"Well...your fever did go down a bit." Micheal said calmly and gave his bedridden friend a smile. "But we can't be too careful."

Ivan still said nothing. The cold sweat that broke out on his forehead was all the response Micheal needed.

"You know, I'll be here when he comes."

"Yeah, but then when you leave, then what?!' Ivan choked out. He tried not to tremble, but the sheet covering him gave it away.

Micheal looked sadly at his friend and sighed. "Even when that happens, I'll visit every day until you're better."

"Now I really think he'll do something to me!" Ivan whimpered.

His blond friend shook his head, "You're only making it worse for yourself, you know."

Abruptly, Ivan pulled the cover over his head. Only a tuft of brown hair peeked out.

Even though this situation was serious, Micheal couldn't help but smile at his friend. It was like taking care of a child.

The blond glanced at his wrist watch and read the hands. "...eight twenty-nine."

"He probably isn't coming---"Ivan's sentence was cut off by a loud beeping noise.

The man frowned at Micheal threw the sheet as if what he had heard wasn't real. The blond shook his head and gave his friend a brief smile before walking out the room.

The doorbell rang again as Micheal trotted down the stairs and flanked to the left toward the door. He pressed his face to the door and asked "Who is it?"

"Geo Phobia employee." Came a cool, cultured voice.

Straightening up, Micheal opened the door wearing a bright polite smile. His face shifted to one of amazement.

"Good morning." Said the olive skinned man at the door. He flashed a smile while taking his fedora off. He bowed slightly and said, "My name is Alexander Steel, doctor and therapist. Are you Micheal?"

"Ah...yeah." Micheal murmured then clasped his mouth shut. He hadn't meant for his accent to come out.

But the man named Alexander Steel merely chuckled warmly, "Southern?"

The blond shifted his gaze, he couldn't meet the man's deep cocoa eyes. "Yes."

"Georgia?" Dr. Steel smiled more seeing Micheal's blue eyes widen, "Your skin is a little darker than most Caucasian Southerners."

Micheal could feel his face heat up. "Oh, yes. I suppose."

The two stood there for what seemed like forever. Micheal couldn't help it though. He was rendered nearly speechless. The man in front of him was... normal. Black pants, white buttoned shirt, brown blazer, dress shoes...Micheal was expecting some amauter scam artist at least but....

Dr. Steel was the first to break the silence. "Uhm—"

"Oh!" Micheal gasped and ushered for the doctor to come in. "I'm sorry! I spaced out!"

"Does that happen often?" Dr. Steel asked jokingly making his way in. "Thank you." He let the blond take his hat and briefcase.

"Should I take it upstairs for you Dr. Steel?" Micheal asked hanging the doctor's fedora on the hat rack beside the door.

"Is that where my patient is?"

"Yes. But I don't think he'll be willing to talk much."

"Ah," Dr. Steel mumbled, "I see."

Micheal cocked his head to the side watching Dr. Steel do the same only with an added hand to his broad chin. The doctor looked ordinary enough to Micheal, but maybe that's what was unnerving. Seeing what the commercial looked like, the blond man was expecting something more...weird.

Dr. Steel looked about the house then glanced down at the varnished floor then up the stairs.

"...He lives alone yes?" he asked simply.

Micheal raised a brow, "Yes. Why?"

The doctor turned to Micheal and folded his arms one over the other. "I wanted to gauge how long I may have to stay with him. Also, to consider some likely treatments for him."

Micheal stared at the man in confusion.

"I believe he's sick due to stress."

"But..." Micheal furrowed his brow, "But you haven't seen him yet!"

"I may be a doctor, but as a therapist, I must be very attentive Mr. Micheal." Dr. Steel seemed to purr the blond's name. "Just by looking at this place, I get the sense that my patient isn't at home very much. He feels as though his point of success lies in work and not ideal pleasures probably due to family reasons." He paused and looked at Micheal. "Am I wrong?"

Micheal stared at the man in amazement. Was it really that simple to see a person's life just by looking at their house and hearing a few comments from a friend?

Suddenly, Dr. Alexander gave the other a sad smile, "Or do you distrust me that much?"

Micheal flushed, "I-I'm sorry! It's just...it's a first for him. And I know he's scared but—"

"You're a good friend."

The blond blinked at Dr. Steel for a while before smiling himself. Maybe there wasn't anything to worry about...

