Avoiding a Cold

[aggedy_ann]

“Hahshoo!”

 

Tim opened his eyes as Ethan sneezed trying to quietly pull clothes from his closet.  Quietly being the operative word.  As usual, his overactive nose, particularly in the mornings, had other ideas.

 

“Morning.”  Tim sniffled.

 

Ethan, finished gathering his his clothes, moved to the doorway.  “Hi, honey.  How are you feeling?”

 

Tim coughed roughly into the blanket.  “Worse.” His voice was hoarse.  “Didn’t sleep for shit.”

 

Ethan nodded, swallowing his guilt.  “I could hear you.  Didn’t sound restful.”  He wanted to cross over to Tim, rub his back, try to make him feel better, but he was leaving town in three days.  He was not taking Tim’s miserable cold with.

 

“Hahhrahhghshoo, Ahhrrzshoo!”  Tim groaned as he sneezed, then drenched a wad of tissues as he blew his nose.

 

“Bless you.  Want me to put some breakfast on the dresser for you?”

 

“No.” Tim pouted.

 

“Just a glass of orange juice and some water, then.”

 

Tim started to shake his head, but caught Ethan’s “nurse” look and stopped.

 

“You,” Ethan paused. “Atshoo!  You need to stay hydrated.”

 

“Will you stay with me?”

 

Ethan sighed, guilt welling back up inside of him.  “I can’t catch this from you, hon.  Not right now.  It’s the worst time for me to get sick.”  

 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.  You and your stupid conference.  At least bring me another box of tissues before you go back to hiding in the guest room.”

 

Ethan sighed.  “I’m not…look, I don’t enjoy sleeping in the guest room any more than you like it, but…”

 

“Hahhrshehh, hahhrehhshehh!” Tim interrupted.

 

“Bless you.  I’ll bring you tissues.”  Ethan turned from the door frame.

 

He returned to set the items on the dresser, clearing his throat to get Tim’s attention.  “We’re almost out of orange juice.  Do you need anything else from the store?”

 

“Cough drops.”  Tim rasped

“You have cough drops.”

 

“I want cherry.”

 

“Ok.”  Ethan nodded, adding it to his mental list.  “I’ll be back.  I expect these empty.”  He indicated the glass and water bottle.  

 

Tim groaned, pulling the covers up over his head.   

 

 

Ethan made his way through the pharmacy, grabbing cough drops, more hand sanitizer and orange juice.  Remembering, they were almost out of bandaids; he’d done a good job on his index finger with a paring knife last week; he stopped in front of the bandages and medical supplies.   A box of medical masks caught his attention, and on impulse, he threw them into his cart.

 

He put the orange juice away after pouring Tim a fresh glass.  Before heading to the bedroom, he slipped a mask on.

 

“Hey.”  He waited for Tim to finish coughing.

 

“You look stupid.”

 

“I’m not getting this.”  He noticed Tim had grabbed extra blankets from the closet while he was gone.   “Chilled?”

 

“Freezing.”  Instead of moving for his juice, Tim wrapped the blankets tighter.

 

Ethan left the doorway and rested a hand on Tim’s forehead.   “Pretty warm.  I’ll get the thermometer since I don’t think you felt up to going to get it.”

 

“It’s 99.2” Tim reported, pulling away and wrenching to the side.  “Huhhhyyeshooo.   Hhhyyeeshhoo.”  He grabbed tissues from the box lying on the bed next to him, and Ethan swore those were the loudest nose blows he’d ever heard in his life.   

 

“Bless you.”

 

Tim grunted.

 

“Need anything else?”

 

“You.”

 

Ethan sighed.  “I can’t.  You know that.”

 

“I know. I know.  Your stupid conference.  What’s the worst about you getting sick anyway?”

 

Ethan sighed again.  “First of all, I don’t want to be sick.  Period.  I don’t want to travel sick.  Toby’s gonna spend the 6 and a half hour drive and hotel stay making fun of how much I sneeze anyway, so let’s not amplify it, especially with what you’ve got.  I don’t want to get Toby sick, especially whatever you’ve got.  Plus take my normal sneezing and increase it, and I’ll be pretty disruptive at a conference.”

