beat, and his brain was sluggish and fuzzy. There was a hint of nausea deep inside his gut, and an odd, unpleasant pressure somewhere below his navel. He shifted around, frowning.

  Then his phone started to buzz, startling him. It was Lea, and he nearly dropped the phone in his eagerness to pick up the call. “Hey, baby girl.”

  “Evening, darling. Is this a good time, are you home yet?”

  “I am, yeah. Was just about to call you, actually.”

  “How was the first day back? Are they easing you back in slowly?”

  Ricco snorted. “I wish. Photoshoot all day. I think I pulled a muscle standing still for twelve hours at a stretch.”

  “Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. Make sure you got to bed early, you hear?” She sounded worried, which made Ricco squirm with guilt.

  “I will. I’m glad we’re getting back into it, tho, I really am. Just cranky cuz I’m sore.” He had to adjust his position again, his back was killing him. And the weird, heavy feeling in his lower abdomen was getting stronger, too.

  “It’s only one more day until the weekend,” Lea said. “And that’s why I called. I managed to change my schedule so I can get away tomorrow at lunchtime. You still want me to come early, right?”

  “I do, yeah!” This was the first good news of the day. “Call the number I gave you and change your flight. I’ll have someone pick you up, we’ll still be at the studio if you come on the earlier plane. You wanna come to set and meet the gang? I really want you to meet the rest of the cast.”

  “Sure! Can’t wait to meet them.” Was there hesitation in her voice? Ricco knew that Lea was an introvert, though she’d warmed to the friends she’d met so far quite quickly.

  “They’re very curious about you—” Ricco broke off as a sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen.

  “Darling, are you okay?” Lea sounded worried.

  Ricco struggled to his feet with difficulty, hand pressed against the painful place. The pain was better standing up, but now he really had to go use the bathroom. He hesitated for a second. Should he tell her? But he suppressed the urge. She constantly had to hear about his stupid health issues. What kind of baby was he, anyway? “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I’m almost falling asleep on the sofa.”

  “I better let you go then. See you tomorrow, honey.”

  “Can’t wait, babe. Love ya.”

  “And I you. Bye!”

  She ended the call. Ricco dropped the phone onto the sofa and groaned, bent double as what felt like a thousand razor blades cutting into his bladder.

  He hurried into the hall, unzipping his fly with fumbling fingers. The pain was traveling around his side, and the pressure onto his bladder was excruciating. By the time he got into the downstairs bathroom, he was seeing double with pain.

  Emptying his bladder was torture. As he stood there, tears leaping into his eyes, he realized that this wasn’t the first time over the last couple of days that peeing had been uncomfortable. He closed his eyes. This was a lot worse than uncomfortable, though. He threw out a hand as his knees threatened to buckle with the searing fire in his groin.

  After a minute, when he felt less like passing out, he opened his eyes again. As he tucked himself away he noticed red streaks in the toilet bowl.

  Blood in his piss, fucking fantastic.

  Dark shapes erupted before his eyes and he shivered. Sweat cooled on his forehead and neck, and he felt more than a little sick.

  He flushed, then stumbled into the hall. The sofa was closest, but if he went upstairs to the bedroom he could lie down in closer proximity to a bathroom. As he started up the stairs he felt a little better. Maybe it was over now. If he could just sleep for a while he’d surely be all right. He could feed the cats later. He slipped into bed and made a mental note not to forget his pills before drifting into an uneasy sleep.

  Thirty minutes later he awoke with a cry of pain. He struggled with the sheets, nearly fell as he hurried for the bathroom. The pain was as bad as ever. As he readied himself for the agony of peeing he prayed that he’d make it through the night without wetting the bed.

  After a short flight, there was another dark and luxurious limousine to take Lea to the set of Hell Riders. Lea yawned, relaxing into the leather seat. She had never thought she would care for these things, but traveling in style wasn’t all that bad. For one, when traveling in style one didn’t lose the entire day to feeling brain dead and exhausted.

  Not that she needed to be especially well rested for this evening. All they would do once Ricco was finished with work was to go home and put their feet up. Lea was determined that there would be no change of plans. He had sounded exhausted when they'd spoken briefly that morning. And the night before he'd sounded like he was coming down with something. His reassurance that he was fine had not convinced her.

  It would've been nice to bring Ciaran again. He would've distracted his dad from the stressful shooting days. But Ciaran wasn't well enough for bike rides or plane journeys yet. He was finally back at school and making progress with his walking every day, but it would be a while before he had fully recovered from his head injury.

