Ryan groaned softly as he slowly woke up and realized it was morning. He opened his eyes and looked around, half expecting to see Kirsten or Sandy or both in his room. Throughout the night whenever he woke up, it seemed like one of them was there, and if they weren't there when he first woke up, they were there a short time later. It was either Kirsten's "here sweetie, take this," or Sandy's "hey, kid, this will make you feel better." And of course, the thermometer. Always the damn thermometer. But still, it was comforting. Weird. Definitely weird, Ryan thought, but nice to know that they cared. Okay, so they cared enough to drive him nuts, but at least they cared.

As Ryan continued to lie in bed and think, he became aware of the fact he was scratching at his stomach. And then he noticed that there was also an annoying itch across his chest. And as he sat up in bed, he realized his back was kind of irritating him, too.

"Oh, no." Ryan ran to the bathroom, ripping his shirt off in the process. He stared at himself in the mirror in complete and utter shock. It was not the reflection he wanted to see. "Oh, no. No. No. No. No! This is not good. Oh, man, this is not good at all."

Ryan started to count the red bumps that were now dotting his chest as well as the ones lining his stomach. He stopped when he got to 32, and then turned around to look at his back in the mirror. And then he started to swear.

He was in the process of examining his legs and other parts of his body when he heard a knock on the bathroom door. "Ryan, sweetie. Are you okay? I have your breakfast."

"Okay. Just leave it. I'll eat it later." He was in no mood at that particular moment to see Kirsten or listen to her 'I told you so.'

"Ryan? Are you okay?" Kirsten asked again, hoping for a straight answer.

Although Ryan was shaking his head no, he told Kirsten, "I'm fine. Just... I'm fine."

Kirsten tried to jiggle the door handle, but found that the door was locked. "Ryan, I'd like you to open the door, please."

"No!" Ryan didn't mean to shout, so he lowered his voice. "I'm, uh... I'm just... I'll be out in a little bit."

He really wanted Kirsten to just go away, and didn't understand why she was so adamant about getting in the bathroom with him. She'd never been that pushy before so why now? When she jiggled the door handle again, Ryan knew she had no intentions of leaving and was about to open the door and just get it over with when he heard Seth. "Um, Mom? What are you doing?"

"Trying to get Ryan out of the bathroom."

Ryan just knew he heard Seth snicker first. "Geez, Mom, give the guy some privacy. Don't ya think you're carrying this whole taking care of Ryan thing a little too far?"

He didn't hear Kirsten's answer. Ryan figured she answered with a glare because he did hear Seth say, "Sorry."

Ryan groaned when he heard Kirsten say, "Go get your dad." His stomach itched. His chest itched. His back itched. He still had a headache. His throat was still real scratchy, and now he had an audience outside his bathroom door awaiting his grand entrance. He pulled his shirt back over his head, and groaned again when he heard Sandy. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Ryan won't come out of the bathroom." God, Kirsten, why don't you just announce it to the whole world? Ryan thought as he continued to listen to the conversation on the other side of the door.

"Are you sure he's okay?"

"He says he's fine, but he won't open the door. I'm guessing he knows."

There was a louder, more forceful knock on the door, and Ryan knew it was Sandy. "Ryan? Come on, kid. Open the door. It's okay."

No one expected the door to slam open as hard or as fast as it did as Ryan came storming into the bedroom. "Okay? OKAY!? Sandy, this is not okay. This is anything but okay."

Kirsten took a step closer to him. "Ryan..."

"Just say it, Kirsten. Okay? Just say it. Just keep the money. Just... Just get it over with!"

Seth looked from Ryan to his mom and then over to his dad and then back to Ryan again. "Ryan, man, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this!" Ryan jerked his shirt up to show them all. Kirsten was right, and he was wrong. He did have the chicken pox. He let them all take a good look before he sat on the bed and put his head in his hands.

Seth let out a low whistle. "Dude, that sucks."

Ryan didn't even look up at him as he sarcastically said, "Ya think?!"

Kirsten sat down on the bed next to Ryan and put her arm around his shoulder. "Ryan." When he didn't answer or pick his head up off his hands, she said "Ryan," a little louder.

Ryan lowered his hands but continued to look down at the floor. "What?"

"Do you really think I wanted to be right? I didn't. Believe me, right now I would love to be listening to you rattle off a list of things you wanted me to buy for losing the bet. But as told you; I knew I was right."

When Ryan just looked at her with that look she had come to recognize, she added, "Because I'm a mom. It's my job to be right."

"So what happens now?" Ryan was so solemn that Kirsten and Sandy both chuckled.

