GoldenEmpyrean

𝐇𝐞𝐲! 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝐈 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 <𝟑 《𝚁𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙽!》 «𝟏𝟖+»

[goldenempyrean]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽

My blog: Oh hi! I see you found my little sickfic blog! Feel free to check out some of my work down below, I write for Marvel, Supergirl, The Pitt, Station 19, and Arcane so there’s plenty to enjoy :)

Rules: 18+, I only write sickfics and caretaking/fluff

Requests: 〔Open!〕 <- make an original request here or feel free to go over and check out my «prompt list» for some inspiration!

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I only use they/them or she/her pronouns for the reader! See fic catagories below!

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[goldenempyrean]

reader who is sick (obviously lol) and doesnt tell baran. baran goes to work and comes home to find reader in a horrible state because they didn't wanna bother baran

How I Think of You

〚 Notes - I'm finally safe in a new house, thank god. Thank you for the request anon! It was fun to write! :D 〛

〚 Pairing - Baran Al-Hashimi x Reader 〛

〚 Summary - You hadn't wanted to bother your wife with your problems. Doctor Al-Hashimi dealt with patients all day - she didn't need one at home too. At least that's what you told yourself. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 2200 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

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The first thing you noticed was the heat. That uncomfortable, dragging heat sitting just beneath your skin. It wasn't the comforting kind, the kind that came from sleeping beside your wife or from hazy sunlight slipping through the curtains. It was different. Hot, heavy and suffocating. 

It made your limbs heavy, your muscles aching as you slowly rolled over onto your side. You closed your eyes, wondering if you'd be able to fall back asleep - a small, fleeting hope of sleeping this off. 

It was nothing. You could ignore it. 

Your wife had an early shift. You'd remembered that. Baran had been half-dressed when you'd cracked an eye open earlier, barely awake. Her hair had been damp from her shower and her voice impossibly soft as she murmured for you to go back to sleep. 

You could've told her. You'd felt it even then, barely awake but you'd still registered the building heat on your cheeks, the dull ache that hadn't quite become something sharper yet. Instead, you curled around the blanket tighter, pulling it to your chin as your eyes fluttered shut. 

You should have told her before she left. But she’d already been exhausted. You’d seen it in the way her shoulders had sagged when she thought you weren’t looking, in the quiet sigh she’d let out while tying her shoes. Another long shift. Another day of too many patients and not enough time. 

You weren’t going to add to that. 

Trying to go back to sleep proved pointless. The light seeping through the curtains had been shining in your eyes for too long. With a groan, you forced yourself to sit up, eyes squeezing shut at the sudden wave of dizziness the movement caused. You sniffed weakly, dragging the back of your sleeve across your nose, only vaguely registering how sticky your skin felt. 

Still, you didn't have the time to lie around all day. You had chores to do. The apartment needed cleaning, then there was the grocery run, not to mention the other numerous errands you had planned for the day. You didn't have time to be bogged down by whatever this was. The day wasn't going to wait for anyone, especially not for you. 

By some small miracle, you'd managed to get dressed. It wasn't pretty by any means - a loose baggy shirt and some joggers you could've sworn you worn a few days prior. Whatever. You coughed, your chest burning as you muffled the sound against your hand. You lowered yourself on the edge of the bed, elbows braced on your knees, breathing slow and shallow like that might somehow steady everything. 

It didn’t. 

The room tilted again, soft at the edges, and you squeezed your eyes shut. Your head throbbed faintly now, that dull ache from earlier sharpening into something more insistent. You swallowed, throat dry, and pushed yourself to stand anyway. 

One step. Then another. 

You made it as far as the living room before your body started protesting properly. Your body sank against the sofa. You told yourself you’d just sit for a minute. Sixty seconds. Enough time to gather yourself before getting on with the day. Baran was the one at work right now. She had the right to complain. You didn't. Your to-do list was small in comparison to hers. You didn't get to whine about this. 

The minute passed quicker than expected. The blurry time on your phone screen stared up at you mockingly. Sweat ran down the side of your head, and you dragged your hands down your face as you took a shaky breath. Just five minutes. That's all you needed. Just five minutes to get yourself together... 

*** 

You hadn't even remembered falling asleep. You woke with a start, the sudden movement sending blood rushing to your head. The room was darker now, considerably so and you squinted as your eyes adjusted to the lack of light. 

Shit. How long had you been out? Reaching down for your phone, you tentatively tapped on the screen, and the time sneering back at you made you want to cry. It was nearly 7pm. How had you managed to sleep the whole day? Your neck roared with a deep ache from the position you'd slept in. 

You groaned softly, lifting a shaky hand to rub at it, only for the movement to make your head spin all over again. The heat hadn’t gone. If anything, it felt worse now - thicker, heavier, like it had settled deeper into your bones while you slept. Before you had time to complain a different thought came into your head. 

Baran would be home soon. 

The thought sent a flicker of panic through your chest. 

You hadn’t done anything. The cleaning. The groceries. Everything you’d planned sat untouched, the apartment quiet and dim around you like proof of your failure. You pushed yourself up anyway, legs unsteady beneath you as you staggered a step forward. 

You could still fix this. At least some of it. The kitchen felt miles away. By the time you reached it, your breathing had gone uneven again, shallow pulls that did nothing to ease the tightness in your chest. You gripped the counter, knuckles whitening as another wave of dizziness rolled through you. Your vision blurred at the edges, black creeping in just slightly before you squeezed your eyes shut. 

Dinner. You could manage that. Baran had been at work all day, the least she deserved was dinner on the table when she arrived home. Fumbling with the cupboards, you managed to pull out a pan, setting it clumsily on the stove top.  

Your mind was foggy. You didn't know what to make. Everything seemed to take far too much effort. You sneezed suddenly, sending you stumbling backwards on unsteady legs. This wasn't going well.  

A cough tore its way out of you before you could stop it, sharp and painful, forcing you to double over slightly as it rattled through your chest. You sucked in a breath afterwards, wincing at the lingering sting. You couldn’t let your wife see you like this. 

The thought came instinctively, stubborn and immediate. Baran had enough on her plate. Another long shift. Another day of carrying too much. The last thing she needed was to come home and worry about you too. 

You just had to hold it together. Just for one night. Footsteps in the hallway outside made your stomach drop. No. It was too soon. How was she home already? How? 

