"Leslie Rogers, we're not debating this. You are going home. Now." She was insistent and assertive as she walked towards my desk. In the years I've known her, she's only called me Leslie a few times, and never first and last name before. I felt like a child being scolded.
"I'm fine, Donna. Really. I've only got a little longer to wrap up the Jones audit. I worked on it all weekend and think I can wrap it up this evening. I'll finish and then I'll go home. I promise." I felt a chill run through my body and my teeth suddenly began chattering as I uttered those words.
I wasn't fine.
Two others in the office had come down with what was most likely the flu over the weekend, and it appeared I had caught the virus too. I'd been feeling worse since Saturday morning, but thought coming in to the office Monday morning would help me power through.
I was wrong.
"Les, you are shivering uncontrollably and you look horrible! You've been working yourself non-stop since Tiffany and I've told you it was going catch up to you. Now, you've gone and gotten sick." She touched my forehead as she helped me stand from behind my desk.
"You are burning up you stubborn ass. You didn't get your flu shot like I told you to, did you? There's no way you're driving home. We are taking you home." After a brief argument, I relented and walked with her to the door. I've known her long enough that once she makes a decision, you don't argue with her.
She and Gene helped me to the parking lot and I was getting weaker by the second as I collapsed in the passenger seat of their car. I closed my eyes for what seemed like a moment and the next thing I remember was being helped walking down a hall to a bedroom, then lying back on a bed. I closed my eyes again and was out.
I tossed and turned in bed, my body shaking with chills one minute then burning up the next. I was in and out, having vivid dreams. Dreams about my ex-wife, Tiffany. Dreams about being chased, but not knowing who was chasing me. Then I ended up standing by a stream, the water cascading over a small waterfall. I suddenly woke, needing to pee. When I mustered the strength to open my eyes, Donna was sitting on a small sofa under the window, reading.
"How are you feeling? You've must have been having some wild dreams, you've been restless and mumbling in your sleep all night." She put her book down and walked to sit on the side of the bed, feeling my forehead.
I looked around the unfamiliar room. "Where am I?"
"Our house. You fell asleep in the car and we decided to bring you here. Gene and I had a time getting you inside since you were so out of it." Her hand was still on my forehead.
"You are still burning up Les. Here, take this. Hopefully it will help with your fever." She had a couple of pills and a glass of ice water in her hand.
I started to sit up, but fell right back in bed. I'd never been so weak. I couldn't move. She reached under my head, lifting it up and gave me the ibuprofen, then put the glass to my mouth so I could swallow the pills.
"Just relax and try to rest." She lay my head back on the pillow. I shook my head 'no'.
Very meekly, "I have to pee."
"I see. Let me help you up and in to the bathroom." I nodded my head as she pulled me up and helped me sit on the edge of the bed. I was shaking and shivering as she draped my arm over her shoulder. We stood and she led me in to the bathroom to the edge of the vanity next to the toilet.
Just as I held on to steady myself, I realized they undressed me when they helped me to bed. All I had on was my t-shirt and underwear. A sense of panic set in as I started assessing the situation. Before I had time to think, she pulled my underwear down to my ankles and helped me sit on the toilet.
Here was my friend and partner, a woman at least 10 years my senior, helping me use the bathroom like a child. As I tried to start, she smiled at me sitting on the toilet and walked over to the tub. "I'll run you a bath. I think a long, hot soak will make you feel better." She sat on the edge of the tub, turning on the water as she looked back at me with her bright, green eyes.
"Be back in a minute." She walked back into the bedroom, leaving me to do my thing with a little privacy. When I finished, I looked back in the bedroom and then to the tub.
It's only a few feet. You can do this.
I took my shirt off and stood. As I began to collapse, I took a couple of steps towards the tub and caught the side as I fell. I was able to get my leg over the side and sit in the tub by myself. Fall into the tub is actually more accurate as to what happened. I made a loud crashing noise and splashed water all on to the floor.
She suddenly reappeared at the doorway. "I was going to help you get in silly. I don't want you to hurt yourself." She shook her head and laughed, looking at the mess I'd made on the floor. She was acting differently than the Donna I knew, who was a serious, no-nonsense and all-business woman. This was a side I'd never seen before.
"Relax. And don't anywhere! I'll be back in a few minutes." She disappeared back into the bedroom.
The bath did feel nice. My chills weren't as bad in the warm bathwater. I closed my eyes again, taking a deep breath. I was awaken by warm water being poured over my chest. As I looked over, Donna was sitting on the edge of the tub dipping a washcloth in the tub and wringing it out on my chest. The water was running and I felt that it was all hot water being added to the tub. She had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, a look I'd never seen on her before.
"Hello there. You fell asleep. Let's get you washed up and back into bed before you turn into a prune. You've been in there a while." I looked and the tips of my fingers were shriveled up. I could also clearly see my nakedness though the water, looking at something else shriveled. I looked back up and her eyes had followed mine. She was undoubtedly staring at my limp cock. Putting my hands back in the water, I covered myself with embarrassment.
She looked back up and smiled, putting the warm, wet cloth on my forehead. She then grabbed the bar of soap and began washing my back, pushing me forward so she could get down to my waist. After rinsing me off, she helped me lay back in the tub. I had to move my hands to stop from sliding completely in. She took my hand and began washing my arm and shoulder. Then the other. I casually put my hands back to cover myself as she washed my chest. Knowing I'd been exposed to her for some time, I still felt weird being exposed and felt the need to cover myself.