  The boy was staying with his mum for the time being. Lea had offered to be at the penthouse if he wanted to spend a few nights at his dad’s place. She knew that Ciaran liked it there, and she wouldn’t mind spending time at Ricco’s place. She missed him more when she was there but she also felt closer to him. Now that filming on his main show had resumed, it would take some getting used to Ricco being away for weeks at a time.

  Lea worried about him working too hard. On the phone, it had sounded like he was overdoing it already. He hadn't exactly come back to Ottawa in great shape. All the traveling during the season break, and battling with the migraines and the side effects from the various medications had taken their toll. Ciaran’s accident had been the final straw.

  The limousine slowed down and Lea craned her neck. She had been gazing at the lush, green trees lost in thought, which were replaced with a tall black gate. Ricco had explained to her how many precautions the studio had to take these days to keep the overeager fans out, and the show's secrets inside the walls.

  And indeed, a few fans hung around outside the gate, even though there was absolutely nothing around for miles. The fans stared at the sedan, and Lea shrank into the seat, grateful for the darkened-out windows.

  After a short conversation between the driver and the guard at the gate, they were being waved through. Lea leaned forward curiously, scanning their surroundings. On both sides of the graveled driveway stood big trailers, with steps leading up to narrow doors. These had to be where the actors rested when they weren't needed on set.

  The limousine stopped halfway between the gate and a set of sprawling buildings in the distance, which Lea surmised had to be the actual studio.

  “Here we are,” the driver said, and she opened the door. Climbing from the car she stretched. There were no people around, and the late spring afternoon air was warm and quiet.

  The driver lifted Lea’s suitcase from the boot and put it on the gravel by her side. Then he pointed at the nearest trailer. “That’s Ricco’s.”

  Lea smiled at him. "Thanks, Mike."

  He waved. “No problem. Call me if two need someone to drive you around this weekend, okay?”

  “Cheers.” Lea gave him a wave and he climbed back into the sedan. Lea watched him drive toward the building, and notice a small figure coming the other way. It was Daniel. He waved when he recognized her.

  “Hey, didn’t know you were coming early,” he said when he reached her. He gave Lea a quick peck on the cheek. “Ricco didn’t mention it. Have you seen him yet?”

  “No, I literally just got here.” She pointed to where Mike’s sedan was just about still visible. “Ricco arranged a car.” She frowned when she saw Daniel’s expression. “Is something the matter?”

  “I’m not sure.” Daniel made for Ricco’s trailer. “He was a bit off today. Couldn’t get out of the studio fast enough. He looked peaky, too, like he didn’t sleep well.”

  Lea remembered Ricco’s strange demeanor on the phone. Had he felt off already last night?

  Daniel climbed the trailer steps. “He was still in costume when he left. But he wasn’t in the make-up trailer, so I came here as soon as they got the dirt off me.”

  Lea put the suitcase down as Daniel knocked on the trailer door. They waited, but there was no answer. Daniel tried the door, which opened at once. He went inside. “Ricco? You in here?”

  Lea followed, leaving her suitcase. There was no light on in the main room of the trailer, and she could see nothing while her eyes got used to the gloom.

  "Shit," Daniel murmured and hurried forward.

  Ricco stood in a narrow doorway, a basin and tiny shower cubicle visible behind him. He was pressing a hand into his side, listing and shaking badly.

  Daniel grabbed him and slumped against his shoulder. Daniel held him around the middle, and Ricco hid his face against Daniel’s neck. His breath came in ragged gasps.

  “What’s going on, mate?” Daniel asked.

  “Hurts,” Ricco managed. “My side, it’s like knives.” He threw Lea a desperate glance. “Doc,” he croaked. His face was gray, and there was perspiration on his forehead.

  Was this a migraine attack? But he wasn't holding his head, instead, he still pressed a hand into his side.

  Lea glanced around. "Can you get him over onto that sofa?" She made way and Daniel deposited Ricco on an ordinary-sized sofa. From the outside, the trailers had reminded Lea of summer holiday camping trailers, but on the inside, they were furnished quite differently.

  She kneeled on the floor by the sofa. “Where does it hurt?”

  “My back. And here.” He pressed a hand on the middle of his lower belly. Lea felt his forehead. He was burning up.

  “Sounds like a urinary tract infection. Does it hurt when you pee?”

  “Yeah.” He curled up into a ball, groaning.

