Tim shifted on the bed, pulling the pillow over his head as he heard Alex knock at the door of his small studio apartment. He tried to ignore the persistent knock until he heard a key in the lock, then sat up and made his way to the living area. Alex had said he’d stop by tonight to discuss a new project; Tim, who’d been fighting a cold, just wanted to sleep.
“‘Rrhhisshoo! HhuhhRisshoo!” Perfectly timed sneezes marked Alex’s entrance to the apartment.
“Bless you. You’ve still got that…”. He switched on the overhead light and took a look at Tim. “I don’t think this is just a cold.” He finished, ignoring Tim’s second set of sneezes as his photic reflex kicked it.
Tim released several wheezy coughs into his fist, then walked into the kitchen for a glass of water. “I’m fine.” Came his hoarse, congested response.
“Bill said he sent you home early today.” Alex took a seat at the kitchen table.
Shivering, Tim sat across from him. “Checking up on me?”
“He called me. He was concerned.” He took in Tim’s pale skin, deep black circles under his eyes, the sheen of sweat across his brow. “Where’s your thermometer?”
He sighed at Tim’s blank look. “Never mind. They’ll get your temp in urgent care.” He rubbed his nose and glared down at Tim’s cat, weaving his way around his legs. “Let’s go.” He herded Tim into his car, to the nearest urgent care.
One chest x-ray and one nebulizer treatment later, Tim officially had pneumonia, and Alex was driving him to the pharmacy. “You gotta come in,” he lectured to Tim’s protests. “You have to get your meds. I’ll get everything else while you do, ok.”
Tim dragged himself to the pharmacy counter for his antibiotic, inhaler and steroids. Alex went through, grabbing tissues, cold meds, orange juice and a few cans of soup, having seen Tim’s meager food stores. He’d go grocery shopping tomorrow, but this would get food into Tim tonight.
He saw Tim stumble as he headed back to the car and rushed to catch up with him and steady him. “You ok?” He asked for the fifth time that evening.
Tim nodded. “Coughing too much.”
Alex helped him into the car. “Your breathing sucks. Inhaler.” He fished it out of the paper bag for Tim and waited for the other man to take the first hit.
Helping him back up the stairs at his apartment, Alex sighed. “How’d you get this sick anyway? You kept telling me it was just a cold.”
Tim shrugged, fumbling with his keys and unlocking the door. “It was. Then, it wasn’t.”
Alex started putting groceries away. “It’s been over a week. You didn’t think you needed a doctor? I would have gone with you. Bill would have…”
“I was gonna call…” Tim protested, reaching for one of the boxes of tissues Alex had unpacked. “I fell asleep.”
Alex shoved a glass of orange juice at him. “Take your antibiotic. Start your steroid in the morning.” He opened a can of soup and dumped it in a microwaveable bowl. “Dinner in 3. Have you even been eating other than Chinese takeout?” He gestured to the containers and chopsticks.
“Orange juice.” Tim gestured to his recycling bin.
Alex sighed.
Tim slumped in a chair, hands over his face. “HuhhRuhhshoo! Ruhhshoo! Uhhrshehh, huhhRuhhsheshh!”
“Bless you.” Alex opened the box of tissues Tim had been holding a minute earlier and offered them to him.
“Thanks.” Tim gave his nose a loud honk, the took the bowl of soup Alex offered.
“Eat, shower, bed.”
“I’d rather just go to bed.”
“You’ll-“ Alex paused, grabbing for a tissue. “H’Chupt. You’ll sleep better. And looking at your hair, you need one.” He shooed the cat, lurking around his ankles away.
Tim picked at the soup under Alex’s watchful eye until he had eaten enough to satisfy him. He slowly made his way to the shower, cranking it up as hot as it would go. Once in, he admitted Alex was right, this did feel better, it was loosening his congestion. And letting loose the sneezing. Drying off, he grabbed a handful of toilet paper and blew his nose three, four, five times, then “hihhyehhshooo, ehhhshihh…” And he started over.
