“ Sleep well, June.” Drew whispered as he put the blanket on his girlfriend.. May mumbled something incoherent and reached for Drew’s hand. Snuggling with it.

Drew laughed. “ May, you have let go. I need to go.” He said gently, trying to pry his hand away from May.

“ Mmmmmmm.”

“ May, please.” Drew tried again.

It worked.

“ Drew?” May mumbled.

Drew’s ears perked up. “ Yes, May.”

“ Wh….. why’s it so c…. Cold.”

Drew’s eyebrows shot up, and he paced a cool hand on May’s forehead. “ May, you’re burning!”

“ B….but it’s so cold…” She chattered.

Drew shook his head. “ Stay here.”

“ I…. I don't think I have a… ch…choice.”

Now Drew really was worried. May never stayed still.

But if she was going to stay in bed and say she didn’t have a CHOICE, on top of that…..

Drew ran to the kitchen, threw the cupboards open and grabbed the medicine. He grabbed May water and rushed back to the room, gently sitting on the edge of their bed.

“ Can you sit up?” He asked.

May nodded, and Drew helped her up, pouring the medicine onto a spoon. “ Open up.”

He braced himself for an argument, but nothing happened. Drew opened an eye to see her obediently opening her mouth.

Drew gave her the medicine with a concerned look. She took it without any complaints, and laid back in bed

Now Drew knew it was serious. May would never, ever, in her whole life EVER just rest willingly.

Unless it was night.

I mean even Drew knew that

But at eleven in the morning?

When she jmhad just woke up?

And after a good night's rest?

" Rest, 'kay?"

May nodded and turned into the bed. Drew pulled the covers on her and kissed her cheek gently. " Sleep well, my little Junebug."

Then Drew tiptoed out and called the family doctor.

Later that afternoon, Drew carefully helped May into the passenger seat of their car.

( Yes yes they're what ten but hey.)

She was still pale and unusually quiet, leaning her head against the window as they drove through the winding forest road to the family clinic. Drew kept glancing over at her, his worry deepening with every passing moment.

When they arrived, Drew parked and quickly got out to help May. She gave him a weak smile. "You’re such a worrywart, Drew."

"Yeah, well, excuse me for being concerned when my girlfriend is acting like a completely different person," Drew retorted gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to guide her inside.

Inside the clinic, Gary, wearing a crisp white lab coat, was waiting for them in the lobby. He waved them over with a smirk. "Well, if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Coordinator. What’s the emergency this time?"

Drew shot him a look. "Gary, not now. She’s really sick."

Gary’s teasing demeanor shifted as he took a closer look at May, noting her flushed face and lethargic movements. "Alright, let’s get her into an exam room. Come on."

They followed Gary into a small, bright room. Drew helped May sit on the examination table while Gary pulled up a rolling stool and opened his tablet to take notes.

"So, what’s going on, May?" Gary asked, his tone now professional and calm.

May shrugged weakly. "I don’t know… I just feel… off. Cold, even though Drew says I’m burning up."

Gary nodded, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. "Yup, you’ve got a fever, alright." He reached for his stethoscope. "Any other symptoms? Sore throat? Cough? Nausea?"

"Just really tired," May murmured, resting her head on Drew’s shoulder.

Drew instinctively wrapped an arm around her and gave Gary a meaningful look. "She barely argued with me today. That’s how bad it is."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "That’s definitely not normal. Alright, let’s check a few things." He placed the stethoscope on her back. "Deep breaths, May."

She complied, though it was clear even that small effort was exhausting her.

After a thorough examination and a few tests, Gary sat back and crossed his arms. "Well, the good news is it’s nothing too serious. Just a nasty flu. The fever and fatigue are hitting you hard, but with some rest, hydration, and medication, you’ll be back to driving Drew crazy in no time."

May smiled faintly. "Thanks, Gary."

Drew let out a relieved breath. "What about her appetite? She hasn’t eaten much."

"Soup and light meals," Gary advised. "And keep her hydrated. Lots of water, maybe some tea with honey if her throat starts to hurt. I’ll prescribe something for the fever."

Gary looked pointedly at Drew. "And you—make sure she actually rests. No contests, no adventures, no sneaking out of bed."

Drew nodded firmly. "Trust me, I’m on it."

As they prepared to leave, Gary couldn’t resist adding one last comment. "And May, if you really want to keep Drew on his toes, milk this for all it’s worth."

May gave a weak laugh. "I’ll try."

Drew rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at his lips as he helped May back to the car.

At home, Drew helped May out of the car and into their bedroom. She barely said a word, her face pale and her movements sluggish. As she climbed into bed, Drew tucked her in and brushed her hair out of her face.

