back on my Simon Riley is scared of hospitals thing pt 2 ✨
cw: ghostgaz. Hurt/comfort. doctor's appointment and Simon is terrified. He's got strep poor baby. :( mostly just he's scared and that's all for cws.
The room is cold. That fact isn't something that particularly surprises Simon. And yet the cold meant to keep a busy medical wing from getting uncomfortably warm instead makes him feel like the beginnings of preparing his body for the morgue.
A hand on his arm interrupts his thoughts. He's shaking and hadn't realized it, mind so far from his body sitting here on the exam chair. When he looks up, Kyle's face is haloed by the cold, sterile lights. But Kyle himself is warm, smile resting softly on his face
"You alright?" He says, voice low and gentle as he can manage.
Simon doesn't answer, doesn't trust himself enough not to jump off the cold mat, put his feet on the cold floor, and sprint through the cold halls until he's found somewhere warmer than this.
Kyle's hand squeezes his arm. Kyle's hand is warm.
There's a soft knock at the door. Simon's head snaps up. He watches as the doctor enters, smiling gently, saying something in greeting that Kyle responds to. She's younger than he expected, or... he's gotten that much older that they've all started to look young.
She clicks a few things on the computer before turning to them again. Then approaches to stand just in front of Simon. "Alright, Mr. Riley. Mr. Garrick tells us you've been a bit under the weather. I'm going to ask you some questions then take a look, sound okay?"
Simon nods. More automatic than choice.
She asks some generic questions—the same ones the nurse asked when they checked him in. Those he can get through. Then some confirming his symptoms—fever, headache, nausea, sore throat, the works. He nods when appropriate, and doesn't skip a beat at his non-responses. She just waits for just the right amount of time, never pressing or forcing an answer out of him that he doesn't have. Like how someone might approach a stray dog. Patient and soft.
She steps away slowly, but to Simon it's all become a hazy blur. She slides on gloves, then a swab kit.
"I'm going to swab now. It'll be uncomfortable, but quick." She shows him the swab, long but thin.
Simon's nearly forgotten Kyle's there until his hand squeezes again. Simon's hands squeeze hard at his thighs.
She prompts him to open his mouth. And he does. Tense and awkward, but enough. Then her hand touches his jaw, just to hold his head steady, and he jerks back. Hard. Flinching away and turning his head into Kyle's arm.
He can feel his chest heaving, forehead against Kyle's arm. Kyle's arm is warm.
He can't hear the conversation happening around him, but he can feel Kyle's free hand that's come to the back of his head, stoking gently in his hair.
Logically, Simon knows the doctor is here to help. Logically, Simon knows the doctor won't hurt him. Logically, Simon knows the test is to make all of this easier for them. But logic's got nothing to do with it.
Then Kyle's moving. Slowly, as not to startle Simon. Then they're face to face, and Kyle's face is warm, gentle.
"Hey. It's alright. You're okay." He soothes. "We're going to get you some medicine, penicillin. She's pretty confident it's strep. It's alright."
Kyle just smiles. "You did good. So good." He presses his forehead to Simon's. "Thank you for coming."
Simon nods. "Home?" His voice is rougher than he expects, gravelled and tight.
They exit quietly, Simon's facemask back in place, trailing just behind Kyle's shoulder down the cold hall, to the check out desk, and finally to the door. Which Kyle holds open for Simon.
When they step outside the sun is warm. The air is warm. There's a bed of flowers growing and they're in bloom. Simon feels the shaking in his hands finally ease.
Kyle opens the car door, offering his hand as Simon steps in. The door shuts carefully. And before Simon realizes it, they're driving. Kyle's hand finds his across the console. Warm and solid. And Kyle gives him a gentle squeeze.
"Rest, love." He kisses the back of Simon's hand. His lips are warm. "I've got you."
Simon tilts his head back, the sun light warm on his face, and despite the fever and gross and overall shit his body feels, the sun is warm, and it's nice.
