A/N: I have let this s/l go into hiatus for quite a while now...things have happened in my life that have made this s/l rather difficult to write...but I owe it the readers... and to myself...to finish this story...and so I will. I hope you enjoy it.
Will was in his Grandma Marlena's living room, pacing. He had his phone out and, as each leg went in front of the other, and as he swerved and turned to avoid furniture and walls, his fingers twitched. The medication he was taking was still making him antsy, and he was feeling very sore in a certain nether-region but these weren't the only reasons why he felt very twitchy. He really wanted to phone Sonny, so much. But he couldn't allow himself to do that, not yet. Sonny was only ten minutes late. This shouldn't be the end of the world; except for the fact that Sonny was never late, at least not without calling, and telling Will that he would be late.
Sonny was supposed to come over that afternoon so that they could relax and cuddle together. They both had started their downturn in their chemo cycle where their bodies were extremely vulnerable to infections and disease because their immune systems were at their lowest point.
It had been a close call just two days ago when Sonny had last come over. Will and Sonny were spending time together cuddled on the couch resting, when all of a sudden the front door swung open and Will's younger siblings ran in, followed very closely by Sami Brady. Allie and Johnny ran over to two rather startled individuals, who were obviously not expecting any company and whose hands disentangled from one another just in time to each catch an airborne Will-sibling; although catching was probably not the word to use in either case, since chemotherapy has a tendency to zap the strength out of anyone; so, collision prevention is probably a more apt description.
Sami strode in with a somewhat apologetic expression on her face.
"Sorry to drop in unannounced, guys. But Allie and Johnny wanted to see their big-brother and meet his new friend in person. I knew you would be resting but I didn't think you would mind a brief visit."
Will had smiled at that point. Although his mother had improved significantly in the last week or so, she was still the pushy Sami that he had grown to love. Will knew that his mother was very worried about him. He also knew that she wouldn't let a little thing like Will wanting some privacy, a private moment with his boyfriend, to stop her from making any excuse to check up on him.
"Mom…I explained to you that there is a cycle that Sonny and I are going through. I'm feeling awful right now…and really tired. Can we please make this a really quick visit?"
Will could tell that his mother was grappling with saying something, probably something snarky, when a loud sneezing sound was heard right next to him. As Will turned he felt something wet hit his face. He also witnessed his little brother Johnny sneeze once more right in Sonny's face.
Will couldn't help himself as he jumped up, startled, and as a result, became rather dizzy and fell back onto the couch. Needless to say, the visit hadn't lasted very long after that. The children were rushed out with Sami Brady mouthing "Sorry." Will and Sonny both laid back on the couch and quickly forgot about the incident as they fell asleep in each other's arms.
The doorbell interrupted Will's reverie. He sighed and was looking forward to hugging and possibly kissing Sonny, if Sonny was feeling up to it today; Will certainly was. But he was unfortunately very disappointed. Standing in the doorway was Justin Kiriakis, who was looking slightly ragged and, having seen Will was also quite relieved.
"Good. You seem fine. Will get your coat and things, we need to go to the hospital. Sonny collapsed this morning and you may not be far behind."
Will was too stunned to react. He quickly got his med-day bag and a sweater and allowed himself to be led out of the apartment.
Sonny was in bed in his hospital room. He had woken up after collapsing in front of his mother. He had been trying to go to the washroom, even though he had not been feeling well at all for at least a day. He had developed a fever and should have called his doctors right away, but he hoped that it would pass. It hadn't. It had gotten worse; so much so that he hadn't been able to eat anything. His doctors had told him that this was most likely the reason why he had collapsed.
Adrienne had been furious at him. She wanted to know why he had hidden his fever from his family. Sonny had an inkling that Will's little brother must have transmitted something to him when he had been coughed on, but he hadn't wanted to tell his mother this because he was afraid of how she would react. But his doctors needed to know and Adrienne refused to leave the room.
Sure enough, Adrienne had exploded into an anti-Sami, anti-Will tirade that lasted quite a few minutes. The doctors actually forced her out of Sonny's room because it had been abundantly clear that he was reacting badly to her tirade. This made the situation even worse; Adrienne did not stop her fury for at least twenty minutes.
Although Justin and Sonny could still hear Adrienne's tirade they were still able to concentrate on what the doctor was telling them. Sonny had an influenza infection and a bacterial infection most likely brought on by contact with a young child. Sonny then confessed to his doctor that the most likely culprit had been Will's little brother Johnny. Sonny's eyes suddenly got very wide with concern. The doctor and Justin both noticed Sonny's change and asked what was wrong.
"What about Will? Is he okay? I talked to him yesterday. I was supposed to visit him today. I need to call him to see if he's okay."
The doctor expressed his opinion that it would probably be a good idea to make sure that Will Horton was okay, but that Sonny should remain calm. The hospital staff would take care of it. Justin could see that Sonny was not satisfied with this response…at all. Justin was well aware that Sonny's next move would probably be to get out of bed and run to Will's apartment himself. He told Sonny, and the doctor, that he would go over to Will Horton's himself and bring Will back to the hospital for a check-up.
