"For the last time, I. Am going. To work!" Ivan bellowed.

"No. You're not!" Micheal grasped the man's shoulders and pushed him back down on the bed when he tried to stand.

Ivan's flushed face glared up at him as he laid on his back. He growled, "Let me go Micheal!"

"No, you sick man!" Micheal scolded.

"I am not sick!"

"Like hell you aren't!" Micheal glared down at the man, still sitting on his knees. "Your temperature is damn near a hundred degrees!"

"So?!" Ivan growled out, his brown eyes glossy. "I'm well enough to drive a car, not to mention sit down at a computer!"

"Tell that to your manager that said herself that you are in no condition to work." As soon as Micheal had uttered those words, he knew he won half the battle.

Ivan's eyes wavered for a second, but he glared still. He didn't say a single thing to his blond friend who smiled triumphantly at him. He turned his face away.

Micheal sighed and got off the bed. He walked toward the calendar next to the dark wooden door and made note that he had to go back to work himself. Yet, he couldn't leave Ivan like this.

Yesterday, Micheal felt as though the man was well enough to handle himself and decided to spend some time with Robin. He also managed to explain to everyone at the barber shop what had kept him and planned on going to work Thursday. His plans were dashed when he got an unexpected call from Ivan's manager, Barbra.

"Good morning Micheal." She had greeted him in her semi-casual voice. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Micheal had said he wasn't busy but was actually just resting. (In actuality, he was in bed with his sleeping boyfriend).

"That's good." She paused.

"...Is it about Ivan?" The blond man asked on instinct. Barbra never called him unless it had something to do with Ivan.

"Ah, well...yes...he came to work today—"

"What?!" Micheal exclaimed making his lover stir slightly.

"At first I was concerned and asked if he had gotten better. Of course he said he had and seemed normal enough. Then...he sort of...started losing consciousness."

"Did you call the hospital?" Micheal said it more out of concern for Ivan's job then Ivan himself.

"Believe me, I tried, but that seemed to be the only thing he stayed awake to. That, or me saying he needed to go home."

Micheal shook his head. He heard Robin grunt slightly.

"In any case, can you possibly come and get him."

The blond furrowed his brow "He's still there?!"

Barbra's silence was confirmation enough.

Micheal sighed and hung up. It was easy enough driving to the office, but not so easy escorting Ivan out. The man protested furiously, but he only managed to tire himself out.

So now, here they were.

"You know," Micheal turned toward his sick friend folding his bare arms. "It took everything I had to make Robin stay at home. He wanted to smack your head off."

Ivan scoffed and didn't bother giving him eye contact. "I didn't ask you to come and get me."

Micheal's eye twitched and he closed his eyes. "I know you have a phobia of hospitals—"

"It's not a phobia, I just don't like them—"

"Listen you!" Micheal shouted earning Ivan's full, wide eyed, attention. "I don't mind takin' care of you, but you're gonna cut the attitude!"

Ivan wanted to sink into the covers of the mattress. He knew Micheal was mad when he reverted to his southern slang.

"While Robin's ready tah kick yo' ass, he's equally mad at me fah nursin' yo sick ass!" he glared darkly at the other. "And FYI, I still need tah go tah work!"

Micheal panted and shifted his jaw. Ivan blinked at him letting his glare fade. Micheal sighed.

"Ivan—"

"Sorry." Ivan murmured and rolled over on his bed not even paying any mind to the fact he was still wearing his work clothes.

