Chapter Three: Do Not Go Gently

Mandark glared at the wall in his and Dexter's master bedroom at the villa, completely and utterly annoyed. He had fully lost his faculty of speech through the night, and was now helpless, and unable to even utter a murmur. He was dressed in a pair of his favorite N.A.S.A pajamas, snuggled comfortably in the bed he usually shared with Dexter.

The only other thing wrong with this picture was that the girls were on watch duty…

Mandark sighed silently.

"You ok, Mandark?" Bubbles asked, starting to hover over to the bed.

Mandark twitched heavily, gritting his teeth. Yes. He was fine. Unable to talk and spiking a 102 degree fever…..but fine.

"Do you need anything?" Blossom asked.

"A swift kick in the head….Idiot got himself sick…." Buttercup muttered, mockingly smirking at the sick genius.

"Buttercup!"

"He did!"

Mandark started to shake.

"He couldn't help it!"

"Could so! He's a genius!"

Finally, as the fight between the girls escalated, he silently exploded, losing what little patience he had tried to keep.

His mouth moved angrily, and he flailed his arms, silently screaming at the girls to leave.

Since he made no noise, they kept it up.

His anger rose, and finally, a jet of flame separated the quarrelling trio, leaving them all dumbfounded, staring wide eyed at the scorch mark on the wall behind them.

"Eep."

All three heads turned to look at the bed, where Mandark glared, magic frothing from eyes a bit as he cooled down. The flailing and gestures continued.

While the tirade commenced, Blossom's gaze turned from startled, to contemplating as she watched the flailing turn into deliberate motions. Blossom blinked. "Did…..did you just do sign language…?" she asked, watching as the wild gestures changed to more pronounced deliberate ones.

Without thinking, Mandark signed, "Yes", angrily.

The girls blinked.

"Anyone get that?" Buttercup asked.

"It's Sign Language…. But I don't understand it…." Blossom added.

"Let's get the Professor! Maybe he can translate!" Bubbles exclaimed, pushing the others out the door with her so they could all go ask.

Mandark sighed, slumping back into the bed, exhausted, calming down from the annoyance high, and slamming his fists down into the bed below him.

~*~*~* =(^3^)= *~*~*~

Dexter jolted in his seat on the living room couch when a roar erupted from his and Mandark's bedroom.

"What the heck was that!" Dexter gasped, standing up.

Mr. Green had jolted upright from where he was huddled over the texts that he and Dexter had been going over.

"It was magic….I can feel the ebb. I thought we told him not to resort to that….." Green mused, turning an eye on Dexter.

The Professor shot into the living room from the kitchen. "What was that!"

"I think the girls may have-"

Green was cut off as the three super-heroines zipped out of the bedroom, and into the living room.

"Professor!"

"Girls! What did you do! I told you to not pester Mandark!"

The girls shrank back, mollified by the tone in their father's voice.

"But he's signing something….And we can't understand….." Bubbles whined, gathering her courage to move in front of the other two girls.

Dexter blinked. "Signing?...Your sure?"

"I didn't know Mandark could perform Sign Language…"Utonium mused.

Dexter shrugged. "Neither did I…But I do know someone who can translate….."

"Who?" Green asked.

"Ben…..His girlfriend had a deaf teacher once, and she taught him how to sign."

Mr. Green chuckled. "Poor Mandark….I think his patience is wearing a little too thin to take up Ben as a translator…."

Dexter made a face, agreeing silently. "…..Yeah….I bet he is…..But having someone to help him talk would be a welcome thing…."Dexter muttered, thinking of what Mandark may do to Ben.

"I think it's worth the try…Where is Ben now?" Utonium asked, moving to snatch up some medicines for Mandark to take. "I better get Mandark some medicine….He can't be feeling good after that outburst…."

The girls caught the glare that the Professor had shot them over his shoulder, and they chorused, "Sorry, Professor….."

Dexter thought over the schedule the Metamorph had on his plate, and finally gasped happily. "Ben should be on minor watch not too far away from here…."

"Good….See if he can spare some time…."

