Page 7 of Bash

“Bash, move your ass. You’re in my way.”

Bash grumbled, but did as he asked. “Take some breaths for me, honey.”

I did and Elliot listened to my front and back. “Have you been coughing?”

“No, Mr. Elliot.”

“Oh, what good manners,” he praised. “I’m going to feel your neck now, okay?”

I nodded. His large hands came up and cupped my neck, pressing the glands in my neck. I winced when it started to hurt.

Bash grumbled when I winced. “Be fucking careful, Elliot.”

“Is it sore there?” Elliot asked, ignoring him.

“Yes,Sir.”

He flicked on the flashlight. “I’m going to check your ears and throat now.”

He looked in my ears first and then my throat. “Your throat is a bit red. Does it hurt?”

I shook my head. “No, Sir, Mr. Elliot.”

“That’s good then. I’m pretty sure I know what germies you caught, Little girl,” he said.

Whatever it was, I hoped it would be all better by the next day so I could go back to work.

Chapter Three

Bash

My heart was in my throat as I waited on Elliot to diagnose Allyson. I had already considered Malaria, Ebola, and maybe the Bubonic Plague. Whatever it was, I wanted the best care for my Little girl. And after seeing her sick and vulnerable I had no doubt Allysonwasmy Little girl. She was shy and unsure, but I would love her until she was confident of my feelings and I would be patient and wait as long as she needed. I regrettednot moving sooner, but there was nothing I could do but move forward.

“Just a little swab of your nose, okay? It won’t hurt,” Elliot said, bringing me back from my thoughts. He was rubbing a Q-Tip around the inside of each nostril. He’d better not fucking hurt her.

“I’m going to test this and in fifteen minutes we will know if you have the flu germies, which I'm very confident you do.” Elliot put the swab in a tube, shook it, and then put some on a dropper.

“I was around everyone at work yesterday,” she said, her face turning a shade paler. “What if I got them all sick?”

“Most of us have had our flu shots, baby. If we do get it, it won’t be a bad case and we would certainly never blame you, Allyson,” I told her. I appreciated her concern for us, but hated how anxious she was.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried, more tears falling down her angelic face.

“Hey, nobody is going to be upset,” I soothed, climbing up the bed and sitting beside her.“They’re going to be worried about you, baby. They’ll want you to feel all better.”

“I’ve had a lot of cases recently, honey, and it’s very possible you caught it from a client at the shop. Don’t worry about it, okay? Let’s focus on getting you better,” Elliot added.

Allyson nodded, but didn’t look any less worried. I took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She returned the gesture and sent me a shaky smile.

“Wait, you need to scoot over, you’re gonna get sick!” she said after a second, attempting to tug her hand out of mine.

I kept it captured and brought it up to my mouth for a kiss. “Daddies are immune to germies, especially this one,” I said, patting my chest.

She laughed softly.

“It’s true. In all of the years I’ve known him, Bash has never been sick,” Elliot agreed.

“Never?” Allyson asked dubiously, looking at me again.

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