Finally emerging from the bathroom, he heard a trio of sneezes from Alex in the kitchen, looked to see Alex cleaning his kitchen and felt a pang of guilt. Alex was here, making sure he got to bed ok, despite being allergic to Missy. He might be brusque, but…Tim hadn’t been taking care of himself.
Alex poked his head out of the kitchen. “Going to bed?” At Tim’s nod, “collect your cat.” Biting back a cough, Tim picked up Missy and headed to bed with her. “Can you have cold medicine?” Alex asked, tossing a box at him.
“No nyquil?” Tim asked.
“Out of capsules.”
“Liquid?”
“Is how you relapsed before. I’ll find you some capsules tomorrow.”
Tim nodded, heading for his bed. He flopped down, cat curling in next to him, and curling around the tissues himself. He picked up his phone, called Bill, told him what was going on, that he wouldn’t be in tomorrow or Friday. Bill just told him to keep him in the loop, call if he needed anything. And Tim lay there, sniffling and sneezing until he fell asleep.
He awoke an hour or so later with a set of sneezes, used his last tissue and made his way to the kitchen.
Alex was on the phone. “What do you need?” He asked, interrupting his call.
“Tissues.“ Tim mumbled. “‘M out.”
Alex slid a box over to him. “I’ll be on the couch tonight if you need anything.” He informed Tim, tone in his voice leaving no room for debate.
Tim heard him go back to the call as he walked away.
“Yeah, I’m staying…Yeah, I know…No, Bill, you’ve got work in the morning, I don’t. I’ve got this. Yeah, he’s pretty sick…hehhChuphh…sorry to interrupt…I’ll never deny that. I’ll be ok for one night I just…I wonder how well he’s taking care of himself, you know. That’s what he says…good to hear it from you. But is he holding the rest of his life together? He’s testing clean. But…all he’d been eating was Chinese takeout…no food in the fridge. Ok, he says he is. Maybe. Maybe it is just being this sick. I don’t think he’s had more than a slight cold. I don’t think he’s had to deal with that sober. I just…I feel more comfortable being here. HeyyChuhh…well, mentally anyway. Yeah, we’ll talk tomorrow.”
Tim curled up, facing the wall. They didn’t trust him. Dammit! He’d been doing everything right before this cold came along and knocked him for a loop. Now he had to prove himself all over again. Choking back tears, he finally managed to fall asleep.
He was up early the following morning, head pounding and feeling like it was full of cement. He’d been due for more cold medicine two hours ago, and he was cursing himself for not setting an alarm to remind himself. Maybe Alex was right; maybe he needed help.
“HihhYyihhtzzschoo, Yyihhschoo!” Two loud sneezes preceded his entry into the kitchen, and he felt the sludge in his head begin to shift forward. “Yyiihschahhh, hiihhyiihhschescchh!”
“Bless you.” Alex looked up from his cup of coffee and phone. He passed Tim the box of tissues he had next to him and judging by the pile of crumpled tissues next to him, was becoming fast friends with. He grimaced at Tim’s harsh, consistent blows.
After Tim had managed to slightly clear his head, he walked to the fridge, poured a glass of orange juice and pointedly, took his cold medicine, antibiotic, and steroid.
“Still feeling pretty rough?” Tim nodded, but Alex didn’t notice as he was busy grabbing for the tissues. “EhhChuhh…HehhChushhh..ChuhhShehhh!”
“Bless you. I didn’t set an alarm for the cold medicine.” Tim admitted. “I could have used it a few hours ago. You doing alright?”
“Missy decided to join me on the couch a couple hours ago.” Alex sighed. Tim groaned. “Surprised I didn’t wake you. I woke up every time you sneezed last night. I know mine aren’t as loud but this place is small.”
“You’re probably ready to go home.”
Alex shook his head. “I’ll grab my allergy pills when I run home for clothes.” To Tim’s confused look, “I’m staying. At least a few days.”
“You really don’t have to.” Tim coughed. “I got this.” He noticed the slight wheeze in his breathing and prayed Alex didn’t.
Luck was not on his side. “Did you use your inhaler this morning?”
Tim shook his head, heading for his bed to grab it. Using it, he returned to Alex. “I can take care of myself.” He insisted.
