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Four days after the grocery store incident, Buck woke them both up sneezing.
Not one sneeze.
Not two.
Not even the occasional, half-asleep little h'tsch that could be dismissed as a passing irritation.
No.
Buck woke up with the kind of sneezing fit that seemed personally offended by the existence of sleep.
“AITCH!”
Eddie startled awake.
“AITCH!”
He blinked blearily at the ceiling.
“AITCH! HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
Eddie rolled over.
Buck was curled tightly against him, one hand clamped over his face, the other bunched in the sheets.
“HE’TCHIEW!”
His shoulders jerked.
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW!”
Eddie immediately reached for him.
“Buck?”
Buck couldn't answer.
“HE’ITCHOOO! CHOO! CHOO! CHOO!”
Finally, blessedly, Buck stopped.
For approximately three seconds.
Eddie was awake now.
Very awake.
He pushed himself upright and looked down at his husband.
And his heart twisted.
They had known this was coming.
They had both known.
The moment Eddie had started getting sick, there had been no real chance Buck would escape it. They shared a house. Shared a bed. Shared food and drinks and kisses and blankets and a life.
Eddie had joked about it at the grocery store.
Buck had joked about it too.
They had both known that Eddie's virus would probably make its way through the household eventually.
And they had been right, this virus had made a usually non-sneezy Eddie sneezy, so now that Buck has it, it is absolutely destroying his sinuses.
“AITCH! AITCH! AITCH! HA-HA-HAITSHOO! HAHHH-HE’TCHIEW! CHOO! CHOO!”
Eddie had gotten sick four days earlier.
His fever had broken two days after the grocery store.
The worst of his aches had faded.
His throat was still sore, and his voice remained rough and hoarse, but he was improving.
Buck had started feeling sick the following day.
By yesterday morning, he had been sneezing almost every five minutes.
By the time he arrived at the station, he was barely holding himself together.
He had made it two hours into his twelve-hour shift.
Then Bobby had taken one look at him.
“Go home.”
Buck had tried to argue.
Bobby had pointed toward the door.
“Now.”
“But—”
“Buck.”
“I cad work.”
“You sneezed twelve times while I was talking.”
“I cad still—”
“You're going home.”
Buck had gone home.
And then he'd spent the rest of the day sneezing on their couch.
Eventually, Eddie had convinced him that if he was going to sneeze every five minutes, he might as well do it somewhere comfortable.
So Buck had gone to bed.
He hadn't even made it out for dinner.
Eddie had heated something quick for himself and Chris, checked on Buck between bites, and then returned to their bedroom once dinner was finished.
He'd given Buck NyQuil.
Tylenol.
Water.
Another handful of tissues.
Then he'd crawled into bed beside him.
Buck had been asleep within minutes.
And now, apparently, his sinuses had decided sleep was no longer an acceptable activity.
Eddie looked down at him.
Buck's eyes were red.
Watery.
His cheeks were flushed.
His poor nose was bright pink and visibly irritated, the skin around it chapped from yesterday's endless tissues.
His lips were cracked from breathing through his mouth all night.
And his nose was dripping. Badly.
Buck sniffled thickly.
Then rubbed his fist under his nose.
Eddie winced.
“Bless you.”
Buck gave him a miserable look.
He sniffled again.
“Thagks.”
His voice was almost unrecognizable.
Low. Rough. Stuffed solid.
Eddie reached toward the nightstand and pulled out a wad of tissues.
“Here.”
Buck accepted them.
Eddie silently thanked God that Buck had bought eight boxes.
At the time, eight had seemed ridiculous. Now, it seemed like excellent planning.
Buck dabbed at his nose.
Then blew it once.
Eddie watched him.
Buck blew again.
And again.
Then stopped.
He sniffed.
Eddie raised an eyebrow.
Buck looked at him.
“Whad?”
“Nothing.”
“You're lookig ad be.”
“I married you.”
“Thad doesd't exblaid the staring.”
“Your nose is running.”
“I kndow.”
“Then blow it.”
Buck gave him a deeply offended look.
“You're bossy.”
“You're sick.”
“Those ared't butually exclusive.”
Eddie smiled.
“True.”
Buck sniffled.
Then his expression changed.
Eddie saw it instantly.
The slight widening of his eyes.
The tiny wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows.
His mouth parted.
