Disclaimers: I don't own them, I'm not making any money off the story… I'm just trying to play well with others.
~~ I want just a day to make it all OK. You, could you teach me how to cry. ~~
Just a Day- Reamonn
Chapter 6: The Plans of Mice & Men…
Next day
Hunter had no desire to get out of bed. He felt like he'd been stomped on by the Thunder Storm Megazord. He managed to look to his brother's bed, seeing it empty and unmade. Then he glanced at the clock. It was 11 in the morning, so he wasn't surprised by Blake's absence. He was just surprised by how lousy he felt. He wasn't out in the rain that long.
Deciding that thinking was too tiring, Hunter shut his eyes and fell asleep again. He awoke a little while later to a commotion in the main room. And suddenly he wished his room was further away than it was. He slowly got up when he realized it was noontime and he should try to eat something. In the kitchen, toast and water were the only things he'd gamble on. So he forced down a couple pieces of toast followed by a glass of water. Still in pajamas, he got to the doorway of the main room and leaned against the doorframe. He watched Shane and Dustin bicker while sparring. He didn't see Sensei anywhere, but Cam was in front of the computer as usual. He was about to head back to his room when Shane noticed him in the doorway.
"Good morning! Don't you look real bright eyed and bushy tailed?" the red Ranger teased.
Shane's smile disappeared when Hunter non-verbally replied with a look. And if looks could kill…
Hunter waved slightly, then headed back to his room. He dropped the bottle of water next to his bed and climbed back in, curling up underneath his blanket.
---
When Cam saw Hunter leaning in the doorway, he immediately knew something was wrong. He was about to ask when Shane opened his mouth. Cam wanted to smack the Ranger upside the head for it, but didn't. He didn't like the way that Hunter was leaning. It wasn't the 'observing but not disturbing' lean, it was more like the 'have to lean otherwise crash' lean. So when Hunter left, Cam muttered something about checking up on him, then brushed by Shane on his way to follow.
Cam found the bedroom door cracked open, so he opened it a bit wider and peered in, seeing that Hunter seemed to have already fallen asleep.
"Hunter?" Cam asked quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Go away….Sleeping…" Hunter managed, his voice soft but raspy.
Cam placed the back of his hand on Hunter's forehead, then moving it down to his cheek. Sighing, Cam stood.
"Feels like you're running a fever. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Hunter simply pulled his blanket up over his head and tried to go back to sleep. Before leaving the room, Cam noticed the bottle of water on the floor. In the kitchen, he realized that Hunter had eaten something, although it didn't look like much. He decided against trying to get the Crimson Ranger to eat anything more and just grabbed the Tylenol and a thermometer that he had placed on the table. Cam put the Tylenol bottle on the desk closest to Hunter's bed, then pulled the blanket down, and was welcomed by the unhappy expression from Hunter.
"I just want to take your temperature," Cam noted, showing Hunter the digital thermometer.
Hunter's eyes narrowed a bit, but said nothing. And Cam took that as reluctant approval. Once Hunter had the thermometer in his mouth, Cam went through a list of symptoms to which Hunter would either nod or shake his head to. When the thermometer beeped, Cam took the thermometer and read it.
"Congratulations Hunter, you've got a fever of 102.9."
Hunter groaned, pulling his blanket up over his head again only to have it pulled back down by Cam. "I want you to take something, then I'll let you sleep."
Hunter took the two pills that Cam placed in his hand, downing them with some water.
"Do you need anything else?" Cam asked, receiving a shake of the head in response.
Cam suppressed the urge to chuckle, noting how Hunter was even less-than-talkative than usual. But he didn't, he just pulled the blanket up to Hunter's chin, saying, "Let me know if you need anything."
He shut the door behind him and went back into the main room to find that Dustin and Shane were still sparring.
"What's with him?" Shane asked.
"Is there something wrong with Hunter?" his father asked from his pagoda.
"Kid's sick, complete with high fever, body aches, lack of appetite…" Cam listed, counting each symptom of on his fingers.
"Should he see a doctor?" his father asked.
"There's nothing anyone can do. He's got some bug that's got to make its way through his system. Although I'll take him to one if his fever doesn't come down soon."
"I'm guessing we're short a Ranger for a while," Shane stated, only to receive an exasperated look from Cam in return.
"That's stating the obvious," Cam retorted. "Do you really want him out there now?"
"Cameron," his father scolded.
"Sorry," Cam muttered, then turned his attention back to the computer.
Cam had hoped that he could talk to Hunter today, maybe get the guarded teen to open up to him a little more. But all hopes of that were now crushed by the fact that Hunter was about as talkative as a brick wall at the moment. And the fact that Shane seemed rather unsympathetic to his friend and teammate's condition irked him. But he couldn't exactly make Shane care, either.
"Should we get him anything?" Dustin offered.
Leave it to Dustin. In the back of his mind, Cam knew that Dustin would come through with some sympathy. But Cam only shook his head.
"He said he didn't want anything."
"You think we should get Blake?" Dustin asked.
Cam thought for a moment, realizing that Dustin had a good idea. Sometimes the presence of family does wonders when one is sick. But he knew Hunter and what he would think if he thought his illness interrupted his brother's fun date with Tori. But erring on the side of caution, Cam nodded.
"I'll go. I know where they are," Dustin said, immediately leaving Ops for the outdoors.
"Is there anything else that we can do for him?" Shane asked, leaning on the counter next to Cam's chair.
"Not that I know of. I've given him Tylenol which should help cut the fever and make him a little more comfortable."
"How long do you think he'll be out of it for?"
"Depends on how long the fever lasts. He could wake up tomorrow and feel perfectly fine. But it could be a few days. I can't say."
"Here's hoping Lothor decides to take a vacation."
And as if on cue, the alert rang throughout Ops that an alien was detected.
Cam glared over at Shane. "You had to say that, didn't you?"