Review(s):

HypnoArt - OUCH! That would hurt... and I'm sure the cactus would feel very much violated, xD Yes the boys will definitely be looking after one another a lot in this story. It's part of what makes them so damn sweet, even if Deuce isn't sure how to, he'll do his best to learn. :)

Let's go!


Clawd wasn't sure what hit him but he hadn't felt this lousy in a long, long time. He had to get Deuce to pull over 3 times on the way out of the school parking lot so he could throw everything up. Both boys were astonished the wolf had anything left in him to toss. He finally settled in the passenger seat, his weary eyes finally able to close.

He was almost asleep when he felt another hand on his forehead. "Deuce… really?" He asked, almost annoyed.

He pulled his hand away, the gorgon didn't mean to annoy the wolf. "Sorry." He mumbled focusing on getting the other home and to his comfy bed.

Clawd shifted so that he was able to see the gorgon. "No, I'm sorry. You wouldn't be stuck in this position if it weren't for my sick ass."

Deuce wasn't used to the car being silent, hell he normally had the radio blaring. But this was a different story. Figuring that it wouldn't help with Clawd's pounding headache, he kept the radio off.

"You can turn the radio on," Clawd told him, as if he had read the gorgon's mind. "My headache's gonna be here whether there's music or not, go ahead."

"Truthfully, I don't mind." The gorgon glanced at the radio before deciding not to bother, they were almost at the house anyways. "Sucks you're sick but I don't mind just looking at you at the same time."

Clawd rolled his eyes. "Eww, don't do that. I can't possibly be attractive right now. What are you some kind of emetophilic?" He wasn't expecting the gorgon to know what that meant. If he did? Well, he'd have a lot of questions.

"Eww, no! Honestly vomit grosses me right out. I just know what it's like to be sick and not have anyone there. I don't wanna to put you in that situation. If I can be there for you, I will. No matter how much it may gross me out." The gorgon informed the other.

Clawd chuckled, "How you know what that is – I both do and don't wanna question it." He reached for Deuce's free hand and held it. Despite his own being clammy and gross, he hoped he didn't mind. He felt the most comfort in Deuce's mere touch.

When they finally arrived at the Wolf Residence, Deuce felt bad that Clawd had finally fallen asleep, hopefully this would be the last time he'd have to bother him.

"Clawd, babe. Come on furball, just need to get into the house and you can sleep. If you stay out here, you're gonna be in worse shape." The gorgon said, shaking the wolf's shoulder. Deuce already had turned over the engine and got all their stuff into the house before he went to wake the sleeping wolf. He was even ready to jump out of the way in case the other had to vomit again.

Clawd stirred and stretched, a groan escaping him before he unfastened his seatbelt. He got out of the vehicle and shut his car door. He leaned up against it for a moment to steady himself. He always needed a few minutes after waking just to focus and gather the motivation to get going.

He slowly but surely followed the gorgon into the house. He was able to slip his sneakers off before darting through the living room to the main floor bathroom.

Deuce let out a sigh of relief, at least he made it to the bathroom. He wanted to look after Clawd so badly, yet he wasn't really sure how to do so. He knew some basic things… like chicken noodle soup but how would he feed the wolf that when he couldn't keep water down?

Clawd soon exited the bathroom. He sat down on the sofa for a moment, trying to catch his breath.

Biting his lower lip, the gorgon pulled out his cellular phone. It was time to contact mum. Scrolling through his contact, he selected the desired name.

Hey mum, everything fine. Don't worry. Clawd isn't feeling the greatest, so we came home.

The gorgon wanted to give her an explanation before he asked for her help.

Quick question, how do you get a sick wolf to eat and drink?

He typed out his second text and hit send. Now the wait, maybe he could get the wolf down stairs before Scarlett got back to him?

Deuce really didn't want to involve Scarlet or make her worry but at the same time she knew what she was doing. She'd been doing it for years and he felt it would be smart to ask an expert rather than possibly make Clawd feel worse.

Clawd got up and rushed back into the bathroom. Leaving Deuce puzzled. How could they even move from this level of the home to the basement where his bedroom was if the sick wolf could barely leave the bathroom?

Hi sweetie, how sick is sick exactly? There's plenty of 'sick' out there. Vomit? Poop? Cough/cold? Fever? Aches? My shift is done in a half-hour, it won't be too long until I'm home. - Mum

Vomit - for sure. He has a fever. Earlier before practice he mentioned he was a little sore.

The gorgon knew could be completely honest with the female wolf. She had always been there for him. No matter what time of day or night.

Well, I know it's scary but you can't force Clawd to eat or drink. He has to do that on his own. You can prompt him, but he may refuse. In the medicine cabinet in the main-floor bathroom there's lots of them. You're looking for one that stops nausea/vomiting, get him to take that first. Once he stops/feels okay enough to get to bed, then in the basement bathroom should be a medicine for fever, aches, etc. - Mum

Deuce read the text over, making sure he understood her instructions. Another text came through.

