It was just over an hour later when Ethan stopped dozing on the couch. He had slept with one ear open, so to speak. Not hearing much noise out of either Tim or Dustin, he went and quickly ate his snack before waking Dustin for his neb. Dustin was, typically, grumpy at being woken, but went to the kitchen for his breathing treatment.
Following that, he went to check on Tim. Tim was restless and coughing when he went in, and he stood there a moment, until the coughing ceased before laying a hand on Tim’s arm.
Tim’s eyes opened immediately, and a look of confusion crossed his face before his eyes found Ethan and realization set in.
“Hi.”
“Hey.”
“How are you doing?”
Tim coughed roughly into his sleeve, took a drink of water and sat up. “Achy. Headache. Chills. Think I got some sleep though.”
Ethan reached out with the thermometer he had brought with him. “99.8. Inching closer to a fever.”
Tim nodded.
“Hungry?”
Tim shook his head. “Not really hungry, but…”
“But, what? Just let me know what you need…or want.”
“Tea sounds really good. I think it would warm me up a bit.”
“Tea is something I can make.” Ethan grinned. “Honey? Lemon?”
Tim coughed again. “Plenty of both, please. I brought more honey.”
“You didn’t have to…”
“If I’m coughing bad, it’s the only thing that stops it,” Tim explained, snatching up tissues and wrenching away. “HeyyYehhShoo, YehhShoo!…uhhshoo! UhhYuhhshoo!” He gave a strong, forceful blow, followed by several wracking coughs.
“Bless you.” Ethan handed him the water.
“Thanks.” Tim responded, voice starting to roughen. “The coughing and sneezing is starting to tear up my throat.”
Ethan offered a gentle smile. “Tea will be good then. You want to come out or have it here?”
“Out there. Too many bad experiences with being sick and having hot liquids in bed.”
Ethan laughed. “Same. Come on. Dustin will be finishing his neb up, and I’m sure he’ll want some tea too.”
Dustin and Tim watched as Ethan whipped up a pot of tea; Tim surprised that the man who, by his own admission, did not cook, owned a traditional tea kettle.
“Better for tea, especially when there’s more than just me.” Ethan explained to Tim’s surprised expression.
“The microwave doesn’t heat it to his liking.” Dustin whispered, stuffily.
“Well, it doesn’t.” Ethan huffed. “It’s too hot in some places, cold in others.”
Dustin shook his head, then picked up a napkin, pressing it to his nose. “HahKishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo.”
“Bless you.”
“Thanks.” Dustin responded to Tim. “I think the nebs make me sneeze more.”
“They do it to me.” Ethan chipped in. “At least that burst was short.”
“Which means there’s probably a longer one coming later.” Dustin grumped.
Ethan poured water over the tea bags, adding lemon to Dustin’s with a small squeeze of honey and a slight squeeze of lemon with just the tiniest amount of honey to his. He set Tim’s in front of him with the lemon and honey. “I’ll watch you make yours so I get it right next time.” He said, setting his and Dustin’s on the table.
Tim turned away. “S-second. HuhhSchoo…uhhhYuhhshoo. Excuse me.”
“Bless you.” Ethan waited while he blew his nose and got up to wash his hands. Tim sat back down, and Ethan watched as Tim added a squeeze of lemon and a large amount of honey to his tea. “Got it. I’ll have that down for next time.”
“He honestly will.” Dustin laughed. “He honestly will.”
Following tea, Ethan sent them both back to bed, which, Tim had to admit, wasn’t a bad idea. He was definitely more fatigued than he had been that morning. He wrapped the blankets tight around him in an effort to warm up and fell asleep before that happened. The next thing he was aware of was Dustin waking him.
“Hey, Ethan’s dishing up dinner.” Dustin said as Tim opened his eyes.
Tim nodded, sitting up and taking a drink of water before following Dustin to the kitchen. After a quick dinner, Ethan allowed a movie before sending them both to bed.
Ethan reminded Tim he could have more NyQuil at 1:30, then tucked him in with a quick kiss to the temple. “You’re really warm,” he sighed. “I’ll be right back.”
