Ethan lay in bed, trying to sleep. He had a bad cold that was making that hard; he was so congested he couldn’t breath through his nose, and he was just trying to keep his coughing and sneezing quiet and to a minimum as to not to wake Tim besides him. He was glad he had cancelled his patient sessions for tomorrow; he didn’t think he’d be able to adequately teach them about diabetes when the little voice he had was so marred by congestion, it was hard to understand.
He noticed the change in Tim’s breathing before Tim did, although he was sure it was only a matter of time before the other man would be aware of it before too long; a tight, subtle wheeze when he inhaled and worse on the exhale. He reached over and shook Tim awake.
“You worse?” Tim asked.
“You’re wheezing.” Ethan told him as Tim gave a raspy cough. “Inhaler.” He nagged. Tim got up and dug his inhaler out of his jeans and used it. “Better?” Ethan asked.
Tim nodded, bringing his arm up to his nose. “Huhhshoo, huhhyuhhshoo!” He exploded, making his way back to the bed. “Yuhhuhshoo, Huhhshoo, Huhhehhshoo,ehhshoo, ehhshoo,ehhhehhshoo, yehhyehshoo, yehhshoo, ehhshoo, ehhhuhshhoo, huhhuhshoo, Huhhshoo, uhhshoo, uhhyuhhshoo, yuhhshoo, huhhyuhhshoo!” He took a second to catch his breath and sniffled.
“Goodness,” said Ethan crawling over to him. “God bless you. Are you ok? I’ve never seen you sneeze like that.” He handed Tim the box of tissues.
Tim gave his nose half a dozen blows, noticing that the congestion lingered and a vaguely sore throat had popped up. He flopped down on the bed. “Shouldn’t have been kissing you so much and all.”
Ethan gave him a quizzical look.
“Caught your cold.” He snuffled.
Another quizzical look.
“I sneeze like that, the congestion doesn’t leave and I start to get a sore throat. The next day, I wake up with a cold.”
Ethan nodded. “Let me get you some tissues. NyQuil? Cough drops?”
“Pass on the NyQuil. You’ve got the liquid with alcohol in it. And I won’t be that bad tonight. But some cough drops would be great.”
“Hatshoo!” Ethan nodded, sneezed into his forearm, and left the room. He came back, handing Tim the tissues and cough drops. “Probably shouldn’t sleep with a cough drop.” He warned. “And the NyQuil’s not doing me any good anyway.”
Tim winced at his partner’s voice. Ethan was beyond stuffed up. “Haddshoo!” Ethan sneezed again, gingerly blowing his nose.
“Bless you.” Tim rolled from his side to his back. “Lay down, Sweety.” Ethan lay down next to him, resting his head on Tim’s chest.
“I am so glad I called in tomorrow.” He snuffled. “I feel awful. At least you’re getting this on your days off.” Ethan had gotten sick Sunday night and fought through the week, masking at work and scrubbing his hands constantly, and by Thursday afternoon, had to admit defeat. Tim would have three days to rest at the start of the cold which hopefully would make it easier for him. “I am sorry I…ihhdshoo…I got you sick.” He apologized.
“Well, you know what my mom would say, but I guess I’ll live. Now I have no excuse not to cuddle you.” He said, wrapping his arms around Ethan. “Try to get some sleep.”
Tim didn’t sleep well that night. He was more congested than he usually was at the start of a cold. He’d woken up sneezing more than once, atypical for the night the cold set in. Usually, he slept like the dead that night.
He woke up feeling dragged out, and a glance at Ethan lying next to him indicated that the man wasn’t feeling any better. As if to prove his point, Ethan let out a stuffy, sleepy sneeze. “Haddszhhoo.”
“Bless you.” Tim said. Ethan’s sneeze had changed over the last day, going from his typical crisp ‘hatshoo’ to this stuffy sound that didn’t seem to be near as effective.
“Thanks.” Ethan managed in a congested, hoarse voice, blowing his nose as powerfully as he could in a vain attempt to clear it, then rubbing his forehead and the bridge of his nose.
“You ok?” Tim coughed.
