Chapter Ten
Cozy
Post-series

"Reese, you're going to be late," Rick calls out as he approaches his son's room. "Your brother and sister are almost done with breakfast." He raps sharply on the open door before poking his head inside. "Jake said you don't feel great. You okay?"

Reese throws the covers back, letting out a long groan at the same time. "I think I'm sick," he says, and Rick winces. Reese's voice is low and gravelly; he must have caught the cold that's making its way through the kids' school.

Rick approaches his youngest and takes notice of his pallor before pressing the back of his hand to Reese's forehead. Warm but clammy; exactly what the other parents he's talked to have described. "I'm sorry, bud." He pulls the top sheet back over Reese's shoulders, and he cracks open the window for some fresh air. "Tell you what. I'll go talk to your mom about our days, and one of us will stay home so you can order us around."

Reese gives him a weak smile. "'Kay. Sorry, Dad."

"Nothing to apologize for. I'll be back." Rick meets a worried-looking Kate at the bottom of the stairs.

"How is he?" Kate asks, glancing up towards the room.

"I didn't take his temperature, but he's warm and clammy, and he sounds terrible." Rick shoves his hands in his pockets, mostly because he doesn't know what to do with them.

Even after many years, and three kids with Kate, he still hasn't shaken the take-charge habits of when he was raising Alexis. He's used to jumping into action right away; if this had been twenty years ago, he would already be on the phone with the doctor's office, and not consulting with his partner about their schedules.

Kate frowns. "I have to go to court this morning. I can call the ADA and try to delay, or see if I can get a rough estimate of when I'll be called," she offers, but Rick's already shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it. I'll call Gina and push back our meeting." His lips turn up in a mischievous smile. "If she gives me any grief I'll just tell her we have strep going around. That'll shut her up. She hates being sick."

Kate rolls her eyes but nudges him aside. "You're so evil. The kids and I have to get going so let me say goodbye to Mr. Sick."

Rick can't make out her muttered words, so he goes to the kitchen where the others are finishing up breakfast. "I'll take care of the dishes," he tells Lily when she takes her bowl to the sink. "Mom's going to drop you two off at school."

"Is Reese really sick?" Lily asks, setting the bowl down. "Or is he faking?"

"Oh, he's definitely not faking. Go brush your teeth and say goodbye, you're leaving in a few minutes. Try not to get too close to Reese though in case he's contagious." When Jake lags behind, Rick bends down slightly so they're face-to-face. "You alright, bud?"

Jake nods. "Yeah, just don't like when he's sick."

"Me too. Tell us right away if you start feeling sick too, okay?"

"I will."

By the time Kate and the kids rush out the door Rick has crackers and hot cocoa on a tray to take upstairs. He finds Reese curled up under his blankets, fast asleep, so Rick quickly swipes the digital thermometer across his forehead. There is a slight fever, but not worrisome, and he shoots off a quick text to Kate and puts Reese's Nintendo Switch on the nightstand.

Rick leaves the door open so he can hear Reese if he needs something, but he goes back downstairs and moves his laptop to the couch. Gina didn't love needing to move their meeting, but she did understand, so Rick's goal for the day is to get as much writing done as possible to make up for it.

Reese sleeps for most of the morning, emerging from his bed cocoon just to slurp down some chicken noodle soup around lunchtime.

"How do you feel, bud?" Rick asks from his perch at the bedroom door, after taking his temperature again and finding it back to normal.

Reese shrugs. "Okay. A little better. My throat still hurts."

"Yeah, it sounds like it."

"I have to work on my science project. It's due tomorrow."

"Don't worry about it," Rick insists, stifling a smile. Reese's studious mind is the exact opposite of his twin, but so much like Alexis that it's amusing. "I'll talk to your teacher. It'll be fine. You just rest, okay? Your Switch is on the table if you want."

"But-"

"Mom and I have agreed to suspend your usual time limit," Rick interrupts, this time allowing himself to smile. "Today. I'll be downstairs if you need me."

Reese gives him a weak smile. "Thanks, Dad. Love you."

"I love you too, Reese." Rick settles back down on the couch and is about to pull up his outline when his phone rings. He smiles when he glances at the screen. "Hey. How was court?"

There's a loud exhale on the other end of the phone. "Interesting. I'll tell you about it tonight. How's he doing?"

"He says he feels a little better. His fever is gone, but his throat is pretty swollen, and he's been in bed pretty much all day." Rick chuckles. "He's worried about his science project."

Kate echoes his chuckle. "I'm sure Mrs. Garrison will give him some leeway. I have to stop at the precinct, then I'll come home."

"Alright. See you later, love."