Chapter 34

Jake groaned as he got up off the couch to answer the persistent knocking on his dorm door. When he jerked open the door and saw Bryan and Quinn standing there grins on their faces, he shut the door again.

Bryan put his foot in the door before the door closed completely and the twins strode into Jake's room.

"What the heck are you two doin' here?" Jake grumbled as he collapsed back on the couch.

"Rescuing you," Quinn smirked.

"From what?" Jake groaned.

"From a lousy Christmas break," Bryan told him. "I'm driving you home."

"Oh really," Jake started to cough.

"I must say Jakey," Quinn said. "You look like crap. I'd thought you'd be a bit more grateful."

"I feel like crap," Jake told him. "How'd you find out?"

"Sammy told Mom," Quinn grinned at him. "So be mad at your girlfriend and not us. We're doing you a favor."

"Yeah right," Jake said.

"We can leave tonight or wait until the morning," Bryan told him. "Whatever you want to do."

"Morning," Jake groaned out in answer. "I might feel human by then."

"You still don't sound very grateful, Jakey," Quinn pretended to pout. "Maybe Sammy will be more grateful." He raised an eyebrow at his little brother when Jake's head came up and he glowered at Quinn.

"By gosh, he is alive," Quinn laughed.

"Alive enough to kick your butt if you lay a hand on her," Jake warned him.

"Have faith, little man," Quinn teased. "I have all the woman I can handle right now with Debi, otherwise I might tempt seeing you try."

"Quinn," Bryan shook his head at his twin.

"Have you eaten lately, Jakey?" Bryan asked Jake.

"No," Jake admitted. "My throat is so sore it's hard to swallow."

"How about if we go to that chicken joint around the corner and get something to eat," Bryan suggested. "We'll bring you back some soup or something?"

Jake nodded without looking at them. "Maybe some ice cream from the store too?"

"Sure thing, Jake," Bryan told him.

"My keys are on the hook near the door if you want to just let yourselves back in," Jake's voice was getting weaker.

"We'll be back soon, Jake," Quinn told him and the twins left.

Jake groaned once they were gone. He did feel like shit. He smiled softly to himself at Sam worrying so much about him that she had told his mother that he was sick.

He did love Sam a lot and even though he hated to admit that he was that sick that he hadn't been sure he could drive all the way home, he was happy that she had. Now he'd be going home, courtesy of his brothers and he'd be able to see Sam.

Jake never heard Bryan and Quinn come back in a while later.

"Man, he's really out of it," Bryan murmured when they saw him sleeping on the couch.

"No way he could have driven home," Quinn said.

"No," Bryan agreed. "Maybe some lovin' from Sammy will make him feel better."

"It would make me feel better," Quinn laughed softly.

"Quinn, you can't say that out loud," Bryan warned him.

"I'm just kidding," Quinn assured him. "I've got my own girl."

Jake woke up and tiredly looked at them.

Bryan handed Jake the container of soup and a spoon.

"Thanks," Jake told him.

"The ice cream is in the freezer," Quinn pointed.

Jake nodded, spooning a bit of soup into his mouth. It burned his throat on the way down but it did taste good.

"What time do you want to leave in the morning, Jakey?" Quinn asked as he sat down in a chair while Bryan sat on the edge of Jake's bed. They both started eating their dinners.

"Whenever you want to," Jake said, swallowing more of the hot soup. "If you're driving, I can sleep whenever I need to."

"We'll leave whenever you wake up then," Bryan said and Jake nodded.

He was anxious to get home.