I'm Not Sick I The O.C.

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C. or any of its characters. Everything belongs to FOX and Josh Schwartz.

Sandy's POV

I finally was able to leave the office and get home to Kirsten and Ryan. It felt like longer than it had been probably because all I could think about was getting home. I was worried. I had every right to be. My kid was sick and it's hard to tell how sick he is when he wants to keep it all to himself. I understand why, but I just wish Ryan would tell us how he is feeling. I do get it is hard, but it also makes it harder for us. I just want to help him and it's not easy when I don't know what's wrong.

I came inside and found Ryan asleep onto the couch next to Kirsten. "He's out of bed." I commented, putting my keys down on the counter.

"I wanted him out here." Kirsten replied.

"How is he doing?"

"Not well." Kirsten said. "He threw up a few times and I think his temperature went up a bit."

"Did you call the doctor?" I asked and she shook her head. I sighed. That's the one thing I had told her specifically if his temperature went up. "Kirsten—"

"I know Sandy, but he asked me not to."

"Kirsten, of course Ryan would say that." I shook my head. The kid didn't want us to know he was sick let alone letting us call a doctor to look at him. Ryan didn't want to be a bother.

"No, it was different." Kirsten said and it took me a moment to understand that Ryan hadn't wanted a doctor not because he thought of it being a bother, but because he specifically didn't want to see a doctor. I guess I should have guessed. I saw on Ryan's file multiple visits to the emergency room when he was little; and those were only the documented ones. I guess the kid wouldn't be fond of doctors.

"I wanted to at least wait until you got home before I called." Kirsten added and I nodded.

"You're right." I ran my hand through my hair. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm worried too." Kirsten then left the room to go call the doctor.

I sat down on the couch next to Ryan. I put my head on his forehead. He still felt really warm. But I took a breath. I would have to just wait to see what the doctor said before Kirsten and I could do anything else to help him. After Kirsten called, we sat with Ryan and waited until the doctor could get here. Then when he finally did, Kirsten went to let him in while I woke up Ryan.

"Ryan, you need to wake up." I said.

"Huh?" Ryan mumbled, opening his eyes.

"Doctor's here to take a look at you." I told him.

"I don't need a doctor." Ryan frowned, pulling the blanket closer.

"I know you don't want to see one, but we're worried about you. We just want to make sure there's nothing to worry about." I tried to explain that we just want to have all our bases covered. I had to make sure Ryan was alright and this was nothing serious.

"There isn't. I'm fine, Sandy." Ryan insisted.

"Well there's no harm in getting you checked out." I pointed out and I could tell Ryan wasn't happy with that. "Please kid, do this for us. We just want to make sure everything is okay."

"Fine." Ryan sighed in agreement.

"Okay, Kirsten and I are right over here if you need us." I told him before I got up, letting the doctor take a seat next to Ryan. I stood next to Kirsten. We were out the way so the doctor could do his job but close enough so we were here if Ryan needed us.

Ryan's POV

I sat up so the doctor could do his job. I knew he was going to ask me to. I didn't want to do this. Not just because I disliked doctors, but also because I really just don't feel up it. I'm in pain pretty much everywhere and I'm just so tired. All I wanted to do was lay down. I wanted to get back into bed as this couch isn't very comfortable. I really didn't feel up to doing this, but I would suck it up and let him do whatever because that's what Sandy and Kirsten wanted. They have done more than they should have to for me since they found out I was sick; I owed them this.

He asked me a series of questions as he started to check me out. They were mostly about my symptoms; he wanted to know so he could check out various areas.

"Have you experienced any chills?" The doctor asks. I nodded. Right now was the one of the few times I hadn't been so cold. "Have you been coughing? Do you have a sore throat?"

"Yes." I answered aloud, also to show him how my voice sounded; it felt worse than it sounded at times. He started off by taking my temperature. It ended up being over 102, so I guess that was high. Then he checked my eyes.

"Okay open wide and say 'ahh'" He told me and I complied, knowing that he wanted to check my throat. It already hurt enough to swallow, let alone speak, but I wasn't going to argue. I let him check my throat and then he did a few other things while asking me questions.

"Have you been nauseous?"

"Yes" I answered.

"He's thrown up a few times." I heard Kirsten from across the room.

"Don't worry. That's normal." The doctor replied as he went on to continue with this, though I found it pointless. It seemed he already knew what was wrong with me from his previous statement.

"Are you experiencing muscle aches?"

I nodded; I hurt pretty much everywhere. After a few more questions, he stood up, finished with his examination. I looked over as he walked over to Sandy and Kirsten.

"Is he okay?" Kirsten asks, sounding worried.

"It's just the flu. He'll be fine. He just needs to get plenty of rest and drink fluids." The doctor tells them and I laid back down, feeling exhausted. "The vomiting can come in some cases of the flu. You can give him medicine to treat the symptoms, but there isn't much we can do for the flu besides wait it out."

"Thanks doc." Sandy told him before showing him out. Like I said; it was a waste of time. I could have told them that. I am pretty sure I did tell them that. But I guess they wanted to be sure. I opened my eyes and saw Sandy was now sitting next to me and Kirsten was standing right next to Sandy. I felt so tired. I was in pain everywhere and I'd give anything for it to stop, or at least subside a bit. "Are you in pain?" Sandy asks and I nodded.

"Do you want some more medicine?" Kirsten asks.

I shook my head. I was sick of taking medicine. And I had just taken some an hour ago.

"Do you want to go get some rest in your bed?" Sandy asks and I nodded, but I also felt too tired to move. I felt uncomfortable but it almost felt like too much effort to get up. "C'mon kid, I'll help you." Sandy said and he did. I stood up and I leaned into his body. He guided me to my room. I got into bed, already feeling slightly better now laying somewhere more comfortable than that couch.

"Thanks." I said as I got situated under the covers.

"Anything you need, Ryan." Sandy said as he started to rub my back. "We're here for you. We'll help you the best we can." I shut my eyes, relaxing a little at Sandy's touch. It felt kind of soothing. It had been from Kirsten too. It made it easier to fall asleep despite the pain I was in. Now if only I could just get better; being sick sucks.