Theme 012 - Sick (about 1,396 words)

Rex was sick. His head hurt , his body ached , ans he felt horrible. Just horrible. His nose was all stuffy and his mouth was dry. He was nasu and had stomach pains. He slept very little so he was exhausted. Any sleep wasn't restful it was filled with nightmares due to his high fever. Having the flu just sucked. He felt like death. He figured he looked like it too but he didn't care. He coughed as he turned over in bed. His cough was one that was deep and dry. His chest and lungs hurt worse as he coughed. He moaned as he closed his eyes. He took a ragged breath. Just breathing hurt. He was hot then cold. Hot and cold. It sucked. Holiday came to check on him hourly during the day and let him be at night but Holiday and Six took turns sitting with him both day and night. Bringing him water, or toast, comforting him. Little things but it meant a lot to Rex.

The thirteen year old clung to his old stuffed llama named Green Bean as he lay on his side, half awake. He hadn't cuddled with the toy for at least a year but he wanted something to cuddle with now that he was sick. Six dug through the cabinets and  random junk in them to find the dusty llama. The boy was thrilled to see the toy and hugged Six tight when he handed the toy to the boy.

Some how Rex managed to fall asleep. It wasn't restful as he tossed and turned but it was something. He curled up into a ball as he held onto the plushie llama as if it was a life line. He moaned in his sleep as he turned over. If it was from pain or a bad dream Six couldn't tell but he did hold out a hand to rub the boy's back comfortingly. It was something. The best the green clad ninja could do. The boy tossed and turned some more before he woke up winning and in tears.

Six reached over to the night stand and picked up the water bottle that was there. He unscrewed the cap and handed the bottle to Rex and leaned in to rub his back some more. "Here drink up. You need some water to stay hydrated and I'm sure your mouth is all dry. It'll help you." Rex sniffled and nodded as he to a sip of the water. He held back the urge to just chug it in order to hydrate his mouth. He hated it when his mouth as all dry. "Just take it easy Rex." Six said as he continued rubbing the boy's back.

"I don't feel good, I feel so sick." Rex whined.

"Like you're gonna throw up?" Six ask as he started to reach for the bucket just in case.

 Rex nodded as he held his stomach. Six handed him the bucket an helped the boy out of bed. He held the bucket close to the boy as he helped him to the bath room. Leading him by one arm around his shoulders as the other held the bucket even as Rex gripped the bucket just to make sure he didn't drop it.

They made it to the bathroom without him throwing up but it was just in time as Rex violently threw up into the toilet and onto his shirt.Six crouched beside the boy rubbing to his back. After a minute or two of retching the boy was left panting trying  to catch his breath. Six patted his back a few times as he helped him up "Let's get you cleaned up." Six said as he got a wet washed cloth and rubbed the boy's face clean. He then lead the boy back to his room.

"Let's get you into a clean shirt." Six helped the boy out of his current shirt and tossed it into a near by hamper. He pulled put a clean one and helped Rex into it before helping him back into bed.

"You okay now?"

"I have a gross taste in my mouth"

"That's from all the vomiting. Here drink this" Six handed the water bottle from before back to Rex. The boy finished the bottle off.

"Okay other then the gross taste , you're alright now?" The guardian asked the child.

"I still feel sick" He whined.

"But not throw up sick right?" Six asked. Rex shook his head.

"I feel achy all over. I feel horrible." The boy complained

"I know , I know. I wish there was more we can do but now you just have to get though, You still have another hour before you can take more medicine sorry buddy." The boy whined as he flopped down on his pillow. "My stomach hurts too" He mumbled into his pillow.

"Probably from all that throwing up." the ninja sighed "You want to try to eat something? I can go get you some toast to nibble on." Six offered.

The boy sat up normally and nodded. "Yes please."

The ninja stood. "Alright I'll be back soon." with that he headed for the door. Rex whined some more as the man got up to leave. Six realized it was because he was being left alone. He sighed as he got to the door he tuned and looked back at the boy one last time. "I'll tell Holiday to come check in on you while I'm making the toast okay?" Rex smiled weakly and nodded to the ninja. "Alright. We'll both be in shortly." Six confirmed before heading out the door too find the good doctor then to the kitchen to make some toast, and maybe a cup of coffee for himself.

He got to Holiday's lab and offered the tired doctor a small smile. "Rex is up." He informed her.

"How is he?"

"I gave him some water and he quickly threw up again. I got him cleaned up and back in bed. He wants to try and eat something now so I'm on my way to make him a slice of plain toast. You want to go check up on him while I'm doing that? He really doesn't want to be alone for long right now." Holiday nodded as she got up and headed for the door of her lab.

"Did you check on his fever yet?" She asked the man.

"Didn't get the chance too" Six answered.

Holiday nodded once more as she met Six at the door and with that Holiday went to go check on Rex. Her and Six walked together most of the way before Six had to turn to go to the kitchen. It was only a little way more to Rex's room anyway.

She entered the room and smiled too the boy in the bed. "Hi Rex how are you feeling today?"

"A little better I guess but I still feel crappy."

"Yeah well you'll feel crappy for a few days unfortunately but you're tough right?" She asked as she got a thermometer ready.

"I'm tough!" the boy smiled up to her.

"Good now open your mouth for me, and keep the thermometer under your tongue.You know the dill by now."  The boy nodded and did as he was told. He waited until it beeped and he took it out handing it to the doctor. Holiday took it and read it.

"Looks like you're temperature is down some, that's good but you still have a fever. You're getting better though maybe you are ready for something to eat." As if on que Six arrived with a palate that had a single plain slice of toast on it and another bottle of water.

"Take your time Rex, just a few bites will be good." They informed him as he nibbled on the crusts slowly. He manage to keep the little bit down and followed it with a sip of water. He was sick but slowly getting better. He like the attention that Six and Holiday gave him and he liked sleeping with Green Bean again, he missed the stuffed llama. He didn't have to train like this either. He hated being really sick like he was earlier in the week and being stuck in bed and sick sucked no matter what but there was the little things that made the situation better for him. He  was thankful for the two caring people before him. Even if he was sick.