"You comfortable?" he asked softly.

May nodded weakly. "Just… tired."

Drew frowned, his concern deepening. May was rarely this quiet. "Alright, get some rest. I’ll bring you water and check on you in a bit, okay?"

"Mhm," she murmured, already curling into the blankets.

Drew sat in the living room, trying to distract himself with a book. Gary’s words echoed in his head: It’s just a nasty flu. He should feel reassured, but something gnawed at the back of his mind. May wasn’t just tired—she was completely unlike herself.

When he went to check on her a couple of hours later, his heart sank. May was trembling under the covers, her face glistening with sweat. Her breathing was shallow, and when Drew touched her forehead, it was burning hotter than before.

"May," he said urgently, shaking her shoulder gently. "May, wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open, but they were glassy and unfocused. "Drew…?"

ou’re burning up," he said, grabbing the thermometer from the nightstand. He quickly checked her temperature and winced. "104.2… That’s way too high."

May groaned softly, trying to bury herself deeper into the blankets. "Just… let me sleep."

"Right." Drew muttered. He grabbed his phone and immediately called Gary.

Gary answered on the second ring. "What’s up, Drew? Something wrong?"

"Gary, her fever’s over 104," Drew said, his voice tight with panic. "She’s shaking, and her breathing’s shallow. This isn’t normal, right?!"

Gary’s tone immediately shifted to serious. "No, that’s too high. You need to get her cooled down now. Wet a cloth and put it on her forehead, and don’t let her stay under heavy blankets. Keep her hydrated if she can drink."

"Got it," Drew said, already running to the bathroom for a cloth.

"And Drew," Gary added, "if the fever doesn’t come down soon, you need to get her to the hospital. Don’t wait."

Drew nodded. " Right."

He rushed back into the room and gently pulled the blankets down, ignoring May’s weak protests. "No, May, you’re too hot. You need to cool down."

She whimpered, her voice barely audible. "So cold…."

"I know," Drew said, his throat tightening. "But I need to help you."

He placed the damp cloth on her forehead and sat beside her, holding her hand. "You’re going to be okay, June. I promise."

May gave a faint smile, but her eyes were already fluttering shut again. Drew stayed by her side, his worry mounting as he checked the thermometer every few minutes, praying for her temperature to drop.

Ten minutes later, Max barged into the house, kicking off his shoes and setting his bag by the door. "Hey, Drew! Where’s May? She hasn’t answered my texts all day!"

Drew looked up from the couch, his face pale and tired. "She’s in bed. Max, she’s burning up."

Max’s brows furrowed in concern as he walked toward Drew. "Burning up? Like a fever? How bad is it?"

Drew rubbed the back of his neck, clearly distressed. "104. Gary told me to cool her down, but she’s barely responsive, Max."

Max’s eyes widened in alarm. "You don’t think…?"

Drew stiffened at Max’s unfinished thought, shaking his head vigorously. "Oh no. No way it’s that. It can’t be."

"Where is she?" Max asked, already heading toward May’s room.

"In bed," Drew replied, following him quickly.

Max pushed open the door to May’s room and froze at the sight of his sister. Her face was flushed, and she was clutching at her side, murmuring incoherently in her fevered state. Drew rushed past him to gently adjust the damp cloth on her forehead.

"May," Max said softly, kneeling beside her bed. "What’s wrong with your side? Is it hurting?"

May blinked at him weakly, barely able to form words. "Hurts… like fire…"

Max turned to Drew, his voice laced with worry. "Lift her shirt a bit. We need to check her side."

Drew hesitated for a moment, then carefully lifted the edge of May’s shirt, revealing an angry red rash spreading along her lower ribcage. Both boys stared at it, their stomachs sinking.

Max sucked in a breath. "That looks like shingles."

Drew’s jaw tightened as he glanced at May, who had drifted off into a restless sleep. "Shingles? Isn't that for older people?!"

"It’s rare, but not impossible for someone younger, especially if she’s stressed or her immune system’s weakened." Max looked back at May with a mix of concern and guilt. "Has she been overworking herself again?"

Drew sighed deeply, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You know May. She doesn’t know how to slow down. And she’s been under a lot of pressure lately with contests and helping around here."

Max frowned, clenching his fists. "She should’ve said something. We could’ve helped her."

Drew nodded, his gaze fixed on May’s flushed face. "I’ll call Gary. We need to confirm it’s shingles and figure out what to do."

Gary arrived an hour later, carrying his medical bag. After a thorough examination, he confirmed their suspicions.

