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Busy As A Bee With Too Much Honey

The flu had unexplainably spread much faster than we anticipated, several patients passing through the infirmary with the same symptoms. Fever, vomiting, dizziness- you name it, they had it.

"Come on, admit it. There's a tiny part of you that's thrilled to be sick." Dante mused as he took Cheryl's blood pressure. He had a habit of flirting with the women who came by, however he never got lucky with his advances. Still, it was entertaining to watch them reject the poor man every time.

"You think I'm puking because I got a little crush?" Cheryl accused, her tone hinting at disbelief.

I put the last of the medicine back in the cabinet, the door clicking shut as I turned to face him. "Dante, did you ever consider that maybe you're not everyone's type?" I curiously wondered, my hand resting on my hip as I wandered over.

Dante frowned as if he was thinking deeply, his finger tapping at his chin mockingly. "It's never crossed my mind..." He joked, returning to the patient by his side.

Cheryl shook her head with exasperation, meeting my eyes desperately. "I want your opinion." She insisted, patiently waiting as I plugged the stethoscope in my ears.

"Breathe in...and out again. One more time." I instructed, focusing on the sounds of air in her lungs. It sounded just like everyone else's, indicating she was definitely coming down with something. "Listen, Cheryl. If he's bothering you, I can put him in the cells."

She let out a short laugh, her amusement soon twisting as she heaved out a cough. Dante rubbed a hand on her back comfortingly, waiting for her to relax before cracking another joke.

"Seriously, though, don't you think we'd make a bitchin' couple?" He insisted, wrapping his stethoscope over his neck.

"Son, I would break you like a twig." Cheryl weakly threatened, the words humorous despite her illness.

"How's he doing, Cheryl?" An amused voice sounded from the doorway, my face lighting up as Siddiq wandered in with Coco in his arms. I immediately raced across the room, my fingers tickling the baby's stomach gently.

"Hi, Coco." I whispered sweetly, my lips turning up as she giggled with entertainment. I blocked out the conversation around me, soaking in the joyful squeals as I fondly poked her cheeks. Sometimes I missed having a baby, but other times I remembered just how difficult it was when Heather would scream the whole community awake.

'But they're so damn cute!'

I only tuned back in when Siddiq offered to return to work instead of spending time with his daughter.

"Now way in hell." I blurted out, my eyes wide with disbelief. "We got it handled, you just take the day off." I encouraged, my hand stroking the fluffy sprout of hair on her head.

Dante agreed quickly, his smile turning to the baby. "Lap up the daddy-daughter shit while you can, because they grow up so fast." His cooing words were directed at Siddiq but his eyes never left Coco, his lips pouting exaggeratedly.

"Oh!" I gasped suddenly, a thought springing to the front of my mind. "Can you take care of Heather today? There's just so much going on here, and Barbara's sick." I begged, my eyes apologetic.

Siddiq brushed it off, nodding in affirmation. "Sure, we can go to the lake, huh? And feed the chickens in the coop?" He looked down at Coco, his hand cradling her head as she gazed around with wonder.

I waved goodbye as they left, my smile never faltering as I watched her gleaming, curious eyes. It only fell when the door shut behind them, an exhausted groan releasing from my lips. The infirmary was so busy today, but I didn't want Siddiq to worry about it. He deserved the time with his family right now.