Percy pulled his hand closer to him as he felt Gus' cold wet nose press against it. “Oliver?” he called softly, wincing at the pain in his throat. Oliver grunted in response. “Cad you walk Gus and go to the market, please?”
Oliver turned to look at him. “Perce, no. It was a rough game, and I just got to bed a few hours ago. My body is screaming for sleep.”
“Please?” Percy wheedled before a fit of coughing struck him.
“He's your dog.” Oliver grumbled. “And stop shaking the bed. It makes my head throb when you do that.”
Percy looked into Gus' expectant eyes. “Just a mindute, boy.” Percy assured his dog as he got out of bed. Slipping his glasses on, he pushed aside the curtain and groaned when he saw it was raining and gray. He knew that the continual autumn rain hadn't caused his cold, but it certainly wasn't going to help. Rubbing his nose and sniffling, he pulled a thick jumper out of the closet. Stripping off his nightshirt, he dressed as quickly as possible lest he become chilled. Slipping into his shoes, he dug a handkerchief out of the drawer just in time to catch the building sneezes. “Hih-ihkshh, hawkish.” Noticing Oliver groan and pull a pillow over his head, Percy grabbed another handkerchief and, still sneezing, stalked into the living room. “Uh-kehshh, kehshihh, ihkshihh.” Blowing his nose, he pulled on his thick winter jacket, clipped on Gus' leash and grabbed gloves and an umbrella before heading out into the drizzle.
15 minutes later, Percy was damp and shivering, and Gus was finally ready to go in. Percy let the dog in and grabbed the shopping list and his wallet off the table. Coughing and shivering, he headed to the nearest grocery store.
45 minutes later, he pushed open the front door, trying to fight off an oncoming set of sneezes as his hands were filled with the grocery bags. He dumped the bags on the table and directed his first sneeze into his shoulder. “Hihkshuhh.” Now that his hands were free, he pulled his damp handkerchief out of his pocket. “Eh-shuhh, eye-ishhh, hikhshhh, ihkishh.” Blowing his nose and sighing, he threw the milk and orange juice in the fridge and headed back to the bedroom, not even bothering to dig out the bottle of cold medicine. Sitting on the bed to slip off his shoes, he started coughing again.
“Percy, quit shaking the bed.” Oliver groaned, pulling one of Percy's pillows over his head.
Grabbing his pillow back from Oliver and taking the one left on the bed, he stomped back into the living room, threw the pillows on the couch, and lay down, wrapping the thin afghan around him. Shivering, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore his stuffy nose and sore throat long enough so that he could fall asleep.
“Hitshchoo.” The tickle struck just as his eyes were closing shut, and he was drifting off to sleep. “Hitschuhh,” he fumbled for the dry handkerchief he had set on the coffee table. “Ehtschihh, hihchfff, ihkshh.” Clearing his nose, he briefly debated going to dig the cold syrup out of the shopping bags, but fatigue won out as his eyes drooped before he could even finish the thought. Percy drifted in and out of sleep for a few hours, waking to sneeze or when the coughing became particularly intense, and once, to let Gus out.
He was sleeping when Oliver finally decided to get up. Walking into the living room, he saw Percy, sound asleep and shivering on the couch, wrapped tightly in the afghan. After a quick trip to the linen closet, Oliver laid a thicker blanket on top of Percy and watched as Percy shifted position, both to accept the new blanket and to run a hand across his runny nose.
Oliver's rumbling stomach reminded him why he had gotten out of bed in the first place. Walking into the kitchen, he saw the grocery bags piled on the table. 'Percy must have been feeling pretty lousy if he didn't even take the time to put the groceries away.' Oliver thought, shaking his head. After turning on the stove to make a pot of tea and heat a tin of soup, he began to put away the weekly shopping. Reaching the bottom of the last bag, he pulled out the bottle of cold medicine. Noticing the seal hadn't been broken, he made a mental note to ask Percy if he'd taken any yet. He briefly wondered why Percy had purchased liquid medicine but then remembered the frequent coughing he'd been hearing and surmised that Percy's throat was probably too sore for pills. Noticing Gus nosing the kitchen door, he let the dog out into the yard while he dished up the soup and made Percy a cup of tea, making sure to pour in plenty of honey to help soothe Percy's throat.
After a few minutes he let the dog back in and carried a tray in to Percy. Not quite wanting to wake him, he set the tray on the table, amid the crumpled handkerchiefs and tissues. He stood there a minute looking at Percy until a sharp intake of breath caught his attention. Grabbing a handful of tissues, he knelt down next to Percy and pressed the tissues to Percy's nose just in time.
“Hih-chehh, ihchushh, hihkshhh.” After the third sneeze, Percy opened his eyes to see Oliver kneeling next to him. “Hihkshh, ihhkishhihh.”
“Bless ye. Now a good blow.” He held the tissues there until Percy blew his nose. “I didn't want to wake you, but it's time for lunch.”
“I suppose you wadt be to bake you sobethig.” Percy grumbled softly.
“No. I brought you lunch.” He handed Percy his glasses and slid the tray into his view before helping him sit
up.“Gus-” Percy murmured, starting to get up.
“I let him out already.” Oliver told him gently as Percy started coughing again. “Just drink some tea and eat something, then you ken go back to bed.”
Percy shook his head. “Too buch to do. Laudry ad cleadig ad the groceries -”
“The groceries have been put away, which reminds me, have you taken any cold medicine yet?”
Percy shook his head, starting to cough again. Oliver got up, coming back with a cupful of the orange liquid. “Thaks.” Percy whispered, downing it.
“You need sleep.”
“I deed to get stuff dode.” Percy winced as his voice cracked.
“I can do the wash and the cleaning.”
“Just like you were willig to help be this bordig.”
Oliver sighed. “I'm sorry, Perce. I was an insensitive, hungover git. But now, I'll make it up to you. I already changed the bed and cleaned the bedroom. Finish eating, and then, I'll tuck you back into bed. Back into the nice clean sheets.” he tempted.
“That does soud good.” Percy croaked. “But I should at least help you clead.”
“Perce, you can't stop coughing; you're losing your voice; the last thing you need is to deal with dust.”
Sniffling, Percy pressed his head against Oliver's shoulder. “I'b dot very hugry.”
“Can you just eat a little?” Oliver pressed. Coughing again, Percy shook his head, burying his face in Oliver's shoulder. “Later?” Percy nodded, sniffling again. “Alright, then.” Oliver stood up and scooped up Percy, still wrapped in blankets. “You want your pajamas back on?”
“Do. Too cold.” Percy rasped before Oliver deposited him on the bed and began tucking him in. “Olly, you're tuckig be id too tight.” he protested, slipping an arm free so he could reach the tissue box.
“Sorry. Didn't think of that.” Oliver chuckled, untucking him slightly. “Better?”
“Ahh…albosd.” Percy sat up a little and grabbing a few tissues. “Hiihhh…hihhchishh, ihchishhh, ihkshhh, ihhkishhuh.” Sighing, he blew his nose again and slid back down on the pillows.
“Bless.” Oliver reached down and slid off Percy's glasses. “Just rest. I'll get everything done.” He promised, brushing back Percy's hair and kissing him gently on the forehead.