Chapter 12

When Carlos woke up next he was startled by a loud bang. He shot up from his pillow and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, "What was that?" He asked confusion and sleepiness evident in his voice.

He looked up to see Logan smirking down at him, "Good morning sleeping beauties,"

Even more confused now Carlos sat up trying to gather his bearings. He then remembered that he and Kendall had fallen sleep on the couch. Next to him Kendall was frowning at Logan, his hair sticking up in all directions and a very tired look planted on his face that said I-clearly-don't-like-being-woken-up. The boy looked like he had a rough night, but then again Kendall never was a morning person. He probably just wasn't happy about the impromptu wake up call.

"What time is it?" Carlos asked yawning.

"Nine," Logan replied amused heading to the kitchen.

Kendall instantly buried his head into his pillow throwing the comforter over himself, "Too early!" Was the muffled reply.

Carlos rolled his eyes, turning back to Logan. It was then he realized how he was feeling, or maybe it was how he wasn't feeling. His head was no longer throbbing, his throat barely scratchy and in all honestly he was starving. He hadn't felt this good in days. Maybe all he really did need was a good night sleep, and with Kendall sleeping next to him on the couch he was able to achieve that.

He didn't know why he had to have Kendall in the room to sleep. Every night he slept with James in the bed beside him. But something about knowing Kendall (aka Superman) was right next to him, had given him the comfort needed to get through a peaceful night sleep. Either way, he wasn't complaining.

"How are you feeling?" Logan asked as Carlos sat at the table with the future doctor.

"Honestly," Carlos said, "great actually."

Logan eyed the boy suspiciously, not believing someone could make a recovery so quickly, "Really?"

Carlos shrugged, "Yea, I mean I still have a bit of a scratchy throat and a stuffed nose. But I don't feel anywhere near as bad as before!"

Logan smiled yet concern was still in the back of his mind, "Well that's great Carlitios,"

Carlos smiled, "Now I think it's time to eat!"

Logan stood up, gesturing Carlos to sit down before he got too ahead of himself, "How about I get you some toast? You don't want to push it."

Carlos rolled his eyes, "Fine,"

Logan smirked as he got toast ready for the boy. Logan didn't know if he was being irrational, but Carlos's miraculous recovery was worrying for the future doctor. Nobody got better that quickly. Although it didn't seem like Carlos was hiding anything from him, and he was never very good at it anyway so Logan would be able to tell right away.

Still, he wasn't about to take any chances with the Latino. Carlos was the type to overestimate his body and end up right where he started.

Logan was pulled out of his thoughts when James entered the room hair perfectly cropped, tight jeans on and his famous James Diamond smile flashing across his face, "Goodmorning," he said cheerfully.

Logan frowned and handed Carlos his toast, "What's got you so chipper this morning?"

James just grinned grabbing some lucky charms from the cupboard, "What's not to be chipper about?"

"Poverty, famine, terrorism, cancer…" Logan shrugged from his chair.

James grimaced at the boys negativity pulled Logan into a hug from behind, "So very pessimistic Logan, you need to be more optimistic. The world is a beautiful place,"

He poked Logan in the side for emphasis and took a seat next to the squirming boy, "I'm a realist James, not pessimistic. Anyway, Carlos is feeling better today, I'm glad about that."

James turned his attention away from the brunette and onto the smallest, "Really? That's great, see the world is restored!"

Logan rolled his eyes, "He's not completely better James, just feeling better."

"It's the little victories that count," James smiled perfectly.

Logan almost barfed into his cereal, not knowing how much more of James's good mood his patience would allow him. Luckily for him a very grumpy, not-so-morning Kendall emerged from the couch taking a seat next to him, "Why are the morning always so…early?" he asked resting his head on the table.

Logan chuckled and Carlos replied confused, "It's not that early."

Kendall just grunted in response, "How come you guys were sleeping on the couch anyway?" Logan asked.

Before Carlos could respond with a very sheepish answer Kendall said, "I wanted to watch Spiderman, made Carlos watch it with me." He lied easily.

Logan and James however turned to Carlos smirking. Clearly it was obvious to everyone in the room why Kendall had stay in the lounge with the ill boy.

They weren't aware of the entire nightmare filled truth, but it was apparent Kendall was concerned and had stayed with the boy.

Carlos blushed deeply and went back to eating his toast, "So what's everyone got planned for today?" He asked sheepishly.

"I don't think you should be doing anything strenuous today Carlos, not yet," Logan said automatically.

"But I feel way better Loges," Carlos tried to reason, a small cough escaped his lips however and he knew there was no trying to reason now.

