Thank you all so much for the wonderful feedback – now I remember why I love you all so much! As requested, here is part two of Cough.

It was a strange phenomenon but Reid loathed attention. He liked talking to friends and socializing but he couldn't stand the attention people usually receive when they are sick or hurt. He had always been this way; something about it just bothered him. In fact, he tried to avoid negative attention at all costs but this – this virus from hell – was an exception. And Morgan? Well he was an exceptional person. Those two factors combined resulted in perhaps the only instance of Reid letting his guard down.

"Will you come to my funeral?" Morgan looked up from the book he was reading and across the room at his boyfriend who was nursing a steaming cup of tea.

"What?" Morgan asked not sure he had heard the question right.

"Will you come to my funeral? This cold is going to kill me." Reid sniffled as he took a sip of the hot drink. The liquid felt soothing against his aching throat. In all the time that the two men had known each other Morgan could count on one hand the amount of times Reid had used a hyperbole. Reid was all about numbers, statistics and facts –it was rare for him to over exaggerate like this.

"You really feel that bad?" Morgan asked putting down the book and walking over to his boyfriend.

"My body is achey, I can't breathe, my head is throbbing, it hurts to swallow anything and I feel like I can barely move." To top off the list of symptoms Derek could see the fever in Reid's eyes which gave them an almost glassy appearance. Reid suddenly felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled quickly.

"For what?" Morgan asked confused as to what Reid would be apologizing for.

"You're stuck with me. You're so strong and I'll always be weak. This is how our life always is, you taking care of me."

"Reid, where is this coming from?" he questioned.

"I don't know. I just – I don't know. Sometimes I just imagine how ashamed you must be of me..."

"Whoa, Pretty Boy, stop right there. I am not ashamed of you, how could you even say that about yourself? I am the luckiest guy in the world to have fallen in love with someone as brilliant and kind as you are. You know that I will always love you, right?"

"I guess. Yes. Sorry, it must just be this cold talking or something." Reid said as a cough attack overcame him. He changed his mind – he didn't want this attention at all, not even if it was from Morgan.

"I think this is more than just some cold." Derek placed the back of his hand lightly against Reid's forehead, "You feel warm?"

"I'm freezing."

"Well you're burning up. Let me get the thermometer." Morgan exited the room and Reid let out a shiver that he had been trying to suppress.

"I don't think that's necessary." He called out to his boyfriend.

"Of course it is." Morgan shouted from the other room as he dug through the medicine cabinet. When he found it he walked back into the living room where Reid was nervously waiting.

"Did you know the original thermometer was invented..." he wanted nothing more than to drop the entire thing. Was it too late to pretend like he wasn't feeling sick at all?

"Be quiet and let me take your damn temperature." Derek joked as he kissed Reid's cheek. He placed the thermometer under his tongue. After a few seconds the monitor let out several rapid beeps.

"Damn, Reid." Said Morgan as he read the glowing digits, "102.4, let's get you back into bed so that you can rest. We don't want to fry that genius brain of yours."

Reid half smiled knowing the older man was right – he really did need to sleep. After placing his tea on the end table Reid stood up but suddenly felt as if he were about to pass out.

"Morgan..." he mumbled barely audibly. As he felt his legs give in strong arms embraced him, keeping him upright.

"I gotcha, and I'm never letting go." Reid smiled as he leaned into the other man for support. He had never felt safer than he did in that moment. It was funny how things worked out if you let them. Maybe letting someone take care of you wasn't so bad after all.

Kind of cheesy but I hope y'all enjoyed it. Now that you've read it all you need to do is review it : )! Up next is Chapter Nine: Accident.