“Just a headache.” Ethan tried reassuring him, but his ghost of a voice was less than comforting. “How are you feeling?”
Tim paused and sneezed. “Hayehhshoo, Eckshoo! Pretty lousy.” He admitted, snagging a tissue for his nose. “But I think, better than you.”
Ethan tried to glare, but ruined it by coughing, then more rubbing his forehead, and oddly enough, his jaw.
“Seriously, it’s a good thing you took the day off. You look like hell.” He rolled over a planted a kiss on Ethan’s forehead. “Someone has a fever.” He murmured.
Ethan stopped protesting that fact when Tim forced the thermometer under his tongue. 100.4. “Just barely a fever,” Ethan had grumbled.
Tim went into the bathroom, returning with two packets of DayQuil. “Here, babe. I’ll…iiyuhhshuhh, yuhhshuhh, uhhshuhh, huhhuhhshuhh! I’ll go get more later.” He sniffled.
“Haddchoo!” Ethan clapped a hand over his nose for a sudden sneeze, reaching for a tissue. He again tried, unsuccessfully, to clear his nose. “Ugh,” he grumbled. “I can’t get this congestion to move.”
Tim gave him a sympathetic look. “I’ll look at the store and see if there’s anything that might help.”
Ethan nodded, clamping the tissues over his nose. “Haddshooo.” Blowing his nose, he lay there, content to watch Tim get dressed.
Tim sat down to pull on his socks. “Heyyehhchuhh, eckchuhh.” He doubled over. “Ugh. I hope I don’t get as bad as you.”
“Me too.” Ethan passed him a tissue and gave him a quick kiss. “This is awful.”
“Anything else you want from the store?”
“I think we need orange juice. Popsicles. You want NyQuil capsules.” Ethan gave him a list, and Tim headed for the store.
Tim returned from the store with the requested items plus saline spray and vapor rub to try to clear Ethan’s sinuses. Ethan lay in the bed yet, snoring loudly.
Tim shook him awake, gently, kissing him, noting he was still warm. Ethan woke up sneezing, turning his head to the side to avoid Tim. “Haddzhoo.”
“Bless you, baby. Time to get out of bed, ok.” He handed over the tissues.
Ethan nodded, sitting up and trying to clear his nose. Frustrated, he sighed and followed Tim to the couch. Tim coughed and wrapped a blanket around him. “I’m gonna put stuff away, k.” He murmured. “Juice?”
Ethan nodded, Tim bringing back a large glass of orange juice and a bottle of water. “The pharmacist said staying hydrated would help the congestion.”
Ethan nodded, fighting the urge to say he knew that. Tim left and returned with tissues, the saline spray and vapor rub. “This is what he recommended. He said the other sprays cause”
“Rebound congestion.” Ethan finished. “I’ll try the saline spray.” He said picking it up and using it, waiting a few minutes before blowing his nose. “Maybe helped a little.” He admitted.
“He said the vapor rub would be best.”
Ethan shook his head. “Hate that stuff” he said, petulantly.
“It’s worth a shot. I can barely understand you.”
“Makes me sneeze.” Ethan complained.
“Sneezing should clear you out.” Tim said patiently. “It’ll get your nose running, too.”
Ethan gave him a pouty glare. “I’m gonna sneeze as long as I can smell it.” He warned.
“If it helps, I’ll take that chance.” Tim said, opening the bottle and wrinkling his nose at the strong scent. He helped Ethan slip his tshirt off and began massaging the ointment into his chest and throat. “Just warn me if you need to sneeze.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll try to.”
Tim continued talking. “I stopped by my place for some more clothes. Figured you wouldn’t feel up to going over there today. Jamie is gonna pop in and take care of Cashew while I’m sick. She goes near my place on her –“
“Sn-sneeze.” Ethan gasped, turning his head and bringing the hand not blocked by Tim up to his face as Tim ducked away. “Haddzhoo.” He took the tissue Tim offered and tried to blow his nose, noting the congestion had loosened up slightly.
“Bless you. I think I’m done with your chest anyway.” Tim sniffled. “If it helps, this is getting to me.” He said, placing the tissues between them and blowing his nose.
