CHAPTER 3- SETH & REST

The rest of the afternoon went by fairly quietly for Ryan and Kristen. Ryan fell asleep almost immediately once Kristen got him settled in the guest room. She had given him Motrin before allowing him to sleep but otherwise had just been checking in throughout the afternoon. It was now about 4:00 and she was expecting Seth home soon. She had asked the school to give him a note explaining Ryan had gone home sick and he needed to catch a ride home from a friend. Sure enough the sound of the door opening met her ears a few minutes later.

"Mom?" Called out Seth.

"In the Study?"

The sound of sneaker son the tile marked his journey to her.

"How is Ryan?"

"Resting. The doctor thinks it's that flu bug making its rounds about town. Your dad is bringing home a prescription along with dinner from Jason's Deli."

"Cool. I'll be in my room if you need me. I won't bother him unless he asks."

"Sounds good."

As it turned out bothering him wasn't going to be a problem because right as Seth reached the top of the stairs he noticed Ryan leaning on the wall outside of the guest room.

"Yo bro what you doing? You look like if that wall didn't have your back you'd be a puddle on the floor."

"Bathroom." Ryan rasped clearly worn out.

"Got ya. Let me help." Seth replied immediately grabbing his brother and friends arm and leading him slowly across the hall.

"Thanks." Ryan said. "I got it from here."

"Okay but just to be safe I think I'll wait outside the door to help with the return trip. Holler or in your case croak if you need something."

"Funny" Ryan muttered as he kicked the door closed.

Meanwhile Kristen had made her way up the stairs. "Seth was that Ryan's voice I heard? I thought you were going to leave him alone?"

"Hey jumping the gun there a bit super mom. I saw him trying to get to the bathroom and was being a gentleman offering to help."

"I'm sorry Seth I should have known. I'm just worried for him. He's never been sick like this with us before."

"I know mom. He looks awful."

The sound of a flushing toilet and water in the tap interrupted any further discussion they were planning on and soon the door opened to reveal a disheveled looking Ryan.

"I can hear you through the door you know." He muttered before breaking into a brief coughing fit. Kristen grabbed his arm to steady him through the ordeal.

"Oh Ryan we know. We're just concerned. Let's get you back to bed. You sound worse than before. I can't wait for Sandy to get home so we can start you on your meds. In the meanwhile let me take your temperature and give you your next dose of Motrin."

"I can do it myself."

"I know you can but forgive me for wanting to be there- I know you. You have a tendency to downplay things and I don't want to be playing catch up to any of your symptoms."

"Whatever." Ryan mumbled as he climbed back into bed immediately pulling the covers to his chin in an attempt to get warm.

"Can I get another blanket its freezing?"

"I'm sorry sweetheart but the doctor said not to cover you up to much while your fever's high it will just make things worse."

"Fine." He said sadly.

Kristen stuck the ear thermometer into his ear and waited. After the beep she glanced at it and frowned.

"What is it?" Seth asked.

"It's up to 103. I was hoping it would go down."

"Don't worry I run high and the other pills have worn off. I'll be fine. I just need sleep."

"It's a mom's job to worry Ryan and normal or not 103 is not fine. Here are your pills. Try and get some rest. I'll wake you when Sandy gets home with dinner and meds."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know but remember the doctor said you need to take the antibiotic with food otherwise it will upset your stomach and I think you have had enough of that already today."

"Ewe" Seth said dramatically "too much details for me on that note I'm going to my room I don't want any of these germs."

Ryan gave a half- hearted wave as Seth left. He then looked over at Kristen to notice her plugging something in by his bed.

"What's that?" He croaked praying it wasn't what it looked like.

"A monitor. I want you to be able to call for me if you need anything."

"I'm not a baby." Ryan said showing his frustration.

"I know. But you're going to have to deal with it. I do this to Seth too. You guys will always be my babies."

Sensing that this was another fight he couldn't win Ryan decided to let it drop, but hell would freeze over before he ever planned on using that thing. He'd been taking care of himself for the majority of his 15 years of life and some flu bug wasn't about to make him totally dependent on others. At the same time it felt sort of nice to know she cared. With that parting though Ryan once more drifted into needed sleep.