A/N: Not too much happens this chapter, and it's probably going to be the shortest chapter in this story. It would be longer (and go into the next chapter), but at this point it's just better if I post it up now, as I'm getting frustrated with it.
Please enjoy, and to those of you who have read/reviewed this fic—thank you!
Also, I'm not sure if I make it clear enough in the chapter. This is the end of the third day after Kari's surgery.
"Damn, I look like hell."
Greg stared at his reflection, examining his pallid face and the bags that lined his eyes. Five nights with little sleep had done a number on him. He'd lost weight, too, from all the vomiting. Stress did his body no good either. Creases lined his forehead and his skin had lost its youthful glow, now appearing sallow and lackluster.
"Maybe I'm lucky and my breath is still my worst problem," he joked, but even he didn't laugh, too afraid of the pain that would accompany it.
His eyes dropped to the horizontal line across his stomach. Although three years had passed since the incident the scar hadn't faded much. It was both a bad memory and a badge of honor; had been for the past three years, would be for however many years to come. But now Greg worried it had become a component of another bad memory.
Greg traced along the scar, not daring to press down. He tried to think of when that area started hurting, specifically. After six days of cramps it was hard to tell where hurt, what day, and why. As a doctor, it frustrated Greg to no end that he couldn't diagnose himself. He diagnosed patients every day; it should be easier!
But it wasn't. And Greg knew that he needed to see a doctor, as it was the 'responsible' thing to do, as Sidney put it three years ago.
"He's such a mom."
This time Greg did laugh, but it was short lived as pain radiated throughout his abdomen, effectively snuffing out any humor in the situation. Once his laughter subsided, Greg grabbed a nearby pill bottle and picked out four white pills. "Well…" he said, hesitantly raising his hand to his mouth. "Bottoms up."
He popped the pills one at a time, each going down with little trouble, before staggering into his bedroom. Greg took one swig of water to follow the pills and collapsed onto his bed; however, later on he wouldn't recall ever hitting the mattress.
With a loud 'CLACK!' Cybil slammed the phone against the receiver, exclaiming, "He's not answering!" She stormed over to the kitchen table and plopped onto one of the chairs with such ferocity that Sidney thought it would shatter beneath her.
"Sidney, he's not-"
"I heard."
Cybil glared at Sidney. He nudged a spoon towards her and gestured to the carton of ice cream between them.
"If you aren't going to go to sleep then you might as well help me get rid of this stuff," he said, shoveling a mouthful of sugary goodness into his mouth. "Besides," he added, "if Greg hasn't answered the first three times, I doubt he'll answer the fourth."
"Oh, quiet. And what are you, a girl on her period?" Cybil snatched the carton, snickering when she saw the name. "'Double Chocolate Xtreme', really?"
"What?"
"I didn't peg you as having much of a sweet tooth, is all."
After shoveling two huge spoonfuls into her mouth, Cybil passed the carton back to Sidney.
"Well, how can you resist when it's chocolate?" he asked, smirking.
They continued to pass the carton back and forth for the next hour, reminiscing about their youth between bites. By then they'd eaten half of it and the other half was melted to the point that Sidney washed it down the drain as it was, in his words, "Too far gone to be saved." They continued reminiscing after Sidney sat back down, until...
"...and that's why I'm grateful Caduceus does not use backless hospital gowns," Sidney finished, leaving Cybil in hysterical laughter.
"I have no pity!" she declared, wiping tears from her eyes. "I've seen way worse than that. Do you know how many naked, drunk idiots I dealt with as a cop?"
"But that was part of your job description! I was minding my own business when this old lady asks me if her butt can still compare to the younger girls' butts."
"No pity! Besides, there are plenty downsides to Caduceus hospital gowns. They open in the front, Sidney. The front.To be honest, I'm surprised Greg didn't flash you or any of the nurses when he was hospitalized."
"I have no doubt he would have flashed someone had we put him on much more pain medication." Sidney shuddered. "I'm just glad he's not in that situation anymore."
"I am, too."
The conversation lulled; Cybil drummed her fingers on the table, her eyes darting around the room. Sidney glanced at the clock and winced. It was already a quarter past midnight and he had to wake up in a few hours. He looked back at Cybil, who at that moment was admiring the drapes.
"Ready to turn in?"
"Huh?" Cybil snapped back to reality, her mind reeling to catch up on what she missed. "Oh, right. But I—can I call him again?" She smiled sheepishly at him. Sighing, Sidney nodded.
"Fine, but one more time and then we're going to bed."
Cybil nodded and rushed over to the phone, dialing her home number again. It rang once, twice, three-
"Hello, lovely."
Greg's exhausted voice echoed in Cybil's ears, causing her to break out into a grin. "Hey sleepyhead, how are things over there?"
"Mn. Fine. And how about things at Sidney's? Have you two killed each other yet?"
"No, though I did discover that your brother has more of a sweet tooth than you."
He laughed. "Oh really? Well, when things calm down me and him might have to test that. Speaking of things, how is she?"
"She's in the same condition she was in yesterday."
"What about the antitoxin?"
"Derek said that it might take a few more days to build up in her system, but I'm worried," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I wish you weren't sick."
"You're not the only one. Tell her I love her, okay?"
"I will."
"Good. Now... before we say goodnight I want to know: How did you get Sidney to stay up this late? There's NO way he's asleep if we're talking right now."
"I'll tell you another time. If I don't hang up soon I might pass out."
"Aww, fine. Love you, night."
"Love you too. Goodnight."
Cybil set the phone on the receiver and turned around, ready to tell Sidney that he could finally go to sleep, only to find out he'd beaten her to the punch.
"...Sidney?"
Sidney had passed out on the table, his head resting on his arms. Cybil fought not to laugh as she inched closer, going so far as tapping his shoulder to see if he'd wake up. He didn't even twitch; however, he did start snoring.
Laughing quietly to herself, Cybil tiptoed upstairs, having decided that she didn't have the heart to wake him up.