“I don’t mind the runny nose.” Ethan grumbled. “It’s the extra sneezing. Been that way ever since I had someone suggest trying it in nursing school.” He left off that it was used to clear his sinuses to try to keep him from getting a sinus infection, something he’d been prone to since high school. “Ahhdzhoo.” He sneezed as if to prove his point.
“Sorry.” Tim paused. “Huhshhoo, huhhyuhhshoo. I just feel like we gotta clear some of that congestion out of your head. I’m afraid you’re headed for a sinus infection.” He coughed.
Ethan was touched by his concern and surprised by his intuitiveness. He wasn’t going to let his boyfriend know that he already had a sinus infection and had called in again for Monday as well as made a doctors appointment to deal with it. “Are you ok?” He asked, “your cough…”
“I always get a cough with a cold.” Tim shrugged. “Just part of the asthma, I guess.” He wasn’t going to tell Ethan that a cold as bad as the one he’d picked up from Ethan, that he was going to be getting, would go straight to his lungs and likely, end up in bronchitis or that by the end of the weekend, he’d likely be sucking down albuterol every 4 hours in a vain attempt to keep that from happening.
“Do you ne-need..Ehhtdszhoo…need your inhaler?” Ethan asked.
“Bless you.” Tim shook his head. “It’s just a bit of a cough. I’m breathing ok.” At Ethan’s concerned, doubting look, “do you need to get your stethoscope and check?”
Ethan shook his head. “I trust you.” He blew his nose. The congestion was, at least temporarily, slipping from his voice now. He leaned against the taller man’s chest, and Tim pulled a blanket over him.
“Did you eat breakfast?” Tim asked. Ethan nodded. “And your snack?” He felt Ethan’s nod against his chest again. “What time do you need lunch? Usual time or can you do a bit later?” Ethan’s own diabetes had led him down the diabetic educator path. This had been the first time Tim had had had to deal with a sick Ethan, though, and he’d quickly learned that while healthy, Ethan was usually on top of his condition, he didn’t like to eat when he was sick which ran him into trouble and led to nagging from Tim.
“I’m an hour late.” Ethan admitted. “So, later is ok.” He grinned. “Did you have donuts at the grocery store again?” Tim wasn’t comfortable having his occasional donut binges around the guy who couldn’t participate. “Hahhdshoo!”
Tim nodded. “Bless you. And you caught me.” He laughed, the laugh turning into a cough. Ethan was still radiating heat against him. “Your fever’s still not backing off,” Tim fussed, pausing to sneeze into a hastily snatched up tissue. “Hahhrahhshoo, rahhshoo!”
“Bless you.” Ethan looked up at him. “I’m fine. It’s barely a fever. The way this cold has hung on and a-as-Ahhshoo…as bad as it, I’m not surprised.”
“You’re warmer.”
“You know you can’t feel a fever if you have one of your own, right.” Ethan informed him.
“I’m pretty sure I don’t have one, but I’ll prove it.” Ethan allowed Tim to stand up and get the thermometer. Tim came back with it in his mouth and an alcohol wipe. When it beeped, he showed it to Ethan. “98.4. See, I’m not even normal,” he teased, wiping the thermometer down and letting it dry.
He handed it over to Ethan who shook his head. “Have to…hatshoo…sneeze.” He finished. He blew his nose, the congestion actually moving now, then slid the thermometer under his tongue. “100.6.” He grimaced when it beeped.
“We’ll take it easy, ok.” Tim assured him, bringing his forearm to his nose and waiting a few seconds. “Huhhshuuh, huhhuhhshuhh! Rest, movies, proper food. I’ll take good care of you.”
Ethan wanted to protest; that Tim was already sick, and he didn’t want him getting sicker, but something in Tim’s expression made him stop. He’d just have to do the best he could to get Tim to not fuss and rest along with him.
The two spent the rest of the day curled on the couch, binge watching tv on Netflix. Tim noticed that, despite the fact that Ethan should be getting better, he seemed to be sneezing more, and the congestion had settled back in once the vapor rub had worn off. He also noticed that, probably due to the congestion, Ethan sometimes, was having trouble hearing him. Ethan’s voice was almost gone, and he was rubbing his face and his right ear a lot.
