Just the two of us.

6. I've got your back!

The air was thick with tension as Josh helped George to his car, worry etched into every line of his face.

George felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, and he wished he could just disappear.

The shame of having to be taken care of, combined with the humiliation of his recent accident, pressed down on him like a heavy blanket.

As they drove to the hospital, George stared out the window, trying to distract himself from the dread building in his chest.

The streets blurred by, but all he could think about was how he had gotten to this point. I'm not a child, he reminded himself fiercely, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability.

"Hey, you alright?" Josh's voice broke through his thoughts, and George turned to see him glancing over with concern.

"Yeah, just...thinking," George mumbled, not wanting to reveal his inner turmoil.

"Thinking about what?" Josh pressed gently, the protective nature he had toward George making his heart swell and sink simultaneously.

"Just... everything. I didn't mean for this to happen." George's voice cracked slightly, and he hated how weak he sounded.

Josh sighed, keeping his eyes focused on the road. "You don't have to apologize, George. I'm just worried about you. You've been hiding a lot from me."

George shifted in his seat, feeling the weight of Josh's words. "I just didn't want to be treated like a baby," he admitted quietly.

"You're not a baby, and I wouldn't ever treat you that way if you didn't need it," Josh replied, his voice firm yet tender. "It's okay to ask for help when you need it."

With a soft sigh, George nodded, but the knot in his stomach tightened. They arrived at the hospital, and Josh parked the car. He reached over, squeezing George's shoulder reassuringly.

"Come on, let's get you checked out. We'll take it one step at a time."

As they walked through the hospital's sliding glass doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air.

George felt a sense of dread settle in his stomach. He hated hospitals—everything felt so cold and clinical, a stark contrast to the warmth he felt around Josh.

After checking in, they were quickly led to an examination room.

Josh remained by George's side, his presence comforting yet overwhelming. When the nurse came in to take George's vitals, he felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.

"Just relax," Josh said softly, standing beside him.

"Easy for you to say," George murmured, feeling the nurse wrap the blood pressure cuff around his arm.

"Hey, you're doing great," Josh encouraged, reaching over to give George's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

As the nurse finished her examination, Josh turned to George. "Okay, you need to stay here while I go speak with the doctor. Just hang tight, alright?"

George nodded, watching as Josh left the room. The moment he was alone, the heaviness of the situation hit him like a freight train. He felt small and fragile, vulnerable in a way he had never experienced before.

The doctor arrived a few minutes later, and George forced himself to focus on the man's words.

After a quick examination, the doctor confirmed that George had a viral infection and prescribed some medication to help him feel better.

"Is there anything else we should be concerned about?" the doctor asked, glancing at George's chart.

"No, just... I've had some trouble, um, managing some things," George mumbled, his cheeks flushing as he thought about the diapers.