Snow Lodge
Chapter 21
Brian's jaw dropped in shock and he bit back curses when he saw the result: 101.4
AJ moaned as another wave of pain hit him, and somewhere in his pain clouded mind he realised that his chest felt tight, like it was being crushed in a vice. He felt the change in Brian's demeanour, and was conscious enough to know that things weren't looking good. He wanted to tell Brian that everything was fine, but he barely had the energy to keep his eyes open, and all he wanted to do was to go back to sleep.
Brian saw AJ's eyelids begin to droop again, and was alarmed. He knew that he needed to keep AJ awake, if he slept now he might not wake up.
"Jay! Stay awake. I need you to stay awake." His voice raised as AJ's eyelids dropped again. He shook him, wincing in sympathy when AJ's eyes shot open as the pain ripped through him, bringing him back to full consciousness.
"I'm sorry baby, but I need you to stay with me okay?" He told AJ.
AJ groaned, but nodded, recognising the panic in Brian's voice.
"Good. I'm going to help you sit up, cos I need you to take some medicine. I know it's gonna hurt, but I've gotta do it." He wrapped his arms around AJ's chest and pulled him upright, pushing back his own tears as AJ cried out in pain.
"Oh God I'm sorry Baby, so sorry." He mumbled against AJ's neck, apologising both for the pain he was causing him, and the fact that it was his fault he was hurt in the first place. He barely even realised that he was calling AJ 'Baby,' he was too scared and worried to notice.
AJ didn't notice either, his mind was to clouded with the pain, and the fever was making him slightly delirious. If it wasn't for the sweet voice talking to him and pleading with him to stay conscious, he would have slipped back into the place he was before, somewhere the pain couldn't find him.
He felt more than heard Brian when he eased open his jaw and slipped something inside his mouth. It hurt to swallow the pills, but with Brian's encouragement he managed it.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Brian stopped him.
"Shhhh." Brian soothed his friend. "Don't speak if it hurts you okay?"
AJ nodded gratefully, he was exhausted, and was using all his strength just to stay awake.
"I need to get your temperature down." Brian spoke to himself, as much as to AJ. He looked around them, trying to see something that could help. Seeing nothing in the room that could help, he decided to try the other rooms. He got up carefully, pulling the covers around AJ to keep the chill off. When he was dressed, he gently sat on the edge of the bed and placed his palm against one of AJ's flushed cheeks.
"I need to go get some more wood for the fire, and something to cool you down. I'll be as quick as I can," He promised. "just stay here and stay awake okay?"
AJ managed a small smile and nodded "My hero." He whispered.
"That's right baby." Brian replied before leaning down and pressing their lips together in a soft, sweet kiss. And then he was gone.
AJ watched as Brian left the room, took a deep breath and sighed, immediately regretting it when it when he felt the pain burning through his chest. He really hated this. He could feel the pain in his chest getting worse, and it was becoming more and more difficult to breathe, especially in his left side.
AJ's lips were still tingling from the kiss they had shared and he felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He didn't know how to tell Brian that he had this feeling that everything wasn't going to be okay.