Ethan noticed that with Tim, the cold was hitting fast. A lot faster than it had taken ahold of him. Tim wasn’t as congested as he was, but he was sneezing with increasing frequency. However, it was the cough that troubled Ethan. Tim wasn’t wheezing, and the cough wasn’t productive, but it was hoarse, raspy and frequent, and Ethan was concerned that with Tim’s asthma, a lung infection was going to set in. He just was worried about nagging the other man too much, especially when he, himself, was hiding how sick he was.
“Huhhuhhshuhh, uhhshuhh, uhhshehh, heyyehhshehh.” A quartet of sneezes from Tim shook Ethan from his thoughts.
“Bless you.” He said as Tim coughed and took a sip of water. “You’re stating to sound pretty awful,” he commented.
“Hitting fast.” Was Tim’s response, as Ethan leaned against him.
Tim’s priorities over the rest of the day and Saturday were hiding how sick he was getting from Ethan and keeping Ethan fed. Ethan’s goal was also to hide how sick he was. For Ethan, this was complicated by the fact that he was radiating heat from his fever, yet the warmth of Tim’s arms and a blanket felt heavenly.
They spent the rest of Friday and all of Saturday on the couch or in bed together, trying to rest. Tim noticed a new explosiveness to Ethan’s sneeze, a lack of warning, and an increased volume.
Ethan noticed the frequency and amount of Tim’s sneezing increasing and the congestion growing. Most troubling, he noticed the other’s cough worsening into a wheezy productive cough, and Tim disappearing briefly at regular intervals.
By Saturday evening, it was clear to both that the other was pretty sick, even if they wouldn’t admit it.
“Hadshuhh” Ethan sneezed, dropping his spoon back into his bowl of soup.
“Bless you.” Tim slid the tissues over and resumed picking at his own soup. A few minutes later, Tim was the one sneezing. “Ahhshoo, Hayyahhshoo.” This was followed by 30 seconds of wheezy coughs.
Concern flashed across Ethan’s face. “I’m ok.” Tim reassured breathlessly, and most unreassuringly.
“Eat.”
“I can’t eat anymore. Half is ok.” Ethan assured him. Again, his raspy, whispery voice did not provide reassurance. He rubbed at his right temple and his right ear. He honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he had an ear infection too, the way his ear was throbbing. Just had to stick it out until Monday afternoon.
“Ayuhhshoo, uhhshoo.” Tim sneezed and then coughed again, pretending he didn’t notice the calculating way Ethan’s eyes narrowed. He’d been using his inhaler regularly since 2 this morning with little relief; indicating he once again had bronchitis, at least. As tired and dragged out as he felt, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was something worse. He resisted the urge to ask Ethan to listen to his lungs. He’d get an appointment Monday.
“Ahhdshuhh.” Fortunately, Ethan was distracted from Tim by another sneeze.
“What do you say to another movie, then bed?
Ethan nodded. “That’s about all I’ve got energy for. I just can’t shake this and start feeling better. I hope it goes faster for you, maybe because it’s hitting you faster,” he suggested hopefully. Ethan had gotten by with milder symptoms until Wednesday, then hit hard on Thursday. Tim was being hit hard from the get-go.
“Same here.” Tim yawned. “I didn’t sleep so well last night.” He left off that he had a feeling he’d sleep even worse tonight. “Sure you’re done eating?” He fussed.
Ethan nodded. “I’m full.” He protested. “Can we just watch a movie? I’ll do the dishes in the morning.” He stood up, indicating for Tim to follow him into the living room. He picked the next movie in their superhero marathon and wrapped blankets around himself, telling Tim to sit down.
“I’ll be right back,” Tim promised, bending down and kissing his forehead, noting it was still hot. He ducked into the bathroom, using his inhaler again. He grabbed the thermometer as an afterthought, and came back to curl up next to Ethan. “Temperature check.” Tim handed over the thermometer, bringing his arm up to his face. “Huhhtshoo, uhhhHuhhtschoo.”
