A/N I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and black Friday! Mine was crazy. I literally didn't get any sleep over the holiday. I am so glad it's over, despite all the fun I had and all the sugar I engulfed over the past 48 hours. Ps Ihop's eggnog pancakes and gingerbread hot chocolate will keep you buzzing for 38 hours straight haha.

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I don't like writing Mrs. Knight so I kicked her out of the story. Cause I have the power wham-pow!

James nestled into the couch, resting heavily against the arm cushion, too tired to even really keep his head up straight. His long legs were curled up next to him, poking Logan in the side. Every now and then Logan would shove his legs off the couch but James would just hoist them back up and purposely jab Logan in the side with his toes. Logan would give him a "really?" look and smack his knees, and James would just grin. Hey, something had to entertain him to keep him from falling asleep, and the superhero movie playing out on the HD television in front of them was not doing the trick. Carlos seemed to be the only one who was enjoying the movie. He loved superheroes, and he was currently upside down, his bottom half on the couch next to Logan and his top half hanging off like it was the most comfortable thing in the world.

"Carlos, sit up dude," Logan warned him, peering over the couch to look at the Latino's beet-red face, his cheeks squished by his protective, shiny black helmet.

"But I'm comfy!" Carlos argued, his chocolate eyes never once leaving the bright-green superhero bouncing around the screen.

"You're going to get brain damage, and you don't need any more of that, trust me," Logan said. Carlos pouted and folded his arms around his chest, but didn't make a move to obey the young genius.

"Why doesn't he listen to me?" Logan wondered with a sigh, looking over to James for assistance. James got up and stepped over Carlos, than sat next to the Latino.

"'Litos, sit up," James said with a mischievous glint sparkling in his eyes. When Carlos shook his head like a defiant 4 year old would, James reached down to tickle around his exposed bellybutton with his bandaged fingers, causing Carlos to squirm and squeal, his arms flailing to cover his tummy. In a matter of seconds, Carlos was a giggling heap on the floor, pleading for Logan to help him while James mercilessly tickled his middle and under his arms.

"Don't help him, get his feet!" James said deviously, attacking Carlos' sides. Logan grabbed one of Carlos' struggling legs, tore off his slipper, and tickled his foot, making Carlos practically screech with laughter.

"Guys, guys stop!" Carlos cried in a hoarse voice between squeals.

"Never!" James said, continuing the tickle fest. Carlos grew weaker and weaker, and it was easier to hold him down to subject him to endless tickles.

"Guys?" A rough but soft voice asked from behind the couch. The boys ceased their tickle fight as it took a moment for them to recognize the voice.

"Oh, Kendall," James breathed, taking in the blondes ill appearance. Kendall could hardly stand up straight, and he was a pale gray color. He was clutching his ribs and his eyes were sleepy and half-closed like he just woke up.

"Did we wake you up? I am so sorry!" Logan said, helping Kendall around the couch so he could sit down and rest. Kendall shook his head and waved his hand.

"It's ok," Kendall said tightly. He coughed harshly a few times, followed by a groan of pain. James' stomach clenched at the sound. Kendall was obviously miserable, and he couldn't stand seeing him like that, especially when he was the reason for it. His mind immediately started thinking of ways to make him feel better, but he was at a loss. This was Logan's expertise, not his.

"Do you want to watch the movie with us Kendall?" Carlos asked when he finally caught his breath, recovering from the tickle abuse. Kendall shrugged and buried his face in the couch cushion. James and Logan shared a worried look.

"You ok, buddy?" James asked sweetly, rubbing his shoulders gently. The brunette loved having his shoulders rubbed when he wasn't feeling well, so he hoped Kendall would be comforted by it, too. Kendall didn't answer. He was too tired and sick to move or speak. James reached over and moved the hair from his face so he could feel his forehead.

"Logan, he's really hot," James announced, withdrawing his hand. Logan replaced James' hand with his to gage Kendall's temperature. The sick boy squirmed, obviously uncomfortable with all of the attention.

"I'll go get the thermometer. Just hold tight buddy," Logan said. He quickly disappeared to the bathroom and James sat next to Kendall, studying his pale face.

"What's hurting you, buddy?" James asked softly, knowing that Kendall was suffering from more than just a cold. The older boy was always quite good at hiding his pain but at this point, he wasn't even bothering to hide it. He looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.

Kendall closed his eyes and took in a couple of labored breaths, which only worried James even further.

"My chest," Kendall whispered. The blonde shivered and started coughing once again.

"He sounds so sick," Carlos whimpered in James' ear.

"It's ok, bro. Can you get me a glass of ice water for Kendall?" James asked. Carlos nodded eagerly and ran to the kitchen. While Carlos fetched water, Logan came back with the thermometer and slipped it under Kendall's tongue.

"He sounds congested, Loges," James commented while they waited. Logan frowned and listened carefully to Kendall's soft, ragged breaths.

"You're right, good ear James," Logan said after a couple of moments. "I'll go get him some cough medicine." Logan disappeared again, leaving James to check Kendall's temperature.

"One-oh-two point six. That sounds high," James mumbled, wondering if he should call Kendall's mom.

Kendall violently trembled with a sudden cough and tears pooled at the corners of his eyes at the painful shock radiating through his ribs. "James," he croaked, looking at the brunette with pleading eyes.

