FAMILY BOND

Chapter 19

**  Just to let you know, this chapter is NOT medically correct. LOL

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(the next day)

Nate goes to the kitchen and starts getting the ingredients together for some chicken noodle soup. 

"Need any help?" Esther asks as she and Kirstie join him in the kitchen.

"Absolutely. I kinda got my hands full. I'm surprised that you girls aren't sick too." Nate says, looking over his shoulder. 

"Must have been the alcohol. Remember? The guys weren't drinking." Kirstie says.

"We've made sure all the babies were still in bed." Esther laughs. "To be such dangerous men, I've never seen a bigger bunch of little boys."

"Avi is terrible when he gets sick. Remember when he and Tim got sick after falling into that well?" Kirstie asks as she cuts the carrots to go into the soup.

"Tim was almost as bad but at least Adam was there to help tend to him. We don't have Adam to help this time." Nate says as he stirs the broth.

"Some of them doesn't really seem that bad. I guess it's because they actually grabbed jackets before going outside." Esther says. "Eddie is really not that bad. A few sniffles and sneezing."

"I think Tim, Adam and Avi will be the sickest. They all went out without coats and they were soaked and chilled to the bone when they came in." Nate said. "Chris really ain't that bad either. It really depends on their immune system. Which makes me worry about Tim. His immune system could be low because of his withdrawal from his addiction."

"And we don't want to catch anything either." Esther adds.

"That's why I have these." Nate smiles as he lays a box of surgical gloves and masks on the table. "Do not go into any of the bedrooms without wearing a mask and gloves. We have to protect ourselves too."

When the soup was done, Kirstie begins to fill seven bowls. Esther goes to the lodge's supply room and finds a large stack of tv trays.

"Look what I found in storage." She says as she walks into the kitchen with a utility cart with a stack of fourteen trays on it. "It's amazing what you can find in a lodge storage room."

"That's perfect. Now, let's go see if we can get our patients to eat something." Nate says as he begins to load the cart.

They take the elevator up to the second floor. As they walk out into the hallway, they hear coughing coming from several of the rooms.

"So this is how it feels to work in a real hospital." Nate chuckles as he stops at Chance and Austin's room. Slipping on gloves and a mask, he taps on the door and waits for Chance to answer before entering.

"How are we feeling today?" Nate smiles under his mask. They looked miserable. 

"We are feeling sh*tty." Chance says before blowing his nose.

"Don't you have some sort of miracle drug?" Austin asks as he slowly sits up.

"Yep, it's called plenty of fluids, plenty of rest and my all time favorite, chicken noodle soup." Nate chuckles as he sets the tray across Austin's lap.

"It looks good." Austin says as he picks up his spoon.

"Thank you. It helps to have worked in a restaurant. It's my mom's family recipe." Nate chuckles as he places a tray in front of Chance. "You guys enjoy. I have more patients to tend to."

Kirstie smiles as she peeks in their bedroom. Her husband was wrapped in a blanket looking somewhat like a burrito.

"Sweetie? How are you feeling this morning?" Kirstie asks as she walks into the room, setting the tray on the nightstand.

"I'm cold. I'm hot. I have a massive headache. I have chills. I've been coughing my head off. Oh, yeah, and my throat feels like Freddie Krueger has gotten a hold of it." Avi answers from underneath the blankets. "Am I going to die?"

"No, you're not going to die. You feel like eating something?" Kirstie asks as she tries to find her husband underneath the pile of blankets.

"What do you have?" Avi asks, uncovering his head.

"Some home-made chicken noodle soup." Kirstie says.

"It looks tasty." Avi says as he sits up and scoots up next to the headboard. He begins to cough as he wraps the blanket tightly around him.

"Here, Baby." Kirstie says as she puts the spoon up to his mouth after he was through with his coughing.

The warm broth felt good on his sore throat.

"Is it good?" She asks as she feeds him another bite.

"I'm sure it is, I just can't really taste it. It feels good going down though." Avi says. "But I have a question."

"What's that?" Kirstie asks.

"What's with the mask and gloves?" Avi asks before taking another offered bite.

"This was Nate's idea. We have to take care of you guys. We don't need to get sick too." Kirstie answers with a soft smile.

"How are the other guys doing?" Avi asks.

"I haven't checked on any of them. I do know they are all in bed. Nate, being the real doctor, is checking on them while delivering their soup." She answers. "I really don't think Eddie or Chris are that sick. Yeah, they have colds but nothing like the rest of you guys."

"When you find out how Timbo is, will you let me know? I'm worried about him." Avi says.

"Why is that, Sweetie?" Kirstie asks as she brushes back his hair.

"He's still in the early stages of his rehab. If he's really sick, especially with a fever, it could really play tricks on his mind." Avi says as he pulls his blanket tighter around him. 

"We'll keep a close eye on him." She says as she feeds him the last of the soup. "Feeling better since you've eaten?"

"Not really. You know what might help?" Avi looks at her with sad eyes.

"What's that?" Kirstie asks with a slight smirk.

"If you would cuddle with me." Avi pouts.

"Awww, of course, I would love to cuddle with my little dragon boy." Kirstie smiles behind her mask. "But the mask and gloves stay on."

Nate opens the door of his and Chris's shared bedroom as he balances the tray with his other hand. He was relieved to see Chris sitting up in bed reading.

"Well, you're definitely looking better than Chance and Austin were." Nate chuckles causing Chris to look up from his book.

"I don't feel too bad. A little congested and my throat is kinda sore." Chris smiles as he lays his book aside. "How are the others?"

"Kirstie is checking on Avi and Esther is checking on Eddie. Tim and Adam are my next stop." Nate says as he hands Chris the tray.

"Be sure you make Adam rest. I know him well enough to know that he'll try to take care of Tim and forget that he's also sick." Chris says as he takes a bite of the soup.

"Yeah, I kinda figured that. But I'll watch him. I'm just glad that you and Eddie aren't as sick as the others." Nate says as he gently rubs his lover on the side of the head.

"I'm just lucky to have a boyfriend who's a doctor." Chris smiles.

"NATE!!! NATE!!!" Adam's voice rings out through the hallway.

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