Your head snapped up, heart kicking uncomfortably against your ribs as the faint sound of keys reached your ears. The front door unlocked with a soft click, the familiar creak following as it opened. 

“Hey?” Baran’s voice called gently. You saw the reflection of the light being flicked on from the hallway. You were running out of time. You needed to answer, to call back out to her like nothing was wrong. 

You tried. You opened your mouth, but nothing more than a broken rasp managed to leave your lips. 

Baran appeared in the doorway a second later. She noticed immediately. Something was wrong. She stayed silent, her eyes scanning the room for a clue to what was going on. You were standing over the stove, your back to her as you leaned against the countertop. You hadn't even turned the kitchen light on, a soft glow coming from the flickering hob in front of you. 

"What's going on...?" Baran's voice carried her concern, thick and clear. You sniffled, biting your lip hard as you tried not to cry. Her voice was so soft, so full of concern. You didn't deserve this. Her slow, steady steps approached from behind. Her hand reached out to touch your back, fingers retracting for a split second as they met the damp fabric of your shirt. 

"Sweetheart, talk to me."  

You shook your head, a half-stifled wrecked sob hiccupping out of you. Your shoulders shook with silent cries, a whimper barely louder than a whisper escaping your lips.  

Baran moved before she could think, wrapping her arms around you, letting her head sink against your shoulders. She didn't speak, just held you quietly for as long as you needed. You sniffled wetly, quickly rubbing your sleeve against your face. The doctor waited for you to calm a little before trying again. 

"Look at me azizam," Baran asked quietly, a sigh of relief leaving her when you finally, albeit reluctantly turned around. The doctor drew in a long inhale as she looked over you, trying to keep her face neutral. The way sweat clung to your brow, the pink-tipped nose sitting in the middle of your flushed face. You weren't fine. Not even close. 

She reached forward without a second thought, "You're unwell." She said simply, stating the facts rather than whatever fiction you were trying to create. Baran sighed softly, reaching past you to turn off the stove, ignoring your protest in the process.  

"I'm sorry-" 

"What on earth are you apologising for-" Baran interrupted immediately, her thumb gently swiping across your cheek to wipe away a stray tear, "You don't ever need to apologise for being ill." 

"I'll sleep in the spare room tonight." You mumbled automatically, tone laced with guilt as you pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to chase away the throbbing headache drumming behind your eyes. Baran made a face you couldn't quite recognise, her hands folding across her chest as she took a step forward. 

"Absolutely not." She said sternly as she reached out to tilt your chin towards her, moving her head until you finally met her eyes. 

You swallowed, trying not to wince at the sharp jabbing it caused against your raw throat. You made a noise somewhere between a cough and a splutter, a protest dying on your lips as you objected with a rasp, "I'm gross... it's disgusting – and I'll get you sick." 

“Azizam, do you really think I would ever let you sit alone, miserable all night?" Baran murmured, her hand sliding up the back of your neck to massage the base of your head. She hummed softly, noticing the clammy, warmth rising beneath your skin, "You're not going anywhere. I mean it." 

The moment she saw the way your shoulders sagged, the way exhaustion seemed to finally catch up with you now that you weren’t pretending anymore, her expression softened. The sternness faded into something warmer, something that made your chest ache. 

“Come on,” She murmured, brushing her thumb gently beneath your eye. “Let’s get you cleaned up. A hot shower will do you well.” 

You leaned into her before you could stop yourself, forehead pressing against her shoulder as her arms wrapped around you. She held you carefully, like you were something precious rather than fragile. She moved at your pace, keeping an arm around your waist as she steered you towards the bathroom. 

The shower was warm enough to soothe the aches that had settled into your muscles but not so hot that Baran would allow you to overheat yourself further. She fussed over every small thing, making sure the water wasn’t too hot, washing out your shampoo when your arms grew too tired. 

By the time you were finished, you felt slightly more human. Still exhausted. Still sick. But less like you were drowning beneath the weight of your own body. Baran wrapped you in a towel immediately, drying your hair gently while you sat on the edge of the bed. 

“You don’t have to do that,” You mumbled automatically. 

Baran paused, placing a gentle hand against your cheek, “I need you to let me love you too.” She said simply before continuing with drying your hair. 

You sat quietly while she worked through the dampness in your hair, her fingers gentle as she ran the towel over the ends. The room was dim, the only light coming from the bedside lamp that cast a warm glow across the sheets 

"You know," She murmured after a moment, voice soft but carrying the faintest hint of teasing, "for someone who claims they are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, you are remarkably bad at knowing when you need help." 

A weak huff escaped you, somewhere between a laugh and a cough, "I wanted you to be able to relax – not to come home from work, just to have to look after your wife." 

"I don't have to do anything azizam." She sighed softly, setting aside the damp towel and nudged you to climb into bed properly, pulling the covers over you. Once you were settled, she sat by your side, her hand reaching up to check your temperature again, "I look after you because I want to. Loving you, taking care of you, it isn't a job. It's natural." 

You managed to smile, a small grin, "You're sappy." 

"I have a stubborn, sick wife. I get to be sappy." Baran shook her head as she shuffled into the empty side of the bed. She leaned over, pressing the gentlest kiss to your forehead, "Get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning." 

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[goldenempyrean]

if anyone had baran al-hashimi or pitt requests send them over pretty pls <3

(sickfic only pls)

[goldenempyrean]

would loveee some baran x reader where the reader is feverish and flirty (before they’re even together🤭)

Stay With Me

〚 Notes - Hello! Apologies this is a bit of a short one please excuse any errors - my housemate spiked me so I wrote this while exhausted and too paranoid to sleep :,) 〛

〚 Pairing - Baran Al-Hashimi x Reader 〛

〚 Summary - You’re feverish and flirting with Baran but she doesn’t seem to mind. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 1000 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

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The first thing Baran noticed was how quiet you were.

Not just the absence of your usual chatter or the soft hum you tended to fill the room with when you were focused - but a heavy, unnatural silence. The kind that pressed against the walls and made something in her chest tighten.

She could see in your eyes that you were tired. This was your seventh shift in a row, and it was showing. You’d meant to have a day off, but Trinity had called you in the middle of the night sounding awful and desperate for someone to cover her shift the following morning. You didn’t have it in you to decline.

So here you were, head in your hands as you attempted to catch up on your charts. Sat in an oversized hospital branded hoodie jacket that had clearly been stolen from the supply closet. That wasn’t exactly unusual on any other day, but not today. It had been the warmest summer on record so far and today was hot. Too hot.