Ethan looked at the thermometer as it beeped. “100.8.” He frowned. “HahhHaddshoo.” He winced as his face and ear throbbed with the sneeze and unproductive nose blow. He snuggled up against Tim and closed his eyes, slowly adjusting to the rhythm of Tim’s rumbling coughs.
Tim woke Ethan once for a snack – met with protests, and then for bed – no protests there. Both men lay there, covered in extra blankets, trying not to disturb the other, hoping that at least one of them could get a good nights sleep.
For Ethan, this meant keeping the sniffling and sneezing to a minimum and as quiet as possible. Blowing his nose as softly as possible. And trying not to cough as his sinuses drained down the back of his throat. And with his head and his ear, trying not to be too restless in finding a comfortable position.
“Hadshoo!” He sneezed and coughed. “Sorry.” He apologized as he heard Tim shift next to him.
For Tim’s part, it was primarily keeping from coughing. The NyQuil had tampered down the sneezing and sniffling…something the DayQuil hadn’t been doing. However, he found when he lay down, he couldn’t breath and kept coughing, yet he couldn’t prop himself up comfortably in Ethan’s bed so that the coughing would stop. And if he sneezed, he was guaranteed a minute of coughing.
Case in point. “Hayughshuhh, uhhshuhh.” He followed the sneezes with a harsh series of raspy, wheezy, wet coughs that went on and on. He could feel Ethan roll over next to him. “I’m gonna go sleep on the couch.” He wheezed. “You need sleep, and I need to sit up.”
He took his pillows and set up on the couch, sleeping almost upright, but, blissfully, was able to fall asleep. Ethan heard him coughing for awhile longer In the living room and resisted the urge to get his stethoscope and listen to Tim’s lungs, see what was going on with them.
It took Ethan a lot longer, but after midnight, he finally dozed off.
Ethan woke the next morning to hear Tim coughing fiercely. He slipped out of bed, ignoring the protesting from his head and right ear and padded to the living room. “You ok?” He asked in what remained of his voice before turning his head to the side. “Ahhhtdzhoo.”
Tim managed to calm the cough long enough to take a sip of water and nodded…
“Did you need your inhaler?”
Tim gestured to it on the table. “Used it about an hour and a half ago.” He worked on catching his breath.
Concern flashed across Ethan’s face and he tried to hide his worry. He grabbed his stethoscope from his work bag – he rarely used it these days, but kept it in there out of habit. He winced as he placed the earpiece in his right ear, and began listening to Tim breath. Tight wheezes filled the airspace, possibly crackles at the bases, and he looked up at Tim. “Urgent care.” He informed him. “Do you want to get dressed or go in your sweats?”
Tim started coughing again. “I’m fine like this,” he managed, sticking his inhaler in his pocket. He followed Ethan out to the car.
“Preference on where we go?”
Tim named the hospital system Ethan worked at, and Ethan was off, walking him into the front desk a bit later. Tim registered, and likely, due to his coughing, was in a triage room within minutes.
The nurse – his name was Dustin, knew Ethan, and seemed happy to see him….until Ethan spoke. “You mean we’re not seeing you too?” He had exclaimed, and informed Ethan they would discuss the merits of waiting until tomorrow until after he had triaged the Tim he had heard so much about.
Ethan had sighed, then told Dustin how Tim’s lungs had sounded while the other nurse took Tim’s vitals. “Ahdzhoo” he punctuated with a sneeze, this time holding his right ear.
Dustin had given Ethan a look. “That’s your sinus infection sneeze.” He had muttered. Dustin turned back to Tim. “We went to college together. If he sounds like that he’s got a sinus infection.” He sighed. “Not that you’d know of course, because he’s not one to tell you. You just take the albuterol as needed?” At Tim’s nod, he continued, “using it pretty regularly right now?” Tim nodded again, coughing. “How long have you had asthma?”
Tim shrugged. “I don’t remember.” He managed.
“Been through this before? The respiratory infection? You’ve got something. Fever and sats are a bit lower than I’d like. I’m gonna get you back into a room and changed into a gown and checked out while I get him,” he jerked his head at Ethan, “registered and triaged. Then I’ll bring him back to you.”