"Ryan," Sandy said. "It's the chicken pox. Not a death sentence." Both Kirsten and Ryan just looked at him, before Kirsten continued. "You're going to be sore and itchy and pretty miserable for a few days, and then you'll start to feel better. The Acyclovir should reduce the severity of the outbreak."

"When do I start that?"

"You started it last night when I saw the first spots."

Ryan looked at Kirsten. At least that explained her overwhelming desire to get him out of the bathroom. "You knew about this last night? Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were half asleep. It was during the night. Besides, there was nothing you could have done about it, and I didn't want it to disrupt your sleep. I only saw the ones on your stomach and chest. Are they... have you broken out anywhere else?"

"Just my back. I guess that's not so bad? That stuff must work then, right?"

Kirsten looked at Sandy and Sandy looked at Kirsten and then they both looked at Ryan, while Seth just stared at them all. It was Sandy who broke the news to him. "Um, Ryan. That's just the start. Over the course of the next two to four days, you will continue to break out with more blisters. They should start appearing on your arms, your legs, maybe your face and um, other places.

Other places? Well, that didn't sound good. Ryan let out a sigh as he looked up at his family. They all looked so sympathetic that Ryan realized just how pitiful this whole situation was.

"Ok." Kirsten gave his leg a light slap and stood up. "I think it would be best if Sandy, you left for work, and Seth, you left for school. And Ryan..."

Ryan's head shot up and he looked at Seth in a panic. Seth! School! "Seth, do not tell anyone about this. If anyone asks just... Just tell them I have the flu."

"What about Marissa? Can I tell her? I mean, you did get it from her sister."

"No. Not Marissa. Or Summer. I don't want anyone to know about this. Promise?"

"Ryan..."

"Seth! Promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

"Promise. Promise. Don't worry about it, Chicken Little, I got your back."

"I can still hurt you."

"Okay, boys..." Sandy started before Kirsten said, "Seth. Out. School. Now. Ryan. Bed. Breakfast. Now."

"Incomplete sentences. Never a good thing." Seth mumbled as he turned to leave. "Good luck, Chick... Ryan. I'll talk to you later. I'll grab your work for you, too."

Sandy kissed Kirsten on the cheek and then ruffled Ryan's hair. "Be back after court. Call me if you need anything."

When it was just Ryan and Kirsten, she picked up the thermometer and looked at him. "Enough with that already. Please, Kirsten? You win, okay. I have the chicken pox. I admit it. Just no more with the thermometer. Okay?"

"I'm supposed to make sure your fever does not go over 102."

"It's not. I promise. I feel better. Well, okay, maybe not better, but I don't feel as hot. And by that I mean not as feverish."

Kirsten put the thermometer down and then put her hand to his forehead. "Okay, for now. But if you start getting warmer, I'm going to check. Try to eat some breakfast so you can take some Motrin and some Benedril. I'll go start your bath."

"My bath?" Ryan almost spit the toast out that was in his mouth. "I don't... You can't... Um, why?"

Kirsten grabbed the hand Ryan was using to scratch his stomach. "To keep you from doing that. You can't scratch. It's an Aveeno bath. It'll help with the itch."

"Kirsten..."

"Ryan, eat. You didn't eat dinner last night. You can't keep taking pills on an empty stomach; you need something in your stomach." Kirsten didn't give Ryan a chance to answer. She walked into the bathroom and began his bath. She opened the container of Aveeno and poured some in. As Ryan sat there and listened to everything, he realized he didn't have much of an answer for her, anyway. He just sat there with his mouth open, wondering how much worse this was all going to get.

He ate a little more of his breakfast and scratched at his chest and stomach. He then picked his fork up and shoved it down the back of his shirt. He was still scratching his back with the fork in his one hand and scratching all over his chest and stomach with his other hand when Kirsten came in.

"Ryan. I said you can't scratch. You can get an infection."

"But they itch!" Ryan knew he was whining, but damn, did they itch. How could he be expected not to scratch? That would be impossible.

Kirsten handed Ryan the Motrin and the Benedril pills. "These should help, and so will soaking in the tub. Soak for about an hour. I'll let you know when your time is up. I'll leave your clean sweats and underpants on your bed."

Ryan cringed at the word 'underpants.' Seth was right, he thought as he shuffled towards the bathroom, that really was a word Kirsten just shouldn't say.

At least behind closed doors he could scratch all he wanted and Kirsten wouldn't know. He stripped off his sweats, then his boxers and looked around for something that could reach the itch on his back.