Nearly everyone in the department had stripped down to the bare essentials, rickety fans in every corner of the floor. You should have been sweating, not shivering beneath a jacket.

You hadn’t noticed Baran approaching until you felt her hand on your shoulder.

“How are you doing?” She asked quietly, trying not to comment on the long, repeating string of the letter ‘z’ blinking on the chart screen from when you’d clearly leaned on the key without noticing.

You snapped out of it and quickly cleared the chart before looking up, “I’m okay, just tired.” Something about the way she was looking at you made butterflies flutter in your stomach.

Her eyes were impossibly soft. Her gaze fixed worried as she scanned over you. “You sure thats all?” The attending’s voice was quieter now, as she resisted the urge to kneel beside you.

A small little grin tugged at the corners of your mouth, words spilling out before you really had a chance to think about them, “You’re cute when you’re worried.”

Baran paused, her mouth opening and then closing then. She raised an eyebrow, hands landing on her hips as she leaned in closer, “Is that so?”

Ever so gently, her hand came to rest on the side of your cheek before slowly moving up to your forehead, brushing away the sweat-soaked baby hairs that clung to your clammy skin. Baran sighed softly, she wasn’t surprised.

Night shift had been passing a bug around and it had just began creeping its way into day shift. Still, she hadn’t expected it to hit you so early.

“We need to get this hoodie off, you’re overheating.” Baran said quietly, kneeling down to be at your level, already beginning to unzip the thick fabric.

“Are you telling me to take my clothes off?” You grinned dizzily. She didn’t respond but from the way Baran bit the corner of her lip, she was clearly trying not to laugh.

You rubbed your eyes with a balled fist, attempting to get your vision to focus before fumbling with clumsy hands to undo the jacket. Eventually your hand landed on top of Baran’s, following her movement as you ‘helped’ undo the zipper.

She carefully tugged it off your shoulders, draping it over the back of your chair. Dana, who had definitely not witnessed the whole thing, reached over to slide a digital thermometer across the console before being pulled away by one of her nurses.

The attending slipped the thermometer into your ear with ease, humming slowly as she waited for the beep to confirm what she already knew.

Baran’s thumb brushed lightly against your temple as she read the number, her expression tightening just slightly.

“Yeah,” She murmured, more to herself than to you, “That explains it. You’re way too hot.”

“Thank you.”

The attending drew in a long breath, folding her arms across her chest but her expression was sympathetic, “What am I gonna do with you, hm?” Baran murmured, a quiet amusement threading through her tone as she reached for the spare hair-tie around her wrist. She gently pulled your hair away from your eyes and into a small bobble. It looked a little stupid but at least it kept it out of your face.

She tilted her head slightly to inspect her work. “There, that’ll feel much better.” To her, there was something oddly adorable about the way you looked in this moment.

You made a quiet noise of protest when her fingers brushed your scalp, but you didn’t pull away. If anything, you leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering shut for half a second too long before you forced them open again.

“Hey - nope, stay with me Romeo.” Baran’s voice softened further, her hand shifting from your hair to your cheek, giving it a gentle tap. She checked her watch, trying to figure out what to do. She didn’t exactly like the idea of you driving home in this condition.

Without much more consideration, she withdrew her phone and quickly tapped on the screen, sending a text. Baran looked up and across the department to where Robby was checking his phone. He stared down at the screen for a moment before looking up to meet her gaze. He nodded, giving a small thumbs up to match.

“Come on, let’s get you home.” Baran spoke gently, her hand on your back as she nudged you to stand, “You’ll feel far better when we’ve got you lying in bed.”

“Doctor Al-Hashimi taking me to bed,” You stood with a sway, her hand instantly shooting around your waist to steady you. You gave a wobbly smile, as she kept her hand around your waist, “So Doctor, will you be staying the night?”

Baran finally smiled, shaking her head with a fond expression, “You know what, maybe I will.”

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[mxmmyprentiss]

a cough and a fever is always good, the whole hand on forehead “you’re burning up”

resisting the cool cloth and cassie’s voice being so gentle like “it’ll help baby trust me”

🫰🏻

cassie touched your forehead with her hand. "babe, you're burning up." she quickly got the kit from the drawer and pulled out a thermometer. "just stay still."

"i don't get sick," you whined.

"your 38.6°C temperature says otherwise, my love."

you pouted, too tired to think of a comeback. you pulled the blanket higher, hands trembling a little bit.

"just stay put and i'll make you your favorite soup then you'll have to take meds."

"yes, dr. mckay." you grumbled against the pillow. you knew you won't win anyway.

cassie came back to the room after twenty minutes with a bowl of chicken soup and a glass of smoothies neatly placed on a bamboo bed tray. you sat up against the headboard and cassie carefully placed the tray in front of you.

"eat first then meds." she said.

you were too tired to argue and too hungry to even say no to eating. it didn't take long for the delicious warmth of the soup to soothe you and giave you a little bit of relief.

it was a known fact to cassie that you hated taking your meds, any meds. but it's also a known fact that she's a very persuasive doctor who you couldn't ever say no to.

she placed two pills on the tray and a glass of water. "you're gonna take this every six hours," she said, watching you gag but still taking it. "good girl."

you only scrunched up your nose in response.

cassie then got up and wet a towel to put on your forehead to help cool you down. when she came back from the bathroom, she saw you on your phone. cassie knew what you were doing.

"consulting dr. google again?"

"it says i only have two days to live."

she shook her head and bit her lip. "poor you." she snatched the phone from you and put it on the bedside drawer. "stop consulting online when you have an actual doctor for a wife."

"hmmm, my doctor is so strict." you replied.

"i wouldn't be if you're such a good patient." cassie laid you back down on the bed and placed the wet towel on your forehead. "it will help, baby, trust me."

"i trust you, dr. mckay."

"good." cassie placed a chaste kiss on your cheek. "i'll be right back."

"where you going?" you whined.

"just calling al-hashimi to say i'll take the day off."

"don't have to..."

"i have to. my wife is sick," was all she said before she disappeared to the other room to call work. cassie made sure you always come first.

[goldenempyrean]

𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥-𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

〚 Main Masterlist || Prompt List || Request Here 〛

✩ = Under 500 Words

✮ = Personal Favourites

How I Think of You (Sick Reader)

Doctor Feel-Good (Sick Baran)

Everything You Could Want (Sick Baran)

[goldenempyrean]

Is Baran x reader something more people would like to see?