"Yeah, it’s shingles," Gary said, his tone serious. "The good news is that it’s treatable, but she’ll need rest, medication, and some serious TLC for the next couple of weeks. This rash is painful, so she’ll need pain management too."

Drew nodded, absorbing every word. "What about the fever? It’s still really high."

Gary handed Drew a prescription. "The meds will help bring it down. But keep cooling her with damp cloths and make sure she stays hydrated. Call me if anything worsens."

Max looked at his sister, guilt etched across his face. "She’s always doing everything for everyone else. Now we need to take care of her."

Drew glanced at Max, determination lighting his green eyes. "We will. She’s my Junebug. I’m not letting her go through this alone."

Max gave him a small smile. "Good. She’s in good hands."

Once Gary left, Drew sat beside May, gently stroking her hair. She stirred, opening her eyes slightly. "Drew?"

"I’m here," he said softly. "You’re going to be okay, May. We’ll get through this."

May managed a faint smile. "Thanks… Drew."

Drew leaned closer, brushing a kiss to her forehead. "Just focus on getting better, Junebug. I’ve got you."

Max returned shortly after, his face tight with worry and his hands shaking as he carefully carried a small bowl of crushed berries. "I’ve mixed some berries with water," he said, his voice strained. "It should help ease the pain and help her rest. We need to feed her this, Drew."

Drew stood up from May’s side, carefully taking the bowl from Max. "Okay, I’ll make sure she gets it. You go make that tea, Max. She’ll need something to drink after this."

Max didn’t respond immediately. He just nodded, his eyes focused on May for a moment before he turned and left the room. Drew, his concern for Max growing, sat beside May again, gently coaxing her to drink the berry mixture.

May took it slowly, barely conscious of what was happening around her, but the cool relief seemed to help. Once she finished, Drew wiped her mouth gently with a damp cloth and tucked her in again.

After a few minutes, Drew stood up, his mind on Max. He quietly made his way into the kitchen, hoping Max was doing okay. But when he entered, he found Max crouched in the corner, his knees drawn to his chest, trembling. His hands were clenched tightly, and his breath was shaky.

Drew’s heart dropped. He hurried over, kneeling beside his friend. "Max," he said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Buddy… what’s going on?"

Max looked up at him, his face pale and filled with stress. "I can’t… I can’t lose her, Drew. Not after everything. She’s always been the one taking care of us, and now… it’s like I can’t do anything to help her."

Drew’s expression softened, and he pulled Max into a supportive hug. "Hey, listen to me. May’s gonna be fine, okay? She’s tough. She’s already making progress. You’re doing everything right. You’re here, you’re helping. That’s what she needs right now."

Max wiped his eyes with his sleeve, taking a few shaky breaths. "But I’m scared… What if it gets worse? What if we can’t fix it?"

Drew tightened his grip on Max, his voice firm and reassuring. "I’m here too, Max. We’re in this together. She’s not alone, and neither are you. We’re going to take care of her, all of us. May’s going to get through this, I promise."

Max finally nodded, his trembling starting to ease. "Thanks, Drew. I just… I don’t know what I’d do without her."

Drew smiled, pulling back to meet his gaze. "You won’t have to find out. We’ll all be here for her, and for you."

Max wiped his eyes again and stood up, steadying himself. "Okay. Let’s go check on her. I made that tea she likes."

Drew stood beside him, patting him on the back. "Let’s do it, buddy."

Drew and Max helped May sit up slightly, they tried to give her the tea Max had prepared. But May's body was too weak, and she couldn’t even hold the cup without trembling. Her hand fell limp, and the tea spilled, the steam rising in the dimly lit room.

Max’s frustration and worry bubbled over. He slammed the empty cup down on the table and immediately grabbed his phone. Without hesitation, he dialed Gary’s number, practically yelling into the receiver. "Gary, you need to get here. Now. She can’t even drink her tea! Her condition is getting worse!"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Gary’s voice responded, firm and urgent. "I’m on my way, Max. Stay with her. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Professor Oak’s coming too."

Max didn’t even wait for the call to end, putting the phone down and pacing the room in frustration. He ran his hands through his hair, his worry for his sister intensifying by the second.

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Gary, followed by Professor Oak, rushed inside. They both looked concerned, but Oak kept his calm demeanor, while Gary immediately moved to May’s side.

"May, how's she feeling?" Gary asked gently, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of improvement.

Drew sighed. " Worse."

Gary’s eyebrows furrowed, and he took her pulse, his worry mounting. " This isn’t just a cold. She's got a pretty severe case of shingles. She need to rest, and we need to get her proper medication immediately."