Dexter nodded, and clicked a button on his watch, activating the multi-com he had recently installed in the thing. "Ben…?...Hey, Ben….You there?"

The com fizzled and crackled for a second, then let a voice boom through. "Yeah, dude….I'm here….How's Mandark?"

"He's actually not doing too well….But he's somehow figured out how to sign….Do you think a few days off are in order?" Dexter reasoned, smirking as Ben let out an excited "whoop" on the other side of the com-connection.

"Heck Yeah! Days off! You guys are at the villa right?...I'm just up the road, and I can get there in about five minutes…"

Dexter chuckled. "Sounds great, Ben…..Hurry….I'm eager to understand my boyfriend's thoughts again….."

Ben snickered. "I gotcha….. Just hold on a bit, and I'll translate for you guys….Ben, Out."

The com fizzled again, leaving Dexter smiling. "Good….He's on his way, father…"

Utonium smiled. "Alright…I'll wait until Ben arrives to get Mandark medicated….It'll be easier if we can figure out what is wearing off…What type of tea does he like, Dexter?"

"Jasmine is his favorite…" Dexter said automatically.

"Jasmine it is….I'll be back in a few minutes…" Utonium stated before he disappeared into the kitchen again.

Dexter smiled, shutting his books. "I think that I should play referee between Ben and Mandark….."

"Sounds like a plan…..We'll continue here later….Just try and keep Mandark at ease…..Using magic isn't good for him while he's this sick….." Mr. Green mused, helping clear the coffee table of the papers.

"I better check on him before-"

Knock. Knock.

"…Ben gets here….I'll let him in….." Dexter said, finishing up on the interrupted train of thought.

Plodding over to the door, Dexter opened it to reveal Ben, smiling his happy ass off.

"Thanks for saving me from Decon-Duty….." Ben said gratefully, stepping over the threshold.

Dexter smirked. "As long as you help with Mandark, consider us even, Ben."

"Of course….I still feel like crap for not noticing he wasn't up to snuff earlier…." Ben mused, tilting his head closer to his shoulder in a half-shrug.

Dexter nodded. "Guess how I feel…"

"Worse…..He IS your boyfriend, dude….I'd feel like you if Julie was in this situation…" Ben said, a gentle, yet worried, grin on his lips.

Dexter returned the smile, leading Ben to the Master Suite, followed closely by a tea and medicine laden Professor Utonium.

Dexter shushed the two behind him. "I have no clue if Mandark's awake still…..And we heard an explosion from this way just a few seconds ago…"

Ben made a face. "Yikes…"

"We think the girls we're pestering him inadvertently….." Utonium mumbled.

"Kay…..Quiet. Got it!" Ben said, setting his eyes on the door.

"Good….." Dexter waited for few seconds more, then slowly opened the door. "Mandark…? Love… Are you alright? ..."

A sound similar to a low grunt was the only noise that came from the darkness of the room beyond, so Dexter ventured further in.

Mandark was indeed in the bed, snuggled deep into the silk sheets, laying on his side, his comforter long since abandoned to its exile on the floor. His cheeks were ruddy with fever, eyes darkened by lack of sleep. He looked as if his eyes could bore holes in walls at that very moment, magic still lightly seeping from the corners, almost like tears.

"Very sick….and very annoyed….." Utonium thought, venturing closer to the bed.

Ben inched away from the wall, staring at the deep score that the fireball had caused.

Dexter had seen the mark, and gently scolded his boyfriend. "Mandark…..You shouldn't use your magic….It may be keeping you from getting better…" Dexter chided lovingly, pulling a chair over to the bed from the vanity.

Mandark half-glared, the magic dissipating, and signed away.

Ben smiled. "He says…He's sorry, and that he couldn't help it….Woah. Slow down, a bit…."

Mandark glared, and slowed his movements, after flipping the Metamorph off.

Ben couldn't hold back the laugh. "Don't need signing to get that one. Sorry….It's just that you are very good…And I couldn't keep up…..So….Ok. He says that the girls were bickering, and that he just wanted the noise to stop…."

