Untouchable: Chapter 14: Dillydally
Oliver held his stomach as it gurgled again. He was on the phone with the on-call nurse at Swedish, Pence was his name, Pence said, "well I was able to review your file and the numbers were good last time but on the low side.""So you think I'm having the gut issue because of it?" Oliver asked."We won't know until we test you, if there is a dip in the numbers it might be it. Can you come in for labs in the morning?" Pence asked."Yeah I'll email work after the call," Oliver said, "I still have the meds from before, I just wasn't ready to start taking them.""Are you ready now," Pence asked.Oliver scratched his chin then said, "yeah I mean, it's time one way or another.""Ok well you can start after labs tomorrow we want an accurate picture," Pence said, then asked, "so have you picked a time to take them, it's a one a day treatment?""Oh yeah I think before beds the easiest," Oliver said. "Ok well will see you in the morning for labs just swing on in, I'll have the lab tickets all prepped for you," Pence said."Thanks I'll see you then," Oliver said then stood as he ended the call.He thought he should have dinner, but his intermittent nausea wasn't going to make it easy to eat.He planned to order pizza because it would be fine warm or cold.Paul's number rang on his phone and he answered, "how are you puss.""I'm fine boots... but I just met Sean for the first time and he looks horrible," Paul said, "do you know if he is doing ok?""Not really he tried telling his sister some really 'personal' things and that didn't go over very well, and he thinks Xander's done with him as a friend," Oliver said his nausea mounting for a new reason."I think Xander just needs time, he said he would talk to Sean tomorrow," Paul said."I'll message him and see how he's doing in a bit, first I kind of think I need to talk to Xander, can you text me Xander's number I think I have it but I want to be sure," Oliver said."To talk about the personal thing, ok I'll send it to you," Paul said, "and are you ok you sound funny?""Oh I'm peachy but for being a nauseous mess, I must be coming down with something," Oliver lied, and thought, "came down with a long time ago more like it.""Oh no, I'll make you some crockpot soup if you like," Paul said."That's thoughtful of you, but I'm going to call Xander then hit the hay," Oliver said, he heard cars driving passed on the other end of the line."Ok well I still might make the soup," Paul said."Where are you," Oliver asked."About to walk home from Sean's place." Paul said, "I think someone needs to talk to him.""Well you told me that," Oliver said, "is there more to it?""Kind of he's on a balcony, and I don't know," Paul said."You think he is depressed or something, you are concerned but not that concerned," Oliver said."No I don't think he's going
to jump or anything he just looked at me weird and it has me on edge," Paul said, "kinda a mix of prey and predator instinct.""Well, I can see why that would be concerning," Oliver said."It kind of looked like a soldier just out of the hospital," Paul said."I can say I've ever seen that look," Oliver said, and clenched his teeth as his stomach gurgled painfully."I have, anyway, he looks like a grieving fur in shock," Paul said. "I'll call him right after I talk to Xander... one sec!" Oliver said then ran to the bathroom. Emptying himself till lights dance in his eyes. He rinse his rear fur in the shower and went back to his phone."Paul are you still there?" Oliver asked."Yeah I'm here, and I don't care what you say, I'm bringing you a soup dinner and don't argue," Paul said.Oliver chuckled, "fine, but don't mind the smell.""I'll bring a nose cover," Paul said."You own one, kinky," Oliver teased."No, it's for kitchen odors, what were you thinking?" Paul asked."Auto... erot-, never mind," Oliver said and blushed, "I'll call Xander talk to you soon."Oliver ended the call, and pulled up Xander's number in Paul's message then dial.Paul messaged, "you're the Kinky one! Auto erotic asphyxiation?!""Oh please, mister self proclaimed power kitten," Oliver replied."Hello Xander speaking," Xander said."Hey Xander, Oliver here, Paul called me because he is worried about Sean," Oliver said. The line was silent, if it weren't for Xander's faint breaths he might have thought he had been hung up on. "Xander he told his sister about being raped and she only acknowledged it and left.""I see... was that why he was calling and texting, to have me be a friend like always?" Xander said."No, he has been trying to apologize, I was at his place after you left, he realized he hadn't treated you right, and then Sharron came over we ate the lasagna he made for you, and he told her," Oliver said, then muted the phone and ran back to the bathroom.He heard Xander just barely over his ablutions, "I don't know why I got so mad, I guess I was unhappy that he was going out of his way to be around you. I'll talk to him."Oliver unmuted the phone, "good man, I know that would make him feel better, but I think it will help you too.""We'll see, thanks for calling, Paul says the four of us should get coffee, but maybe it should just be the three of us," Xander said."If by three of us, you mean with Sean that's fine, I'm kinda under the weather at the moment," Oliver said then muted the phone again."I'm sorry man being sick sucks, yeah lets do the four of us for coffee or dinner depending on the time of day that works for everyone," Xander said.Oliver said, "that sounds great how about Wednesday night if we do dinner.""Hello are you still there," Xander said.Oliver bristled then said, "sorry about
