Before I even get the chance to ask, I’m back over the toilet, and he’s right there beside me, holding my hair back, and holding the wash rag against my neck. When I think I’m finished, I just lay there propped over the toilet. I hear him getting something out of his bag, but I’m too sick to care. That is until I feel something going into my bottom again. I try to jerk away, but I’m too weak to fight against his hand holding me there. “Shhh, it’s ok baby. I’m just taking your temp again.” “I just want to feel better. I hate feeling this way.” “I know you do babe, and I’m going to do everything I can to make you feel better.” When he takes the thermometer, out he tells me that my temperature hasn’t went up, but it’s still the same. “I’m going to give you something for nausea, ok?” “Ok.” I try to sit up so I can take more medicine. “Don’t move. I need you just like that.” “Why? Are you giving me a shot?” “No, I’m going to give you a suppository.” “What!?! I’d rather have a shot. Please, I’ve never had one before.” “Well you’ll probably end up getting a shot too, but I think this will help your nausea more than anything right now. It won’t hurt I promise. It’ll feel a little strange.” I hear him open something, and the next thing I know he’s spreading me open again. I feel something try to push up into me. It’s a lot bigger than the thermometer was, and I feel that familiar burning I’m starting to get used to when my little hole is being stretched open. I can’t help but wiggle trying to get more comfortable. “Nicole, I need you to try to relax for me.” “I can’t it, it burns.” “I know babe, but if you’d relax I could get it in a lot easier. Push like you’re going to the bathroom.” “No, that’s embarrassing!” “It’ll make it go in a lot easier.” I try to do as he tells me, and sure enough as soon as I’m open a little bit, I feel it slowly slide in. It feels uncomfortable and weird, and my body tries to push it back out. I feel it being pushed back in though, this time followed by his finger to make sure it goes deep enough to stay. “Are you almost done yet,” I whimper. “Almost babe, I just need to make sure it stays in.” A few seconds later I feel his finger being removed. It feels so odd, I shudder a little. “Alright darling, let’s get you back into bed.” “What if I puke again?” “I’ll bring a trashcan just in case. You shouldn’t need it though. That medicine should put you to sleep soon.” He helps me back into bed, and puts a trashcan next to me, just in case. “Do you want me to put a movie on while you fall asleep?” “Yes, please.” “What movie would you like?” “I don’t care, maybe something romantic.” He goes to my movie collection and picks something out. He puts it in, and lies down next to me and I cuddle into his side. I love it when he holds me. I watch maybe ten minutes of the movie before I fall back to sleep. The medicine that he gave me must’ve worked because, when I wake up it’s dark outside. I can’t believe I’ve slept the entire day away. I look around and Travis isn’t there. I start to listen to see if I can hear him, and sure enough I hear him in my kitchen. While I’m waiting on him to come back in my room, I decide to start my movie over. About fifteen minutes later, he comes in and checks on me. “Hey, sleepy head, are you awake?” “Yeah , I woke up about fifteen minutes ago.” “Are you feeling any better?” “A little bit. I’m not sick to my stomach any more. I don’t feel as weak either.” “I’m glad that medicine seemed to help. I’m going to take your temperature again, and then I’ve made you some fresh soup to try and hold down.” “That sounds good. I actually feel a little hungry.” He goes and gets the thermometer and has me roll over again. This time I just let him do what he needs to do. I still don’t like the feel of it, but I deal with it. “100.5. That’s still not great, but at least it’s coming down. I’m going to go get your soup now.” He goes and gets my food, and I’m actually able to eat half the bowl, and I don’t feel nauseous anymore. A few minutes later he helps me to the bathroom and back to bed. He cuddles back up with me on the bed. “Travis, thank you so much for taking such good care of me.” “You’re welcome babe. It’s my job, and I love it.” “Will you stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be by myself.” “Of course! I was planning on it anyway.” We spend the rest of the night watching movies, until we both end up falling asleep… “Good morning, Darling.” I stretch and say, “Good morning.” “How are you feeling?” “I feel about the same as I did last night. Not as bad as when I woke up yesterday, but I definitely think I’m still running a fever. I’d really like to take a shower. Sometimes that makes me feel better.” “Alright, I’ll go start the shower for you and I’ll be right back.” Wow, I really thought he was going to argue with me. I also figured that with how many times he’s shoved a thermometer up my butt, I figured I was going to get it again this morning. Maybe he forgot, or maybe he doesn’t think it’s necessary. I’m not going to bring it up to him, though. A few minutes later he comes back in and tells me it’s ready. He walks me to the bathroom, and is fixing to help me undress. “I’m really feeling a lot better than I did yesterday, I don’t feel dizzy, or sick to my stomach. I really think I can manage to take a shower by myself. Besides, I kind of have to go to the bathroom.” “Well, you can pee, and then get in the shower, and I’ll just sit on the counter and keep you company.” “Well, I need to pee, but I also need to… you know, the other.” I can feel my face heating up again after I tell him that. I really think he’s going to argue with me like he always does, but he doesn’t. “Ok, I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you some privacy to use the bathroom, but I want you to tell me when you’re getting in the shower. I don’t want you to get too hot and get dizzy or anything, so I do want to be in here while you shower, ok?” “Ok, that sounds fair. Thank you.” I turn off the water to the shower that way I don’t run out of hot water, and use the bathroom. When I’m finished I go ahead and floss and brush my teeth, and holler at him. When he comes in there I’m already starting to undress. He goes over and turns the water back on for me, and helps me step into the tub. He takes a seat up on the counter. “So, babe, since you aren’t feeling that much better, I think it’s time that I go ahead and take you to my house.” “Your house? Why your house? What’s wrong with my house?” “Well, because I turned my basement into an exam room. So I can pretty much run the same tests at my house as I would at my professional office.” “Why do you have an exam room at your house?” “Well, I have had some patients call me at night with minor emergencies. They don’t want to go wait three hours at the hospital so I just have them come to my house.” “That makes sense, but why can’t I just go to your office and then come home? Besides, don’t you have to work today anyway?” “I was supposed to work, but I called Rita to ask what my appointments looked like, and I only had four today, and it wasn’t nothing major, so I went ahead and called them to see if it was ok if they rescheduled. I figured you’d be more comfortable at my house instead of my office, plus I’m thinking you’re going to need an IV and that’s going to take a while. Wouldn’t you rather watch TV while you’re waiting, instead of waiting in a boring exam room?” “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Will I really need an IV?” “I don’t know for sure yet, but it’s looking that way.” “Is that why you didn’t take my temperature this morning?” “Yeah, I knew I’d be taking it again really shortly, so I didn’t think there was a need.” I finish and turn the water off. He helps me get out of the tub and dry off. We go back in my room and I find me some more comfortable clothes to wear. “I’ll go pour you some cereal, and while you’re eating I’ll be getting things together to take with us. Is there anything in particular you need?” “No, I don’t think so.” It’s not long before we’re ready, and we start heading to his house.