"Rhiannon?" Nick groaned, trying to sit up. His voice sounded terrible. He rubbed his throat and whined.

"Poor baby," Rhiannon said, kissing the top of his head. "You're hot again. I'll get you some more Tylenol."

Rhiannon dug through Kathleen's purse and handed Nick two Tylenol pills. She got him a Coke with lots of ice, and he tried to swallow the pills. He winced and shivered.

"I feel so bad," Nick whimpered. "My throat hurts. Feels like I've been eating glass."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Do you want me to wake Kathleen?"

"No. Hold me."

"Ok, baby." Rhiannon sat down on the couch and Nick put his head in her lap. She stoked his hair gently and closed her eyes. She was fading fast.

"How am I gonna sing tonight?" Nick whispered hoarsely.

"Don't worry. I'll fix you up. Just get lots of rest today and don't talk."

"I wanna die."

"No you don't," Rhiannon said, smiling. "You'll be ok. Just try to sleep today."

"Ok. Rhiannon, I'll bet you were a good mom."

"Thank you. I hope I was."

"You're a good mom to me."

"I don't want to be your mom, Nick."

"I know. I don't want you to be my mom either. You know you're gonna have sex with me one day, right?"

"Nick, go to sleep," Rhiannon laughed. She was too tired to argue with him, and was too mush-brained to think of any clever comebacks.

"But you know you will," he giggled, then broke into a coughing fit.

"Go to sleep."

"Ok."

Nick closed his eyes and Rhiannon pulled the blanket over him. She sat with him for a few more minutes, then got up when she was sure he was asleep.

"Kathleen," Rhiannon whispered. Kathleen opened her eyes and looked around the room.

"Hey. You were out late," Kathleen said.

"I know. Just walking around thinking."

"Did you get... a bite?" Kathleen asked, smiling a little. Rhiannon smiled and nodded.

"Nick's really sick today," Rhiannon said. "Just keep him comfortable today. I'll fix him up for the show tonight."

Kathleen nodded. She wasn't really looking forward to taking care of a sick kid, especially Nick. He seemed especially wimpy when he was sick.

"I've got to go to bed," Rhiannon sighed, making her way to the bedroom door. It was locked, She rested her head against it and sighed again. She knocked softly. No answer.

"Can't you walk through doors?" Kathleen asked, laughing. "I thought vampires could turn into a mist or something and go through doors."

Rhiannon turned to her and shook her head. "Can YOU walk through doors? I can't either." She knocked louder. She heard shuffling inside, then Kevin opened the door.

"Where have you been?" he mumbled, walking back towards the bed.

"Out." Rhiannon pulled off her shoes, socks and pants and climbed into the bed beside AJ.

"Uh uh," Kevin said. "You're sleeping in the middle. He was touching my ass."

"He was what?"

"You heard me. He was touching my ass. You get in the middle. "

"Oh, so he can touch my ass?"

"You don't care if he touches your ass," Kevin laughed.

"You're right. I actually kinda like it when he touches my ass," Rhiannon said, rolling over AJ into the middle of the bed.

"I don't," Kevin said, still laughing. "He has cold hands."

************************************

"Kathleen," Nick croaked.

"Whatcha need?" Kathleen asked, sitting on the couch beside him.

"Something hot. Soup? Or maybe some hot chocolate?"

"Well, let me get the room service menu and we'll see what they have," Kathleen said, grabbing the menu.

Nick thumbed through it.

"Hmmm then again, ice cream sounds good too. How about... banana splits and hot chocolate?" Nick whispered.

"Mmmmm sounds good. Banana splits for breakfast? Why not? We're grownups. We can eat whatever we want," Kathleen laughed, picking up the phone. After she ordered, she sat back down on the other end of the couch. Nick flipped over and put his head in her lap.

"Am I ever gonna get you off my lap?" she laughed.

"No. You have to pet me," Nick whined.

"You sure are whiny."

"I know. I feel bad."

"So I heard. Are you always this whiny when you're sick?"

"Yes."

"God, I'd have to kill you if I had to live with you."

Nick pouted. Kathleen rubbed his head. Nick purred. They watched Top Gun on Cinemax.

"I like this movie," Nick said.

"Me too. Stop talking."

"I can't not talk. It's like telling me not to breath. Or like telling me not to think about something."

"Nick. Stop talking. You're gonna ruin your voice."

"Ok. I'll stop talking." Their banana splits arrived and Kathleen set them out on the table. They began to eat, and Nick winced again.

"Ohh that hurts," he whined, holding his throat.

"Then don't eat it," Kathleen said.

"But I want it..."

Kathleen sighed. "Well eat it. I don't know what to tell you."

Nick threw his spoon down and sat back on the couch, pouting. He squeezed his eyes closed and a tear ran down his cheek.

"What's wrong?" Kathleen exclaimed.

Nick shook his head and his bottom lip trembled.

"What?" Kathleen asked again, scooting over beside him.

"I feel bad," Nick whispered. "My throat hurts. My body hurts. I'm mad."

"I'm sorry," Kathleen said, hugging him. He put his head on her shoulder.

"I need to lay down," Nick whispered. "I feel like I'm gonna pass out."

"Ok." Kathleen let him lay down and put his head in her lap. She rubbed his head again as he shivered. Thankfully, he fell asleep. There was a knock at the door, and she had to ease out from under Nick to answer it.

"Hey Brian," Kathleen said, opening the door wide. "Wanna come in?"

"No way," Brian said, pulling his shirt up over his nose and mouth. "I don't wanna breathe the same air as Typhoid Nicky. I just brought you some stuff that he might need. Nyquil. Some Tylenol with codeine, compliments of Howie. That should help with the body aches. Heating pad for the chills. I hope he's able to perform tonight."

"Rhiannon said... I mean... yeah, I think he'll be ok to go on tonight," Kathleen said, glad she caught herself before she finished the first part of her sentence. Oops.

Brian looked at her strangely for a moment, then nodded. "Ok then. Tell him I hope he feels better. And when you get this, I hope he takes care of you."

"I never get sick," Kathleen said, smiling.

"Yeah, obviously you've never been exposed to Nick-germs. For some reason, his germs are particularly virulent. They tend to infect everyone around. I'll be surprised if all of you don't get sick. Kevin always gets stuff from Nick."

"Nah. We'll be fine," Kathleen said.

"Ok. Well, have a fun day. Me and D are going to some amusement park with some of the dancers."

Kathleen smiled, remembering the night she and Kevin went to Miracle Strip. She would love to do something like that. Maybe she could talk him into going after the show... If Rhiannon was willing to look after Nick, that is.

Kathleen closed the door and went back to Nick. He looked so pale and pitiful. She wondered what in the world Rhiannon was going to be able to do to make him able to perform. He was really sick. He coughed harshly in his sleep and moaned, but didn't open his eyes. Kathleen sat at the other end of the couch and propped her feet up. It was gonna be a looooong day.

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