[goldenempyrean]

Doctor Feel-Good

〚 Notes - if you prefer there's a barantos version of this fic up on my ao3 (I couldn't decide who to write for so chose both lmfao) anyway enjoy! 〛

〚 Pairing - Baran Al-Hashimi x Reader 〛

〚 Summary - You come home from work to find Baran huddled up on the sofa. Strange. She wasn't meant to be home today. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 1100 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

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The front door slipped open with ease. It wasn’t locked. Your eyes widened in surprise as you stepped into your apartment with caution. 

“Hello?” You called out, holding your keys between your fingers. You weren’t exactly sure what it was meant to achieve but you’d seen people do it in the movies to defend themselves. 

A sigh of relief washed over you as your eyes landed on your girlfriend’s keys hanging by the door. Strange. You could’ve sworn she had work today. 

“I’m in here.” You heard her voice call out a moment later, presumably from the living room. 

You worked early shifts so often left the house before Baran would wake up. Pulling out your phone, you scrolled until you found the calendar app where you kept track of your work shifts.  

She was definitely supposed to be working today. You let your backpack slide to the floor, “What are you doing home, sweetheart? I thought you were working today-“ You called out into the house as you hung up your keys. 

Somewhere from inside you heard her voice. 

“They sent me home. They said I cant work if… if I’m-“ Her voice trailed off and you assumed she had mumbled the rest of her sentence. 

You hung up your jacket and continued into the living room, “If you’re what? Sorry I didn’t catch that last bit.” 

The answer was clear. Baran was lying on the sofa, her elbows propping her up as her face scrunched with obvious discomfort. Not a moment later she sneezed, loudly, posture slumping back as she lay back down again with a damp sniffle. 

“Fighting that one, were you?” You chuckled in amusement; it was rare you got to see the ever-so-composed Doctor Al-Hashimi like this. 

“It was bothering me for about half an hour.” She grumbled, clearly unpleased with the situation. 

You raised an eyebrow, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips despite herself. For someone who spent her days telling patients to rest and take care of themselves, she was remarkably bad at following her own advice. You reached for the tissues on the coffee table, passing them over as she accepted them with a quiet, resigned huff. 

“Alright Doctor Feelgood, let’s take a look at you.”  

The doctor blinked, clearly too tired to catch on, looking up at you from behind her crumpled tissue. “What did you call me...?”  

“Doctor Feelgood...? The Motley Crue song?” Baran blinked, still clueless, “God when you’re feeling better we’re going to have a serious conversation about your lack of musical culture.” You tutted playfully, rolling up your sleeves before crouching down in-front of the sofa.  

You reached up to swipe a couple of damp strands of hair away from her eyes, tucking them behind her ear before letting your palm sit on her brow for a moment. She was warm. You didn’t need a thermometer to tell you that. No wonder they’d sent her home. 

Baran wasn’t one to end her shift early. She rarely called out sick to begin with - even then she’d fight tooth and nail to try and stay in work. She'd much rather drag herself into the emergency department with a pocket full of tissues than call it a day. You knew you probably had Dana to thank for her being here. The charge nurse didn’t play around when it came down to the staff’s health. 

Baran leaned into the touch almost unconsciously, her eyes fluttering shut for a second before reopening them with strained effort. Whatever protest she'd been preparing dissolved into a weary sigh instead. 

"It's just a cold," She finally mumbled, her voice rough around the edges. "I've had worse." 

“Even if it is just a cold, it’s hitting you harder than we’d both like.” You said softly, nudging her side to prompt her to budge up on the sofa for you. You’d barely sat down before she was leaning against you and sniffling against your shoulder. 

She’d been about to say something but cut herself off, holding up a finger to indicate for you to wait before she drew in a shaky exhale and sneezed against her curled fist. 

You reached forward to grab her a tissue. “Please try not to sneeze on my shirt. I have to wear this tomorrow.” You joked playfully, smiling when she blushed and jabbed you with her elbow before blowing her nose. 

“You’re ridiculous.” She mumbled, making an appreciative noise when your hand came to run through her hair, slowly massaging her scalp. 

The pair of you stayed like that for a while, your hand running through her thick curls while her eyes drifted closed. You kept checking she hadn’t fallen asleep and each time she’d blink up at you with tired eyes before closing them again. Eventually she did fall asleep, the small, congested snores gave her away. 

Unfortunately, it meant you were stuck. Moving meant waking her up and you didn’t trust your ability to carry her the whole way to the bedroom.  

After some deliberation, you finally decided to move. Slowly. You carefully peeled yourself from under her, taking extra care not to jostle her, you carefully placed her head onto a pillow. By some miracle you’d managed to stand without waking your girlfriend. With your new-found freedom, you decided comfort food was the thing she needed. 

Baran loved traditional food when she was in need of some comfort. Ab-goosht was a meat and bean stew, and you knew it’d be perfect. You hadn’t been a great cook when you’d first met but you’d wanted to learn so Baran had taken the time to teach you how to cook food from her culture, and you’d actually gotten pretty good at it. 

You’d made this dish a few times before, so you moved around the kitchen with ease, gathering your ingredients and quietly beginning to prepare. Every so often you paused to look up and glance over at Baran, still sleeping on the sofa. She looked peaceful, despite her arm hanging off the edge and her mouth open as she snored. It was nice seeing her look so painfully human. 

The food wouldn’t be ready for another hour or so yet, but that didn’t matter. She was finally resting. You knew she’d probably fuss about eating and fuss when you inevitably dragged her into a hot bath. But that didn’t matter. For now, you were content to cook. Your caring eyes watching over her as she slept. Because this was your Baran. Not the hospital’s version, or the perfect persona she displayed in public. Yours. 

And that meant the world to you. 

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[goldenempyrean]

currently having a raging war with my thieving, dickhead housemate. bitch ate my ice-cream sandwich D:

[mcevans-week]

Welcome to the McEvans week! From August 24th to August 30th, we'll be sharing your work regarding mcevans. Make sure to tag @mcevans-week and/or use the tag #mcevansweek26 and the prompt(s) you picked.

