Reigning Summer

(Sequel-series to Summer's Reign)

4: In Sickness

Chester wakes up one morning feeling as if he's swallowed a bunch of knives and his head is stuffed full of damp tissues. He rolls over and stuffs his face into the pillow with a little groan, his body already beginning to shiver. It seems as if it's a common cold, which for Chester means hot and cold flushes, a runny nose, sore throat, puffy eyes and a general let me lie here to die I feel like such shit headspace.

He hears Riot in the bathroom, singing softly between washing his face and brushing his teeth, and Chester smiles a little before it hurts and he groans again. Fuck.

The bedroom door opens and Riot wanders in. There's a rustling sound as he gets dressed then, the bed dips a little and a warm hand settles on Chester's neck, rubbing gently.

"Hey, Ches, you awake?"

"Yeah, feel like crap though. Got a cold."

"You're burning up a bit. What do you usually eat with a cold?"

"Nothing. Soup, maybe. It hurts to swallow." Chester lifts his head and opens his eyes, Riot swimming into focus blearily. He frowns worriedly and strokes Chester's hair back soothingly.

"Go back to sleep, then, I'll make something for you, OK?"

"OK," Chester says, then flops back down and gathers the doona around him.

When he wakes up again, Riot's got a steaming bowl of something that smells heavenly on the bedside table, a mug and a pack of tablets.

"You feeling any better, baby?" Riot asks softly, kissing Chester on the forehead.

"Not really," Chester says, resisting the urge to rub his itchy eyes.

"I called my Mum, made some pumpkin soup, she says that's what she gives Dad when he's sick. If you're not hungry, you should drink this and take some Sudafed. Can you sit up for me?" Chester clasps the blankets to his chin and wriggles up until he's resting his back against the headboard. "Here, take the tablets first." He hands Chester the mug and two tablets. "It's just warm water and honey in the mug, might be better on your throat." Chester quickly tosses the medicine back and sips the rest of the honey water, then smiles at Riot.

"Can you feed me the soup?"