Authoritative (Peterick)

Day 24 (Friday)

-Patrick's.POV-

I woke up to darkness... darkness and a little hand on my arm shaking me. "Daddy..." there was a small cough.

"What's up, pumpkin?" I asked groggily.

"I can't sleep." Emily coughed again and sneezed.

I sat up and pulled up onto my lap. I put my hand to her forehead to tell her temperature. She was still running a fever. I sighed as I turned her to face me and stood. I walked downstairs, careful to avoid the dog, and set her on the couch. "I'm going to make you some tea."

"Okay."

I made her a small mug of tea and set it on the table to cool. Then I walked over to her and sat against the arm of the couch, pulling her onto my lap.

She laid her head on my chest and continued to cough and sneeze.

I rubbed her back and stroked her hair.

As much as I didn't want to be the one stuck up with her at one in the morning, I was. Pete had a job interview and I was to be the stay at home dad until I graduated... maybe longer. Taylor had school, and Gerard and Bandit.

I kissed the top of her head before picking her up and walking over to her tea and checking to see if it was cool enough. It was. I gave her the mug and walked back to the couch where we sat and watched cartoons until she fell asleep.

I stayed up, though. I didn't really have a choice. I was up. And once I was up, I was up for good.

I pulled the blanket over Emily's shoulder.

Pete walked downstairs. "Trick? What are you doing down here?" He asked.

"Emily's still sick." I said.

He walked over to where we were and sat on the arm of the couch next to me. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"You have a job interview. I didn't want to disturb you."

He kissed my cheek and stood. "I'd stay down here with you, but you had a point. I'm sorry, baby." He kissed my lips before heading back up to our room.

I stroked Emily's hair and watched her for a minute before turning my attention back to the TV where Full House was playing on Nick at Night.

Just then, Taylor was walking down the stairs. "Yeah..." she whispered, "I'll be there in a minute." She was pulling on her jacket when I looked over my shoulder at her.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"My friend Ashley's. She's in hysterics."

"Why?"

"She had a one night stand with a guy and now she's pregnant."

"Oh..." I said.

She nodded. "I'll be back sometime tomorrow."

"Okay... bye."

"Bye." She left.

I looked back down at Emily. She was starting to shiver, but was sweating also.

Her eyes opened and she looked at me. "I'm so cold!" She said, hugging herself.

I felt her forehead. She was really warm, and her sweat was cold. "Come on, baby... we're kicking daddy to the couch tonight." I picked her up and carried her to the warmest room in the house... mine and Pete's room.

Pete was sleeping like a baby when we walked upstairs.

I brushed his hair from his face. "Pete, babe... I'm sorry but you have to get up. If you don't want to get sick, I suggest you go to the couch."