"O, Mandark…..I'm so sorry that you can't catch a break, and the girls didn't mean to annoy you….Have you not slept since the Codeine yesterday?" Dexter sighed, patting his lover on the shoulder.

Mandark smiled, then signed slowly, looking to Ben to translate.

Ben smiled wide. "He says that he loves you, and that he didn't mean to worry you…And he says that he's certainly tried."

"Oh, Mandark…We'll get you some Codeine to help you sleep…Alright?" Dexter cooed.

Here, Mandark spotted the tea that the Professor had set on the bedside table, and he grimaced, shaking his head pointedly.

"What's wrong?" Utonium asked.

Mandark signed to Ben desperately, motioning to his throat part way through his words.

"He said that his throat has been killing him, and that he doesn't think that he can handle tea….." Ben sighed. "You sure look like you feel like crap…"

Dexter agreed, and smoothed Mandark's hair back from his eyes. "You feel hot to the touch as well…..Your fever probably went back up…"

Mandark nodded, signing.

"He feels like shit…" Ben stated, translating.

"I bet….But don't you fret, my boy….I have a slew of medicines for you to take that will make you feel infinitely better…And then we'll try some tea with honey….Alright? Think that you could try for me after some medicine?" the Professor asked, trying to strike a deal with the ill genius.

Mandark nodded a bit, his hands moving a little, his movements sluggish and clumsy compared to the deliberate movements and flourishes he was portraying a moment previous.

"He's ok with that…..Says he'll try….." Ben translated.

Dexter and Utonium shared a worried glance.

It was Dexter that broke the awkward silence after a few moments, asking: "Mandark….Are you alright…..?"

Mandark looked up, the bite taken out of him. His pupils shook in their sockets, keeping his already blurred vision hazed.

Dexter gasped, knowing that symptom immediately, and he dreaded what was about to happen.

"Mandark….Are you dizzy..?" Dexter asked.

A nod, and Dexter rose to his feet.

"Ben we need a bu-"

"Professor…..Mandark has never thrown up before….."

The interruption widened the Professor's eyes. Then he turned back to Ben. "Bucket and a cool cloth…Now!"

Ben jumped, startled into swift action as he darted out into the hall….even if he had no clue where anything was in Mandark's villa.

Utonium moved to the bed, cupped Mandark's pale face, and looked into his eyes. "Mandark….Buddy…Try to focus on me…..Maybe we can avoid this whole business. Breathe…"

Mandark nodded, and took in a shuddering breath, but it was the spark that ignited the reaction, and Mandark's pupils turned to pinpricks on a field of hazy blue. His hand shot to his mouth, a shudder running through his body.

"BEN!" Utonium snapped, helping Mandark to sit upright on the bed.

But, it was Green who was in the room in a flash, pressing a small basin into the Professor's hand, a cool cloth at the ready.

"Easy…easy….Into this…"the Professor stated, helping Mandark to hunch over the small basin, putting his hand over the small of the boys back.

The tremors hit full force, and Mandark let out a terrified whimper as his body lurched.

His hands flew into automatic action, trying to sign to the others in the room.

Ben had stayed at the door. Cringing, he translated. "S.O.S. …. Hurts….. Make it stop…. He also keeps emphasizing the word "Please"…"

Utonium yanked Mandark gently into his lap while the boy was still convulsing, and not heaving, and pulled him tight to his chest. "Easy…..easy….."

Then, even through his horribly swollen esophagus, Mandark was able to start heaving, bringing up the bile that was the only contents of his empty stomach. The acid burned into the infected tissue of his throat as it went, the pressure expanding the already flared flesh farther. Tears sparkled in his eyes, and with each heave, came a silent sob.

Dexter joined Utonium up on the bed, and snuggled as close to the pair as he could get, petting through Mandark's hair to calm his lover's breathing, which was rapid, and thin. "We've got you…Get it all up…" Dexter soothed, trying to keep himself calm while calming his boyfriend as well.

