The World Through Your Eyes
Title: Show Me The World Through Your Eyes
Pairing: Michael/Alex
Rating: Teen/NC-17
Summary: Michael is a carer and his new job is looking after a young boy called Alex...
A/N: Similiar to my other series 'The Start Of A Beautiful Friendship' But different...
A/N 2: Mentions of psychological problems...
Chapter 31
Michael frowned when he woke up to the sound of singing. At first he thought that he must be dreaming. Alex was singing one of the songs he had written and recorded when he was in high school. A silly dream he and his friends were foolish to try and live. He rolled out of bed slowly, groaning when his bones protested. He was exhausted. He was getting sick, he could feel it and he couldn't be sick while Alex's mother was still in California. He doubted he'd be able to look after Alex on his own when all his mind and body wanted to do was sleep. He grabbed his large dressing gown and wrapped it around himself, as well as a thick pair of socks and slippers. Feeling slightly warmer, yet still terrible he walked down to the kitchen, frowning when he heard his own voice coming from the CD player. He looked around and spotted Alex sat at the kitchen table, he was still in his pyjamas, there was a bag of chips next to him and he had one of his activity books open, colour pens next to him. Alex was singing along to the words that he knew.
“Alex...” Michael said softly. Alex jumped, he turned around and looked at Michael and grinned, he ran up to him and hugged him tight. Michael smiled, hugging him just as tight.
“Morning, Mikey!” He beamed at him. “You've been sleeping for ages. I tried to wake you up, but you didn't budge, and then I got bored poking you so I came downstairs.”
Michael frowned. Alex poking him would probably explain the slight ache he was feeling in his side and chest. “I'm awake now.” he whispers, though he still feels like all he wants to do is go to sleep.
Alex smiles and nods at him, he tilts his head watching him. “You look sick.”
Michael sighed. Did he really look sick? “I'm not feeling too good.” He says softly. “But I'm okay.” Alex nods and hugs him again. He takes Michael's hand and pulls him towards the stairs. “Slow down, Lex. Where are we going?”
“You have to go back to bed.” Alex says looking at him. “So that the sleep bunnies can make you feel better.”
“I can't go back to sleep.” Michael sighed. “I'm okay, the sleep bunnies can come later.”
“Why can't you go to sleep?” Alex frowned, still trying to pull him up the stairs.
“Because I have to keep you company,” Michael says. He didn't want to think about the trouble Alex could get himself into if Michael went to sleep and he got bored.
“But you're sick, and you look icky.” Alex whispers. “I'll be good.” Alex says softly, knowing what Michael was scared of.
“I'm not saying that you wont be...”
“You can lay down on the sofa then?” Alex asks cutting him off. “You can put your arm around me and make sure I stay next to you.”
Michael bit his lip and nodded. “Okay... What are you going to do?”
“I'll watch a film. And I'll do some reading, and some writing, and I'll make sure the sleep bunnies come to you fast.”
Michael nods his head slowly. “Okay... You gotta promise me some things first Lexxie.”
“Anything.” Alex whispers without hesitation.
“Promise me you wont go out the front, if you want to you can go in the garden and do your work on the trampoline, but don't answer the front door. If someone does knock, wake me up okay? Don't touch the cooker...”
“Or play with the knives, or the phone. Don't play in the bath or the shower...”
“Your mom told you all this before?”
“She gets sick too.” Alex whispers.
“Sorry, I know you wont...”
“You just worry.” Alex finishes.
“I just worry.” Michael whispers and kisses his cheek softly.
“I'll get you a bottle of water. It helps fuel the sleep bunnies.” Michael nods, as Alex heads to the kitchen, Michael wonders upstairs to the bedroom and grabs his covers before heading back downstairs. He looks over at Alex who is fluffing up the sofa pillows.
“Hey Alex... Where did you get the music from?” Michael asks sitting down on the sofa, smiling when Alex took the blanket from him and started to drape it around him.
“I...Are you mad?” Alex whispers.
“No, I'm not mad.”
“I found it in a box. It was shiny...”
“Do you like it?”
“I do. Its... It says Michael on the CD. It's your voice.”
“It is. I did it when I was in school.”
“I like the songs lots.” Alex smiles and strokes Michael's cheek. “Oh. Michael you're very hot. And sticky.” Alex pulls a face and wipes his hand on the blanket.
“Just a cold. The sleep bunnies will help.” Michael whispers.
“And me. I'll help.”
“And you.” Michael whispers.
Alex nods and sits on the floor next to the sofa, Michael reaches out and takes his hand. Alex plays with Michael's fingers slowly. The older man lets the soft gentle caress of Alex's fingers on his lull him into a deep sleep.