 

“Fine.” Tim pouted.  “Just don’t worry about me.  I’ll be fine.  I’m just dying.”   He flopped down on the bed.  “You and your stupid mask can go back to the guest room.”

 

Another sigh.  “You do realize, this mask keeps me out of the doorway?”

 

His only response was a series of harsh coughs muffled in the blankets.

 

Ethan curled up on the couch with a book and tried to read, but the noise from the bedroom made it hard.  Even though he was sure Tim was making everything louder on purpose, he felt a twinge of guilt with every harsh cough and sneeze emanating from the bedroom.

 

Normally, he’d be fussing over him, cuddling him, using all his nursing skills to make Tim feel better.  Right now, he was barely going near him.   He knew that had to be hard for Tim; he’d grown used to Ethan fussing every little thing.

 

He heard Tim coughing again, but this time, the coughing didn’t stop.  Filling a new glass with water, he pulled his mask on and headed to the bedroom.  Tim sat on the bed, coughs no longer laugh and harsh, but strained and wheezy.  Ethan took one look at him.  “Inhaler.”

 

Tim shook his head.

 

Ethan frowned.  Tim was stubborn and melodramatic, but he wasn’t stupid.  “Why?”

 

“Don’t…have…” Tim managed.  “Back-“

 

Before he could finish, Ethan was out of room and digging through Tim’s backpack until he found the item.   In seconds, he was at the bed, handing it over.   He waited impatiently while Tim used it.

 

“Better?  Is it better?”

 

Tim let out a few wheezy breaths, then coughed again.   He nodded, taking the water Ethan had left on the nightstand.  

 

“Keep that close.”  Ethan ordered.

 

Tim nodded, turning his head and sneezing into his forearm.  “Hahhregghshoo, gehhshoo!!”

 

Ethan stepped back.   “Bless you.”   He rubbed Tim’s back for  few seconds.   “You need anything else?”

 

Rubbing his nose, Tim shook his head.  “Jus’ sleep, I guess.”  He sighed, knowing it would only irritate Ethan to keep asking for him.  He tucked his legs back up under the blankets.   

 

Ethan pulled the rest of the covers over him, then headed for the door, using a liberal amount of the hand sanitizer he had stashed on the dresser on the way out.

 

Ethan spent the afternoon reading and even managed to get a nap in while Tim slept.  This was turning into par for the course for Tim: the morning spent coughing and sneezing, the afternoon spent sleeping, followed by more coughing and sneezing with an early bedtime.   He stood in the doorway and glowered until Tim picked his way through a bowl of soup, glaring. 

 

“Wanna pick a movie?” Ethan suggested, trying to lighten Tim’s mood.

 

“And you’ll watch it from the living room again?”

 

“Text back and forth?”

 

Tim shook his head.  “Might as well sleep.” He grumbled.

 

“Talk on the phone?  We had some great nights that way when we first started dating.”

 

Tim perked slightly before sneezing.  “HuhhRuhhshoo, Ruhhshoo, Ruuhhggshoo, uhhhggesshooo!”  He shook his head slightly to clear it, reaching for the tissues.   “Maybe just some TV, for a little while.  I don’t think I’m up for a movie.” He admitted.  

 

Ethan nodded, picking up Coco as she nuzzled around his legs.   “Why don’t you see what you can find?  I’ll grab you some more water.”

 

Tim coughed roughly against his wrist.  “Ok.”  

 

By the time Ethan had returned with the water, Tim had settled on a stretch of “Golden Girls” reruns.  He picked up his phone as Ethan headed back to the living room to get comfortable on the couch.   He made it through an episode and a half before asking Ethan to bring him the NyQuil.

 

After delivering the NyQuil and saying goodnight from the doorway, Ethan returned to the couch.  Glancing at his discarded book, he yawned.   Maybe a shower and an early night wouldn’t be a bad idea.  The extra rest would hopefully help keep him from picking up Tim’s cold.   

 

Ethan could hear Tim coughing when he woke up the next morning.   Poking his head in with water and juice, he was just in time to see Tim double over with a pair of violent sneezes.   “HeyyyYyyesshahhh, Yyyyesshahhhh!”

