Sick as a dog
Tom Hiddleston x Reader. Guest appearance: Benedict Cumberbatch
Summary: the reader has been working way to hard for the past months because she didn’t have any choice because of deadlines. But when she had a week off and made plans with her boyfriend Tom her health caught up to her. Tom made it his mission to take care of the reader.
Warning: age-gap ( the reader is 25 years old), being EXTREMELY overworked ANGST and fluff.
Words: almost 4K
Sick as a dog
You came home from a chaotic day of college. It was clear that it was the week before all of your teachers would grade the work you delivered. The whole week was chaotic and all of the students were running on low energy but the work had to be done. It was the last day and luckily you made all your deadlines. That means that you (hopefully) had a week off. On Sunday you would hear if you had to come back to redeem yourself. But at least you wouldn’t have any new assignments.
Tom wasn’t home yet because you were done earlier than expected. He was filming but luckily it wasn’t far so you wouldn’t have to miss him too much. Covid was still around so you and Tom decided to quarantine together and it was one of the best decisions you both made. Your college arranged that you at least had two days of physical classes. All the others were online. But it was most of the stressful periods there were and even the teachers had to scratch their head for a moment because the students fell like flies on a hot day. Almost everyone was close to a burn-out. Just like you were.
You put your computer down and moved your tired body to the living room. Tiredness catching up to you. Deciding it would be best if you would just lay down for a second. You texted Tom that you were already home but that you were going to take a nap.
He knew how exhausted you were and found it outrageous how much of shit you were getting form your teachers. It was always you in particular. There were many days that you would break down from stress and that Tom were comforting you. He wanted you to take care of yourself but he also knew that you almost didn’t have any choice. He felt helpless seeing your college tiring you down. He even called your mom asking for advice and she told him that he couldn’t do much about it and that you didn’t have a choice because of school. You already tried to take all the rest you could. But it was obvious not enough. Your mom told more details of how the college already treated you beforehand. You never really told him how much shit they were actually giving you. So there wasn’t much he could to other then to be there for you. It was either that or failing which would lead to you having to do this year again and you wouldn’t even think about that.
You took a shirt from Tom and crawled into the shared bed. You finally were able to give in your tiredness. You had a massive headache and were nauseous but you thought that you would feel better after some rest. You fell asleep fairly quickly.
Tom came home and all the lights were still out. He saw your text so knew you were resting. He quickly took a shower and walked towards the bedroom. He saw you curled up lying in bed. He smiled lovingly at the sight and walked towards you. He kneeled down and went with his fingers through your hair. You had put your hair in a messy bun. The sight fluttered his heart. He gave you a kiss on your forehead. He frowned when he noticed how hot you felt. He saw that your cheeks were flustered.
“Love?” Tom asked softly. You just stirred in your sleep. He was worried about you but glad you could take some time off but he knew your body was caving in right now. I mean it was only a matter of time and he was quite surprised it took so long. You were sweating a little bit and groaning in discomfort.
Tom stood up and walked towards the living room. He called your mom for the recipe of her soup that you loved so much. After he received the recipe and ingredients he went to the store. He was going to take care of you and there was nothing you could do about it. He made it his mission right now to make you feel better or at least make it a little more comfortable for you.
He picked up a lot of stuff. Like some juice for your immune system some painkillers. A lot of fresh fruit, some comfort snacks if you felt up for it and some nice things for in the bathtub that you love so much along with your favorite lotion and body spray along with other stuff to make you feel better. He checked out and made his way back home.
You were still asleep when Tom started to make the soup. After 30 minutes you walked into the Livingroom groggy. You felt horrible. You saw Tom in the kitchen and walked towards him.
“hey” you said and Tom walked towards you with sad smile on his face “hello love, how are you feeling?” Tom asked as he pulled you into a hug. Your body felt incredible fragile and everything was hurting right now. “like shit, everything hurts, I have a massive headache, I feel nauseas and I’m so tired” you told him. Tom went through your hair with his hands. “I had a feeling you would feel like this so I made your mom’s soup and got you some stuff to make you feel a little better or at least more comfortable.” You started to cry because of the kindness he’d shown you. It was all getting to you know and its all coming out at the same time. He softly pulled you into his chest. “Its okay darling let it all out. I’m here now and you can rest. You deserve and need it!” he said the last thing more stern.
“I love you” you told him while he wiped away your tears with his thumb. “I love you too. So much.” He told you softly while looking intense in your eyes so the message would be clear. “Do you want to take a shower now or after dinner, before bed?” he asked. “I really don’t have the energy right now.” You told him. “Okay you know what, why don’t we eat some soup, then I will help you into the bathtub, then we can watch Sherlock Holmes or whatever you want, and I’ll make you some tea. How does that sound?” he asked you while he gently rubbed your arms. You nodded and he gave you a gently smile. “Go sit on the couch dear. You need rest” he told you and gave you a kiss on the top of your head. You were still burning up and Tom noticed.