Tim nodded as the EMT in with Dustin led him down the hall way. He had just changed into a gown when a nurse came in to retake his vitals. “Hayehhshoo, ehhshoo.” He sneezed, coughing. The nurse took a listen to his lungs, just as Ethan and Dustin had. “Nebulizer to start. Are you familiar?” Tim nodded. “The doctor will be in shortly,” she handed him the pipe and had him wrap his mouth around it. “10 minutes.”
True to her word, she was back in 10 minutes; Ethan had arrived after 5. She took the nebulizer tubing and auscultated his lungs again. “Improved.” She said, frowning, when Ethan asked, “but not great. I’ll let the provider know she can come in now.”
A few minutes later, a Physicians Assistant was in the room. “Which one of you is Tim?” She asked. Tim raised his hand and the PA started asking him questions, then listened to his lungs. Tim was getting pretty tired of the deep breaths as they just triggered his cough. He gave Ethan a long suffering look, and Ethan took his hand. The provider crossed over to the computer. “I’m ordering you a chest x-ray. They’ll be here shortly to take you for that.”
She turned to Ethan. “Sinus pain, pressure, ear pain, head cold for one week?” He verified the information, wincing as she pushed on his sinuses and shone her light in each eye. “Ahdzhoo.” The left. “Haddzhoo”. The right. Again, something unique to sinus infections for him. She checked out his mouth and nose before moving to his ear. “Both infected,” she told him, “right significantly more than the left. The left is just starting.” She listened to his lungs as they took Tim for his x-ray. “Sinus infection, double ear infection. Penicillin allergy. Hmmm.” She listed off an oral antibiotic for the sinus infection and antibiotic drops for the ears. “Any problems with those in the past?” Ethan shook his head. “Work excuse for Monday.” She informed as Tim came back. “Get the decongestants from behind the pharmacy counter for a few days.”
She let Tim know he could get dressed while they awaited the radiology report. Ethan stood up to help Tim with his clothes. “Ahhdzhoo.” He uselessly blew his nose again.
“Bless you.” Tim shrugged on his tshirt, then pulled up his pants. “What’d she tell you?” He asked as the nurse came in to get his vitals and go over Ethan’s discharge paperwork.
Tim listened, muffling a set of sneezes into his elbow. His oxygen level was back above 90% where they wanted it, so the nurse was happy with him when she left. He, however, was less than happy with Ethan. “Why…uhhshoo, huhhuhhshuhh…why didn’t you tell me you were this sick?” He asked. “I mean, it’s not since this morning.”
Ethan looked down at his feet, opening his mouth to explain, saved from having to do so as the provider came back in with Tim’s x-ray results. She let him know that he had a good case of bronchitis going on, likely due to the cold and his asthma. Steroids were the verdict for him along with a spacer for his inhaler and Monday off of work.
Ethan gave him a stony look when the PA left. “Why didn’t you tell me you were this sick?”
Tim looked at his feet. “I’m guessing the same thing you were going to say to me…I didn’t want you to worry….”
Ethan gave him a smile. “It’ll get easier.” He promised as the nurse came in to discharge Tim.
After that it was off to the pharmacy and home.
“Hadzhoo.” Ethan sneezed, collapsing on the cough. Tim stayed upright. He still had a phone call with Alex to get through.
Tim sniffled, pressing a hand to his nose, trying to block the imminent sneezes until Alex answered.
“Tim?”
“Heh…hey. Heyyehhshoo, ehhshoo! Hey boss.”
“Bless you. Work call?”
“I’m pretty sick. Not going to be in tomorrow.”
“You ok?” This wasn’t necessarily boss Alex asking.
“Bad cold turned to bronchitis. Ethan had me in urgent care this morning. They gave me steroids and a day off.” He paused to cough.
Alex nodded on his end. He’d been through this with Tim before. “Get better man. Fluids, rest, use your inhaler. Let me know how you feel tomorrow, ok.”
“Will do.”
“Ethan feeling better?”
Tim chuckled, then coughed again. “He’s got a sinus infection and an ear infection.”
Alex laughed. “Damn. You two aren’t playing around with this cold.” His tone softened. “You guys need anything? Tissues, cold meds, soup, oj?”
