Dan coughed again, looking like he was putting his whole body into it. Phil rubbed his back as he retched and spluttered. Dan shivered, licking his lips and leaning into Phil. Then he pulled himself away.
"Don't come too close Phil, I'd kill myself If I gave this to you" he rasped. Phil shook his head. "There's no way I'm leaving you" he said firmly. Dan retched again and this time Phil could see tears in his eyes.
Mrs Howell came through the door and into their room, sighing at the two boys. She sat down next to Dan, stroking his hair. Dan pulled away weakly. She shook her head.
"Dan you need to go to the doctors at least" she said. Dan winced. "I'm fine…" he replied, before running to the bathroom. The horrible noise filled the house.
"Dan's really sick" said Phil gloomily. Mrs Howell nodded. "I'm taking him, you stay at home, do your homework" she said. "What?! But…but I want to go with Dan" he exclaimed. "He won't go if I don't make him"
"Fine" she agreed, sounding deflated. Dan coughed again. "Go to him will you" she said. Phil jumped up, swerving into the bathroom. Dan was lying on the ground. His back arched. His eyes were shut and there were dark rims under them. His hair stretched out in every angle. He was breathing shallowly.
"Dan!" cried Phil, alarmed. He kneeled down next to him, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Dan…Dan wake up!"
Mrs Howell crashed inside. "Dan? Dan?! Get up, Dan?" she yelled. Dan didn't move. "Ok, we're taking him to Hospital right now!" she announced, lifting him into the car. Phil followed.
"Phil, you stay at home" she ordered.
"No!" said Phil.
"This isn't the time to argue!"
"I'm not leaving him!" Phil snapped.
"Fine, get in!" she said. They drove off. "Dan?" Phil whispered, nestling into him. Dan didn't move. "Dan, come on please" Dan's eye's didn't open. They go there in a flash. They were seen instantly. Dan was wheeled off. Phil tried to come with him but they pushed him away.
He sat down next to Dan's mum in frustration.
"Why do I always get pushed around!" he hissed in annoyance. He hid his face in his hands so she wouldn't see he tears of frustration and worry. "Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan" he repeated, whispering into his hands.
It was a game he did when before his parents died and he lived with Dan. If he just said their name a thousand times they'd be fine. He got to seven hundred and then was interrupted by a nurse in white. He face was grave.
"Mrs Howell?" she asked.
"Yes"
"I'm afraid there is some bad news…you can see your son" Phil's head shot up. All the panic bells started ringing in his head. Bad news? What if Dan was dead, like his parents, who would he have left?
"Are you family?" the nurse asked him as she lead them down identical corridors. "He's my brother" he replied numbly. All he could think of was Dan, his brother, his friend.
"I'm fourteen" Phil hissed sourly. The woman ignored him and opened the doors. Phil could see him. Dan. He was lying in a bed, tubes all around him, a mask over his mouth. His eyes were shut.
Finally they stopped at a room. The nurse turned to Mrs Howell. "Err…This may be a little disturbing for your son" she said gingerly. Phil sighed in frustration. "Why did everyone think he was much younger than he was?"