You made your way on the couch and Tom asked about your day. You told him how it went and then asked about his. You loved listening to his stories but especially his voice. It calmed you down. Tom could always somehow calm the storm in your head. Nobody could not even you. Or well you probably could you just didn’t know how.
He came to the Livingroom with soup, a glass of water and some painkillers. He walked back and got some soup for himself and settled next to you. “you really mastered the soup” you said with a soft smile. “thanks to your mom” he said with a smile. “You called my mom?” you asked surprised and giggled. “you can be so stubborn sometimes. I knew this was coming but I hoped we could somehow prevent it. So I called your mom and she told me a little more about how college is treating you….Sweetheart, you can tell me anything. Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked you softly. “I don’t know. I know I have to talk about it with them but then again I already did so many times and it never changed anything. I just need to keep going for a year. Then I’m done (hopefully).”
“Your mom told me. I know you already tried talking but please don’t keep everything bottled up and talk to me instead.” He asked you pleading. “then that would be everyday” you said with sour laugh. “then so be it. I love you and I want to help you through this. Because this is not normal how they are wearing you guys out…. How they’re wearing you out. Its not fine. So let me help you through this” he told you while he held your hand. “okay” you said and gave in. “God you can be so stubborn sometimes” he said laughing and giving you a kiss”
After Tom put the dishes in the kitchen he came back with a bag. You looked up at him curiously. “So I’m going to take care of you this whole week. Even when you’re feeling better I’m still going to pamper you” he told you. You wanted to say something but he interrupted you. “I don’t want to hear a word about it because its definitely not going to change anything.” You giggled a little which made him smile.
He walked into the bathroom but you were too tired to follow him. Tom was making the bathtub ready and you started to get really hot and then after 10 minutes really cold again. Tom came back and frowned when he saw you. Your cheeks were flustered again. He could see that you had goosebumps because of the t-shirt.
He picked you up bridal style “alright my lady the bath is now ready for you.” You said and you gave a tired giggle. You saw that he placed candles around the tub and you smelled your favorite soap. You saw your favorite and overpriced body spray and lotion standing there along with some other things. You looked tiredly at Tom but grateful. “thank you Tom, you really didn’t have to do this.” “I wanted to. Besides I know how to treat my lady.” He told you. He put you down and helped you strip from your clothes.
“is the temperature alright?” You nodded. “okay enjoy your bath darling call me if you need anything.” “Wait Tom, please stay?” you asked him. he kneeled down beside the tub and went with his fingers through your hair. “I’m going to change the bedsheets real quick and then I’ll be back and read you some of that book that you were reading alright?” You nodded again and Tom gave you a quick kiss before walking away.
After five minutes he came back and planted himself on the toilet seat and started to read too you. After 20 minutes you started to feel cold again and he helped you out of the tub. Your felt more horrible with the second. You didn’t even have to say anything to Tom for him to notice. It was pretty clear. He grabbed a towel and put it around you and pulled you into a hug. “my skin hurts” you said softly as a warning for him not to dry you. “I know. Is this okay? That you’re going to dry up like this?” He asked you. “yeah just please don’t let go” he carefully picked you up again and walked with you towards the bed.
He grabbed some underwear and a big shirt and sweater that were his. He helped you put on the underwear and walked away to grab the lotion and came back. He put some in his hands and carefully massaged your legs so the lotion was rubbed in nicely. After he was done he put the shirt over you head and helped you in it just like the big sweatpants of his. He walked back to get the body spray and put some on you as well.
When you were done he picked you up again and walked towards the big comfy couch and laid you down. he got back to the kitchen to make you some tea. when he was done he walked back and gave you some ginger tea. You told him one time that ginger helped you when you were feeling nauseous. He put on Sherlock and laid down behind you. You were all curled up to hope that it would somehow help with the pain. His hand rubbed your stomach. Sometimes it helped with the nausea as well. But for know it all got worse and you knew your health was catching up to you.
Tom noticed that you were uncomfortable because you were tossing so much. “Darling? Do you want me to get you your sleeping medication? Maybe it’ll help to get some rest.” He asked you and you were really desperate at this point so you just nodded tears streaming down your face. It was a long time that you felt this miserable. “Tom I want this to stop” you cried out. “oh I know darling. I’m here.” He told you not knowing anymore how to make you feel better.
