It turns out she had a right to be skeptical. Not even five minutes later, Conrad was hanging over the bucket, projectile vomiting all of the water he had just drank. Even after the water was long gone, he found himself dry heaving—pretty violently—in an attempt to purge whatever was making him sick. Nic who was standing behind the couch, rubbing his back couldn't help but cringe hearing Conrad tear up his throat.

After a few minutes had passed and Conrad hadnt thrown up again, Nic coaxed the trash can away from him. She placed the back of her hand against her forehead. "I think your fever has gone up." She handed him the thermometer. "Keep this under your tongue while I take care of this, okay?"

He leaned back against the couch cushions and nodded.

Once again, she tied a knot in the liner and tossed it in the large trash bin outside. When she had made her way back to the living room, Conrad had closed his eyes and was breathing carefully through his nose. Nic kneeled in front of him. "I have the trashcan right here if you are feeling sick again."

He didn't indicate he had heard her, but given his demeanor she assumed he just couldn't talk at the moment.

She took a look at the thermometer in his hand. "103. Jeez no wonder you don't feel good."

She went into the bathroom and found a washcloth under her sink. She ran it under the tap and rung out the excess water. When she came back, Conrad was back over the trash can, this time bringing up strands of yellow bile. She sat behind him on the couch, placing the cool rag on his neck. She ran her hands up and down his arms as he continued to retch. When he finished he flopped back against the couch, his complexion now a grayish color.

"Conrad." She said. "I think we need to start thinking about taking you to Chastain."

Conrad shook his head. "Im fine."

Nic rolled her eyes. "Conrad, you cant keep water down and your temperature is a 103. You're going to get dehydrated if you're not already."

Conrad opened his eyes, not moving from his spot. "Im not going to take up a bed in the already understaffed ER just so Irving can tell me I have a stomach ache."

Nic crossed her arms. "Fine but that means I am going to continue to push the water. If you're still hurling in a couple hours, I'm not going to hesitate to take you."

Conrad closed his eyes again, nodding in agreement.

Satisfied, Nic took the empty water glass and filled it with crushed iced from the refrigerator. "Crushed ice might be easier on your stomach." She said as he handed the glass to Conrad.

"Thanks Nic." He said pressing an ice shaving on his tongue. Nic smiled and sat back down next to him.

"Do you want me to rewind the movie?"

"Yeah." Conrad said, sheepishly, knowing they only had to because he spent the majority of the ending tossing his cookies.

The second time around they managed to finish the movie and Conrad had managed to polish off the whole glass of ice chips. Unfortunately for him, they are upsetting his stomach more than he would like to admit. He stifles a burp behind a closed fist and knows that's just a warning sign. Nic knows it too, as she looks over at him. "Ice chips coming back up?"

Conrad nodded his head, trying his best to keep it down. Nic placed the trash can on his lap and that was the invitation he needed to let it all go. It wasn't much, but it was enough to undo the attempt at rehydration. Conrad was prideful but even he knew that didn't look promising.

He took the rag that was resting on his neck and used it to swipe away the fluids from his lips. He looked up at Nic who looked worried.

He spit into the trash before setting it down. "I know what you're thinking but it's only been an hour." He said handing her the water glass. "Just have to keep trying until it doesn't come up anymore."

Nic conceded and once more filled the glass with ice chips. Atleast the ice ships stayed down longer than the water. She handed Conrad the glass back and looked at him cautiously.

He started with the first chip. "Why don't you see if Law and Order is on?" He said tossing the remote to Nic.

"You dont like Law and Order." She said pointedly.

He attempted a second ice chip. "You're right, I dont, but you do."

She smiled and clicked through the channels until she came across a rerun of Law and Order: SVU.

The guilty pleasure kept her mind occupied while Conrad tried to keep the ice chips down. He had made it 20 minutes before his stomach started churning. He would be lucky if he made it five more minutes before losing it.

Not wanting Nic to catch on, he decided to hide his discomfort for a little longer. "Hey." He said, trying to sound relaxed. "Im going to go get some more water."

Nic glanced at him amused. "Really?"

Conrad nodded, rising from the couch. "Yeah I was right. Just had to keep trying the water."

He walked stiffly past her and into the kitchen. He went to the sink to fill up the water, so he had something to show Nic when he got back, only to realize that this plan was stupid from the get go. Not only was he futily trying to hide an illness he couldn't hide, but he was seconds away from puking. He laid his forehead on the cold countertops as he bent in half.

Nic, who had some suspicions about her fiancé's departure, found him in this very position. She shook her head. God, why does he have to be so stubborn?

Not wanting to scare him by coming up behind him, she stayed her distance. "What's going on Conrad?"

He moaned into the sink. Nic made her way over to him, just before he gagged. "Oh god." He burped. "Im losing it." He heaved into the basin, once again throwing up the ice chips.

Nic continued to rub his back as he hung over the sink. "Now will you let me take you to Chastain?" she asked, "You've been throwing up for eight hours now.

Conrad admittedly felt like shit and he knew from a medical standpoint he wasn't in good shape.

He slowly lifted his head away from the sink. "Yeah." He said, quietly.