Chapter 12
"Kevin, I don't feel like doing my homework!" Nick whined. "I've been helping you all day and I'm tired!"
"Okay, Nicky, I'm going to cut you a break. I'll let you look up the answers in the teacher's edition while I make dinner."
Howie cleared his throat. "Kevin! That's not fair!"
"Well, do you feel like getting up and giving the kid his lessons?"
He sniffled. "No."
"My point exactly. Besides, after the crap we both put up with from the three of you we both need a break."
Brian snuggled under his blankie. "What crap?"
Kevin faced him. "What crap? Taking your temperatures, making your food, bringing you drinks and blankets all damn day! It's hard to deal without Howie helping me."
Howie stood. "I'm not that sick, Kev, I'll help if you need me to. You want me to make dinner?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that, D. I know you don't feel well, you've been having migraines on and off all today and yesterday. I can make dinner," he answered rubbing his forehead.
Brian frowned. "You okay, Kev? You don't look well."
Kevin grimaced entering the kitchen. "Sorry, Rok. I'm A-OK. You still owe me thirty bucks."
"Damn!" He refrained. "But seriously Kev....You don't look so well."
AJ laughed sipping his water. "Give it up, Rok! You're not gonna' win the bet."
Nick glanced up from his text. "Could we watch 'Cinderella?'"
"NO!" AJ and Brian shouted in unison.
Howie sighed. "Let him watch there's nothing better to do."
"But we've seen it tons of times," AJ sighed.
Nick pouted. "So, you stepped on my stomach tons of times! And I have the bruises to prove it!"
"I hate it when he has a point," AJ snarled handing the blonde the remote.
Brian nodded. "Luckily, it doesn't happen very often."
"Hey!" Nick yelped staring at them. "Lay off. I helped take care of you babies."
"We're not babies!" AJ coughed.
"Yes, you are you dummy! You whine more than he does you dil-do!" Kevin hollered from the kitchen.
Brian rolled his eyes shouting. "Anyone would whine that had to eat that awful thing you cooked!"
Kevin stuck with head out the door. "I think you and AJ are well enough to get off your asses and stop getting taken care of with all the complaints you have!"
"Ooooooh," Brian groaned holding his head. "I'm too weak!"
AJ moaned. "Oooooooooh, me too!"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "What I would give to have my own apartment right now!"
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"Kevin, this actually really good soup!" AJ exclaimed feeding his thin frame.
Brian nodded. "Yeah, even Kev can't mess up canned soup!"
"Be nice," Howie sighed sipping his hot tea.
Nick wrinkled his nose. "How can you eat soup and drink hot tea together, D?"
"When you're throat hurts bad enough it doesn't matter." He faced Kevin. "You haven't touched your meal."
"Howie, don't treat me like a toddler. I'm fine."
Brian beamed. "See, I knew he didn't look well!"
Kevin stood. "I'm fine!" He stepped away from his chair wobbling on his feet. "Whoa!" He bent down clutching his brow. "I'm so dizzy! The room is freakin' spinning!"
Howie knelt down at his side helping him to his feet. "Just get back in your chair and relax. Nick, can you go get him a cold cloth?"
"Sure!"
Brian joined them. "You okay, Kev?"
"Yeah, but I don't get it...What's wrong with me?"
AJ pressed his hand to Kevin's brow. "You're burning up!"
"Huh?"
"Wow, you're weren't joking when you said you had never been sick."
Brian returned to his seat. "He honestly has never been sick. But I'm thirty bucks richer!"
Kevin groaned. "Oh, God, this is awful....I'm so sorry I ever teased you guys."
Nick returned placing a damp rag to Kevin's forehead. "Just keep that there." He placed a thremometer between his lips. "And don't bite on that."
Howie sat down. "Now, four of us are down for the count."
"Oh, no!" Kevin groaned. "I am just fine!"
Brian sighed. "Shut up, so, he can check your temperature. And you are not fine! You're glands are swollen I can see them here, you're deathly pale and you're shaking. "
Kevin shrugged. "So?"
"I'm going to take care of you!"
"No, you're not," Howie responded. "You and AJ are still sick."
The thremometer sounded. Kevin shook his head. "None of you are taking care of me! And I'm not that sick!"
"Yes, you are!" Nick argued. "Your temperature is 101.4."
"101.4?" Brian repeated. "Good grief, Kev, you should've told us!"
Kevin coughed roughly. "How would I know? This is the first time I've ever been sick!"
Nick patted his back. "It's okay. I'll take care of you."
"You? The boy who can't even read an old fashioned thremometer? I don't think so!"
AJ chuckled. "With a fever like that you don't have much of a choice."
Nick helped the older man to his feet. "Go change into your pajamas and lay down on the couch. I'll bring some medicine and hot tea."
"Hot tea?" Kevin whined. "I hate hot tea!"
AJ and Brian smiled. "What goes around comes around..."