"LET ME UP! LET ME UP! LETMEUP!!!"
Scott woke up to Ryan frantically tearing his arms away and throwing the blanket off. He ran off to the bathroom before Scott could even grab the trashcan.
"D-don't come in here!" Ryan ordered as he slammed the bathroom door. The noise that followed indicated his emptying out of an entirely different orifice.
What time was it? They must have fallen asleep at some point. The television was stuck on the 'Are you still watching?' screen. Scott stretched, several joints popping. He checked his phone. It was nearly 2am.
Scott waited an appropriate amount of time, taking the opportunity to change into some sleepware, then gently tapped on the door. "You okay in there?" he asked.
A moaning "I'm... okaaay..." was his reply.
Scott went back to the living room and measured out another dose of medicine, stifling a yawn. He went ahead and turned the TV off. The bathroom door clicked open.
"How are you feeling? Is your stomach okay?" Scott met Ryan at the door, holding out the tiny cup of pink fluid.
Ryan took the cup, sucking down it's contents. He gave Scott a pitiful look. "I hate being sick..."
Scott pulled him in for a hug, rubbing his back and being sure to give an extra reassuring squeeze. "Let's take your temperature again. Then, I want you to try drinking a little. Then we'll go to bed. How's that sound?"
"Okay," came the meek reply. He realized Scott had changed clothes. He was wearing the same black pajamas from two weeks ago.
Scott gave one more squeeze, then started moving things to the bedroom, Ryan included, who tried to protest as he was led by the shoulders and made to sit on the bed. Scott's bedroom was huge, with a soft king sized bed dominating the space.
"Shouldn't I sleep on the couch...?"
Scott yawned, handing over the thermometer. "I should rub your belly some more though, and I sleep better in my bed."
Ryan didn't have a response to that. He sheepishly put the thermometer under his tongue as Scott moved the last of the supplies to the obviously unused nightstand. The last thing was that trashcan he kept trying to get Ryan to use. Ryan did NOT want to use it if he could he could help it. The thermometer beeped and Scott checked the reading. A tired smile formed on his lips.
"98.9! That's great, Hot Stuff!" He handed over a fresh bottle of Gatorade, straw included. "I want you to drink a quarter of this, then we'll go to bed, okay?"
Ryan nodded, and started sipping. The drink was cold, condensation forming on the bottle, and at the moment, was the most fucking delicious thing in the whole world. He realized he was actually thirsty, and was able to down half of it before his body told him to stop.
Scott meanwhile, was turning down blankets and fluffing pillows. Sleepy as he was, seeing Ryan put that half-empty bottle on the nightstand filled him with incredible relief. He crawled across the bed an wrapped his arms around Ryan's shoulders. He gave a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Bed time, Hot Stuff," he murmured into Ryan's ear.
"That's the nickname you're going with?" Ryan asked, amused.
Scott nodded, adding an "Mm-hm."
The realization came all at once. Ryan was sitting in Scott's bed. With Scott. Scott was clinging to him. He wasn't wearing his collar! He'd thrown it on the bathroom floor last night! Oh no. Was it at his apartment? He reached up reflexively to cover the back of his neck.
Scott backed off at Ryan's motion. He'd anticipated this after all.
"Don't worry. Your collar's in the kitchen. I'll get it for you."
Scott levered himself off the bed and left, leaving Ryan by himself. Being in his boyfriend's bedroom with his boyfriend was one thing, but being in his boyfriend's bedroom alone was a different kind of strange. Luckily, he wasn't left alone for long. Scott returned quickly with his protective device.
Ryan took it from him, putting it on and lacing it up quietly in a well-practiced motion, though he tied it a hair looser than he normally did. When he was done, he felt a little silly. Did he really think Scott was going to attack him while he slept? After how kind he'd been all day?
Once Ryan firmly had his collar on, Scott asked, "Better now?"
Ryan nodded sheepishly.
"Good. Now, come here."
Scott turned out the lights and slipped under the covers, holding them open for Ryan, who hesitated. Scott opened them a little more, insistent on his invitation.
