The next day, Matt's fever still hadn't broken. Catherine took his temperature again and it was the same as the previous day. She sighed. "Babe, I'm going to have to take you to the doctor."

"Nope."

"Matt," Cath frowned, "look, I know you don't want to, but I have to take you. What if this isn't just a cold?"

"Can't he just meet us at my house?" Matt pouted, "I want to go home."

"Can you even move?"

Matt lifted his hand to the air and let it drop limply back onto the bed with a thump. "Yes."

"I meant, can you get out of bed?" Catherine smirked.

Matt moaned. "Who knows?"

"I'm just going to have Jack come here. You clearly are in no position to leave the apartment."

Catherine was able to look up Jack's number and quickly dialed it. "Hello. Is this Dr. Jack Taylor?"

"Depends," a familiar voice laughed. "Who's asking?"

"You don't know me. I'm Catherine Daei. However, you know my boyfriend Matthew Collins," she replied.

"You're the chick Josh crushed on for a month right?" Jack laughed.

"I'm not sure...You and I actually met briefly in the hospital a while ago."

"Ah yes, the shadow that followed behind Matt. I was wondering- What can I help you with?"

"Matt's sick. I was wondering if you could maybe come to my apartment and give him a check-up? He has a high fever that's lasted over twenty-four hours."

"Is he staying hydrated?" Jack asked with concern.

"Not really. I'm trying my best, but he's very stubborn when he wants to be," Catherine sighed. "How soon would you be able to get here?"

"Alright," Jack sighed, "I'll finish this shift, and if you text me your address, I can be there by noon."

"Perfect. Thank you so much," Cath sighed in relief.

"No problem. And while I've got you on the phone, do you think I could get the keys to Matt's place? Josh left some computer bag or something he's having a panic attack about it."

"So you've talked to Josh? My friend has been trying to get ahold of him for days, but to no avail."

Jack laughed until he broke into coughing. "The idiot lost his phone at the airport. I'm the only number he knows beside Pizza Hut and nine one one."

Catherine sighed in relief. "Well, Mari will be glad to know he isn't dead...And yeah, I have the keys to Matt's place. You can pick them up when you come over."

"Alright, see you in an hour or two. I'll bring the stuff to set up an IV, just in case. Dehydration can be dangerous, especially with a fever like his."

"That's why I called," Cath replied. "I'm just so worried about him. Thanks again."

"No problem. Anything for my stupid older brother's only friend's girlfriend."

—————

Two hours later, Jack knocked on the apartment door, which was answered by Cath. "Hi," she smiled. "Thanks again for doing this on such short notice."

"No problem," Jack smiled. "Where's the invalid?"

"Right this way," Catherine laughed, leading the man into her bedroom.

"Matthew," Jack chuckled, "still getting yourself into trouble, I see."

Cath smiled. "Do you want me to stay?"

Jack shrugged. "That's up to Matt."

"I don't care," Matt said softly.

Cath sat down on the bed and helped him to sit up. "I'll stay."

Jack examined Matt and after a little while, Catherine asked, "So, what's the diagnosis?"

"Just a bad case of the flu," Jack nodded, placing his stethoscope around his neck.

"Oh god," Matt moaned, "it's fatal, isn't it?"

Catherine laughed and kissed his cheek. "You're going to be fine." She turned to Jack. "Right?"

"With proper medication and hydration," Jack said firmly. "I'll need to get my stuff from downstairs. Do you mind helping, Catherine?"

"Not at all," she smiled.

"Great. Thanks." He started to head toward the door.

Catherine followed him, and when they were out of the room, she asked, "So, he'll need an IV?"

"Just to catch him up on the fluids he's lost," Jack nodded.

"Alright," Catherine said, biting her lip slightly.

The two retrieved Jack's stuff and quickly returned to Matt.

"The last time I did this was when Josh tried to lose stupid water weight," Jack sighed to himself. "For a smart kid, he can be such an idiot sometimes."