Micheal opened his mouth then closed it shaking his blond tresses. "Geez...!" he grumbled leaving the man alone in his room.

~~~~~~~~~

It was late afternoon when Micheal decided to call it quits with the phone book. He knew if Robin was there with him, he'd tell him to pick a number and set an appointment, but he couldn't help it.

It wasn't that simple.

Ever since college, he had known Ivan hated the doctor. No, the man had a literal phobia. He had asked him, one time, why he disliked going to hospitals or even watching medical shows.

"It's creepy." Ivan would say, with almost a childlike innocence that was befitting. "All the white walls, the same clothes, all that equipment...for what? What's with all that stuff?!" then the man would go into a fit of trembling and it took everything Micheal had to make him relax.

Now five years later, Ivan could at least talk about hospitals and doctors, but the man still refused to go to one, let alone see either.

It was sort of irritating, yet sad somewhat. Micheal couldn't imagine being afraid of the doctor. What if he caught something and didn't know about it? The thought gave him chills. He knew the case was far from Ivan, but he still feared for the man's future and present health.

With an exhausted breath, Micheal closed the yellow paged book and left the dining room. He figured his brain needed a rest and settled on TV. He plopped down in the middle of the brown leather sofa and grabbed the long black remote.

The first things he saw were boring as all types of hell.

'Does this man even use his damn TV? It's a flat screen for God's sake!' Micheal thought bitterly and continued flipping channels. He figured there'd be something on since it was Friday...or did that only work for kid's shows?

Suddenly, something made Micheal's thumb freeze in place.

"Tired of your fears getting in the way?" said an enchanting, monotone voice. "Wish you could shrug off the feeling like it was nothing?"

Micheal's ocean blue eyes stared at the black screen and barely noticed the cinematic wisps of pink.

"Tired of having to use a night light to help you sleep? Wish you could go on that roller coaster ride with your family? Maybe you want to stop screaming at your friend's pet tarantula?" a man wearing a black suit appeared. He sat calmly in a maroon cushioned chair with gold lining, the man's left leg laid on his knee at the ankle, and his hands were clasped neatly over his red and blue spiraled cummerbund. One would think this was some type of magic show commercial or religious group thing; however, to Micheal, it seemed a little different.

None of this commercial looked familiar. He's seen Robin watch a lot of TV, yet he'd never seen this or the suited man before in his life. It all seemed eerie, but enchanting at the same time.

Especially the man with his thick, coarse, black hair with white streaks, all of which was slicked back slightly. His face was one with high cheekbones and a long, yet small, nose. His goatee was trimmed in an artistic fashion with most of the hair on the sides of his narrow chin. But the most striking thing were the man's deep grey-blue eyes that may be mistaken for some purple hue.

The man smiled warmly and his eyes shimmered, "If the answer is yes, then please, do call our number." The man recited the number and, oddly enough, it seemed like a legit number. Not that quadruple digit montage. The number appeared at the bottom of the screen in bold hot pink, so did the name of the man's company, presumably, also in pink.

"Geo Phobia..." Micheal said aloud and he jumped. As soon as he said the name, it was like the man had smiled at him.

'That's crazy.'

"We, at Geo Phobia, will do all in our power to help you with your phobia and in other events." He bowed his head. "With a reasonable price of course."

'Yeah right.' Michal thought.

"Thank you for listening. And remember," the man smiled more broadly, "the first step is courage. I am Arron Adon, and I hope to hear from you."

Then the commercial went black...and a diaper commercial came on.

Minutes went by as Micheal stared at the TV. He hit the off switch on the remote and tried to collect his thoughts on what he just saw.

'It must be a set up. It must be...it's just...too much of a coincidence.' He thought in disbelief.

And yet, he couldn't help but believe some of it. But who was this Aaron Adon?

Micheal shook his head and went back to the dining room. Flipping the phone book open, he scrolled through the tiny lettering until he found what he was looking for.

Geo Phobia was in there.

He sighed and flopped down in a chair. What now? Should he call?

Micheal wasn't familiar with this organization, so making a call didn't sit very well. But what were his options? Every other credible place couldn't do home visits or just didn't. The ones that could Micheal didn't like. In the case of Geo Phobia, whatever it was, Micheal was just...skeptical.

"...." He folded his arms and curled his lips in. "...Well, like Mom always said: "If you're not sure, ask."

With an intake of air, Micheal whipped out his cell phone and made the dial.

Ivan tossed and turned in his bed.

