Page 106 of We Are Just Us

They stayed there, Rory squatting in the sand, pale and shaking, Kieran kneeling beside him with one hand between his shoulder blades.

The sky began to lighten. The stars faded. The desert started to wake up around them, birds calling, the faint rustle of wind through the Joshua trees.

Eventually, Rory’s breathing evened out. The cramps slowed. His body finally, mercifully, stopped rebelling.

“I think I’m done,” Rory said, voice hoarse.

“You sure?”

“For now.”

Kieran helped him stand, keeping one hand on his arm until Rory was steady on his feet.

Rory looked pale and sweaty, trembling from the exertion.

“Come on,” Kieran said. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“I need to bury all of this,” Rory said, gesturing weakly at the mess behind him.

“I’ll do it,” Kieran said. “You need to sit down.”

“Kieran.”

“I’m doing it. Don’t argue.” Kieran grabbed the small camping shovel from their gear and took care of it quickly, efficiently, trying not to think too hard about what he was doing.

When he finished, he washed his hands with bottled water and hand sanitizer, then turned back to Rory.

Rory had made it to one of the camp chairs and was slumped there, head in his hands.

Kieran grabbed a clean shirt from the tent and a bottle of water, kneeling in front of him.

“Here,” he said, handing over the water. “Rinse your mouth.”

Rory did, spitting into the sand, then took a small sip.

“Not too much,” Kieran warned. “Your stomach’s still angry.”

“I know.”

Kieran helped him out of his soiled boxers and into the clean shirt, which hung long enough to be decent. Rory didn’t protest. He actually let Kieran take care of him.

When he was as clean as they could manage without a real shower, Kieran sat down in the other chair, close enough that their knees touched.

“How do you feel?” Kieran asked.

“Like I got hit by a truck.”

“That tracks.”

Rory leaned back, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Ruining the trip.”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” Kieran said. “You got food poisoning. That’s not your fault.”

“It’s definitely your fault,” Rory said, cracking one eye open with a weak smile.