Have a nice weekend everyone. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

18 Teddy's sick

Now that Teddy was finally asleep Eric felt a little bit more at ease. He wasn't used to look after someone who was sick in the first place and even less after a sick child. Just after closing the door to their home behind him Teddy had vomited all over him. Though he longed to clean himself up before anything else, he knew he had first to consider Teddy. So he had grabbed a bowl from the kitchen before he hurried to the nursery. Since all the vomit had been on his own clothes he simply put Teddy to bed, with the bowl close by just in case. Teddy had been clingy and while Eric had wished to change and have a quick shower to clean himself in the end he had only been able to at least get rid of his sticky and smelling clothes and then quickly putting on a new tee along with some sweatpants, before he returned to his fussing and miserable little boy. He sat with him until he fell asleep. Carefully not to reawake Teddy, Eric now slipped out of the room and padded over to the bathroom to take his overdue shower. Clean at last. A bliss. He was feeling refreshed and more prepared for the long day and maybe long night ahead of him. Tossing the dirty clothes into the washing machine Eric decided he could as well do the whole laundry. A quick check on Teddy revealed a still sleeping child so Eric decided to settle himself in the living room to get some work done. Two hours and a sandwich later Eric could hear movement coming from Teddy's room followed by a faint call. When he entered the room Teddy looked at him, still pale and in addition he now looked sweaty.

"How are you, Teddy?" Eric inquired while laying a hand onto his forehead to check his temperature.

"I feel so hot." Teddy whined.

Eric could tell that he was a little febrile. This wasn't good. He had no clue if this was becoming something more severe than just a stomach bug. For Teddy's sake he had to stay calm though.

"Go back to sleep Teddy, it will be better. Okay?"

If only it'd be as easy as that. It turned out a sick Teddy was a cranky one and after some arguing from his side and complaining and refusing to do as asked from Teddy's, Eric almost lashed out at his son. He caught himself just in time. Taking a deep breath and clenching his hands to fists Eric desperately tried to calm himself. He didn't want to take out his temper on Teddy, who looked at him with wide eyes: "Are you mad? Cause I didn't mean to be bad. Honestly. Please don't be mad."

Eric looked down into the pair of watery eyes. 'Shit!' He cursed inwardly. Teddy hadn't been sick for more than a few hours and already he was messing up.

"I'm sorry Teddy." – How many times did he already have to apologize to this kid? - "I didn't mean to frighten you, but I really wish for you to sleep some more so you will be get better soon, okay?"

"Kay, but…"

'Here it comes again' Eric braced himself.

"…I'm not sleepy anymore."

While thinking of a way out of their dilemma Eric returned the look of his son more calmly now that he had successfully managed to handle his temper. Letting his eyes wander around the room he hoped for an inspiration when he caught sight of the small bookshelf.

"How about I read you a story?" Eric asked with new found optimism and was rewarded by a beaming smile. Eagerly Teddy made space for Eric in his bed. Sitting down at the bedside Eric began to read out Teddy's favorite story:

"Once upon a time there was a small dragon named Flint…"

Reading stories to Teddy was something he only started a short while ago. His own parents had never taken the time to read to him, not fiction anyway. If he got lucky they would take the time to look at children's science books with him. He had stumbled upon the children's story books on a stall at the interfaction marked when he had been looking for books for himself. That day he couldn't wait to get home to see Teddy's reaction and he hadn't been disappointed. Their joint reading time quickly became both of their favorites.

Halfway through the story Teddy fell asleep and Eric arranged his blanked carefully, before he tiptoed out of the room. Teddy developing a light fever had left him unsettled but with Teddy back asleep he was finally able to call the sickbay.

"This is Eric…"

"No I don't need stitching up…"

"No neither that…"

"Would you just listen to me?" Eric growled unnerved. If Teddy hadn't been sleeping next door he would have been shouting by now.

"Look. What do you do with a little child that has been vomiting and is a little feverish?"

"I don't see how that's important but I'm talking about my son and he's three and a half."

"Of cause I made sure he'd stay hydrated and before you asked I gave him some zwieback too."

"No the vomiting has stopped and his temperature isn't critical… yet."

"What? No I won't bring him down to you now. You said yourself his condition isn't critical and I just got him to sleep. The hell I'll go and wake him!"

"O no, that's not how this will work. When he wakes up, I will give you a call and I expect you to be here shortly after."

"It wasn't a suggestion. Think of it as an order. Bye."

Vexed Eric hung up. Could you believe it? This nurse had the nerve to tell him to wake Teddy in order to get him to her. After everything he had to do to put him to sleep? He didn't think so. Hopefully he had made himself clear.

.

.

Teddy had woken up with an increased temperature so Eric had called the sickbay, who had said they would send someone up right away. Right after hanging up, he had made sure to get Teddy to eat at least a little bit and drink some more. Once that was done he had felt restless. Shouldn't there have been already somebody there? Eric had begun to pace the floor as a knock could be heard at the door, which he then hurriedly flunked open.

"Mia?" Eric asked astonished, his voice sounding soft and a little drained. "Whatever you want has to wait, Mia – Teddy is sick." Churning he went with his fingers through his hair.

"I know, Eric." Mia replied sympathetically while simply walking in and closing the door behind her. "That's why I'm here."

