I'll Be Back

Mike sat on the couch, watching some documentary on TV. Brittney was out with Adrienne, Ryan was asleep upstairs and Brixton was at school, getting dropped off soon.

It was the time of day Mike loved, where he could just put his feet up and relax. He looked over at the clock.  

3:25pm. Any minute now Brixton would do his usual: Run through the door and jump on Mike, excited to tell him everything he did at school.

Speak of the devil, the door opened and in walked Brixton. He didn't run over like usual, he walked and stood in front of Mike. He didn't look right.  

"Are you okay buddy?" Mike asked.  

"I don't feel good Dad." Brixton said. Mike held the back of his hand against Brixton's head.  

"You're pretty warm. C'mere." Mike said, slipping Brixton's bag and jacket off, picking him up and sitting him on his lap. Brixton sneezed a few times and lay his head on Mike. "You tired?" He asked and Brixton nodded. "Okay buddy." Mike lay him on the couch and got up, getting a blanket from the cupboard and tucking him in. "If you need anything, give me a shout. I'm gonna go get the baby." Brixton nodded so Mike walked upstairs to Ryan's room.

Ryan was nearly two but still hadn't mastered the art of walking yet, so she was still in a crib. At this particular moment she was screaming, wanting to be out.  

"Hey baby girl, it's alright," Mike said, picking her up and balancing her on his hip.  

"Daddy you left me." She whimpered.  

"I know baby, I'm sorry. Brix isn't feeling too good." He said, carrying her downstairs and sitting her on the mat with some toys as he sat with Brixton, stroking his hair, as Brittney walked through the door.  

"Hey guys." She said, walking in and seeing Ryan. "Oh dear me." She said when she saw Brixton.  

"He doesn't feel good. He's been sleeping for a few hours. Ryan's had her nap and been fed." Mike said, going over to Brittney and kissing her.  

"Alright, thanks baby. When you gotta go go Billie's for practice?" She asked.  

"Well, now. But I'll help sort the kids first." He said, and she smiled.  

"Thank you." Brittney picked up Brixton and carried him up the stairs, taking him to bed.  

"Daddy?" Ryan sat up. "I feel funny." She said, clinging to Mike's leg.  

"Uh oh." He said, picking her up and feeling her head. "Yeah. Britt, Ry's got it too!" Mike shouted up the stairs. Brittney came down and took Ryan, frowning.  

"Poor baby." She said, kissing her head as Ryan sneezed. "Okay, I'll take her to bed, you get to Billie's." She said.  

"Okay." Mike sighed, pulling his old black and white converse on.  

"They're nearly falling off your feet. I got you some new ones today." She said, pointing to a box. Mike laughed and put his new shoes on and grabbed a jacket.  

"Thanks babe. Call me if you need anything." He said, shutting the front door and getting in his car, driving to Billie's.

"Hey," He said, walking in. "Sorry I'm late, the kids have come down with something." He told them, grabbing his bass and plugging it in.  

"Sorry man, that sucks." Billie said, walking over.  

"Yeah. So I can't stay for drinks tonight, I gotta go make sure they're okay." Mike explained.  

"Alright." Tré shrugged and they started playing.  

"Okay let's do Fell For You." Billie said, and counted them in. They all started playing, but Mike stopped his bass line and Billie and Tré looked up. "What?" Billie asked, as Mike sneezed several times in a row.  

"Geez, are you quite finished there Michael?" Tré asked, receiving a nod from Mike. They finished the song and Billie looked around his notes.  

"Okay. Uh, lets do... Kill The DJ." Billie said, and they started playing again but once again Mike stopped, sneezing more than last time and then having a coughing fit. Billie dumped his guitar and grabbed his bottle of water, patting Mike on the back and then handing him his water.  

"Thank you," Mike said, taking a sip and handing it back. "Okay let's keep going." Mike said, getting back into position.  

"No no, I don't think so." Billie said, taking Mike's bass and putting it back on it's stand. "I think you caught that little bug from the kids."  

"No, no I'm fine." Mike muttered.  

"No you're not. You're white as a sheet and all sweaty. I'm calling Britt." Tré said, grabbing his phone as Billie led Mike to a couch and sat with him.  

"I- I'm not sick. I need to help look after the kids." Mike said. 

"You are sick. Don't worry, Tré and I will help." Billie said.  

"I- I'm not." Mike persisted.  

"Shut up yes you are." Billie said, lying Mike's head on his shoulder. Tré walked back in and smiled at them.  

"She's on her way. Estelle's watching the kids." Tré said.

After a few minutes Brittney turned up and ran over to Mike, hugging him tightly.  

"Why didn't you say anything if you were feeling bad?" She asked.  

"I'm not. I'm just tired." Mike said, sitting up.  

"Yeah right. See you when you're better, Mikey." Billie smiled and Brittney led Mike to the car and drive him home.

"Hi Dad." Estelle said as Mike entered with Brittney.  

"Hi." Mike mumbled.  

"Yeah, he's sick." Estelle nodded at Brittney. "I found a movie to watch." Estelle smiled at her and Brittney nodded. 

"Cool. Just let me get this doofus to bed." Brittney laughed and helped Mike upstairs to bed, tucking him in.  

"I'm sorry." Mike sighed at her.  

"What for?" 

"Making you look after me." Mike muttered, looking down.  

"Hey, it's alright. You can't help it. Go to sleep." Brittney smiled, stroking Mike's hair gently until he fell asleep and then going to join Estelle.