Chapter 153: Sneezing Developments
"Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." – Pamela Vaull Starr
"If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances." – Julia Sorel
"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love." – Hubert Humphrey
"The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he has an abscess on his knee or in his soul." – Rona Barrett
Sydney woke early the next morning. She had no idea why, but perhaps it hadn't been as late as she thought when they went to bed. She smiled as she looked down at Vaughn, resting comfortably. She got off the bed and threw on her robe. 'Man, I need a shower,' she thought to herself with a smile.
She opened the door quietly and padded out to the kitchen. Will and Francie were standing in the kitchen, talking quietly.
"Hey," Will said when he saw her.
"Hi Syd," Francie added.
"Hey guys…"
"You guys musta went to bed early last night, huh? We got home and you were already in bed…"
Sydney smiled, "Ya know, I really didn't even look at the clock, but yeah, I think it was early."
Will's brow furrowed, "Mike didn't have a bad session, did he?"
"No, not at all, quite the opposite actually, it went very well."
"Aww, that's great," Francie said with a smile.
"You want some coffee?" Will asked Sydney.
"Sure, that'd be great."
He handed her the mug, "Ya know, I was gonna ask…" he started, "We thought you were still awake at first, cause the patio door was open."
"Oh shit, I forgot to shut it…" she said, a look of horror on her face, "Did you find Donovan?"
"Yeah, the fence kept him in…he was just kinda happy I think to be wandering in and out of the house."
Sydney smiled, "Well, that's good…I'm glad he didn't get out or anything…God, Vaughn would kill me…"
Will smiled, "Nah, he can't get out…he seemed really happy, but I didn't start this conversation because you left the door open…"
"Oh," Sydney said, "What then?"
He looked to Francie, who took over the questioning, producing something that was sitting on a chair, "This…is what Will was going to ask about…" she said holding up Sydney's jeans.
Sydney smiled, "Um…what about them?"
Francie smiled, "We found them outside…in a heap…thrown precariously on the ground…"
"And?" Sydney asked, on the verge of losing it completely.
Will smiled evilly, "Well…we were struck with what exactly could have occurred to create such a leftover…"
Sydney burst out laughing, "I don't think either one of you really want me to answer that…"
Francie's eyebrow rose, "Well…we could compare…"
Will's mouth fell open, a look of complete shock on his face. For a moment, he just stared at the two women and then began to fumble for words, "You aren't really…you can't…that's just…aw man…why isn't Mike awake…I could…I need to go…" he said and then walked out into the back yard.
Francie burst out into giggles, Sydney joining in, "You did that on purpose didn't you?" Sydney asked her.
Francie smiled, "Well…yeah…I saw the jeans…and thought of the perfect opportunity."
Sydney giggled, "You're so bad…"
"Yeah, he likes it…" Francie added, "I took the liberty of not letting him find these," she said holding Sydney's panties out to her.
"Thank you," Sydney said with a bashful smile.
Francie just smirked as Sydney tucked the pair into the pocket of her robe.
Will came back in suddenly, "OK!" he said, "Now, I'm not comfortable with the whole 'comparing' thing – but what the hell happened to the lawn chair?"
Sydney started to giggle again, "What do you mean?" she asked innocently.
He looked at her sideways, his head cocked to the side, "Yeah – ok first, I get the whole jeans thing – but you BROKE A CHAIR?"
Francie burst out laughing, "Did you really?"
Sydney tried valiantly to stop her laughter, but she failed completely, "I'm sorry…" she stopped, dissolving into giggles, "That was my fault…I'll get a new one…"
Will turned and walked back out, shaking his head, leaving the girls alone to talk.
Francie looked at Sydney, "Well if you broke a chair, I mean, I get why you left the jeans," she said with a wink.
Sydney smirked, "I…got a little…overzealous…"
Francie giggled along with her, "That good, huh?"
"Always is," Sydney said, not a ounce of humor in her voice.
Francie smiled, "I'm glad Sydney…that you found someone…someone so right for you…Michael's that person…"
Sydney smiled, "I know…I love him so much Francie…I don't know what I'd do without him…"
"I can tell Sydney…we all can…and he loves you too…"
Sydney smiled bashfully, "I should go check on him…"
"Ok…you want me to make breakfast?"
"Um…let me see, I'll come right back out and let you know."
"Ok," Francie said, venturing out to see Will running around with Donovan.
Sydney opened the door quietly, in case Vaughn was still sleeping. She barely had the door open when she heard a rather loud, 'ACHOO,' followed by a low groan.
She threw the door open and practically ran over to the bed, the door closing loudly as she sped over.
Vaughn jumped as he sniffled, "Jesus Sydney!" he said as he winced in pain.
She was on the bed in a second, "Are you ok?" she asked worriedly.
"Mmm…yeah, I'm ok…" he said rather unconvincingly.