Before anyone could say anything more, May’s eyes fluttered open, and her gaze locked on Max standing at the foot of the bed. Her lips curled into a faint smile, though it was weak.

"Max..." she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Come here, you."

Max, his eyes full of worry and relief, quickly approached the bed. May reached out to him, and he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. She rested her head on his shoulder, whispering in a low, raspy voice, "I’ll be fine, Max. Remember? You had it too."

Max pulled back just slightly, staring at her incredulously. "I was six, May! You were always the one taking care of me then. Now... I don't know what to do."

May’s smile softened, though it was tinged with exhaustion. "I’m the older sister, Max," she said quietly. "You’ve always been there for me. Now it’s my turn to be okay. I promise you... I’m going to get through this."

Max tightened his grip on her, trying to push the tears back. "I don't care if you were six, May. I just—" His voice cracked. "I just want you to be okay."

May gently lifted his chin, her eyes locking onto his with quiet reassurance. "I’m fine, Max. You’ve always been the strong one. Let me be strong for you this time."

Gary cleared his throat and moved closer, gently taking May’s arm to adjust her position. "May, you’re going to need some stronger treatment than just resting. I’ll make sure we get that started, okay?" He gave her a soft, but determined smile.

Professor Oak added his voice, nodding seriously. "Rest is essential for recovery. But with the right care and time, you’ll be feeling better soon, May."

Max stood there silently, still holding onto May's hand, but there was a sense of relief now. She wasn’t giving up. Neither was he.

"Thank you, both of you," Drew said quietly, still standing by the door. His voice carried both his own worry and the relief that things were starting to fall into place. He stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Max’s shoulder. "We’re going to get through this together."

Max nodded silently, finally starting to believe it.

Drew stood in the doorway, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Max had fallen asleep on the couch, his head resting against May’s shoulder, both of them completely out. The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the stress of the past few days. Max was snoring lightly, his breath steady, and May, despite her fever, was cradling his head gently with one arm while her other hand rested protectively over Beautifly, who had settled down beside them, her wings fluttering slightly with each of May's slow breaths.

Drew blinked a few times, not wanting to disturb the moment. He quietly stepped into the room, careful not to make a sound, but the scene tugged at his heart. Max, despite being worried and stressed about his sister, had finally found some rest. And May, even though she was still sick, was clearly taking comfort in her brother being there for her.

Drew smiled softly, then approached them slowly, crouching down beside the couch. He whispered, more to himself than anyone else, "They really are something, huh?"

Beautifly let out a soft, almost inaudible chirp, as if acknowledging Drew's words, and fluttered her wings briefly before resting again.

Drew reached over and gently pulled a blanket from the back of the chair, draping it over both of them. "Sleep tight, you two," he muttered, standing up straight and backing away quietly.

Before he left, he paused for a moment and glanced back, seeing how they were wrapped up in the comfort of each other's presence. He sighed deeply, feeling a sense of peace that had been missing for the past few days.

But as he turned to leave, he felt a sense of duty settle in. He had dinner waiting for them, and he wasn’t about to let them sleep through it. Not when May needed all the strength she could get.

"Dinner’s ready, Max," he whispered, hoping to wake him gently.

Max didn’t stir. May, on the other hand, blinked her eyes open, her feverish gaze still soft as she looked at Drew.

"Drew..." May mumbled weakly, her voice rough. "Dinner...?"

Drew smiled, kneeling beside her. "Yeah. I made some pasta, but I can’t promise it’s as good as your famous ones."

May chuckled, though it was more of a dry cough, and Max grumbled a little in his sleep, turning his head to nestle closer to her.

"You’re okay now," Drew reassured her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But you need to eat something."

May gave a weak smile, her eyes flickering back to Max. "I’ll get up... just let him sleep a little longer."

Drew nodded, standing up to let her take her time. "I’ll bring dinner over here. No need to get up."

The next few days were a blur, with Drew constantly checking in on May while also managing the house. Slowly but steadily, May’s condition improved. Her fever broke, and the rash that had covered her body started to fade, leaving behind only the faintest of marks. She still needed rest, but the worst was behind her. She was able to sit up, eat, and even engage in light conversation, though she still felt weak.

Max, on the other hand, was a different story.

It started with small things. Max, usually energetic and cheerful, began to look a little more tired, his usual grin replaced by a persistent frown. He’d been so focused on his sister’s health that he hadn’t really noticed the changes in himself. But soon enough, he was pale, and his voice started to crack as he tried to speak.

One evening, as Drew was cleaning up after dinner, Max collapsed on the couch with an exhausted sigh. Drew, who had been monitoring him more closely in the past couple of days, dropped the towel he was holding and rushed over.