“You’re not.” Alex’s tone was blunt.
“I can. I was.” He crossed over to the cabinet and pulled out a bowl and cereal. He held up the box in offering to Alex. Alex nodded, and Tim grabbed a second bowl. He slid a bowl across to Alex, setting the cereal on the table, then swinging open the fridge for milk. He sat across from his friend at the beat up table he’d found at a secondhand shops when he’d found this place. Alex had offered to set him up with furniture when he hit six months sobriety…he’d never made it that far before, but aside from a mattress and bedding, he’d refused; insisting to do it all on his own. Now at a year…Alex was apparently convinced he was losing it all.
“You wanna make me a grocery list?”
“I can go grocery shopping.” Tim protested. “I’m not helpless.”
“Looks like you haven-chuhh haven’t been.”
“I went grocery shopping. I got sick. I ran out of food. By that time, I barely had the energy for work and meetings. It’s seriously only been a couple days.”
Alex frowned.
“Really.” Tim paused, crossing an arm in front of his face, waiting. “Heyyy–YehhtSchoo, YehhtSchoo, yhiihtschissshh, hhuhhEhhddShoo!” He sniffed, running a tissue under his nose. “I was gonna call Bill last night anyway. Ask him if I could have today off to rest, to get groceries, clean up a little around here.”
“And you didn’t because?”
“You got here first. Took me to be seen.”
Alex nodded. “Fair.” He buried his head in his sleeve and exploded with a powerful “heyChushShoo!”
“Bless you. Now, grocery shopping, I wouldn’t say no to a ride. Easier than trying to carry everything on my bike.” He coughed roughly. “Easier than trying to ride my bike right now.” He admitted.
Alex grabbed the thermometer he had purchased from the pharmacy bag. “No fever, and you can go.” He stuck the thermometer in Tim’s ear. “99. Not technically a fever. So, I guess you’re going. You sure you’re up to it? I don’t want you passing out in the grocery store.” He silently added the ‘again,’ although this would be for a much different, non self-inflicted reason.
“I’m sure.”
“Go change. Make your list.”
Tim changed into clean sweats and a hoodie, then sat down with Alex to make a list. Once the grocery list was to Alex’s satisfaction, Alex led Tim to his car. Ignoring Tim’s 6”2’ frame resting against the door, he drove first to his house. Pulling in the driveway, he looked at Tim, head slumped against the window. “I’ll be 10 minutes. Did you want to come in?”
Tim shook his head. “Wait here.”
“Suit yourself. I just need to grab clothes, allergy pills; fix myself up.”
“Take your time.” Tim mumbled.
Alex frowned, heading into the house. Tim had been so insistent he go grocery shopping. Now he wondered if he’d been doing it to prove a point. Whatever the reason was, he just hoped Tim had enough gas in the tank to make it through the outing.
After an allergy pill and time with a toothbrush and a comb, he finished throwing clothes into an overnight bag, then headed back to the car. Tim, predictably, was sneezing as he threw his bag in the backseat. “Bless you.” He slipped in and started the car. “Ready for groceries?” His only answer was several wet noseblows from Tim.
15 minutes later, they were parked in front of the grocery store near Tim’s apartment. “Ready?” Alex asked.
Tim shook his head, not moving.
“Run out of steam?”
Tim raised his crumpled tissues. “”EhhgSchoo, huuhhyyehhgscheshhh!” He nodded, wiping his nose. “I thought I could.” He admitted in a hoarse, stuffed up voice.
“And now?”
“Not sure. I…the drive to your house…the tired hit me. I’m wide awake, but my body’s tired.”
Alex gave a tight smile. “That’s why I wanted you to stay home. Give me your list.”
Tim handed over his list. “I’ll pay you back.” He mumbled. “Stop at an ATM on the way home.”
“Don’t worry about it right now. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
“‘S ok. Window feels nice.”
Alex reached over, back of his hand contacting Tim’s forehead and flushed cheeks. “Because you have a fever.” He sighed. “I knew I should have insisted you stay home. Rest here. I’ll be right back.”