“Uh-oh.”
Buck shook his head.
“Dno.”
His breath hitched.
“Hh…”
Eddie sat up straighter.
Buck pushed away from his chest.
“Hh—”
He turned toward the edge of the bed.
“Hh—hih…”
Eddie grabbed another wad of tissues.
“Here.”
Buck cupped them over his nose.
His breath hitched again.
“Hih…”
His nostrils quivered.
Then he pitched forward.
“AITCH!”
Eddie rubbed his back.
“AITCH! HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
His entire upper body jerked.
“HE’TCHIEW! HAITSHOO! HE’TCHIIEEWWW! HE’ITCHOOO! AITCH! CHOO! CHOO! HAH—HAITSHOO! HE’TCHOO! HE’TCHIEW! CHOO! HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
Buck couldn't catch his breath.
Eddie's hand moved steadily up and down his back.
“Bless you.”
Buck sneezed again.
“HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
“AITCH! HATCHOO! HAH—HE’TCHIEW! CHOO!”
Finally, Buck stopped.
For perhaps half a second.
Then his shoulders jerked again.
Eddie's eyes widened.
“Again?”
Buck couldn't answer.
He just shook his head, already pitching forward.
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIEW!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW!”
“Bless you.”
“AITCH!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HAH—HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“AITCH!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIEW!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck's breathing became ragged.
Eddie's amusement had disappeared completely.
This wasn't funny anymore.
Not that it had ever really been funny.
Buck's body was trembling.
His eyes were streaming.
He kept trying to breathe through his mouth between sneezes, but his congestion was so severe that even that sounded difficult.
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW!”
Eddie rubbed his back.
“Easy.”
“AITCH!”
“Easy, baby.”
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“It's okay.”
“HE’ITCHOOO! CHOO! CHOO! HE’TCHIEW!”
Then silence.
Buck remained folded forward.
His shoulders rose and fell rapidly.
Eddie waited.
“Bless you.”
Buck groaned.
His hands were still cupped around his face.
The wad of tissues had become useless. Completely useless.
There was sticky residue across his fingers.
His nose was still dripping.
Eddie's stomach twisted.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Buck made a miserable noise.
“I dod't eved kdow where to start.”
Eddie leaned over.
“Hey.”
Buck looked at him.
His eyes were glassy.
Eddie pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“You don't have to.”
Buck blinked.
“Whad?”
“You don't have to clean yourself up.”
“I have sdot on by hands.”
“I noticed.”
“Add by face.”
“I noticed.”
“Add probably the billow.”
“I'll wash it.”
Buck groaned.
“I hate this.”
“I know.”
“This is disgustig.”
“You're sick.”
“I hate beig sigck.”
“I know.”
Eddie reached for another wad of tissues.
“Here.”
Buck took them.
“Wipe your hands first.”
Buck obeyed. Slowly.
He wiped his fingers.
Then his palms.
Then the backs of his hands.
Eddie reached for another handful.
“Face.”
Buck closed his eyes.
Eddie gently wiped beneath his nose.
“Dod't rub.”
“I'm not.”
“You're scrubbig.”
“I’m not. The skin is just raw”
“I kndow.”
Eddie was careful.
As careful as he could be.
The skin around Buck's nose was red and raw.
“Your nose is really irritated.”
Buck sniffled.
Eddie immediately held up another tissue.
“No sniffing.”
Buck stared.
“Huh?”
“You're making it worse.”
“I cad't help id.”
“I know.”
Eddie gently pressed the tissue to his nose.
“Blow.”
Buck's eyebrows rose.
“Seriously?”
“Your nose is running.”
“I kndow.”
“Then blow.”
Buck sighed.
He leaned forward.
Blew.
Once.
The tissue immediately became damp.
Buck blew again.
Eddie replaced it.
“Again.”
Buck blew.
And blew.
And blew.
Then finally stopped.
Eddie smiled.
“Better?”
“A liddle.”
“Good.”
Buck leaned back.
His eyes drifted closed.
Eddie brushed his hair away from his forehead.
“You're burning up.”
Buck frowned.
“Dno.”
“You are.”
“I'b warb.”
“You're sick.”
“I kndow.”
“I'm taking your temperature.”
Buck groaned.
“Eddie.”
“No argument.”
Eddie reached for the thermometer.
Buck accepted it reluctantly.