Here's the list of prompts:

Aug. 24 — holiday//dancing

Aug. 25 — first kiss//insomnia

Aug. 26 — miscommunication//hurt/comfort

Aug. 27 — shared interest//feelings realization

Aug. 28 — fake dating//forced proximity

Aug. 29 — inspired by a movie//jealousy

Aug. 30 — poly mcevans//free day

[goldenempyrean]

👀

[goldenempyrean]

One Way or Another [P2]

〚 Notes - Finally got around to writing this, enjoy! :D 〛

〚 Pairing - Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor 〛

〚 Summary - Kara's going to look after Lena one way or another. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 1300 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

[Part 1]

╚════════ ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ════════╝

The rest of the way went by in a blur with Supergirl performing her duties as normal. She saved everyone as usual but there was something nagging at the back of her mind. Lena. 

Every moment she could, she'd tune her ears to listen to the sound of her breathing. She'd known when Lena had fallen asleep some point in the afternoon as she could hear the small, congested snores rising from her chest. 

By the time Alex had finally given her the all-clear to go home, Kara bolted out the door at lightning speeds, only making a detour to the local convenience store to pick up some supplies. Alex had texted her a list of things to pick up, although she still found herself adding extra bits into her basket. If anything, Lena could simply keep them for another time. 

She made her way to Lena's place the normal way, the human way – by the elevator. The guy at the front desk had seen her so many times, he didn't bother asking who she was. He simply buzzed her in with a nod. Kara tapped her foot rhythmically, as she knocked on the door. 

Inside, she could hear Lena slowly shuffle awake. It took a minute, but she could see the outline of the CEO approaching the door through the frosted glass. She stopped just before reaching the handle. Kara wondered if she'd forgotten her key, but a sympathetic smile grew on her lips when the Luthor bent forwards at the waist with an usually loud sneeze before clicking the door open. 

"Bless you!" Kara beamed as the door opened, her eyes falling on the messy, raven hair sitting on Lena's shoulders. She must've managed to sleep a while. 

Lena's eyes widened in surprise as she opened the door fully, not entirely sure she was awake now, "I didn't expect visitors." 

"I look a mess," Lena continued, small creases forming at the corners of her tired eyes as she gave a soft, sleepy smile at the girl in the doorway,"What are you doing here?" She sniffled damply and rubbed at the tip of her nose with a crinkled tissue. 

"I heard you were sick," Kara replied, stepping past Lena and into her kitchen to place the white carrier bag she'd been holding onto the work surface. She reached in and pulled out several different types of medicine along with a pint of cherry ice-cream. 

The CEO hummed quietly, watching Kara unpack the bag. She really did appreciate the effort, as much as she hated to admit it, the paracetamol she'd taken earlier hadn't begun to touch the stubborn headache she'd had all day. Still, something else bothered her-  

"How did you know I was sick?" 

Kara was lucky that her back was to Lena at the time, as her panic-wide eyes would've given her away instantly. She stayed quiet, putting the ice-cream away before turning round with an excuse, "I- I just- You didn't text me back all day?" She finally landed on, steadying her voice to a more nonchalant tone, "Last time that happened, you were throwing up at your office. So, I went by and Jess said you hadn't come in today. Figured you'd be here instead." 

She bit her lip, hoping it was believable. Luckily for her, Lena seemed too out of it to question it. The Luthor nodded and sat down on the stool tucked into the counter, pulling her shoulders a little closer together when a shiver ran down her back. Kara noticed, of course she did and quickly retrieved the blanket from the sofa, bringing it back to hang over her shoulders. 

"Did you take anything yet?" She asked gently, and when the CEO shook her head, Kara began pouring out a dose of the medicine she'd brought, taking too much care to get the exact amount into the little cup, "Here, I'll get you some water too – this stuff apparently tastes awful." 

Lena nodded, taking it back with ease, "Apparently?" 

Kara's mouth dropped open and she fought the urge to slap herself. Twice in one day. She really wasn't on her game right now. She turned back to Lena with a fresh glass of water, "I don't really get sick often." She said quickly, watching the Luthor's face for any chance of disbelief. 

"Lucky you." Lena mumbled, not unkindly as she took a sip of the drink. 

Kara let out a quiet breath, her shoulders loosening just slightly at Lena’s easy acceptance. “Yeah,” She agreed, “Lucky me.” 

Lena made a faint sound of agreement, though it dissolved quickly into a small cough. She turned her head slightly, bringing the tissue up again, her nose scrunching as she tried to stifle it. The movement seemed to take more out of her than it should have. When she settled back against the counter, her eyes fluttered closed for a moment. 

The Kyrptonian instinctively reached for her back, “You okay?” she asked, already stepping closer. 

“I’m fine,” Lena replied automatically, though her voice had taken on a noticeable rasp. She exhaled slowly through her nose, then winced almost imperceptibly. “Just a headache.” She added, when Kara's brows furrowed. 

The blonde lifted her hand, moving slowly enough to give Lena time to pull away if she wanted to. But Lena didn’t. Her fingers brushed lightly against Lena’s forehead. Warm. 

Nothing dangerous but definitely warmer than usual. Kara’s expression softened, concern flickering openly now. “You’ve got a bit of a temperature, sweet girl,” She said quietly. Her hand came to support Lena's back as she ushered her off the stool and back towards the sofa. 

Lena closed her eyes for a moment, leaning ever so slightly into the touch before catching herself. “I assumed as much.” She said, pulling a pillow against her abdomen as she sat back down. 

Kara’s hand lingered for half a second longer than necessary before she pulled it back, clearing her throat softly. “Right. Okay. That’s fine. We can handle that.” 

“We?” Lena echoed, one brow lifting despite her exhaustion. 

Kara didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, we.” That earned her a faint, tired smile. 

“You don’t have to stay, Kara,” Lena said after a moment, her voice gentler now. “I’ll be alright. I know you said you don't get sick often, but I'd feel horrible if you caught this." 

Kara looked at her for a moment, taking in the tired eyes, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders, the way she was clearly trying to convince herself more than anyone else. 

“I know you will,” Kara said gently. “But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.” 

Lena didn’t answer straight away. She looked down, fingers tightening slightly around the glass of water in her hands. Being looked after had never come easily to her. She was used to being the person who handled things, the person who showed up when someone else needed help. Not the other way around. 

“You really are impossible,” She finally murmured, though there was no bite behind it. 

Kara smiled. “I’ve heard that before.” A quiet laugh escaped her before she reached over and adjusted the blanket around Lena’s shoulders. The gesture was small, almost absent-minded, but Lena noticed. The Luthor shuffled closer, letting her head rest on the blonde's shoulders, not quite managing to stifle the small yawn that followed. 

