I don't know how I managed to get the multiple bags of food into my house in only two trips, but I'm so happy I did it. I rubbed my arms after I put the last of the canned food in the pantry.

"There! Done, finally." I stretched out my back and headed upstairs. I felt tired now, even though it was only 7 pm, I wanted to take a shower and lay down. But I had to check up on Jeff first, and affix the new zipper to his hoodie before I even think about going to sleep. I walked quietly upstairs and opened the door carefully.

"Jeff? Are you awake?" I said quietly as I stepped into the room. He turned his head to me, his face drenched in sweat again and paler than normal. He groaned weakly and closed his eyes. I sat next to him and felt his forehead. He was burning up. Oh crap… this isn't good. I took the washcloth from the basin I left on my night table, wrung it out and wiped his face. His eyes fluttered open.

"You're back…." He croaked hoarsely. He pushed my hand away and sat up. I brushed his hair out of his face. He grabbed my hand and looked at me.

"What are you doing, kid?" he grumbled irritably. He dropped my hand and rubbed his face. I clenched my jaw and took in a deep breath.

"Don't call me a kid. And I was just checking up on you. Your fever is getting worse. You need to eat something and take a shower. No "if"s, "and"s or "but"s about it. I'll make you something mild like oatmeal or farina. Afterwards I'll help you to the bathroom and get you cleaned up from all the sweat. It will help you break your fever." He looked up at me.

"…fine. I'm too tired to argue. Just take this stupid I.V out. I'm sick of it already." He held out his arm. I grimaced and hesitated.

"Um… I've never removed one of these things before. I-I don't even know how to-"

"Just pull it out."

"But I don't-"

"Just pull the fucking thing out!" Jeff snapped at me. I flinched.

"Okay! …okay. Um…" I hesitated, then I carefully peeled off the tape that held the I.V in place. I took a cotton ball and a flower printed Band-Aid from my night table drawer and placed the cotton ball lightly over the needle. I bit my lip and then, in one quick movement, I pulled out the needle and pressed down the cotton ball. I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding and placed the Band-Aid over the cotton ball tightly. Jeff patted my head and laid back down.

"Good job, kid. Didn't even hurt." He said and smirked.

My hands were shaking. I stood up and walked out of the room without a word.

)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(

"Open your mouth." I said sternly, holding up a spoonful of oatmeal. Jeff sighed and parted his lips. I place the spoon into his mouth and watched him as he ate.

"Good boy." I praised, smiling at his scowl.

"Shut up or I'll cut your tongue out." He snatched the bowl from my hand and started eating. I smiled wider. As much as he was fighting and denying food, he really was hungry. I wonder when it was last that he ate… I stood up and stretched at bit. I was feeling even more tired than before. I turned to Jeff, who was just staring at me, chewing.

"I'm, uh, going to take a shower, then I'll help you into the shower after you finish eating, okay?" he nodded, strangely silent. I nodded, went to my dresser and picked out a long sleeved light blue baby doll nightgown, a pair of underwear and some stripy knee high socks and went into my bathroom.

)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(

I spooned more of the flavorless oatmeal into my mouth as I watched her disappear into her bathroom. As much as I hate to admit it, I was really hungry. And the oatmeal was making me feel a little better. It was disgustingly bland, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. I ate in silence, only the sound of running water to be heard. I placed the now empty bowl onto the nightstand and laid back down. Things looked fuzzy and I felt hot…. I can't believe I'm sick… and this kid… I don't even remember her name… did she even tell me? I don't even know. But she was taking care of me… and as much as I fucking hate it, I do feel a little grateful.