“We just spent 45 minutes at the pharmacy for meds, so got tissues, cold meds, and that. Um, food…let me check with Ethan.”
Tim nudged Ethan awake. “Hahhdzhoo! What?”
“Do we need any food? Alex is offering?”
“Orange juice, sugar free popsicles and bread. I was gonna go this morning, but…”
Tim relayed that information to Alex. “I’ll bring it by this afternoon,” he promised. “You two rest.”
Tim set his phone on the coffee table and curled up next to Ethan who was sneezing again. “Ahhdzhoo.”
“Bless you. Let’s see if we have more success at sleep than last night.”
Epilogue: The care and feeding of….
Alex showed up a few hours later with groceries…and take out. “I thought I’d save one of you the trouble of making lunch.”
Tim shot him a grateful look as Ethan offered sleepy thanks. Both boys followed him to the kitchen and sat down. Ethan told him where to find dishes, and Alex dished up wonton soup, egg rolls and crab rangoons.
Alex started unpacking the groceries so Ethan could help if he needed to know where anything should go.
“Ahhdzhoo!” Ethan sneezed, then gave Alex a quizzical look as he pulled out a large bottle of honey.
“Bless you.” Alex told him. “This is for Tim.” Now it was Tim’s turn to look confused. “Remember last time you had this.” Tim nodded, realization hitting him. Alex turned to Ethan. “This was the only thing that helped his cough.”
“This happens a lot?” Ethan asked. Alex seemed more willing to give information that Tim had been. “Once or twice a year. If he gets a bad cold, it’s bronchitis. Have to watch him even if it’s not a bad cold; they can still trigger his asthma.”
Ethan nodded.
“You’ll know if he has a cold. I’m sure you’ve noticed, he rarely sneezes, then he has a fit of like 20 the day before a cold sets on.”
“I saw that.” Ethan confirmed.
“If the cold doesn’t go to his lungs, he makes up for not sneezing the rest of the year.” Alex teased.
Tim sighed. “What are…Huhhehhshoo, ehhshhooo! What are you doing, Alex?”
“Making sure he knows how to take care of you.” Alex said, simply. “He’s good at taking care of himself…eating, sleeping, taking medicine.”
“And the asthma? How controlled?”
Tim sneezed again. “Huhhshoo, huhhyuhhshoo. Pretty good, unless I’m sick. If I run outdoors, I use it beforehand. The air quality can trigger me. But mostly, it’s just random attacks.”
Ethan nodded, taking that in.
“He likes milk when he’s sick. He loses his appetite when he’s stressed out. Sometimes the sun makes him sneeze. He’s really allergic to feathers.”
“You’re worse.” Tim interjected.
“True. You already found out about that cologne. He doesn’t like to worry anyone, but really, he’s pretty easy to read and take care of. He’s pretty easy going. He just likes to try to sleep it off, but the cough makes it hard. The honey works the best.”
Ethan grinned. “Hattzhoo. Good to know.”
“And he’s not going to tell you any of this.”
“I would have!” Tim protested with a series of wrenching coughs. “I just didn’t get there.” Is the
Alex laughed. “Sure. I’ll let you two eat and rest. Call if you need anything.” He said, showing himself out.
The boys finished eating and returned to the couch, both managing to doze until Ethan’s phone rang around 4. Tim overheard Ethan’s end of the conversation, and it didn’t sound like Ethan was getting his way.
Ethan set his phone on the coffee table. “Dustin, you remember him from this morning?” At Tim’s nod, “he’s stopping over to check on us.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been friends since we were placed as roommates freshman year of college.” He explained, in case Tim was wondering why. “Went through nursing school together, worked together a few years, before I split off into education. He’s back in school for his NP. Anyway, he’ll be here in about an hour.”
Tim nodded, wrapping his arm around his face. “Huhhuhhshuhh, uhhshehh.” A pause. “Huhhshuhh, huhhyuhhshoo.”
“Bless you.” Ethan rubbed his nose, then grabbed a tissue. “Hahhtchoo! Ugh, your sneeze was contagious.” He teased, blowing his nose, pleased that he could actually clear some of the congestion.