Tim nodded, pulling the covers tight around him. Despite what Ethan had said about him being warm, he was chilled. He gave Ethan a small smile when he came back and scanned his forehead.
“99.9. Not creeping up too much. That’s good, at least.”
Tim nodded, bringing his hands up to his face. “HeyyyYesshoo, ehssshoo!”
“Bless you.”
Tim kept his hands in place, sniffling. “Can I have a tihhh hihhhYyyihshoo, yyihhzshoo…tissue, please?”
“Knew there were gonna be more, huh?” Ethan laughed, handing over a couple.
Tim nodded, blowing his nose. “Always sneeze my damn head off with a cold, guess this isn’t any different.”
“Probably not.” Ethan paused as Tim was wracked with a series of harsh coughs. “Those definitely didn’t sound good.”
Tim shook his head. “Never do. I always sound worse than I am. Honest.”
Not reassured, Ethan urged him to lay down. “Get some rest. I’ll check on you before I go to bed. I better go look in on Dustin now.”
Tim nodded. “Thanks…good night, Ethan.”
Ethan lingered by the door. “Good night Tim.”
Tim heard him sneeze as he crossed over to the guest room and knocked on the door.
“Bless you.” Dustin said as he opened the door, brow furrowed in concern.
“Thank you. Just came to check this.” He held up the thermometer.
Dustin nodded, letting him in and bending down so Ethan could scan his temple. “Verdict?”
“Holding steady at 102.1.”
“And yours?” Ethan looked at him. “Seriously, E, you’ve been sneezing a lot today. Just wanna make sure we’re not too much for you and you’re not heading for a relapse.”
“I’m fine. I sneeze. A lot. You’ve been around me how long?”
“It’s a lot for you.” Dustin clarified, taking the thermometer and scanning Ethan’s forehead. “97.8. Ok. I’m satisfied. Must just be leftovers.”
Ethan laughed. “Probably. Need anything before I go to bed? Got enough tissues?”
“Just grabbed a full box.” Dustin smiled. “And…” He trailed off, stepping over to the bed for the aforementioned tissues, clasping one to his nose. “HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo!” He blew his nose, and handed Ethan the empty box. “Wonder what the neighbors will think of your recycling?” He joked.
Ethan laughed. “Go call Beth and get some sleep.”
Ethan made his way back to the living room and debated couch or oversized chair. True, he napped in the chair all the time, but he had a feeling that sleeping overnight in it would do a number on his neck. Stretching out on the couch, he draped a blanket over him. Once his head was down on the pillow, he was asleep.
The next thing Tim was aware of the next morning was Ethan sneezing. Fully opening his eyes, he went to stand up, immediately sitting back down on the bed. “Ok,’ he thought, ‘little weak, go slow.’ He carefully made his way to the kitchen and sat down as Ethan sneezed again.
“Bless you.”
“Oh! Hey. How are you doing?” Ethan pressed a hand to Tim’s forehead. “Still pretty warm.”
“You’re fussing. Same as yesterday. Chills, headache, achy, coughing, sneezing…little wobbly today, though. But if I’m careful, I’m ok.”
Ethan frowned, picking up the thermometer from where he had set it last night. “100.5.” His frown deepened.
Tim looked baffled. “I never run fevers.” Came the explanation. “Even last year when I had pneumonia, I never topped 100.”
“Explains the wobbly.” Ethan sighed. “Hatshoo! Ugh.” He looked over at Tim. “Can’t stop this morning. You’d think with the pneumonia gone, I’d be back to sneezes as normal.”
Tim chuckled but looked concerned.
“HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-Kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo.” Dustin, sniffling, sat down at the table and rubbed his eyes. “I can’t stop either. Allergies have kicked in again. Explains your sneezes yesterday, too.”
Ethan looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and Dustin handed over his phone.