Once you get that first med into him, getting downstairs should be your next priority - they make a regular person feel tired... they knock Clawd right out, poor pup. He's not one for medications bless his heart xD I'm headed home soon. - Mum

Thanks mum. Will see you soon. Hopefully I'll have him in bed time you get home.

The gorgon read over the text one more time to make sure he knew what he was grabbing. Thankfully he had been in the Wolf Residence enough to have the layout memorized. Walking over to the bathroom, Deuce lightly knocked on the door.

"Babe. You alright? Of course you're not alright. Stupid question." The gorgon could help but chuckle nervously, he was so out of his element. He cracked the door open, the sight nearly broke his heart. There was the poor wolf hunched over the toilet, it looked like he gave up on trying to move.

He walked over to the medicine cabinet, he noticed Scarlett wasn't lying when she said there was more than a few different bottles. Grabbing a few of them the gorgon began to read each label. Last thing wanted was to give Clawd the wrong one. About the 3rd bottle in, he found the one he needed. He tossed the rest back, he then made his way to the wolf.

"Hey hun, your mom said this will help with the nausea. She also said there's one to give you downstairs." The gorgon stated, crouching down beside the wolf.

Clawd had thrown up 3 times in total since walking through the door, he wasn't sure how he could leave his porcelain best friend. Normally he'd take pills as a last resort but right now he'd give anything to get rid of this disgusting feeling. He gave a weak nod and took the 2 pills from Deuce.

The gorgon had given him a small glass of water to wash them down with.

Clawd was a bit uneasy with the water, since he had thrown everything else up maybe he didn't have anything left? That'd be great.

He cleaned off the toilet with excess toilet paper as he almost expected to hurl again. "Sorry I'm not saying much..." He felt the need to apologize. "My throat's on fire it feels like." He couldn't clear it without wincing.

He rubbed a circular motion on the small of the other's back, trying his best to comfort him. "When your mom gets home I'll see if she has something for your throat. So don't you worry. Just take it easy." The gorgon told the wolf, as he brushed the bangs out of the others face.

Clawd nodded and took a deep breath. His ribs hurt but he was sure that was more than likely from leaning over the toilet as he had been doing. "I'm sorry, this is not how I wanted you to see me." Once they started to get romantic of course it was only natural he wanted to do nothing but impress Deuce.

"Babe, don't worry. If I can't see this side of you, why do I deserve to see you at your best? It goes with being in a relationship." Deuce said as he reached for the facecloth and began patting the wolf's sweaty forehead. "It wasn't that long ago we were in here and you were comforting me." The gorgon chuckled.

Clawd gave a soft smile - that was true. About 20 minutes had gone by now and he hadn't thrown up, that was a good sign. He put his head on Deuce's shoulder.

He could definitely go for a nap at this point.

Deuce looked down, he could see Clawd struggling to stay awake. Scarlet had him pegged for sure.

"Come on furball, let's get you to bed." He said playing with a strand of fur. He truly didn't want to bug the wolf, but he knew Clawd would be way worse off crashing in the bathroom.

Clawd went to get up too quickly and felt quite light-headed. He reached for Deuce's arm and was surprised that he didn't have to put much effort into getting up. "Thanks, babe."

They made it to the living room when the front door unlocked and opened. Scarlet was home. She set her purse down and put her coat on the sofa for now. She'd get it later.

"Hi Mom," Clawd greeted, hugging her right away. "I feel like shit."

She parted the hug briefly and kissed his cheek, however she lingered for a moment. "You look like it too." Scarlet gave his cheek a pat. "You're burning up. Let's get you downstairs."

Clawd stared at the basement stairs.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" She asked him.

He sighed. "I hate taking that stuff because now I feel all woozy, I'm not making those stairs."

Scarlet nodded. "I know honey, you have a low medication tolerance but that's okay. C'mon, Deuce and I are right here."

Clawd was still hesitant.

"Don't worry. I won't let you fall." The gorgon assured the wolf, willing even to jump in front of him if he lost his balance.

He couldn't have been happier with Scarlet's timing, he was wondering how he was going to get him down the stairs solo. Once he knew Clawd was safe and sound inside his bed, he was going to hug her.

"But what if I already have fallen for you?" He asked Deuce.

The gorgon looked as if he were caught in headlights.

Scarlet chuckled. "Oh boy, you're corny just like your father."

Clawd let out a small whine. "Why are there so many of these damn things?" He questioned, they were only halfway. He was feeling increasingly unsteadier with every step.

Scarlet smirked. "They keep multiplying, fuckin' stairs."

Clawd looked at her, astonished. "Mother, what if the pups heard you?"

Scarlet never made it habit to curse in front of her children but she couldn't help messing with her poor, sick son. "Fuck, fuckity-fuck, the pups aren't home." Clawd still shocked, finally made it down the stairs. He was about to head for the sofa. "Ah-ah."

His ears flattened. "But..."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "Go with Deuce. You get him tucked in, I'll grab the other medication. I'll be in soon, honey."

"Yes, mum." The gorgon wrapped his arm around the other's waist for support. "Come on you." Deuce let the other use him for support as they made their way towards the familiar door.

