Tim sat there watching Sports Center until there was a knock at Ethan’s door. Opening it revealed the nurse from the hospital, this time clad in jeans and a t-shirt instead of scrubs. “Hi, Tim”
Tim nodded. Ethan must have really been talking about him, otherwise he doubted Dustin would remember his name after their brief encounter today. “Hi, Dustin.” He smiled, stepping back so he could come in. “I’ll go wake Ethan.”
“Wait.” Dustin stopped him, setting his overnight bag in the corner. “Can I talk to you about Ethan?”
Tim tensed. Ethan didn’t have a brother so this must be the pseudo big brother/former roommate talk, and he was not looking forward to it.
Dustin continued, “there’s some things about his last relationship you should know; it’ll make things easier for you right now, trust me.”
Tim relaxed. Maybe this dealt with the past relationship baggage Ethan had mentioned a few days ago when he had gotten touchy about a comment Tim had made about his sneezing. Hopefully, Dustin could shed some light on what happened earlier.
Dustin sat sideways on the couch, and Tim sat facing him. “I know he was hoping you guys would be together longer before this came up. Has he, uh, mentioned Matt? His last boyfriend?”
Tim nodded. “A little. He said he wasn’t the nicest when Ethan would get sick.”
“That’s Ethan sugar coating it. They were together four years, and Matt was horrible to Ethan the last year they were together. It started with Ethan catching a cold. Ethan swears everything was fine the first few days. Matt was distant, but Ethan figured he was in the middle of a big case and just didn’t want to catch it. Then, Ethan woke Matt up sneezing and Matt just lost it, yelling at Ethan for waking him, did he have to be so loud, couldn’t he have the decency to stifle or go into another room…”
“And he can’t.” Tim shook his head. “He told me he can’t stifle or hold them back, which neither can I. And he’s the first guy I’ve dated that sneezes louder than I do. I told him he’s lucky he only sneezes once, though, not anywhere from 2 to 6; I hit 8 or more, there’s feathers or someone wearing Invictus around.”
Dustin laughed, then paused. “Doesn’t Ethan wear Invictus?”
“Not anymore.” Tim grinned.
Dustin smiled. “Anyway, he was horrible to Ethan the entire time. Snapping at him about how loud he sneezed, how much he sneezed – I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet, but Ethan sneezes a Lot, even when he’s healthy.”
“That’s what he says. This cold kinda took over at the start of the relationship though…”
“It’s worse when he’s got a cold or his allergies are bad. He doesn’t always sneeze this much…with allergies, it’s more. But, Matt just laid into him for his sneezing, his congestion, his coughing, his sleeping extra…the low blood sugars. He’d order him to blow his nose, get a cough drop…like he was 5. It was worse when Ethan’s allergies hit. I don’t know if he’s warned you, but he has the worst hay fever in the spring.”
“He mentioned he had horrible allergies in the spring.” Tim confirmed as Dustin pulled an arm up to his face.
“Hakishoo…kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo…HahKishoo. Excuse me.” He pulled a tissue from the box on the table and softly blew his nose. “Excuse me. Woke up with the start of a cold this morning.” He sniffed, sliding the tissue in his pocket and continued. “They’re truly terrible. When he worked other units as a floor nurse, he’d walk into his assigned rooms and introduce himself: I’m Ethan, and I’ve got some allergies going on right now…. Anyway, Ethan was worse, so Matt was even worse. Just constantly bitching at him for all of it, even after Ethan’s allergies settled down. And when Matt got sick,”. Dustin shook his head. “Doesn’t matter if it was self inflicted or not.”
Tim nodded. He got the meaning of self inflicted.
“He expected Ethan to drop everything except work and take care of him. Total silence when he was sleeping. Cater to his every whim,’. Dustin coughed.
“Hahtchoo!” A loud sneeze came from hallway. “Tell him about the end.” Ethan sniffled.
“You don’t want to?”
Ethan shook his head, flopping down in the chair. “I’ll chip in.”
