22- Getting Comfortable

Scott resisted the urge to carry him, instead he guided him back to the main room, where Ryan graciously flopped down on the couch.

"I've got a trashcan here if you need it." Scott took Ryan's blanket from the back of the couch and covered him up. "And we can put whatever you want on Netflix."

Ryan peeked out at him from under the covers. "Whatever you want... Is fine..."

"Here, lift your head a second." Scott sat next to Ryan on the couch, and placed Ryan's head in his lap. He set CSI episodes to play on the tv, then started stroking Ryan's hair.

"Cuddle Bug?"

"Yeah, Hot Stuff?"

"I'm... glad you're not mad at me..."

"I couldn't get mad over something like this. You can't help it if you're sick."

Ryan's eyes were unfocused, picking out non-existent patterns in the ceiling. "Did you know...? Alphas are really scary... when they're mad..."

"Oh? How so?"

"When alphas are mad... They like to hit people... But it's okay..."

Scott's blood ran cold. He paused momentarily in his petting. "Ryan, did you have a partner that hit you?"

"Yeah... Only when he was mad though... It was always my fault anyway... I'm glad you're not mad... You're so strong... I don't want to make you mad..."

"Ryan, look at me."

Ryan's gaze drifted lazily to Scott's face.

"This is very important, so don't forget. I'm going to make you a promise, okay? No matter how mad I get, I promise I will NEVER use violence against you. I'm never going to hurt you on purpose."

"Really...?" Ryan's voice held a dazed wonder.

"A promise is a promise."

Ryan seemed to search his boyfriend's face for some hint he was lying. It was getting so much harder to keep his eyes open. "Can I sleep yet...?"

Scott smiled down gently at his boyfriend and resumed petting. "It's okay, you can sleep now."

If it weren't for the rocky stomach and the headache, this would be bliss. Stretched on a surprisingly comfortable couch, his favorite show in the background, his boyfriend being so gentle... His heavy eyelids lost their battle. He was out within minutes.

Scott watched Ryan's breathing become deep and even out. Even sleeping, you could tell he didn't feel good. Was his ex the reason Ryan waited so long to ask for help?

Scott tried to think back and remember if he'd ever been angry around Ryan. Actually, he couldn't remember the last time he would have considered himself truly mad. Sure, he was a little upset when they had their fight, but he wasn't mad. Was that why his boyfriend reacted the way he did?

He really liked Ryan, like, a lot. Starting out there was a certain percentage of lust involved, but it's been a while since he felt this way about, well, anyone. Scott wanted to know all about Ryan, the good parts and the bad. But, Ryan tended to not talk about his past much. Ryan made a small noise in his sleep and rolled over, burying his face in Scott's belly. His hand gripped at Scott's shirt.

Scott toyed with Ryan's braid. He could never understand why one human would want to harm another. The thought of someone hurting Ryan on purpose made his own stomach turn. If he knew where this person was, he'd string them up by their testicles and castrate them on the spot. Well, maybe he could understand at least one reason why one human would want to harm another after all.

Therein lies another dilemma, how much was Ryan going to remember? How much should Scott admit to knowing? Or seeing? He could feel the contrast between Ryan's hot breath and the cold pack through his clothes. He traced his finger along Ryan's ear. Maybe it would be best to pretend to not know at all.

Ryan slept most of the afternoon. He ran to the bathroom a few times to be sick, Scott dutifully following behind him to rub his back, and to remind him he'd emptied out a trash can so Ryan wouldn't have to leave the couch. Ryan wasn't too talkative on that subject. He would empty himself out, wait for the wave of nausea to pass, then shuffle his way back to the living room to flop back on the couch.

Scott tried to keep him drinking, but the level on the Gatorade bottle was moving nowhere near as fast as it needed to. Afternoon gave way to evening, and the dilemma of what to do for supper arose. Since Ryan wasn't even handling liquids very well, solid food was out of the question. He needed sodium, and he needed protein. Scott of course, had nothing in the house he thought Ryan could tolerate. The takeout menu from his favorite Chinese food place caught his eye from where it was stuck to the fridge. They did delivery...