"You should try and get some more rest." Kara murmured softly, raising her arm to pull Lena closer to her side, "That medicine should be kicking in soon, it'll help you sleep." 

Lena shook her head, "M'comfy." She mumbled against Kara's shoulder. 

"Sleep like this then," Kara said as though it was the simplest thing in the world, "I'm not going anywhere." 

"Promise?" 

"I promise sweetheart." 

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[goldenempyrean]

Love seeing whenever there is a new fic from you!! The lack of wlw sickfics is criminal (I am totally unbiased) and the work you put in is far from unloved. May your pillow be cold and your girls easy to blend <3

I love you, I only just woke up but this ask is going to be the highlight of my day <333

[goldenempyrean]

sorry what the fuck is todays wordle

[feveruary]

Prompt Release Date?

Hello everyone! I plan to be a little more organised this year, and with that I’d like to open this up to the public vote.

When should the prompts for 2027 be released?

October 🧣

November 🎃

December 🎄

Voting ended onJul 15

[goldenempyrean]

do you still enjoy writing even though your stories arent as popular anymore? 😢 if so how do you keep yourself motivated? I am struggling with the lack of interactions.

First of all, ouch. That stung a little :,)

However I do see where you are coming from anon, putting effort into writing then seeing very little return can be demoralising and I can sympathise greatly with that - especially when you expect a fic to do well and it ends up flopping.

But personally? I just really, really enjoy sickfics and theres such little content out there for them (when compared to other tropes) so even if just a small handful can enjoy then its enough for me.

Fandoms move on and spaces change, my writing has a lot changed over time - people’s lives get too busy to read, write or interact. I started this account over 4 years ago now and I’ve seen so many writers enter and leave the sickfic community but that’s ultimately what keeps things interesting. I enjoy the challenge of trying to have new ideas in a genre which is dominated by specific niche’s and cliches.

I’m not great at advice but just keep going, you’ll find your feet again anon, I hope this was at least a little helpful? You shouldn’t judge your writing based on the interaction alone, especially on apps like this where the algorithm plays a big part in showing off your work. Keep your chin up. Feel free to reach out in DM’s :)

[goldenempyrean]

i have been sooo shy to ask, would you write another supergirl fic? am ur biggest fan and been rereading everything, i love ur writing :)

(sign my forehead!!)

One Way or Another

〚 Notes - Hello my lovely! Thank you so much for this sweet ask. It’s such a coincidence, I’ve been in a massive supercorp mood lately so wrote this earlier today (2am). If you’re after something more Kara specific let me know and I’ll see what I can do! :D 〛

〚 Pairing - Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor 〛

〚 Summary - Sometimes the hardest thing for Lena Luthor to do is to stay in bed. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 2300 〛

〘 Check Out My Masterlist! 〙

[Part 2]

╚════════ ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ════════╝

Lena Luthor did not call in sick. 

Not easily anyway.  

She’d worked through the sniffles more times than she could count, forced herself through board meetings that could have been emails, and one memorable bout of food poisoning that had ended with her presenting quarterly projections while keeping a trash can discreetly beside her chair. 

The CEO of L-Corp had a reputation to uphold. And such a reputation could not be tarnished by the triviality of taking a sick day.  

But that morning was different. She felt it from the moment she’d woken up. Heavy. Lena felt heavy, her eyes taking too long to adjust to the morning light filtering through her blinds. Her alarm was loud and ringing in her ears. She reached over blindly, tapping her phone to silence it. 

For several seconds she just lay there. The urge to roll over and go back to sleep was pulling at her aching muscles. “Shit.” Her voice croaked on the sole word as Lena tried to sit up, stomach rolling at the wave of dizziness the sudden movement caused. This wasn’t just a cold… 

This could not have come at a worse time. There was a meeting with new investors at ten, two contracts waiting for her approval, and Jess would undoubtedly have a stack of paperwork prepared the second she walked into the office. Not to mention the projects in the lab. The thought alone exhausted her. 

By some miracle, or just blind luck. Lena managed to drag herself to her bathroom. She debated not even looking in the mirror, already knowing the sight which waited her. She looked as bad as she felt. Pale skin, glassy eyes, her usually well-behaved hair sticking out at all angles like she’d tossed and turned the whole night. 

She spluttered, not the kind of cough that could be waved off as simple irritation or allergies. Nasty, deep, the type which made you take several steps away from the person it was coming from. Lena let a small, rare whine escape her lips. Today was proving to be too much, and she’d only been awake for 10 minutes. 

Guilt and apprehension pounded in her head as Lena unsteadily made her way back to her bed, silently grateful for the soft mattress as she sank into the covers. This wasn’t going to work. She reached for the phone, ignoring the voice in the back of her mind telling her to just suck it up and before she lost her nerve - she called Jess. 

Her assistant picked up on the second ring, “Miss Luthor, this is a little early, I’m still 30 minutes out.” 

“I need-“ Lena began, her throat objecting to the sudden use. She quickly muted the call to cover the rough coughing fit that began, “I need you to reschedule my day. Something’s come up.” 

Somehow, she could feel the way Jess frowned through the phone, “Is everything okay? Did something happen?” The way her assistants voice picked up a notch wasn’t lost on her either. 

“Everything’s fine. Just let me know once it’s done.” Her voice cracked at the end and Lena squeezed her eyes shut in annoyance, praying Jess wouldn’t mention it. 

She didn’t - but the assistant definitely heard it. “I’ll text you when it’s done.” She said simply. 

Lena thanked her and ended the call, pulling the covers back over her as she led back down. She probably should’ve taken some medicine, maybe drank some water. But she was too tired for that right now. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep. 

*** 

Kara stood over the main table at the DEO, the shiny crest of her suit reflecting the morning sun whilst she listened intently as Alex and J’onn muttered amongst themselves. 

There had been some sort of an incident overnight and the readings had been strange enough to attract their attention. Something had fallen from the sky. 

This came from a building site outside National City,” J’onn explained, on the screen behind him he enlarged the image of a small metallic device recovered from the impact crater. The same object which sat in the middle of the table. “It’s definitely not human technology.” 

Kara leaned closer, eyes narrowing. The object was unlike anything she had seen before. Its surface appeared almost liquid, shifting between smooth metal and intricate patterns that seemed to move beneath the surface. 

“Do we know what it does?” 

