Free Chance to Be King by Sue Brown

"No one is going to put out for the man who puked and pissed all over him."
    The feel of hot water pounding on his sensitive head was almost too much but he forced himself to cope as he washed his hair and body; it would help him feel better after all. He brushed his teeth twice and rinsed out thoroughly, but by the time he'd finished Eric was seriously contemplating going back to bed again. He really needed to see Millie and Toby, though, to make sure his babies were okay.
    There were some sweats and a t-shirt on the dresser. As Eric dressed he noticed they fit perfectly, despite his height advantage over Thomas.
    Leaving the bedroom, Eric went to look for his mutts, wondering if they'd even remember who he was. The music seemed to be coming from the summer room; Thomas' term for the light and airy room where he'd talked to the police.
    Eric could hear the sound of a guitar and male vocals. It sounded more blues than country; laidback and mellow. Thomas obviously had it turned down low so he wouldn't be disturbed. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Millie suddenly bolted out of the room, her claws skittering on the stone tiles as she saw Eric and changed direction. Her barks of excitement attracted Toby who joined her, leaping at Eric as he sat on the stairs and almost pinning him in place.
    The music stopped mid-song and Thomas came into the hall, a huge smile spreading across his face when he saw Eric. "You look like hell," was his cheery greeting.
    Eric was about to respond with his usual 'Fuck you' when it occurred to him that it probably wasn't the most appropriate thing to say now. The time had passed for not-so-innocent flirting.
    "Yeah, feel pretty much like I've been dragged into hell and back actually," he admitted as he hugged his dogs, both of them intent on giving him a second shower.
"Want something to eat?" suggested Thomas. "Toast?" Eric asked hopefully, not sure he was up to much more.
     
"Can do. Let your daddy up, kids."
    To Eric's amazement, the dogs sat down obediently and waited for him to stand up. Ignoring the niggling worm of jealousy inside him, Eric followed Thomas into the kitchen.
    "Coffee?" Thomas waved the coffee pot at him but Eric shook his head, and then wished he hadn't as the dull thump started up again.
"Best not. I'll stick with water."
    He sat down at the large table and in short order, toast and a glass of iced water appeared in front of him. Thomas sat down opposite him, munching on his own piece of toast.
"It's good to see you up again."
     
"It's good to be vertical again," Eric admitted. He drank the water but couldn't quite finish the toast.
    Thomas was looking at him with frown lines between his eyes. "Do you get those headaches a lot?"
    "Yeah. At least once a film. Normally it's when I'm stressed. The medication helps to keep it under control but if I forget to take it I get a whopper like this."
"Have you had them all your life?"
    "Just since I got successful. I never really get any vacation time between films. I'm usually wrapping one as I start on another."
"It can't be good for you taking all that medication. And why are you overworking?" Eric shrugged, and winced.
    Thomas' frown got even deeper as he caught Eric's pain. "Dude, you're gonna burn out if you don't get some downtime." He placed his hand over Eric's. It felt warm and comforting and Eric wanted it to stay there forever.
    "I know. I guess I'm worried about not working, not getting the parts. You don't know what it's like, how cut-throat it is."
    "Not being a top Hollywood star, you mean?" Thomas withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair.
Eric looked up at the edge in his voice. "I didn't mean…"
    Thomas waved his hand. "No, you're right, I don't understand what it's like. But I still don't think it's worth stroking out over, 'Ric."
    "It's just so hard to stop the pattern once you start. Every time I get a headache I think 'when the film ends I'll take a break' and then I find I'm starting another film."