 

“Bless you.”  He cleared his throat, setting the glasses on the dresser.

 

Tim snatched up tissues for several loud, gurgling blows.  “Thanks,” he sniffled.   

 

“Going to ditch work today?”

 

“I don’t know.  See how the DayQuil does first, I guess.”

 

“I’ll…” Ethan paused, pulling his t-shirt up. “Hatshoo! I’ll go get it.”   

 

Returning and setting the pills on the dresser, he surveyed Tim.   “You recheck your temperature at all?”

 

Tim shook his head, picking up the thermometer.   “98.7.” Came the report.   

 

“I’d say you’re ok for work, symptoms not limiting.   Breakfast?”

 

Tim shook his head.  “Not yet.  Just the juice.”

 

“I’m gonna eat mine, get ready to go.  Need anything else?”

 

Another head shake from Tim.

 

“If you’re sleeping when I leave, I won’t wake you.”

 

“Appreciate that.  Have a good day at work.”

 

“If you don’t work, then get some good rest.  He blew Tim a kiss from the door.

 

Tim wasn’t home when Ethan got home from work, so work must be going ok, he mused.   He was in an hour later, just as Ethan was finishing his supper.    

 

“I’ll get you some soup.”

 

Tim nodded.   “I’m going to bed after that.”

 

Ethan offered a sympathetic smile.   “Wore yourself out?”

 

Tim nodded.  “Yeah.”  He headed for the bedroom to crawl into bed as Ethan prepared a bowl of soup.  Tim was half asleep when Ethan brought the soup and NyQuil in.

 

Tuesday started off the same, however, when Ethan got home, he found Tim in bed.   

 

“Thought you went to work?”

 

“Think I overdid.  Only made it half the day.”  Tim’s voice was rough and hoarse, and he winced as he coughed.   “HuhhRahjshoo, Rahhshehhh!”

 

“Bless you.  You want anything other than soup?”

 

“Tea?  My throat’s pretty sore from all this.”

 

Ethan nodded, going to the kitchen to reheat some leftover spaghetti for himself, and soup and tea for Tim.

 

After dinner tonight was different.   Instead of distancing from Tim, yet again, he pulled his suitcase from the hall closet and carried it into the bedroom to begin packing for the 4 day conference.   “Hatchoo!” He sneezed loudly, setting it on the bed, waking Tim.    

 

Tim looked confused.   “You’re in here.”

 

“Have to pack.”

 

“Right.  Stupid conference that’s keeping you away from me.”  Tim picked up a crumpled tissue off the bed to blow his nose with.

 

Ethan winced at the sound.  He knew Tim was playing it up to make him feel guilty, but, Tim did sound awful.   If the clinic wasn’t paying…and it wasn’t so much money, he’d seriously consider canceling.  Tim would be fine, he reassured himself, throwing his dress clothes in the bag, followed by jeans and pajamas.

 

“Hehhssshoo, hehhyjjehhshoo, ecckszshoo, heyyyeckshoo!”  Tim’s sneezes shook the bed, and Ethan had to grab for his suitcase before it slid off.

 

“Bless you.”

 

“Yyyuhhshoo, heyyyuughhshoo!” Two more loud sneezes, and Tim fell dramatically down on the bed, blowing his nose.  

 

Ethan gave him a sympathetic look from behind his mask.  “Bless you, babe.   Ready to hit the NyQuil?”

 

Tim nodded, snuffling into his wad of tissues.   

 

Ethan carried his suitcase into the guest room, then returned with a packet of nyquil capsules.   “Set your alarm for 1:30.   You can have more then.” He gently told Tim, handing over the pills.   

 

Tim gulped down pills and water, then coughed.   “All done packing?”

 

“Just the stuff that goes in in the morning…meds, toothbrush, you know.”

 

“What if I get you sick?”  Tim asked in a small, hoarse voice.

 

“I put cold medicine in my bag, just in case.”

 

Tim nodded.  “Got tissues?  I know you hate the hotel ones.”

 

Ethan made a face, although he knew Tim couldn’t see it behind his mask.  “They’re scratchy.” He complained.