Eric was at loss for words. Did she really came here to check on them? He felt his heart flutter at the thought. Perhaps Mike and Jack had been right? He was still unsecure, too used to being dismissed.

"I transferred to sickbay two days ago Eric." Mia continued. "I wanted to work there for a while now and finally there had been an open spot for me."

'Of cause. How could he have been stupid enough to think she actually cared for them?' Eric berated himself. 'She didn't even bother to tell me.' It stung. 'So if he had gone to her shop to visit her, which originally had been his plan for tomorrow, she simply wouldn't have been there. Gone. Like that.'

Mia looked him in the eyes searchingly when she continued: "I'm sorry, Eric, I wanted to tell you somehow it never came up in our conversations and the opening was very sudden."

'Okay. She would have told him. She simply could have told him. He had thought they were at least - friends? Anyhow it didn't matter, not at this moment. He steeled his features addressing her again:

"Why didn't they send someone more experienced?" He asked bluntly.

"Eric. " Mia said reaching out to him and putting a hand on his arm. "Trust me on this. I've volunteered for quite some time now, especially with children. I know what I'm doing."

Silently Eric looked at her for a while, assessing her quietly before he nodded: "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay." Without another word Eric turned around to let her to Teddy's room, expecting her to follow.

"Teddy, I've brought Mia with me." Eric told his little bundle of misery.

"Mia?"

"Hi Teddy."

"Hi Mia. I'm sick."

"I know Teddy. That's why I'm here. Now, let me have a look at you."

Eric watched as Mia did her examination. She was good with him, but he already knew that. Although he had to admit that she indeed seemed to know what she was doing. Good. He would have hated to have to throw her out for being incompetent. Like really hated and feeling bad for her too. But he would have done it for Teddy in hope that he would get a chance to make it up to her. It was a relief that he didn't have to. Oblivious to his thoughts Mia examined Teddy. Once she was finished she told Teddy they'd be back in a minute and simply walked back over to the parlor leaving Eric to trail behind. Before he had a chance to say anything she told him her conclusion:

"The good thing is the vomiting stopped but I'm slightly worried about the fever. Kids his age often get high fever pitches. So I suggest to monitor him closely and we should start with cold leg compresses now. Could you get some towels? Oh and we need something to keep the bed sheets dry too."

Any other time Eric wouldn't have let himself ordered around like that, but right now he didn't even blink. All he had heard was the possible danger to Teddy and so he set out to accomplish as asked without any further thought. Within a minute he had cut open a plastic bag so it would cover more of the sheets and gotten two towels out of the bathroom already wet. Together they returned to Teddy and after Eric explained to him what they were doing, they began to wrap the wet and cold towels around his legs, making Teddy complain shortly before he adjusted to them.

"I call if somethings comes up." Eric dismissed her, still convinced their friendship had been wishful thinking on his side. Turning to Teddy he asked: "Story?"

The little guy was clearly out of it for he simply nodded. Once again Eric made himself comfortable at the bedside but this time Teddy apparently needing more comfort since Eric felt him snuggle up. Caressing Teddy's head with one hand, he opened the book with the other.

"Let's have a look. Were where we. Oh yeah. Here we go: It was a dark and thunderous night when Flint woke up…"

Like last time it didn't take long for Teddy to fall asleep. With a last light kiss to his son's forehead Eric got up and noticed Mia silently leaning in the doorway. Startled and a little embarrassed he quirked an eyebrow at her before taking her by one arm and pulling her gently out of the room. Letting go of her arm he let himself fall on the sofa.

"I thought you were gone."

"Eric, did you honestly think I could leave the two of you right now?" Mia said gently. "I wanted to stay to keep you company. My shift his over…" Mia didn't finished her sentence.

So maybe, just maybe she cared after all? Again Eric felt this hopeful flutter of his heart.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Mia made herself comfortable beside Eric.

For a while they sat in comfortable silence.

"Are you hungry?"

"A little bit."

"Okay then." Eric walked over to the kitchen. Despite everything he felt calm now, knowing that Mia was with him in more than on way. Originally he had wanted to make pizza for Teddy and himself this evening. Apparently it would be Mia and him now. He began to prepare the meal. At least it would put his mind off Teddy.

"Is there anything I can do?" Mia had joined him.

"Could you roll the pastry?"

"Sure." Mia simply said already grabbing for it. "Where is your dough roll?"

Opening a drawer he handed the item over. They worked side by side with ease. He liked it. She didn't seemed to mind that he wasn't good at small talk, which relieved him and put him more at ease like she had done now every time they had spent time together. Besides Mia seemed to know her way around the kitchen since she simply came to his help without any further instruction. Finally the pizza was in the oven and all there was left was waiting.

They checked on Teddy but he was still sleeping, so they returned to the living room and once again made themselves comfortable. Since Teddy seemed to be as alright as possible and after the easy comradeship earlier in the kitchen Eric enjoyed talking to Mia over their meal once the pizza was ready. It was the calm before the storm. Teddy's fever peaked in the late evening as Mia had feared and both of them stayed awake the whole night worrying together, trying to keep the fever down by remaking the compresses again and again once they had become warm due to the absorbed warmth of Teddy's little body. In the dawning of the day the fever finally broke. Exhausted but relieved the pair had passed out at the couch and drifted off to sleep.