"Where's Neil" Audrey whispered to Jo as they stood in a huddle near the nurses station waiting for rounds to start. It was the week before Halloween and the influx of patients was gradually increasing via the Emergency Room as usual. Every hand would be needed on deck, so his absence would be noted.

"He's sick" she replied. "Got a bad fever so Glassman sent him home."

"He actually showed up in the first place?"

"Yeah, you know him, he thinks he's a superhero" Jo laughed quietly before giving her a nudge and redirecting her attention to the attending in front of them.

Finding herself distracted throughout, she was relieved when rounds finished and they dispersed to continue with their day. She took her cell phone from her pocket and wrote a quick message.

'You okay? Need anything?'

Her finger hovered over the button for a couple of seconds wondering whether she should send it. They had been getting on great as friends recently and that's what friends did right? Checked in on each other?

She admonished herself and pressed send before sliding the device back in to her pocket and heading off to see her first patient of the day.

A couple of hours later, there had been no reply. 'He's probably sleeping it off' she told herself, not particularly concerned. But a few hours after that again, there was still no reply and now she was starting to worry.

"Have you heard from Neil" Audrey snapped at Kevin when she saw him in the hall that afternoon.

"Hi Aud" he replied cautiously. "You okay?"

"I'm fine" she replied, letting out a sigh and slouching her shoulders a little. "Neil went home sick this morning and I haven't heard from him."

"He's probably sleeping it off" Kevin said trying to reassure her. "But if you're that bothered, go over there after work."

"Can't you go?" she asked. "Not sure I should."

"Why not" Kevin countered. "You two are friends, aren't you. That's what friends do" he said with a shrug.

"Please?"

"Nope" he replied flatly, shocking her a bit. "I've got a date tonight with a guy that actually seems normal. Neil is a grown man who can take care of a fever. If your worried then you go over... as a friend of course" he winked.

He looked at her waiting for her to say something. Nothing came so he turned and left her standing there in the corridor.

After her shift ended, she was in the locker room changing to head out when Jo came in to grab something.

"Hey" she said, having leant from her earlier run in with Kevin.

"Hi Aud" Jo replied in a cheery manner. "Have you heard from Neil yet?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing" she smiled. "I haven't."

"Maybe I should head over there once I've finished here" Jo said, looking at her watch. "That's another five hours though. You could go?" she suggested to Audrey.

"I think I will" she replied. "I'll stop and get some supplies on the way."

"Let me know if you need anything" Jo said, grabbing what she had actually come in for and heading out the door again.

X

After stopping at the store and a late night deli she headed to Neil's apartment. She held her finger on his buzzer a little longer than she should have but she really wanted him to answer the door.

"Yeah" was the gruff response over the receiver, he sounded awful.

"It's me, Audrey. Can I come up?"

"Sure" he grunted, hanging up.

She arrived at his door in time to see him shuffling away after opening it to let her in.

"You okay" he asked sounding groggy. He dropped down heavily into the sofa, putting his head back and closing his eyes.

"I'm fine" she exclaimed, finding it a little amusing that he was asking after her even in his current condition. "I was worried about you" she said with a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm not at my best" he said, giving her quite a pathetic smile. "I'll be alright."

"Have you taken anything?"

"Yeah, I took Tylenol when I got in" he said opening one eye. "I am a doctor you know!"

"That was over 8 hours ago Neil, you should take some more."

"Oh, okay" he answered, sounding quite meek. "I didn't realise the time. I'll get some now." But as he made to stand, he let out an involuntary groan, prompting Audrey into action.

"Sit" she said sharply. "I'll go... where is it?"

"In there" he replied waving his arm in the general direction of his bedroom.

She headed off towards his room, pausing briefly at the threshold. Taking a deep breath, she walked in and straight to the small ensuite shower room. After rifling through the medicine cabinet for a couple of minutes, she found some strips of what she needed and turned to leave.

Stepping back into the bedroom again, she stopped. The bed was still perfectly made, sheets smooth and pillows plumped. 'He hasn't even been in here' she thought to herself shaking her head.

"Have you even been to bed?" Audrey asked as she passed by him to get a drink from the kitchen.

"I just sat here after I got in. I haven't moved" he replied, sounding defeated. "Thanks" he said taking the glass and the tablets from her.