Green passed the towel to Dexter. "Wipe down his face….." he whispered quietly.

Dexter nodded, and slowly pressed the cool cloth gently to Mandark's neck, which caused a deep shudder to ripple through his sobbing lover's body. But, it was a welcome thing to the ill teenager, and he nuzzled into the chest in front of his body.

The Professor didn't mind in the least, and picked up a cup."Kilroy…Do you think you can get me a bit of water for Mandark to rinse his mouth out?"

Green smiled, taking the cup. "I'll only be a moment….."

Utonium returned the smile. "Thank you….We'll try and calm him down….."

Dexter leaned close to Mandark, whispering sweet nothings into his ear while he dabbed at the sweat on his brow and cheeks. "….Do you want the Soma, love..?"

Mandark nodded, thick tears still streaming down his face. He managed to sign something as he slumped into the Professor a bit.

Ben caught it, and relayed the message. "He said…"Not. Fun."….."

Utonium fumbled for the needle on the bedside table that had the Soma in it, and once he had his hand upon it, lifted it up to Mandark's neck. With the local anesthetic at the ready, he shushed Mandark gently. "Easy….Just a second longer…"

He swiftly injected the medicine into his charge's neck, and waited until the tremors started to stop.

Mandark's body started to suddenly relax as a major source of his pain suddenly started to ebb away and his body became heavy. He slumped heavily onto the Professor now, completely spent.

"Better…?" Dexter asked, eyeing Mandark for any changes, wiping the tears away from Mandark's eyes.

Mandark nodded gratefully, leaning into Dexter's cool, uncovered hands as he soothed away the saline leaking from the corners of his fever bright eyes.

"Think you want to try the Phenegran and Codeine?" Utonium tried.

Mandark again nodded, much to everyone's delight.

"Great…..Good job, Mandark….It'll only hurt for a second…..I promise…." Utonium soothed as he went to grab the second needle he had prepared. This one had Phenegran with a Codeine chaser mixed in to it.

It was quick, but FAR from painless. The cocktail surged up Mandark's arm, through his veins and up into his system. And even though the pain was less in intensity, it reduced the usually stoic Monarch of Darkness to a shivering heap atop the Professor's lap.

"Easy….easy….." Utonium stated, lifting Mandark up a bit so that he could maneuver him onto the heap of pillows that Dexter was currently fixing up for him.

Mr. Green was beside the bed only moments after the exchange, offering Mandark a full cup of water, and an empty plastic cup to spit the swill into.

Mandark gratefully took a sip of the cool liquid, and swished it around his mouth, thankful for the complete numb that had encompassed the area he was moving. Spitting out the liquid, he took a careful sip of the water, this time swallowing carefully. When no pain answered his caution, he took more, swallowing all he could, while he could, much to Utonium's delight.

"Tea? ..." Dexter queried, motioning over to the table.

Mandark gave him a lopsided grin as the numbness started to flow into his limbs, making him feel heavy and tired. A short nod was the only answer that he could muster through the haze.

Dexter and Utonium shared a proud grin.

"Good to hear….Here you go…..Take careful sips…..It's still hot…" the Professor warned, handing Mandark a steaming mug of Jasmine Tea.

Mandark took the cup into his hands, cupping it carefully so he didn't spill the liquid within. He drank it hot, reveling at the comforting warmth and fuzziness it gave to his over-tired body, and purring gently to convey that comfort.

"Feels good, huh?" Ben noted, smiling.

Mandark nodded, and attempted to sign an answer.

"I feel much better now…..Thank you…." Ben translated for everyone present. "No prob….Glad that you feel better …A bit is better than none at all, right?"

Utonium nodded, agreeing. "You're the one that's sick, Mandark…There is no need to thank us…You're family, and miserable…..The only good thing to do is to make you as comfortable as possible, and sooth away any horrid feeling in your abused body…."

Mandark smiled. Signing, he stared at the Professor.

Ben translated the two word statement. "He's honored…"

Utonium snorted. "So formal, even when you're sick as a dog…."

Dexter shared in the mirth, laughing a little. "Born and bred into him, I suppose…..

