He placed his hand on this throat and swallowed thickly.
Riot looked shocked. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Was this some kind of colossal joke? Things were just getting worse and worse. This wasn't funny anymore. He looked at Minx questioningly as if maybe she had the answer to this cruel farce. And why did he

suddenly feel so lightheaded,as if,he was ,going to,to His knees went weak and he stumbled. He grabbed the edge of the bookshelf nearest to him just in time
Minx and Rapture rushed to him. "Are you OK?.You almost fainted"
" Oh Riot Why are you out of bed?" Minx asked dismayed " Here let me help you" Too weak to argue Riot complied. What choice did he have?
She let him put his weight on her as she led him back to bed. She tucked him in motheringly. " I bet that fictional bell is looking pretty good right now?" She smiled at their private joke.
"The first thing I am going to do is get you some tea with honey for that throat of yours"
Riot looked at her sadly unable to speak
"Now, no fretting ok? If you listen to us you will get your voice back. You will. I know how strong you are" She looked at him seriously. She had so much love for him. For this band. As The Stingers they had gone through so much together and seen each other at their best and at their worst. In the end it just made them stronger. They were thick as thieves. They were a family. She looked at Riot with a gentle sternness "But please remember no talking. At least for now."
Riot sighed heavily and nodded his agreement.
She left his bed side and went about her promised task of procuring some tea with honey. For some reason she thought the golden ingredient would have an unusually profound effect

In his room Riot lay still. He wanted to get better and yet It went against his principles to accept help. He didn't need it. Not usually. Here he was sick as a dog and was he still going to deny the assistance that his band mates had bestowed upon him? It seem inane!
He should be thankful. He was thankful.now the he realized it. It was just hard to show it sometimes. He decided right then and there to listen to everything they had to say.

At that revelation the phone rang. Rapture came bounding in the room. She picked up the phone with overwhelming eagerness. She smiled at Riot.
"Hello" she said into the receiver. " Oh! Hi Jem!"
Riot's eyes were a blaze of intense distress. It was Jem. Jem was on the phone!? Oh she cant see me like this he thought and then he realized how dumb that was. Of course she cant see me! But she cant talk to me either . I mean I cant talk to her!! Of all the times for her to call and she chooses NOW??
Rapture was about to hand the phone to Riot who looked at it forlornly when she stopped. She covered the receiver "Oopps silly me. I forgot"
Rapture was clearly enjoying the agony displayed on Riot's face. She turned back to the phone and said " I'm sorry Jem! Riot cant talk to you right now. Yes I'll let him know you called" She hung up the phone.
"That was Jem. She said to let you know she called" she flounced out the room.
He stared after her. Thinking of the billion things that he would have said to her were he well. How dare she take advantage of his weakness like this??