She put her hand on his forehead and tutted when she felt the heat emanating from it.

"You're still burning up" she said, moving her hand to feel around his collar. "And your shirt is damp. Come on, on your feet" she said, taking his hands and pulling.

"What are you doing?" he moaned as she took away the blanket he'd wrapped around himself and started to unbutton his shirt. "Aud!" he said more sharply than he intended, batting her hands away to get her attention.

"You need out of these damp clothes and into a shower" she said quite plainly. "Move it Melendez" she said giving him a little shove towards his bedroom door.

He gave a small smile and nodded. "You're right, as always" he said. "But I think I can take off my own shirt."

"Okay" she said blushing a little but not feeling the need to look away. "Go on" she encouraged.

She watched as he dropped the blanket and finished removing his shirt, throwing them into the corner of his bedroom. He rested his hands on his belt buckle and looked back up at her, raising his eyebrows.

"Sorry" she laughed. "I'll get your towels. Where do you keep them?"

"Just in there" he smiled, pointing to a closet door behind her.

She turned and let out the breath she was holding as she heard the bathroom door close and the water start running. With the towels in hand she stood right outside the bathroom door arguing with herself.

Should she knock and just step in quickly to put the towels on the side or should she leave them on the bed meaning he'd get cold and drip all over the floor getting to them.

Making her decision, she took a deep breath, gave a light knock and pushed the door open slowly. She knew from her earlier visit that with the bathroom door open, she wouldn't be able to see into the shower cubicle unless she looked on purpose but she was still nervous that she might better overstepping. She put one foot across the threshold, put the towels on the side and stepped back out closing the door gently behind her.

In the next ten minutes, Audrey switched on the bedside lamp and turned off the main light. She pulled back the corner of his sheets and lined up the medications she'd taken from the cabinet earlier on the low table next to the bed. There were bottles of water and a few snacks there too just in case he felt like eating something.

'What else, maybe the TV remote?' she thought looking around but not being able to see it anywhere. 'Must have a fancy hidden one' she smiled to herself.

She hadn't noticed the water being shut off or heard the cubicle door open while she was busy getting things together so when she turned and saw him in the doorway, wrapped in just a towel, she startled and let out a little yelp.

"Sorry" he said with a small smile and moving to sit on the end of the bed.

"No, I uh, I'm sorry" she said. "I didn't hear the water stop."

"You've been busy" he said, noticing the efforts she had made for him. "Thank you."

"It's nothing" she smiled softly. "I drew the line at rifling through your drawers to find your pyjamas though" she laughed.

"I'll get those. Seriously, thank you" he said. "You didn't have to do all this."

"What after friends for" she replied holding his gaze for longer than she should have. "Chicken soup" she exclaimed suddenly and quite loudly, causing him to wince.

"Pardon?"

"I stopped for chicken soup on the way. Do you want some?"

"I think I just want to go to sleep" he said letting out a long yawn. "Maybe in the morning?"

"No problem I'll cool it down and put it in the fridge for lunch. Soup is not breakfast food" she laughed walking back out into the living area, closing the door behind her for him to get dressed in private.

Five minutes later, he appeared again, fully dressed and towelling his hair.

"I actually feel a bit better" he smiled, walking towards her.

"Let me see" she replied putting her hand to his forehead again. "Still to warm for my liking" she said. "Not quite time for another dose yet but everything you need is in there."

He just smiled.

"What?" she asked a little abruptly, feeling a little on edge.

"Nothing" he smiled. "I just... it's just... nice. All of this..." he said softly. "Thank you for coming to check on me."

"No problem" she replied, feeling a little self conscious. He was still looking at her with a small smile but his eyes were getting heavy.

"Come on" she said. "Into bed with you!"

"What an offer" he teased. "How could I refuse that. You gonna come and tuck me in?" he said making her blush again. He knew he was pushing his luck but if she pushed back he'd already decided he was going to blame it on the fever.

"I tried to find the remote" she said quickly trying to change the subject. "Have you got one of those hidden televisions?" she asked.

He smiled his cheekiest grin at her before replying.

"No TV in here. Plenty of things to do in a bedroom... watching TV isn't one of them!"

"Night Neil" she said with a little laugh, shaking her head.

"Night Aud."

themintjournal - thanks for the prompt :-)