Fortunately, the grocery store wasn’t crowded, and Alex completed Tim’s list in record time. He found Tim dozing when he made it back to the car, waking with a start when he opened the car door. “Got you food.” Was his only comment for the silent drive home.
Back at the apartment, Alex insisted on a temperature recheck. “100.5. Back to bed. I’ll put the groceries away.”
Tim, instead of heading for his makeshift bedroom, headed for the fridge.
“What are you doing?”
“I want a glass of water.”
Alex nodded; that was not a bad idea on Tim’s part. He watched Tim fill a glass with water, drink it, then fill it again.
“How much water are you planning to drink?”
“I’m taking this one to bed.” Tim coughed. “After I take some ibuprofen.”
Again, Alex nodded. Tim, trying to get his fever down without being told was a good sign, even if Tim might be trying to prove a point. “Just, try to rest. I know the steroids wind you up a bit, but your body needs the rest.”
“I think I can try.” Tim rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, then rubbed his hand on his sweats. Sighing, Alex handed him a tissue. “Thanks.” Tim smiled, sheepishly, blowing his nose before heading over to his makeshift bedroom.
“Don’t forget Missy.” Alex called after him.
After gathering up his cat, he crawled back into bed, briefly falling asleep.
Just under 2 hours later, he was up again, having slept maybe an hour of that. Between his symptoms and the steroid, it had taken forever to fall asleep. He lay restlessly in bed for awhile, then decided to venture out for some juice and maybe a little lunch.
Alex was on his couch, watching TV. “Hey,” he looked up. “Sounds like you got some decent sleep. You were snoring pretty good for awhile.”
Tim blushed, hoping it was hidden through his fever flushed cheeks. It was bad enough he was inconveniencing Alex, but now he was exposing him to his congestion amplified snoring as well. “I thought…hold on…” He pressed a hand against his nose, the other hand starting to move towards the tissue box next to Alex. Alex caught his meaning and plucked a few from the box, placing them in Tim’s outstretched hand. “Thahhh…ayyyyahhhshoo, hahhhtshoo, ahhhchahhsho, chahhshash, ahhhyaashh, ahhhyahhshoo!”
“Bless you.” Alex ignored sound of the gurgling nose blows and, instead, handed over more tissues. “You were saying?” He asked casually when Tim was done.
“I thought maybe, some lunch.”
“Hungry?”
“Not really, but I should eat.” Tim sighed and immediately began coughing. Still coughing, he returned to his bed for his glass and inhaler, going to the kitchen for more water. Coughing ceased, he took a long drink and used the inhaler again.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“I can’t hear the wheezing, but I feel tight.”
Alex nodded approvingly. “This one probably works better than your expired one.”
Tim looked down. “Yeah.”
“How did you lehh…EhhChuhh..let it expire?”
“Hadn’t used it in awhile. Didn’t think about checking.”
Alex finished heating the soup. “You want anything else?” He began making himself a sandwich.
Tim shook his head. “I think this is enough.” He sat down and began picking his way through the bowl of chicken noodle.
“Back to bed.” Alex told him after lunch.
Tim sighed. “I don’t think I can sleep anymore right now. I’d like to sit up for a bit.”
“You should rest.”
“I’ve learned my lungs feel better if I don’t stay flat the whole time. I can rest sitting up.” Tim argued.
Alex weighed this information. “Couch.” He finally relented. “Grab a blanket.” He snatched up the paper towel next to his plate, drawing in a shaky breath. “Hhh’Chuhh, Chuhh–Chushh, AhhChushh! Try to get one not covered in cat hair, if that’s possible.” He mumbled.
Tim grabbed a knitted blanket from the storage bin under the bed. He sat on the couch, one long leg tucked under him, draping the blanket over him and flipped through Netflix.
Alex sat on the other end of the couch as Tim picked the movie, placing the box of tissues between them. 20 minutes into the movie, Alex had nodded off. Tim sat there, trying to keep his coughs quiet, not to disturb him. Sneezing, on the other hand…
“Heyehhttshhoo…Eehhckkchoo”. He tried to suppress them.
“Bless you.”Alex mumbled, drowsily.
