A/N: No one should write 6820 words in a day. Your wrists will swell and you fingers will be in pain. At least, at my age, that's what happened.
Paul woke early Sunday morning, the pain in his stomach not enough to warrant vomiting but enough to make him break out in a sweat and feel nauseous. He pulled himself out of bed, his bedding and pyjamas damp and retrieved his medicine kit. As he fumbled around, he discovered he didn't have the right medication for how he was feeling. Back in bed, Paul pulled his phone out from under his pillow and saw the time was almost three in the morning. Not wanting to disturb anyone but worried about himself, Paul called Fourth.
Fourth answered groggily, his mumbling incoherent.
"Fourth. I'm sick. Do you have medication for vomiting." Paul asked.
"Paul." Fourth murmured before he answered fully awake now. "Yes. I do. Give me a minute and I'll be up." Fourth hung up and Paul placed his phone back under his pillow as he forced himself up and over to the door, unlocking it and leaving it ajar for Fourth. When Fourth arrived in the room, he used the bathroom light to illuminate the bedroom.
"Are you okay?" Fourth said, coming to crouch beside Paul's bed.
Paul shook his head. "I don't feel so good."
"I have medicine here. Take it." Fourth held out the small cup of liquid and Paul swallowed it down, a sour expression on his face as the bitterness lingered in his mouth.
Paul lay back down and Fourth stood and returned with a small bowl and towel from the bathroom. Gently, Fourth began to bathe Paul's face and neck.
"Do you want to change the bedding and your clothes?" Fourth quietly asked.
"Later." Paul replied.
Fourth continued to bathe Paul until he'd fallen asleep. After putting back the bowl and placing the wash cloth in the wash basket, Fourth sat beside the bed, and as he watched over Paul for the remainder of the night. As the morning light filtered into the bedroom, Paul woke to find Fourth asleep beside his bed, his head resting against his arms on the bed.
"Fourth." Paul said, as he rose up onto his elbow and gave Fourth a small shake to wake him.
Fourth raised his head and rubbing his eyes with a hand, looked up at Paul, and asked, "Are you okay now?"
"I think I'll be okay. Can you leave the medication for me." Paul responded.
Fourth nodded. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything during the day."
Cash nodded and lay back down.
As Fourth entered the corridor he noticed Ken leaving his room.
"Fourth." Ken said startled to see him. "Did you sleep in Paul's room last night. Did something happen in your room?" Ken appeared confused at Fourth's appearance.
"No. Paul was sick over night. I've been sitting with him."
"What!" Ken said surprised. "How?"
Fourth shrugged.
"Is he okay now?" Ken's concern grew.
Fourth still had the door handle in hand, ready to close the bedroom door, when he pushed the door open, and said, "You can check on him yourself. I'm going back to bed."
Fourth stumbled down the corridor and Ken entered Paul's bedroom. There had never been anything mentioned about this in the notes provided. Ken was only up to get food and go past Fourth room at around the time the next incident would occur. Then this must have been the reason Fourth was asleep that time. Ken closed the door and found Paul sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Do you need help?' Ken asked, as he came to Paul and crouched beside him.
"Ken." Paul said surprised to see him there.
"I saw Fourth in the corridor and he told me you were ill. What can I do to help?" Ken asked, placing a hand on Paul's knee.
Paul gave a weak smile. "My bedding needs to be changed and cleaned, as to my pyjamas. Also, I really need a shower."
"Let's get you to the bathroom first. Let me help you." Ken assisted Paul up and to the bathroom.
Paul leaned against the sink as Ken turned the shower on and testing the water temperature. Once satisfied the temperature was suitable, Ken turned and began unbuttoning Paul's pyjama top. If not for the fact, Paul was still hot from fever, Ken removing his clothes would have certainly made him blush. Once his top was remove, Ken paused, and said, "Can you do the rest yourself, or... do you need my help."