 

“Only the best for your nose, huh?”

 

“You know it.  And there’s a box in my bag.”

 

“Got enough socks?”

 

Ethan rolled his eyes.  “Yes.  And before you ask about my underwear, that’s in there too.”

 

“Just making sure.” Tim coughed, as the cats peered curiously at Ethan’s suitcase.

 

Ethan shooed them away and zipped it up.   “I know you want me to stay in here.”

 

“But you can’t get sick.”

 

“And,” Ethan said, gently, “you need your rest.  Toby’s picking me up at 6 tomorrow morning.  If you’re sleeping…”

 

“I’ll call you when I wake up.” Tim finished the sentence.   

 

Ethan nodded, bringing his arm up.  “Hahshoo!” He caught Tim’s worried look and smiled.  “Just a sneeze.” He reassured.  “No earache.  You haven’t gotten me sick yet.”

 

Tim nodded, letting out a sigh.  “I suppose it wouldn’t make any difference if I had.”

 

“Nope.”  Ethan shook his head.  “Clinic’s paying.  Still gotta go.”

 

Tim fumbled for the tissues, grabbing two and covering his nose, just in time.  “Ahhrghhshehhh, hehhhshhhehhshoo, ehhhshoo, eehhhYyyehhshoo!”

 

“Bless you.  Now get some rest.  I know you want to try work in the morning.”

 

Tim nodded.  “Yeah.  At least through writing.”  He paused and coughed. “If I’m sleeping, have a good time.  Good night.  Thanks for kinda taking care of me.”

 

Ethan laughed.  “This,” he paused, “was harder than actually taking care of you.”  He shut off the light and headed for the guest room as Tim sneezed again.

 

 

Wednesday Morning:

 

Toby was calling Ethan exactly at 6 to let him know he was in the parking lot and to come down.   Ethan, glad that he had finished his morning sneezing; his sneezing seemed to vacillate between a source of amusement or an irritation to Toby; peeked in on Tim who was still asleep.   Satisfied his boyfriend was getting rest, he headed down.    

 

Throwing his suitcase in the trunk, he settled in the passenger seat, and prepared for the long drive to San Francisco.   

 

“Bring your allergy pills?”  Toby asked, as they merged onto the freeway.  “It’s supposed to get bad up there by the end of the week.”

 

Ethan rolled his eyes.  Trust Toby to check that out.  “Always.  Don’t worry about me.  I’m always prepared.”

 

Toby laughed.  “Somehow, I suspected you were.”  He eased into conversation.  “How’s Tim?”

 

Ethan sighed.  This part he wasn’t looking forward to telling Toby.  Might as well go for it, he decided.  “He’s less than pleased with me at the moment.” 

 

“For leaving this week?” Toby laughed.

 

“Not exactly.”  Ethan cleared his throat.  “He’s got a bad cold; he’s pissed off that I haven’t come within 5 feet of him this week.  He wanted to be taken care of and was not getting that I don’t want to get it.”

 

Toby laughed, then turned serious.   “I swear, O’Connell, you get me sick…”

 

“Haven’t been near him since the first sneeze for more than five minutes.  Even bought masks at the pharmacy.”

 

“He sneezes anything like you, how would you know?”

 

Ethan chuckled. “This guy sneezes, he’s sick.   Exact opposite of me on the sneeze count.  Well, except for now.”

 

Toby sighed.  “How bad is this cold?  Just so I know what I’m in for when you wake up with it tomorrow.”

 

Ethan shook his head.  “Like I said, first sneeze, and I made for the guest room.  Longest I was near him was to pack.  With a mask on.   I’m not going to get it, and neither are you.  It’s a pretty miserable one, and I don’t want it.” 

 

Toby sighed.  “Let’s just hope you don’t get it.”

 

“I won’t. He’s been sick since Sunday.  You’d think I’d have it by now.”

 

“Maybe…”

 

Ethan fumbled in his pocket, then realizing he’d forgotten to stuff a few tissues in his pocket, cupped his nose in his elbow.  “Hatshoo!”

 

“Bless you.”  Toby looked at him suspiciously.