“Sorry.”
“You can’t help it.” Alex yawned, pressing his head tighter against his pillow, closing his eyes. “Sorry, didn’t sleep much last night.”
Tim felt a twinge of guilt. “Sorry.” He apologized again.
“Don’t worry about it. I was up late working on my proposal. Woke up every time you sneezed, every time I sneezed, then Missy gave me an early start to my day.”
The guilt continued. Between him and the cat, of course he’d kept Alex up all night. “Is the allergy pill helping?”
Alex sighed. “Not as much as usual. But usually I take it before I spend more than a few hours here.”
Again, a wave of guilt. Alex hadn’t anticipated spending the night on a cat hair covered couch. His friend was probably just as miserable as he was.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll try to do the same.”
Alex pressed his head against the pillow again. “Good idea.” He pressed the back of his hand against his nose. “Hhh’Chuhh.”
“Bless you.”
Tim turned his attention back to the movie as Alex nodded off again. Half an hour after Alex dozed off, Tim was asleep, not aware that Missy had curled up between him and the tissues.
Another half hour later, Missy’s presence broke through Alex’s Zyrtec. He woke up, the need to sneeze so intense, it made his eyes water. Looking over at Tim, now asleep, he saw the cat’s black ears and white nose poking from behind the tissues. Hastily grabbing one, ignoring her glare at being disturbed, he folded in two. “HehhtChushh, EhhhChuhh, Chuhh, Chuhh–Chuhhh, hehhUhhChushoo!”
Tim stirred on the last sneeze. “Bless you.”
“HehhCHuhhh! Cat. Chuhhshhh!”
Eyes widening, Tim shooed Missy down. “I’m so sorry.” Came the flustered apology. “I didn’t know she was there.”
Alex nodded, reaching for more tissues just in time to catch a fresh flurry of sneezes. “Ugh.” He groaned. “That’s what she did to me this morning. HuhhChhggtt.” Bringing the tissues back to his nose, he pinched off another sneeze.
“Bless you.” Tim paused, turning quickly away over the side of the couch. “Yyahhshoo, hehhhrrrahhshoo! Rahhshehhh! Hahhsheshh!” The predictable wheezy coughing followed.
“Got you going, huh?” Alex held up a finger, requesting Tim delay his response. “HehhChhcktt, uhhchhngtt.”
“I think I’m pretty suggestible right now,” Tim sighed, rubbing his nose.
Alex wrinkled his nose a few times and sniffled. “Well, I think I’m done…at least, the fast and furious ones are…for now.”
“Hahhrrshoo! Hahryyahshoo!” This time, Tim managed to get to the tissues.
“Apparently, you’re not.”
Tim glanced down at his wrist, then realized he’d never put his watch back on after his shower last night. “What time is it?”
“3:30.”
Tim sighed. “Should have had cold medicine an hour ago.” He admitted. “I fell asleep.”
“Not the worst reason for forgetting.” He pointed out as Tim got up and headed for his nightstand.
Grabbing the box, he met Alex in the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice. “I need to do dishes.” He commented, looking at his meager supply of glasses sitting around the sink. He bent down to grab the dish drainer from under the sink and began coughing harshly as he bent down. Straightening up, he slumped down in a chair, coughing slowly subsiding.
Alex took the dish drainer from him. “You need to rest.”
“I’m ok.” Tim worked at catching his breath. “Asthma…bending over like that triggers this sometimes when I’m sick.” He gave his nose a powerful blow. “Besides, this place is a mess. Was gonna clean today…laundry.”
“You’re going to rest.” Once again, Alex’s tone left little room for arguments.
“I have to do laundry.” Tim tried again.
Alex hesitated, and for a brief second, Tim thought maybe he was relenting. Until Alex pulled his t-shirt up over his nose. “EhhChhsshh! Do you really think you’re up to carrying your laundry up and down the stairs?”
Tim weighed this. He wanted to say yes, but, the answer was, honestly, no.
“Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“I guess; I’m almost out of clean clothes. But the rest of cleaning I can do…sweep, vacuum, dishes, garbage. You’ll probably be more comfortable if I sweep and vacuum anyway.” He pressed his face into his hoodie sleeve. “HuhhChusshehh, ChuhhhShesshh!”
“You can do the dishes. I’ll get the rest. Including the laundry.”
“I can’t…you can’t do my laundry.”
“Like I haven’t done it before.”
“That was different. That was…before.”
“This is different. You’re sick. You’re really working at breathing when you move around. Go wash your dishes, then rest before supper.”
Tim frowned, knowing Alex was right. He was having a hard time keeping his breath; this morning’s walk to Alex’s car had done him in. Pushing himself to an asthma attack would only prove Alex right…that he couldn’t take care of himself. He nodded. “Ok. You’re probably right.”
“I know I’m right.”
“Heyyyehhshoo! Yeehhggshoo! Hahhhgehhshoo! HehhggShoo!” Tim wanted to fire back a retort at Alex, but sneezing had sapped him of his energy. Besides, he had a feeling there were more on the way.
“Ble-“
Tim shook his head. He hadn’t been wrong about the impending sneezes. “HehRahshoo! Ahhrshoo! Hahrshoo! HahhrahhSheshh!”
“And I think I’m doing the dishes, if you’re gonna sneeze like that. Don’t need your bug right now.”
Tim glared. “Just waiting…”. Realizing how stuffed up he was, he blew his nose furiously. “Cold medicine needs to kick in,” he enunciated. “Besides, you’re sneezing, too.”
“Cat allergies aren’t contagious.” Alex grinned. “That cold…that gave you walking pneumonia by the way…is.” He reached for the tissues, snagging one, feeling a sneeze building. “You should be in behhhd…EhhChusssh–chusshh.”
“Bless you.” Tim grumbled. Again, Alex wasn’t wrong. Tim was just tired of being told what to do, annoyed at having his life taken over, even if it was, hopefully, only temporary.” He got out of the chair, grabbed Missy, and stalked off, in his annoyance feeling less guilty as he heard Alex sneeze a half dozen times from the kitchen.
Tim lay in bed, staring at the wall, his stormy silence broken only by his coughing and sneezing. He could hear Alex clattering around the apartment as he cleaned, brought laundry downstairs. Instead of being grateful for his friend’s help, the sounds of activity only made him more resentful. Unsure when, he must have fallen asleep, because the next he knew, Alex was waking him for supper.
“I thought maybe those steroids might have kicked in by now, and I figured you’re gonna get sick of soup.” Alex set a hamburger and mashed potatoes in front of him.
“Sorry.” Tim apologized 10 minutes later with only half of his hamburger eaten. “I’m sorry. My throat is really sore, and the coughing doesn’t help.”
Alex frowned. “I bet not. I can make some more potatoes if you’re still hungry…” came the offer.
“Not that hungry.” Tim cleared his throat.
“Better than pushing you to eat half a bowl of soup.” Alex twisted away. “Hehhhh…uhhh’Chuhh!” Tim looked down as Alex tried to softly blow his nose, then just gave up and blew to his satisfaction. “That one wouldn’t come.”He sighed.
“Bless you.” He took a good look at Alex. “Your eyes are starting to look puffy.”
Another sigh. “I know.”
“Gonna look great for your meeting tomorrow…”
“You’re not running me off tonight that easy.”
Tim’s response was a sharp outburst of coughing. Looking up, he caught Alex’s glance, opened his mouth to respond, and instantly ducked it into his left shoulder. “Yyehshoo! Hiighhyyeshoo!” And, his arm was back up to block more wheezing coughs.
“Inhaler.” Alex ordered.
Tim shook his head, getting up from the table and stepping out of the small kitchen. “Too soon,” he said, returning. “And I’m fine. Just coughing up crap now.”
“Good to get it out of your chest.” Alex shrugged. “Probably best to have you sit up for awhile then. Maybe some tea, too. Calm things down before bed.”
“I don’t have any tea.”
Alex stood up and went to the cupboard, shooing Missy out of the way. “I bought some. Go get comfortable. I’ll bring it.”
