That's a Childhood Disease...Right?

Something New to Worry About

Dr. Shannon stood back and shrugged his shoulders as he took in how miserable Ant seemed to be. He blew out a breath and put his hands on his hips then spoke. "I've done some readings on fever and how it can sometimes be stress induced. I'm thinking that this may well be...stress related."

"So...how do we...what do we need to do?" Martin asked, confusion very evident in his tone as he stared at Ant who had crossed his arms over his chest as another chill cause him to shudder.

"Although, I don't believe it is one, I recommend that we treat this like any other virus that may come up," the doctor answered, looking at Ant, watching as another shiver caused him to hug himself even harder. "I want you to get some rest, eat well, doesn't have to be much but it needs to be good food, no junk." Ant nodded in understanding and tiredly sat down on the edge of Dec's bed. "You also need to drink plenty of liquids, preferably caffeine free and you can take paracetamol for the fever and any achiness you might be feeling."

"So...Ant's going to be okay?" Dermott asked, his tone more than relieved now that he knew what he and Martin could do to help the younger man.

"You're going to be fine...give it a day, or two, Anthony," Kerry said, patting his warm shoulder. "By the way...how's that eye?" he asked, cupping Ant's chin in his hand, turning his head to better see the mottled bruise encircling his left eye. Ant shrugged. "Not really hurting...more sore than anything, I guess."

"The paracetamol will help out with that, too," the doctor said before turning to look down at Dec.

"Now as far Declan...he should be coming out of the sedative in the next few hours. Keep him quiet and calm. If he's hungry, it needs to be something cool or cold. No warm foods until after I've seen him tomorrow, at least. We don't need his temperature to spike again. I also recommend a good sponge bath or a brief bath in the tub in slightly warmer than tepid water...either will make him feel more human once he's alert. Leave the mask on him until I return and Danny will be coming by in a few hours to change out the antibiotics." Several more instructions and suggestions were made and questions were answered before Dermott walked the doctor down the stairs then watched him drive away.

About an hour later, Lisa texted Ant, letting him know that she was on her way over. When he didn't readily answer, she thought that he must be busy with Dec and didn't think much more about it. She knocked on the back gate door but was disappointed to see Dermott opening it for her.

"Not who you wanted to see," Dermott said with a smile as he stepped back, allowing her to enter the garden.

"Well, I had hoped to see Anth but I guess he's busy with Declan," she said, taking a seat at the patio table while Dermott remained standing. "To be perfectly honest with you, Lisa, he having  bit of a kip. He's feeling a bit off color."

At that bit of information, Lisa stood up and Dermott quickly tried to reassure her. He took her by the elbow and sat down, drawing her back down onto her seat beside him.

"Dr. Shannon seems to think it might be stressed induced. He's had a very hard time getting any rest for at least the last 48 hours and he's a bit run down, now."

"Okay...so it's not serious," Lisa replied with a sigh of relief.

"Kerry said to treat Ant as if he has a virus with rest, good healthy meals and plenty of fluids."

"How's Doolittle doing?" she asked, suddenly feeling a bit guilty for not having asked already.

"Still isn't alert yet but he's showing some signs of coming out of the sedative. Kerry said that once he's awake and alert, we can give him cool drinks and chilled foods for about 24 hours. Need to keep it all on the cool side to help keep his temperature from spiking again."