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An agonized moan came from the next bed Trey sounded more wounded animal than human Sed jumped out of bed and into his pants He forced Trey to take a drink of water Trey slurped fro Sed’s wrist

"Oh God, kill me, Sed Even my bones hurt Please, just kill me"

"Can’t do that, buddy," Sed told hilanced over his shoulder at Jessica and winked

Okay, she couldn’t try to deny it any more She loved him So much She needed to tell him Wanted to tell hiht And it wasn’t right They needed to get Trey better first, so they could decide what to do about these feelings

Trey covered his onna throw up"

Sed hauled Trey out of bed and got him as far as the bathroom threshold before he voown and cliot sick again In the toilet this time

"Nothing to be sorry about, man"

Sed pulled a towel from the rack above the toilet and Jessica took it froratitude and she bent to clean up Trey’s et it," Trey whispered He threw up again

"It’s not a big deal, Trey," Jessica assured hi deal She rinsed the towel out in the sink and lad you missed the carpet"

"Do you want another drink of water?" Sed asked

Trey’s eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously "That’s what ainst the tub and rested his forehead on his bent knees "Can I have another pill yet?"

"Half a dose," Sed reh the bathroohtstand "And not for two more hours"

"I’ll die by then," he whispered and then went quiet

Jessica watched Trey with concern He didn’t move a muscle Almost as if he really had died "Is he asleep?"

"I think so" The two of theone so still, Jessica wasn’t sure he was still breathing

She worried her bottom lip with her teeth until she couldn’t stand idly in the doorway any longer She grabbed Sed’s elbow "Sed, check him"

Sed leaned over and shook Trey’s shoulder "Trey If you’re going to sleep, go back to bed"

Trey took a deep breath and lifted his head "Yeah, okay," he murmured

Sed helped him to his feet and Jessica stepped aside as they moved out of the bathroom toward one of the queen-sized beds Sed dumped Trey onto the bed Jessica wet a washcloth in the sink and wrung out the excess water before going to sit on the edge of Trey’s bed He started when she touched the folded washcloth to the back of his neck

"This used to make me feel better when I was sick," she said "If it bothers you, I’ll leave you alone"