I'm Not Crazy (On Hold)

Sean

       The moment Nathan snuck me back into the house and up to my room, I was bombarded with the smell of citrus and cedar. Warm arms wrapped around me and I giggled as a nose nuzzled my hair. "Mm, why hello there, Pookie."

       I twisted my head around to grin up at him. "Hey, Doctor Sean."

       He smirked at me as he loosened his hold. "Speaking of doctors, how did your appointment go?"

       Sighing, I disentangled myself from him and crossed to my bed. Nathan gave us both a nod, his blue eyes tense, before he left the room, giving us some privacy. All of us knew what happened on the days I had my appointments, but today was Sean's day and Nathan wasn't going to intrude. No matter how much he probably wanted to.

       I shucked off my shoes and tucked my feet underneath me on the bed. "It was okay, I guess.” I pointed down at the medicine that was still resting on the floor. "I got some new medication to try out."

       Sean frowned as he knelt down to look at the sack on the ground. "Another one? Isn't this the third one in the past 6 months?"

       "Yeah," I confirmed and watched as he tried to read the paper bag. He didn't make a move to grab it, though. We both knew that he wouldn't be able to even if he tried.

       He switched his expression from a scowl to a grin as he turned to face me again, but I could tell that it was forced. He crossed over to the bed and sat down, his weight not disturbing the bed in the slightest.

       Reaching forward, he playfully tugged on a lock of hair that had come loose from my clip. For some reason that none of us could explain, I was the only thing that the guys were able to touch. Or objects on me, like my clips. Gabriel always liked to get rid of those. . .

       I knew that because of that, they tended to take comfort in my physical touch because sometimes, even they wondered if they were real. I didn't complain when they touched me, though. It was soothing to have one of their hands wrapped around my own, or the weight of their head as they rested it on mine. Physical touch was important and I craved it from them nearly as much as they seemed to crave it from me.

       His eyes searched my face for a moment and I took the time to do the same to him. His gaze was tired and dark circles decorated his eyes. He must have been truly worried about me.

       I squeezed his hand before shifting my head to lean on his shoulder. I was mentally drained from today and my day was just beginning. My mind wandered as I focused on Sean's thumbs running circles over the back of my hand.

       My eyes squeezed shut as another round of nausea racked through my body. I shivered, even though my skin felt too hot.

       I groaned, but stiffened when it hurt my throat. My throat felt dry and burned as if I had gargled boiling hot water. As I tried to move around in my bed and get comfortable, I noticed a bowl of opaque golden liquid on my nightstand.  My stomach recoiled at the thought of having more chicken broth, but I knew it was important to have liquids when you were sick.

       I would do anything to get feeling better, even if that meant forcing down the disgusting broth.

       I cringed at the harsh flavor as it slid over my recoiling taste buds. I didn't want to let any broth go to waste though, because this was probably the nicest thing my mother had ever done for me.

       It stung as it made its way down my raw throat and my eyes watered in pain.  My stomach churned angrily as I placed the bowl back on the nightstand and crawled back under my covers.