“Ethan came home and Matt’s sitting on the couch with a German shepherd half on his lap.”
Tim groaned.
“Ethan was quickly informed that the dog was staying and went in the bedroom, took allergy meds, laid down, only to discover the dog had claimed his side of the bed too. Calls me, sneezing, asks me to come get him, which I do. I get there, he’s sitting outside on the steps with a box of tissues, couple of packed bags, mostly clothes. He’s told Matt it’s over and he’ll be back for the rest of his things. I get him in the car, get the story, get him home, go back, get his stuff and his car, glaring at Matt the whole time. And Ethan wouldn’t date for a year after that.”
Tim gave Ethan a sympathetic look. “Come here,” he said gently. Ethan slowly crossed over and sat on the couch between Tim and Dustin. Tim wrapped his arms around him. “I’m not Matt.” He whispered. “I promise.” He cleared his throat. “And believe me when I tell you your sneeze is the least annoying one in this relationship.”
“I still think mine is worse.” Ethan pouted. “You never sneeze, so yours can’t be annoying.”
Tim sighed. “Want me to prove it?”
Ethan nodded. “How?”
Go get your invictus?” At Ethan’s hesitation, he continued, “it’s too soon in the relationship for you to have tossed it; go get it.”
Ethan gave him a strange look.
“Seriously, go get it.”
Ethan headed towards the bedroom, coming back with the cologne. “What do you want me to do?”
“You hold it, for one thing. Last thing I want is to drop it.” Tim grinned. “Spray just a little bit into the tissue.” He handed him a folded up tissue, and took a handful for himself. He reached for Ethan’s tissue and took a tentative sniff, followed by a deeper one, pushing it back at Ethan, who got the message to take it back.
He pressed his tissues to his nose, “hihtschoo, huhitschoo.” The first two came quick and were followed by a flurry. “Huhhrihhshhoo, rhhishhoo, huhhshoo, huhhrahhshoo, hahrashoo, rahhshoo…ahhshoo, huhhahhshehh.” He sat up and wiped his eyes. “Ugh. You can’t tell me that’s not annoying. Even when it’s only two or four.” He sniffled.
“Bless you.” Ethan passed over the box of tissues.
Dustin looked impressed. “He’s almost as loud as you, E. And doubly annoying.” He judged, as Tim loudly blew his nose.
Tim looked at Ethan. “We ok?” Ethan nodded. “Tell you my stuff tomorrow?”
Ethan gave a crooked smile. “Yeah.”
They headed back to the living room where Dustin dug through his overnight bag. He paused, pulling the collar of his t-shirt up over his nose. “HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-Kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-HahKishoo.”
“Bless you.” Ethan said, in a low raspy tone.
“Thanks.” Dustin sniffled and took a tissue from the box Tim offered.
“You ok?” Tim fussed.
“He always sneezes like that.” Ethan eased Tim’s concerns. “Well, maybe not exactly like that, but more or less like that.”
Dustin nodded, straightening up. “Always. Anyway, Ethan, these are from AdaLyn.”
“Yeah!? You didn’t bring her up to see me…”
“You have pneumonia.” Dustin reminded him. “I don’t need a three year old with pneumonia. Anyway, here is a get well card.” He handed out apiece of paper for Ethan to take.
Ethan, in turn, spun away. “AhShoo!”
“Bless you. I think you need the card,” he laughed, handing it to Ethan.
Ethan looked at AdaLyn’s 3 year old scribbles and grinned. Tim watched as he stuck the card to the fridge with a magnet, smiling.
“This is on loan. She couldn’t believe you didn’t have a stuffed animal to sleep with, so remember this?” He held out a sock monkey.
Ethan laughed. “I gave her that.”
“And it’s yours until you’re better.” Dustin grinned, handing it over.
“I will take good care of, what was it, Scott? Stuart?”
“Steve. All monkeys are named Steve, per Beth.”
“But not all Steve’s are monkeys.” Ethan finished. “I will take the very best care of Steve.” He intoned seriously in his sandpapery voice.