Tim looked over and saw the yellow lines and nodded. He was familiar enough from Alex and Jamie with how to read the rising pollen counts. “You gonna be ok?” He asked, thinking back to their first meeting. “If it’s too much, I can go home…”
Ethan laughed. “I’ll be fine. It’s not too high. Just enough to kick my allergies in. Fall does that; they wax and wane.” He paused, turning away. “Ahchoo!”
“Just means we have to listen to more of that.” Dustin explained, teasing Ethan.
Ethan nodded, blowing his nose. “At least it explains why I’m sneezing so much.”
“Worried you were relapsing?”
“No!” Ethan protested, “just found it strange, is all.” Came his slightly defensive comment.
“Yahhehhsshoo, heeyyyshoo!” Tim interrupted before that conversation could continue, snatching a napkin off the table.
“Bless you.” Ethan shot him a concerned glance before picking up the thermometer to check Dustin’s temperature.
“Those don’t sound good.” Dustin commented.
“Never do.” Tim shrugged. “I have the world’s worst sneeze, I’ve been told.”
Dustin laughed as Ethan viewed the thermometer screen. “101.9. Slowly coming down.”
“I think my allergies are gonna be the bigger problem today.” Griped Dustin, wiping his nose.
“I’ll move the air purifier from my bedroom into your room. Tim doesn’t need it.”
“Lucky.” Came Dustin’s mutter.
“We can get me a feather pillow if you want me to join you.” Tim joked.
Dustin laughed.
“Seriously, though. I’m already sneezing, like 500% more than normal. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Dustin laughed again as Ethan sneezed.
“How many are you up to?”
“1 when I woke up, 2 in the shower, 2 getting ready and 4 so far in here, so um…”
“9.” Tim chipped in.
“Yeah,” Ethan sighed. “And there’s about 20 minutes of this bullshit left to go.”
“Hey, I’ve seen you worse.” Dustin turned to Tim. “I’ve seen him break 20.”
“Let’s not.” Ethan sighed, turning to the stove. “Who wants breakfast?”
After breakfast, (15 sneezes for Ethan), Dustin went to lie down with the air purifier while Tim wrapped in a blanket on the couch. Ethan switched on the TV, grumbling. “I hate daytime TV,” he complained. “There’s never anything on.”
“Just go for the news.” Tim coughed. “It’s not like we’ll really focus on it.”
“We’re not making out.” Ethan reminded him.
Tim rolled his eyes. “Figured wehehh…heehhhyyeschoo, ehhtzschoo…hehhtesschoo,,hhaayyzzsschoo! Urghh. Bless me. Figured we’d talk or something.” Strong gurgling nose blows followed, and he deposited the tissues he had hastily snatched in the plastic bag Ethan handed him.
“You’re right. You really do have the worst sounding sneeze. And I thought mine scared small children.”
“Just one more thing we have in common.” Tim laughed. “So…3 weeks ago, did you think we’d find ourselves here?”
Ethan laughed. “I certainly didn’t think that was how I’d get you into my bed. I mean, I’d hoped when that happened, I’d be in it with you.”
It was Tim’s turn to laugh.
“Hahchoo! And I kinda hoped that we’d have been together for awhile before you saw me knocked on my ass by something.”
“Same. Be nice if we had one date where one of use wasn’t sick or if I wasn’t having an allergy attack.”
“Or if I wasn’t.” Ethan referenced their first meeting.
“You were cute. I wasn’t.”
“I was not.”
“Wouldn’t have come over if you weren’t. All I saw was this hot guy who just so happened to be sneezing every five minutes. Gave me an excuse to approach you.”
“Ugh…those coffee shop napkins. You were my night in shining armor with tissues to slay my runny nose.”
Tim laughed. “My darling in distress.”
“Thanks for not calling me a damsel.” He said as Tim shivered. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you at 10 if you want to try to Zoom into work.
Tim nodded, yawning as he pulled the blanket tighter around him, resting his head on the arm of the couch. Ethan tucked his legs under him, picked up his tablet and switched between reading his book and working on his continuing education.
At 9:45, he gently shook Tim awake. “You up to working?” He asked, gently.