Paul looked up Ken, whose expression nothing Paul had seen before. "I... can manage myself." Paul replied, not being able to look Ken in the eyes.
"Okay. I'll be outside the door. Call if you need me."
Paul gave a nod and left the bathroom, the door left slightly ajar.
Paul undressed and stood under the shower. The water over his body was refreshing and Paul took his time. When he finally left the shower, he'd found a change of clothes on the counter beside the sink. A smile touched his lips at the thought of Ken's assistance. Once dress, Paul left the bathroom and found Ken had changed his bedding and placed the dirty linen by the front door for washing.
At Paul's appearance, Ken guided him back to bed and under the clean covers. Seated on the bed beside him, Ken tucked Paul into the covers, then placed his hand over his forehead to check his temperature.
"Do you need more medicine?" Ken asked, as Paul nodded.
Ken rose and picked up the medicine from the desk and read the bottle. "You were vomiting?" Ken asked as he came back with the medicine and handed it to Paul, who untucked an arm and took the small cup and drank the medicine down.
Paul handed the cup back and only then replied, "Not quite but it felt like I was going to."
"Did you eat something you normally wouldn't?" Ken asked, placing the cup on the bedside cabinet and sitting on the bed beside Paul.
Paul shook his head.
"Anything over the last few days?"
Paul closed his eyes in thought and said, "Nothing I can recall."
"A snack... a cookie." Ken prodded.
The room fell silent before Paul opened his eyes, "There was the cookie I tried in Fourth's room Friday night but it tasted awful. Wait! The cookies," Paul said, attempting to sit up.
Ken helped Paul up, his teeth clenched in anger. How had he missed it. He'd checked the room but hadn't seen the bag there.
"We know the name of the other person." Paul told Ken. "There was a note on the bag. His name is Gemini. Do you think because the cookies were his and they ended up in Fourth's room, they were no good?"
Ken let out a deep frustrated sigh. "That might be so. Where are they now?" Ken asked.
"I threw them out that night." Paul replied.
Ken rubbed his brow and Paul mistook his frustration for concern. Paul raised his arm and taking Ken's hand, lowered it and said, "I'm okay now. I'll promise not to eat anything without checking first."
Ken took hold of Paul's hand in both if his. Frustrated at not knowing how the past would impact his own future left him feeling vulnerable and fearful.
"I'll stay with you for the rest of the day. If there's anything you need, let me know." Ken insisted.
Paul gave a smile, tempted to tell Ken not to stay but didn't.
Sunday morning, Gemini entered the hospital room to find his grandfather alone, sitting in the lounge chair, looking out the bay window over the private courtyard. At the sound of his footsteps, grandfather glanced toward him and his face lit up.
"Gemini. You came to visit. Come, sit. Tell me about university." Grandfather indicated to Gemini to sit on the lounge chair opposite him.
"How are you feeling, Grandfather." Gemini asked, sitting in the lounge chair and placing his bag at his feet.
"Good. Can I get you something to drink." Grandfather indicated to the jug of water on the table.
Gemini shook his head as more important matters needed to be addressed.
"Grandfather, about the business..." Before Gemini could continue, grandfather interrupted.
"It's good that you came here so we could talk of this in person. It's been finalised, Gemini. The business and all properties are now in your name."
Gemini's mouth dropped open, unable to form any works in response.
"My daughters will continue to manage the business and all finances. You don't need to concern yourself with that. All that's changed is everything now belongs to you."
"But...." Gemini attempted to protest.
"Anything that requires your attention will go through the lawyers first. They'll assist you with whatever financial decisions need to be made. And you have your mother and aunt, who will guide you."
"But Grandfather. Why?" The question had been the one no one had an answer for. Gemini still had no idea why grandfather would transfer everything over to him.
Grandfather patted Gemini's hand. "It doesn't matter who's name's on the paper work. I trust my family to manage my estate and I don't expect anything to change. However, I do need to think about the future and what it might look like once I'm gone."