Dustin laughed. “There’s peanut butter protein balls in my bag. That’s Beth’s contribution.”
Tim watched as Dustin doled out “feel better” items from Ethan’s “friend-family,” thinking of his own. When he’d been sick, he’d had Jamie to send over soup with Freddie who was over fussing over him. Alex who made sure he had everything he needed, and Alyssa who would stop and check on him when he was sick enough to miss work, since she drove right past his apartment on his way to work. He wondered if someday these families might merge.
Harsh coughing from Ethan broke him from his thoughts, and he grabbed Ethan’s water bottle from the coffee table.
“Thanks.” Ethan gasped, taking a slow drink.
“How’s your breathing?” Dustin asked.
Ethan took a few deep breaths. “Not great.” He admitted. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared to use the inhaler.
He came back and flopped on the couch. “HehAhchoo!”
“Bless you.” Tim and Dustin said in unison.
“Thanks,”. Ethan yawned, reaching for his water.
“I should go. Let you get some rest.” Tim said gently. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah.” He smiled. “What time?”
“When do you want me here?”
“Is 9 too early?”
Tim shook his head. “Not at all.” He leaned over to kiss Ethan, but Ethan’s attention was distracted by another sneeze from Dustin.
“HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…Hakishoo.” Dustin blew his nose on the tissue he had grabbed while Tim and Ethan had been distracted with each other. “I’m done with this.” He complained. “Stealing some cold medicine,” he informed Ethan.
“Usual place.”
“Also bathroom counter.” Tim chimed in. “I didn’t know the usual place.”
Dustin nodded, headed for the bathroom, “l’ll put it away.” He wiped his nose again.
Dustin came and sat in Ethan’s recliner. “Thanks, man,” he coughed. “You worked peds clinic and family practice. Urgent care’s the same thing after they close. People with Colds wanting antibiotics. So I Woke up with one this morning.”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah. If you don’t get them from AdaLyn and daycare, you manage to pick them up from work.” He yawned.
“I’m really…huhshoo, huhahshhoo…Going this time.” Tim sniffled. “Excuse me.” He mock glared at Ethan. “I’m going to be doing that all night because someone didn’t believe I was annoying.” He teased.
“I’m sorry.” Ethan was truly contrite,
Tim wrapped his arm around him and kissed the side of his forehead. “First, I think your fever’s up. And two, it’s ok. I don’t mind sneezing. And just so you know, I don’t “never” sneeze; I have my slight allergies. Sometimes the sun gets me, and when I deep clean the apartment, I’m sneezing until I go to bed. Now, Dustin is going to check your temperature, you’re going to have your snack, and I’m going home for the night. I’ll see you in the morning.” He gave Ethan another kiss and slipped out while Dustin was fussing over Ethan.
“101.8” Dustin informed him. “When was the last time you had Tylenol?”
“In the ER. I had ibuprofen about 4.”
Dustin looked at his watch. “You’re due for something. You want NyQuil?”
Ethan shrugged. “You know it never gets me to stop sneezing.” He whined.
“Yeah.” Dustin agreed. “But, it does help with the congestion and cough, so you can sleep between sneezes.” He pointed out. “And the Tylenol will knock down your fever.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll take it with the pills and the inhalers.” He grumbled, disappearing into the bathroom to take the medications while Dustin set up a snack for him in the kitchen.
“Bed.” He ordered, when Ethan had finished eating.
“But…”Ethan protested. “There’s a movie…”
“You have a TV in your room. You can watch it in bed.”
“But then you can’t watch it with me.”
“You can make room on your bed for me…you don’t always have to be in the middle of the bed.” Dustin reminded him patiently. “Besides,” he commented with a sniffle, “I’m not sure how late I’ll be up. Beth’s arranged for AdaLyn to stay with the neighbor until I get home, but then I’ll be running after her all day.” He coughed. “I’ll need my strength.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He slowly walked to his room and flopped down on his bed.
