Levon woke with a headache. The room was no longer dark and the AC was buzzing again. From the bathroom he heard the sound of the shower running. When he tried to sit up his head started spinning and he felt a faint sickness that made him lay back on the bed with a moan. He knew what had happened. He had caught the virus.
Joe stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his hips and another one in his hand with which he was drying his hair. Levon had opened his eyes just a crack. Though there were still dark shadows under Joe´s eyes and his face was paler than usual Levon thought he looked gorgeous. As he stepped up to the bed and looked down at his partner Levon asked himself how much Joe actually remembered of the last twenty-four hours.
"Levon, aren´t you gonna get up?" Normally Joe was the one who didn´t get out of bed in the morning.
"Joe, I think we have a problem." Levon sat up on the bed, his vision swimming.
Joe shot him a questioning look. "What kind of problem? I´m feeling better. I don´t know what it was but I think it´s passed. We can go on to Salt Lake City now."
"Joanne said it´s a virus. Annie and Esteban have caught it as well."
"Oh, I understand. Why didn´t you tell me yesterday?" Joe ruffled his hair with the towel.
"You were too sick."
"So where´s the problem now, Levon?"
"I think I caught it," Levon said matter-of-factly.
"Caught what?"
"The virus."
"Oh no." Joe came over to sit on the bed beside Levon. "How do you figure?" He looked worried.
"Headache and nausea. Didn´t it start like that?"
"Huh-huh." Joe looked unsure of what to do. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, it´s not that bad yet." They fell silent for a moment. Then Levon thought of something. "Joe, I think you should call Joanne. She asked me to call her this morning."
"She will be pissed." Joe rolled his eyes. "The way we are doing we will probably never get to Salt Lake City."
"She´ll be glad to learn that you´re better."
"Oh, you think so?" Joe seemed surprised.
"Yeah, she always worries about her people, don´t you know that?"
"Ah, yeah, sure, I just thought…" Joe´s voice trailed off.
"Thought what?"
"Nothing." Joe turned away and got up. Without another word he disappeared into the bathroom.
Levon had reclined on the bed and closed his eyes again. His temples were pounding.
When he opened his eyes again Joe was standing above him. He was fully dressed. "Levon, I gotta thank you for what you did for me. And I´m really sorry that I infected you." He looked embarrassed. "I would have liked to spare you the experience."
"Never mind, it´s not your fault. Are you gonna call her now?"
"Yeah, right."
