Review(s):
HypnoArt - Trust me, poor Clawd hopes he feels better soon too! Yikes, but at least in this chapter we for sure get to figure out what's caused him to feel like crap. I feel so bad for him and of course Deuce feels terrible. Please enjoy this big fluff of a chapter, :D
Va-va-voom!
"Now will they do something?" Deuce mumbled under his breath as watched the nurse slightly panic. It bothered him so much how it seemed they wouldn't do anything until it became serious.
His eyes shifted towards the wheel chair, maybe he could use to sit down? At least this would give Clawd's shaky legs a break.
Clawd shook his head lightly in protest and wrapped his arms around Deuce's neck, "I just need you. Don't leave... please?" The gorgon had his arms around the warm, sick wolf.
"I won't. I'm here." He calmed the other. Deuce could feel Clawd leaning on him almost entirely. The poor thing had almost no stamina to stand.
All of the sudden things started to happen. People in scrubs were rushing around him - having Deuce step to the side with Barkley. They called his name, asked him what the date today was.
They were given no choice but to step back and watch the chaos unravel.
A young nurse helped calm him as he began to panic, he looked so confused. "Where am I?" He inquired softly.
"It's okay sweetie, you're at the hospital. You have a very high fever dear, we're gonna get that under control alright?" She wiped his sweaty face down and his equally sweaty wrist before she attached an informative wristband. "Can you lie down with me?"
Clawd stared at her. "I cannot, I have a boyfriend."
She laughed. "I meant lie down for me, sorry. But okay, you're taken - I get it."
Deuce eyes widened. "Did he... just give us a label?" The gorgon asked no one in particular. His heart began pounding faster, as he reached for Barkley's arm in disbelief.
Barkley did nothing but smirk at Deuce in that moment.
Clawd soon obliged, laying down on the stretcher and he held his head with one hand. "What's wrong sweet-pea?" She asked him quickly. She took note of his rather quick breathing.
"Headache."
"Mhm," she made it look like she was rubbing his arm soothingly, and she was, until she had the equipment she needed to wire him up to an IV drip. "What else is going on? Does your chest hurt?"
It broke the gorgon's heart when he saw the nurses install the IV into Clawd - or try to. They were having quite a hard time. Hearing him whimper as they stuck him with the needle nearly made the gorgon want to get them away from his wolf.
Clawd nodded, "A smidget."
She chuckled. "Okay, you feeling dizzy?"
He gave another nod. "Yeah, can you make it stop?"
"I'm gonna try my hardest." She looked over to her other co-workers. "He's dehydrated for sure. Sky rocketing fever, let's get some fluids going please."
"And thank you." He followed her statement.
Deuce couldn't help but smile, even though Clawd was being poked at and not feeling well. Here he was still be thoughtful to others. "He's amazing." The gorgon informed Pops, just in case he didn't know.
"You're damn right he's amazing and it's all my genes, don't tell mama I said that." Barkley chuckled, but gave Deuce's arm a light tug in the right direction. Hopefully they wouldn't keep him in the hall. He'd really have to flip a shit if they thought that's what would happen.
It wasn't too long before Clawd was being wheeled into his own curtained off area. It wasn't big but it was a lot more private, there were other patients all around but it was certainly more closed off than the hall. "There we go," she locked the stretcher and gave Clawd's head a pat. He was still very warm, however he was shivering. "I'm gonna get him a blanket, poor thing. I'll be back."
They could offer blankets but there was not a pillow to be had here in emergency. What the hell? Deuce was angered by how uncomfortable his wolf looked. He wished he was wearing his casketball hoodie, then he could have turned that into a pillow.
"You're dad, right?" She shook Barkley's hand upon returning with a blanket in her other. "I'm Natalie, I'll be his nurse tonight."
She put the blanket over him promptly and tucked it in around him. "De-uce..." He called out softly.
Natalie glanced over and saw a gorgon. "Oh my, hello."
"Hey," The gorgon moved past her to take Clawd's hand in his.
Natalie left momentarily and came back with a small container for him to throw up in if he needed it. "I'll be back around in about an hour to check on that fever, alright?"
"Thanks ma'am." Barkley gave a curt nod.
"You're welcome," she soon left all 3 of the boys alone.
Your crazy ass daughter just jumped on a plane in mid-movie filming. - Scar
Barkley reached for his phone.
My oldest daughter loves her brother, she hates being a thousand miles away from him. I'll pick up my crazy ass daughter when she lands. Tyvm
"Mum sending you bathtub pictures there, pops?" The gorgon inquired.