Sonny, who had been extremely tense since his mother had started her tirade, began to relax. Well that was until he heard his mother's voice screaming.
"Justin! Where are you going?!...What do you mean you are going to see if Will Horton is okay?! I don't care if that is what Sonny wants! What Sonny has wanted has landed him in the hospital! It's Will Horton's fault (!)...Fine! Go! But I forbid him to come here! He's probably infectious ! He's going to kill my son!"
Sonny was about to protest. But the doctor had anticipated his reaction and had given him a sedative. Sonny tried to fight it, but he reluctantly drifted off to sleep.
Justin brought Will to the Cancer ward. They had been able to breeze through Emergency and the Admitting process because Sonny's doctor, who also happened to be Will's doctor, had called ahead. It also helped that Will's aunt was the hospital's Chief of Staff.
Justin had explained to Will, during the brief car ride that Sonny had spiked a fever and that it looked as if he had been infected with some type of flu. Upon hearing this, Will became very agitated. Justin knew that Will's reaction was both out of concern for Sonny but also augmented by the medications he was on. He reassured Will that Sonny was going to be okay; in fact, it was Sonny that had asked him to come and get Will because Sonny wanted to make sure that Will was okay.
Will calmed down after hearing this. Justin was grateful because he knew, because of doctors' warnings regarding Sonny's condition, that severe emotional outbursts could do serious harm to someone going through this type of chemotherapy; heart-attacks, seizures, or even strokes were very rare, but not unheard of.
It was Justin's intention to bring Will to Sonny. That, however, did not materialize straight away. Firstly, the doctors intercepted Will and were adamant that Will not visit Sonny until Will was thoroughly examined. Justin took the doctors aside and pleaded on Will's behalf; the doctors compromised; they would allow Will to visit with Sonny if Will wore a mask. And so Will did. But then Adrienne intercepted them. She stood in the corridor that led to Sonny's room like a sentinel. She was bound and determined to not let anyone that she deemed unworthy to pass; and Will was at the top of her list at the moment, as was her husband Justin Kiriakis, to whom she addressed rather harshly.
"How could you bring him here? The person responsible for your son being so sick…"
She then looked at Will; and Will knew what was coming. She hated him like she hated his mother. She blamed him for the state her son was in. Will couldn't blame her. He blamed himself almost as much. But he needed to see her son…his Sonny. He needed to know that Sonny would be okay. He would do anything for Sonny to be okay, for Sonny to live and be happy…even if it couldn't be with him. He knew that he needed to let Adrienne flail at him; and if he survived her attacks, just maybe he could see Sonny. And so he waited. He did not have to wait for long.
"I could kill you where you stand…You did this to my son! If he hadn't met you…he would be safer…I could have protected him….But no…you had to interfere…you had to let your mother back into your life…You had to be selfish! If he dies…it will be your fault!"
Sonny slowly regained consciousness. He felt very dizzy but he also felt much better than he had been feeling in days. He felt dampness on his forehead. He thought this was a good sign; a sign that meant that his fever had broken. He very slowly sat up. He was wondering where everyone had gone. How long had he been out anyway? He then remembered about Will and his anxiety returned. Did his dad go and get Will? Was Will okay? He maneuvered himself so that he could find the alert button to the nurse's station; he found it. He was about to press it when he heard his mother shouting in the corridor.
He couldn't believe the hatred being thrown towards who Sonny could only presume to be Will. It wasn't just the words. Every word was laced with such disgust, such loathing, that Sonny wondered how Will could stand in the face of it all. He heard his mother's hurling words being abruptly halted by another familiar voice, his father's.
"Adrienne! Enough! Can't you see the stress you are putting on Will? He feels bad enough as it is without having you scream at him. He could be just as sick as Sonny is. It was not done intentionally. Will's brother and sister wanted to see him. Kids get sick all the time.…"
Sonny knew that this would only stir his mother to fling more horrid words at Will. And sure enough his mother began another tirade.
"Of course they do! But Sonny wouldn't have been put in that situation if Will hadn't…"
Sonny needed to stop her. His resolve redoubled. He couldn't wait for nurses to show up. He quickly assessed his ability to get out of bed without having to tear the tubes and needles from his arm and found that he would be able. He brought his fluids with him to the door and was about to interrupt his mother's tirade when he heard his father yell "Will!"
Sonny got to the doorway, peered out just in time to see his father rush towards a blond-headed figure convulsing on the ground. He was about to rush over there himself when strong arms prevented him from going anywhere. A nurse had come to the rescue. He could see another nurse reaching Will .
Sonny turned towards where he had heard his mother's voice and found her. She seemed genuinely stunned. Their eyes met and her expression changed. Sonny knew that the next thing coming out of her mouth was probably going to be "He's probably faking it…" And Sonny would have found that intolerable. He lifted his free arm to stop his mother from talking. And all he could say before he himself collapsed from exhaustion was "Mother…you did this."