The Terms of Release by BA Tortuga Page B

obviously knew about dealing with beat-to-shit folks, because the big man lifted him without hurting him, without killing him. In fact, he was able to relax a little until his muscles started cramping. He stiffened, a cry bursting out of him.
    “I know, man,” Bulldog said, easing him down onto the couch. “I know. It’s worst when it starts to ease off.”
    “Oh fuck….”
    “Where’s your towels?”
    “B… bathroom. Fuck. Bathroom.”
    Bulldog headed off for an eternity, and then suddenly burning hot towels wrapped around him.
    “Oh!” He couldn’t figure whether he needed to fight or let the heat help him until one of the worst cramps unclenched.
    “Breathe, man. Pant. It’ll ease.” As soon as a towel started to cool, another hot one was added.
    He blew out a breath, then sucked another in, his chest working like a bellows. “Too much.”
    “Trust me. It works. I was in the joint for fifteen years. They hit your knees?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Damn. Let me get another towel.” This time the towel was hot and wet and wrapped around his knees. The wet heat would help the joints.
    “You… thank you.” He was going to puke, it felt so good.
    “No worries. Wilma was fretting, so she sent me. Win is on a call over at the county line—collision with three cars.”
    “Oh man. That sucks.”
    “Totally, man. Hate to hear about it. Came through on the scanner.” Bulldog kept the towels coming, then handed him a cup of some kind of tea. Time had become so fluid.
    At some point, Momma came and talked to Bulldog, and Sage thought she wanted to take him to Greenville Presbyterian, but Bulldog told her to give it another day. The low murmur of voices made him blink, and he tried to get up once, only to have Wilma push him down.
    Lord. Was the whole town there?
    Something cold and tart wet his lips, and then Adam was there. “I’m here, Sage. I’m going to take you into the tub, okay? If you don’t get this fever down, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
    Then he was flying. Really flying, like hovering above the floor. The world spun, but he knew it when he lay in the tub, the lukewarm water making him shiver. He reached for Adam, needing that anchor.
    “Right here. Relax for me. Breathe.”
    “Folks keep telling me that.”
    “Well, it helps.” Adam’s face swam into focus. “You need to get that fever down, babe.”
    “Bulldog came. So did Wilma.”
    “Yeah. I appreciate them coming too. You needed the help.” Adam stroked Sage’s hair, smiling.
    Sage closed his eyes and floated. “You have a good day?”
    “Busy. There was a domestic that took two hours, then a traffic fatality. Sucked.” Adam sat on the floor next to the tub.
    “I’m sorry.” He tried to focus, but it was too hard, so he relaxed. “Momma made supper for us, I think.”
    “She did.” Leaning in, Adam wet a soft cloth and rubbed it over Sage’s forehead and cheeks. “This first.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m trying to not be a pussy.”
    “Stop apologizing, babe. You just need to recover some.”
    “My daddy thinks I’m a coward, but they’d put me back in.”
    “You’re no coward, man.” Adam wiped Sage’s face again, then felt his skin. “Better.”
    “I’m not. He don’t understand.” Maximum security was hell on earth.
    “No, I bet he doesn’t. I can’t know what happened in there, babe, but I know I get it more than most people.”
    “I want you to know. I didn’t fight back because I’m scared of going back, not because I’m scared of fighting.”
    “I believe you.” Adam stroked the cloth over his chest.
    “Good.” He should be self-conscious, he guessed, but he wasn’t. He felt better, his muscles unclenching, his hands no longer clawed.
    “You’re looking so much better, baby.”
    “Feel better.”
    “Good.” Adam grinned. “You want some juice? I had Wilma go to the Walmart and get that and more pillows for the bed.”
    “Please.” Juice sounded like heaven.
    “Let me get a