Red Like Rubies

Coming Out

When Sebastian woke up in the morning he had a terrible headache. He had too much booze that night but not even the three bottles of whiskey couldn't make him forget what Joseph said.

"Morning sunshine.", said Myra next to him. She was naked and beautiful.

"Morn'...", he grumbled, still not fully awake.

"Did someone have a little too much last night?" She grinned.

You can't even imagine, he thought, but he didn't want to tell her. At least not yet. "Not of you."

"When will you ever have enough of me?"

"Never." He gave her a kiss and pulled her close.

"I'm sorry about Aileen...", she muttered between kisses. "I would have stopped her, but I didn't know that Joseph couldn't drink. I thought it was a funny prank..."

"Pranks are never funny." Sebastian cupped her face. "But let's not talk about that now. We have more important things to do. And I've heard sex helps pretty good against hangovers."

Sebastian adjourned talking with Joseph for the whole morning. But eventually he and Myra had to get up and dressed again, taking care of Lily, preparing lunch.

Joseph hadn't left his room yet. He probably was hungover too. Or ashamed for what he did.

Sebastian took a deep breath and finally knocked on the door. He didn't get an answer. A bit worried now, he entered the room.

Joseph didn't look well at all. He was as pale as a ghost, sweating, barely able to look at him or even keeping his eyes open.

"Oh god." Sebastian kneeled next to the bed. "Joseph, can you hear me?"

He nodded slightly and closed his eyes again. "Think I... might... get sick..."

"Hold it in for a second, I'll get you a bucket!" Sebastian ran out of the room. That talk could wait.

He ran into the kitchen and grabbed the bucket from under the sink, running back to the room without answering Myra's question what was going on.

Joseph was pressing one hand on his mouth, barely able to hold it in anymore. Sebastian held the bucket under his face, allowing Joseph to finally throw up. He was coughing hard and clamped onto the bucket.

"Shit..." Sebastian carefully padded his shoulder. "You okay? More to come?"

"Don't know..." Joseph coughed again, obviously still feeling sick.

Sebastian waited patiently, still holding the bucket for him, until he finally calmed down a little. He placed the bucket on the ground and felt Joseph's forehead. It was glowing.

"Fuck... Okay, lay down again, partner."

"I... feel so..." Joseph couldn't even end his sentence. He just fainted.

"Joseph?" Sebastian grabbed his shoulder and shook him a little. No reaction. "Fuck!"

Without hesitation, Sebastian went to the kitchen again. "I'm calling a doctor.", he said to his wife while paying close attention that Lily couldn't hear it.

"Oh god, is it that worse?", Myra asked quietly.

"He just fainted. He's got fever. He is as pale as a ghost and he threw up practically everything he's eaten in the last days."

"Doesn't sound good at all."

"Please look at him. You were a nurse once, maybe there's something you can do."