Day 7

Mercedes sat at the kitchen table, drinking some OJ. She was sitting between Jimmy and Carlos, with Bosco in the kitchen. She looked at each of them, still unable to hold down any food. She looked at each one of them. Jimmy was shuffling cards as Carlos poured sugar into his coffee. She felt like shit. She had flu like symptoms and was still pale. She felt horrible for saying everything she did, and had apologized repeatedly. She still felt paranoid that they were mad at her, though they weren't. She was 95% done with her withdrawals; she just needed to get past the flu like state she was in.

"Rummy." Jimmy said, smiling at Carlos. Bosco had finished making dinner and moved into the dining room. She smelled the food and darted for the bathroom, slamming the door. Bosco shrugged and went on eating. It was 20 minutes before she came out, and she lay on the couch. They had never left alone from the moment they found her. She was tired of their 24/7 presence, but knew there was nothing she could do.

"Carlos." She said softly, shoving the covers off of her an hour after lying on the couch. Carlos looked over at her and answered her.

"What is it Merc?"

"I feel so hot. Come take my temperature." She sat up, wiping the sweat off her forehead. He moved to her and took her temperature, nodding.

"102.5, if it goes past 103, we're gunna sticks you in an ice bath." He helped her get comfortable again and she passed out. Carlos sat down next Bosco again and sighed.

"Is it almost over?" Jimmy looked between them hoping for a yes.

"Yeah, the Flu like symptoms are the final stage. After this, the only thing she has to do is keep herself from it. I know she can, if we show her how much she has to live for."

~~~~~

Around 9PM, Carlos decided it was time to move her to the bed. He moved to her and reached for her, feeling the heat radiating from her body. He looked up at Bosco ad pointed to the thermometer. Bosco brought it to him and he checked her temperature.

"Jimmy! Get ice water running in the tub, she's spiking a 105! Throw Ice in there and I will get her in the tub. Hurry!" Carlos lifted her up as Jimmy ran to run the cold water. Bosco got the ice and poured it into the bathtub. Carlos laid her in the ice water as it ran. When the level reached her chest, Jimmy turned it off and they let her lay in it. Carlos sighed and hoped she didn't have another seizure. He watched for the few hours she was in the water, until her teeth started to chatter.

"Jimmy, grab body towel. Lay it on the floor. Boz, grab a change of clothes for her, so we can get her out of these wet clothes." He pulled her out of the water and laid her on the towel. Jimmy and him rubbed her down and Jimmy looked over at him.

"You want me to go so you can remove her clothes?"

"Please? I'll be out in a minute." Bosco threw him the clothes and they shut the door. Carlos got her clothes off and dried her body. Her skin was so cool, but it brought her temperature down to 100. He sat her up and got her nightshirt on and a pair of shorts. He lifted her up in his arms and opened the door, moving her into the bedroom. By this time is was 1 AM and they were all exhausted. Ty had come during the change, and Jimmy had left. Carlos covered Mercedes with a sheet as Bosco went into his room, to go to bed. Ty sat in a chair, watching Mercedes and Carlos as they slept.

Ty eventually nodded off, and at around 5 AM, Mercedes woke up. She saw Carlos and Ty, and inched her way across the room, the door creaked a bit but she slipped through the one part that was open. She moved for the cupboard, as if searching for something. Suddenly the lights came on and Bosco and Ty stood there, staring at her. She was kneeling on the counter, reaching into a coffee can that was hidden in the back.

"Mercedes... That better not be what I think it is."