Topher looked at her, lips pressed together in a thin line before he closed his eyes for a moment. Another sigh left him as he opened his eyes to look at her again. "Sorry. I just... Things have just been a bit hectic." He sighed softly. "If it'll make you feel better... fine, get her."
It was true, he hadn't slept much since the war. He had barely had time to. It was something his body had been more used to before the pulse, the long hours as an ED, pulled from one direction to another, getting the odd bit of sleep in the on-call room and coffee whilst walking between patients. But that was back when you had heating and he didn't have to traipse outside in the cold to see patients. That, and there was always someone around you that could cover your shift if you got ill. There wasn't anyone here to do that. His cold was the combination of not being able to rest; how much stress and pressure he was under at the moment; not wanting to let anyone down, like those that had already died; and being out in the cold more than he normally would have.
As a doctor, he knew that if he didn't slow down, rest and take care of himself, he could get worse. Due to his condition he was more prone to chest infections and pneumonia, and he definitely didn't want to get the latter. But... people needed him and in all honesty, he was just too stubborn for his own good.
Topher focussed back on Mel as she spoke again and he grimaced at the comment about admitting wouldn't make him weak. "I know that, it's just... You what?" He blinked at her as he words registered.