Day 12 – Home Remedy

Dietrich was beginning to wonder if falling and cracking his skull open would be the quickest way to relieve the pressure in his sinuses, because it was beginning to feel that way. Nothing else had worked. He was uncomfortably warm and didn't particularly want to be touched. He made an exception for his wife, though, especially since Esther had a habit of fluffing his hair every time she walked by his miserable, sprawled-out, skinny form on the couch.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" she asked.

"Why would I want anything to eat or drink?" Dietrich responded. "I cannot taste anything, and I want to nap, but my head is killing me and it is difficult to breathe normally."

"Aw, we will have to do something about that, then." Esther touched Dietrich's forehead, then leaned down to kiss him. "I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Have you ever had horseradish before?"

"Not since… many years ago. Been a while. Why? You think that will help?"

"It was quite an important remedy for colds and sinus infections when I was growing up. It works like a charm."

"Do we even have any?"

"No. I can go get some, though."

"If you think it will help, go ahead."

"Will you be okay by yourself?"

"Do I look like I can go anywhere?"

"I mean if something happens."

"I will be fine."

"Alright. If you insist, Hans." Esther put a light jacket on before getting her purse, then went back over to the couch to give Dietrich a kiss.

"Wait—" Dietrich tried sitting up, despite the mounting pressure in his head. "Hug."

"Do you want to feel better quickly or not?"

"I would like a hug, my dear. Please."

"Oh, alright." Esther set her purse down to give Dietrich a hug. "There you go. I should be back in less than thirty minutes. Try to rest." She kissed his hot forehead before letting go and finally heading out the door.

As promised, Esther returned about a half-hour later, but what Dietrich wasn't expecting was someone accompanying her. Under normal circumstances, Tully's smiling face would have lit up the house, but Dietrich was in a bit too much pain to even attempt to smile back, nor did he particularly want company. He could make an exception for Tully, as he knew Tully wasn't nearly as fussy as the others.

"Hey, Dietrich," Tully said. "Your missus tells me you have a sinus infection."

"I do," Dietrich replied. "What are you doing here?"

"Just visiting. I was on my way here when I ran into Esther at the market." Tully leaned over the couch. "You definitely don't look too good."

"Tell me something I do not know, Tully."

"You don't sound good, either."

"Again, tell me—"

"I'm just messing with you." Tully kept grinning. "I should make some extra-hot fried chicken. That'll open your sinuses faster than you can blink."

"I bought horseradish to do just that," Esther said.

"The more, the merrier. He can have both."

Dietrich gave them both a questioning look. "Both? I would like to cure my sinus infection, but I would not like to destroy my gastrointestinal tract in the process."

"We'll do one at a time. The chicken will take a while to make anyway."

"Alright. As long as this gets me one step closer to being able to sleep."

It didn't take long for the house to smell pungent and spicy, and that alone was slowly beginning to make Dietrich need tissues. Just the smell wouldn't be enough, though.

"Did you add extra chili powder?" Esther asked, wincing a little at how powerful the batter for the fried chicken smelled.

"Sure did," Tully replied. "My oldest, Eleanor, accidentally put a ton of chili powder in when she made chicken for the first time. She was so upset that she nearly threw it out, but I convinced her not to. It came out pretty good, even if it was ridiculously hot. I have her to thank for this."

"I thought you said that stuff was 'hot enough to melt a jeep's engine compartment.'" Dietrich said.

"I did."

"That would mean it is hot enough to melt through me."

"You'll be fine. This will clear your sinuses faster than you can blink."

"Tully, I have not spent my entire life eating things like this. I have very little tolerance for it."

Tully gave him a look. "Do you want to feel better or not?"

Dietrich sighed, figuring he was stuck with this. "Fine, but I want an entire bottle of antacids for when the inevitable happens."

"Credit where it's due, though," Tully said, "you have a tougher stomach than Moffitt."

Dietrich wasn't quite sure how to take that. "Thank you, I guess?"

"Try not to take advantage of that, Tully," Esther said.

"Yes, listen to my wife," Dietrich added.

Tully sighed. "Look, would you rather I call Sarge and have him come take care of you?"

"No!" Dietrich and Esther yelled at the same time. Apart from Anah, Troy was arguably the most overbearing mother hen of the group.

"Thought so."

Under normal circumstances, Dietrich wouldn't be willing to eat horseradish right off a spoon. It was far too pungent for that, even in a more diluted form, but he was desperate enough for a nap that he was willing to take it, with nothing to balance the flavor. Fortunately, it was working, even if the flavor was somewhat unbearable once he started tasting again. It seemed so simple, but Dietrich found it difficult to express in words how much he appreciated that brief relief of the pressure in his sinuses.

"I can tell by your expression that helped a lot," Esther said. "Think you can sleep now?"

"I hope so," Dietrich replied. "Thank you."

"Anything to help you feel better." Esther kissed her husband's still-warm forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Tully spoke up from the kitchen. "At least if your sinuses fill back up during your nap, there'll be extra-hot fried chicken waiting for you when you wake up."

Dietrich tried not to wince upon seeing just how red the frying batter was.

Esther kissed him again. "At least if Tully's fried chicken does give you any trouble, I will take care of you."

"I appreciate that, Esther. Although, if I start melting on the inside, I think calling an ambulance would be your best option."