Doc kept casting glances over at his partner, sitting across the table from him. they'd been together for about 2 years and Doc could immediately tell that something was wrong. he looked pale and lethargic. the younger was slumped against the table, poking at his food, that in itself was super unusual he was always hungry. he didn't look good at all, he seemed fatigued. he looked ready to fall asleep at the table. Doc gently kicked his foot under the table, something Lightning usually did to him to get him annoyed or occasionally when he was drunk, just to make himself giggle. the younger didn't even budge, looking ready to just collapse on the table. Doc shifted in his seat, sitting forward some and nudging his foot again, harder this time. Lightning slowly looked up at him, his eyes were hazy and unfocused, but he had a questioning look on his face. probably confused as to why Doc was kicking him.

"Lightning, you okay?" Doc ask, looking at him with a frown. Lightning nodded at him a little. "you not get enough sleep?" Doc ask. Lightning straightened up some, but clearly took all the energy he had and only lasted a moment before he slouched back over.

"I slept all night. I just feel like shit." Lightning mumbled, dropping his head on the table. man was it really that hot in Flo's already? it felt like it was 100+ degrees and rising. he was sweating already. Doc frowned and walked over to him. he gently put a hand on his forehead. immediately he became alarmed.

"geez kid, you're burning up." Doc said, pulling him up from the booth. he easily held the younger man up, the sickly man leaning heavily against his chest. Doc was the only the keeping him on his feet and both knew it, even if Lightning wasn't able to consciously know it. Flo walked over, confused.

"Doc?" Flo ask, watching him. "what are you doing? is he okay?" Flo ask, looking down at Docs chest where Lightnings head rested. his eyes were shut and he was breathing pretty hard, wheezing even. Doc shifted the younger, supporting him from the side, holding him up carefully.

"kids burning up." Doc muttered, heading for the door. "must've caught a cold or something. I'm gonna take him home." he grumbled.

"Doc...." Lightning mumbled, trying to push away. Doc shifted him, holding tighter and helped him outside. Lightning groaned quietly. he pushed away from Doc, when the older got distracted by Mack and Ramone walking over..

"whats up with the boss?" Mack ask.

"yeah kid don't look so good." Ramone frowned, standing beside Mack. both of the older men were studying the younger. his face was flush, his cheeks a soft red, probably from a fever, and his eyes were unfocused.

"not sure I'm going to take him home. he's sick. he's got a fever." Doc assures. Lightning groaned, but seemed unable to focus on anything at the moment. he seemed okay though, almost like he'd had one too many drinks at a party and was slowly sobering up, at least until he projectile vomited everywhere. all over himself, Mack, Doc, and Ramone. Doc held him carefully with a frown while Macks eyes widened and Ramone looked disgusted. Lightnings head fell forwards, he was wheezing slightly harder now.

"oh thats fucking nasty!" Ramone shouted, jumping back. he looked down at himself, covered in puke and gagged, turning to head back to his house. Mack tilted his head in concern.

"do you need some help with him? he seems pretty out of it." Mack frowned worriedly, motioning to carry the smaller and sickly man. Doc heaved a sigh out his nose and shook his head to himself, being puked on was honestly the least of his worries right now.

"no. I got him, it's alright though. thanks." Doc said, scooping Lightning up. "I'm going to take him home." Doc grunts. he carried the younger home easily, Lightning's head against his chest, but Doc made sure to keep his face out of the puke on his clothes. he headed quickly for the bathroom, trying not to let either of them drip on the floor. Doc dropped the younger into the tub carefully, before stripping him down. Lightning just let him, looking worse than before. he mumbled and curled up, hugging his knees. "straighten out kid." Doc said, pulling Lightnings arms from his knees. Lightning swatted weakly at him.

"let go." he mumbled. "lemme alone Doc." Lightning said curling up more. Doc huffed and stripped himself down, starting up the shower. he stood over the smaller blocking the water from him until it warmed up a little, he didn't want to risk running a bath and him puke all over himself again. fortunately Doc had a high tolerance for puke. as long as Lightning didn't up and puke on his face, he'd be fine. he knelt down and gently lifted Lightnings face. the younger gave him a tired look, puke smudged on his on his cheek from, despite his efforts to prevent it, Docs shirt. he didn't seem to care.

"okay. come on kid. just lean back a little. you smell like puke." Doc said. Lightning leans back a little, watching him with hazy eyes. "if you're going to puke again, let me know, okay? so I can get out of your way." Doc said.

