Chapter four:-
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Raj felt a lot better after a couple of days, he could now eat solid food without throwing up afterwards, and his temperate was gone. Even though none of them could forget the horrific moment when they had found their best friend covered in injuries on his back, plus the upsetting experience of trying to get the man into the bath, he seemed to be having an unconscious fever nightmare as when Howard was trying to get him into a warm bath he was begging for mercy and calling his friends names as if he was being lowered on a path of nails or boiling hot lava or something. His legs wrapped around Howard tightly and he held on for dear life...he looked like a frightened baby monkey or something; even Sheldon looked close to tears after it was all over.
Howard was still panicking about the injuries though, who did it, did they knew them, would he/she do it again, it scared him Raj was so kind and gentle who did not deserve that kind of ill treatment. And he knew he had to be careful when he asked him to tell him what had happened not only because he was so damn sensitive but because he had just got better as well but Howard didn't realize how much talking he had to do with his best friend until some shocking words came out of his mouth while he was drinking Sheldon famous hot chocolate with cream and lots of little marshmallow's on the top.
"Howard? Why did you look after me when I was sick...you didn't need to?"
Howard looked a little shocked and sat down next to Raj taking a deep breath
"Buddy, we are friends why would you think we wouldn't help you?"
"It's not that it's just...friends wouldn't usually bath and feed friends who are fully grown men...younger or not..."
"It's what friends do...you couldn't even move Raj and your fever was dangerously high...if we hadn't had put you in the bath you would have um...died."
Raj looked at Howard a little shocked and trusts came into his eyes, he knew his friends would always come through for him he really did. His friends had saved his life and he would never forget that, not ever. But he needed to hear something else, just one more thing. The only way to get that was to say something he didn't want to say and prayed Howard would disagree.
"I promise Howard I will make it up to you, and will start by changing my own personality...from now on I will be a new and improved Rajesh."
Howard and Raj stated at each other for a while, Raj looked determined and proud but had an uneasy glint in his eye...Howard looked plain terrified what had he done had his best friend been serious when he had said that, was this his fault...wait of course it was he was an idiot! Trying to keep as calm as he could Howard took hold of Raj's shoulders and looked straight into his eyes.
"No! . . we love you the way you are and always will never think any different."
There it was, the words Raj wanted to here to put his confidence in control again, he couldn't help it Howard was looking at him with such pity and emotional he burst into heart wrenching tears and clung onto his friend with a desperate need of physical contact, Howard sat there shocked for a few minutes then both arms wrapped around him in a tight hug. Leonard and Sheldon where seen shuffling by the door by Raj and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. Letting go off Howard he gestured Howard towards the door smiling and shaking his head. Howard sighed dramatically with a similar smile on his face staring at the door while his unaware they'd been caught friends stood, he laughed and gestured them shouting at them jokingly his voice full of his voice full of humour.
"Well come on, are you guys going to join in the hug or not! Don't just stand there gawking its creepy...speaking from experience here guys!"
Leonard rushed in without hesitation and flung his arms round his two younger friends and tried to hide the fact he had been crying by quickly wiping his eyes with both hands then burying his face into Raj chest while hugging him, Howard watched as Sheldon calmly walked in there was no emotion on his face but Howard saw a lot of fear in his eyes and even a few tears. It had to be bad for Sheldon to cry he hadn't even cried when Penny punched him square in the face (Leonard told him) he had cried mind you, when Penny punched him, but their friendship was definitely deepened by that experience after he met Bernadette...now he had no regrets. Howard put an arm out towards him as an invitation to join in the hug he knew Sheldon hated contact but had a feeling this was an experience for the "special Sheldon hug" as they had called it. He was right Sheldon joined in the hug but not as comfortably as Leonard, deciding the best thing to do was pat Raj's head with an occasional "there there." holding Leonards hand, and letting Howard put an arm gently on his shoulders...it was close enough for a group hug plus everyone seemed comfortable enough...even Sheldon. Howard decided to ask Raj about the bruises later on and enjoy the moment of friendship.