Barkley chuckled and sat down in the vacant chair next to the bed, his 'old bones' couldn't handle standing around for long periods of time anymore. "Yes, 2 full nudes and 1 half."
Deuce cringed as he un-tucked the wolf, he didn't like how the blanket bunched up in some areas. Then he began to tuck the wolf in, making sure the blanket covered the wolf fully. "There." The gorgon mumbled as he went back to holding Clawd's hand. Running his fingers with his free hand through the wolf's sweaty hair.
Clawd had finally nodded off to sleep with Deuce's comforting hand, rubbing up and down his arm, careful not to hit the inserted IV. "Okay, I'm back to do a set of vitals-" the nurse saw that the wolf had finally settled down to sleep. "Oh nevermind, I'll come back in a bit."
"Preferably, if you don't mind." Barkley told her, "Thanks."
"Sure thing." she gave a smile and headed out again.
Clawd stirred and whimpered slightly, he sat up and reached for the bucket that was left for him. He felt as if he was gonna be sick, though nothing was coming. He swallowed hard and sat at the side of the bed. He didn't know if he wanted to sit up or lie down or vomit or anything.
"These beds are amazing, they sit up, they lie down." Barkley smirked. "Pretty sure your mother and I had sex on one of these before." If that wouldn't bother him, he had no idea what even could.
Clawd gave a nod, "Cool." The sweat started dripping yet again.
The gorgon sat down beside the wolf, letting him rest against his shoulder. "Pops, please don't tell me that's how the twins were conceived?"
Barkley laughed, it good to have a chuckle when all he really wanted to do was worry about Clawd. "Ah shit, that's exactly where they were conceived."
Clawd groaned. "They're trying to make me not feel sick, unlike you old man."
Barkley's jaw dropped. "You're cranky when you're hot stuff aren't you?"
As much as Clawd wanted to roll his eyes and make a comment - he just felt so sick. This was far more intense than it was last time.
"When you do something, you go all the way don't you?" Deuce inquired as he brought the wolf into a hug. "My poor Clawd, do you want to try laying down again?" Deuce began running his fingers through but stopping when he found Clawd's fur tangled together. He try his best not to pull the fur as he began untangling it.
Clawd shook his head in defeat. "I don't know what I want to be totally honest." His eyes then widened as he gripped Deuce's arm. "I never asked you if you even wanted to date me. I'm sorry."
Barkley chuckled to himself. Clawd was worried about Deuce not liking the label he put on them. He was too sweet.
"Out of everything you gotta worry about right now, you're worried that you called me your boyfriend? Silly wolf." Deuce couldn't help but chuckle. He found it so cute how the wolf worried about his feelings, even though Clawd himself was sick. "I don't mind you labeling me as yours, if I get to call you mine?" The gorgon stated as he continued to run his fingers through the other's untangled fur. Stopping briefly to glance up at the wolf before stealing a kiss.
Clawd gave the gorgon a small smile, it'd be bigger if he didn't feel like such shit. "Deal." He put his head on Deuce's shoulder and sighed, it would be a long night...
(¯`·._(¯`·._(¯`·._( MONSTER HIGH )_.·´¯)_.·´¯)_.·´¯)
Barkley caught himself nodding off to sleep in the chair beside Clawd's hospital bed. He was cuddled up with Deuce - they both occupied the stretcher. The gorgon having stared at his wolf boyfriend for at least 30 minutes before falling asleep himself.
He thought he caught a whiff of Clawdia's perfume but he wasn't sure. Could've been dreaming it even? Barkley was almost settled again when the curtain opened slightly. "Hi," Natalie gave a smile when she saw Clawd cuddled into Deuce. "aren't they just the sweetest?"
"They are." He agreed, watching her wheel in the vitals cart.
"Hey you," Natalie greeted Clawd softly, who woke up a bit startled. He had forgotten where he was only for a moment. "I'm gonna do a quick check on your vitals, okay sweetie?"
Clawd growled lightly but that was because Deuce had woken up and moved. "Alright."
The first thing she did was check his temperature again.
100.2
"Yay!" She cheered quietly. "That pesky fever is on its way down. How are you feeling?"
Clawd shrugged. "Alright."
"Nausea?"
He nodded, swallowing right in that moment. "A bit."
She attached the blood pressure cuff to his right bicep, starting it with a press of a button. "How about vomiting?"
Clawd thought about it. "Not for..." His eyes shifted to the clock on the wall. "about 45 minutes."
"Good! That's great news. Dizzy?"