"Max, you okay?" Drew asked, kneeling beside the couch. Max only gave a small nod, but his eyes were glassy, and his breathing was a little too labored for Drew to ignore.

"I’m fine... just... a little tired," Max muttered, though his voice betrayed him.

Drew didn’t buy it. He gently touched Max’s forehead, only to feel that it was warmer than usual. His heart sank.

"Max, you're burning up." Drew stood up quickly, heading for the phone. "I need to call Gary."

Max tried to sit up, but the dizziness made him lean back against the couch, his face paler than before. "I don’t need a doctor... I’ll be fine."

"Max, don’t be stubborn," Drew said sharply, his tone soft but firm. "I can’t let you go through what May did."

Max frowned, but Drew had already dialed Gary’s number. As soon as Gary picked up, Drew filled him in on the symptoms.

"Gary, it’s Max. He's showing the same signs May had a few days ago... the fever, the weakness..." Drew explained quickly.

"I’m on my way," Gary said immediately, his voice serious. "Don’t wait for me to tell you. If he’s showing those symptoms, get him in bed now and rest. I’ll bring some medicine."

Drew sighed in relief, but his worry only grew stronger. He turned back to Max, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Stay with me, buddy," Drew said gently, helping Max lie down on the couch. "Gary’s on his way. Just hang in there."

Max muttered something incoherent, his voice weak, and Drew sat next to him, waiting for Gary to arrive. As he sat there, watching his friend fight to stay conscious, Drew couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of helplessness.

"Max," Drew whispered, brushing his hair out of his face, "you’re gonna be fine. Just like May. You’re both going to be okay."

When Gary arrived, it was clear that Max had caught the same illness. The doctor confirmed it quickly, though Max’s case seemed to be hitting him harder. Gary gave him some medication, just as he had for May, and reminded Drew to keep him hydrated.

"Let him sleep," Gary said as he packed up his medical bag. "I’m confident he’ll recover just like May. But he needs to rest. No more pushing himself."

Drew nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility fall on his shoulders once again. He turned to Max, who was now lying still, his eyes closed in a deep sleep. Drew stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare something warm, his mind racing.

"Everything’s going to be alright," Drew muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself as much as Max. "Just a little more time, and you’ll be up and about again."

But as he stared out the window, the shadows of worry still lingered. He could only hope that Max, too, would recover as steadily as May had.

May walked into the house, juggling a couple of grocery bags, and froze as soon as she saw Max lying on the couch, pale and unresponsive. Her heart skipped a beat.

“What happened?!” she asked, her voice frantic.

Drew, who had been pacing beside Max, sighed heavily. He looked up, concern written all over his face. “Gary just confirmed it. Max has the same thing you did—shingles.”

May’s eyes widened. “Oh no…” She placed the bags down quickly, her mind racing. She turned to Drew, almost in disbelief. “This is his second time!”

Drew blinked, his confusion obvious. “Second time? What do you mean?”

May rushed to Max’s side, kneeling beside him. She gently brushed his hair from his forehead, a soft frown forming as she took in his feverish appearance. "When Max was six, he caught it for the first time. I thought it was just something kids could get once, but it seems like shingles can come back, especially if the immune system isn’t as strong as it should be.”

Drew’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh... That’s why it’s so serious for him. This is harder on him than I thought.”

May looked back at Drew, a mix of worry and guilt in her expression. “I should have noticed the signs earlier. He’s been so focused on me, and I didn’t think…”

“May,” Drew said gently, kneeling down beside her, “you couldn’t have known. You were sick too. But we’re going to make sure he gets better, just like you did. He’s strong. He’ll pull through.”

May nodded, but her mind was still swirling. She looked down at Max, watching him sleep peacefully for the moment. “This isn’t fair... he shouldn’t have to go through this again. I’ll stay with him. We need to make sure he doesn’t push himself. He’s not going to like being in bed for so long.”

Drew gave her a reassuring smile. “He’s not going anywhere. We’ve got this.”

May turned to look at Drew, her face softening slightly. “Thank you... for being here for both of us.”

Drew gently patted her shoulder, a small smile tugging at his lips. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”

The room fell into a brief, peaceful silence as May sat next to Max, her hand resting on his, waiting for him to wake up. Drew stood nearby, still feeling the weight of everything that had been happening, but determined to stay strong for the both of them.

"He's going to get through this," Drew murmured to himself as he turned toward the kitchen. "He’s a tough kid."

May nodded, her eyes fixed on Max as she whispered, “We all are.”