AN: All right, Kats and Kittens. This is the last chapter of this series. I'm extremely sorry that this is so late. I've been preoccupied by other ... shiny ... things. :) But here you go. I won't keep you waiting, so enjoy!
Chapter Three:
"Uck! Perry, that's disgusting!" JD turned his head away, his nose crinkling as he coughed and pushed the spoon in the older man's hand away from his face. Perry frowned, looking from the spoon to the bowl of reddish liquid and back to JD.
"It's tomato," he argued defensively, "your favorite."
"It doesn't taste right." The other man shivered, burying himself further into the mound of fleece blankets surrounding his pale form. Perry dropped the spoon back in the bowl, setting it aside and sighing.
"Listen, Madeline, I know I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but I think I know how to make a decent can of tomato soup."
"No, no it's nothing you did," JD amended quickly, looking for all the world like he'd just insulted his lover's manhood. "I just . . . Nothing tastes right. I don't . . . I don't know what . . ." His face scrunched up for a moment before he let loose a giant sneeze, spraying him and Perry with saliva. He wiped at his mouth with his hand. "S-sorry." He smiled sheepishly as the older man handed him a tissue.
"Don't worry about it, Jesabelle," Perry replied nonchalantly. He'd taken care of too many snotty noses to really care when someone sprayed him with spit. He'd been sprayed with worse. "I'm sure that cold of yours isn't helping matters much. And I think your taste buds are probably still trying to warm up. You know, what with you taking a dive in a freezing lake."
"Not like I planned on it," the young man mumbled, sniffling. A though struck him, suddenly, and he looked at Perry curiously. "How do you know my favorite soup is tomato?" The other man rolled his eyes with annoyance, fussing with the blankets engulfing JD before answering.
"I remember Carla complaining about making midnight runs to get you your favorite soup when you were sick and still living with your black girlfriend," he admitted. He couldn't help the urge to smile as JD grinned at him appreciatively. "You should get some sleep. I'm taking you to the hospital bright and early tomorrow."
"Do you have to?" JD whined, pouting his lip as he slid further beneath the large comforter on the bed.
"Absolu-hoo-tely," Perry said with an almost incredulous laugh, arranging the pillows behind the young man's head. "You've got fluid in your lungs, and I don't have to tell you how dangerous that is if it causes an infection, Pricilla. The only reason we aren't going tonight is because all the roads are blocked off, and I don't want to chance putting us both in the hospital."
JD sighed, the sound liquid-like as the water in his lungs stirred. Perry winced and swallowed hard.
"Does it hurt at all?" He asked warily, stroking JD's hair back away from his fevered forehead. The young man started to shake his head sleepily, but it ended in a coughing fit that shook his whole body. "Quite lying."
"Not," JD said amidst a yawn, closing his eyes and settling into the mattress. A shiver ran down his spine, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Cold."
"Well, you've got every blanket in the whole house, Princess. Would you like me to go hunt down a bear and ask it for its fur?"
The young man let out an indignant huff. "Bears are hibernating, P'rry. Need their own fur." Perry chuckled and crawled into bed behind JD, wrapping his arms around his young lover and placing his cheek against a very cold ear.
"Better?"
JD released a happy sigh, snuggling further against the older man. "Much better."
Before long, he was snoring softly, and Perry sighed with relief. It would only get worse tomorrow. They'd have to drain the fluid from his lungs, put him on antibiotics, and they might even keep him all day for observation. Some holiday this was turning out to be. The older man looked at his watch, finding it to be just after midnight. He leaned down, pressing his lips to JD's ear.
"Merry Christmas, Newbie," he whispered, leaving a kiss in wake of the words. He reached over across the young man and turned off the lamp on the side table, settling down beside JD and holding him as close as could without irritating the shivering man's comfortable position. The fire crackling in the fireplace across from them cast an orange glow on JD's pale skin, shadows licking at his face -- especially under his eyes, revealing his exhaustion. Closing his eyes, Perry allowed JD's watery breaths to lull him to sleep.
0 o 0 o 0
"I'm telling you, he just . . . didn't wake up!" Perry nearly shouted at the doctor examining JD's still form. His pale skin stood out starkly against the crisp, white sheets on the hospital bed, and the older man thought that he looked a little too thin. The doctor sighed patiently.
