Little Gaston

Chapter 20

When Gaston woke up he was feeling absolutely wretched. He was cold and warm at the same time, his body shivering and sweating, and his head pounding.

Giving a whine, he felt his tummy start to cramp, but before he could do anything his bowels gave another cramp and he released them in his diaper, feeling a sludge like something painfully leaving him.

The pressure made his stomach cramp and he felt incredibly nauseous suddenly.

Quickly, he heaved himself up, pulling on the top of the bed and he managed to get up and just hang over the edge of the crib in time to vomit.

The half-digested food splattered loudly on the floor, creating a bit icky and stinking puddle, but at least most of the crib was spared, and even more important, Gaston was relieved that his cuddle blankie was all clean.

Losing the strength in his legs, Gaston let himself fall down, taking a few big heaving breaths while he tried to get his breath back and when he had managed that, he cried out.

"Mama," the little shouted loudly, tears coming out of his eyes, "dada!"

Adam and Belle had been peacefully sleeping in the other room when the loud shouts of the little woke them both up.

"Gaston?" Belle gasped, half-falling out of the bed in her urgency to get to the nursery, not awake enough to realise what was happening, just knowing that something was wrong.

Behind her she heard Adam thud out of the bed, and he struggled to get up, but Belle had no time to look for him, knowing that she needed to aid Gaston.

Opening the door to the nursery, it flew against the wall and she immediately smelled the acrid sent of vomit and a moment later she saw the big puddle on the floor.

By now Adam had gotten up from where he had fallen out of bed and had even managed to change into his beast form, not knowing what the threat was.

"Oh, little one," Adam said, walking up to the crib and lifting Gaston out from it.

He held the little close to him, hoping that the proximity would make him feel better.

"Does he have a fever?" Belle asked, coming close and avoiding the puddle on the floor.

Gently, she reached out and put her hand on Gaston's forehead, having to stand on her toes to reach it even when Adam was ducking down and all the while the little was loudly sobbing, but now that the two caregivers were fussing over him, he started to calm down a bit.

"He feels warm and his sleeper is all soaked with sweat," Adam said, feeling the damp piece of clothing while Gaston started to calm down, still crying a bit, but now stuffing two fingers in his mouth and trying to self soothe, even if the taste of his own spit was disgusting.

Unable to swallow, the saliva was quickly running from his hands and chin, leaking into Adam's fur, but the man didn't care for that.

"He's burning up," Belle said, looking worried at the miserable looking little, "best give him a cool bath, and see if the doctor has something for the fever. I'll call someone up."

"Yes, good idea," Adam said, looking at Gaston and bouncing him a bit, "hey there, we're going to get you all nice and clean."

The little whined, taking his hand back from his mouth and grasping the fur, the bouncing making the nausea rise again, but luckily it stopped when he was put down on the changing table.

"Mama," Gaston whined, and immediately Belle was there, softly stroking his head, feeling the soaked hair and making several soothing noises.

Adam carefully opened the sleeper, and quickly found the soiled diaper. For a moment, Gaston cried again at the smell of himself, but Belle soothed and distracted him while Adam wiped the dirty area.