 

“It was a sneeze.”  Ethan sighed.  “One of the, what, 20 you hear a day.   Trust me, I’m not sick.”

 

“How would you know?  You sneeze constantly as it is.”

 

“Constantly is only in the spring.” Ethan protested.  “I’d say frequently the rest of the year.  Anyway, when I have a cold, my right ear hurts.  It doesn’t.”

 

Toby relaxed somewhat as Ethan sniffed lightly.  “There’s tissues in the console if you need them.  Garbage bag in the backseat.”   

 

“Thanks.”  Ethan slipped a few tissues into the pocket of his jeans and leaned back.

 

“Music?  I figure that’s better than listening to you sneeze our way to San Francisco.”

 

“I’m not that bad.” Came another protest.

 

“I’m betting at least 10.”

 

Ethan shrugged.  “Sounds about right.”  He admitted. 

 

Toby tuned to a ‘90s station.  “You snore?” He asked.

 

Ethan shook his head.  “Not usually.  Pretty much only if I’m sick or if my allergies get really bad.  You?”

 

“So once you get Tim’s cold.  And same.  Only if I get pretty congested.  Talk in your sleep?  Walk in your sleep?  Need a night light?”

 

Ethan laughed.  “No to the night light.  And no ones ever said anything about the others.  And I’m not going to get sick.  Like I said, I should have it by now if I was.”

 

“Morning person?”

 

“Morning neutral.  I’m used to it.  I’m not exactly bounding out of bed, but I’m not an ass to deal with either.  Where do you fall?”

 

“I need about 15 minutes to get my bearings, then I’m fine.  What time do you get up?”

 

“5:30.”

 

“5 during the week for work.  A little later on the weekends.  But I think with everything being right there we can sleep in too.”

 

Toby nodded.  “I like that idea.”

 

“I just need an hour in the room to get ready.”

 

“An hour?  Damn, I knew you were a pretty boy, but really?”

 

Ethan sighed and shook his head.   “It’s not that.”  He paused, knowing this could really irk Toby in the mornings.  “I, uh, sneeze for the first hour I’m awake.   I’d rather not go down to breakfast doing that.”

 

Toby groaned.  “I knew we should have shelled out for seperate rooms.  How bad is this hour, like, do I want to get up earlier and flee?”

 

 “It’s, like, 5-10 times if I’m healthy.”  Ethan was defensive.   “You’ll be fine.”

 

“At least you warned me.  Any other weird surprises?”

 

“No.  Anything on you?”

 

“I don’t think so.”   He changed the topic to the conference, and the two of them bounced back and forth between topics until they’d arrived at their San Francisco hotel and the conference.

 

The three days of the conference went well, too fast really and they barely saw each other except for mornings and evenings, Ethan being on a nursing track and Toby being more nutrition oriented.    Toby managed to put up with Ethan’s morning sneezing, and Ethan was glad for the warning to stay away from Toby the first 15 minutes he was awake.

 

The final day, Ethan could feel the pollen count had risen as the day went on.   He’d grabbed his zyrtec after 14 morning sneezes, but had continued to sneeze with increased frequency, not to mention that behind his contacts, his eyes itched.   

 

He met Toby for dinner in the hotel restaurant after the end speeches and events.   He’d asked the waitress for extra napkins with his diet soda and she had just set the items down when he heard Toby rather than saw him.

 

“Heh’pschoo.”

 

“Bless you.”  He said as Toby came around and took a seat.

 

“Thanks.”  Toby blew his nose on a crumpled napkin.  “I guess they weren’t kidding about the pollen spiking up.”

 

“Your allergies kicked in, too?”

 

Toby nodded.  “Just started sneezing the last few hours, but I’ve been stuffed up all day.” He cleared his throat.   

 

“I’ve been sneezing since this morning.  Nose won’t quit running either.”

 

“Sure you’re not sick?”

 

“Right ear feels fine.”   Ethan grinned.   “I think I’ve escaped Tim’s cold.”

 

Toby laughed.  “I think you did.”

 

“Only to be nailed by allergies.  Should we look at the menu?”  Ethan reached for his menu, only to change course and snatch up a napkin.  “Atchoo!”