Catherine laughed. "That sounds like Josh."

"It's really not his fault, you know," Jack said glumly. "The anxiety hits him, and he doesn't know else to do. Then he spends the next month and a half starving himself. I love him to bits, but Lord knows he won't listen to me."

Catherine frowned. "I didn't know he had anxiety."

Matt looked at Jack nervously. "What are you doing?"

"You didn't?" Jack questioned in surprise. "That's why he goofs off and talks so much. He practically has a heart attack every time someone looks at him. It's just an IV, Matt. It'll be quick, just like last time."

"I don't need it," Matt said sternly. "I'll just drink a lot."

Catherine sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Baby, this is for your own good. You need this if you're going to get better."

"Nope. I'm sure I'll get through. I've survived worse than this," Matt hissed in a whisper.

"Babe," Cath sighed, "you have to be logical. It'll be quick. Trust me, I've had a bunch of these done." She put a hand on his cheek. "Just don't pay attention to him and look at me."

"No," Matt said seriously, "you can't make me."

Catherine gestured for Jack to step out for a moment. When he closed the door, she asked, "Matt, why are you fighting this?"

"The last time I had one of those blasted things was after my accident."

Cath stroked his arm gently. "I know, Baby. But you need to get better and this is going to help...Remember how, a couple months ago, you took me to the hospital because my side was hurting and you were worried that it was something other than my scar?"

"Yeah," Matt mumbled.

"Well, I didn't want to go, but I went because you were worried about me. So, if I could do that, do you think that you could let Jack put in the IV?" Cath asked softly.

Matt gave a whimper. "It appears I have no choice."

Catherine kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you...We're ready, Jack!"

Jack reentered the room and Matt gripped Cath's hand tightly. "Thank you," she repeated in a whisper.

Jack worked quickly and the IV was in in no time. "There," he beamed. "All done."

Catherine smiled, stroking Matt's arm. "Wasn't that bad, was it?"

Matt fell back into the pillows and closed his eyes tightly. "Tell me when it's over."

"Just try to relax," Cath said softly before leading Jack out of the room. She closed the door behind them. "What do I owe you?"

Jack checked his phone and gave a small smile. "Only that you give this to whomever may want it." He wrote out a phone number on a small slip of paper and handed it to her.

"Thank you," Catherine repeated for what felt like the millionth time.

"I'll try to be back here by the time I'm out of work. The IV should be done by then," Jack nodded.

"Alright. Bring your appetite. I'm making lasagna," Cath smiled.

"Sounds wonderful," Jack grinned. "Text that number when ya get a chance."

"I will," Cath beamed with yet another word of thanks.

Jack nodded with a smile and left the apartment and Catherine returned to her bedroom. She sighed as she watched Matt lay there on the bed. Upon sudden inspiration, she grabbed her ukulele and sat down next to him, strumming as she sang, "Wise men say...only fools rush in...But I can't help falling in love...with you..." Cath continued to sing as a small smile crept onto Matt's lips. She finished singing and kissed his forehead. "Are you feeling any better yet?"

"Elvis cures all ailments," Matt coughed.

Catherine smiled softly. "Are you going to open your eyes?"

"Nope. The moment I do I'll look at it and it'll freak me out and I'll pass out or something."

"Not looking at it is always an option," Catherine reasoned.

"Not for me," Matt whimpered.

"What if I cover it with a blanket? Would that work?"

"You might rip it out or something," Matt winced.

"Lotte used to do it for me all the time," Cath shrugged. "I've had to get more than my fair share of IVs in my lifetime...I think I've had about five or six...Or was it seven?"

"Let's not talk about it," Matt said, clenching his eyes closed tighter. "How much did he want?"

"He didn't want anything."

Matt gave a weak little scoff. "He's spent too much time with Josh."

"Maybe," Catherine laughed softly. She grasped Matt's free hand gently. "Thank you for being so brave about this. I love you very much. Always remember that everything I do is for your own good."

"I love you too," Matt smiled.