"I said no scratching!" Kirsten called through the closed door.

Damn, Ryan thought as he climbed in the tub. How did she know?

Ryan closed his eyes and tried to relax. After a few minutes, he actually realized Kirsten was right. Between the stuff in the tub and the pills that she gave him, he wasn't as itchy. He still itched, but not as bad. Ryan slumped down in the tub, all the way up to his neck and relaxed.

Ryan jumped at the knock on the door. He thought it was only a short time later, but he heard Kirsten call, "Okay, Ryan. Time's up. You've been in there an hour."

"Oh, okay. Be right there." Ryan climbed out of the tub and dried himself off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door. He jumped when he saw that Kirsten was still in the room. She was just finishing changing the sheets on his bed. "Um, Kirsten? I kind of need my clothes."

"Here. I'll, uh, go wait outside. Just let me know when you're ready."

Ryan was going to ask Kirsten ready for what, but decided against it. He quickly pulled on his boxers and sweats but realized Kirsten didn't bring him a new tee shirt. He opened the door to go down to the pool house to get one, and found that Kirsten really was just outside, waiting. "No shirt" was all he said as he tried to walk past her and into the hall.

"Actually it's better if you don't wear one. Less irritating." Kirsten said as she gently pushed him back into the room. "I have some lotion to help with the itch. I promise, it's not pink."

"Ok. Thanks." Ryan reached to take the lotion from her hand, but Kirsten pulled her hand away.

"Why don't you get back in bed? I'll do your back first and then your front."

Ryan climbed back into bed, and looked at Kirsten. "I can do it myself."

"No, you can't. You can't reach your back. Come on, lean forward." For the second time in two days, Kirsten put her hand on his shoulder and pushed Ryan forward.

Ryan closed his eyes and hung his head as he felt Kirsten's hand rubbing some kind of lotion stuff on his back. It did feel good, but he just couldn't admit that. "Kirsten, this is embarrassing."

"Hmm? You think?" Kirsten absentmindedly asked.

As she finished putting the lotion on his back, she again put her hand on his shoulder but this time pushed him to lay flat. She began to rub the lotion on his chest and stomach. "You shouldn't be embarrassed. It's just Aveeno cream to make you feel better. And it's only on your chest and your back. Nothing I haven't seen before. Nothing private!"

"Okay, now that's embarrassing." Ryan could feel his face turning several shades of red.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Kirsten patted his chest. "There. Finished. Feels better, doesn't it?"

"Oh, yeah. It feels just ducky." Ryan couldn't help but make a face as he looked at Kirsten. But when she looked back at him with a smile, he couldn't resist and smiled back at her. His smile faded as he shook his head.

"What's wrong?" Kirsten said.

Ryan looked away but then he looked at her. "It's nothing. It's just... Really, you don't have to do all this. I mean, it's nice, and thank you. But..."

"You feel bad." Kirsten finished. Ryan could only nod. "Ryan, there is no need to feel bad about needing help. I told you yesterday, Sandy and I are here to help you. I'm glad to do it. Well, okay, not glad to do it, because that would mean I was glad you were sick. I'm not glad you're sick, but I am glad that you'll let us help you."

"Let you help me? Kirsten, you really didn't give me much of a choice." Kirsten was relieved to hear Ryan's tone lighten again as he attempted to joke with her.

"Well, you're right about that one. I am going to leave you alone for a while so you can get some rest. No scratching, and call me if you need anything."

As Kirsten stood up, she smoothed Ryan's covers around him, and then she kissed the top of his head.

"Thank you," Ryan whispered, just loud enough for Kirsten to hear him. She smiled again as she touched his cheek and turned towards the door.

"Okay, Chicken Little, try to get some sleep." Kirsten opened the door and turned out the light.

"You're not funny," Ryan called out after her.

"Sure I am." Kirsten laughed as she shut the door.

After Kirsten left, it didn't take long for Ryan to start to doze off, wondering how she could claim that a "mom" is always right, especially since she wasn't really his mom. Hell, his mom didn't even know if he'd ever had chicken pox before, or any other illness for that matter. Ryan also wondered what would have happened if he got the chicken pox back in Chino. What would his mom do? Would she take care of him like this? Would she know what pills to give him? Which stuff to put in the tub? Would she be at his bedside every time he woke up at night? Have ice pops for his sore throat? Nah, Ryan realized. Who was he kidding? There was no way she'd be doing those things for him. Never did.

"Sorry, Kirsten," Ryan mumbled. "Not all moms are always right. Just you." And with that, Ryan fell asleep.