that, the phone was muted, I like the dinner idea.""Why was the phone muted?" Xander said."Like I said I'm not feeling well... so I don't want you to hear how I'm feeling," Oliver said."Oh, stomach flu?" Xander asked."Something like that," Oliver said."Oh well, Paul's bring you soup, are you thinking your very contagious?" Xander asked."Yes but Paul shouldn't be able to get it just being around me," Oliver said and felt deceptive.Xander paused for a moment, "I guess I don't know the feline immune system very well.""Who does," Oliver said to laugh off the uncomfortable pause."I hope you get better, so we can all get together, you seem like a really nice guy," Xander said."Thanks so do you, and from what a hear, Paul thinks you are too," Oliver said and imagined he could smell Xander's blush through the phone.They ended the call Oliver didn't want to rinse off in the shower again but knew that he needed too, and to put up some air fresheners and open the window.Oliver then sighed and when about getting his place ready for a guest. He felt like crying as each gurgle of his stomach punctuated the life he could no longer dream of having. That first night he was with Sean he thought he had met someone to tell. "I'm being a coward about this, who do you have left to leave you anyway," Oliver said then sat on the couch, the smell of disinfectant and febreze filled the whole house now that it was cleaner.He got on Muzzle book and saw Sean had invited him to dinner tomorrow night at a boat house restaurant on the sound ten minutes northwest of his place. He accepted the request. He liked Sean, the first fur he wasn't worried to be with emotionally and physically. "If not physically at least a bit of me can be happy." Oliver said while he reviewed the menu. His head lulled as he scrolled through the drinks.Oliver jerked awake when someone knocked at his door.He got up to answer the door, but the room spun around him.The vertigo subsided and he got the door.Paul stood insulated crockpot bag in his paws, he said, "Boots why didn't you answer your phone?""Sorry, Puss, I fell asleep," Oliver said."Well... wow! how can you sleep with the place smelling like this!" Paul asked as he nearly dropped the crock pot covering his nose."Sorry, I told you I was sick," Oliver said, his face too drained of blood to blush."Well, it was just a shock, take this," Paul said, then handed him the crock pot bag. Paul then grabbed a cart handle to the side of the door Oliver hadn't noticed."Wait you made more than one?" Oliver said."Your a big old tiger and you eat a lot, so you need variety and that one you got there is steamed rice and vegetables," Paul said then pushed passed Oliver bee lining for the kitchen."You didn't have to Paul," Oliver said."So I'm only Puss when you're not
flustered," Paul said then found plugs for his assorted kitchen appliances. "No it's not that I'm flustered, I just never expected you to do this much, I was thinking a bowl or thermos of soup." Oliver said."The Calicode, know when to protect what is yours. Its hard for me to say, and for you to hear, us being cats and all," Paul said, "But, next to Jill you are my best friend, it might surprise you but most furs don't like a bossy, opinionated, little guy at least around here, even though I'm nice."Olivers face finally succeeded at blushing, he said, "You are nice and your selling yourself short.""Short yes, but inaccurate no," Paul said then he took the crock pot bag Oliver held."I can't argue if that's how you think and feel things are," Oliver said, "But you are wrong you don't think that Xander can't care for you even Sean's going to like you.""I'm just a place holder till Xander and Sean figure each other out," Paul said."Don't think like that," Oliver said then bodily picked Paul up in a hug."Put me down you big brute," Paul yowled, while Oliver felt he was only half heartedly struggling.Oliver licked the top of Paul's head, "You are loved and you are liked," Oliver said."Licked and now I'm going to get sick," Paul said and went boneless.Oliver laughed as he couldn't hold Paul anymore, "Fine, but you can't get sick from a lick."Paul looked up at him in confusion, "What kinda stomach bug is this?""It's not a stomach bug but it is contagious but not like the flu," Oliver said.Paul's look of fear tore at Oliver. Paul said, "Is it cancer, are you having chemo?"Oliver laughed in surprise, "No, its not cancer."Paul's worried and confused scent finally made Oliver cave."I have FIV Paul," Oliver said, then waited for Paul to leave."Why didn't you tell me," Paul asked."Because no one but my doctor knows," Oliver said, "Well and the guy who gave me it maybe.""Is that why you said we could never date?" Paul asked."Yeah it's not treated yet I'm starting tomorrow," Oliver said."I am glad you finally told me," Paul said latching on to Oliver like a purring but cute little tick. Paul squeezed tighter while he purred a storm but the pressure set Oliver's stomach off. He tore Paul from him and ran to the bathroom, then slammed the door behind him.He emptied himself into the toilet again, wondering where it was coming from. He thought, "I'm empty already damn it.""Are you ok," Paul asked."Fine just embarrassed," Oliver replied."Are you hungry," Paul said voice rough."Yes, but so nauseous," Oliver said then rinsed off yet again.When he left the bathroom, Paul had set out plates with the vegetable mixed rice, and a bowl of soup for each of them. Oliver could smell Paul's tears."whats wrong Paul," Oliver asked."I feel like everyone, I love I don't get
to keep," Paul said, "Xander is probably temporary and I just learned why I can't be with you."Oliver flushed, "You're not alone, I feel like I can't have you or Sean, both because of health issues.""Life isn't fair," Paul said, "wait this isn't from him, is it?""From Sean? No the allergy didn't let us get that far," Oliver said."No I mean the asshole him," Paul said."Rhino's can be carriers," Oliver said then sat at his place Paul set for him. Paul took his hand, "that's what you meant by I can't forget or forgive him for multiple reasons.""Yeah, and life isn't fair."They ate and talked till Oliver got sleepy. He thanked Paul for being there for him and to say hi to Xander but he did not remember to call Sean.