"It's ok, I'm here," James said, throwing the thermometer aside so he could wrap a throw blanket around Kendall's shaking body. He wished he knew what to do. How could he fix this? It was all his fault, Kendall getting beat up and left out in the cold for hours upon hours. James caused this, and he wanted nothing more than to make Kendall better.

"Here Kendall, take this. It will help your congestion," Logan said, holding up a spoon filled with purple liquid to Kendall's white, chapped lips. Kendall nodded and parted his mouth so Logan could give him the sticky medication. Kendall swallowed harshly, wincing as the thick, sweet liquid slowly trickled down his aching throat. He followed it with the glass of water Carlos handed him. The little Latino looked at him expectantly, hoping that the glass of water would somehow cure him in a matter of minutes.

"Thanks guys," Kendall said tiredly.

"No problem, we're here for you bro," Logan said. "Just get some sleep ok?"

Kendall didn't need to be told twice, and he drifted off to sleep right after James slipped a pillow under his head and tucked him in snugly.

"Let's just watch another movie to pass the time," Logan said. It was only 3 pm, and he knew that the rest of the day would move slowly. Carlos put in Shrek 3 for them to watch and Logan made some snacks. James nibbled on his bowl of Chex Mix distractedly. Due to lack of sleep, he wasn't hungry at all and he had been eating inadequately the past couple of days. Even the smallest amount of food made his stomach feel uncomfortable. He had no idea what was happening on the television and he could care less, all he knew was that the little gingerbread man screeching his ear off was getting on his last nerve. He felt zoned out to the entire world except for one thing: Kendall. Every time the sick boy would moan or shuffle or sniff, James' eyes would dart over to his sleeping form and wouldn't leave until he was sure Kendall was fast asleep.

"Dude, are you ok?" Logan asked after the 20th time James adjusted the blue and white blanket draped over Kendall's body.

"Yeah… Why?" James asked his voice spacey and distant. His only focus was on Kendall.

"I think you should take a nap," Logan said. "Kendall will be fine, but you're starting to look just as bad as he is."

"Yeah, you do look pretty bad," Carlos said with a mouth stuffed full of cheddar snacks.

"Thanks Carlos, for your input," James said acidly. "But I don't need a nap."

"But maybe you're not all caught up on sleep. You know, cause of your nightmares. James Diamond doesn't sparkle without his 8 hours, right?" Carlos said. "And you have been getting a lot less than 8 hours a night the past month."

"Carlos, I am sleeping fine and I don't need a nap," James snapped, even though his eyelids felt like they weighed 3 tons, and his mind was buzzing, begging him for sleep. Just a short rest, maybe 15 minutes…

James suddenly shook his head at the thought while mumbling a silent "no" too himself, causing Logan to raise his eyebrow, confused and a little weirded out.

"You are whack dude," Carlos mumbled, turning away from his friends so he could finish the hyper movie on the television.

"You're really worried about him, aren't you?" Logan wondered, slightly in awe by James' compassion. It was no secret that James cared deeply about his friends, but he was never this benevolent about it, so eager to help.

"It's my fault he's sick," James whispered. His voice was so quiet he was sure nobody could hear it, but it even caught Carlos' attention.

"It's not your fault, James," Carlos said, looking at his big brother with stern, chocolate eyes. James looked down guiltily. Logan gave him a sympathetic glance and rubbed his broad shoulders.

"Carlos is right, James. Why would you think that?" Logan asked as gently as possible, careful not to scare James away. Lately he had been noticing that James was acting quite closed up, something that was very unlike the usually boisterous young man.

"If Kendall hadn't needed to protect me, than he would be perfectly healthy right now, not burning up with fever and practically crying in his sleep. If I wasn't such a… Such a baby," James said spitefully. Logan could hear the disgust in James' voice. He was upset with himself for something beyond his control.

"No, James that is not true," Logan said, swiping away a long lock of auburn hair from James' cheek to reveal tears glistening in his hurt eyes.

"You're not a baby," Carlos said, placing a hand on James' knee. "You're the strongest person I know."

James scoffed, as if to say "Yeah right." He didn't expect his friends to understand. A strange, pressured feeling settled over his heart as he started to realize he would have to deal with this completely on his own. They would never be able to understand, and James didn't want them too. He didn't want them to know that he was scared of his own shadow, and that being in between 4 walls for too long caused him to feel panicked. They would never understand how utterly helpless and scared he was.

"James, what's wrong?" Carlos asked, watching James' lip quivered with some unspoken resolve he suddenly seemed to have.

"N-nothing," he said, wiping a tear from his cheeks.

"But you're crying-"

"Carlos! It's nothing," James said sternly, a little louder than he really intended, making the younger boy jump slightly. "I'm fine, ok? I'll be fine."

Carlos stared at him with wide eyes for a couple moments before his small shoulders slumped. He glanced at Logan solemnly, than turned his attention back to Shrek, watching the obnoxious donkey and green ogre duo in silence. Logan sighed, annoyed by James' mood swings, and the tallest boy pinched his eyes shut, trying to ward off the oncoming headache that crept its way in. He didn't mean to upset Carlos or cause the sudden uncomfortable tension in the cozy living room, but he almost believed his own words.

…Almost.

A/N Thanks so much for reading! Do you know how much I love coming home to a full inbox and such sweet reviews? I love it as much as I love diet Pepsi, which is A LOT. Yeehaw! Love you guys, thanks so much! I hope you all are still likin'this story!