TLWM: The Hate Experience

\III/ Dr. Daddy

     "Are you sure?" It was a silly question but some clueless part of Prince was praying the kid would say, Ha! Just kidding!

     "Daddy," Ace whined, one eye shut, the other peeking, "my tummy really hurts."

"I know and I'm so sorry. We're almost home, okay?" he said, his fingers raking through Ace's hair. "How much longer we got?" he asked Larry.

"About 10 minutes. You want me to stop by the store?"

"No." Prince looked at his restless son. "But do you have a bag or something? Just in case."

"Uh..." Larry reached for his Big Gulp and handed it back. "It's gone flat anyway."

Prince kept the cup tucked between his thighs. It was so hard watching Ace constantly fidget in his seat, whining about the pain. Prince sat there wishing he could take it away and throw the sickness on himself. He had never seen Ace like this before.

Luckily, they made it straight home with no problem. Out of the car, parked in front of Galpin, Prince had a Batman backpack on one shoulder, Ace on the other. "Goodnight."

"Hope he feels better," Larry said back. 

"Thanks."

"And you know you can always call on Mr. Larry, bud. Don't hesitate."

"Larry, there are too many of you in this world," Prince snickered. "You got a middle name or something?"

"Luke, Sir."

"Well, have a good night, Luke."

     In the house, motion sensor lights guided Prince up to his room. Since Ace wasn't feeling well, he was going to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed. But Prince was starting to think his little drama king would be just fine. For assurance, there were saltine crackers in one of those cabinets he could give him. Going up the stairs, he wondered if there was any ginger ale too.

"Ace?"

"Hm?"

Prince sat him down on the edge of the bed, tugged off his little sneakers and watched him settle on Raven's pillows. "How you feeling?" Again, he wished he'd see a smirk or something, a glint of hope, but instead Ace just shook his head, trying to fall back to sleep. "Let me take your coat and stuff off."

Ace moaned and was unhelpful as Prince removed his hat, gloves and jacket.

"You have to use the bathroom?"

Ace finally opened his eyes wide.

"Huh?"

Then without warning, all his birthday goodies came spewing out of him.

Prince quickly pulled him forward and managed to snatch the garbage at the same time. Ace was already soiled, along with the bedding, but he was still filling up the pail. It was the most petrifying thing Prince had ever seen.

Once it seemed to be over, Prince still stood there frozen, the odor watering his eyes. "You, uh...think you're done?"

Ace nodded.

"Sure?"

He nodded again, sitting up. "I want Mommy."

"Um..." Prince didn't know where to start. "Let me get you..." Prince turned back and headed towards the bathroom with the garbage still in hand but then a voice told him no. Go take care of Ace first. "Uh...wait a second, Bam."