(Untitled)

[patrick_koster]

When he woke up in the middle of the night the temperature seemed to have dropped significantly and a violent shiver ran through him as he slowly sat up, his brow furrowing as he noticed the windows were wide open: that didn't seem quite right. It certainly didn't feel right. With some trouble he climbed out off bed, closing all the windows, still

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[stormybrendan]

When he saw Patrick was asleep again Brendan walked into the bathroom, easing the door half closed and waited for the phone to answer. His eyes caught a glimpse of a pale, drawn face in the mirror, hair dishevelled from fingers running through it, just as they were now. He turned his back on the reflection and leaned against the vanity unit, huffing impatiently but straightening when the phone was suddenly answered. The voice on the other end asked him if it was an emergency and he quickly related the situation.

"Jus' need t' know if there's anythin' I should be doing, or if I should jus' get him to centre, or the hospital." Another interminable wait and another voice, this time one declaring itself to be a nurse. "What are the symptoms?"

He rattled them off - fever, vomiting, thirst, dry skin, trouble urinating. "And is there any headaches? Any drowsiness?" He said yes, that Patrick was asleep again now. Another few seconds and a mumbling in the background kept him waiting. His fingers were tight on the edge of the vanity, the phone equally well gripped in his other hand.

"There's a doctor just finishing up another call, we'll send him to you," the voice said, following up with some instructions and what to look for. He gave them the address and was able to reel off the credit card number without hesitation.

"Thanks," he added tiredly, an equally tired 'Welcome' coming down the line followed by the call being ended.

[patrick_koster]

The relative quietness of Patrick's sleep interrupted every now and then by a soft groan when the slightest of movements sent flares of pain shooting down his back, his fingers clutching the sheets and his jaw tightening as his sleep continued to become more and more restless, the pain continuing to increase in both frequency and intensity.

[stormybrendan]

Brendan came back out of the bathroom as another groan sounded from the uneasy huddled bundle in the bed. He wondered whether to try and give Patrick some more asprin, or whether they had been the cause of the vomiting before. As he stood there trying to decide he looked down at the nightstand and picked up the thermometer strip, figuring it would be a good idea to see what Patrick's temp was doing. He placed it against the skin, feeling the heat coming off the man.

[patrick_koster]

In his sleep Patrick tried to move away from the touch; the soft noises that escaped his lips sounding almost distressed as his body curled in on itself even more.

[stormybrendan]

"Steady there," Brendan murmured softly, fingers gently holding the strip of plastic in place as he counted down silently. When he lifted the strip and held it to the side he felt a knot tighten in his gut. It was higher.

"Bloody doc better be gettin' here soon!"

[patrick_koster]

Amidst all the blurred faces and unintelligible voice there was one voice, one face that seemed familiar and Patrick tried to blink his eyes open, tried to see. The wind appeared to shift and a violent shiver caused his body to convulse before he finally managed to pry his eyes open. He blinked repeatedly, his vision slowly becoming less blurry. "Hey," he muttered hoarsely.

[stormybrendan]

"Hey yourself," Brendan replied, hiding the concern he felt. "How y' feeling?"

[patrick_koster]

"Like I just died and they forgot to tell me," Patrick mumbled wearily as he stared at Brendan, an almost confused look on his face.

[stormybrendan]

Brendan grinned at him, unsure what else he could do. "Pretty bloody rude of 'em, eh?"

[patrick_koster]

"Aye," Patrick whispered. "Did you call the doctor?" he asked after a few seconds in which he tried to determine where he was and what had happened to make him feel this poorly.

[stormybrendan]

"I did, or at least, the medical centre. They said he's somewhere nearby, and they'd send him here when he was finished at the other place."

[patrick_koster]

Patrick nodded slowly as he processed this information, and once he did he made a rather pitiful attempt to sit up, murmuring something about having to get dressed. Brendan's arm came up around him, holding him down and he blinked up at the man. "I do have to get up, really," he muttered stubbornly. "Have to piss," he added when Brendan didn't move his arm.

[stormybrendan]

Reluctantly, but knowing he had no choice really, Brendan stood up and let Patrick go to get up.

[patrick_koster]

A little wobbly on his feet, but knowing Brendan was right behind him if needed, Patrick made his way into the bathroom. His earlier trip to the bathroom forgotten until it became painfully obvious that it wasn't going to work this time either. With a frustrated and pained groan, Patrick leaned back against the bathroom sink, rubbing at his eyes with both hands as he tried to find a reasonable - or any - explanation for what was wrong with him.

[stormybrendan]

Leaning against the wall, eyes staring absently at the door handle, Brendan rubbed at his chin. The sound of the stubble scratching beneath his fingers wasn't loud enough to disguise the sounds, or in some instances, the lack of them. His worried frown deepened as he waited for Patrick to open the door.

[patrick_koster]

Another violent shiver running down his spine reminded him this wasn't the most comfortable place to contemplate his health and with a deep sigh, Patrick pushed himself off the sink, deliberately avoiding the bathroom mirror before hesitantly opening the door. Once outside he shook his head, still rubbing at his eyes with one hand as he slowly walked over to the bed again, avoiding Brendan's gaze. "That doctor better get his arse over here soon," he muttered hoarsely, coughing again as he lowered himself onto the bed.