It had been hours since Chris had come home, lunch was already over but Chris was still taking a nap. The whole trip with all those people had worn him out. As Chris slept, he could smell the food cooking but didn't have the appetite or energy to get up, all he wanted to do was rest. Stephanie looked through the entrance to the room, Chris was still asleep. She bounced Joey in her arms, she didn't feel right about this. Chris had been acting kind of weird ever since he'd come home on Tuesday, was something wrong, was he not telling her something? Stephanie found herself walking over towards him, he turned in his sleep, causing her to hesitate. He moaned and groaned, was he having a bad dream? Stephanie sat in a nearby chair and turned on the tv to watch some news for a while.

"And we'll be getting back to the war against terrorism in a moment. But first, the US is battling a home war terror of it's own, and we've got no nuclear warhead to take care of it. And the battle of which I'm talking about is none other than the flu. People across the country have lost their lives to this culprit and now the epidemic has taken a local life here in Florida."

The announcer caused Stephanie to cringe. A woman appeared on tv, she looked to be about Stephanie's age, and she was a wreck. "My husband seemed fine, he'd gotten a cold. Then one day he came home after work and seemed kind of tired. The next day he took a nap and didn't wake up." Stephanie tensed and looked at Chris sleeping peacefully.

"Little did she know that it was the flu." The announcer spoke on before returning to the footage of the woman.

"Both my children and I have always gotten the flu shot but he never has a day in his life. I warned him that this year was one of high risk but he didn't listen to me. Now it's too late. I just hope that the people out there watching take more precaution. Or else you could be me."

"And she's got a point folks." The announcer appeared back on screen when the footage ended. "There is no more serum left for the flu shot injections, anyone who comes in contact with the epidemic is at an even higher risk now. So I also advise you people to take careful heed. If you start feeling sick, it might be good to seek help from a licensed professional. Coming up next...."

Stephanie turned off the tv and looked over at Chris. There were so many similarities between her and the widow, could Chris die too? She didn't want to take that risk. She set Joey down on the chair and crept over to Chris who lay on his back peacefully. She slowly and carefully placed a hand on his forehead.

"Steph?" The quiet voice caused her to freeze. Chris opened his eyes and looked up at her, his expression slightly annoyed. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Uhm." She noticed her hand on his forehead and cautiously removed it. "Nothing."

"Steph?" Chris propped himself up, he wasn't tired anymore. He sat up, his face no longer ticked off but rather confused with concern. "Is something wrong?"

"No, well I...." She bit her lip.

Chris raised an eyebrow and sighed, "Steph." He patted the pillow next to him and she sat down. "Come on, tell me. Do you think there's something wrong with me?" He pulled her close for comfort.

"Well," She spoke quickly. "I saw this lady on the news and her husband died from the flu and he didn't get the shot and there's no more and.. oh Chris, I don't want you to die too!" She buried her face into his chest, crying.

Chris looked up, confused, why was she acting so hysterical. "Steph, Steph." She looked up and he smiled, drying her eyes with his thumb. "I'm telling you, there's nothing wrong with me."

"But the lady said her husband seemed fine, all he really had was a cold." She sniffed.

"Steph, honey, baby. Does it look like I have a cold?" She shook her head no. "There, you see then? You're acting crazy over something you saw on tv. Everything's fine."

"Then, do you promise to tell me if something's wrong? Please Chris, I want to know."

"Alright, alright, don't worry. I'll tell you."

Stephanie smiled, "Oh, thank you Chris."

She rested easy up against him. Chris sighed and looked away. He moved his eyes, thinking. He didn't want to worry her, he just couldn't tell her, even if she wanted to know. He wanted to make this Christmas perfect, not just for Joey, but for her as well, for all of them. Stephanie snuggled up on Chris, and he cleared his throat. She looked up at him, he looked back at her. They stared at each other, into their eyes. Stephanie could tell that he had something to tell her, something was on his mind. But he wondered, was the truth right this time, or was lying better?

"Steph, I..." Chris hesitated. Stephanie continued to look at him, the same look he received in his eyes a moment ago. He didn't know what to do, even if Steph knew he didn't fell well, what would she do? But then Chris realized, what could she do? Nothing. He felt his confidence slightly restored, and he continued on gradually, "I think, I might....." He was still a little unsure, so he spoke slowly and cautiously, "be, coming down with a, cold or something."

Stephanie's eyes froze and staid open with wide anticipation. Somehow, she realized, she already knew. Chris sighed and looked away, he couldn't take that piercing look anymore. "Oh, Chris." She hugged him and Chris didn't know what to do or feel. Had he just made things worse? But Stephanie had wanted him to tell her. She caught her breath and looked back up at him, Chris turned carefully back to her. She felt his face and looked confused. "Are, you sure? You're not just toying with me."

Chris was solemn, "Well, you wanted the truth, and I don't want to lie to you anymore."

"Do you want to eat something?"

"Well, maybe a little."

"Well you have an appetite then, you don't feel sick to your stomach or anything?" He shook his head. "Does your body hurt or do you have a headache?" He shook his head gain. Now she was really confused, "Then why did you say you didn't feel good? And you aren't lying to me."

"I'm not. I just have that feeling you know?"

"Ok then, just so long as you're honest with me. Thank you Chris." Stephanie smiled. Joey began to cry and the parents looked up over at him. "Oh I'm sorry baby, I forgot I left you there! Aw. Blame your daddy."

"Hey!" Chris smirked.

Chris didn't really do much that day other that mow the lawn and do the laundry. After a late dinner he went to bed with Stephanie. Chris had forgotten what it was like to be home, and he loved the holidays, he was glad he was able to spend it with his family. It was about the middle of the night when Stephanie woke up. She opened her eyes and looked at the clock, it was still dark out. The baby monitor hadn't made the noise, and it was too close to have come from out side. She heard the sound again, and turned to her husband. It was Chris, and he was coughing in his sleep. Stephanie's heart fell, Chris was right, he wasn't feeling well after all, it was just too early for anything to show, and now, for Stephanie not wanting to believe him, it was too late.

The next morning....

"Chris, Chris are you awake?" Stephanie called from downstairs.

Chris groaned and rolled over, waking up finally. "What! Oh man, my head." He stopped and opened his eyes slightly. "My voice? What the...." He took in a sharp uneasy breath and sneezed. His eyes began to water and his nose felt congested, like he couldn't breath. "What's going on?"

"Chris?" Stephanie came upstairs. "Are you ok?"

"No, I told you I wasn't feeling well."

"Chris." She hesitated. "I'm sorry."

"Now what am I supposed to do? I have a big match this Sunday." He coughed horribly.

"Don't worry, we'll get you better in time. I have some NyQuil."

"Ah, my miracle drug." Chris reached for it. He took it and cringed. "Ok, no more swallowing things today."

He took the box of tissues off the dresser by his side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. They were watering so much he could barely open them, plus they were extra sensitive to light. Stephanie sighed as her husband lay back. He moaned and groaned.

"Chris?"

"Yea?" He opened his red eyes a crack.

"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"Why?"

"I should've had you get the flu shot. They have it where it's not a needle now."

"Still, I don't take any medicine, I don't trust doctors."

"You took NyQuil."

"That's different, that's like an aspirin." He coughed and held his neck, his voice was going out. "Oh ow, man, my throat is killing me! Ah!"

"Ok I'm sorry, no more taking."

"Aw..."

Stephanie smiled, Chris was trying so hard to act like himself, but he was too sick for it to work. Steph sighed and looked at the NyQuil box, she hoped it was enough of a miracle drug to get him well before Sunday, it was already Thursday, could he battle this cold and win?