"Yea Logan's right, you shouldn't push yourself," James agreed.

"Definitely," Kendall concluded.

"Yea okay," He sighed defeated.

"So what do you want to do today?" Kendall asked.

Logan and James shrugged, "You guys should go out and do something!" Carlos said instantly, he didn't want his friends missing out again just because of him.

"It's okay Carlitos," James grinned, "We can watch a movie or something."

"No," Carlos said firmly, "I'm feeling heaps better today and I don't need you all here babysitting me again,"

"It's not like it's a chore," James chuckled spooning some lucky charms into his mouth.

"It doesn't matter," Carlos insisted, "Kendall can go see Jo, James can go out with sun block girl and Logan can go find Camille. I'll be fine by myself for a few hours' guys."

At three boys gave the small one a very confused and are-you-serious look, to which he just replied, "Come on. I'm not an idiot,"

As soon as he brought out the 'I' word and those big puppy I-can-take-care-of-myself eyes into the equation it was serious. Carlos didn't mind acting stupid, childish or even silly, but he didn't like being referred to as an idiot. Even if nobody said it aloud, the moment he thought he was being treated like one, things got serious.

Logan sighed frustrated but willing to compromise, "Okay, well Mama Knight and Katie have already gone shopping, so why doesn't Kendall go see Jo today like he's been dying to and you me and James hang out and play video games?"

Kendall opened his mouth, about to angrily reply to being kicked out of his own apartment and Carlos crossed his arms over his chest. This was going to be a long day.

-/-/-/-

20 minutes later they had come to a compromise. One that Logan and Carlos weren't exactly thrilled with but it was better than nothing. Somehow Carlos had managed to convince Kendall to go on a date with Jo and James to go hang by the pool, while Logan stayed home. Nobody was even sure how they had come to this conclusion due to it was all very disorganized and nobody was truly happy with it.

But Kendall was honestly dying to see Jo and James was honestly dying to see the sun. Logan however was not going to leave Carlos alone at any cost, no matter how much he really wanted to see the brunette beauty Camille.

Carlos however just wanted some peace (and his friends to not treat him like a baby) so wasn't strictly overjoyed when Logan had insisted he wanted to stay home and read his new medical book. Logan was a book worm, but Carlos wasn't stupid. Nobody in their right mind wanted to stay home and read on a beautiful sunny day in LA when they had a beautiful girl waiting for them by the pool.

Especially when they had already read that book, twice.

It was safe to say that Logan was just being frustrating. But Carlos knew when to choose his battles, and at least he had reduced three over protective friends to one.

"So, how are you feeling?" Logan asked taking a seat next to Carlos on the couch.

Carlos turned his eyes away from the TV and into the very concerned eyes of Logan. Everyone had left 20 minutes ago and Carlos decided to watch TV while Logan read in his room. Feeling the tiniest big nauseous he ignored it as he turned on sponge bob enjoying the peace. That was until Logan had decided to bother him with doctor-mode, almost burning holes into his head trying to decipher his mind.

"I feel fine Logan," Carlos sighed. That was a lie. He was feeling a bit queasier now, but he figured it was just the lack of proper food he had consumed over the past few days. Food would certainly cure this.

"Really?" Logan asked anxiously. He was worried. Carlos claimed and looked like he was fine. But Logan had this terrible feeling at the pit of his stomach he couldn't quite place. And he hated it. His stomach was tied up in knots simply because he couldn't understand how his younger friends mind was working.

He hated always having the need to over analyze everything.

"Yes," Carlos said, "Really." He added when Logan didn't look convinced.

Logan sighed defeated, "You know you can tell me anything right?"

Carlos smiled gently, "Of course I do Logie, and if something was wrong I would. You know that."

"So you're sure?"

"I'm positive," Carlos answered, "Now go read your book."

Logan sighed again, "Okay." Logan went to his room to try and focus on his book again. It wasn't like he thought Carlos was lying to him, he just wasn't sure what was going on. Maybe he was over analyzing this like he usually did. Worrying about something that didn't need to be worried about. But who could blame him? Carlos was unreliable, crazy and health-neglecting. The boy needed to be worried and fussed over and that was Logan's job. So why wouldn't he just let him? Would it really be that hard just to humor the poor doctor boy so he his mind would be at ease?

He really needed new friends he decided.

Meanwhile, back in the lounge room Carlos's stomach continued to feel weird. His coughing had slowed down to mere uncomfortable tickle in his throat and his head was barely bothering him. Now it was just his stupid stomach, but because all his other symptoms had started to get better surely this was due to something else. Right?