"Grandfather." Gemini quietly pleaded, squeezing his grandfathers hand. "Are you really okay?"
Grandfather nodded. "I'm fine. These health issues I have aren't going to take me out any time soon. Think of my time here as a relaxing vacation."
"But can't you go home to be treated?" Gemini asked.
Grandfather once more patted Gemini's hand. "There are too many people fussing over me at the main house. Here," Grandfather glanced around the private room. "Here, I get treated well, get three great meals a day," Grandfather leaned in close and said softly, "and the nurses are cute."
Gemini let out a laugh. "Grandfather."
"I'm fine, Gemini. I'll admit, I have some health issues and they are being treated while I'm here but they are not life threatening. I'm fine. Okay." Grandfather didn't once let go of Geminis hand. He held it tight offering a reassurance Gemini needed.
From the hospital, Gemini drove to the main house hoping to speak to his mother. When he entered the office within the main house, Gemini instead found his aunt.
"Aunt, how are you?" Gemini greeted her and Aunt came from around the desk to hug Gemini.
"I'm fine, Gemini, and how are you? How are your studies going?" Aunt asked.
"I'm good. Study is good. I've come from the hospital. Do you and mother know everything has been finalised."
"We do." Aunt indicated for Gemini to sit on the couch against the wall and she joined him.
"What do I do?" Gemini asked.
Aunt gave a forced smile. "Leave it with your mother and I. At this stage, you don't need to do anything. Focus on your studies. Leave the business to us."
"I'm sorry it has to be this way." Gemini apologised, glancing down at his hands.
"Don't apologise, Gemini. None of this is of your doing. Once grandfather get's an idea in his head there's no way to change his mind." Aunt told him, squeezing his hands.
"Is mother here?" Gemini asked.
Aunt shook her head, "She and your father are out this afternoon. I can let her know you came past to see her and about our conversation. I'm sure she would want to talk to you about it."
Gemini nodded. "Thank you."
"I know it's difficult not to worry but truthfully, nothing is going to change while grandfather is still alive. So focus on your studies and leave everything else to your mother and I."
Gemini left the office and made to the rear of the grand house to the small guest rooms located behind the pool. There he found both Jan and Jamie.
"Gemini." Jamie jumped up from the lounge chair the moment Gemini entered through the glass sliding door and threw her arms around him.
"How's my favourite cousin." Jamie asked after squeezing him tight.
"I'm your only cousin." Gemini laughed.
"That's why you're the favourite." Jamie also laughed.
"Gemini." Jan greeted him from the kitchen table.
"Hello. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Gemini asked.
"You're not. I'm reviewing the digital designs for the next marketing campaign. Nothing important." Jan closed down her laptop and came over to sit with them.
"Always working." Jamie quietly leaned over to tell Gemini.
"Did you come to see your parents?" Jan asked, ignoring Jamie.
"Mmm. But aunt told me they are out." Gemini replied before adding, "I visited grandfather today."
"How did it go?" Jamie asked, leaning back comfortably in the lounge chair.
"Everything has been finalised. Grandfather has transferred everything over into my name." Gemini said, while shaking his head.
"Then that's it then." Jan replied.
"I'm sorry." Gemini found himself apologising again.
"Don't apologise, Gemini." Jamie leaned over and squeezed Gemini's hands on his lap.
Gemini smiled and gave a small huff, "Your mother said and did exactly the same."
Jamie smiled.
"Where you able to find out why he did this?" Jan asked.
Gemini shook his head again. "I asked and he said it made no difference who owned the business, that nothing would change."
Jan shook her head. "How does that make sense. Of course it matters who owns the business."
"Do you think he's, you know," Jamie twirled a finger in circles near her head, "lost it."
All three sat in thought momentarily, when Jan replied, "I don't think so. But something definitely feels off."
"I think so too." Jamie replied.
"What do you mean?" Gemini asked.
"I can't explain it but when grandfather collapsed he could have been treated at home. He's always insisted in the past to be treated here. Yet, this time, he insisted on remaining at the hospital. Something doesn't feel right."
