"Diedrich! It's so good to have you here."

Diedrich raised an eyebrow as he shook hands. "What do you need me to do?"

Vincent sighed and mopped his brow. "Ever my loyal German dog, aren't you? Ciel took sick last evening, and my wife and I have been taking it in turns to sit with him. But my wife's resting now, and I've been up half the night- would you mind sitting with Ciel for an hour or so?"

Diedrich worked the skin on his forehead with a thumb and forefinger. "Is this an order?"

"Please just do it, Diedrich. I need to go lie down."

"Vincent, your boy is afraid of me."

But the Earl had already gone off.

Diedrich sighed heavily. Nein, this was not going to be a restful afternoon.

The little boy Phantomhive was half-asleep when Diedrich came into the room. He opened a bleary eye as he heard someone sit down in the chair beside his bed. "Mummy?"

"No. Diedrich. Mummy is napping."

Ciel dived under his covers. Diedrich closed his eyes. "Little boy Phantomhive, I do not bite."

Ciel peeped out. "I know."

"Good."

The little boy dissolved into a fit of coughing. Diedrich winced.

"I want a drink," Ciel whispered finally. Diedrich reached for the water glass on the table. Empty.

The little boy started to cry. "I'm thirsty...!"

If there was one thing Diedrich could not handle, it was crying children. He swore quietly under his breath. "I will get you something to drink, then."

"No!" the little boy grabbed his coat. "Don't leave! I don't want to be alone..."

He dissolved into tears again, which became coughs, which turned into hacking. This did not sound healthy. Diedrich rubbed his forehead, gingerly lifted the boy out of bed, and grabbed the glass, somehow kicking the door open when he reached it.

Both of Ciel's arms wrapped themselves around his neck. He was still crying. Then he began to gag.

He is going to be sick, Diedrich thought. Wunderbar. Just what I need now.

He managed to get the door to the bathroom open and get Ciel over the sink just before the little boy threw up.

"Ich brauche kaffee,"Diedrich muttered. He filled the glass and let the little boy drink. "Not so quickly, little Phantomhive."

Ciel slowed a little, still crying. He looked at Diedrich. "Are you angry at me?" he whispered nervously.

Diedrich didn't answer, choosing instead to silently hand the little boy his handkerchief. Ciel wiped his mouth, blew his nose, and then finished his water and climbed back into Diedrich's arms, dropping his burning forehead onto Diedrich's shoulder.

"Back to bed with you now, little Phantomhive," Diedrich sighed. "And hope your father wakes soon."

Ciel was asleep before Diedrich put him back into the bed.

"Thank you, Diedrich," Vincent whispered as he quietly entered his son's room. "Oh, good, he's asleep. Was there any trouble?"

Diedrich's mouth twisted slightly. "No. None at all."

Vincent clapped him on the back. "Loyal to the last. You can go."

Diedrich took one last look at the slumbering little Phantomhive before taking his leave.