With Michael

Chapter 69 - You Give Me Fever

30th of August, 2008
Brooklyn and Janet are 42, Michael is 50

Janet: I woke up with a pounding headache.

Considering I haven't slept so much, I decided to go make myself some coffee.

As I passed Michael's and Brooke's master bedroom, I heard someone cough helplessly.

I walked into the room, surprised to see my best friend in their bed.

Tissues were all around her, covering the bed almost entirely.

"What happened to you?" I asked and walked in farther.

"I have a cold." she sniffled.

"You look awful."

"Thanks, Jan."

"Anytime," I smiled. "Do you need something? A cup of hot tea, maybe?"

"You're smiling. That's goo-" Brooklyn started saying, but another cough attack stopped her.

"I'll go get that tea now." I told her.

"Thanks."

When I went into the kitchen, I met Ronda. She greeted me nicely, asking if I wanted anything to eat.

"I'll just finish making this chicken soup for Mrs. Jackson." she said.

"That's okay, I don't want anything. But I will take that up for her."

She nodded, and poured a bowl full of hot soup once it was ready.

When I climbed back upstairs, Michael was in their bathroom, rubbing Brooke's back as she threw up.

I put the bowl down, sighing, "I guess you won't be wanting this."

She shook her head violently before holding onto the toilet again.

"It's been like this all night," Michael told me and then turned to my best friend. "Are you sure you don't want to see a doctor?"

"I told you, I probably have food poisoning. I think I just need to sleep it off." she murmured.

She went back to the room after brushing her teeth.

"Did you get any sleep, Dunk?" my brother asked.

"Kinda. It was a rocky night." I answered.

"I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to make it better?"

"No, it's fine. I'll go see where my girls are. You need to take care of your sick wife."

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then hurried to find my three daughters.

~

Michael: "I have some things to do, are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" I asked Brooke.

"Yeah, Jan's here, and I plan on sleeping, either way," she answered. "Leave me a bucket and go-"

She stopped talking when she started coughing again.

"Get some sleep." I placed a kiss on her forehead that got hotter and hotter with each hour.

I tucked her in, so she wouldn't be cold.

She was coughing when I skipped down the stairs, making me sigh. I was pretty worried about her, but I believed her when she said it was probably just a cold.

"Bye, kids." I smiled at my four children, and Janet's daughters.

"Bye, daddy. Have fun." Kamron wrapped his arms around me.