Closer 2

140.

"Hi Ray, it's Brett."

"Hey, what's up?" Ray answered in the other end, and Brett hesitated to continue. Ray sounded a bit stressed and tired. He was supposed to travel to Germany for a concert series in just a few days, and of course they had heard May wasn't feeling well. They really needed a favour, though, a littie one.

"I'm sorry, I know you're probably busy as hell and all, but I've asked everyone else and..."

"Need a sitter?" Ray asked with a small chuckle, and Brett exhaled with relief.

"Yeah, just Elise for a few hours, though. She's been really weird lately and fighting us and crying, and we think maybe she's reacting to us being stressed about the twins or something," Brett explained softly, licking his lips. "So we thought we'd give her some time away from it while we get time to catch up on laundry and house chores and maybe even some work if we're lucky with their sleeping."

"I'll have to ask May if she's feeling okay enough for me to leave her, but I'm sure it's okay. She was a little better today, even got her to eat something," Ray said softly. "Let me call you back, okay?"

"How's she doing? She's been sick for a while now, hasn't she?" Brett asked, concerned about their friend. They hadn't seen much of her, but from what Ray had told them, it seemed she was really out of it.

"She spoke to the doctor on a video call this morning, and he said it probably was a stomach bug or influenza or something, and to call back if it doesn't get better within a week or two," Ray said, but Brett got a feeling Ray didn't agree on that judgement.

"You don't think that's what it is, though, do you?"

Ray hesitated a bit in the other end, but finally gave an unsure sounding answer.
"I mean, I guess the doctor knows best, but isn't it a little weird I haven't gotten it, then? I've been on top of her constantly," he said, and Brett could hear him shake his head in the other end. "It doesn't add up to me. She's been promised a checkup on Monday in two weeks, though."

"That's after you leave, though?" Brett asked. "Need a driver?"

Ray chuckled a bit at Brett asking the same way as he had before.
"If she's not better and one of you are available, that would be great, actually. Thank you."

"No worries at all, bro. We've been worried sick about her," Brett explained softly. "Let us know if there's anything else we can do, okay? Go shopping for her or something once you're off."

"Yeah, thank you, Brett. I figured I could count in you guys," Ray sighed softly. "I'll ask her about babysitting now okay?"

"Yup, I'll talk to you in a bit then," Brett said, looking over at Elise who was playing peacefully in the corner while the twins and Eddy slept.

"Yup, bye!"