Being Sick Sucks, But Having People That Care Makes It Bearable
WARNING: Long post is long. I do not know how to do cuts yet. I am a Luddite that is still working on learning HTML. (Notes: If my wonky phone would quit eating this…Daisy is four, almost five here [and my headcanon is that she is very mature for her age, much like I was, since I spent most of my time with much older relatives], so Alastair, James, and Eggsy have been together for some time. Michelle has managed to get her life put back together, and is in a stable and fulfilling relationship with a pilot named Martin [yes there is a vague Cabin Pressure crossover, but I think V-Day snuffed up the canon of most contemporary universes, and I run with that], who adores her and Daisy, and who Eggsy genuinely likes. During this story, Daisy is staying with her brother and his partners while Michelle and Martin are taking an unexpected, but not unwanted, vacation. Alastair is called away on a mission a couple of days in, but is able to make the occasional quick call or text.)
Eggsy went across the flat towards the kitchen, first sticking his head into the guest room to see if Daisy was awake before he started on breakfast. They were planning on going to the park, but Eggsy was getting the feeling that plan might change. While he didn’t think Daisy would throw a tantrum, since she was fortunately a fairly easygoing child, he knew she’d be a little disappointed.
He was a little worried about James, though. He’d had one of those nightmares about when he died and the period that he was dead last night. Though they had decreased in frequency over the past couple of years to the point that the only time he really had them was when he was under an unusual amount of stress or when he was starting to come down with something, they were still draining. When he had gotten up, James was still asleep, but it was not a sound sleep, and he looked too pale to suit Eggsy. When he had laid a hand on his forehead, it had felt warm. Not enough for Eggsy to really call it a fever, but still warmer than he liked.
He poked his head into the guest room that Daisy always used when she stayed with them. She was awake, JB lying beside her as she looked at a picture book. He went over and sat down on the bed beside her. “Dais, I need to ask ya somethin’ important.” When he saw he had her attention, he went on. “I don’ think goin’ to the park today’s gonna be a good idea.”
Daisy looked up at her brother as gravely as an almost five-year-old could manage. “ Why?” She knew her brother and his partners rarely changed plans unless something was wrong. The last time had been because Roxy’s partner had gotten hurt at work, and she’d wanted Alastair with her. Daisy understood that. Big brothers made everything better. Even if they couldn’t actually fix what was wrong, they made you feel safe.
Eggsy lowered his voice a little, looking towards the door. “I think James is gettin’ sick, an’ I just think it’s be a good idea to stay home an’ watch movies instead. He had one of his bad nights last night.”
Daisy gave JB a pat, looked up, and said, “ Okay. James gets to pick first ‘cause he’s sick.”
“That’s my girl.” He gave his sister a kiss on top of the head. “Why don’ ya wash up for breakfast. PJs can stay on.” He got up and continued his journey towards the kitchen.
Eggsy was looking and trying to decide on a moderately sugary cereal for breakfast (surprisingly, Alastair was the one with a penchant for sugary cereals), when James stumbled into the kitchen and sat down at the table, laying his head down on his arms. Eggsy went over and laid a hand on his forehead, concerned at the heat he felt. He nearly pulled back, but James made a soft whimpering noise and leaned into Eggsy’s comparatively cool hand. “Don’t think the park’s going to be a good idea today,” he mumbled.
“Already took care of it, babe. Daisy says you get first pick on movies ‘cause you’re sick. Anythin’ in particular you want for breakfast?”
Most of the color seemed to drain from James’ face, and he swallowed hard. “Don’t think food is a good idea right now.” He laid a shaking hand on his stomach, then his other hand flew to his mouth to stifle a sick-sounding belch that bordered on a retch. Another quickly followed, and Eggsy stepped back a pace as his partner made a desperate leap for the sink. He laid a hand on James’ back in an attempt to offer some sort of comfort.
It was at that point that a worried-looking Daisy walked in as James laid his head on the edge of the sink. Eggsy had only barely turned to acknowledge her when James began another round of quiet, pained-sounding retching. “Dais,” he said quietly, not taking his hand away from James’ back, “I need you to do two things for me. One, get me a small cup of water, and two, wet me a flannel with cool water and wring it out.”
Daisy nodded and quickly walked out. She felt bad that James was sick, and she was worried, but knew Eggsy was good at taking care of people that didn’t feel well. Mum said he’d taken care of them when they were sick, before Martin came (she liked Martin and was almost ready to call him dad), and he always made her feel better. Even when she was still sick, Eggsy always made her feel a little less miserable, and she hoped he made James feel the same way.
Eggsy just managed to suppress a wince when James finally threw up. He always hated it when one of his partners was sick or hurting, and there was nothing he could do to fix it.
“ Ya done for now?” Eggsy asked when he had finally stopped, taking deep breaths and leaning on the counter for support.
James nodded. “For now,” he said hoarsely. “It’s not over.” His stomach still felt queasy, but not strongly enough that he was going to throw up again right at that moment. He just felt tired and shaky more than anything.
Daisy chose that moment to return with the water and a flannel. As he began to help James to a chair, he asked, “Would you rather rest on the couch, babe? I can get a bin or somethin’ in case you need it”
James nodded wearily as he saw Daisy getting a pillow and blanket for him. The trip from the kitchen to the couch had made the dizziness and nausea return with a vengeance, and Eggsy barely returned with the bin in time. "This sucks, " he managed to rasp out between bouts of retching.
Daisy went and got a stuffed cat that Martin had given her that she called Mr. Tiddles. "Here," she said quietly. " Mr. Tiddles and Eggsy always make me feel better when I'm sick, so you can have Mr. Tiddles until you're better."
James was genuinely touched by Daisy's gesture. Mr. Tiddles was Daisy's constant companion, and for Daisy to lend him to him showed a great deal of affection and trust.
So, even though he spent most of the the day either throwing up or dozing with his head in Eggsy's lap with Daisy stroking his hair and Mr. Tiddles standing guard, it was made a little less miserable by the presence of two people that loved him (though, with as many lovingly concerned texts as Alastair sent from Ohio, it might as well have been three).