Clawd was able to shake his head, something he could not do earlier. "No, it's been gone awhile."
"That's because you're already a few cocktails deep," she joked, making reference to Clawd's IV drip. "are you ache-y, love?"
"No, well - a little bit." It wasn't too painful, nothing he couldn't handle.
"Did you want anything for pain management?" Clawd shook his head right away.
"No, absolutely not."
Natalie held her hand up in protest. "Okay love, I just thought to ask." She unhooked the cuff from his arm and wrapped it all up. "Your vitals are alright. I'll see you soon."
With that, she left again. Clawd lightly whimpered, he had just gotten comfortable before Natalie came to poke at him.
The gorgon looked towards Pops, he was slightly annoyed at the fact Clawd was woken up. He knew she was just doing her job, but now Clawd had to get all comfy again. By the time that happened the nurse would be back to poke at him.
Deuce sat back down beside the wolf once more. Snuggling into the other's side.
Just as Clawd had gotten comfortable, beginning to doze off to sleep again, the curtain opened and shut. He couldn't be bothered to open his eyes. If they were here for him, they'd let him know.
Meanwhile Clawdia set her clutch purse down on the portable table top next to Clawd's bedside and she knocked over his styrofoam cup of iced water.
The liquid hit Clawd and startled him. "Oh fuck," she cursed, trying to clean up her mess as quickly as she could. "I am so sorry-"
Max, Clawdia's Hauntlywood acting fiance, was making his way to his father-in-law for a greeting hug when she backed into him and made it that much more forceful. "Sorry Pops, couldn't wait to hug my old man any longer apparently."
Barkley smiled, "That's alright my man, what's good?"
Max looked at Clawdia, who was now hugging her brother and smooching his cheeks - currently annoying the hell out of him. "Not your daughter's nerves I can tell you that."
She gave Deuce a hug as well. "Hi my favorite boys," she worriedly caressed Clawd's cheek. "why are you not playing with your casketballs, hmm?" She asked him playfully.
Deuce slid out of the way so Clawdia could be closer to Clawd. It warmed his heart to see how much the female wolf fussed over her sibling. The gorgon tried his best not to laugh as Clawd grumbled.
Clawdia took a good look at the deep, painful looking bruise on her brother's neck. "Draculaura is way too vanilla for that shit," she told him, a small smirk. "and Viperine called me early this morning so I know it all." Her only thought when conversing with her good friend was that perhaps one day she and Viperine would be bound by wedding bells of Clawd's and Deuce's.
"Did you know they just made it official a few hours ago?" Clawdia's jaw dropped at the reveal of information from her father. "No? That's right, Pops knows everything."
Deuce rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses. "Yes Pops, you're all-knowing." He thought it might be best just to go along, why crush the old man's spirit? "How much information did my dear cousin share anyways?" Deuce inquired as he raised a curious eyebrow.
Clawdia smirked an evil smirk. "The entire boatload."
Clawd raised an eyebrow. Did this have something to do with when he video chatted with Viperine the other night? Was it during the day? His mind was hazy and he knew he wasn't awake very many hours. Well this was an exciting start to the relationship, wasn't it? His ears flattened with the thought.
"Of course she did." The gorgon mumbled.
Deuce glanced at Clawd noticing his ears were down. "What's the matter?" Within seconds Deuce was by the other's side.
Clawd was shocked how quickly Deuce was at his side, wondering what was wrong before he could even comprehend it himself. "I uh... I was just thinking that I wasn't exactly charming or alluring when I made it official and... how shitty of a start it's been to this relationship so far. I've been sick for awhile, came on pretty sudden."
Clawdia looked as if she were going to burst. Did she know something that Clawd himself didn't?
"I don't mind. Honestly. Plus if anyone started this off shitty, it would be me. You hiding in my room when my mother came home." The gorgon pointed out running his hand over the other's arm.
Barkley widened his eyes. Clawd hid in Deuce's closet?
Clawdia giggled, it was hard to picture her brother shoved in a small closet.
Just then, the curtain opened. And a doctor entered. "Good evening all, may I speak to Clawd and his father alone?"
Barkley could tell just by looking at Deuce, that he had no intention of leaving his side. "Whatever's going on can be spoken in front of these people. I don't mind." Clawd told the healthcare professional.
"Alright, then let me spit it out. Your blood work results are in and we found an abnormal substance in it," he paused for dramatic effect almost. "that substance would be: gorgon venom."