"'kay Doc." Lightning mumbled. Doc gently scrubbed them both down before shutting the water off. he got them both out, slipping a pair of lounge pants onto the younger, before doing the same for himself. Doc watched him carefully a moment, he'd propped himself against a wall and Doc could hear him wheezing louder than before.

"okay I'm going to move you to the bed. can you walk?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded a little. he wobbled over to the bed and flopped onto it, curling up. Doc smiled a little, before walking over and pulling him up to the pillows on the bed. he pulled a blanket around him. Lightning grumbled a little, curling up more. Doc frowned and headed into the bathroom, looking through his medicine cabinet in the bathroom. he found a fever reducer and wet a wash cloth. he knelt down beside the bed, looking at Lightning. the younger slowly opened his eye's a little, peeking at Doc silently, he looked miserable. "hey baby I'm going to give you a little bit of fever reducer. okay?" Doc ask. Lightning shook his head.

"no. everything already tastes like puke." Lightning mumbled. Doc smiled a little and shook his head.

"I know, but I'll give you some water after you take the fever reducer." Doc promised. "okay?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded a little and let Doc help him sit up. he gave him the little medicine cup, before laying him back down. "let me go get you some water. just lay here okay?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded a little, sighing quietly as Doc laid the cool rag on his forehead. he watched the older man walk away and quickly return with a cup. Doc gently lifted him up, letting him sip the water, but Lightning didn't seem to want the water anymore, preferring to cling to him. he latched onto the older man with a whine.

"j-just stay." Lightning murmured quietly, hugging Docs waist. he buried his face into the olders stomach. Doc sighed softly and sat the cup on the nightstand, carefully running his fingers through the youngers hair with his free hand. he gently moved him out of the way and laid on the bed beside him.

"okay. okay. shhh. I'll lay with you for a bit." Doc assured gently. the younger immediately attached himself to Docs side. his arms wrapped tightly around Docs waist, soaked hair laying on his chest. Doc propped himself up on the bed gently, holding him gently. Lightning nuzzled his face against Docs side, coughing. Doc gently rubbed his back, holding him. Lightning shivered and coughed again. Doc pulled the blanket up gently around them both. the younger was sweating like crazy already. he gently leaned down and kissed the youngers blond hair. Lightning was absolutely pitiful. in the quiet room Doc could hear his wheezing ease up a little, but still sounded like a rough wheeze. "here, let me up okay? I'll go get the tv remote." Doc murmured. he had a tv in his room, they just never used it. they'd curl up on the couch and watch tv, then cuddle up and got to sleep so they hadn't needed the tv. Lightning whined quietly, holding tighter.

"nooo." Lightning mumbled.

"I'll come back. it's okay." Doc assured. Lightning eventually let go whining. Doc got up and headed for the living room. he brought the remote into the room and laid back down on the bed. Lightning immediately curled back up against him. Doc turned on the tv and flipped through the channels, turning the volume down and hoping not to disturb the sick man beside him. Doc gently ran his fingers through the wet soaked hair. soaked both with water and sweat.

"I feel gross." Lightning sniffled. Doc smiled a little.

"I know." Doc murmured. "feel gross all you want, but don't puke on me again." Doc said. Lightning curled up more.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. it came out of no where I didn't have time to react." Lightning whined softly.

"relax kid. it's okay." Doc assured.

"Ramone was really upset and I didn't mean to Doc." Lightning murmured quietly, holding tighter to the older man. Doc held the younger tighter, making a mental note to glare Ramone down later.

"its okay. he was just surprised. just relax. here open your mouth and let me take your temperature." Doc murmured, grabbing the thermometer off his nightstand. Lightning mumbled, eyes half closed, but opened his mouth. he closed his mouth silently when Doc placed the thermometer under his tongue. he was only quiet a moment, nothing unusual for him whether he was sick or not.

"you're gonna get sick." Lightning mumbled after a moment, around the thermometer.

"hush." Doc said, gently pushing his jaw up. "wait until it's done." he murmured. Lightning huffed quietly, but stayed quiet until the thermometer beeped. Doc looked it over silently while Lightning coughed. he frowned. "let me up." Doc said. Lightning let go of him with a pout.

"where you going?" he ask.

"to the clinic. I need to get a few things." Doc said. "I'll be back. 10 minutes at most." Doc assured, getting up. Lightning nodded and curled up in the warmth he left.

"okay." Lightning mumbled. "what if I puke?" Lightning ask. Doc looked over.

"are you going to?" Doc ask. Lightning shook his head the best he could.