“Under the covers.” Dustin instructed, pausing. “Wait. Do you have everything you need for the night?” He coughed again. “Water, inhaler, tissues, cough drops, glucose tabs…especially after your little escapades today? He knew Ethan’s tricks to stall getting in bed when told to go to bed when sick.
Ethan sighed and grabbed his water bottle. He returned with a full bottle of water, box of tissues and the inhaler. He stalked out again and returned with the throw blanket from the couch and the pillows from the guest room.
“Kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo.”
Walking in on Dustin mid fit, Ethan threw the pillows and blanket on the bed and stepped out for another box of tissues.
“Bless you.” He said, returning to Dustin, sitting on the foot of the bed, wiping his nose.
“Thanks.” Dustin mumbled, congestedly. The edges had been wearing off his ‘m’s and ‘n’s all day, and that last set of sneezes had completely ended his ability to cleanly make the sounds.
“Were you like this earlier? Was I that out if it that I just don’t remember?”
Dustin cleared his throat. “Both. I woke up stuffier than usual this morning, with a sore throat and coughing. It’s gotten worse as the day went on. I wasn’t this bad when you last saw me,” he grinned. “But you were pretty out of it at the start.”
“When do you get NyQuil?”
“I just took the regular stuff an hour ago. I’ll take more of that later. Haven’t taken the night time stuff since before the kid.” He paused. “Speaking of kids,” he teased, “ got everything?” He took in the pile on the bed. “Leave anything behind?”
Ethan glared, setting up the bed. “These are your pillows. This is your blanket. These are your tissues. This is your trash bag.” He started to glare again and then noticed how much more tired Dustin looked than he had earlier that day. Dark circles were starting to form under his eyes while his nose was turning red. Add that to his stuffy voice, and he was in for a hell of a cold. Ethan softened. “You know it never works for us to share tissues. One of us always needs them more than the other and hogs them.”
Dustin smiled. “Got everything else?”
“Water, inhaler, partial box of tissues, extra box of tissues; cough drops and glucose tabs in the drawer.” He reached in to his nightstand drawer and pulled a bag out, handing it to Dustin. “I think you need them too.”
Dustin smiled. “Thank you. Now, bed. Under the covers, bed.” He pulled Ethan’s blankets back.
Ethan shook his head. “I’m still too warm.”
Dustin frowned. “That fever’s persistent. On bed though. I’m getting you a cold compress…try to help with that.”
He came back with a cold, wet washcloth, handing it to Ethan and glancing at the TV. “Jurassic Park. Seriously. Can’t you quote this word for word?”
Ethan picked a tissue from the box next to the bed. “Hahshoo!” His head dipped forward into the tissue with a loud, raspy sneeze. Sniffling, he looked up. “Probably.” He admitted, sitting down on the bed, then pulling his legs up in and leaning against the pillows and headboard. “I’m in bed. Happy?” He pulled his sheet over him. “I’m even under the covers.” He blew his nose and tossed the tissue in his wastebasket. He picked up the washcloth Dustin had given him and placed it on his forehead.
“Very.” Dustin got comfortable on the bed next to Ethan. “How are you doing?”
“Mostly tired. This cough is getting to me. And before you ask, yes, I took the codeine cough syrup. I should get pretty sleepy soon.”
“Good. You need the rest. And so do I.”
Ethan nodded. “Sorry you have to do this again.”
Dustin shrugged. “Coulda just said you had no one for overnight and had them hospitalize you. But I know you hate that.”
“You knew I wouldn’t want Tim overnight.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be comfortable. He told me that you get a little upset when he starts taking care of you a little too much.”
Ethan blushed and looked down, sniffing wetly. He ran a hand under his nose and looked up with another thick sniffle.
Dustin saw his eyes were also damp with tears, and cleared his throat, handing over a tissue. “Hey, get your nose, E.”
Ethan took the tissue and blew his nose. “You’re being your mom now.”
Dustin shook his head. “My mom: Oh, Ethan, your nose is running. Here, have some tissues. Blow your nose. Do you need more tissues? Do you have a cold or is it your allergies? Oh you poor thing, I hope it’s not both. Do you need some Benadryl? Cold medicine?….and on and on and on.” He imitated.
