Disclaimer: Just borrowed. No profit sought or received. Just comments from readers... Maybe. A little something to celebrate our new Hope Island Forum. Thank you Maureen!

Spoilers of a sort for "A Rising Tide Takes All Boats"

Daniel tried to pull the blankets over his head. He gasped softly, then settled back in the bed. He drifted in the haze between waking or sleeping. As he came more awake, he also became aware of the fact he didn't want to be awake. His head hurt, his joints ached. He squirmed slightly. Obviously, he was coming down with something. He sat up, feeling miserable. Aspirin or Tylenol or Iboprofen, he didn't care what, but he wanted something. The minister tried to remember the last time he felt so bad and couldn't remember it. He thought his mom had taken care of him then. Pity she wasn't here now.

No, he should call Doctor Watson. Daniel didn't know what he had, but whatever it was, he didn't feel good. Not at all! And he didn't think he should just ... wait for it to go away or act like it wasn't there. He reached for the phone and dialed the good doctor's number. After speaking with her, he hung up and waited. She was going to come over as soon as she could. He wondered why she didn't ask him to come to the office. After all, how many doctors made house calls now?

The minister shivered and stood up. Fever, he probably had a fever. Feeling cold, he went back to bed and burrowed under the covers. He'd get back up when the doctor got there. His eyelids drooped and he drifted back to sleep.

A short while later, Daniel opened his eyes and found Doctor Watson by his bed. "Hi." He coughed slightly.

"Hi yourself," she answered back. "How do you feel?"

"Not very good," Daniel admitted.

Lily Watson smiled slightly. "I can see that. Describe your symptoms, Daniel."

"Headache," he said as he sat up and winced.

"Achy joints?"

"Yeah."

"Cough and fever. Have you seen Jamie Tucker lately?"

"Jamie?" Daniel blinked, puzzled by the seeming non-sequitur. "Yes, she comes to services with her family on Sundays."

"Uh uh, see her, oh, Sunday before last? Contact, not just in the congregation."

"Well, yeah, she showed me a picture she made at school. Why?"

"I'm afraid you have the measles, Daniel."

"Measles?" Daniel squeaked, "How? I thought kids got the measles. Don't they have vaccinations now?"

"Yes, kids do get the measles and, yes, we do vaccinate them. Except Jamie was on the mainland visiting her grandparents the last time we offered them. And she now has the measles. So do you." Doctor Watson stood up.

"What do I do?" Daniel asked, plaintively.

"You drink plenty of fluids, take Tylenol or Iboprofen, rest and stay here."

"I don't have time to stay here. I have work to do. My congregation needs me. I..."

"Daniel, you are quarantined. No contact with anyone who hasn't already had the measles." She felt a pang at the shocked look on the minister's face. Poor Daniel, he tried so hard. "Measles are highly contagious. I--Hope Island can't afford an epidemic. Stay home and rest. Relax. And Daniel - No visitors. Got it?"

Daniel nodded, his misery and troubles increased. "Got it." He would listen to Doctor Watson. He didn't want an epidemic on Hope either. Hadn't he already had the measles? "I thought you couldn't get the measles if you already had them." He looked up questioningly.

"You can't. You must not have had them or been vaccinated." Doctor Watson paused on the way out. "You know, you should get your medical records sent to me, Daniel." She smiled. "There, you can do that without going anywhere. Take care of it for me, please. They could be very handy."

Daniel Cooper sighed. "Yes ma'am. Um, how long am I in quarantine?"

"Should be about a week," Doctor Watson answered. She picked up her bag. "Call me if you need me, Daniel. I'll put up a quarantine notice on my way out."

Daniel watched her leave and leaned back against the head of the bed. Now what was he going to do for a whole week?!?