"no, but what if I do?" he ask. Doc frowned, looking at his watch. he frowned and headed for the bathroom. he came back with a towel and laid it under Lightnings head.

"try to puke on that, not on the bed." Doc said.

"okay." Lightning nodded. Doc nodded and headed out of the house.

when Doc came back, there was an awful smell. he groaned and headed for the bedroom, and paused. his blanket and pillow were on the other side of the room on the floor, the towel on the bed soaked in puke along with his sheets, there was also puke on the floor. it looked like Lightning had at least attempted to clean up. Lightning was curled up on the floor, leaning against the wall, head buried in his arms, he also had puke on him. Doc sighed a little, but at least he'd attempted to clean this up. he set to work cleaning up the floor and taking the sheet and towel off the bed. he'd have to clean the mattress before they could lay on it again. he knew exactly how to do it, but they wouldn't be able to lay on it tonight. he'd put Lightning on the couch and use his old air up mattress. he looked the blanket and pillows over, they looked clean, but he decided to go a head and wash the blanket just in case. he cast a glance over at Lightning, who hadn't even moved. Doc shook his head and went to the bathroom. he came back and knelt in front of Lightning with a rag. the younger immediately jumped when he touched the wet rag to his face. he looked up at Doc.

"I'm sorry..." Lightning said quietly, giving Doc a sad and guilty look. Doc sighed a little and smiled at him gently.

"don't worry about it kid, you tried." Doc murmured, gently rubbing his cheek. "okay come on, lets change your shirt." Doc smiled. he reached forward, helping the younger get the shirt off without getting puke all over either of them. he grabbed a new shirt and threw it on the smaller, before checking him over. finding he was clean he nodded to himself. "alright kid. come on." Doc murmured, scooping him up. Lightning held onto him.

"I'm sorry." Lightning said softly. Doc smiled at him.

"its okay kid." Doc murmured gently. he carried Lightning out to the living room and laid him on the couch, that he'd put a plastic cover on. Lightning curled up and mumbled. "keep your head on that towel so you're not just rubbing your face all over that plastic." Doc said. he headed for the spare room closet. he grabbed a few blankets and the air up mattress.

"D-Doc?" Lightning called. Doc carried the things back to the living room and looked at him.

"whats up Monty?" Doc ask, looking over at the couch.

"where are you gonna sleep at?" Lightning ask, looking up at him.

"on a air mattress. no offense, I love you kid, but I don't want you to puke on me." Doc said. Lightning nodded slightly, curling up more. Doc laid one of the blankets over him gently. "here just cuddle into this, okay?" Doc ask. he turned and started setting up his mattress.

"I'd rather curl up with you." he mumbled.

"I know kid." Doc murmured. he stood as the mattress aired up and walked over to Lightning. he crouched in front of the couch and gently rubbed the youngers cheek with his thumb. Lightning leaned his head against Docs hand, the older smiled at him. "but the further I am, the less likely I am to catch this, so I can take care of you better." Doc assured. he grabbed one of his pillows and made sure there was no puke on it, he threw it towards the mattress. "what if I get you some soup, hmm?" Doc ask.

"I don't want anything." Lightning said. "I'm gonna puke it up." he pouts. most the time if anything was wrong with the smaller, he wouldn't eat at all. whether it be a headache, a sinus infection, or even the flu. he wouldn't eat and Doc always had to force him to eat. the first time he'd gotten seriously sick in the town, strep throat and bronchitis, it had taken Doc three or four days to realize he wasn't eating anything when he'd finally come to Doc and told him what was going on. he'd lost about 5 pounds by that point and by the time he was finally feeling better had nearly lost another 10 and Doc had never let that happen again. Lightning was still stubborn as ever, but Doc had figured out if he made something and started eating before offering Lightning a bite, he'd generally eat it. but, Doc had a feeling this time that the kid was right, he'd probably throw it back up.

"okay, well, I'm going to make something anyway and if you decide you want some, tell me." Doc said, gently ruffling his hair.

"I don't wanna puke it up." Lightning mumbled. Doc grabbed the bag he'd went for earlier and dug through it. pulling out a bottle of medicine, he poured a little into a cup and held it out to him. Lightning made a noise turning his head from it.

"come on kid." Doc said.

"no." he mumbled.

"kid, you know I'll make you take it. I'll hold you down like you're a toddler." Doc warned.

"I don't want to puke it back up." Lightning whined. Doc sighed slightly, sitting the little cup down. he grabbed the smaller and sat him up.

