Always There When You Need Me

Alanna smiled as she and Aiden were curled up on the bed with Randy. Something seemed to be off about her younger father though. He wasn't as active as he normally was, and Alanna could feel the heat coming off his skin. "Daddy okay?" Alanna asked.

Randy groaned when he heard his younger daughter's voice "No...daddy's not okay..." he whimpered softly "Go get Daddy Johnny okay?"

Aiden climbed down off the bed. "I'll go," Adien said. "Lanna, you stay here with daddy Randy, kay?" Aiden said.

Alanna nodded. "I'll stay right here," Alanna said, looking up at Randy. "I promise."

"Thanks sweetie..." Randy managed to give Alanna a weak smile "Just don't get too close, if this is catching I don't want you getting sick too, deal?"

Alanna nodded. "Deal," Alanna said. Although she'd started speaking normally now, she spoke more to Randy than anyone else.

John entered the room as Aiden scampered back in.

"What is it baby?" John asked.

"I don't feel good" Randy moaned, turning to look up at his boyfriend "Got a fever too..." he shuddered slightly "I'm just all around sick..."

John nodded, walking into the bathroom to get the thermometer.

"I wanna do it daddy!" Alanna said.

John smiled. "Alright," he handed the small child the thermometer.

"Open up daddy," Alanna said, turning back to Randy.

Randy weakly chuckled and obediently opened his mouth to let Alanna stick the thermometer in

"Good daddy," Alanna smiled, sticking the thermometer in Randy's mouth.

Randy laughed but it quickly turned into a groan, his stomach was really starting to bug him.

Alanna sighed softly as she and Aiden ran their tiny hands up Randy's arms.

"It'll be okay daddy," Alanna said as John took the thermometer from Randy's mouth.

"Thank you sweetie..." Randy looked up at his lover "How bad is it?"

"Not too bad," John said. "101.8."

"I've had worse" Randy murmured, cautiously eyeing his two daughters who were now sitting on either side of him "Are you two going to help me feel better?"

The girls nodded in unison and jumped off the bed before darting in different directions, Alanna toward their room, and Aiden toward the bathroom. Aiden was the first to return, a cool wet washcloth in her hand."I know you don't like to be hot daddy, so I thought this would help," Aiden said, folding the washcloth and placing it on Randy's forehead. Alanna returned seconds later and crawled back onto the bed, her favorite Teddy Bear in her hand. She handed the stuffed animal to Randy with a smile. "He always helps me feel better, I thought maybe he'd help you too," Alanna said.

"Awww, thank you girls" Randy chuckled when the washcloth slid off his forehead "I'll get better in no time thanks to you two."

Aiden smiled, sliding the washcloth back into it's proper postion, then slid off the bed to stand next to John.

"We'll be back in a few minutes baby," John said. "Alanna, make sure he behaves while I'm gone, okay?"

"I will daddy," Alanna said, curling back up into her favorite spot.

With that John and Aiden left the room.

Randy gently rubbed his daughter's back while she lay next to him. Her very presence was soothing to him "I love you Alanna" his voice was a soft rumble "You're being a very big help to Daddy right now."

"I love you too daddy," Alanna said. She leaned up and kissed Randy's cheek. "I'm always here when you need me."

"I know" Randy murmured, feeling his eyes grow heavy "You're an...angel Alanna." He turned over and fell asleep, one hand resting on Alanna's little body.

A few minutes later John and Adien came back, a bowl of chicken noodle soup in Aiden's hands. "Wake up daddy," Aiden whispered.

"Mmmm" Randy groaned "Don't wanna wake up, too tired."

"Daddy, you gotta eat," Alanna said.

"Not hungry" Randy whimpered, shivering as if he was cold "Please just let me sleep."

"Randy, baby you need to eat something," John said. "Or you'll make yourself sicker."