Frozen

Chapter 9)

Bentley to the side

Brianna

I placed the back of my fingers against Bentley's burning forehead and bit my lip. His big green eyes looked up at me with the most pitiful look I've ever seen.

"Can I stay home from school, Bri?" he asked in a small voice.

"Yeah, baby, we'll both stay home today, how does that sound?" I said with what I hoped was a comforting smile.

Honestly, it scared the hell out of me whenever he got sick. Even the smallest of colds made my mind run wild with thoughts of hospitals and medical bills and a million things that I had no control over.

Things that would make them contact my parents.

"Does your tummy feel okay for food?" I asked, smoothing his hair away from his forehead.

He shook his head and I closed my eyes for a second.

He had the biggest appetite I'd ever seen, excluding Barney. He was just a kid but a kid who was always hungry.

Except for right now.

"All right, sweetheart, why don't you close your eyes and try to sleep. I have some calls I have to make. I'll be back to check on you in a bit," I said, leaning down to kiss his forehead gently.

"Okay," he mumbled, already on his was to dreamland.

I walked out of his room, closing his door gently behind me, and dialed Barney's cell.

"Hey, baby," he answered in that silky rough southern voice of his.

"Hey," I said softly, sitting down on my couch in the living room, "I won't be able to make it into work today."

There was a short silence, then a short, clipped "Why?"

I sighed.

"Bentley's sick," I said, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

When Barney spoke again, all the tension and hidden anger was gone from his voice, soft concern and understanding taking it's place.

"I'll call Paige, she could use the extra hours," he said.

I didn't know who Paige was, but I was glad she would be able to fill in.

"Okay. I'm sorry for the late cancellation," I said, closing my eyes and letting my head fall back against the couch.

"Don't be, Brianna," Barney said in a gently firm voice, "Bentley comes first, always. Let me know if you'll need tomorrow, too, all right?"

I swallowed against the tears threatening and nodded before realizing he couldn't see me.

"All right, Barney. Thank you."

"Don't thank me, baby girl, anything for you. Later."

"Later," I whispered before hanging up.

I took a deep breath and decided it wouldn't be too bad if I dozed off a little.

Half an hour later, I woke up to a burning hot little hand touching my arm.

"Bri?"

I blinked myself awake, becoming alert when I saw Bentley in front of me.

"Hey, little monster," I said, sitting up and giving him a smile, at the same time checking his forehead and cheeks with the back of my hand. "How do you feel?"

"I think I can eat, now," he said tentatively, leaning his weight into me, trusting that I wouldn't let him fall. I scooped him up and carried him into the kitchen, not letting the ridiculously overwhelming relief I felt at his words show.