Emetrol? I might have been sick. Hell, maybe l was delirious, but I was actually dumb enough to let Kevin act as my physician? I don't think so.
I twisted about in the small bunk. "I don't want to take it."
Kevin sighed. "Nick, the pharmacist said it should stop the vomiting."
"Should?" Brian repeated, glancing over the bottle. "I don't know about this. Kevin, we shouldn't keep him on this hot bus another six hours. He's been suffering through traveling all day. He needs a doctor."
"I agree. But what can I do? Management has taken it out of my hands. And Nick's terrified to go."
"The bus driver is nice and he knows how sick Nick has been. I'm sure he would get us to a hospital!"
"Brian-"
"You'd stop the bus if it were me!" Brian growled.
Kevin sighed, kneeling down to my level. "Nick, do you want to go to the emergency room?"
My eyes began to squint, attempting to focus his face. His eyebrows resembled train tracks traveling across his forehead I was so dizzy. "I want to stay here with Brian. He can't leave me."
"Nick, Brian needs rest too."
My head spun as I thrashed about. "No! He can't leave! He just can't go! Don't let him go!"
Kevin forced my body still. "I don't know what to do!"
Brian massaged my temples. "Here's an idea! Get him help?!"
"Just try to talk him into taking the medicine."
"Fine." He stroked my sweating cheek. "Nick? Nick, you need to take the medicine."
"It will only come back up."
"Please just try for me."
"Okay."
Kevin poured the thick, gooey liquid into a large spoon. "Open up, Nicky."
I stared at the gross liquid, my mouth clamped.
Brian rubbed my back. "It'll help, Nicky, come on."
I opened my mouth as Kevin pushed the creation through my lips. I automatically began gagging. I felt as if I had just swallowed Lemon Fresh Pine Sol.
Kevin held a glass to my lips. "Sip the water."
Sip? I wanted to throw a gallon of water down my throat if it would make the horrid taste disappear. Howie and AJ joined us as the bus began moving once again.
Howie handed Kevin a small bag. "Here, we picked up an ear thermometer. We thought it might be easier on Nick."
Kevin tore the package apart. "Thanks, guys."
AJ stared at me. "This is ridiculous. We should just stop trying to take care of him and get a professional in here. He freakin' looks gray."
Howie sat across from me. "Feeling any better, Nicky?"
"No," I moaned. I turned to Brian. "I'm scared. Just make it stop. You can't get sick."
Brian crawled in the bunk behind me, resting my head against his chest. "Just calm down." He shook his head. "He's still so warm..."
Kevin held the thermometer to my ear. "You guys keep an eye on him. I'm calling management again."
AJ held the thermometer steady. "Do you think he needs his stomach pumped?"
Howie rolled his eyes. "Why pump his stomach? Everything is already coming up on it's own."
Brian continued to rub my back. "He needs a doctor. This could be anything. His appendix even."
"We didn't even have a show today. Management could've made time!" AJ snarled.
"This is why we're hoping to sign on with The Firm," Howie breathed.
AJ retrieved the thermometer. "102. 6. Let's hope it is the flu and once the fever goes down he'll be all right."
My body shook unstoppingly. Their words were mumbled to my ears and I was so confused. Nothing made sense.
Kevin returned. "No luck. Damn slave drivers!"
"I need to sleep," I pleaded through my quivering lips.
Brian nodded. "Okay, buddy, just try to get some sleep."
Here we go again.
"Son of a bitch!" AJ fumed. "That stuff was suppose to make him stop puking! Not add to it!"
I kept my head over the toilet. I had been vomiting nonstop every few minutes. I just wanted to slip into a coma and be at peace.
Kevin pressed his palms around my stomach. "Where does it hurt?"
"AH!" I screamed. "Everywhere!" I opened my eyes. "Brian? Brian? Where are you?"
He placed his hand against my shoulder. "I'm right here. I'm sitting right behind you."
I fell against him, sobbing. "It's all so blurry. Everything hurts so bad! I can't take it!"
Kevin covered my shivering form in a blanket. "Howie, go call for help! Have the driver pull over and have an ambulance meet us right here!"
"If....Brian...he....he...can't"
I felt someone lifting my bobbing head. "He can't what, Nick?"
"He just can't!" I mumbled.
"He's not making any sense!"
"And I'm sorry....I'm so sorry!" I cried.
A washcloth was applied to the back of my neck.
"Don't let him die!" I screamed.
"Damnit, he's freakin' delirious! Howie, tell them to hurry! We can't understand him!"
"Brian-" I moaned as my body went limp against the bathroom floor.