Ethan laughed.
“My dad always hands over a tissue and just says ‘get your nose.’ If he says anything. He doesn’t draw attention to it.” He rubbed the back of his hand against his nose, and surreptitiously grabbed a tissue.
“You know you’re gonna sneeze eventually.”
Dustin nodded, holding the tissue at the ready.
Ethan wanted to tease him more, but he just looked miserable, sitting there, waiting to sneeze. Ethan could understand the frustration of a stuck sneeze; his spring allergies loved to torture him with them.
“Hatshoo!” He exploded suddenly, barely having time to whip his head to the side, away from Dustin or bring his hands up to cover.
“Bless you.” Dustin laughed. “Scared mine away.”
“I do that.” Ethan grinned. “My sudden, loud, scary sneeze.” He rasped.
“Yeah. Scary if you’re under 5. But definitely loud…especially for a guy with no voice.”
Ethan shrugged. “You know it’s always-“ He was cut off by Dustin’s first sneeze.
“HahKishoo-kihshoo-kshoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo-shoo…HahKishoo. Ugh. It came bahhhck…HahKishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kishoo-kshoo-shoo-shoo -shoo. Dammit.”
Ethan waited while he blew his nose half a dose times into tissue after tissue. “God bless you.” Multiple sets from Dustin were always deserving of more than a simple ‘bless you.’
“Thanks. Too early in the cold for me to be doing that.” He sighed. Dustin blew his nose again, trying to alleviate his congestion. He scooted back until he was against the headboard and looked at Ethan.
“So, Tim…taking care of you. From talking to him tonight, watching him with you, it seems like he cares, like it just comes naturally. You don’t have a problem with me fussing over you. So…”
Ethan shrugged. “It’s…it’s…I unno…” he paused for a long while.
Dustin took advantage of this pause to blow his nose.
“In the beginning, with Matt, he was so different from the end. At first he fussed with every sneeze…was I sick, was I allergic to something…until I finally convinced him I sneezed all the time. Tim gets like that. Before the cold, I was sneezing at his apartment, and he was worried I was allergic to his cat.” He paused so Dustin could catch up.
“That’s kinda normal, E, especially since you sneeze all the freaking time. If I was in that spot, I’d wonder the same. Matt fussed a bit too much in the beginning, though. And now, you did get sick right away, so…”
“The first time I got sick when I was dating Matt was about 4, 5 months in,” Ethan paused and coughed. “He was really great. Super attentive. I had strep throat. I actually left work sick, remember that? Anyway, I felt so awful, I went over to urgent care and got seen without you suggesting it. Anyway, I got my meds, groceries, all that. Texted him to cancel our date cuz it hurt so much to talk, texted you and fell asleep. Next thing I know, it’s 6:00, and he’s waking me up carefully so he doesn’t scare me. He says he’s got soup and tea waiting once I check my blood sugar even though he knows it probably hurts too much for me to consider eating.”
“Ahtshoo!” He cupped his hands over his nose and continued. “Even with my allergies, he was so sweet at the start. Even when my summer allergies would flare up or fall ones would get bad and ruin our plans. Even with my spring ones ruining everything. Then over time, he got less attentive when I was sick and just kinda whatever about my allergies. Then, there was the last year.”
Dustin nodded, distracted by his phone ringing. He silenced the call. “Beth, to say goodnight. I’ll call her in a bit.” He blew his nose noisily. “So, you’re afraid because it started off good with Matt, it will end bad with Tim.”
Ethan looked down, not answering. Dustin reached out and put his hand on his back, rubbing gently.
“Yeah.” Ethan admitted, voice cracking. Even though his eyes were wet again, both men pretended that the crack was due to the rough condition of his voice rather than any sort of feelings he may have encountered during the night. Dustin handed him a tissue. “Nose again?” Ethan asked, turning his head to blow his nose and hastily, wiping the back of his hand across his eyes.