'Maybe I need a break.' Micheal thought before noticing the doctor staring at the stairs.

"Dr. Steel?"

"I think I saw my patient..." Dr. Steel chuckled lightly to himself.

'Go away, go away, go away! Please just go away...!'

Ivan's thoughts rolled endlessly in his mind as he trembled under the covers. He hadn't gotten a good look at the man that Micheal had let in, but after hearing the man state he was a doctor and therapist was enough.

'I don't have mental issues!' he thought angrily, 'Like I keep saying, I just don't like doctors—'

The sound of footsteps interrupted Ivan's thoughts. The brunette shrank deeper under the cover as if to avoid the inevitable. He tried to think of something—anything—if it would only keep the man in white away from him.

"Go away! God, go away!" Ivan said to himself like a chant. When he heard the footsteps grow louder he shut his eyes tight and said nothing. The door knob jiggled and the door creaked open.

At that moment, Ivan never felt so afraid.

His voice caught in his throat and his heart pounded so loud he swore it was in his ears. Ivan wanted to scream. Beg Micheal, maybe, to not let this happen. Ivan shook trying not to whimper, yet when he heard no noise, a sound did escape his lips.

"Huh?"

"Aren't you coming in Doctor?" Micheal's voice asked in a confused tone.

Ivan wanted to peek from the cover, but he dared not to, for unconscious reasons. He heard no one say anything for the longest until at last he heard a foreign voice say:

"Not unless he wants me to."

Something softened within Ivan. The voice was so cool and gentle, yet thick and heavy. There could be traces of an accent heard in it too.

With a shaken breath, Ivan gathered the courage to peek through a tiny opening at the end of the sheets. He could scarcely see Micheal's light blue denim jeans and the ends of his black T-shirt. Then he noticed another pair of legs that were wearing black pants and the ends of a dark brown blazer.

'Is that the Doctor?' Ivan thought in confused curiosity. He was expecting a white coat at least...maybe those scrubs medical people wear.

"But—"

"It's fine." The person said to Micheal shifting his weight to his right leg.

Ivan saw Micheal turn to the person then to him. Ivan abruptly yanked the cover over his eyes and hoped the southern blond hadn't noticed.

"...Can I have a moment with him?" Micheal asked plainly.

'Fuck.' Thought the scared brunette.

"Of course." The person said politely. Ivan heard footsteps, then the door close.

A series of curses entered Ivan's head and he braced himself for the earful he was about to receive from his friend...but it never came.

The brunette felt a body pull the covers and bed down a little. Micheal was sitting down.

"You know, I saw you cave in." the blond said in an amused tone.

"Bullshit."

"It's not as bad as you think Ivan."

"Like hell it is! You have no idea how I feel right now!!" Ivan retorted harshly.

Micheal sighed, "No, but..." he coughed and chuckled slightly, "hell, if I was in your position, I'd be grateful."

The other wanted to glare at him. He did just that but under the covers. "How so?!" Ivan felt Micheal shift suddenly.

"Ivan! You didn't see him?!"

"No—"

"He's cute!" Micheal breathed then paused. "Scratch that, sexy as hell! Hotter than the sun!"

The sick brunette mentally added a headache to the list of ailments he was having. "Micheal..."

"And he seems just your type." The blond hummed.

"One, I don't have a type. Second, are you retarded?!" Ivan spat the last part, "I'm fucking terrified right now and you want to talk about how sexy a man is?!"

"Not just any man. A sexy man."

Ivan groaned tiredly. He wanted to smack Micheal through a wall, but of course that would be impossible.

"If this is your way on consoling me then—"

"This is a way of consolation." Micheal said sternly furrowing his brow at his covered friend. "I'm trying to tell you that that guy isn't anywhere near what you're afraid of."

Ivan thought about it. The man was indeed dressed like an ordinary person. Not to mention he didn't sound like he meant any ill intent. His voice was pleasant enough to boot, but—

"Bullshit." He spat and curled under the covers more, "How the hell am I supposed to know he's harmless—if that's what you're implying."

"Ok, now you're just being paranoid!" Micheal grumbled and considered snatching the coverlets off his friend when a knock came to the door.

"Mr. Micheal, may I speak with you?" said Dr. Steel in a subtle voice.

Micheal glanced at the wooden door then at Ivan's lumpy form. With a quick "I'll be back." He left the room.