“Not yet,” Alex answered, her hands on her hips, “The problem is that every attempt we’ve made to scan it causes it to shut down.” 

Kara looked back at her then back to the object. J’onn reaching out to stop her hand before she could poke it. “Then why are we still looking at it?” 

Alex sighed, “Because we know that someone else already had the technology to make sense of this.” She gave Kara a look, raising an eyebrow for her to get the hint. She did not. “Lena.” 

“Lena, my Lena?” The blonde clarified although she already knew the answer. Of course Lena had already worked out how to read this stuff.  

J’onn nodded. “She’s been developing alien material analysis technology,” He explained, “Advanced sensors capable of identifying non-terrestrial elements. Apparently, according to our data a prototype originating in one of her labs was able to communicate with the device.”  

The pair of them looked to Kara, sharing their next thought. Her eyes widened as she realised what they were asking of her. 

“Do I really have to be the one to go?” She fought back the urge to grumble, “She’s sort of mad at me - well, at Supergirl right now.” It hadn’t been long since the whole Kryptonite issue had left them on less than stable relations. 

“The DEO needs access to it one way or another. We just thought it’d be best if it came from you *asking* rather than taking it by force.” Alex placed a hand on her sister’s back, “Please?” 

Kara groaned loudly and dramatically, raising her hands in defeat as she titled her head back “Fine!” She said already walking towards the exit, adding, “You both owe me one.” 

*** 

It didn’t take long to get to L-Corp, as much as she tried to detour, Kara found herself on the balcony of Lena’s office.  

She knocked on the glass, loud enough to heard and waited with her arms crossed. Lena had been cold ever since their argument over her making Kryptonite. Kara tapped her foot impatiently, assuming the Luthor was keeping her waiting on purpose. 

To her surprise, through the pristinely clean window she could see the door to Lena’s office open but it wasn’t Lena who was there. A smaller lady, one who she quickly recognised as the CEO’s assistant stepped into the office, eyes widened with surprise as she saw the hero on the balcony. 

“Supergirl! What can I-“ Jess stammered, not expecting this today, “Can I help you with something?” 

“I need to speak with Miss Luthor.” Kara said, not willing to give too much away, “It’s important.” 

Jess’s expression dulled a little, “She’s not here today, she phoned to cancel her meetings this morning, rather unexpectedly too.” 

Kara frowned, “Do you know where she is?”  

“She called me from her personal line this morning so I assumed she was still at home. But I really don’t know other than that. Is there anything I can help with?” 

Supergirl shook her head, offering a kind smile, “No, it’s okay. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll see if I can catch up with her at a later date then.” With a final thank you, Kara lifted into the air and began making her way back to the DEO. 

She tried. But Alex’s unimpressed face flashed into her mind. Kara knew she’d be unhappy if she left without any sort of information. The hero groaned loudly to herself, forcing herself to turn around and head towards Lena’s apartment. She was going to have to face her sooner or later, at least this gave them an excuse to talk… 

*** 

An uneasy feeling on anticipation built in her stomach as she quietly landed on the balcony to Lena’s penthouse. The curtains were drawn, a little unusual for this time of day but she didn’t think much of it. 

She’d been here countless times, both as Supergirl and Kara. But this time, it felt like overstepping. Like she was somewhere she shouldn’t be. 

For a moment Kara debated just returning to the DEO, or coming back a different day. But she was here now, might as well see it through. Swallowing her nerves, she knocked loudly on the glass window. 

“Miss Luthor?” She called out, “Its Supergirl.” 

A low mumble came from inside. If it weren’t for her heightened hearing, she would’ve never made it out. Kara always tried to respect people’s privacy as much as she could but even, she couldn’t ignore the absurdity of the situation. She flashed her vision, eyes scanning the apartment. 

Just inside, she could see Lena sitting up on her sofa, blanket falling off her shoulder as she rubbed at her eye with a balled fist, the sort of way you would having just woken up. But that couldn’t be right. Could it? 

Slow, uneven footsteps approached and Kara instinctively stepped away from the door. Just a second later, Lena pulled open the curtains with a confused expression plain on her face. She fumbled with the lock to the balcony, pushing open the door with more difficulty than required. 

“Supergirl..?” Lena’s voice came out in a rasp, goosebumps prickling along her skin as she shivered at the cool city breeze despite the summer heat. 

“Miss Luthor?” Kara’s brows furrowed immediately, suddenly losing her words, “I-“ 

The sight in front of her had completely thrown her off. She had expected Lena to be irritated. Cold. That was how things had been between them lately. Every conversation felt like walking through a minefield, neither of them willing to admit they hurt the other more than intended. 

But the Kyrptonian had not expected this. Lena Luthor looked exhausted. Even as Kara, she had never seen her like this, dressed only in a baggy college t-shirt, black shorts and a fever-flushed face to match, “Are you feeling okay?” She asked before she could stop herself. 

“It’s none of your concern,” Lena sniffled, swiping a crumbled tissue that Kara had failed to realise she was clutching under her pink nose, “What are you doing here?” 

“I- urm,”  Kara stuttered, already feeling like an idiot for coming by. Of course, something had to be wrong if Lena wasn’t at work. “I’m sorry, you’re obviously unwell. I’ll come back another time. Sorry for waking you.” She turned, already preparing to lift herself into the air. 

“Wait.” 

Kara paused, turning back around as Lena leant against the door. “You didn’t come just to check up on me, what did you need?” She asked, trying her best to force her voice out to an audible level, quickly regretting the action when it sent her into a coughing fit, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red at her outburst. 

The blonde hesitated, unsure whether to continue with her original plan. On one hand, Lena looked like she was minutes away from passing out and really should’ve been lying down. But the object might be dangerous, and they weren’t any closer to getting any answers about its origins…  

“The DEO needs your help - well specifically your equipment.” Kara said finally, leaning her back against the railing of the balcony as she explained the situation quickly to the best of her abilities, “It’d be a really massive help if you’d let the teams access your scanner. It’d be the director himself, and I assure you it’ll be returned in the same condition it was found.” 

The CEO nodded slowly as she followed along, with the fever it was taking her a little longer to process things. She was too tired to argue, too tired to go round and round in the same cycles. And there was something soft in the way that Supergirl was looking at her. “I see.” Lena finally said, sniffling damply before deciding, “I’ll let your team have access to it.” 