At least that's what Carlos told himself. How was he supposed to know he was still recovering from a terrible illness? How was he supposed to know he should still be eating crackers and toast not to upset his stomach further? How was he supposed to know he shouldn't be straining himself so much unless he wanted to end up back in bed where he originally started?

Honestly, he should have known better. Any normal person would have known better, and on top of that not every normal person have Logan breathing down there neck telling them what to do. The mini doctor may be annoying, but he was rarely wrong.

So, if Carlos was being completely honest, puking his guts out into the toilet had been a pretty avoidable state. If he had just listened to his stomach, or common sense, or more importantly Logan, he wouldn't be in this situation. But he was Carlos. He was crazy, reckless, fun and more often than not consequence-less.

After Logan had returned to his room, Carlos had made his way to the fridge. Hoping that food would fix the tight feeling in his stomach. The chocolate pudding cup that looked so deliciously inviting in the fridge, did not fix this. The only thing that it did do was make him feel worse, and puke.

Quickly he dashed to the bathroom just making it in time before his entire stomach content came out. Clearly he had overestimated his iron stomach that had proven to be not so iron all week. He had ignored the signs telling him to sit back and rest. He had completely ignored everything Logan had suggested, even though that had proven to be stupid in the past, but most prominently, he had just been plain stupid. Again.

"FML" Carlos groaned as he heaved his guts up into the white bowl, would this ever end?

"Shh, it's okay bud. Relax," A soothing voice cooed and a hand ran circles on his back. Carlos seemed to experience déjà at this situation, yet allowed the close comforting gesture nonetheless.

"Logan," Carlos whined gagging into the bowl.

"It's okay 'Los, just relax," Logan said sympathetically.

Eventually Carlos stopped throwing up and slumped tiredly against the bathtub. He groaned painfully.

"You good now?" Logan asked.

Carlos nodded his head slowly, the pain easing from his stomach.

"Good," Logan grinned, brining a bottle of water up to Carlos's lips. He drank greedily.

"I'm sorry," Carlos said softly.

Logan frowned, "For what?"

"Because I was stupid," Carlos sighed.

"You're not stupid," Logan said instantly, "Why would you think that?"

"Because you kept asking if I was alright and wanted me to take it easy but I didn't and got sick."

Logan sighed and rubbed Carlos's shoulder, "Carlos I don't think you're stupid. I just think you really want to get better and you pushed yourself a bit too much is all. It's okay Carlitos."

Carlos looked up at Logan shyly, "I didn't feel this bad this morning. I was feeling better I swear,"

Logan smiled, "I believe you. Do you feel any better now?"

"A little," He shrugged.

"Do you want to sleep?"

"No!" Carlos said, "I'm sick of sleeping,"

Logan smirked, "want to watch a movie?"

"I'm bored of doing that too,"

"What do you want to do then?" Logan asked.

Carlos thought about this for a moment and suddenly the idea dawned on him, "I want to play monopoly."

Logan laughed, personally he found monopoly frustrating and pointless. The game was ridiculously stupid and nobody ever actually played it long enough to determine a winner. For Carlos though, he'd probably play Barbies. Actually he had played Barbies with him before, they were eight and found his sisters, it's a long story his not proud of. Honestly Logan just wanted to make sure the boy was okay and monopoly was a good way to secretly monitor the boy's progress without him getting cranky for being looked after. Logan agreed, "Sure buddy,"

Carlos face instantly broke out into a massive grin and he sprinted off the ground, "You have to take it easy!" Logan reminded him.

Carlos stopped in his tracks and grinned sheepishly, "Sorry Logie,"

Logan just rolled his eyes and let Carlos set up the board game on his bed. He played monopoly with the sick boy until they both got bored of going around in board games circles, settling on watching Jurassic Park until the others returned.

1. I don't know what Lucky charms, they sound freaking disgusting.

2. Hands up if you have ever said FML aloud? I do it all the time, I really hope I'm not the only one.

Right, so anyway, its late here and I go back to school Monday (yep, shoot me? Please?) so that sucks, excuse my lack of anything witty to write. I was supposed to post this before midnight, but that just didnt happen :S But anyway, I've been writing almost every day to get this finished and BTS III started. It's for sure coming, but kind of slowly. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FINISH THIS STORY! It's completely crazy! Every time I go to finish it, another chapter comes out, it's like seriously?

Three more chapters is my max, I'm hoping only two more and to have the first of BTS III up before then. Just watch it all come together people, I swear I will not let a silly writers block/problem/story win!

Big Time Strike tomorrow guys! :D Who watched superstar! Epp, can't wait for the album!