Oceanic Descent (Chapter Ten Part B)
Gradually, the storm passed, and a sense of peaceful fatigue filled them both. Cook found himself whispering a litany of comfort to David, one hand under his loose shirt, rubbing circles on his utterly smooth-skinned back comfortingly. David sagged against him, completely drained, his face trustingly turned into the side of his neck, damp breath playing over Cook’s skin.
“Do you feel better baby?”
David sleepily nodded, not wanting to move ever again.
“That was some catharsis. Hey, David, when do you sing?” said Cook, still rocking David.
“Um, not till seven.” David’s lips moved against Cook’s skin, sending a strong shudder through Cook's frame. “What’s a ca-catharsis?”
“Uh, it’s a much needed release of emotion. C’mon baby, let's get you cleaned up.” Cook wiped David’s tear-streaked face with the bottom of his soft tee-shirt. “You’ve still got a few hours left. Do you want me to take you to my room at the hotel?” Cook offered, remembering the glimpse he’d gotten of Jeff’s angry face. Where did that come from, he thought in confusion? “We can get you back here in plenty of time to sing.”
“Why are you calling me baby?” David asked in a slurred almost drunk-sounding voice.
“Because you, uh, you are… my baby… I guess? I don’t know, just seemed... to fit somehow. I’ll stop if you want me too.”
“I, um, I like it… just... not in front of everybody…” a wide yawn followed by a snuggling motion cut off whatever else David was going to say.
“Baby, you are so out of it… c’mon let’s get going before you fall asleep here.” Cook laughed gently, starting to manhandle David into a standing position. “Good thing the hotel is linked to the Center.”
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Cook was sharing his room, but luckily his roommate was out. Cook steered David to the bed and knelt down in front of him. “Do you want a shower? Might help you wake up. I can order some lunch for us while you clean up if you want?”
“Could - Could I take a b-bath instead? Only, you have to promise not to come in, no one can come in. No matter what.”
“Of course you can have a bath, and no one will come in, just lock the door. I’ll guard the door, I promise. Okay? I’ll knock when lunch is here. Go ahead, have your bath” said Cook, slightly amused by the insistence on total privacy, which he would never have violated anyway.
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Cook knocked softly on the door, “David, lunch is ready.” Hearing no noise, he knocked louder. “David! Lunch!”
Cook heard a brief explosion of splashing, followed by a very loud gasping breath, and then David said, “Thanks, um, I’ll be there in a minute!”
As David came out of the bathroom fully dressed and toweling his damp hair, Cook slid past him and into the bathroom. When he finished his most urgent business, Cook looked around perplexed. No steam? Something seems off, but what? Leaning over he touched the tub, finding it stone cold. The residue of the water was also cold. Not cold like I-let-the-water-get-cold, but real hypothermic cold.
Cook tucked this little bit of knowledge away into the growing file in his head entitled, The Mystery Of David Archuleta. Then he hurried into the room to eat, and help get David set up to sing his second audition, so he could knock the judges dead.
Two hours later, a smiling and laughing David Archuleta sang “Heaven”, and did just that. David Cook cheered him from the wings.
TBC...
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