A little bit of sweet talking and a touch of fishing for sympathy got him an extra large container of beef broth, the kind they used in the wonton soup. Delivered to his door along with an over-stuffed box of the best shrimp fried rice in the city. Ryan slept through the delivery. Scott decided the best course of action was to go ahead and eat. He was hungry after all, and it was already past when he usually had dinner.

His own needs now taken care of, it was time to go back in to nurse mode. He filled a mug halfway with broth and warmed it in the microwave. Once it was a temperature he was satisfied with, he made his way over to the couch.

"Hey, Hot Stuff," he whispered, getting down to eye level and brushing his fingers against Ryan's face, "Can you wake up for me? It's time for your next dose of meds."

Ryan's eyes peeked open. Scott tucked a bit of hair that had escaped Ryan's braid tenderly behind his ear.

"Do I have to?" Ryan asked.

"It'll make you feel better. Here," Scott prepped the thermometer that was sitting on the coffee table alongside Ryan's medicine and handed it over.

Ryan put it in his mouth and eased up to a sitting position, rearranging his blanket around his shoulders. He noticed a new smell in the place. It didn't smell too bad. Almost made him hungry. The thermometer beeped and Scott retrieved it, checking the reading.

"You're still a little feverish. How are you feeling?"

"Still kinda lousy... What's that smell?"

"Dinner. Wonton soup, sans wontons. Medicine first though."

Pepto and Tylenol were dutifully dosed, and a new cold compress was applied. Scott then handed over the mug of warm broth.

"Drink it slow. If you want more, I've got plenty."

Scott moved to take the couch space next to his boyfriend. Ryan leaned against him, touching shoulders. Scott put his hand on Ryan's leg and patted encouragingly. Ryan slowly sipped the mug's contents. He decided that even if he didn't really want it, it tasted okay. Besides, drinking it would make Scott happy. CSI continued to play on the TV. A thought came to mind...

"Why are you doing this? Taking such good care of me?" Ryan asked.

"Because I want to. And because you need it." Scott replied without hesitation.

"Will you let me pay you back for the medicine?"

"Nope. Not a chance."

"... Why?"

Scott turned and kissed Ryan's hair. In a low, confiding tone, he spoke into Ryan's ear, "Because I think you're beautiful and I'm trying to impress you." He paused. "Is it working?"

Bad as he felt, that made Ryan crack a smile.

"There it is!" Scott exclaimed in triumph, "That smile's all I needed. Consider your debt paid in full!"

Ryan let out some kind of half-laugh into his mug. It felt like Scott was trying to cheer him up. He'd be lying if he said it wasn't working, at least a little bit. He continued sipping the liquid, just enough at a time to wet his mouth.

"Was there... anything else you wanted to watch?" Ryan asked. To have a show on for someone to sleep through seemed silly. "Or, did you want to play one of your games? I feel guilty hogging your TV."

"I like CSI too. We can change it if you want, though."

"I want you to put on what you want to watch. That way when I conk out again you're not stuck watching it."

"On one condition..."

That condition had Ryan leaned up against Scott much like the last time they'd watched TV together. Ryan continued sipping his broth, while Scott rubbed at Ryan's belly. NCIS now played on the TV, not exactly that different of a show

"Why... why did you want sit like this?" Ryan asked.

"It's comfortable for me, and if we're sitting like this I can help increase blood flow to your stomach, making you less likely to feel sick."

Ryan gave in with a sigh. This was his attempt to compromise, after all. Besides, Scott's gentle ministrations felt nice. That being said, it still took him a little over a whole episode to empty his cup.

"Do you need more?"

"No, I'm okay for now. Did you eat yet?"

Scott nuzzled Ryan a little. "Yes, I ate already. You can go back to sleep if you want?"

"Nah... I think I'll stay up a little. Just in case."

Scott planted a little kiss on Ryan's ear. It was good to see him lucid and responsive. His fever was on the downswing too. A hospital trip wasn't yet out of the question, Ryan still needed to get hydrated, and Scott wanted to try him on solid food tomorrow. But for now, this was nice, having Ryan need him. He didn't like that Ryan was sick, but he loved feeling needed.