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I groan. The electronic thermometer beeps and he pushes it between my lips. I drift off again until the beeping of the thermometer startles me awake.
“Shit. It’s a hundred and two. I should call a doctor.”
That gets my attention. “No!”
“Shayna, you’re really sick.”
I crack my eyes open. Lee is sitting on the edge of the bed as if someone just diagnosed me with a serious illness.
“I just need medicine. Something to get rid of the fever.”
He nods. “Do you have any?”
I shake my head, but that makes me nauseated. “No.”
“I’m going to run to the drugstore. I’ll be back.”
I mean to say thank you, but my eyelids are heavy and drift shut again.
The next thing I know, Lee is helping me to sit up in my bed.
“What are you doing?” I swat at him.
“Trying to get you to sit up so you can take this medicine and drink a bit. The pharmacist said we need to get your fever down and make sure you get plenty of fluids.”
“What’s that sound?” I swear I hear the rush of water coming from somewhere. “Did my pipe burst again?”
“I’m running a lukewarm bath. The pharmacist said it will help to bring your temperature down faster.”
I’m shaking as he gets me propped up against the headboard. “I’m cold.”
“That’s just the fever, sweetie.” He opens my palm and places pills in it. “Take these. I’ll hold the water.”
I open my eyes. He’s holding a cup of water with a straw, motioning for me to bring the pills to my lips.
“Shayna, if you don’t take the pills, I’m going to call the doctor.” His tone is annoyingly mean.
I slowly bring the pills to my mouth. Lee presses the straw to my lips. I wrap my lips around the straw and suck back some water until the pills are down.
“All right. I’m going to go check on the water. Be right back.”
The water turns off in the tub and Lee undresses me. It feels infantile somehow to let him do this, and I know if I were in my right mind right now, I’d likely be awkward and embarrassed, but I have no will to care.
Once I’m naked, he carries me to my bathroom and gently sets me in the tub. I startle at the water that feels cold against my heated skin. Keeping my head propped up above the water is all I can do though, and I sigh in contentment when Lee holds a cold cloth to my forehead.
After an undetermined length of time, the shivers subside and my head clears.
“How are you feeling?” Lee asks.
“A little better.” My voice is weak and hoarse.
“Here.” Lee brings a bottle of some red drink to my lips. I turn my head away, but his finger rests under my chin and he directs my face back to him. “It’s an electrolyte drink. It’s important that you stay hydrated.”
Swallowing feels like way too much effort right now, but he’s not going to leave it alone, so I take a few mouthfuls.
“I think the medicine must have kicked in and this bath is helping too.”
I nod. I’m not one hundred percent, but I definitely feel more human than I did when I first woke. Lee sets the bottle on the floor and stands, bringing the washcloth to the bathroom sink and running it under cold water. Then he comes to sit beside the tub and presses it to my forehead again.
