#tw nausea

So you both skipped out on taking the jab in the end, avoiding the infirmary at all costs in the small chance they’d try to book you in for one. You were both just hoping Price would never ask, and just assume you did. Though with both of your dazzling reputations, you’re sure you can sneak out of this one. For the first time in your life, you and Kyle actually worked together to distract him whenever the topic was brought up. 

In fact, it worked a little too well..Price was used to the two of you squabbling over something, never serious, and usually a battle of wits or sparring in the gym. So, when he hadn't witnessed one in a whole two weeks, he started to suspect something had gone wrong. He checked on Kyle first, naturally, since he was newer than you were even if you both fell into the same year of birth.

“What do you mean sir? I’m all good.” Kyle briefly lifts his head to flash his usual smile before going back to writing up his reports again. It was the day before they departed for the mission and he was almost suspicious if Price knew anything. He’s seen Kyle head to the rec room for a hot drink far too many times, though it could’ve just been because of the effect of the flu jab. “Your other sergeant looks pretty bad though, coughing and spluttering like a wet rat.”

He sighs at your rivalry before eventually nodding as he makes his way over to the range. Unfortunately for him, he should’ve known it wouldn't be that easy to figure you two out.

“Me? When have I ever had a problem?” You shake your head, smiling at your Captain earnestly in a way that mirrors Kyle way too much. “Though, I think you should check on Garrick, he’s been sneezing like crazy.”

Great, so neither of you will admit you could be a little sick, regardless of the fact he can clearly see the collection of tissues in your bin and lemsip packets in Kyle’s. Though, you’ve both always handled yourselves perfectly fine so maybe he could just leave you to it, right?

—

The mission begins smoothly, and thankfully you two are still playing nice to each other so he decides to turn a blind eye to your strange behaviour. After all, as long as he doesn't have to physically pull you out of your own mistakes he could hardly care less what you two argue about. Soon enough the intel is secured, you’ve got everything under wraps and it’s time to take the truck back and get to the safehouse. Except no one had anticipated the chase that followed, windows splintering into pieces around you and large dents all across the roof of the car. Of course you all get away in one piece, thanks to the heavy onslaught of rain shielding you from their line of view. 

You step out of the truck, uniform soaked through from when you climbed out the window to shoot behind, and leave a puddle on the floor where you stand. Thankfully you had some drier attire in your pack, so you strip down and change into that pretty quickly but it doesn't quell the chill seeping beneath the door.

“Good thing we took that jab.. Imagine catching the flu on top of all of this.” Johnny sighs, pulling his sleeping bag right beside Kyle’s like it’ll somehow give him even more warmth. 

—

“Sergeant?” You blink wearily at the figure above you, unable to figure out who it could possibly be with your blurry vision. With a small groan, you roll onto your side, pressing your eyes shut to hide from the light before opening them again.

“What..?”

“Sergeant.”

“Captain?” You blink again, realising who is standing before you, and why your body feels like it’s on fire. You’re sick. Very, very sick, and last night definitely tore down your immune system enough to let the nasty flu in.  There’s another groan that echoes nearby, and you turn to see Kyle’s squinted eyes on the shitty couch. He looks exhausted, and you can tell that tingle of warmth has started in him as well. 

“Both of you up, now.” Price leaves towards the kitchen, and you both sigh, already anticipating the hell of a scolding you’ll get now.

—----------------------

“Neither of you took your flu jab, did you?” Price says as soon as you both shuffle in and awkwardly stare at the floor to avoid his sharp glare. It’s not your fault really, work just got really busy and no one's exactly excited to get stabbed by a needle and sweat all night. Besides, when has a flu ever taken you two down?

“We missed the first batch and then we got busy.” You manage to mumble out and Kyle nods in agreement, like both of you saying that was enough of an excuse to explain the state you’ve been in for the past week. 

“So you decided to just skip out on it, lie to your superior officer and run the possibility of compromising a very carefully planned mission?” His voice is deadly stern even if he hadn't raised it and the glare is more than enough to make you both realise just how stupid your logic was. Even if you did work your asses off, it didn't mean he would tolerate putting yourselves or others in danger. “You’re both extremely lucky you only got ill now and not any earlier.”

He steps back to the counter, silently pouring water into the cups and popping out painkillers. You both just stand there, locked in place; surely you’d receive punishment for acting so reckless. A few minutes pass before he finally turns, gaze narrowed as he hands you the remedy. “I’m booking your jabs in on Monday and I'll bloody stick it in your arm myself if you dare to not show up. Clear?”

“Crystal, sir.” You both quickly say, before swallowing down the horrible pills and trying to ignore the disgusting taste as it slides down your tongue. 

“Good, Riley will give you an update. I need to chat with Kate about something.”

You both leave equally as dejected and exhausted, heading to where the Lieutenant should be looking over the intel gathered. The rest of the day drags on painfully slow, and you feel the sharp scratch against your throat every time you even so speak. It’s the first time you and Kyle have ever been so quiet, even if you’re not the chattiest in the group.

“Not gonna lie, this is sad tae watch.” Johnny mumbles as he stands beside the Lieutenant. This was by far the most dejected he’s seen you two, even if you totally do deserve it.

“Their punishment for not taking the jab, could’ve avoided all of this y’know.” Simon responds before his phone begins to buzz, signaling the arrival of evac after way too many hours waiting for the storm to ease up. “Alright, come on, time to go.”

Somehow, you survive the evac too, the constant thrum of the helicopter allowing you to pass out through the dead of night and escape the sickness creeping up on you. When you land down on base, something is seriously wrong, but there are a million things to do. You and Kyle both glance at each other in shared exhaustion as you walk to the debriefing.