Once inside the room the gorgon let the wolf make his way to the bed. Grabbing the spare pillow, Deuce fluffed it up and tucked it under the others head. He thought for a moment and made his way to the foot of the bed and removed the socks off his feet.

Grabbing the blanket, he began tucking it in all around the wolf. "There, you're nicely tucked in." Deuce stated sitting down beside the wolf. "Maybe I should get you a cold cloth, also maybe that ginger ale?" The gorgon said more to himself.

At that precise moment, the bedroom door opened and Scarlet came in with a small bottle of pills, a glass of water and a bottle of ginger ale. "Good job," she praised Deuce. "Now, remember how I kissed his cheek and lingered?"

Deuce nodded.

Scarlet sat down at Clawd's bedside, opposite to where Deuce was seated. "I was checking on his fever without the annoying hand-on-the-forehead. Our lips are sensitive, especially enough so to check on the temperature of someone without annoying them too badly." She smiled. "They just figure it's affection. It is but with a specific purpose."

Deuce was paying attention closely, she swore if he had a pen and piece of paper he'd be taking notes. He always paid attention when she taught him anything.

"Sometimes, you have to be stern with your sick pup. Especially when they're asleep but they need to take fever-reducing medication next. This cannot slide Deuce," she told him carefully. "high fevers are extremely dangerous and if not treated they can lead to convulsions and all kinds of terrible things."

The gorgon's eyes widened. He had no idea fevers could be that bad.

"Hey you," Scarlet poked Clawd's nose. He stirred and whimpered slightly. "C'mon Clawd, I'm not playing with you, sweetheart. You gotta take this medication for me."

Clawd heaved a sigh. "But I did already." He argued softly.

Scarlet had to bend down closer to hear him. "This is a different one. You need this one too."

He slowly propped himself up on one elbow long enough to shakily take the next couple pills and swallow them down with water. "Mom," he called out lightly.

She took his hand and rubbed it gently. "Yes?"

"I have to finish my essay, for Mr. Rotter's class." He informed her.

Scarlet weakly smiled. Clawd was always concerned about his grades. He was an excellent, model student. "I hate to break it to you my son but that's not gonna happen."

He frowned.

"I appreciate your homework ethic but you can barely focus my love, there's no way you can write an essay feeling the way you do." She gave his arm a rub, it felt very soothing to him.

"Mum's right Clawd, focus on getting better. Homework can wait." The gorgon agreed, hoping Clawd would settle and not start worrying about his studies now. "So how often to we give him the medication?" Deuce inquired. "Like I know the bottle says every 4 to 6 hours, I don't wanna overdose him." He wasn't used to this. If it weren't for Scarlet, Deuce himself wouldn't know how to do many things. Even with all her pups, she still found time to technically raise him as well.

Maybe that's why Deuce could easily fall for Clawd? He was the perfect blend of both his parents. He continued to brush the hair out of the wolf's face, as he settled down.

Scarlet could understand the gorgon's concern, especially when Clawd wasn't used to medications of any kind. "Well, the biggest telltale clue would be his symptoms reoccurring. If he's been sleeping the last 5 & 1/2 hours and he's nauseated again, he'll most likely wake up that way and we give him that again." She crossed one leg over the other, still rubbing Clawd's arm as she spoke. "The minimum wait time to take most medications is 4 hours. He could go 5, 6, or 7 hours before needing another dose and if he does, perfect. Keep checking his fever periodically, I'll grab the thermometer in a bit - if it doesn't come down, we'll have to take a trip to the hospital."

Clawd sleepily moved the blankets off, keeping one leg under the blanket and one over. He sighed in annoyance before turning to face Deuce, patting the blanket for the other's hand.

"He'll be doing that for hours too, being hot, then cold - that's his body trying to sweat out the fever." When Clawd whimpered lightly, she knew exactly what he wanted. She took Deuce's hand and put it in Clawd's. He immediately settled once again. She smiled, "That's me when I'm not well, I don't necessarily need anything... just Barkley next to me. That alone does wonders... he's my comfort blanket."

"I see." The gorgon mumbled, thinking back to when he was sick and his mother would quarantine him to his room and that was it. "So now it's just a waiting game for the fever to break, right?" Deuce inquired, running his thumb along the side of Clawd's hand. In honestly amazed him how someone could being boiling hot but also shivering.

Scarlet gave a nod, "Yes, that's exactly it. However I do believe he had the right idea when he mentioned homework." She had a certain way of suggesting her opinions without being too harsh. He knew that she was right and that he should get some school work done. But if he was too distracted and worried to focus on it, then she understood that too.

It couldn't hurt. Clawd's grip on Deuce's hand loosened a little as he fell into a peaceful sleep - at least for now. He hoped that the wolf wouldn't be up hurling in a couple hours.

"I'm getting your hint loud and clear, Mum." Deuce couldn't help but chuckle. "My bag is upstairs, can you stay with him until I get back?" The gorgon questioned Scarlet.

Scarlet nodded, "Yes Nurse Deuce." She giggled when he raised a brow. "I'd call you doctor but nurses do the dirty work, doctors get all the glory." She waved him off. "Go, I won't move a muscle. Promise."