A few seconds later, the display beeped.
Eddie looked.
His expression changed.
Buck immediately opened one eye.
“Whad is id?”
“101.8.”
Buck sighed.
“Thad’s dot bad.”
“It's a fever.”
“Id's barely a fever.”
“You've been sick for one day.”
“So?”
“So you don't get to tell me it's nothing.”
Buck's eyes closed again.
“I dod't feel that bad.”
Eddie looked at him.
Buck sniffled.
Then his breath hitched.
Eddie's eyebrows rose.
“Oh, you don't?”
Buck groaned.
“Hh…”
“Buck.”
“Hh—”
Eddie grabbed tissues.
“Hh—hih…”
Buck turned away.
“Hh—”
His nose twitched.
“Hh'NGT!”
Eddie caught the tissues over his nose.
“Bless you.”
Buck sneezed again.
“HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIEW!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck whimpered.
His nose kept twitching.
Eddie kept the tissues pressed gently over his nose.
“Come on.”
“Hh—”
“Let it out.”
“HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck's whole body shuddered.
Then he sagged backward.
Eddie caught him.
“Easy.”
Buck's eyes were closed.
His breathing was shaky.
Eddie stroked his hair.
“That's it.”
Buck sniffled.
“Sorry.”
“Don't apologize.”
“I keeb wakig you ub.”
“You're my husband.”
“You deed sleeb.”
“So do you.”
Buck opened his eyes.
“I slebt yesterday.”
“While sneezing.”
“I was still asleeb.”
“Barely.”
Buck smiled faintly.
Eddie kissed his forehead again.
“I've got you.”
Buck's expression softened.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Buck shifted closer.
He tucked his head against Eddie's chest.
Eddie wrapped both arms around him.
For a few minutes, they simply lay there.
Then Buck sniffled.
Eddie reached for the tissues.
Buck caught his wrist.
“I cad do id.”
“I know.”
“I bean id.”
“I know.”
Buck took the tissues.
He blew his nose.
Eddie heard the congested sound and winced.
“Keep going.”
Buck blew again.
“Again.”
“Eddie.”
“Again.”
Buck sighed.
Then blew.
And blew.
And blew.
The final blow left him exhausted.
He dropped the tissues into the trash.
“There.”
“Good.”
Buck closed his eyes.
Eddie held him.
He should have felt relieved.
Instead, guilt sat heavy in his chest.
Because Buck was suffering because of him.
Eddie knew logically that it wasn't his fault.
Viruses didn't care about fault.
They didn't care about intention.
They didn't care about love.
But logic had never been particularly useful when it came to watching someone you loved hurt.
And Eddie loved Buck more than anything.
He had watched him trapped beneath a fire truck.
He had watched Buck get struck by lightning.
He had watched him bleed.
He had watched him fight his way back from injuries that should have broken him.
And somehow, watching him struggle to breathe through a blocked nose still made Eddie's heart ache.
Buck stirred.
“You're thinkig.”
Eddie looked down.
“Unfortunately.”
“About be?”
“Mm”
Buck sniffled.
Eddie reached for another tissue.
Buck took it then looked at him.
“You're feelig guildy.”
Eddie's face tightened.
“No.”
Buck gave him a look.
“Eddie.”
“You're sick,” Eddie sighs. “I got you sick”
“This isd't your fauld.”
“I know.”
“Thed stob lookig at me ligke id is.”
Eddie sighed again.
“I just hate seeing you like this.”
Buck's expression softened.
“I'b okay.”
“You're feverish.”
“I'll be okay.”
“You sneezed sixty-one times.”
“Did you coudt?”
“Of course.”
Buck smiled.
“Obsessed.”
“With you.”
Buck leaned up and kissed him.
It was brief. Gentle.
Then he immediately pulled back and sneezed.
“AITCH!”
He barely got the tissue up.
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
Eddie caught him.
“Bless you.”
Buck sneezed again.
“HE’TCHIEW!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck groaned.
“This is ridiculous.”
Eddie rubbed his back.
“You're ridiculous.”
“Dot helpig.”
“You sound terrible baby.”
“You kndow. I ab good for ode thig right dow.”
“Using up enough tissues to deforest the National Forest?”
Buck shakes his head and looks up to Eddie grinning.
“I could go over do Tobby’s add sdeeze all over his ho-hou-hou-ou-CHOO! house.”
