Rose Colored Glasses

Alex finally arrived and ran to the front desk asking which room Mike Riley was in. Normally he would've smiled at that name but he was too worried.

The nurse paused and then looked at her papers. "You need to talk to the doctor, he is in intensive care, and its quiet time so if the doctor wont let you back you will need to wait until 4:00 to come back. The nurse pointed to the doctor who was making his way over.

A low growl rumbled through Alex's throat. Not seeing Mike was absolutely NOT an option. He walked over to the doctor.

The doctor cleared his throat. "You must be Mr. Riley." He already knew so he went on. "Were you aware of Micheal's eating disorder?"

"Michael's what?" He asked incredulously. The doctor must have the wrong man. Mike didn't have an eating disorder.

"You are his husband, and your no aware he has lost 20 pounds since only a few weeks and since his last cheek ups." The doctor paused. "You can now see and count his ribs when he lifts his shirt, you don't have to touch him they are all very visible." The doctor cleared his throat. "Did you not notice when he eats and what he eats, or if he needs to throw up after wards? He has Anorexia Nervousa and when he does eat, he pukes. His body wants to force it out as does he."

"I..." How could he not have noticed these things? "No."

The doctor raised an eye brow. "How do you no notice this? I notice when my wife lost 5 pounds before she did, and your telling me that you didn't notice when that man lost 20?" The doctor shook his head, "Your not very worried with him are you, don't notice when there is a problem? I understand kids but still, you have a husband that is obviously sick." The doctor sighed. "Im sorry, its not my business. I just hate seeing things like this, he was very close to dying from starvation and dehydration. I just worry about my patients." The doctor pointed down a hall. "He is in ICU room 457."

Alex turned down the hallway, feeling like a scolded child again. He was a grown man, he didn't like being treated like he was five. He arrived at Mike's room and walked in.

Mike's chest rose and fell slowly, he had multiple tubes and machines hooked up to him.

"I love you baby." Alex cooed, taking Mike's hand. He did look a bit sickly, Alex noticed. How could he not have seen this?

Mike weakly pulled his hand back, he had no idea who was touching him and he didn't want another shot.

"Honey, it's Alex." He frowned, had he done something to make Mike stop eating?

Mike paused but sat his hand down on his stomach, his ribs being outlined as the wait of Mike's hand rested on his sunken in stomach. Mike had a breathing tube down his throat, he couldn't speak.

The frown stayed in place but he sat down beside Mike.

Mike hear the chair move and squeak as Alex sat down. Mike let a hand move over and sit on Alex's knee.

Alex smiled and placed his own hand on top of Mike's.

Mike blinked his eyes open, he didn't like the hospital, he wanted to go home and he wanted to go now.

"Hey honey." Alex grinned, stroking Mike's hand with his thumb.

Mike nodded and let his eyes drift down to the tube in his mouth that went down his throat then up to Alex.

"My poor baby." Alex frowned. "Honey, why'd you do this to yourself?" He shook his head.

Mike made a movement with his hand as if he were writing something, he needed some paper and something to write with.

Alex searched for a pen and paper. He eventually found them and handed it to Mike.

Im okay, just a little sick Mike scribbled on the paper, letting Alex see it.

"The doctor told me. You haven't been eating Mikey." Alex said sternly.