I struggled to keep my eyes open. I didn't want to fall back asleep today. I kept having nightmares. The same hazy memories of mom, dad and my brother's faces… mutilated and frozen in terror. Along with that kid's annoying presence I just feel disgusting. I hate myself so fucking much right now, being so weak that I have to rely on some loli-fetish brat to take care of me. I could take care of myself. "Yeah, right" I murmured to myself. I could barely even stand; there was no way that I would even manage to take care of myself if I were on my own. As much as I hate to admit it…. and I REALLLLY hate to admit it, but I'm thankful for this little kid for helping me. And she's pretty easy on the eyes too…

"What the fuck am I thinking?" I sat up and rested my head in my hands, gripping my hair and rocked back and forth. This fever…. This fever was fucking with me. I need to get out of here… I need to be far away as possible. I swung my legs over and got out of the bed. Instantly, the room spun and my equilibrium was thrown off. I staggered over, but managed to keep standing. I gripped onto the chrome bed frame at the foot of the bed to steady myself. I felt the sweat dripping off of my face as the room continued to spin. I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the spinning….

"Bro…. why bro….?" my eyes shot open at the low raspy voice. It was….Liu…. bloody and cut open. His face was cloaked in shadow, only one bloody eye seen from the shadows… my eyes widened.

"No…. No, fucking no! You're…. you're dead! I… I fucking killed you…. Liu…. You're not here, you're not real!" I backed away as my brother walked towards me. This wasn't real… it couldn't be real… they were dead… they we're…

"Son…. Why?" a cold, high pitched voice rasped behind me as I felt cold hands grip my shoulders. I turned and gasped. Bloodied and mutilated were my parents' image. They came closer, closing in on me. I staggered away only to fall to the floor.

"No…. stay away….. No! No…. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed as everything went black.

)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(

I heard Jeff scream as I was massaging lotion into my legs. "What the-?!" I dropped the bottle and ran out of my bathroom. Jeff was lying on the floor, shaking violently in a fetal position. I knelt down and gently touched his shoulders.

"Jeff-"

"NO! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!" He screamed and pushed me backed. I fell back, pain exploded in my back as it hit my bed frame. I coughed and looked back at Jeff, who scooted back to the opposing wall, his eyes wide with fear. He looked at me, but wasn't seeing me. He covered his eyes with his hands, staring through his open fingers looking around as if seeing people that weren't there. I crawled over to him and carefully grabbed his hands.

"Jeff!" I cried out, "Jeff! It's okay, you're sa- Ow!" his arms were flailing when I touched him, and his fist made contact him my jaw. I fell over and groaned in pain. I bit back tears as I tasted blood.

"Okay…. Okay…" I crawled back over to Jeff and grabbed his arms, using all of my strength to hold his arms down from attacking me again

"Jeff!" I cried out, and using all of my weight, pinned him onto his back. He started screaming incoherently. I barely made out what he was saying. I struggled to hold him down, my eyes quickly scanning for my cell phone. It was on the desk. As I wondered how I was going to reach it and hold Jeff down, he pushed me off of him, knocking the wind out of me. I took a deep breath and as fast as I could, and grabbed my cell phone off of the desk. I dialed Gwyn's number as I tried to calm Jeff down. He was hyperventilating heavily, struggling to breathe as tears streamed down his face. I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I grabbed his hands and pinned them level his face.

"Shhhh…..Shh… Jeff… it's okay sweetie, it's okay…" I said soothingly, trying to stop him from freaking out violently. I listened intently to my phone. I heard a click.

"Hello? Gwyn Valentine speak-"

"Gwyn!" I cut her off. "Gwyn, I need you! Jeff…. He's having some sort of freak out. He keeps screaming and he's becoming violent. I think he's having some kind of anxiety attack because of his fever. He- ugh!" I coughed as Jeff, in trying to get free head butted me in the chest. I shoved him back down and pinned his arms with my elbows, forcing me to come face to face with him. His hyperventilating got worse; he couldn't even speak, only a strangled whimper came out. I grabbed my phone and held it up to my ear, while gently caressing Jeff's cheek soothingly with my other hand.

"Liu?! Liu! Are you okay? I'm calling the police!" she cried.

"NO! …No Gwyn…. I just need you here… please! I promise I'm okay…but I need to help me with him… his fever is getting worse. He's having a freak out… he calming down now, but I need your help…" I pleaded to her. She swore, and I heard the jingle of keys in the back ground.

"Fine…. Dammit I'm on my way!"