Tim went and curled his lanky frame up on the couch as best he was able while still leaving room for Alex. Missy pawed at his leg, and he gently pushed her down. “Not on the couch right now, Miss. You can’t come up while Alex is here.”
“Think she actually understands you?”
“Questioning my mental state now?”
“N-no.” Alex’s voice hitched and he thrust the mug of tea at Tim, bringing up his free hand. “HhhChuhhh, Chhhgghhtt.”
Tim had grasped the tea just in time. “Bless you.” He held out the tissues.
Grabbing a few, Alex sank down on the couch, scrubbing at his nose, watching as Missy curled up a few feet away, staring at him.
“I swear she knows what she does to me.” He grumbled.
“That’s what I’ve heard.” Tim gave a deep sniffle following a sip of the tea. “This is good.” He sniffled again, and Alex batted the tissues closer.
Taking the hint, Tim blew his nose. “Steam from the tea always does that. But it’s good. Sweet.”
“Just plain lemon. Extra honey, for your throat.”
“Thanks.” Tim yawned, picking up the tea for another drink.
“You’re tired.”
“One yawn.” Tim pointed out, fighting back a second.
“Two.” Apparently, his efforts hadn’t worked. “You look tired.”
“Not sure why. All you have me do is sleep.”
“You’re pretty sick.” Alex reached across to feel Tim’s forehead as Tim pulled away. “Tim…” His voice was low, tinged with annoyance.
“Sneeze.” Tim muttered, holding the tissue in his hand up to his face, waiting. “YyuhhShoo! Huhhhyunngshoo! YyyuhhhuhhShoo! UhhShooo! RuhhShehh! HuhhRuhhSheshh! Ugh! Gross.” He muttered, reaching for more tissues.
“Bless you. You ok?”
“Sneezed right through the tissue. 4 sneezes ago.” Tim sighed, wiping off his hand, then blowing his nose.
Alex winced at the explanation and the sound…and the coughing that followed. “Take a drink.” He urged when the coughing finished.
Tim sat there, alternating sips of tea and nose blows, intermixing the coughing and sneezing. “I think you loosened everything up with this.” He complained.
“Better than letting it sit in your head and chest.” Alex shot back, finally making a successful attempt at feeling Tim’s forehead. “I’m getting the thermometer.” Was his resolute decision.
Tim sighed. He knew his temperature was up. He was absolutely freezing, but he didn’t need Alex to know. All that would do would give Alex more power to order him around with.
“I’m fine!” He protested on Alex’s return, but Alex slid the thermometer in his ear anyway.
“100.7. Fine, my ass. Finish your tea, shower, and back to bed.”
Tim frowned, but knew arguing would get him nowhere. Standing up, he grabbed ibuprofen from the medicine cabinet, swallowed that with the rest of his tea, then crawled in the shower, groaning as it loosened his congestion even further. Nose red and raw, post shower, he crawled into bed, setting the alarm on his phone for NyQuil at 11:30.
Once in bed, he coughed and sneezed himself into exhaustion, Missy, too distressed by his stream of explosions to curl at side, instead lay on the floor.
Alex listened to Tim cough and sneeze as he cleaned up the kitchen. Finally the snoring filled the small apartment, and he relaxed. Picking up his phone, he called Bill again. “Hi…yeah, he’s sleeping…coughing and sneezing up a storm…huhhChuhh! You were saying?…Running a fever. He’s treating it with the cold medicine and ibuprofen. Says he coughing stuff up now…yeah, you’re right, that’s probably a good siihh…ihhhChhshh…thanks, cat’s really getting to me…maybe…do you think?…I think me staying here is irritating him…maybe if we checked on him…I’ve got that meeting with the network, and I’d like some time away from the cah…ahhchuhh…chhghtt!…ugh, can’t even say the word, but yeah, time away from it before I go…it’s at 3…you could do lunch and supper checks? I’ll come at night. And if I need to stay again, I will. I mean, I trust him…he’s just so sick…I know, I know. You’re right. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Thanks, Bill.”
Decisions made, he sat down with his own box of tissues in front of the TV, glaring at the cat who wanted to sit down with him.
Aggedy Ann 