COMMANDER FERAL'S PRIVATE LIFE II
A collection of little vignettes about Feral's off time. Hope you enjoy them.
#2 STUFFY HEAD
'Oh God!' He moaned as he reached for yet another tissue. A small pyramid of them were crumpled on the bed beside him. He blew his nose hard but it didn't have any effect on his impacted sinuses. He was miserable. It began with a small headache late yesterday and had turned into a full blown pounding ache between his ears and a stuffy nose.
He was supposed to hold a special meeting of his staff this morning and he could barely get out of bed. Groaning again, he pushed the covers off scattering the used tissue like snow onto the floor. Padding to the bathroom he turned on the shower. He hoped a hot shower and the steam might help clear his head. He took some aspirin before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped a little as did the steam. But by the time he was dry and trying to dress the benefits of the shower were wearing off. The aspirin only barely eased the throbbing in his head.
He was very tempted to say forget it and crawl back into bed but he persevered and pushed himself out the door and into his vehicle. Traffic was snarled only adding to his misery so that by the time he finally got to his office he was barely able to function. His niece found him with his head resting on his arms, his breathing noisy and punctuated by an occasional loud sniff, followed by a moan of misery.
"Oh Uncle, you sound awful. Got a real winner of a head cold, huh?" She said sympathically and shaking her head at his stubbornness.
He raised his head and looked at her blearily. He couldn't remember when he'd been so sick before. Taking a good look at her uncle's reddened eyes and swollen face, she tightened her jaws, marched up to his chair and tugged him up. "You are going to the infirmary and I am not going to take no for an answer." She said firmly as she literally dragged her unwilling Uncle to the medical wing. Swaying on his feet, his head pounding fiercely, he still tried to object to Felina's treatment when he was interrupted by a violent sneeze.
"Ohh, now that sounds really bad, Commander." A nurse said and proceeded to tug him down the hall to a treatment room. "Now you come along with me and we will have the doctor check you out right away." She gently shoved the reluctant Commander onto an exam table. A moment later a doctor swept in.
"Well we certainly don't look very good. Let's just take a peek shall we." The doctor said as he began his examination. "You have a very bad sinus infection Commander. We need to get you started on some antibiotics right away and then you are confined to bed rest for at least four days. No argument." The doctor said firmly, very familiar with the Commander's hatred of being confined.
"You rest for the moment. I'll get what you need and Lt you should take him home immediately, no driving for him. He needs plenty of clear liquids and some chicken soup would be beneficial." The doctor ordered. Felina nodded and made a list of what she needed to stop at the store for after she got her uncle situated back in bed.
With meds in paw and a barely functioning Commander in one arm, Felina moved her uncle along as fast as he was able, to her car. He'd long since ceased arguing since the medication he'd been given was already making him drowsy. It took a great deal of effort but Felina managed to get her uncle up to his apartment, undressed and back to bed.
She made a quick trip to the store and picked up the things he needed to help him get better. When she returned to his apartment and put the things into the fridge, she wondered if she should make soup before she left. She walked into his bedroom and found her uncle sound asleep. Sighing she decided to leave a bottle of gatorade next to the bed and would return later to make her uncle some soup.
When woke around evening, he was feeling a little better though still stuffy. He blinked in surprise when he saw Felina walk in with a tray.
"Hi, Uncle! How are you feeling now?" She asked as she set the tray down and helped him sit up.
"A little better. What are you doing here?" He said raspily, his voice hoarse.
"There's no way you would be able to get up and eat something so I stopped by to make you some soup and see that you take your meds. Now try to eat all of it and here is your evening meds." She smiled at his grouchy demeanor. She hated being ill too and wasn't a very good patient. They made quite a pair and the bane of the medical profession.
She stayed by his side while he ate and brought him up to date. She had called the staff and rescheduled the cancelled meeting for next Monday, cleared the reports from his desk and stocked his fridge with gatorade.
"You should be feeling much better by tomorrow and be well by the end of the week. I'll hold down the fort for you until you get back. You just rest and try not to fret about work." Felina admonished her uncle as she took the tray and tidied up. She wished her uncle a good night's rest and locked up on her way out.
Feral was secretly pleased at the care his niece had given him. His stomach felt warm and full and his head was not pounding as much. Sighing, he slipped down into his covers and was soon fast asleep.