'Hot...so goddamn hot!' he thought over and over. His own thoughts seemed to be burning. Ivan hissed in discomfort and yanked at his red tie and nearly ripped the buttons off his white shirt. He sighed in some relief and flopped, face first, back into his pillow.

It was official. He was sick.

'Just undoing my clothes is tiring...' he thought, 'Everything feels so hot and weak...damn it!' he rolled onto his back and covered his eyes with his arm. He never felt this bad in his life. 'If this goes on...I really will need to go to the...the'

A chill ran through Ivan.

'No! I don't want to think about it! I...' he sat up slowly, 'I'll get some water. I just need water...and maybe a cool towel.'

Ivan would have called for Micheal, but after the severe scolding he underwent he rethought it. He felt bad enough having his friend take care of him. Micheal should be at home with Robin, not nursing him.

Ivan looked down as if defeated.

'I'm a grown man and can't even go to the damn hospital!' he thought angrily but quickly dropped it. 'It's no use. I just can't.'

Pushing his thoughts away, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and was pleased to know he could at least walk. After a few wobbly steps, he made it to the door and left out the room silently. He wondered what Micheal was doing. He swore he heard the TV going for a little while...

Stopping at the flight of stairs, Ivan grasped the beam tightly and descended the stairs. This, too, pleased him.

"Yes, well, I was calling to ask if you all have any licensed doctors at your facility."

'Huh?' Ivan blinked for several moments before walking along the wall leading to the dining room.

"No! Ah, that isn't what I meant...Oh...yes. Thank you. It's just, I saw you all's commercial and...I really don't know where else to turn."

Ivan peeked around the side of the wall to see Micheal sitting sternly at the rectangular dining table. He had his left hand on a yellow paged book and the other holding his phone to his ear.

Ivan froze up somewhat. 'Is he...calling a doctor?!' nausea slowly made itself present in his stomach.

"Uhm, well, as far as I can remember, he's never liked the doctor. No, I'm not sure if he's ever been." Micheal said sadly. He seemed serious in the conversation which scared Ivan more.

"He's scared I think." Micheal continued a little more relaxed, "He won't go no matter what his friends say. He even tried to go to work today. He's running a fever too...I'm worried about him."

Ivan frowned suddenly. He was causing Micheal so much trouble, but he couldn't help it!

Ivan watched his blond friend nod his head slightly and made a sound of approval. "Yes. He's upstairs. Yes, I'd like something like a doctor to take care of him. I'd honestly do it myself but...yes. What makes him scared? Uh...well...." Micheal flushed slightly.

Ivan stared at him for a moment and took a shaken breath. "Th...the...things around the doctor's neck."

Abruptly, Micheal turned to him with wide eyes. Ivan looked back at him with imploring eyes. If Micheal was willing to try hard for him then the least he could do was help. Besides, what could possibly do in his present condition? Not a damned thing.

Micheal seemed to read his mind. He repeated the statement over the phone. When Micheal looked back at him, Ivan knew he had to continue. He shifted his gaze several times before adding to the list.

"Needles, those damn white coats...they look like their trying to run experiments or something, and all that junk they use on you, those machines, those tubes..." Ivan trembled. He wanted so much to throw up but he managed to hold himself together.

He let Micheal recite everything he said and waited.

Micheal finished and nodded his head several times with several yes's. "He's twenty six Miss...yes...his name is Ivan Grey." Micheal suddenly smiled he glanced at Ivan and said the woman liked his name.

Ivan blushed.

"Yes? Oh, well, he's right here—'Micheal paused seeing Ivan jerk back behind the wall. "...No. I don't think he can. Yes...Iatrophobia?"

Ivan grimaced. That word again, phobia. He didn't have a phobia, he just disliked seeing doctors.

"No, he's never been to a therapist."

"Don't need one." Ivan said loud enough for both Micheal and the lady to hear. Micheal cut him a scowl, but Ivan was embarrassed to hear a light giggle over the phone. Micheal blinked for a moment.

"Ah, yes. Yes...really? I see..." Micheal murmured.

'What are they talking about...?' Ivan strained his lips and gripped the side of the wall.

"Oh! Well, that's perfect! I'm glad I called! And your name is...Jezebel? Hehe, I love your name... You're welcome. Yes, that's a perfect time. I'll be here to make sure he gets here."

"What?!" Ivan whimpered. Now he wished he had said nothing...

"Yes, thank you—oh! And...uhm, how much is this?...Really?! Well," Micheal chuckled, "Goddamn!" he laughed again. "Yes. Yes. Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful day." With a nod, Micheal took the phone away from his ear.

Ivan shook suddenly and darted back upstairs. He could hear his blond friend calling his name, but he didn't care. Why had he said anything?

Ivan flung the door open and barely closed it before hopping on the bed and diving under the covers.

He prayed that he would be better by tomorrow...