“Sorry. Bless you.” Tim wrapped his arm around Ethan, pulling him close. “Get some sleep.” He said, kissing the top of his head and cueing up the next movie in their super hero saga.
Ethan noticed that the honey really did help slow Tim’s cough. Tim noticed that Ethan’s sniffle were less congested and more runny, and when he blew his nose, he was actually starting to clear it, just as he had with the vapor rub yesterday. Hopefully this would be more permanent.
Tim had just started to doze when Dustin knocked on the door. Ethan got up and let him in. Dustin took a seat in the armchair next to the sofa, giving both men a once over. “How are you two feeling?”
“Ok.” Tim answered, rubbing his nose.
“Don’t ask?” Came Ethan’s response.
Dustin shot him a sympathetic look. “You had to let it get this bad?” He asked, handing over the Tupperware container he’d brought with you. “Beth made you these.”
Ethan opened it, curiously. “Peanut butter protein balls?” He grinned, noting the recipe taped to the top cover. “And the ear infection’s the worst part.”
“I know it’s hard enough to get you to eat when you’re sick…thought your favorite snack would help.” He looked at Tim. “I don’t know if you’ve found that out yet; you really gotta push him to eat his meals and snacks when he’s sick.”
Tim nodded. “His blood sugar’s dropped twice on me.”
“I don’t know if you cook or not, but I threw the recipe for those in. He’ll always eat those.”
“Tim loves to cook.” Ethan said. “I’m eating a better variety now.”
Dustin laughed. “Not Monday, chicken, Tuesday, pork, Wednesday, fish….”
“Hahhtzhoo!” Ethan shook his head.
Dustin turned to Tim. “Like I said this morning, that’s his sinus infection sneeze…stuffy and nonproductive. If he starts to run a fever and sneeze like that, it’s sinuses. And if it’s a bad cold, it will be because this boy will just throw a mask on and bathe in hand sanitizer rather than take a day off to rest.”
“He pushes himself.” Dustin continues. “And he hides how sick he is. He’s got tells, though.” He leaned toward Tim.
“Do not!” Ethan protested. “Hhhatdzhoo.”
Tim shot Ethan a look as he grabbed a tissue. “This time, you…uhhshoo, huhhuhhshuhh…you passed the sneeze to me.”
Dustin laughed as Tim blew his nose. “Bless you both. Anyway, he doesn’t sleep well when he’s sick – he’s restless. He snores. When he’s tired, he sneezes more. He will always lose his voice. Allergies don’t do that.”
Dustin continued. “Allergies make him tired. It’s a bad allergy day if he’s wearing his glasses. He doesn’t get congested with allergies, but his nose just runs. Don’t keep him too far from the tissues. Showers help.”
“When he’s congested like he has been, vapor rub is the only thing that helps. He hates it because it makes him sneeze.”
“Found that out.” Tim laughed.
“You really want to get him going, use this.” Dustin tossed over the vapor rub with lavender. “The lavender really gets him going, clears him out and makes him less cranky.”
“HahhAhhtchoo! I still hate it.”
“Low blood sugar…cranky, shaky, dizzy, confused. Doesn’t always eat before he works out, so keep crackers on you at the gym. He’s otherwise pretty good…unless he’s sick. Just has to hide everything, so thought you should know his ‘tells.’”
Tim laughed, sneezing again. “Hahehshoo, ehhshoo.” The sneezes predictably turned into a cough. “Thanks” he managed, following a sip of his water.
“Staying for awhile?” Ethan asked.
Dustin shook his head. “Beth and I have dinner plans. I’d invite the two of you, but…”
Tim and Ethan laughed. “Another time.” Ethan told her. “Tell Beth it’s been too long and thanks for these.”
Dustin headed for the door as Ethan snuggled back up to Tim. “Sorry about that.”
Tim wrapped his arm around him again. “I think it’s sweet. He just wants me to be able to take the best care of you. Just like Alex wants you to be able to do for me.” He bent down and kissed him. “Now sleep. I’ll wake you at dinner time.”
Aggedy Ann 