Emerging Compassions
Chapter 24: Sicker & Sicker...
(Sheen's POV)
I had no idea how long I slept that day. All I knew was that I felt warmer with each passing moment. Cold sweats dominated my sleep sessions, but I was as yet able to sleep soundly. I hoped Jimmy was working hard on that antidote so he could cure me soon. I was in yet another deep, dreamless sleep when I was shaken awake.
"What is it?" I asked weakly, barely able to get up.
"Sheen, honey, how are ya feelin'?" Libby wanted to know, feeling my forehead again.
"Ugh...," I groaned, "My head really, really hurts..."
Jimmy apparently heard that, so he walked over to me & instructed his dog, "Goddard, Ibuprofen, please."
He barked & handed him some.
"Thanks, boy!" he gratefully thanked him, & gave me some with a glass of water.
"Can't I take it with Purple Flurp?" I moaned as I accepted the medicine & water.
"No. The sugar in it would only fuel the virus more & make you even sicker. Take it with that water I gave you," Jimmy informed me.
I then popped the meds in my mouth & gulped down the water with them. I hope it starts working soon...
Then Libby asked him, "Does Goddard have a thermometer, Neutron?"
"Yes, he sure does. Goddard, if you will...?" Jimmy told Goddard.
He barked again & gently stuck the thermometer under my tongue with a robotic hand. A few seconds later, it was removed & was examined to find my temperature.
"Oh, no!" I heard Libby gasp as she saw what the thermometer said, "It's even higher than yesterday! One hundred one point nine degrees!"
"Just as I feared! His core temperature is increasing daily!" he exclaimed fearfully, then instructed me, "Sheen, get as much sleep as you can! Your life depends on it!"
"O-key dokey, smoky!" I said, then painfully added, "My head..." I then laid back down in my bed on the couch, trying to relax so I could go to sleep again.
Before I was completely asleep, though, I heard Libby scold Cindy, "You haven't lifted a finger to take care of Sheen! Are you REALLY that selfish? Starting tomorrow, I want ya to start carryin' yo' weight around here, especially to help take care o' Sheen! He needs all the help he can get around here!"
Cindy gave it some thought, then remarked, "Fine, but he better not barf on me!"
"You tell her, Libby-licious...," I barely whispered, for I was almost fast asleep.
The last time I was awakened was to take my temperature again, & it had risen to 102 degrees. Then I went back to sleep for the night.