"I did ask him about his health," Gemini told them, "He said he was having some health issues that needed attention but assured me they weren't serious."
"I wonder if mother knows this?" Jamie asked.
Jan shrugged. "All I know is I can't shake this feeling somethings off."
Gemini returned to the dormitory absentmindedly, barely remembering his entry and exit from the elevator. Not until he had reached his bedroom door did he realise where he was. There was too much on his mind and without the answers he rubbed his temple as a headache formed. As he entered the bedroom, Gemini went to toss his bag onto his bed when he caught it mid air to stopped it from hitting the bed. His posture tensed before he relaxed slightly and let out his caught breath.
Gemini stared dumbfounded at the figure of the man in his bed. Slowly, he regained his posture but remained staring. Why was he in his bed? Was his first thought until Gemini began to notice the differences. His bed coverings were blue, while the ones on this bed were yellow. As he began to glance around the room, the similarities to his room were profound. The stickers on the cupboard were the same, the desk and chair were the same but then, Gemini noticed the location of the lamp. The lamp was the same but on the right side of the desk and not the left. It was then Gemini recalled the time he had moved the lamp back.
His conclusion was immediate, it was but wasn't his room. Although no explanation came, Gemini glanced back at the man in the bed. Quietly, he approached the bed to take a better look to confirm he was, in fact, the same person. Gemini carefully crouched beside the bed, placing his bag beside him as he gently pulled back the hair from the man's face. The hair against his fingers was soft and Gemini stared at his calm, sleeping features. Time stopped before Gemini realised what he was doing and gently lowered his hair and removed his hand.
With care, Gemini stood and glanced around the room unsure what to do next. Once more glancing at the desk, Gemini saw the study books neatly stacked. He made his way over and picked up the top study book and immediately noted the date of the following year. He moved the book to check the study books beneath, and they too had the same date. Gemini glanced back at the bed and then back to the books. There was, in fact, a time difference. Gemini gave a slight shake of his head and he returned the book.
About the leave, he paused and as an afterthought, retrieved the study book and opened the cover. Written clearly across the title page was the name of the owner. Gemini once more glanced at the bed and murmured under his breath, "Fourth."
He didn't want to consider time travel or portal theory, that was too absurd. But he did need to test it to confirm something strange was happening. Once more replacing the study book, Gemini retrieved his bag and left the room. Back out in the corridor he began to count to ten before he would reenter the room, but at that moment his phone rang; it was his mother.
"Mother." Gemini answered, as he began to pace outside his bedroom door.
"Gemini. Aunt said you came past. Sorry I wasn't here to meet you."
"That's okay, mother. Did Aunt tell you about my visit?" Gemini asked.
"She did. How about we meet up tomorrow for lunch. Are you free?" Mother asked.
"I am." Gemini replied, as he came to stand at the front of his door, staring intensely at it.
"I'll let you know when I've arrived and we'll go somewhere nice to eat."
"Okay." Gemini replied, before hanging up.
Gemini paused, as he placed his phone in his back pocket and then with key in hand, he once more opened his bedroom door. This room was his. The desk was empty. The bed was empty. The room was empty. And for reasons he couldn't explain, Gemini was disappointed.
Fourth stretched as he woke from a nap mid afternoon. First thing he did was message Paul to see if he was okay. The response that came back was from Ken, on Paul's phone, saying Paul was sleeping and feeling better. Relieved his friends wasn't alone, Fourth threw the cover back and stood to use the bathroom.
As his feet touched the floor, Fourth stepped on something soft and glancing down found a bright lime green fluffy object. Confused, Fourth bent down and picked it up. Immediately, he realised it was a keyring and not any type of keyring but a limit edition keyring. Curious, Fourth looked around his room, then back to the keyring.
"How did this get here?" He asked out loud.
Without an answer, Fourth stood and placed the keyring on the desk before using the bathroom.