Chapter 14
"Okay Nicky, just rest there and I'm gonna put the garbage pail here if you need to be sick again." Howie said as he tucked a weary Nick into bed. Nick nodded falling into a deep sleep immediately. AJ set down Patches who curled up besides Nick and went to sleep. Brian hung back in the door way scratching furiously at his skin. Howie took notice to Brian's discomfort. "Hey B-Rok why don't you go sit in an oatmeal bath for a little while, that should help the itching and irritation." Brain made a face.
"Oatmeal?"
"Yes, oatmeal, and after that put some more calamine on you." Howie responded. Brian sighed and went to run the bath. As the water ran into the tub, he poured in a good amount of oatmeal and left the tap running to go find some clothes to change into.
Kevin limped into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, throwing his soiled shirt to the side. He needed a shower as he still felt dirty from Nick puking on him. Yanking back the shower curtain, he saw that someone else obviously was going to take a bath. Kevin shrugged. Oh well, his tub now. Anyway, no one had wanted to help him so why should he care who's bath it was going to be. Stripping down, he stepped into the hot water and relaxed. Someone knocked at the door.
"WHAT?!" Kevin yelled.
"Kev? Are you almost done in there? I need to take my bath!" Brian's voice said. Oh so it was Brian's bath, not any more.
"No, go away I'm taking a bath right now." Kevin responded annoyed.
"But I put.."
I don't care what you did Brian, I said leave me alone!"
"But Kev.."
"I'M NOT KIDDING LITTRELL!"
"Fine suit yourself." Brian said, stomping away. Ah peace at last, Kevin thought. He shifted in the water and felt a strange feeling at his injury. Looking down he gasped. Was it...crust? He must have been more hurt than he thought! It had gotten infected! Pulling the plug, he jumped out of the tub and watched the milky water run down the drain. Oh no, it was spreading! He pulled his pants on and ran into the den looking for a phone book to call the nearest doctor. AJ looked up from where he was laying lazily on the sofa. "Where's the fire Train?" Kevin looked up from his search.
"Not now AJ!"
"Dang I see your attitude's back! Man you get puked on once and the world's over!" He replied, rubbing his temples. Brian wandered in to the room still scratching away.
"Thank God you're out Kevin! First you shut me out of the bathroom and now I don't even know if we have any more oatmeal! Man, you didn't even need it, what a waste!" He shouted, walking into the kitchen. Kevin paused.
"Did you say oatmeal? Oatmeal was in that bath?"
Yes, Howie said it would help my chicken pox." Kevin fell back in relief.
"Oh thank you God!" He screamed out loud.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" An agitated, itchy Brian asked, reappearing.
"Nothing, go take your bath." Giving him one more weird look, Brian ventured back into the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Howie?" a small voice called from the bedroom. Howie looked up from his novel, where he was reading on the sofa while AJ and Brian played cards beside him. Kevin had gone to take a nap in the other bed room and Nick had been sleeping until now, almost dinner time. Howie jumped up and walked into the dark room.
"Hey Nicky, feelin' any better?" Nick shook his head no. Howie looked alarmed.
"Are you gonna be sick again?" He asked, grabbing the garbage pail.
"No." Nick croaked.
"What's wrong then?" Howie felt Nick's warm forehead, pushing back his blonde hair from his eyes.
" I feel awful." Howie gave him a sympathetic look.
"I know buddy, I'm afraid to give you Tylenol though because you may not keep it down. You want a little something to eat? Some toast or something light?" Nick turned away, shaking his head.
"Nick, please try for me, you haven't eaten in almost two days." Howie pleaded.
"My mouth hurts, the sores are irritating." Nick told him. Howie sighed.
"Well, I'll send Kevin to the store and have him ask the pharmacist what we can do for that, we need more oatmeal anyway before Brian scratches his skin off. Can you at least try and drink?" Nick looked hesitant.
"Maybe some water." He croaked. Howie smiled. "All right, I'll be right back." Howie walked into the kitchen, and took the spaghetti off the stove. "Dinner guys!" He called into the living room. A tired Brian and AJ dragged themselves to the table. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna give Nicky his water." Brian looked up.
"He any better?"
"No, his mouth hurts." Brian shook his head. "Poor kid must be uncomfortable. I know how he feels because someone stole my oatmeal!!" He yelled into the other room. Howie rolled his eyes.
"I'm gonna make Kevin go to the store, Nick is very uncomfortable. If he doesn't go tonight, he can stay up with him all night!" Howie knocked on Kevin's door on the way to Nick. "Dinner Kevin!" He got a grunt in response. He continued on to Nick and Brian's bedroom and handed the sick child the water. Nick looked up. "Howie?"
"Yes, Nick?"
"Why did Kevin take an oatmeal bath?"
"I don't know Nick, maybe he didn't know it was in there."
"Is he stupid? It gets stuck to your skin, I took one earlier!"
"Nick, don't call people stupid, it's not nice."
The teen gave Howie a knowing look. "He's stupid and his crotch is gonna fall off." Howie's eyes widened.
"Nick what are you taking about?"
"Ask AJ, it's his theory." Howie shook his head.
"I don't wanna know, call me if you need me."
Sitting down at the table he noticed Kevin eating. To Howie's surprise he had gotten out of bed. The other two plates were untouched. Howie looked at the grumpy, younger Backsteet Boys. "What's the problem?"
Brian looked a little green. "I don't have any appetite, my stomach's churning." Howie closed his eyes, he didn't want a repeat performance of the last meal they had. "Go lay down now Brian." Brian didn't argue and got up from the table, sending Kevin one last nasty look as he exited, scratching his belly. Howie turned to the rebel. "AJ? You love spaghetti!"
"Sorry D. My head's killin' me!" Howie sighed and reached to feel AJ's forehead, but he pulled away. "Go take some Tylenol and lay down." He ordered. AJ was a closed book when it came to sickness, never wanting to admit it. AJ left the table, rubbing his temples. Howie turned to Kevin. "Are you all right Kev?" Kevin nodded.
"Yeah D I'm all good, you?"
"I had the chicken pox, don't worry about me!" Kevin chuckled.
"I think I'm a little too old to catch them Howie."
"Never say never Kevin. And by the way, you need to go to the store for Nick and Brian."
"What? Why?"
"Brian needs more oatmeal because of you." Howie didn't notice Kevin blush at the statement. "And Nick needs some sort of mouth sore medicine, he won't eat anything because of the pox." Kevin sighed.
"I have to go out in 15 degree weather for that?"
"Yes." Kevin was about to refuse but then he looked at the weary Howie and changed his mind. He hadn't been paying much attention to the two, possibly three sick ones and Howie was exhausted having made all their meals and taking care of them.
"Okay Howie, I got it, you go relax and I'll take care of them from now on, I'm sorry I've been an ass, it's just I've had some bad luck in the injury department." Howie's mouth almost fell over. Kevin was gonna do something? Maybe he was sick too. Oh well no time to find out, he was gonna jump at this opportunity. Kevin being helpful came about as often as an ice age. His thought were interrupted by three voices.
"My mouth huuuurts!"
"I think I'm gonna be sick!"
"Damn headache!" Howie marched off to his room.
"Have fun Kevy!"