She stared down at him with an accusatory glance, "You're lying to me…" she said.
He smiled, "You weren't supposed to hear that sneeze…" he said with a guilty look.
"You're sick aren't you?" she asked, but it was more of a statement. She shook her head, "I should have known better, I'm sorry Vaughn," she said getting up.
He attempted to sit up to stop her, but moved too fast, "Ow…" he said laying back down.
She immediately moved back to him, "Aww honey…Vaughn, I'm sorry…" she said, shaking her head, "Just relax…"
He reached his hand out to make her look at him, "I'm ok…I'm a little sore…and I've got a…well…a cold…but I'm ok…really…"
She had to admit he sounded convincing, "Are you telling me the truth?"
"Yes," he said, looking her straight in the eyes, jade to chocolate.
She smiled, "Ok…Francie wants to know if you're hungry…"
"Yeah, I could ea–" ACHOO! "Eat…" he said sniffling.
She shook her head, "I'm sorry…"
"Sydney, it was worth it…we broke a chair," he said with a sly grin.
"Yeah, Francie and Will already teased me about it…I'm sure it's your turn soon."
He giggled, "Can I have a Kleenex?" he asked sniffing.
She smiled, somewhat sadly, "Yeah, just a second honey," she said bounding off to the bathroom. She came back with the box and handed one to him.
He grabbed it and attempted to blow, but it didn't work very well. She smiled down at him sympathetically and grabbed another tissue, placing it by his nose, "Blow," she said.
He looked at her rather strangely, but did as she asked and blew.
She smiled, "Are you gonna be ok?"
"Yeah…cold…sore…I'm ok…really…you can make it all better later…" he said hinting.
"Ok, but we're doing it in bed," she informed him.
He smiled, "Ok."
"What would you like?"
"Mmm…do we have any oatmeal?"
She smiled, "I think we do…strawberries and cream…" she said running her hand up and down his bare chest, "I'll go check, ok?"
"Yeah, ok."
Sydney walked back out and was greeted again by Will and Francie, who had both come inside; Donovan was lying by his water dish.
Will looked at Sydney, "If you are gonna talk about comparison – I'm gonna take Donovan for a walk, just saying."
Sydney smiled, "No, Francie and I are done with that for now I think."
Francie asked, "Michael hungry?"
"He just asked for oatmeal, he's got a cold…kinda sore…I don't think we'll be doing too much today."
Will smirked, "You hurt him with the chair?"
Sydney shot him a look.
"Sorry," he said, eyes moving downcast.
Sydney moved around them to get the oatmeal packet out of the cupboard. She nuked it after grabbing the milk and waited for it to finish.
Will looked worriedly at Francie, "I'm sorry Sydney…I didn't mean to say…"
She looked over at him, "No, I'm sorry…I'm just…I have to be more careful with him…"
Will shared a sideways glance at Francie, not knowing what to say.
Sydney poured a glass of milk and a glass of orange juice, and waited a minute while she made some toast and put it all on a tray with Vaughn's pills and started to carry it into the bedroom.
Will looked at Francie, "I shouldn't have said that," he said quietly.
"You didn't know Will," she said moving over to him, wrapping her arm around him.
He shook his head, "Yeah…" They stood in the kitchen for several minutes before parting to finish getting ready for work.
Sydney came back into the bedroom and closed the door, sitting the tray on Vaughn's lap.
"Hey," he said, noticing something off, "You ok?" he asked.
She smiled, "Yeah…I'm ok…I just…I'm really sorry…I have to be more careful with you…this is all my fault – I should have taken you inside."
Vaughn looked at her seriously, "I wanted it just as much as you did…this is not a 'you' did this – this is a 'we' did this…ok?"
"Well I was–"
"Sydney," he said cutting her off, "Don't…I'm not letting you do that…ACHOO!"
She smiled and had to giggle, "That's really convincing since you sneezed after." She gave him a spoonful of oatmeal.
"Mmm…that's really good – you should have a bite."
She smiled and took one, "Yes, it is – I make a mean bowl of oatmeal…I made toast too – aren't I just Holly Homemaker?"
He smiled, "Quite."
She fed him another bite and gave him his juice and pills as well.
He took the pills and looked up at her, "Can we take a bath?" he asked.
"Sure honey," she replied smiling at him, "Maybe that'll help your cold…and the muscles…"
He nodded; then added, "Can we take a shower?"
She looked at him dumbfounded, "Um…do you think you can stand for a shower?"
"Well…I have been standing more…"
"I know baby…I just…don't want you to hurt yourself more…" she smiled down at him, "If you think you can do it…we'll give it a try…"
"Yeah, I wanna try…if you help…I think we can…"
"Ok," she said nodding, "Let's finish up, then we'll try the shower…"
"Ok," he said accepting another spoonful from her.
