#check up.

His jacket was tugged tighter around him as he fought to keep his hands buried on the warm side of the fabric. He told himself it was the last of the fever. He was wrapped up too warm but the soft scarf he kept nuzzling his nose against felt too nice and helped muffle his coughing. 

Not contagious. The words didn’t change the concerned face the doctor gave him. He wasn't doing a good job of hiding his own concern either. The results weren't helping. Only crossing off what wasn't wrong instead of telling them what was. What did that even mean? He tried to focus on the things he understood. It wasn't something life threatening as far as they could tell. Then what the hell was going on? His thoughts went to the machinery around them as the noises seemed to get louder and he stopped paying attention to the doctor. Were the walls closing in or was he just panicking? Claustrophobic was the right word and yes, he was just panicking.

James was scared. Scared and.. Well, alone. He'd shut himself away since falling ill, away from everyone and it hasn't bothered him until he'd seen the date. He was alone and scared and it seemed he was having a repeat of the bakery incident. His breaths started coming in quick but much too short. He was gulping in air and not breathing out and the doctor quickly cut off his sentence to help the panicking male. There was no way he'd be let outside until he was calm again. In. Out. In. Out. He knew how it worked but the mantra was helping, even if only a little.