Anything Goes

3 A.M.

Holy fuck that was close. I'm so glad I was here...He could have hit the pavement… I looked at him. I hadn't seen him look like this ever. He was flushed and sweaty; did he have a fever? I moved in closer.

“Axl…” I brushed his hair away from his face. It was damp. He looked up at me blearily. He looked so weak. “Are you alright?” He leaned into my touch. His face was so warm, and not in a good way. He felt hot. I felt his cheeks, neck and forehead with my hands. “Axl, I think you're running a temperature.”

“I'm ok now, really…” Axl mumbled, his cheeks turning pink. He sat up a little in my arms. I helped him stand and led him to a bench.

“Are you sure?” I said, sweeping his hair back and tucking it behind his ear. He nodded. God, I missed him so much. I missed his scent, his warmth, his seafoam eyes…

I stood up and carefully brought him up with me. He seemed to balance ok, so I let go of him. We walked together through the park. I didn't know what to say to him. I was so happy, but so nervous. I knew what I had to tell him...but how? I sighed. Ok. Here goes everything--

“I’m so glad I found you, Axl...I need--to talk to you…It's important…”

I saw him sway out of the corner of my eyes and turned just in time to catch him on his way down to the ground. His eyes were fluttering. I held him in my arms, my back straining.

“Axl! Axl, are you alright?!” I cried, going down to my knees to stop his head from hitting the concrete. I shook him a little and tapped his face. Axl, please stay awake, please! I don't want anything to happen to you, I couldn't take it! I shook him again. Please, Axl, hang in there! Christ, he was pale--

His eyes fluttered and he came back to reality. I found myself staring into seafoam eyes again. They were like stained glass. I released a great I didn't even know I was holding. He looked a little confused as to why we were both almost on the ground.

“Are you Ok?” I asked him gently. He blinked and nodded slowly. I sat up him delicately and made sure he wasn't going to faint again. “Come on.” I took his hand and pulled him with me. Even though he was boiling, I loved the way his hand fit into my mine. “You're coming back to my place. Get you some water and you can lay down. You need your rest. Tomorrow I'm taking you to the doctor.”

I opened my door, and led him in, steering him to the couch. It brought me back to taking care of my little brothers when they were sick and Mom and had to work. He sat there in his beat coat and just looked miserable. His face was flushed and his hair was damp and stuck to his face. I rummaged around in the kitchen and found a spare glass that wasn't broken or dirty and filled it up with cold sink water. I pressed the cup into his hands. He didn’t even look like he wanted to try and drink it.

“Izzy, I--”

“No, no buts. You need to drink that. The whole glass. You’re gonna dehydrate.” I’m sounding like Spike now. Shit. I sat in front of him on the edge of the coffee table and made sure he drank it all. Then I took off his coat and took him into my bedroom. He stretched out on my bed. I pushed his hair back from his face. I sat next to him and laid back. Suddenly, my face got hot and my heart started pounding. Trembling and feeling the adrenaline course through my veins, I pulled him into my arms. He was so sweaty, it was like he’d just come in out of the rain. I felt him relax against me. My face felt warm. I just held him.

“Axl...I've missed you. I have. More than anything. I'm sorry...So sorry…” I whispered into his ear. He didn't respond, but he nuzzled my chest gently. I smiled. I was happy to have him there. Just to hold onto him. I had been so stupid the past few weeks...hell, the past few months. I just held him to my chest and sighed. I could feel him breathing against me. I closed my eyes. This was enough.