"this is going to help with that, open your mouth." Doc said. "come on kid, you know I'm trying to help." Doc said. anytime Lightning got sick, from the smallest cold to the worst, it was always the same fight. eventually the younger gave in and took the medicine. Doc smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "good. I'll be back." Doc said, handing him the tv remote. he headed into the kitchen. he decided to make some soup, generally the only thing he'd be able to get down the sick younger man. he'd just set the soup to simmer when he heard a knock on the door.

"Doc...?" Lightning ask.

"I'm coming kid." Doc said, heading into the living room. Lightning was hugging his knees sitting on the couch, looking pitiful. Doc ruffled his hair gently as he walked by, heading for the door. he opened it, leaning against the door way. "is someone sick?" Doc ask.

"no." Sally said.

"injured?" Doc ask. she shook her head.

"no." Sally said, sounding slightly confused.

"dying?" Doc ask.

"no everyone's fine." Sally said.

"then whats wrong? I told you lot not to come knocking on the door. kids got the flu and unless you want it, you don't need to be coming around." Doc said.

"I wanted to check on him actually. see if you guys needed anything." Sally said, sounding slightly amused. Doc raised an eye brow and pushed the door the rest of the way open so Sally could see the couch. Lightning was still hugging his knees, hair was plastered with sweat to his forehead, he was pale and trembling, and she could hear him wheezing. he looked up and met her eye, but the usual blue eyes were dull and unfocused.

"he'll be fine once I get some medicine and food in him." Doc muttered. Sally gave him a look, the whole town knew that Lightning was stubborn when sick, so she pitied him, but she knew if anyone could get Lightning to do something it was Doc. especially when the younger was sick, Doc honestly found it easier to convince him to do anything when he was sick.

"well, good luck Doc." Sally said. Doc nodded and stepped out of the way, closing the door. he headed back to check on his soup, stopping at the couch to pull the blanket tighter around Lightning gently. he crouched in front of him and smiled slightly, gently rubbing one of his cheeks.

"feel any better yet?" Doc ask. Lightning shook his head. "alright, I'm going to go check on the soup, when I come back, I'm going to start you a breathing treatment, see if we can't get rid of that wheezing. alright?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded a little at him. Doc nodded and stood, heading back into the kitchen. he came back after a moment and set up the machine for him. "put this mask on." Doc murmured. Lightning whined and turned his head.

"no. it'll make me feel claustrophobic." Lightning whined.

"don't fight with me here Monty, just put the mask on." Doc said. Lightning whined. "please kid, come on." Doc murmurs gently. after a moment Lightning nodded at him. Doc smiled at him and carefully put the mask on his face, then turned the machine on. Lightning flinched at the noise, his head really hurt. Doc leaned forward and kissed his head. "thank you. I know its not the most comfortable thing, but it's only for a few minutes." Doc said. Lightning curled against him and Doc held him gently.

"I hate this." Lightning mumbled.

"I know." he replies, holding him. "you're going to eat some soup right?" Doc ask. Lightning shook his head.

"no." Lightning mumbled. Doc smiled a little and stood.

"okay." he says heading for the kitchen. he came back with a bowl of soup and sat it on the table beside the couch. he sat down and pulled the younger to his side, by the time the treatment was done, the soup would be cooled enough to eat. Lightning curled against his side and held onto him. Doc held him, keeping an eye on him. when the treatment was finished, he set everything aside, still in reach though he'd want him to have another in a few hours. he picked up the bowl and offered some to his sick partner. Lightning pulled away a little, turning his head.

"no." Lightning muttered.

"okay. I just wanted to make sure." Doc said. about four bites in Lightning laid his head on his chest and Doc offered him another spoonful. after looking at it a moment he eventually opened his mouth and Doc smiled slightly giving it to him. he had honestly thought the younger would fall asleep before admitting he wanted some soup.

"sorry I got sick in the bed." he mumbles.

"you did your best to clean it up and you hit the towel." Doc said. once the bowl was empty he sat it back on the table. he'd only managed to get a few bites into the younger, but at least it was something and that was better than absolutely nothing. Lightning blinked tiredly and leaned against him. "why don't you sleep some and I'll go take care of the dishes." Doc said. he nodded and moved, letting him up. Doc went off and took care of the laundry and the dishes. when he came back the younger was curled up on the couch, snoring. he sighed a little and gently ran his fingers through Lightnings hair. the kid would be get better in a few days, Doc knew this, but he hated to see the younger like this. he sat down on the other end of the couch, making sure he didn't wake the younger. everything was going to be okay in a few days.