“I gotta call Beth.” Dustin picked up his phone. “Hey, honey…yeah, it’s gotten worse…just stuffed up, coughing and sneezing…no, I don’t think so…he’s getting ready for bed…I’m in luck, his favorite movie is on…Tim said he’d be back at 9 so, 10, 10:30…no later than 11…promise…ok, I’ll let you talk to him.” He handed the phone over to Ethan. “She wants to talk to you.”
Ethan took the phone. “Hi Beth. Thanks for the snacks.” He answered in his sandpapery voice.
“How are you feeling?” She asked.
“Better than this morning. Thanks for loaning me your husband…again.”
“I’m getting used to this.” She laughed. “How is he?”
“Stuffy. Sneezy.” He said as he was interrupted by another rapid fire fit from Dustin. “Coughing some. He took cold medicine, but maybe he needs the real sudafed in the morning. I’ll give him one.”
“Thanks. Get him in bed early, ok. No staying up half the night watching movies.”
“We’ve got Jurassic Park on. 5 bucks says he’ll be asleep before the dinosaurs escape. Then, at the end, I’ll wake him up and send him to the guest room.”.
“And how will I know when he fell asleep?”
“You ask him the last part he remembers.” Ethan said, as though it was obvious, grabbing for a tissue and setting Dustin’s phone on the bed. “HahAhtchoo. He picked the phone back up. “See.”
“Bless. You boys get some rest.”
“Will do. Night Beth.” He handed the phone to Dustin and picked up Steve the sock monkey, placing him on his chest. He looked at Dustin. “Can we go back to talking about more pleasant things so we don’t ruin my favorite movie?”
Dustin laughed. “Just watch the movie.” He told him, tossing another tissue into his trash bag.
“How’s school?”
“You have no voice, and now, you want to talk?” Dustin laughed.
Ethan shrugged. “Unless we get break together, we hardly ever see each other. You’re busy with school and Beth and Ada.”
“I’ll be done in 8 months. It’s getting harder. Sometimes, I barely have time for Beth and Ada.”
“Sucks.” Ethan turned his head, reaching for a tissue. “Hatshoo!” He directed the sneeze down at the floor, tissue on the way, then blew his nose. He took the tissue box and placed it on his chest, above Steve the sock monkey.
“Bless you.”
Dustin shrugged. “Didn’t you say yours was worth it?”
“Yeah.” Ethan stared in silence at the TV for a few minutes before pressing a tissue back to his nose. “Ahshoo!”
“Bless You. You ok?”
Ethan nodded, blowing his nose. “Fine. Where do you want to work as a nurse practitioner?”
Dustin began talking about the places he’d like to work, how he had family practice clinicals arranged, and hoped he’d like those.
“Atchoo!” Ethan interrupted after another couple minutes, this one followed by a deep yawn.
“Bless you. Sleepy sneezes?” Ethan nodded, fighting back another yawn. “It’s not that late,” he mused, “but with everything that happened today, as sick as you are, the NyQuil and the codeine, I can see where they’d hit. Time to go to sleep.” He picked up the remote to turn off the TV.
“But the movie –“ Ethan protested.
“Can be watched tomorrow; you own it. It’s sleep or sneeze for the next hour and a half, and I know how much you love doing that.”
Ethan nodded, lashes fluttering again, “Hashoo!”
“Bless you.” Dustin switched off the TV, grabbed his pillows, tissues, cough drops, and the throw blanket. “Go to sleep.”
Dustin switched off the light and headed for the guest room. He could faintly hear Ethan sneeze for about 15 minutes before there was silence. Getting up to check after about 20 minutes, he saw Ethan was asleep. Laying back down he tried to sleep, but quickly realized it was going to be a long night due to his congestion. He heard Ethan wake up sneezing a couple times but was glad that the sicker of the two mostly slept through the night. He figured he likely dozed off in the wee hours of the morning because the last thing he remembered was seeing the clock read 3:50, and the next thing he knew his alarm was blaring at 7.
Aggedy Ann 