Mandark sneered, and signed a bit.

"He says that it's his Grandma's fault…..Japanese culture and traditions do that to a person….." Ben passed on. "Dude…You're Japanese?"

Dexter answered. "He's one fourth Japanese…..His Grandma is full blooded, and dotes on Mandark when she can."

"Dude. Julie's Japanese…You need to help me get a bit more traditional so I can show of-….I mean…. Impress…her parents…." Ben stated, goofing up a bit half way through his tirade.

Mandark tried not to laugh, so as to not shake his state of comfortable-numbness, and stated that he was fine with helping him through a flourish of hand-movements.

Ben smirked, pumping his fist. "Thanks dude!"

"None of this until you're a bit better off…..I have one last thing…Do you think that you could hold out for a bit and try to eat a bit of soup..? I made it up earlier… before Benjamin joined us." Utonium asked, taking a seat nearby after standing up from the mattress.

Mandark's now empty stomach churned, but it growled as well, causing Mandark to shrug an answer.

"Think you could try?..." Dexter asked, scooting closer, wrapping his arm around Mandark's frame, resting his wrist on his side.

Mandark's cheeks flushed over a bit deeper from the close contact, and he nodded instantly.

Giving Dexter a wry look, Utonium nodded. "Good to hear….I'll be right back…"

Utonium stood and departed the pleasant company that had somehow seeped into the large master suite of the villa.

Dexter nuzzled Mandark lovingly. "You did well…Does your stomach feel any better?"

Mandark hummed, laying back in his comfort, just basking in it where he was.

Dexter took that as an affirmative, leaning close. "Good. I'm glad….I hope this doesn't continue, for you. I don't want to see you in that pain again, love…" Here, he gently cupped Mandark's cheek, smiling worriedly as he turned Mandark's head to look his way.

Mandark's smile remained plastered, and if anything, it widened outward. His fingers twisted into three symbols, clumsy, but perfectly understandable.

I LOVE YOU.

Dexter smiled happily, tiny tears appearing at the corners of his baby blues.

"I love you, too…." Dexter murmured, snuggling close, reveling silently in the fact that he was a carrier of Mono, and was essentially immune to what was ailing Mandark.

Ben, who had a mild case of the disease when he was younger, was also immune.

"Soooo…Away from the mushy….." Ben stated, trying to redirect the conversation.

The half-glare that Mandark mustered was still menacing enough to stop the brunette from continuing on that line.

Green smirked. "I think it is sweet…..And much needed…..You boys have had far too little interaction with others for my taste."He shrugged, venturing closer to the bed.

"Mandark and I have plenty of friends!" Dexter defended.

"Not counting family and co-workers….." Green countered, smirking.

Dexter pouted. "Ben, Nigel, Edd, Douglas…."

Green sighed."Ok, so you've improved, but what about Mandark?..."

Mandark pointed to Ben, then to Dexter and Green. Finally, he added the Professor, the girls, and Nigel to that short list via sign language.

Green nodded. "How long?..." he challenged.

Mandark pouted, sank down into the covers, and signed away.

"Yikes….He says only within the past year…" Ben mumbled. "Sorry. If I had known….ya know….You're pretty cool!"

Mandark huffed, smiling.

Thanks.

"You're welcome, dude!"

Dexter and Green exchanged looks.

"Um, Ben….?" Dexter asked.

Ben turned. "Yeah?..."

"Mandark didn't sign anything….."

Ben blinked.

He hadn't?

….

HE HADN'T!

Mandark blinked. His hands had gone to sleep, and he was too tired to move. How had Ben known he had thanked him?

How..?

Ben, Green, and Dexter all shared a sharp gasp. They had heard him that time.

"Say it again….." Green queried.

Mandark gave him a confused look.

I didn't-

"You're using telepathy…" Dexter mouthed in awe. "I….I thought you forgot how to do that in fourth grade!"

Mandark shrugged, utterly confused at this point.

I…..I did…..

~*~*~* =(^3^)= *~*~*~

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