Meghan called in sick for the rest of the week the following morning. She was still feverish, and had thrown up twice in the middle of the night. Her stomach ached, and the last thing she needed was to spread this to her classes, if she hadn’t already done so.

Fred called her about 10 minutes later. “I’m going to cancel classes for the rest of the week.”

“Oh? Why?” She was surprised.

“Apparently the bug you’ve got is sweeping through the school – I’ve had a bunch of students contacting me saying they’re sick and not coming in, and I’ve gotten it myself.”

“Oh, no. Yeah, cancel classes. We’ll work it out to cover the material.”

“How are you feeling?” Fred asked. She could hear him pull the phone away to cough.

“Like death warmed over. I’m still feverish and puking. And I still feel like I can’t get warm.” She shivered and pulled the blankets up in bed to cover herself up better.

“Well, take care of yourself and keep hydrated. I’m sure your brother-in-law will get you on the mend soon.” He sighed.

“You take care of yourself too,” she countered.

“Will do. Bye,” Fred hung up the phone.

Meghan contemplated going back to sleep, but decided she wanted a hot drink to help her feel warmer. Getting up, she slipped her feet into houseshoes and wrapped a blanket around herself and headed for the kitchen.

Kelsey was up and stirring in the kitchen. “Hey, sis! How are you feeling?”

“Care to shoot me to put me out of my misery? I wish I was having the hot side of the fever – I’m still freezing.” She heard the sound of retching, and turned towards the sound. “Uh, is that Mitch?”

Kelsey nodded, frowning. “Yeah, Mitch has it too. It hit after we went to bed last night.”

Meghan shook her head. “Oh, no! I hope I didn’t give it to him.”

Kelsey sighed. “He was probably coming down with it yesterday – he’s been exposed a lot over the last week at work. Let me go check on him, and then we’ll see what everyone can tolerate for breakfast.”

Meghan nodded and watched her sister disappear into their bedroom. Meghan bypassed the coffee pot and put the kettle on for some tea. She thought for a moment about food, but nothing really appealed to her stomach. She sighed. I should at least attempt some toast. Maybe some Jello later?

After a few minutes, Kelsey emerged from the bedroom. “Meghan, could you give me a hand with Mitch? I think he needs an IV and some Zofran. You’re a better stick than I am – would you start a line while I get the meds?”

“Sure! Anything I can do to help.” Meghan shuffled to the exam room alongside Kelsey. Kelsey set about getting the medication drawn up while Meghan gathered supplies and set up an IV, hanging the bag and tubing from the IV pole.

Mitch soon made it into the exam room and sat down on the table, watching his wife and sister-in-law work. It was quite obvious that he didn’t feel well, as he was pale and slumped in his posture. Kelsey looked over at him, went to his side, and adjusted the exam table so it lay flat. “Bottoms down, hon. I want to see just how high your fever is.”

Wordlessly he nodded, stood up, and lowered his pants and underwear. He leaned forward over the table and waited while his wife brought over a lubricated thermometer. She eased it into his bottom and waited for it to read.

“You’re at 102.4, Mitch. Stay like that, and I’ll give you some Tylenol.” Kelsey patted her husband’s bottom, then rummaged in a cabinet for a moment. She snapped on a glove, removed the suppositories from their wrappings, and inserted them in her husband’s rectum. Once done, he pulled up his clothing and sat down on the table.

Meghan came over with her supplies on a tray. “Let’s get an IV going on you, Mitch.” She wrapped a tourniquet around his arm and started palpating for a vein. She found a good spot, cleaned it with a prep pad, and inserted a 22-gauge angiocath into his arm. She hooked up the IV, adjusted the flow rate, and taped the tubing down.

Mitch watched her as she started his IV. “You are very good at that.”

Meghan flushed as she started gathering up the trash. “Thanks. I’ve a lot of experience with them as you know.”

Mitch nodded. “And how are you feeling this morning?”

“Like I want to make you scoot over for my turn,” she admitted. “Fred’s canceled classes for the rest of the week, and I just got a text that school is closed until next Wednesday because this stuff is running through the school like a wildfire.” Meghan made her way to the trash can and disposed of the supplies.

Kelsey brought over the syringe of Zofran for Mitch, tucking another full syringe into her pocket. “Let’s get some Zofran into you.” She injected the medication into a port on his IV, then turned to Meghan. “Sis? Let’s get some Zofran into you as well.”

Meghan nodded gratefully and held out the arm with the heplock. As Kelsey injected the med into her, Meghan eyed the other treatment table in the room. “I suppose we should go ahead and do my vitals while we’re here,” she said. “I’m sure that’s what Mitch would be ordering if he felt better.”

“Yes, you’re right,” he declared. “Sorry, Meghan. My brain isn’t with it at the moment.”

“No worries,” she answered. “Mine isn’t either.”

Kelsey brought over the thermometer and stood next to Meghan. “Bottoms down, sis.”

Meghan lowered her PJ pants and panties and leaned over the table. She felt Kelsey’s gloved hand separate her buttocks and bring a lubed thermometer to her anus before sliding it into her rectum. She shivered at the feeling of the cold lube. Soon the thermometer beeped, and Kelsey slid it out.

“102.1 F, Meghan. Better than last night, but still not good. Let’s get you some Tylenol.” Kelsey pulled 2 more suppositories from her pocket, undid them, and inserted them in her sister’s behind.

Meghan pulled up her bottoms and stood back up. “I left a cup of tea brewing in the kitchen. I can go get it and bring it back here.”

Mitch shook his head. “Actually, this IV pole can travel with us to the kitchen. I need to get something on my stomach to settle it, toast or crackers or something.”

Kelsey agreed, and Mitch wheeled the IV pole with him into the living room and sat down heavily at the kitchen bar. Meghan joined him, and they watched while Kelsey fixed toast and hot tea for both of them.

Meghan and Mitch both tried to eat well, but it was obvious neither had much of an appetite. Kelsey looked from one invalid to the other. She sighed. “I’m going to go to the store in a little while. I’ll grab some ginger ale and stuff for chicken soup. Anything else appeal?”

Meghan spoke up. “How about some Jello? Cherry or strawberry banana?”

Mitch nodded. “I’m not much for the Jello, but definitely crackers and ginger ale.”

“Okay. I’m going to get my purse and head to the store. Both of you rest. I’ll be back soon to check on you.” Kelsey headed for the bedroom, and Mitch and Meghan to their favorite seats in the living room. Kelsey exited the bedroom, kissed Mitch’s forehead goodbye, and headed out the door.