9999999999999999999999999

It had pleased me when Nat had decided to wear that lovely emerald green dress of hers. I loved dancing with her. Thankfully, the DJ stuck to having slow songs for a bit longer.

I held her a bit closer, and then my nephew Gussy, ruined the moment.

"Can I cut in for a bit?" he asked.

"Sure, if Nat wants to" I said. If he hadn't been my brother's son... Damn it!

"Actually, Alan and I were about to go sit down." Nat said to my relief. So that's what we did.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Weirdly enough, as Dad and Nat rejoined Don and me at our table, I felt bad, at least for Dad. He looked so happy, even his eyes lit up. It would have been perfect if he had been dancing with mom. She really knew how to cut a rug! Whenever my parents danced, even the young couples envied them.

"I'm going to get myself a drink" Nat excused herself. "Any of you guys want anything?"

"I'm fine." Dad said.

"Don't run away on us, again" Don said in a teasing way, though I knew he was warning her.

9999999999999999999999999999999

Eventually, the cake was cut and the caterers distributed the slices. Little by little, the party dissipated. Charlie and I left it around one in the morning, and went to our hotel room.

We were both back at work by Monday

---------------------------------------------------------

Some nights later, I dropped in during a night when Natalie had to work late. Dad told me that she and her partners developed this system of taking turns at having evening appointments when two of them got married and started to have kids.

The couch was very comfortable, and I, after a long day, felt tired. It didn't help that I had been called back around four in the morning that day. Despite my efforts, I couldn't keep my eyes open enough to watch the television, and Dad eventually turned it off.

"Shh..." I heard him say and I soon felt a blanket cover me. "Rest. I'll make you breakfast in the morning."

99999999999999999999999999

It was around eleven when I got home. To my surprise, the living room light was off. Alan usually left it on if I was coming home late. I heard snoring. Guess he fell asleep on the couch. Hmmm. it wasn't like him to bother to turn off the light before falling asleep on the couch. I checked on him, and saw a body under the blanket. I gently shook Alan. All I got was an annoyed groan, which sounded different. Shrugging, I said.

"Alan! Come to bed!" I only bugged him because lying on the couch for long periods of time wasn't good for the back.

"Dad! You said that I could sleep here!"

"Don?" I was surprised and chagrinned.

"Natalie?" he quickly sat up.

"I'm so sorry! I thought it was your dad sleeping on the couch."

"I feel asleep and he told me I could stay until breakfast tomorrow." Don explained. I could see him rubbing his eyes in the darkness.

"I see..."

"I hope that isn't a problem"

"Of course not. You and Charlie are welcome anytime!" I told him.

99999999999999999999999999

"Nat! You woke Don?" Dad asked. I could tell that he was trying to hide his annoyance. Guess he heard us.

"I thought it was you on the couch!" she explained.

"It's not a big deal." I dismissed.

"Why don't you go to the guest room, then?" Dad offered.

"Sure"

The next morning, I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth after Dad finished doing the same, and shaving. When I came out, I saw Natalie, sleepily getting out of the main bedroom wearing nothing but one of dad's night shirts.

999999999999999999999

"Uh..Good morning..." Don said. Crap! I had forgotten that he had stayed the night, and I wasn't wearing much.

"Good morning!" I quickly got into the bathroom. Soon, I went to the dining room for breakfast. Alan had gotten up early, and gotten all out with it.

"Did you put cocaine in your coffee?" I teased as I came into the kitchen to get some coffee, and saw him running around.

"I'm so glad Don stayed the night!" he told me, while flipping some bacon and after saying good morning. "It would have been dangerous for him to drive as tired as he was."

999999999999999999999999999

Dad made Natalie and me and eggs, over medium, with bacon, and toast.

"Dad! Thanks! You didn't' need to do this!" I told him.

"You can't live on take out indefinitely" he teased.

As I ate, I couldn't help but think about how much worse last night could have been. What if she had decided to do something frisky? I shuddered at the thought and still would even if she weren't dating Dad.

999999999999999999999999999

"One word to the wise" Don told me as we both sat at his desk "Don't go to Dad's place if you're tired!"

"Huh?"

"I fell asleep on Dad's couch last night, and Natalie woke me, thinking it was Dad" he explained. "Then, this morning, I had to see her wearing nothing but one of his night shirts because she's not exactly a morning person and was totally out of it.

"Sounds awkward" I remarked.

"It was, but it could've been worse..." Don ate some more of his Quiznos sandwich.