Deuce's hand stop petting the other, pulling his hand away every so slightly. He was thankful no one could see his eyes starting to tear up. Part of him was scared that Clawd wouldn't want him after this, or they Barkley and Scarlet would try to keep them apart.
Clawdia wanted to squeal it was so cute, Viperine told her exactly what it meant when a gorgon injected venom into their lover.
"Is it harmful?" Barkley asked, knowing the moment he made eye contact with Deuce, the worried gorgon would just fall apart, so he made sure not to.
"Not any further than this, no. See, I'm not sure if you're familiar with gorgon's and their venom but when they inject it into the object of their affections, it means that the recipient of the venom is far more than just an object." He was trying so hard not to just out the two boys in front of him but it would seem he had no other choice. "It solidifies their ah, love."
Barkley had figured out that Deuce was sweet on Clawd, but he wasn't sure just how sweet exactly. "I see."
"It's not truly harmful. See a werewolf would normally never be exposed such venom so your body, Clawd, is fighting off the venom just as it would any other infection, such as the flu, common cold, what have you. There's not really a direct cure my furry friend."
Clawd clenched his jaw. He was more knotted than furry right now due to mass amounts of sweat and hospital doc or not - they were certainly not friends.
"So," the physician decided he'd begin his conclusion. "you need to keep better track of your temperature, if it's slightly over 98 take that fever reducer right away. Keep it controlled, alright?"
"So he can go home?" Maximilian inquired, knowing that was the main question everyone wanted answered. Also he was sure that everyone who wasn't here wanted Clawd home as soon as possible.
The gorgon shifted his gaze from the sick wolf, to Max, then the doctor. His stomach was doing flips, there was nothing more embarrassing than the doctor telling your lover that you poisoned them out of love. All he wanted to do was snuggle into Clawd and disappear.
He gave a semi-nod. "Probably soon. I mean, your nurse wants to do another round of vitals and make sure everything is fine. After a little while you can go."
Barkley, as tired as he was stood up, he was about to gather most of Clawd's things when Max stopped him. "Relax, pops. I'll gather everything and I'll drive us all home."
Clawdia hugged her father. "You're looking a bit tired old man, nothing a few shots can't fix though."
Barkley smiled as he returned her hug. He didn't have the heart to tell her that all he wanted to do was lie down. "How about we get home first? I'm sure my boy will wanna hit the shower."
Clawd nodded. "And hit it hard."
Deuce knelt down in front of the wolf, anyone could could tell even though he'd been napping on and off he was still tired. "Soon." The gorgon informed the other, taking ahold of the wolf's hands.
Max pulled Clawdia into a loving hug. "They're perfect." He whispered into her ear before kissing her forehead. Resting his chin on top of her head.
She hugged Maximilian tightly. Was it terrible of her to admit that Clawd was her favorite brother? Clawdia knew that she shouldn't have a preferred sibling but they were so close growing up. They were still close and she'd move mountains to be with him whenever he needed her. All he had to do was say the word and she'd be home for him.
The fact that he hadn't responded to any of her messages in the last couple nights... it tipped her off right away.
Clawd was so tired that his hospital bed was positioned upward and he was just leaning up against it, he closed his eyes moments ago but his breathing had already slowed significantly. He was absolutely exhausted.
Deuce kept ahold of the wolf's hand, as he just watched him. He could see the others were just watching Clawd as well. Clawdia looked like she was ready to beat anyone who woke her brother up.
Several minutes had passed and Deuce was rubbing Clawd's arm, careful not to damage or pull the IV out of his arm unintentionally. The ill wolf whimpered slightly and he stretched out, rubbing his lower back. He settled once more, upon Deuce's shoulder.
"Hello," Natalie stopped in her tracks. "holy crap, you're Maximilian Graves!"
Max's cheeks blushed heavily. He could never get used to people being all starstruck over him. "Yes, and I assume you're taking the best care of my little brother here?" He asked.
"Yes, I mean, to the best of my ability." Natalie almost choked over her words.
Clawdia smiled, even though they were only engaged, he called her family his from almost day 1.
"That's my beautiful wife-"
"Clawdia, only the most amazing screenwriter ever. You 2 are a hot Hauntlywood item!" Natalie was nearly swooning over them both.
It was obvious Clawdia's cheeks started turning a bright red, the gorgon couldn't help but chuckle. Did it make him evil to think that since the nurse was busy starstruck with Max and Clawdia it meant Clawd got a couple more minutes of rest? Brushing the bangs out of the wolf's face, Deuce couldn't help but admire his beauty. If it was possible for a guy to be beautiful... it was absolutely Clawd.
