Becs2202, thank you for your review. I'm glad you liked the chapter. I love Cal and Ethan too!
Tanith Panic, I think Cal has been unlucky to get so many tellings-off - most people who object to cold symptoms in public will content themselves with a dirty look! But that's not nearly as much fun to write. Thank you for the review!
CBloom2, I love seeing Cal all protective of Ethan too. I just hope we'll see a bit of that next Saturday! Thank you for the review.
Tato Potato, thank you so much! It's really good to know the jokes are working. I really wasn't sure about the bat joke so I'm glad you liked it.
Matilda W, I haven't written Freechamp before, but I like the idea and I'll have a go! Thank you so much for your review and your kind comments about my writing.
is-there-somewhere-x, thank you for your lovely review. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. I'm very flattered you'd want to read it twice!
In the end, Ethan was quite glad to spend a few hours in bed. He knew the real reason why he'd fallen was because he hadn't got enough sleep last night and wasn't paying attention. But he'd never say that to Cal. He knew Cal must have been really worried about him if he'd left his sickbed to make sure Ethan was all right, and he wouldn't worry any less if he knew how tired Ethan was.
When the three hours were up, Connie told him he might as well go home. "You look exhausted. I hope you're not catching Caleb's cold."
"My throat's been a little bit sore," admitted Ethan. "But I thought maybe that was from talking."
"it's possible, though I don't think you talk nearly enough for that to be the case," said Connie. "And before your feelings get hurt, that's a compliment."
"Oh. Then thank you very much," said Ethan politely.
Connie gave him one of her looks. "It's not that much of a compliment."
Ethan judged it best to say nothing at all.
"Go home, stay away from your brother as much as possible, and try to come back healthy tomorrow," said Connie.
"I'll try," promised Ethan.
But he knew it wouldn't be easy to stay away from Cal.
Cal was almost asleep when he heard the key in the door. He considered ignoring it, but only for a moment. He'd been planning this moment ever since he'd staggered into the flat three hours ago. He would get up, help Ethan into bed, make him a drink and then order a takeaway (because cooking probably was a step too far).
Despite what Ethan had said, Cal still blamed himself.
He pushed the covers aside, grabbed a couple of tissues and went to meet Ethan.
"How are you?" said Ethan. He squinted at Cal. "I'm not sure, but I think you look a bit better than you did in the hospital."
"You look better too," said Cal. He frowned slightly. "But you still don't look great. I hope you didn't drive back."
"No: Mrs Beauchamp said I had to get a taxi," said Ethan. "And without my glasses, I couldn't see well enough to find the car."
"Oh yeah… I got your spare glasses for you," said Cal. "No idea where I put them. But I'm sure I can find them again." He coughed loudly and Ethan looked concerned.
"Are you sure you should be out of bed, Cal?"
Cal sniffed. "Probably not." He put a hand on the sofa to steady himself. "How are you feeling?"
"Not too bad, considering." Ethan lifted a hand to his bandaged head and smiled tiredly.
Cal sniffed again and wiped his nose on one of his tissues. "I'm sorry. About what happened."
Ethan moved closer to him. "I told you, Cal. It wasn't your fault. You mustn't blame yourself. Sometimes accidents just happen. And it's probably a good thing they do or we'd both be out of work."
Cal gave him a weak smile. He was sure that if Ethan did blame him, he'd have made it clear. "Do you want a drink or something?" he asked. He felt his legs threatening to give way and sat on the arm of the sofa.
Ethan smiled. "I'd love one, but I don't think you're in any condition to make it. Why don't you go back to bed and I'll make a drink for us both? Then I'll phone for a takeaway."
"No, I can do it," said Cal. "You've been working all day. I've mostly been lying around doing nothing." He sneezed twice and blew his nose. "That wasn't too loud, was it?"
"No, not at all," said Ethan reassuringly, only to add: "But of course, I'm not an old bat."
Cal groaned. "I can't believe I said that! I'm usually so good at talking to women."
Ethan turned away and coughed into his hand.
"Ethan?" Cal gripped his shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you catching my cold? You'd better go to bed. I'll make the drinks. You have a good long rest and…" Cal stopped as he caught sight of Ethan's face. "You weren't coughing at all, were you? You were laughing at me."
"Sorry. But I so seldom have the chance, Caleb. I have to take the opportunities when they're there."
Cal folded his arms. "Fine. Just for that, you can make the drinks. I'm going back to bed."
"I'll go with you," said Ethan.
"No, Ethan: going to bed with your brother counts as being weird."
"I'd like to see your face if I did something normal," said Ethan as they walked to Cal's bedroom.
Cal laughed. "In my condition, a shock like that would completely finish me off." He looked at his brother and smiled thoughtfully. "I like you weird anyway. It makes me feel better about myself."
"I didn't know you needed any help with that," said Ethan.
"Okay. I'll rephrase that. It makes me feel even better about myself." Cal got under the covers and then cried out in pain.
"What's wrong?" said Ethan, alarmed.
"I think I just found your spare glasses." Cal brought them out from under the covers.
Ethan put them on. "Thanks. I won't ask what they were doing out of the case and in your bed. I'll just keep quiet and go and make the tea."
Cal sat back against the pillows and sighed.
"What's wrong?" said Ethan. "Are you feeling worse?"
Cal wasn't sure if he should tell him or not. He didn't want to sound pathetic. Then he decided he was long past the stage of worrying about that. "I just had it all planned, Ethan. I was going to look after you."
Ethan smiled slightly and started to collect the dirty cups and glasses from Cal's bedside table. "Don't worry," said Ethan, and he sounded just a little bit hoarse. "Something tells me you will get the chance."