In quarantine

Third "man" down

Next morning
*Nina*
I wake up wondering if I peed the bed or something, cause it's wet and sticky.. then I realise that I am sweating buckets. I have no doubt I am running a pretty high fever. My head hurts quite badly, so does my throat and all my muscles feel like I ran a marathon yesterday.

"Morning baby how are you ?" I hear Nick's voice before I see him. "Are you sweating ? Oh I am so sorry, I wrapped the duvet around you when I got up, you seemed cold".

"Not your fault Nick.. I have a fever".  I try to sit up, but I am too dizzy, letting myself slump back down on the pillow. "You better keep a distance".

He comes over, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Are you kidding me love.. I spent all of the day yesterday caring for LZ and Zac.. if I get it I am already infected.. there is no way I am leaving you".

"How.. are they ? How are LZ and Zac doing ?" I mumble softly, clutching his hand in mine.

"Zac is.. coughing badly.. Pilar is fretting over him". He says lifting my clammy hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to the back of it. "LZ is.. he isn't good honestly.. he is having trouble breathing.. Marshall has oxygen ready".

I shake my head, snuggling closer to him. "Oh.. poor LZ.. he doesn't deserve this.. no one does.. but.. with everything else..".

"Honestly.. even in this state I caught him smiling widely.. apparently he will never get too sick to appreciate the fact that Emmy is only leaving him when she needs to use the bathroom.. she even eats with one hand.. holding his with the other". He tells me.

"I am happy for him.. for them". I cut myself off coughing badly.. Nick gently rubs my back, telling me I'll be okay, until it's over. "I know Matt is your cousin.. but I think LZ is .. better for her".

He leans down to kiss the top of my head. "It's okay love.. I actually agree.. so is there anything I can get you ?"

"Tea.. some tea would be really nice". I give him a weak smile. "And something cold.. like a wet cloth for my forehead.. my head hurts".

"Sure.. I'll be right back baby.. I promise I am running as fast as I can". He says softly as he gets up from the bed.

I breathe out, trying not to start another coughing spell. "It's okay, mi amore.. take the time you need.. I am not going anywhere".

"You better not". He sends me a last smile before hurrying out.

*Pilar*
"How does it feel ? Is it helping ?" I am slowly rubbing Sherry's lotion into his back, hoping to ease his breathing and the coughing a bit. Luckily his fever is not that bad, but his lungs sound like wet rags every time he breathes and the pain is obvious on his face.

He nods slowly, taking a sip from the cup in his hands. "It's.. nice.. and I have no idea where Marshall got this moonshine.. I also have no idea if it really helps but if I have much more I am gonna be too drunk to care".

Marshall claims that real moonshine will help fight the infection.. and also ease his breathing because it relaxes him.. so I let him have a shot in his tea. "Probably not a good idea babe.. getting drunk I mean".

I am not really worried about that though.. It takes more than one shot to get a man his size drunk.

"Anything to.. stop this pain". His voice is kinda meak.. worried. "I think I want to lay down a bit".

Helping him down on the side, seeing him curl himself around a big pillow, it pains me so much I feel like I am the one who is sick. He says he can't lay on his back, it hurts too much in his chest.

"You should try and get a bit of sleep Zac". Maybe if he sleeps he will get a bit of rest from the coughing and the pains.

"I can try". He mumbles, his eyes already closed.. he is kinda sounding like he has rubbed the inside of his throat with sandpaper.

I walk over to the humidifier that has been put on the table next to the bed, dripping in some apple cider vinegar.. it should help him with the breathing too. I am willing to do anything to help him feel better.. and get better.. I can't stand seeing him in pain.

Nick comes in giving me a weak smile. "How is he ?"

"Resting". I shake my head saying it, silently telling him that it's not good.

He nods, telling me he understands. "Do you have the apple cider vinegar in here.. Sherry said she left it here".

"Sure.. but there is another bottle in LZ's tent". I still go and get the bottle for him.. I am not needing it any time soon, as I just refilled the humidifier and Zac refuses to gargle the stuff, saying it makes him puke.

"It's not for LZ". He takes the bottle from my hand and I can't help noticing how he has dark circles under his eyes. "It's for Nina.. she is getting sick too.. her fever is.. bad".

I feel my heart sink, wondering if we are all having to go through this.. ? Are we all infected and.. will we all make it through this alive ? I mean this virus actually kills people.. and we are off to a bad start.. LZ and Zac both look bad.. and now Nina has a high fever.. Matt and Marshall are both coughing and to be honest, I am not feeling on the top either.

"We are getting through this.. all of us". Nick grabs my hand.. sounding like he just read my mind.. and who knows, maybe he did.

I send him a grateful smile. "I pray that you are right.. tell Nina that I am so sorry, and I will come by to check on her later".

He lets go of my hand. "I will.. I better get back to her".

"Yeah.. better do that". I watch as he hurries out.

A moment later I hear Zac's tired voice behind me from the bed. "Baby.. please cuddle me.. I am so cold".

"Oh your poor thing". I hurry over laying down behind him and holding him. He is warm and I hate the way I can hear the rattling of his lungs.. almost feel it.. but I still stay here.. cuddling him because I know it makes him happy.