Ryan got in gingerly. What was there to be nervous about? Scott draped the covers over him and got super close. On his side, head propped on one arm, he commenced the promised belly rubs.
"Comfortable?" Scott yawned.
"Yes... Thank you..."
Scott started humming 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' matching his movements to the melody, slow and steady. The world was quiet, and peaceful. Ryan let himself be carried off to sleep.
Scott on the other hand, tired as he was, waited until he was sure Ryan was out to settle in. He draped his arm across Ryan's chest, setting his hand just above Ryan's heart. The steady rhythm was the most calming thing in the world.
The current situation wasn't lost on him His boyfriend was in his bed. The most beautiful person in the world was currently next to him, asleep, in his bed. He forced certain thoughts down. Ryan was in no shape for such things.
He'd never had a relationship take this long, but he had a strong feeling that this one was worth it. He would wait until Ryan was ready. In the meantime, he was needed now. He was going to show Ryan he was the best damn boyfriend in the whole damn world.
--------------------
Morning sun peaked through the tiny gap in the curtains. Scott's eyes blinked open. There was a weight on his chest. He looked down to see brown hair. Ryan was using him as a pillow. Their legs were tangled together. It was a wonderful feeling. He freed a hand and brushed some stray hair from Ryan's face, as his braid had mostly come loose during the night.
Shit.
He felt Ryan's cheek with the back of his hand. The fever had come back. He knew he needed to check Ryan's temperature, but he was sleeping so peacefully! Ryan was cuddled up under his arm, gently hugging his torso. They were close enough to the nightstand with the he supplies on it, if he just reached a bit...
Ryan stirred, making a tiny noise in his sleep. Scott's fingers finally closed around the thermometer. Ryan snuggled in tighter, burying his face in Scott's armpit.
"You awake, Hot Stuff?" Scott whispered.
"No... What time is it...? Am I late for work...?" Ryan's reply was muffled.
Scott shifted to curl around his boyfriend, supporting his head with his arm. He teased Ryan's lips with the thermometer. "Open up."
Ryan obeyed, letting Scott slide the device under his tongue. His head hurt, and his eyes were heavily lidded. He needed to know what time it was. He had to work today.
Scott watched the numbers closely. By the time the thermometer beeped, it read 100 even. He put it back on the nightstand and pulled Ryan closer.
"You're not going anywhere today, Hot Stuff."
"I don't wanna call out again..." Ryan whined, yielding to the embrace. Scott's smell, and his strong arms... They made him feel so safe. He wanted to stay there forever. But, nature was calling. He sighed heavily and pulled away.
"I've gotta go to the bathroom..."
"Yeah, me too. You first."
He let Ryan up and stretched lazily in the bed. He tried not to think too much about the sound coming from his bathroom. He was just happy Ryan was hydrated enough to urinate. He looked over at his alarm clock. It was just a little past 9. He levered himself out of bed and stretched again.
The bathroom door clicked open and they traded places. Ryan went to sit on the couch. His phone was still on the coffee table from the night before. He checked the time and groaned. He was definitely late for work... And there were several missed calls…
Scott came out of the bathroom to find a very distressed Ryan on the phone.
"...Yes, I know but- ...I'm really sorry about- ...Yes, and- ...I know- ...I'm sorry..." When he hung up he was on the verge of tears.
Scott sat next to him on the couch, wrapping a protective arm around him.
"What's wrong?"
"I... I was supposed to be at the grocery at 8..." He sniffed loudly. "Saturdays are really busy and... and the manager was really mad... and... and he said if I didn't get a doctor's note... that... that I'd get a write-up..."
Scott shushed him, holding him a little closer. He grabbed a tissue from the box on the table and handed it over for Ryan to blow his nose. At this point, he wasn't exactly fond of ANY of Ryan's managers he'd met.
"Shhhh... It's okay," he soothed, "I can write you a doctor's note. I AM a doctor, remember? Did you have to work anywhere else today?"
Ryan nodded. "Michaelangelo's"
"Want me to call them?"
"No... It's early enough... It should be okay..."
Scott hovered for the whole phone call, ready to take over at the slightest sign of distress.