Tim looked at him blearily, then rubbed his eyes. “10 already?”
“Well, 9:45. Figured you’d need some time to get set up.”
Tim nodded. “Yeah. I should probably text Alex. Give him time to set up a link. Get my laptop hooked into your WiFi. Get my laptop.” He chuckled. “And my phone.” A few rough coughs escaped following his laugh.
“You want more tea?”
“You read my mind. I don’t know how my throat’s gonna hold up for this.” He tried bring his elbow up to his face but the sneezes struck when he’d only hastily managed to cover them with his forearm. “Hh’hhuhhRrruhhshooo! Yuuhhshoo! Ughh. Especially if I keep doing that.” He went for his laptop and phone, returning and setting the laptop on the coffee table. He shot Alex a quick text before booting up the laptop. Ethan hooked him into the WiFi while Tim read the return text from Alex. “Freddie’s gonna send me a link.” He commented.
Ethan nodded, turning away. “Hatchoo! I’ll hang out in the kitchen while you work. I don’t want to disturb you too much, especially with my sneezing.”
“I haven’t heard you sneeze too much.”
“You were sleeping pretty deep. I’m gonna go get your tea while you get set up.”
Ethan returned with a mug of tea just as Tim was logging into his zoom call. He slid the steaming mug onto the coffee table. “Text if you need anything.” He whispered and slipped out of the room.
Dustin was making his way into the kitchen when Ethan entered. “Feeling better?”
Dustin nodded, heading for the fridge and pouring a glass of orange juice. “Yeah. The spike in allergies caught me off guard.” He sniffed. “Especially on top of this.”
“Caught me by surprise. But it’s always like that this part of fall.”
“Tim go back to bed?”
“Living room. He zoomed into work. Says he’s up to it.”
Dustin shrugged. “Might be the only day he is.”
Ethan nodded, rubbing his hand under his nose. “Hungry at all?”
Dustin shook his head, pulling a tissue from the box. “Appetite still isn’t great.” He toyed with the tissue, sniffling.
“Stuck?”
“Yeah.” Dustin sounded distant.
“Sorry.”
Dustin gave another deep sniffle and stared up at the kitchen light, sighing.
“You know that never works.”
“It’s supposed to.” Dustin grumbled.
“Not foryou.” Ethan rushed to finish and turned away. “Ahshoo!”
“Seriously?” Dustin sighed. He rubbed his nose and sniffed again. “You have no idea what this is like.”
“Sorry, no. I don’t think I’ve ever notbeen able to sneeze. Or been able to not sneeze.”
“It’s right there.” Dustin complained, congestion increasing.
“I can tell. Usually doesn’t take this long. Want me to open a window?”
A glare met him. Followed by a shaky inhale. “HahhKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo!”
“Bless you. Better?”
Dustin shook his head, pitching forward into his tissue again. “HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo.” He grabbed a fresh tissue and blew his running nose.
“Bless you again.” Ethan grinned. “Better now?”
Dustin nodded, coughing, then catching his breath, still winded easily.
Another spell of coughing, this time from the living room, caught Ethan’s attention. He watched Tim reach for his water, then resume talking, voice sounding rougher than it had an hour ago.
“I’m gonna get him some more tea.” Ethan stood up and crossed over to the cupboard for a mug. He began fixing the tea to Tim’s liking. He was carrying the the tea into the living room when Tim’s head snapped forward with the first sneeze.
“EhShoo! HahEhggshoo!” Tim fumbled for the tissues with one hand as his opposite arm blocked the powerful explosions. “HehhEckshoo, Ehhrgshoo!”
Ethan set the tea down on the coffee table and tilted Tim’s laptop away from him as Tim geared up for another set of sneezes. “Hehhrahhtchoo, Rahhhszzhoo!”
Ethan managed to find the mute button on Tim’s zoom call as Tim’s coworkers continued talking, acting as if nothing was happening.