"Mister Cox-"
"Doctor," Perry corrected irately. "I'm a doctor. And so is he." He gestured to the young man.
The other man smiled wanly, saying, "Of course. My mistake." He continued his examination, scribbling notes on the clipboard beside the bed. "I'm sorry to say that I'm not exactly sure what is causing this. If the case is as minor as you say it is-"
"He was under for a minute, maybe a little more. I got him warmed up as quick as I could," Perry interrupted defensively. "He fell asleep last night and-"
"Last night?" The doctor asked with a frown, his tone more clipped and accusatory. "Why wasn't he brought in right away?"
"We couldn't get through all the snow. My car isn't equipped for these kinds of roads. We're . . . We're just on vacation." Perry's tone began to waver, and by the end of the sentence he sounded defeated. He swallowed hard, his throat scratchy and irritated. The doctor stared at him carefully -- his flushed cheeks, his red-rimmed eyes.
"Doctor Cox, I think you should sit down," he suggested, offering the chair beside JD's bed. Perry took it gratefully, his knees shaking and his fingers trembling. He rubbed tiredly at his face.
"I'll have a nurse come in and administer some IV fluid and antibiotics," the doctor continued, heading towards the door. "Just sit tight. We'll have you and your friend out of here in no time." The man was nearly out the door.
"Doc," Perry called hoarsely, and the other turned back to him. ". . . Thanks." A curt nod, and the man was gone. The older doctor rested his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. His mind began to fuzz over, and he drifted in and out of consciousness for a while.
When he woke completely, he came to with a start, rubbing his eyes and checking his watch. It had been a whole four hours since their arrival. He groaned, rubbing at the crick in his neck and looking around. Two bags of clear fluid floated above him on the metal tourniquet, the lines swirling downward and disappearing beneath JD's hospital gown. And then his vision focused on two bright blue orbs staring at him with bemusement.
"JD," he breathed, trying on a smile. The same gesture lit up on the young man's face, and Perry thought that he had never seen anything so relieving. "Jesus, Newbie. Nearly gave me an ulcer."
"I'm sure there will be plenty of chances for that later, Perry," JD replied in slurred tones. The meds were obviously doing their job. "How did I get here?"
"How do you think?" The older doctor sat up a little straighter, stretching his stiff muscles. "I carried your sorry ass. Almost slipped and fell a few times."
"Glad you didn't."
"Me too."
"Can we go home? I thought the reason for this vacation was to get away from hospitals," JD complained, closing his eyes and sighing as a wave of exhaustion overtook him.
"Well, if someone hadn't decided that they absolutely had to show off their new swimming suit down by the pool . . ." Perry joked, running his fingers through the young man's dark locks. His hair was smooth, gel-free for once. JD, suddenly, looked very apologetic, his eyes brimming with tears.
"I'm sorry, Perry," he whispered, his voice husky. He swallowed a sob and took a deep, tremulous breath. "I'm so sorry."
Perry looked worried. "Sorry for what?"
"This is our first Christmas together," JD explained with a watery smile, "and I've already ruined it."
The older man let out a huffed breath, rolling his eyes and taking hold of JD's hand gently.
"Jenny, the only way you could ruin this holiday for me is if you passed out in the middle of Christmas sex."
JD's eyebrows shot up high on his forehead. "But we haven't-"
Perry was quick to cover the young man's mouth, saying, "No, Martha, we haven't. And I plan to fix that right-quick as soon as we get out of here." JD smiled beneath Perry's fingers. "Now scoot over, will you? You're taking up the whole bed." JD complied willingly. Perry lay behind the young man, wrapping his strong arm around JD's middle and pulling him close. A comfortable silence filled the room, broken only by JD's sleepy words.
"Merry Christmas, Perry."
"Go to sleep, Newbie."
The younger doctor couldn't think of a happier holiday he'd had in his whole life.
AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard for any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?
Well, there you have it. What do you think? I know, I kind of left them hanging in the hospital. And I didn't really elaborate much on Perry's "consoling," but there will be plenty of time for that in other fics at another time. Later, Gators! Catch you all on the flip side. :)
