Days of Fifty Challenge 2
Final Story
Disclaimer The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy Characters used in the this story belong to EL James.
Mr. Grey's Sick Days
by
rapunzelclayre
I'm startled awake by the sound of dishes breaking in the kitchen. Taylor made sure I ate and had medicine to keep the symptoms at bay. I still feel like I've been tossed in the spin cycle of a washing machine but the sneezing and coughing has gotten better.
He had to leave me here at Escala to pick up Sophie from school and go spend time with her. I am left with whoever Ana has gotten to come stay with me while I am recovering from the flu. She is at our house on the Sound with 5 month old Teddy in hopes that they don't catch it. I had started having body aches on Monday but I attributed it to the fact that Ana had finally drug me back to the playroom this past weekend. Unfortunately, on Tuesday I felt like I had been hit by Elliot's work truck but still tried to get some things done at the office. By lunch, I had to call it a day and just came to Escala. Grace came by and diagnosed me with the flu. So I have been quarantined here ever since.
It is only Wednesday and I feel somewhat better, I still fell asleep after lunch and have just been rudely woken up by the loud noises from the kitchen.
It is probably my idiot brother beating and banging on purpose just to piss me off even more.
I make my way to the restroom still a little light headed and weak from my illness. Just as I am walking back to my bed I hear a knock on the door.
"Enter." I manage to get out to whoever is behind the door. I never in a million years would have guessed who is here to take care of me. I can't believe Ana has done this. She had to have known better. When I am better able to talk, she will be hearing it from me and likely a punishment in the playroom.
"What the fuck Rodriguez!" Although it comes out of my mouth as a squeak and a whisper.
"Don't get all worked up. You need to rest your voice. I brought you your dinner."
I start shaking my head and manage to squeak out "No fucking way! Get someone…" He cuts me off just as I am about to tell him off. Although the way that I sound, it's not going to be very effective.
"Look man. I don't like you and you don't like me, but you are going to eat this chicken soup and go back to bed or so help me God I will drown you in NyQuil."
I am stunned that he even has the balls to talk to me like this. If I was healthy, I would be chewing him up one side and down the other.
He places the tray down on the bed causing some of the soup to spill over the side and then stomps off slamming the door.
With that, I shoot a quick text to Ana.
C:Rodriguez! You are in so much trouble when I am well.
I don't get a response right away. I am hungry and I hate wasted food so I decide to text Stevenson the guard we hired to keep an eye on Escala since we moved to the Sound.
C: Did you watch Rodriguez make my soup?
Stevenson:Yes Sir. He took a portion from the freezer that Mrs. Taylor sent over, heated it, and then put it in a bowl and brought it to you.
C: He didn't put anything in it did he?
Stevenson: No Sir. Everything was in full view the entire time.
It looks like Gail's soup. I timidly bring a spoonful to my mouth, test the temperature, then take a bite. It tastes fine but I wait a few more minutes before eating any more to make sure nothing happens to me. After about 10 minutes with no signs of death, I decide to go ahead and eat the rest. As I am finishing my meal, I hear my phone ping with a message from Ana.
A: I am sorry but Grace had to work, your father and Mia both have the flu as well, and I didn't think you would want Elliot and Kate there. Who knows what they would get into? You know how they are always going on about using the playroom sometime. Jose will take good care of you because if he doesn't, he knows he will lose his position as the family photographer.
A lot of his business and magazine shoot assignments have come because of his association with my family. We have allowed him to use some of the pictures he's taken at our wedding and of Teddy to help promote his business so he should know better than to try to cross us.
C:Good call on Elliot and Kate. I am still not thrilled about Rodriguez but it's only for a few more hours. I guess I can deal with it. Is Teddy still awake for FaceTime?
A:I am sorry honey. He had a rough day and is already asleep. I just put him down but I am still in his room. I just love watching him sleep.
Seconds after her message is a picture of Teddy lying on his back with his thumb in his mouth. He looks so peaceful and I swear in the few days it has been since I have really seen him, he looks like he has grown.
C:Give him a kiss and tell him that daddy loves him. I will talk to you later Mrs. Grey.
A:I love you too, Mr. Grey.
It is now, Friday night and my last night in quarantine. I get to go home to my family tomorrow afternoon. The knock on my door takes me away from my thoughts.