"Don't remind me!" I sighed. "When is Dad gonna come to his senses?"

9999999999999999999

The next time Charlie and I visited Dad, Natalie was home. I had felt tired and even coughed a bit during the past two days, though I hadn't done anything about it. This got worse after dinner, which I didn't eat much of. Eating had become an obligation, rather than a pleasure.

"I don't like the sound of that cough!" Dad worried. "You should go to a doctor!"

"I'm fine!" I said between coughs.

"Nat, why don't you listen to Don's chest?" Dad asked Nat. I could tell the suggestion made her uncomfortable and conflicted. The woman knew that she wasn't qualified to diagnose humans, but how do you talk logic to a worried parent?

"Nat's a vet!" Charlie pointed out the obvious.

"Cats and dogs have lungs don't they?" Dad countered. "So does Don! She's just going to see if Don needs to see a doctor right away."

999999999999999999999999999999

Alan, knowing his son, excused himself to go to the kitchen, and made Charlie do the same after I got my medical bag from the bedroom. .Gingerly, Don started to unbutton his shirt. His chest was as hairy as Alan's, but with less gray.

"That's not necessary!" I told him. "I listen though fur all the time! A shirt is nothing!" That was true.

"Okay" he redid the buttons.

"Just breathe normally." I said and listened with my stethoscope. His chest was congested and Don seemed to be maybe in the early stages of a respiratory infection, but I already knew that from the fact that he coughed a lot, and looked haggard. So I told him "We're done. You should ideally take better care of yourself by resting, and taking an OTC. Going to a doctor wouldn't be such a bad idea. You probably have insurance anyway right?"

"Yeah through work" he said, glad that it was over.

"Just don't mention that a vet examined you" I requested.

"Sure. Thanks for taking a look."

I called Alan from the kitchen.

"Well?" He asked.

"He's in the early stages of a respiratory infection" I said. "He just needs to take care of himself, and maybe go to a doctor, just in case."

999999999999999999999999999999999

I had been relieved when she told me that it wasn't necessary to unbutton my shirt. Natalie had been quite professional and gentle in how she listened to my chest. I guess it comes from having to be careful about startling patients, who act on instinct, and have the potential to scratch or bite. Natalie had smartly worded her conclusions so that Dad wouldn't think she was blowing him off.

"You need to see a Doctor!" he told me.

"I'll just get some Nyquil and Dayquil. I'll be fine!" I argued.

99999999999999999999999999

Around ten, Don and I both left their place.

"So how did it really go?" I asked. It must have been awkward!

"She gave it to me straight" he said.

Don caught a very nasty, stressful case the next day. He worked himself, me and his team very hard. This took a toll on his health and two weeks later, his respiratory problem got so bad that he called in sick, on the very day that Dad came into surprise us with food. He hadn't seen us for a while because we had been so busy.

"Where's Don?" he asked, after we said hi.

"He's following a lead" I lied badly, to avoid worrying him. "Just leave the food here."

"I was hoping to see him" Dad said. "Will he be returning soon?"

"I don't know. I'm just the consultant here"

"Did something happen to him?" Dad asked worriedly. "Where is he?"

"He's at home!" I admitted.

Dad's eyes widened and he said "I'll go check on him"

999999999999999999

As quickly as I could, I went to Don's apartment. He must really be sick if he decided to take a day off, especially given the case. On the way, I made an appointment with my doctor.

A haggard, pale, coughing Don answered the door. He wore nothing but pajamas.

"Dad?" He tried to stand up straighter.

"Let's get you to a doctor. I made an appointment." I insisted.

"It's fine!"

"Fine nothing! Go get dressed! After we see him, you're coming home with me!"

"Dad! I'll be better here"

"Don..." I began.

"Look, I'll go see the Doctor, but we're coming right back!" he reluctantly said.

9999999999999999999999999999

On the way, Dad scolded me.

"If you had gone when I told you to, you wouldn't be this sick! When are you going to learn? You can't catch anyone in the condition you're in..." On and on he went.

After waiting for what seemed like a long time, the doctor saw me, diagnosed it as Bronchitis, and gave me a prescription for antibiotics.

"Bronchitis is not the common cold!" Dad reminded me as we got out of the building. "You need someone to take care of you, Don, and make sure that you don't overdo it."

"Dad..."

"Either you come with me, or I'll stay at your apartment!"

"I'll go with you" I agreed unwillingly.

999999999999999999999999999

Alan called me at work to say that Don had gotten bronchitis and that he was going to stay at our place until he got better.

TBC