Buck sniffles and scrubs at his nose.
Eddie smirks at him and hands him another tissue.
“Blow.”
Buck stared.
“You really like thad word.”
“You really like refusing.”
Buck sighed.
Then blew his nose.
It was loud. Very loud.
Eddie waited.
Buck blew again.
Then again.
Then once more.
He finally leaned back.
“Happy?”
“Very. And as much as I love imagining the idea of you sneezing all over Tommy’s house. You are not getting out of bed.”
“You’re agtually bicturig be sdeezing all over by ex’s house?”
“Hey. You’re the one who brought it up.”
“AITSHOO! HA-HETCHIEEW! CHOO! HATCHOO!”
“Bless you. Plus at the rate you’re going, you’re definitely ready for biological warfare.”
Buck glared.
Eddie kissed his cheek.
“I'm kidding.”
“Better be.”
Eddie brushed his thumb over Buck's cheek.
“You don't have to pretend you're okay.”
Buck sighed.
“I kndow.”
“Good.”
Buck closed his eyes.
“Cad I sleeb dow?”
Eddie runs his thumb back and forth over Buck’s cheek and feels Buck rest his head in his palm.
“Call Bobby to let him know you’re not going to make it in for shift today first.”
“Crab,” Buck jerks upright coughing. “I forgod I was supposed do be odd shift.”
“You’re not going to work baby.”
“I have a shifd”
“You can’t even pronounce the word shift. Plus you have a fever.”
“A tidy ode.”
“It’s a fever Buck.”
“Id’s dot that bad.”
Eddie stared at him.
Buck stared back.
Then Buck's nose twitched. His eyes widened.
“Oh, doh.”
Eddie reached for the tissues.
Buck sat up quickly.
“Hh—”
“Here.”
“Hh—hih—”
Buck grabbed the tissues.
“Hh—”
His breath hitched again.
Eddie put a hand between Buck's shoulder blades.
“Let it out.”
Buck pitched forward.
“AITCH!”
“Bless you.”
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIEW!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW!”
“Bless you.”
Buck sniffled desperately.
“Hh—”
Eddie held the tissues firmly against his nose.
“Again.”
“HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck finally stopped.
He remained bent over, breathing hard.
Eddie waited.
Buck wiped his nose.
“Lay back down baby.”
“I’b goig do work.”
“You are absolutely not.”
Buck opened his mouth again.
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
Eddie knew the expression.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Buck shook his head.
“Dno.”
His breath hitched.
“Hh—”
Eddie grabbed the tissues.
“Hh—hih—”
His nose twitched.
“HE’TCHIEW!”
Eddie rubbed his back.
“Bless you.”
Buck sneezed again.
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
“CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
Buck tried to inhale.
That only triggered another.
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW!”
“Bless you.”
“AITCH!”
“Bless you.”
“HA-HA-HA-HAITSHOOO!”
Finally, Buck went limp against him.
Eddie held him.
“Still think you're going to work?”
Buck sniffled.
“Yes.”
Eddie stared at him.
Buck looked back.
“You're stubborn.”
“So are you.”
“I'm right.”
“So ab I.”
“You're sick.”
“You are doo.”
“I'm recovering.”
“Codvedient.”
Eddie smiled.
Then he pressed the back of his hand against Buck's forehead.
The smile vanished.
Buck was hot.
Not just warm.
Not the feverish warmth Eddie had felt earlier.
Hot.
Significantly hotter.
Eddie's stomach dropped.
“Hold on.”
He reached for the thermometer.
Buck sighed.
“I already took my temperature.”
“That was an hour ago.”
Eddie slipped the thermometer into place.
Neither of them spoke while they waited.
The thermometer beeped.
Eddie pulled it out.
102.8.
He stared at the number.
Buck leaned over.
“Whad?”
Eddie showed him.
Buck's expression changed.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Buck looked at the number again.
“Thad wedt ub.”
“Yep.”
“Thad's…”
“Not a good sign.”
Buck sighed.
He rubbed his face.
Eddie caught his hand.
“Don't.”
“By dose hurds.”
“I know.”
“I cad't stob rubbig id.”
“Then let me help.”
Eddie grabbed another tissue and gently wiped beneath Buck's nose.
Buck closed his eyes.
“You're staying home.”