"Enter." Rodriguez comes in with my tray for my last dinner with him. On Thursday morning, Taylor had called and Sophie had to have emergency surgery on her appendix. I told him to take as much time as he needed because if it was Teddy, I wouldn't want to leave his side.
"I am sure you are as thrilled as I am that this is the last night I have to be here."
"I am more looking forward to seeing my wife and son than anything."
"Well enjoy your soup."
"Wait. This looks different."
"Yeah well I had to cook tonight. We ran out of things Mrs. Taylor had in the freezer so I made you my special chicken tortilla soup."
"Special?" Is this it. Is this the night that he is going to poison me with something untraceable so he can have Ana to himself. In the time that he has been here, I have texted Stevenson each to make sure he didn't notice anything unusual. Rodriguez and I have barely engaged in conversation because I wasn't able to speak very well and frankly neither of us are the other's favorite person.
"Yeah special as in, I use a secret ingredient. Don't fret Grey. I wouldn't dare let anything happen to you because if I did that would hurt Ana so severely she wouldn't recover from it. I could never do anything like that to her. It was bad enough I was a bonehead and tried to make a move on her outside of that club in Portland."
"What was that all about anyway?" My voice is finally almost normal.
"Honestly, I knew it was probably the last time we would all spend together and I was already missing her. I was slightly drunk and just lost my head for a moment. She never gave me any indication that she saw me as more than a friend. I think it was more my father getting in my head because I had talked to him earlier that day. He and Ray always joked about Ana and I getting married and then we'd really be family. My dad was getting on me about how I needed to make my move because she was graduating. I felt really stupid afterward and tried to talk to her the next day. We are not as close as we used to be and I know it is because of that night."
I know all about parental pressure to be with someone. Grace was always hounding me about dating. She was always mentioning how Elliot would be bringing another one or even Mia but she would say she wished I would bring someone to dinner sometime. That is part of the reason I rarely went to Sunday dinner.
"I understand how parents can get into your head. Still, trying to put the moves on her while you were both drunk is not appropriate."
"I know and I talked to Ana about it. She understood. Anyway, I will leave you to your meal. If you need anything just shoot me a text."
"Goodnight Jose."
"Ana! No! No! You can't leave me! Ana! Baby!" She can't leave me. She's lying on the concrete and won't open her eyes. I don't know what to do. All of a sudden I feel someone grab me by the arms.
"No! I have to stay with her! Let me go!" I thrash and fling my arms and connect with something.
"Fuck! Grey! Wake the fuck up!"
With that I jolt awake and I am covered in sweat. It takes me a moment to take in my surroundings. I remember that I am at Escala and Jose is here… oh fuck.
"Rodriguez. Are you in here?"
"Sorry Grey. I forgot that you aren't supposed to touch someone to wake them up in a nightmare. I should have remembered that since Papa has had them all my life."
"It's alright. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine. Ana's is fine. She's at your big ass house on the Sound. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No. What time is it?"
"It's almost midnight. I was in the living room and heard you scream out. Freaked me the fuck out so I ran in here to check on you and on instinct I tried to wake you up. Papa hasn't had any like that in a long time, I guess I forgot how it was. His PTSD hits him hard at times. Not as much lately but there are still some occasions where it does."
"It's been a long time since I have had one of these. I will be fine. Being away from Ana has been rough on top of being sick."
"Yeah but you'll be back with her tomorrow. Are you going to be alright? Do you need anything?"
"No. I'll be fine. I'm just going to go play the piano for a little while." I hear my phone start buzzing. "Excuse Me." Rodriguez then exits the room.
"Hey baby! What are you still doing awake?"
"Unlock the elevator."
"What are you doing here? It is late Mrs. Grey." I say to her as I am moving as quickly as I can toward the elevator.
"Well Mr. Grey, Grace said your quarantine was over on Saturday and it is now Saturday. I have missed you so very much that I had to come as soon as I can." Just as she finishes her sentence the elevator doors open and she jumps into my arms. Our lips are like magnets and crash together. I am moving us toward our room as our mouths are reuniting with each other.
"Ooookay. That is my cue to leave. Grey it has been interesting. See you around. Bye Ana"
"Bye Jose. Thank you so much for taking care of Christian. Call me and let me know when you will be able to do 6 month photos for Teddy." Ana tells him.
"Thank you Rodriguez." Jose leaves and it is just Ana and I.
"Anastasia, don't you ever do that to me again! Now get your ass to the playroom!"
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