  “Has this been going on long?”

  “Few days?”

  She sighed. “Why didn’t you say anything? You should’ve been at home, resting.”

  Ricco shrugged. “We had to start filming. I didn’t want to hold up everything.”

  Daniel frowned. “We could’ve shifted things around, mate. Wouldn’t have been a problem.”

  Ricco shrugged and didn't meet his eyes. Lea had the feeling that there was something he wasn't saying. She turned to Daniel. "Can you get me a cool washcloth or something?"

  Daniel nodded and went into the bathroom. When the tap started running Lea asked, “What’s going on, hmm?”

  Ricco blushed, two red splotches on his pale cheeks under the make-up dirt. “I can’t pee right. Ever since I started the new pills.”

  “You mean you can’t empty your bladder all the way?” Ricco nodded.

  “It hurt when I tried too hard, so I didn’t.”

  That would explain a UTI. Lea stroked his neck, thinking. Daniel came back with the cloth and she placed it on his neck. “You didn’t tell the neurologist?”

  He shook his head. “The pills were working for my head.”

  Lea sighed. Daniel returned with the washcloth and Lea used it to wipe Ricco’s face and neck, which were covered in feverish perspiration.

  “I’ll drive you guys home if you want,” Daniel said.

  Lea considered. “We should probably take him to A&E.”

  At that Ricco looked panicked. “No hospital!” He groaned. “Shit.” He pushed himself up. Lea got up from the floor to lend a hand, but Daniel had already taken Ricco’s arm and hoisted him to his feet. Without a word, Ricco disappeared into the bathroom. The door banged behind him.

  Daniel went to the door. “I’ll go get my car, and tell Stuart what’s going on. Will you okay for a few minutes?”

  Lea nodded. “Sure. Thanks so much for helping out.”

  “No problem.” Daniel smiled. “Tell him to lie down. I’ll come and help get him into the car.” He disappeared, and Lea hovered, listening for any indication that Ricco needed her help. At last, the bathroom door opened and he reappeared.

  He was ghostly pale. His lips looked bloodless and his shirt with cut-away sleeves and the strange design on the front was soaked with sweat. She took him by the arm and he leaned against her. “Shit. I’m so sick of this crap.”

  “I can only imagine. Come on, lie back down. Daniel is getting his car.”

  Lea helped him back to the sofa. They went down rather hard, and he held on to her for a moment, head buried against her neck. His forehead burned against Lea’s skin. She stroked his back and he gave a strangled kind of sob.

  “I’m so sorry that you’re feeling shitty, darling.”

  He sighed shakily. “No hospital.”

  “Okay, no hospital.” She disentangled herself and he curled up on his side. She covered him with a blanket and went to rinse the washcloth. When she placed the cool fabric on his forehead, he sighed. His eyes remained closed but he wasn’t asleep. His hands kept moving restlessly under the blanket and he gave little shudders every so often.

  After what felt like a long time, there was the sound of tires on gravel, and a moment later a car door slammed.

  “That’ll be Daniel,” Lea said. “Can you manage a car ride?”

  Ricco started to push himself up. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”

  Daniel appeared in the doorway. “I put your suitcase in the trunk,” he said to Lea. He handed her a jacket from the back of the door. “It’s a bit nippy, and he’s sweated through everything so he better put that on.”

  Lea took the jacket but assessed Ricco dubiously. "Do you need to take off the costume, Ricco?"

  Daniel answered for him. “Doesn’t matter. They have duplicate sets of everything. He can just bring this one back whenever he’s well enough to come back to work.”

  Ricco struggled into the jacket. Daniel took hold of a sleeve. “Here, mate.” He helped Ricco get his arm into the jacket, then hoisted him to his feet. Ricco clung on hard, breaths coming in gasps. Daniel waited patiently. When the worst danger of Ricco passing out seemed to have passed, he said, “Ready to roll?”

  Ricco nodded. Together they navigated the narrow steps down from the trailer, Lea bringing up the rear. “I wish you’d let us take you to the hospital,” she said.

  “We can get a doctor to come to his place.” Daniel gave her an encouraging glance over his shoulder. “They know us, it won’t be the first house call. This show is a bit of a health hazard, you see.”

  “All right then.” Lea wouldn’t fight it, then. As long as they could get someone to prescribe antibiotics and the right kinds of painkillers she wouldn’t argue the case.

  She was glad that someone was there to help with Ricco for a change, even if the weekend seemed ruined.

 

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