Buck didn't answer.
“Buck.”
“I kndow.”
Eddie blinked.
“You're not going to argue?”
“Dno.”
Eddie smiled.
“Good.”
Buck immediately sneezed.
“HAITSHOO!”
Eddie laughed softly.
“Bless you.”
Buck groaned.
“I hade dis.”
“I know.”
He handed Buck another tissue.
“Blow.”
Buck obeyed.
He blew his nose.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then again.
The final blow left him sagging against the pillows.
Eddie rubbed his back.
“Better?”
“Dno.”
“Okay.”
Buck sniffled.
“I sdill deed to call Bobby.”
“I'll do it.”
“Dno.”
“Why?”
“Because I should.”
“You can barely talk.”
“I cad talk.”
Buck cleared his throat and picked up his phone.
He found Bobby’s contact and hit it, then noticed Eddie staring, and put it on speaker phone.
“Hey kid.”
“Hi, Bobby, I—”
His voice broke.
He coughed.
Then sneezed.
“AITCH!”
Eddie reached over and rubbed Buck’s back.
“Bless you.”
Then he takes Buck’s phone.
“Bobby?”
“Eddie?”
“Hey, Bobby.”
“Everything okay?”
“Not really.”
Buck looked at the ceiling.
Eddie glanced at him.
“He needs to call out.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Bobby said, “I figured.”
Buck looked surprised.
“You did?”
“Buck?”
Buck leaned toward the phone.
“Yeah.”
“How are you feeling?”
Buck sniffled.
“Fide.”
Bobby snorted.
“Try again.”
Buck sighed.
“Dot gread.”
“That's what I thought.”
“I cad sdill work.”
“No.”
Buck frowned.
Eddie smiled.
Bobby continued.
“You were sent home yesterday.”
“I kndow.”
“You were sneezing through the kitchen.”
“I kndow.”
“You looked awful.”
“Thad’s jusd hurdful.”
“And you couldn’t even call out without sneezing at me over the phone.”
Buck looked offended.
Eddie laughed.
Bobby chuckled.
“Stay home, Buck.”
Buck sighed.
“Ogkay.”
“Get some rest.”
“Yeah.”
“Drink fluids.”
“Fide.”
“Take your medicine.”
“Yeah yeah.”
“And don't try to sneak into the station.”
Buck looked away.
“I wasd’t going do.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows.
Bobby laughed.
“Sure.”
Then Eddie spoke.
“Actually, Bobby?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Is there any chance I could stay home too?”
Buck immediately looked at him.
“Eddie—”
Eddie held up a hand.
“Your fever is 102.8.”
Bobby didn't hesitate.
“Stay home.”
Buck opened his mouth.
Bobby continued.
“Both of you.”
Eddie relaxed.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“I just don't want to leave him alone.”
“I wouldn't want you to either.”
Buck looked at Eddie.
There was something warm in his eyes.
Something grateful.
Bobby continued.
“I already had Harrison coming in to cover for Buck today anyway. Ravi was scheduled to cover at Harbour station but I’ll just get him back to cover your shift. Harbour station can find another cover.”
“Harbour station?”
“Yeah, their captain called me yesterday, asking if I had anyone who might want to pick up extra shifts.”
Eddie frowned.
“Why?”
“Apparently there's a plague.”
Buck snorted.
Bobby continued.
“Their captain said something about Tommy calling in because he was dying and something about the 118 having to go back to pre-school.”
Eddie's eyebrows shot up.
Buck looked at him.
“Seriously?”
Eddie tried not to laugh.
He failed.
“It’s not funny Eddie. They're short.”
“Did they say what happened?”
“I didn’t really understand and neither did Captain Wetherson but apparently half their station is out sick. Wetherson said something about Kinard spewing his germs.”
Buck looked at Eddie.
Eddie looked back.
Neither said anything.
Bobby continued.
“Anyway I'll have Ravi cover the 118.”
Eddie nodded.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Bobby's voice softened.
“Take care of each other.”
“We will.”
“Good.”
The call ended.
For a moment, the bedroom was quiet.
Buck looked at Eddie.
“You did't have do sday hobe.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I would have beed fide.”
“You have a 102.8 fever baby.”
“I've had worse.”
“That doesn't make it okay.”
Buck sighed.
Eddie leaned closer.
“And I'm not leaving you alone with that fever.”