  

Supergirl’s eyes lit up, “Thank you so much, this means a lot.” She said as Lena relayed the location and password to one of her more discreet labs in the city, “This is a big help. I’ll let you know when everything is sorted.”  

Kara quickly relayed the information to Alex who began moving operations at the DEO. Kara looked back to Lena in the doorway. She wanted nothing more to usher her inside under a blanket and make sure she was okay. But she couldn’t, not as Supergirl. 

“Do you need anything, Miss Luthor?” The hero asked carefully, trying to mask the sympathy in her tone. 

Lena bit her lip for a moment before shaking her head, “No, thank you. But if you’ll excuse me, I really should get back inside.” Her breath hitched, clearly fighting back the urge to sneeze. 

“Of course, feel better Miss Luthor.” Kara nodded, watching as she headed back inside, clearly exhausted and ready to collapse back onto her sofa. Before leaving, Supergirl took once last chance to scan the apartment, making a mental note of the supplies (or lack of) Lena had on hand. 

She’d be back later. And this time she’d be prepared. 

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[goldenempyrean]

Here I'll Stay

〚 Notes - I've been busy moving over the last week so enjoy a little drabble. 〛

〚 Pairing - Cassie McKay x Dana Evans 〛

〚 Summary - Cassie shouldn't have been working that day, when she inevitably collapses, Dana's there at her side. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 1000 〛

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Dr Al-Hashimi pulled the curtain back just enough for them to step inside, her hand on Cassie’s back nudging her forwards watching as the slumped woman shuffled unsteadily towards the bed. 

Dana was already there, discretely tucked to the side. She waited until Baran stepped back, pulling the curtain over to mask them in privacy before stepping into action. She was sat beside Cassie in an instant, worried hands slipping both under her shirt into the palm of her back and the other brushing under her damp strands of her fringe. She  was clammy. The skin on the doctor’s back bristled with goosebumps yet beads of sweat clung to her forehead.  

The nurse sighed, the long sympathetic type. The type where you know the next few days were going to be awful to endure. “Poor girl.” Her voice was soft, her next words chosen carefully, “What on earth were you thinking? Exerting yourself like this.” 

Cassie let out something that might have been a laugh if it hadn't dissolved into a grimace halfway through. "I wasn't," She muttered, voice rough around the edges, "I was trying to ignore it.” 

Dana gave her a look that managed to be equal parts exasperation and fondness. "Well," She agreed quietly, "That much is obvious." Her words carried no bite. Only concern for the younger doctor. She knew of Cassie’s terrible habit when it came to taking her of herself, or lack thereof. 

It had gotten worse the last few years. Her life hadn’t fallen into place as she had expected. Addiction. The custody battle for Harrison, relationships and heartbreak before falling in love all over again. Through the emotional turmoil Cassie had found herself clinging onto the only other stable thing in her life. Work. Her work felt less like a job and more like a necessity, like taking a break would be a betrayal rather than a comfort. As if the lack of her presence alone would cause the whole thing to crumble. It wasn’t ego. It was cold, the cold floors of the same ER. The same walls. The same doors. And despite the cold, she clung to it. Refusing to let go, even as it burned her. 

Cassie moaned quietly as the fever sat flushed on her cheeks. She was too hot. The whole room felt like it had been turned several degrees, leaving a damp, sticky coat on her skin. “You need to try and stop moving hon’,” Dana’s voice murmured from beside the bed, “I know it’s hard, but you’re just making yourself feel worse.” 

She knew how restless Cassie got with a temperature. Despite how exhausted she may be and hoe much her muscles ached, she could never seem to keep still. It often took her hours to settle, even in the comfort of their home. But here, under the glaring white lights. They were bright, too bright. She wasn’t meant to be here like this. The irony of the juxtaposition wasn’t lost on her. 

“You’re okay,” The nurse’s hand came to her cheek, gentle thumb rubbing circles under the warm skin, “You’re exactly where you need to be.” She spoke gently.  

The next moment, the curtain rustled politely before Dr Al-Hashimi reappeared, Cassie rolled onto her side to face away from the doctor. Embarrassed? Or simply just uncomfortable. She coughed miserably against the sheets curled under her fist as the two spoke. 

As quick as the doctor had arrived, she was gone again. The two once again alone. Cassie muttered something incoherent under her breath, not bothering to repeat herself when asked. She tossed over onto the opposite side, a frustrated huff leaving her lips. Dana moved just out the corner of her eye. Cassie’s gaze followed, she had just been about to question what was going on when she hissed suddenly. 

It stung for a quick moment, a sharp wince escaping her throat. A beat, than another than finally her muscles relaxed, her grimace slowly morphing into comfort as the cool ice sank over her head. Dana adjusted the icepack carefully, having wrapped it in a small towel. “Better?” She asked, a small smile forming as she watched Cassie’s features relax into a relieved expression. 

“You can thank Baran for this,” Dana added, “She’s also put in a prescription for you.” Cassie’s rapid tests had come back positive for the particularly awful strain of the flu.  

Cassie’s eyes widened, her throat strained to swallow before whispering, “Pills?” Despite being hidden by the rasp, Dana could still make out the shake tucked in her voice. 

“Liquid.” The nurse put her mind to rest instantly, “Special request. It’ll take a little bit to get ready.” 

The doctor sniffled, rubbing her chapped nose against her wrist, “How long?” She managed to ask before her breath hitched off desperately as she curled into herself with an exhausted sneeze. 

Dana grabbed the tissue box from the cabinet beside her, swiping a tissue to hand to her before setting the box on top of the sheets, “A few hours most likely, apparently it’s really busy down there today.” She leaned forward, adjusting the pillow behind her wife’s back to have her lay further down, “Bless you.”  

As she tried to settle, a damp, wet cough objected as the congestion on her lungs shifted. Cassie spluttered, feeling Dana’s soft hand on her back as she carefully recaught her breath. Her hand reached out from under the sheets, just close enough to let her grip sit on Dana’s knee.  

Dana smiled softly, mirroring the action and curling her fingers as the two locked hands. It was quiet but she made it out clear as day, “Thank you for staying with me.” Cassie’s voice was heavy with exhaustion, eyes threatening to close at any moment. 

The nurse leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to the top of her brow, “Get some sleep sweetheart.” She watched silently over the next few minutes as her wife finally (and inevitably) drift sleep. She kept her hand steady, feeling the warm faint tick of her pulse under her skin. This was where she needed to be.  

So here she would stay. 

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