“Yahhzhoo! HehhTahhszhoo! Ehhrchahhh, EhhhChhahhshehh! Ahhhsheshhh! Hehhhhyahhszhhoo!” Sniffling, Tim lifted his head up from his sodden tissues.
“Bless you.” Ethan handed him a fresh pile of tissues, and Tim began clearing his sinuses.
After a few blows, Tim looked up at Ethan, nose running. “I never sneeze like this.” He whimpered.
“It’s part of this.” Dustin said from the doorway. “You’ve seen what it did to me.”
Tim resumed blowing his nose for a few seconds. “I thought that was just your allergies.”
Ethan shook his head. “I think it’s just this strain of influenza.”
Tim nodded after he finished clearing out his nose. “I should go back to work now.” He said, flushing. “After they’ve heard all this.”
“I muted you, moved you off screen.” Ethan reassured.
Tim nodded, looking, for a second, exhausted, then he straightened his laptop and unmuted. “Sorry about that.”
“You ok?” Freddie asked.
Tim shrugged, taking a sip of the fresh tea. “Yeah.”
“We’re gonna break for lunch.” Alex was decisive. “I think you’re done for the day.”
“I’m fine!” Tim protested.
An audible sigh was heard from Alex. “You know there’s not much you’ll be able to do after lunch when we move to the set. Go get some rest.”
Tim glared.
Alex looked stern. “You look like you could use it.” He said as the others logged off the call. “Don’t be stubborn.”
“I want to work. One sneezing fit doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“Your sneezing’s getting worse. Your cough is worse. Go to bed. And put Ethan on.”
Another glare from Tim.
“I’m right here.” Ethan said quietly. To Tim, “and, he’s right.”
Tim’s glare at Ethan was ruined by several harsh coughs.
Ethan glanced at his watch. “I think you’re due for more cold medicine.” He said pointedly.
Grumbling, Tim stood up. “Fine. Talk about me when I’m not here.” He stalked into the kitchen.
Ethan took the seat Tim had vacated, trying to hide his nerves at talking one on one with Alex Johnston. “What’s up?”
“His cough is pretty bad.” Alex stated the obvious.
Ethan nodded.
“Just keep an eye on him. With his asthma, when he gets coughing like that, he gets pretty bad secondary respiratory infections pretty easily. I know you haven’t been around him that long, so I thought you should know.”
Ethan smiled. “Thanks.”
“Don’t let him overdo it. He will. He can work a bit tomorrow if he’s up to it, but if he sounds like this, I’m cutting it short again.”
“I’ll keep pushing him to rest. The Tamiflu should keep him from getting really sick.”
“Good. Thanks. Just have him call if you guys needs anything. I’m sure you’ve got your hands full.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
“Thank you.” Alex looked relieved as he ended the call.
Ethan looked up as Tim came back into the room, giving him an expectant look. “He just wanted me to make sure I watch you for a respiratory infection. That’s all.”
“He worries too much.” Tim groused, shutting down his computer.
“He cares. Come on, let’s go eat lunch.”
“Not really hungry.”
“Try. Gotta keep your strength up.”
Tim followed him to the kitchen and took a seat next to Dustin while Ethan dished up soup and made a sandwich for himself.
“Hatchoo!” Ethan sat down at the table, and immediately turned to the left, burying a sneeze in his elbow.
“Bless you. Planning to get us all started?” Dustin chirped, rubbing his nose.
“Hope not.” Tim sniffed, taking a bite of his soup.
“So, naps after lunch?”
Ethan’s suggestion was met with a sigh from Dustin and a groan from Tim.
“Movie?” Dustin suggested. “And maybe we fall asleep there?” He rubbed his nose again and reached for a tissue as Tim turned away from the table.
“Heyyyuhhhshoo, yyuhhshoo!” He picked up his napkin and blew his nose.
“Bless you.”
“You stole my sneezes.” Dustin grumbled, finishing his soup.
Ethan chuckled. “You’re having a hell of a time with sneezes today. And yes, a movie is an acceptable alternative to naps.” He picked up the dishes, heading for the sink. “You two go get comfortable.”
Aggedy Ann 