Sweet Caroline (Corey Crawford)

Love Sick

Caroline

After the usual morning skate I go over to Walgreens to pick up some things. The practice went well, but unfortunately Corey ended up with the flu and couldn't make it. They didn't want to put him on ir because that means he would have to miss at least three games and call someone else up but they also needed a backup in case something happened to Emery tomorrow at the game. So our best bet was to get him better as fast as we could and hope for the best.

So I pick up his medication and some saltine crackers and something to drink. I pick up a few movies and snacks before heading over to his place to help get him better. I've been over there a lot lately which only sucks because I miss hanging out with my kitty. He was actually great company and I enjoy my time with him.

I get up to his apartment and let myself in. I head to the island in the kitchen and pour everything out on the counter. I grab his pills and soda and bring it out to him.

"Alright big guy, time to take your medicine" I say helping him sit up. He slowly takes the pills and sets the drink on the table in front of the couch. I press the back of my hand to his forehead and let out a sigh.

"You're still burning up" I say. I stick a thermometer into his mouth and clean up his tissues and wrappers he's shed in the few hours he's been confided to the couch this morning. The thermometer goes off and I check it. It read 100.3 which is better, but still a fever.

"Alright. Lie back down and pray the medicine kicks in soon. I'm going to make you some food I hope you don't throw up eventually" I say.

"Okay" he mumbles slowly laying back down. I go to the kitchen and put away the things I bought. I set out the crackers and look for a can of soup. To no ones surprise he didn't have any, so I decide to make some form scratch.

How this man had no cans of soup but all the ingredients to make it is beyond me, because I've known him for seven months and he has never stepped foot in this kitchen unless he wanted to drink or was heating his food up. He was a regular at like ten restaurants around here.

I pull out what I need and throw it all together in a pot on the stove. I pour him a bowl of soup and bring it to him. He sits back up and I set the bowl in his lap. He looks down before turning to me.

"I didn't know I had soup" he claims.

"You didn't" I assure him.

"You made this" he asks and I nod. I sit next to him and he smiles at me. "You're so nice" he smiles.

"So you keep telling me" I giggle. He hasn't raked much today, which is a weird experience, but now I'm hoping he's feeling better since he's back to giving me cheesy compliments.

I finally get him to eat his food and some crackers. I pray that he can actually keep it down this time and I don't have to clean up any more throw up.

Once he was finished I clean up his dishes and grab a Gatorade which is supposed to help with his stomach cramps. I softly feel his cheek and he seemed a little more aware.

"How do you feel" I ask.

"Tired" he admits.

"Go to bed" I insist.

"I feel bad that you have to take care of me, I don't want you to watch me sleep" he claims.

"And I don't want to see you in pain" I assure him. He lets out a sigh but ends up laying his head in my lap. I was a bit shocked at first, I wasn't sure if he knew I was here or not. But he slips his hand between my legs and scoots himself closer.

"Corey" I say and he continues to lay there still.

"I feel funny" he says and I sigh... great.

I look at the bottle and read the side effects. I ask him if he's feeling any of that and he says no.

"Did you take your medication with beer" I ask.

"No" he claims.

"Did you take anything else this morning" I ask.

"I took DayQuil when I woke up" he says and I sigh.

"Oh sweetie, you're not supposed to mix drugs" I say.

"Oopsies " he whispers.

"Do I need to take you to the hospital" I ask.

"No. I just feel funny" he claims.

"Well go to sleep" I insist and he nods his head in my lap. I start to softly run my fingers through this hair and watch as he lays there. He seemed so peaceful, I mean he's pretty laid back as is, but I know these past few weeks have been hard on him and I'm sure these drug can take some of that pain away too.

"Hey Caroline" he says softly.

"Shhhh, go to sleep" I insist.

"I can't" he claims.

"Why not? What do you need" I wonder.

"I need you" he claims.

"I'm right here" I assure him.

"No... I mean I need you" he says again.

"You're sick and on drugs, you don't know what you're saying" I insist.

"But I do. I've wanted to tell you that I love you for the longest time, but I'm scared I'm going to hurt you" he says and I stop. I remove my hand from his hair and scratch my head.

"You love me" I whisper.

"I always have" he claims.

"Why haven't you said anything" I ask. I know I shouldn't take advantage of him when he's vulnerable, but I needed to know.

"I'm not good for you. I'm like a ticking time bomb, just look how my life blew up. I can't do that to you. I can't spiral to the bottom and bring you with me, you're an amazing person and I can't hurt you like I'm hurting myself. But I'm in love with the idea of you being with me. The thoughts of what a life with you loving me back would be like. I often times dream up of a world where we can be together, where I can make you happy and you're continuing for to make me happy, but then reality sets in and I realize that I am capable of destroying you. I don't want to hurt you" he claims. His eyes still shut as he lays in my lap.

"How do you know if you're bad for me if you never even tried" I ask.

"Because when I say you're perfect, I really mean it. I mean I couldn't have thought up of a girl better than you. You're so freaking smart and so passionate. You love hockey and you understand it and life better than anyone. It's so intimidating. I've already fucked up so many times, I can only imagine what that would be like if we were together" he claims.

"But I'm still here Corey. I'm not going to give up on you, on us. It's been seven months and I'm still holding onto you. You can keep pushing me away but I'm always going to find my way back to you" I insist.

"I don't get why though. Why do you care so much about me" he asks.

"Because Crawford... I love you too" I reply. The room falls silent as I wait for him to respond. I look down and he had finally passed out in my lap. He had a smile set on his lips as he softly snores. I let out a long sigh as I run my fingers through my hair. What a day?