Buck sagged into him.
“Cad I sleeb?”
“Yes.”
Eddie pulled the blankets up.
Buck curled against him.
“Eddie?”
“Yeah?”
“Thagks.”
“For what?”
“Stayig.”
Eddie kissed his forehead.
“Always.”
Buck closed his eyes.
Eddie stayed beside him.
The fever was still there.
The cold was still miserable.
Buck's nose was still running.
But he wasn't alone.
And neither of them was going anywhere.
An hour later, Buck woke coughing.
Eddie was immediately awake.
“Easy.”
Buck sat up.
His throat burned.
His head throbbed.
His nose was completely blocked again.
He reached for the tissues.
Eddie handed them over.
Buck blew his nose.
The sound was awful.
Eddie grimaced sympathetically.
“Again.”
Buck sighed.
He blew again.
Then again.
Finally, he stopped.
“Nothig's cobing oud adybore.”
“That's probably because it's swollen.”
“I hade by face.”
Eddie smiled.
“I like your face.”
“Your opidiod is biased.”
“Extremely.”
Buck smiled.
Then his nose twitched.
Eddie reached for another tissue.
“Seriously?”
Buck shook his head.
“Dod't.”
“Hh…”
Eddie waited.
“Hh—hih…”
Buck grabbed the tissue.
“HA-HA-HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIEW! CHOO! HE’ITCHOOO! CHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HAITSHOO!”
“Bless you.”
“HE’TCHIIEEWWW! AITCH!”
“Bless you.”
Buck finally collapsed backward.
Eddie caught him.
“Okay.”
Buck's breathing was shallow.
Eddie rubbed his back.
“Easy.”
“I feel ligke by head's goig do explode.”
“I know.”
Eddie grabbed a fresh tissue.
“Blow.”
Buck groaned.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
Buck took it.
He blew his nose.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Eddie replaced the tissue.
“Again.”
Buck blew.
Then again.
And again.
His eyes watered.
His nose was raw.
His face was flushed.
Eddie gently wiped beneath his nostrils.
“There.”
Buck sighed.
“Cad I have water?”
Eddie smiled.
“Now you're asking for things.”
Buck gave him a tired look.
“You said I dod't have to do adythig.”
“You don't.”
“So brig be water.”
Eddie laughed.
“Yes, sir.”
He got out of bed.
Buck immediately reached for his wrist.
“Dod't be gode long.”
Eddie looked down.
He understood.
“I won't.”
Buck released him.
Eddie walked to the kitchen.
He was gone less than a minute.
When he returned, Buck was sitting upright.
And sneezing.
“AITCH!”
Eddie hurried back.
“Bless you.”
“HAITSHOO! HE’TCHIEW! CHOO! HE-HE-HE’ITCHOOO!”
“Bless you.”
He finally stopped.
Eddie gave him the water.
Buck drank slowly.
Then leaned back.
“Thagk you.”
“Always.”
Eddie climbed back into bed.
Buck immediately curled against him.
Eddie wrapped an arm around him.
“You kdow,” Buck mumbled, “Tobby god sigck.”
“I know.”
“Plague.”
“I know.”
“Baybe I should send hib tissues.”
Eddie laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“We have eight boxes.”
“Those are ours.”
“He deeds them.”
“He can buy his own.”
Buck smiled.
“You're still bad.”
“Very.”
“Why?”
“Because he hurt you.”
Buck was quiet.
Eddie kissed his hair.
“He doesn't get to make you feel small.”
Buck swallowed.
“He didn't.”
Eddie didn't argue.
He simply held him tighter.
Buck sniffled.
Then whispered:
“Baybe a liddle.”
Eddie's heart hurt.
He kissed his forehead.
“I'm sorry.”
“You did't do adythig.”
“I know.”
Buck closed his eyes.
“He was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“He doesn't know me anymore.”
“No.”
“He doesn't know us.”
“No.”
Buck sighed.
“Good.”
Eddie smiled.
Then Buck sneezed into his shoulder.
“AITCH!”
Eddie laughed.
“Bless you.”
Buck groaned.
“Sorry.”
“Never apologize.”
So Eddie had gotten Buck sick and Buck was going to spend the day sick, miserable, and congested beyond belief, but Eddie was going to make absolutely certain he didn't spend it alone.
Not for a second.