"Your temperature is 101.4," the nurse's aid said to Steve.
 "I just drank some hot tea," he said.
"Ok -- I'll check it under your arm -- still 101.4,"she said.
"I splashed some tea under there too," he said, deadpan, eyes shut, feeling miserable.
There you have it -- still feverish but still able to crack a joke. The doctor told him to expect fevers at night for a few days. I guess this is some small comfort to this worn out guy.

On the way home from the hospital I got stopped by a cop.
"Do you know why I stopped you?"
"No," which was true -- I didn't think I was speeding, but apparently I was.
"Where are you going?" he asked me.
"I'm coming from the hospital. My husband has leukemia. I guess I was distracted."
He blanched and asked to check my license. In two minutes he was back, practically apologizing for pulling me over.
Another shameless use of what we call 'playing the leukemia card.' This ought to give Steve a chuckle.