So just a small short story before I get to studying. I think the title says it all :)
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
"This is all your fault," Porthos said just before shoving his head inside the bucket his dad gave him as he emptied his stomach for the third time in thirty minutes. He lifted his head and glared at his brother across the bedroom. Aramis had woken up near midnight throwing up and now he caught whatever Aramis had.
"Oh yes, because I wanted to get the stupid 24-hour bug from Kirsten," Aramis moaned, covering his head with his blanket. The bug has been going around the school for the past week and it seemed to finally catch Aramis, who got it from his friend Kirsten when she came into school yesterday and sat next to him in Math class.
"Well, you sure got it and now I have it."
"It seems you're not the only ones," Treville said, walking into his sons' room with two glasses of flat Sprite.
"Which one?" Aramis asked.
Treville gave his sons a sad smile. "I was calling the office to let them know that I wasn't going to make it in for the next two days when d'Artagnan ran into the living room and said Athos was getting sick in the bathroom."
"What about d'Artagnan?" Portho asked.
"So far so good but now with three of you sick, it's only a matter of time." Treville set the glasses on their nightstands. "I'm going to move Athos onto the floor in here. Might as well keep you three together and make sure d'Artagnan doesn't get this. Three of you sick is going to be a challenge but there is no way I'm dealing with a sick d'Artagnan."
Porthos nodded and pointed under his bed as he lay down. There was a mattress under his bed incase one of Aramis's friends wanted to spend the night. It wasn't under Armias bed because you couldn't put anything under there with all the garbage he has. He watched as his dad pulled the mattress out and went to get Athos.
"This is just great," Aramis moaned. "You do realize that once one of us starts, the others will follow."
"Best to get it out of our system as fast as we can."
"I hate being sick," Athos said, being ushered into the room by his dad, bucket in hand. He always wondered why his dad saved buckets and now he's grateful.
"Well, until you three are finished with this virus, you are all quarantined to this room and d'Artagnan will not be coming near you three. I called school and told them you guys won't be in today and tomorrow."
"So no homework," Porthos smiled, taking a sip of his sprite.
"Nice try. After I get d'Artagnan on the bus I'm going to your school and collecting your homework. You will do them tomorrow once the virus is out of your system."
At that moment, Athos grabbed the bucket and emptied his stomach, which then started a chain reaction. Treville waited until they were done and took the buckets to wash them out. He passed d'Artagnan, who had his school clothes on and ready. "Go on downstairs. I think I'll drive you to school myself so I can get back here in time."
"Are they okay?" d'Artagnan asked.
"Of course they are. They just have that nasty 24-hour bug that's going around. Which means when you get home you cannot play with them until after tomorrow."
"Why not?"
"Because if you go near them then you'll get that bug and get sick."
d'Artagnan's eyes went wide and ran the short distance to his brothers room. "Did you guys know you have a bug in you?"
"It's not a real bug, d'Artagnan," Porthos said, opening his eyes.
"Yes it is. Dad said if I come near you guys then I'll get the bug too. Why did you guys eat a bug anyway?"
The three brothers moaned, not in the mood to explain everything to d'Artagnan but luckily their dad came in just in time.
"d'Artagnan, go downstairs. I'll explain everything to you in the car. You three, stay in bed and get some rest. By this evening, this should be out of your systems." Treville handed them each their bucket and walked out. He got d'Artagnan into the car and has he drove towards the school, he explained to him about the virus that's been going around and why his brothers are sick. By the time he reached the elementary school, d'Artagnan finally understood.
"Now, go and be good. I'll pick you up from the bus stop this afternoon." Treville smiled and watched as d'Artagnan took off down the hallway and he walked into the school office to pick up Athos homework. After that, he drove to the middle school and picked up Aramis and Porthos homework. In ten minutes he finally made it home. Walking into the quiet house, he made his way upstairs to check on his sons. The sight before him made him smile. Even when sick, the brothers had managed to push Aramis and Porthos bed together and had Athos in the middle of them.
Treville made his way downstairs to make some soup and by the time it was lunchtime he brought it up to them. Waking them up, he gave them each a bowl before heading downstairs to do some work. He only had to go up twice when Athos and Aramis each got sick, but other than that, they've been sleeping the entire day. They woke up around two and with no power to get out of bed, he decided to bring up a small TV from the basement and let them watch it. Looking at the clock he realized it was time to pick d'Artagnan up, so he walked outside just as d'Artagnan's bus pulled up.
"Hey kiddo," Treville said, smiling when d'Artagnan jumped off the steps of the bus.
"Hi dad. Guess what? I made Aramis, Athos, and Porthos get well cards in art class."
"I'm sure they'll love it."
"So can I play with them?"
"No. Not until tomorrow and even then you can't." He opened the door and laughed as d'Artagnan opened his school bag and pulled out three pieces of paper and ran upstairs. He went into the kitchen to reheat some soup and make himself and d'Artagnan some dinner.
"I wonder who this could be running up the stairs?" Porthos asked with smile. He saw d'Artagnan run into the room and hand him and his brothers each a pieces of paper. He opened it up and laughed when he it said "Get well soon."
"Hey, how come mine says stop eating bugs," Aramis said, showing them his card.
"Because dad said you did eat a bug and that's why Athos and Porthos are sick."
"DAD!"
"So are you guys feeling better?"
"Just a little," Athos said, reaching over Porthos and ruffled d'Artagnan's hair. "Thanks for the card."
"Now get out of here before you get sick," Porthos said. He watched as d'Artagnan ran out of the room just as their dad walked in with a tray of more soup and flat Sprite. "I thought you were going to explain this who 24-hour bug to him?"
"I did, but I had to have some fun and Aramis did start it."
"Thanks a lot dad."
Treville laughed and walked out of the room. He joined d'Artagnan downstairs and helped him with his homework before serving them their dinner. The rest of the night went smoothly, the virus finally over. Now it was just to let them rest more and tomorrow they should be back to normal.
"Dad, do I have to sleep by myself?" It was now close to bedtime and Treville was tucking d'Artagnan into his bed when his son looked at the empty bed across from him.
"I'm afraid so. We don't want to take any chances. Good night."
"Good night." d'Artagnan closed his eyes and rolled over so his back was facing the empty bed but after two hours of tossing and turning, he couldn't take it. He couldn't sleep with his brother away. He got out of bed and slowly made his way to the door, listening for his dad downstairs, before tip toeing next door. He stood at the bottom of the bed as his brothers slept and saw a small spot between Aramis and Athos. He crawled up onto the bed, being careful not to wake them, and managed to snuggle in between his brothers. Now that he was with his brothers, he finally closed his eyes and went to sleep.
"So predictable," Athos whispered.
"Dad's not going to like it," Aramis said, pulling the blanket up to his little brothers shoulder.
"He's going to get sick sooner or later and I'd rather have him get it from us than someone at school," Porthos said. "Now, go to sleep. I'm sure tomorrow will be an interesting day."
And the next day was interesting when Treville got a call from school saying d'Artagnan had gotten sick at lunch.