Ryeowook lay back on the pillows and coughed violently, his whole body shaking and his hands trembling as he held a tissue to his mouth.

Yesung was beside him, wrapping the boy in blankets and continually checking his temperature.

"I'm c-cold hyung..."

"I know Wookie, don't worry. I'll be back in a minute with some more blankets." Going to Siwon's room, he knocked gently.

"Siwon? Do you have any blankets that I can borrow?"

 

The taller boy smiled as he handed them over. "Are you making a fort?"

Yesung shook his head. "They're for Ryeowook, he's sick with a fever." 

Siwon turned pale. "Has he been vomiting?"

"No, just coughing. But he says that he feels cold, and he's really weak.."

"Let me know if you need any help. I'll look after him."

 

Yesung thanked him and went back to the room. He sat at Ryeowook's side, the sweaty hair and helping him to take tiny sips of the water.

"I'm not really thirsty Yesung.."

"It will help you to get better Wookie, look how much you're sweating. You need to replace the water."

The younger boy pulled away from the touches. "Am I sweaty?" He blushed heavily and reached up to feel for himself. "Sorry Yesung.. You've been touching my hair and it's horrible..."

"I don't mind, it's not dirty. Does it feel nice when I your hair?"

The younger boy nodded, but felt guilty for making his hyung touch the sticky sweaty strands.

"Then I'll keep doing it." Looking at the boy, he reached for a cool towel and pressed it against Wook's forehead. Soon, Ryeowook's breathing began to slow, and he fell asleep wrapped in the soft blankets. Making sure that he was comfortable, Yesung left to make some soup.

 

Bumping into Siwon in the corridor, he smiled brightly. All of the other members were out, and it was just the three of them in the dorm. Leeteuk had been frantic, hugging Wook tightly before running out to his schedules, promising medicine on his return.

"Siwon, I'm going out to the shop quickly, could you look after Ryeowook?"

The taller boy nodded, and Yesung hugged him before leaving.

 

Going quietly into the boy's room, he saw Ryeowook lying under the blankets. The boy looked so fragile, so small. His skin was pale as snow, but his cheeks were flushed. He was breathing in short pants, and, although he sleeping, he looked uncomfortable. He shuffled in his sleep, coughing a little, and Siwon moved back.

Suddenly, the boy's eyes opened and he saw the taller boy standing next to him. 

"Siwon, could you please help me to the bathroom?" His voice was small, and he was hoarse from coughing. 

Siwon gently helped the boy to stand, and to walk to the bathroom. He panicked a little at how ill Wook was.The boy was unsteady on his feet, leaning heavily into Siwon. Although most of the boy's weight was on Siwon's shoulders, it wasn't uncomfortably heavy. Ryeowook was light, too light.

 

"Have you been eating Wookie?"

The boy shook his head. "Only a little bit. I don't feel like eating.." He looked down at the floor. "It panicks Yesung, and I don't like to see him upset.. But I just can't eat..."

Siwon helped the boy into the bathroom, and then turned around to leave.

But he felt a small thin hand touch his arm, and he turned around to see the younger boy blushing violently.

"C-could you help me?... I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry, it's okay. I'll help you. What does Yesung normally do?"

When the boy was comfortably seated on the toilet, Siwon turned his back to give the boy some privacy. Afterwards, he helped the boy to stand again, and to put on his pajama trousers.

 

"Thank you Siwon, I'm sorry that you had to do that.."

"It's fine Wookie, I'm here to help you. Do you want a drink?"

Cuddling the boy and helping him back to bed, Siwon went to the kitchen.

Fetching some juice, Siwon helped the boy to take tiny sips, and smiled when the boy finished the whole glass.

"Now try and get some sleep Wookie, I'll be here and Yesung will be here soon. If you rest, you'll feel a bit better, and your body will have time to heal."

 

When Yesung returned and started to make hot noodle soup, he went to the boy's room and saw Siwon and Ryeowook in bed together, the younger boy safe in Siwon's arms. Feeling the boy's forehead, he felt relieved that his fever was going down. Siwon must have cared for him well.

 

Returning with three bowls of the soup, they sat together and watched a film. Feeling Ryeowook rest against his shoulder, Yesung asked Siwon if he could clear away the bowls.

The boy was exhausted, his eyes closing as Yesung lay him down on the bed and kissed his forehead.

 

Checking his temperature again, Yesung smiled, it was much lower than before. The fever was going.

But Ryeowook knew that the fever hadn't left his body, he still had the warmth inside him. It had just moved to his heart. 

And, dreaming happily, he hoped that he had spent enough time with Yesung for the boy to have caught it too.