“Dont think I need to ask if you’ll do that again.” Price hums as he enters the rec room that evening, immediately noticing you sprawled on the couch like zombies. The tap runs quietly as he fills up two glasses of water, heading over to check on you two.

“Cap’ i’m boiling..” You sigh as your hands wrap around the cool glass with a grateful nod, his palm coming to rest on your forehead before he frowns. He turns to Kyle, checking the same before noticing the bin placed in front of him despite him practically hanging off the couch— in case he needed to throw up it seems. 

“Alright, come on you muppets, clean up time.”

——

You bite back the hiss of the cold air against your skin as you sit on the edge of the bathtub to change into the fresh clothes he grabbed for you. It’s just a t-shirt and loose trousers really, nothing quite life changing but right now your legs feel like jelly and you’re positive you’ll fall over. Goosebumps have already started to sprout across your arms the longer you stay here, and you can't help but think the night ahead will be impossible to deal with. 

Frustrated at your own inability, you push yourself up to stand even on your weak legs, only for you to knock over the shampoo bottles onto the floor as you collapse against the radiator. Damnit, how did it manage to suck all of your energy out like this?

“I told you I'd help.” John sighs, pulling your arm over his shoulders as he bears your weight for you. His quarters is practically right beside the rec room thankfully, and so you manage to reach it easily before your energy starts to fall once more. He picks you up properly this time, even as you deny his help and settles you back on the other end of the couch.

“Legs got me aswell..” Kyle huffs as he watches John fluff the cushion against the headrest. A movie is playing quietly, helping to distract him from the nausea creeping up his throat. “Just be glad you haven’t gotten the urge to flip your stomach inside out yet.”

“Looking forward to it.” You grumble, rubbing at your eyes as you adjust to the dimly lit room, your duvet hanging over the back of the couch behind you. You tug it down, pulling the freshly changed sheets over your body as you reluctantly relax a little more. Well it was pretty cold today, almost in the minuses now.

Before you can protest, a towel is in John’s hands as he dries your damp hair, rubbing over the top of your head and ignoring when you frown up at him. Eventually he moves to the ends, scrunching out any other water before gently tying it away from your face. “When’s the last time you took your painkillers?”

“Five hours ago. They kept asking every half hour if they could take more.” Kyle pulls the covers higher to make sure the cold doesn't escape and you roll your eyes, muffling a yawn as you turn to him.

“Yeah, well pretty boy almost threw it up.”

“Shut up— you had to hype yourself up just to get it in your mouth.”

“Acting like fuckin’ children..” John scoffs, lightly smacking the sides of your heads until you both groan and lean back against the pillows. “Right, two pills for you both and catch—“  You practically yelp as he throws the water bottle and pills your way, thankfully grabbing it and Kyle immediately readies himself else it spurts in his face.

Instead of the powdery pills you’ll have to take, you try to focus on the sound of his footsteps as he walks to the kitchenette. The kettles whirrs to life after he fills it halfway, bubbling for a long time whilst he opens the teabag jar. The porcelain mugs clink together as he picks them up, coming to set them down on the coffee table. “Drink up, it’ll help.” A minty smell emanates from Kyle’s mug, filtering into the air whilst all you can smell is honey and lemon before you. Quite good for your hoarse throat, you think.

He steps away again and you both hesitate to grab your mugs, looking back. “ ‘m comin’, relax.” John grumbles, making his way over with his own mug of decaf tea as he sits himself between you two. Kyle finally leans backwards, the nausea starting to ease out with the mint and making you content enough to finally let yourself relax. The hot liquid soothes your aching throat, and the sweet honey makes you want to let your eyes just slip closed. 

Really, it’s neither of your faults if you decide to shuffle up a little more— it’s only to place the mug down on the coffee table that’s all. Even if you and Kyle are practically sandwiching him in at this point, centimetres from touching. It’s Kyle who goes first, leaning in slowly until John lifts his arm to wrap around his shoulders. His head sinks into his side, and you watch his hand rub up and down Kyle’s arm. 

He doesn't say anything to you, because he knows you’ll come when you want to. It’s a few more minutes and an empty mug that settles on the wood that finally gets you. Their focus is locked on the movie as you let yourself sink into his open side. He’s warm, not the kind that makes you sweat buckets, but the one that makes the illness turn to a dull ache for a moment.

“Y’better not go falling asleep on me now.” John huffs, pinching both your cheeks and making you grumble. It only makes you tuck your legs onto the couch too, pull your duvet higher over your neck like you’re hiding from everything but him and Kyle. Work may have plagued you for weeks, but right now in this moment it was only you and them. Your body sinks, tension slowly dissipating as his hand settles on your head. 

John knew it was more than the illness, and that’s why he let it happen, both of you taking comfort in the safety of your Captain. He waits for the sound of breathing to even out and he can only hope the illness will provide you some reprieve tomorrow, though he wouldn't mind making sure you both have a day full of rest anyway.

He silently thanks the investment on the recliner, lifting the bottom half of the couch upwards until your subconscious has you properly snuggling against him. He reaches behind you to grab a pillow for his head, settling back with a soft sigh. The other two will be sure to laugh at the spectacle in the morning, though Johnny would surely be more jealous than anything. Better not encourage it too much else that one skips his flu jab next year too. 

“Go to sleep, John.” Kyle mumbles against his side, pulling his blanket over him as well. You two didn't learn your stubborn habits from just anyone after all. He chuckles and pats his back as he turns the tv down low, just to a soft hum in the background. A long breath leaves his chest one more time before he finally closes his eyes, letting the two of you let him sleep in content tonight.

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