Written for a friend
Cal poured the tomato sauce into the crockpot as he heard coughing coming from the spare bedroom. Stirring it up, he set it to cook while they were gone, then sat back with a glass of juice before going in to disturb the younger man.
They’d have to get ready to head down to the rink soon, but he wanted to give Carter a chance to rest. The young goalie had had a long day yesterday, posting a shutout with the Blades before being called up to the big leagues, even if it was only temporarily. Carl’s tandem, Ben, was out with a tweaked knee, and Carter had been a late call up, when it was obvious the other goalie wasn’t going to be able to play today.
He’d offered Carter his spare bedroom; they’d played together in the minors and knew each other well; as he felt the kid might feel more comfortable there than in a sterile hotel setting. Carter had arrived late last night and they’d spent some time getting reacquainted.
Carter was just as Cal remembered him. Spunky, tenacious, but not without his quirks. Of course, it’d be a rarity to find a quirkless goalie. They’d stayed up later than either anticipated, talking about their time in the minors and Cal providing a full scouting report of the shooters they’d face today. It wasn’t anticipated Carter would see the net, but after Ben’s freak knee twist, he wanted the younger man prepared.
What struck him most the night before was the young man’s sneezing. He’d heard him sneeze but a handful of times the two had been together in the minors, but last night, Carter certainly had had a tickle to deal with. After the fourth set of sneezes, Cal was having second thoughts about having him stay, questioning if Stella and Josie, the cats were getting to him. Carter rebuffed this, swearing up and down, he wasn’t allergic to cats, he’d lived with them his whole life until being drafted. Cal had offered him Benadryl, just in case, but the younger man shook his head. “‘S just sneezing. I don’t know why I’m sneezing, but I’m fine, really.”
He’d sent him to bed after the tenth set. He could hear Carter coughing in his sleep now, intermixed with congested snores. Despite wanting the younger man to get some rest, he knew he had to get him up…3 hours to pregame practice and meetings before the Orcas arrived in town. He knocked on the guest room door and heard a congested “come on in, Cal.”
Carter was pulling his tshirt on. He looked tired, but tried to look cheerful when he saw Carl’s face. “Morning.” He sniffled, rubbing his nose on his forearm.
Cal took stock of the pile of used tissues next to the bed and Carter’s red nose, bloodshot eyes, and tired countenance. “Not allergic to cats, my ass.”
Carter prepared to respond, then halted, bringing his tshirt up over the lower half of his face. “Ayyihhtshoo, ihhtshoo, hayyihhchoo. It’s not the cats.” He protested, taking the tissue box Cal handed his direction.
“Bless you. It’s something in here, then. I didn’t hear you sneeze this much in a year down in Portsmouth.”
Carter gave his nose a wet, gurgling blow, then filled a second tissue. “I don’t have allergies.” His face fell as realization hit him. “There’s been a cold going through the locker room.” Another thick sniffle. “Probably my turn. Great fucking timing, huh?”
Cal gave him a sympathetic smile. “Hey, happens in the big leagues too. I just got over one that made the rounds.” He paused for the rookie to cough. “You finish getting dressed, and I’ll get you fixed up with some breakfast and DayQuil.”
Carter appeared in the kitchen not ten minutes later. He’d cleaned up, taking some time to wash the tired from his face. Cal heard him sniffle and turned around. “Looking a little better. You’ve got me convinced it’s not the cats, at least. Breakfast?”
“Got any oatmeal?”
“Of course.” Cal pulled out a canister of quick oats and started making it for the younger man, figuring he knew his way around the kitchen best. “There’s orange juice in the fridge.” He suggested, pulling a glass out of the cupboard.
Carter took the hint and poured himself a glass, taking the oatmeal from Cal a few moments later along with the milk and brown sugar offered. “HehtShoo ! Ehh-Hetschoo!” He sneezed into his sleeve, grabbing a napkin off the table. He spotted the DayQuil Cal had sitting in the table, and at the older man’s nod, took it.
The two headed to the rink shortly after where Cal watched the rookie muddle through practice and struggle to hold back sneezes through the team meeting. Finally they were released for their pregame rituals, and he could only hope Carter’s a) included a nap and b) that he’d be able to sleep.
4 hours later it was game time. Cal had heard the younger man sneezing through the bedroom wall as both tried to rest and knew he had to have a good game tonight. Carter was in no condition to play if he got pulled.
Cal managed to hold the Orcas to one goal that night, 5 hole on a breakaway, of course, but the Heat won nonetheless. After post game meetings and media scrum, he got Carter to the car and back to the apartment.
He spooned up the chili, his post Orcas ritual, and coaxed Carter to eat. He also noticed that Carter’s sneezing was picking up in frequency and intensity.
“Ihhtschuhh, tschuh, Huhh-Ihhhtschoo, ayyihhtschoo.” Carter pulled the top of his Blades hoodie up over the lower half of his face to black the sneezes, then took the napkin Cal extended.
“Bless.”
“Thanks.” He sniffled, blowing his nose. “Ugh. My nose is really running.” He commented.
“That might be the chili. The spice builds up on you.” Cal apologized as Carter sneezed again.
Carter ate half the bowl, apologizing that he just wasn’t hungry, and Cal pushed another glass of orange juice on him.
“Hiihhtschoo! Hihhtschuhh! UhhSchuhh.” Carter sneezed fiercely. “You don’t happen to have any NyQuil, do you?”
Cal nodded. “Go get ready for bed. I’ll bring it.”
Carter looked at his hoodie and sweatpants. “I think I’m pretty ready.” He laughed, heading for the bedroom. Cal followed close behind with the NyQuil.
Carter swallowed the green liquid before his face went slack. “Heyyehhchuhh!” He exploded, snatching up a tissue from the box next to the bed. He gave his nose several strong crackling blows and collapsed on the bed, pulling his hoodie tighter around him.
“Cold?” Carter nodded. “I’ll get you another blanket.”
Carter curled up under the blankets, waiting for Cal. Cal was back moments later and draped another comforter over the shivering blonde. “You’ll warm up soon. Think you have a fever?”
The young man shook his head. “I’m always chilled when I have a cold.” He paused. “UhhIhhschoo, Ihhschuhh, SCHUHH, HuhIhhSchuhh. ‘Scuse me.” He flushed at the volume of his sneezes.
“Bless.” Cal set the tissue box next to him. “I think you better keep these close.” He teased lightly.
Carter nodded. “Sorry. I’m always such a sneezy mess when I get a cold.” As if to illustrate his point, he sneezed another three times, this time muffled by tissues. Again, three powerful nose blows, and he deposited the tissues into the grocery bag Cal had set next to the bed.
“It’s alright.” Cal assured him.
“Thanks for letting me stay here. I’d hate to be sick in a hotel.”
Cal nodded. There was something about hotels and illness that just wasn’t comforting. And at least here, he could take care of Carter while he was up, make sure he got food and rest. He remembered from the Blades that the young goalie was determined and known for pushing himself. Especially if he felt he had something to prove. “Ready to sleep?”
“Soon. Uhhihtschmmph. Ugh. Um, can you stay and talk until the NyQuil kicks in?”
Cal nodded. He didn’t like being sick alone either. “Sure. Got any tips for my 5 hole on a breakaway?”
Aggedy Ann 