 

“Bless you.  You need eat?”

 

Ethan nodded, carefully wiping his nose.   “Yeah.  These things are great, but they throw off my schedule.”  He picked up the menu.  

 

After ordering, the two ate dinner in quiet conversation, punctuated by sneezes, followed by a movie in the room and phone calls to their significant others.

 

It wasn’t Ethan’s nose that woke him in the morning; it was Toby’s.

 

“Hah-ehshoo, ehshoo, eh’pshoo, hah’eckshoo!”  This was followed by several harsh coughs and then a deep, gurgling noseblow.

 

Ethan sat up, looking over at Toby.  “Bless you.”

 

“Thanks.”  Toby responded, voice rich with congestion.  “I didn’t keep you awake did I?”

 

Ethan shook his head.  “The Benadryl did wonders for me.  Should have taken the offer.”

 

H’hah-eckshoo!  Don’t think it would have helped.”  Again, followed by coughing.   “I think I’m getting a cold.” He coughed again.

 

“Hatchoo.”  Ok, now Ethan was officially awake.   He turned on the light and took a good look at his friend.   Toby was pale and red nosed, with the start of dark circles under his eyes.    “I think you have a cold.”   He confirmed.    

 

“Shit.   I was sitting with some nutritionists from County and South East, and a few of them had colds.  Probably picked it up there.   “Ehh’tschoo!”

 

“Bless you. And now I’m stuck in a car with you.  I swear, Toby, if I avoided Tim’s cold, only to catch one from you…”

 

“Can we just-“

 

“Ahtshoo!”

 

“Bless you.  Can we just get out of here so I can get some cold medicine?   The sneezing won’t stop until I do.”

 

Sniffling, Ethan walked over to his toiletry bag and pulled out a box of daytime cold medicine, tossing it to Toby.   “Told you I was always prepared.”

 

“Hh’pshoo.  Can I get some tissues from you?  I sort of decimated the supply in the bathroom overnight.”

 

Ethan set the box of tissues between them.  “I still need an hour before breakfast.” He reminded Toby.   

 

Toby nodded, heading for the bathroom to change.

 

“Hah-Ahshoo!”  Following a rather powerful sneeze, Ethan pulled out his phone and checked the pollen count.  Worse than yesterday.   He was in for a long hour.

 

Toby came back in, blowing his nose on a string of toilet paper.  “You mind driving home?  Between the sneezing and not sleeping…”

 

“Once my sneezing stops, sure.”  He paused as Toby coughed again.  “We’ll get you some cough drops when we stop for gas.

 

Toby nodded.   “Any way we can speed this hour and leaving up?”  He rubbed his temples.  “I just want to get home.”

 

“Ahshoo!   Can’t speed up the hour.   But…maybe room service?  Can eat here while I sneeze?”

 

Toby nodded.  “Not real hungry, but know you need to eat.”   He reached for the phone.  “What hah’ehhpshoo, ehpshoo…what do you want?”

 

“Oatmeal with raisins, black coffee, milk.”

 

Toby ordered for the two of them while Ethan got ready.  They packed up and sneezed while they waited and ate.

 

   At the car an hour later, Ethan slid behind the drivers seat.  “Jesus, you’re tall.” He complained, adjusting the seat.

 

“No, you’re just short.”  Toby pointed out, coughing again.

 

“I’d say windows down, but that will just have both of us sneezing.  So, just make sure to aim towards the door, ok.”

 

Toby glared but nodded.   “If I..ihhckshoo…I get you sick, O’Connell, I’m sorry.”

 

“Let’s just get you home.”  Ethan sighed.   “And I’ll bet you sneeze more than me on this trip.”

 

“5 bucks.” Responded Toby.

[MyOwnPrivateSFC]

Aw! Poor all of them! 

[SneezeAbbie]

I’m enjoying this! Let’s hope Ethan doesn’t get sick 🤞🏼 

[NotWho]

I love these guys so much! Your writing is amazing as always!

[2SHY222]

Wow poor Tim and Toby, Ethan sure has his hands full 💕

[Kolen]

UwU so cute, so precious so lovely and plz moar 🥺🥺😁