He got up to get your medication and a glass of water. “try to drink some of your tea sweetheart” you sipped some of your tea but it made you feel worse. You took your meds and Tom laid behind you again. He held you close to him. You tried focusing on the tv and with a miracle you somehow fell asleep.
You woke up from a nightmare in sweat. You felt even more terrible than before. You ran to the toilet and threw up. All of a sudden you felt a hand on your back trying to comfort you but skin was so sensitive that you didn’t like it. Tom was starting to get more worried by the second. Tom just sat next to you letting you knew he was there. You didn’t care that he saw you like this because it actually felt like you were dying. You sat there for at least an hour until you brushed your teeth and went back to bed. It was a night of running towards the bathroom.
It was morning and you still hadn’t slept. You couldn’t even keep water down let alone medication. Tom was extremely worried now. He called his best friend Benedict for advice and he told him that he would swing by. After 30 minutes Benedict and his wife Sophie came in.
“Hello sweetheart, how are you feeling?” Sophie asked while she sat on the side of the bed. You whimpered in pain not able to really talk. Tom was leaning against the wall with a worried look. Benedict patted him on the back. “I don’t know what to do Ben…. I actually want to bring her to the hospital.” He told his friend honestly. Ben nodded and looked at your vulnerable form on the bed. “Maybe that would be better. You told me that she couldn’t even keep water down right? She going to get dehydrated. I think that would be the best option right now.” Tom nodded “I’m going to call her mom to let her know that.” Ben nodded and walked towards the bed to check on your temperature.
“Hi Darling, I’m just going to check your temperature. Is that okay?” Ben asked you softly while Sophie petted your head. You just nodded. Benedict checked it and you had a dangerous high fever. Ben looked at Sophie with a worried look. “sweetheart, we need to bring you to the hospital” You couldn’t even put up a fight you were so exhausted so you just nodded. I’m going to pick you up okay” this time you couldn’t even respond. He picked you up just as easily. You rested your head on his shoulder. “Tom we have to go now!” Benedict told him sternly and worried.
Tom’s eyes became big and he felt his heart sank into his chest when he saw your almost lifeless form in the arms of Benedict. He got tears in his eyes but quickly grabbed his keys. “I’m driving, You guys sit in the back with her and bring something for when she needs to vomit.” Sophie told them. Tom quickly grabbed a plastic bag and walked with Ben towards the car. Tom got in first and Benedict laid your head on Tom’s lap and you legs on his.
The ride was 10 minutes long but you fell in and out of conscious. They tried to keep you awake. Tom picked you up this time and the all hurried inside. The nurses saw you and immediately came into action they motioned to them to walk with them. You got into a room and they told Tom to lay you down on the bed. They all asked a lot of questions to Tom while they did all kinds of tests on you. Tom got tears in his eyes. He felt extremely guilty that he didn’t do this sooner. They gave you an infuse too keep you dehydrated and another one with medication.
Tom held your hand while the nurses and the doctor walked out to see the result of the tests. Benedict and Sophie sat on the other side. It didn’t took the doctor long to come back. They told them that you had a very nasty fever because your whole body was extremely overworked and exhausted and because of that it couldn’t fight the fever. “You really did the right thing to bring her here because of the high fever it could’ve ended differently. But she’s in good hands and will get better soon. If you want you can stay here” the doctor said looking at Tom. He nodded and thanked him. Benedict and Sophie had to leave because of Covid (only one person could stay). They gave you a kiss on the top of your head and gave Tom a hug.
You slowly woke up and felt exhausted. You felt someone holding your hand. You opened your eyes and tried to adjust to the light. It was dark outside and Tom had laid his head down on your bed while he was, probably, in a very uncomfortable position on the chair.
Benedict came around to drop of some clean clothes for Tom and the book he was reading to you. So now and then he would read to you while you slept.
You couldn’t remember much so you felt kind of panicked but seeing Tom and to feel his touch calmed you down. You went with your hands through his hair. He stirred a little and woke up. He looked at you and needed a little time to process. “Y/N, god you scared me so much darling” he said getting teary eyed again. You placed your hand on his cheek. “I’m here now. You’re not getting rid of me that easily” you said chuckling but coughed because your throat was so dry. He got up to get you some water and gave it to you. You drowned the whole glass.
You slept for a good 2 days straight. Tom stayed by your side the whole time.
“How are you feeling?” he asked. “Much better but exhausted.” He nodded. “what happened? I don’t remember much” you asked. He told you everything. You were shocked that you let it get this far with college and felt guilty. “scoot over sweetheart. I want to hold you” You did as he asked because you missed his warmth so much. You laid your head on his chest and he kissed your head. “I love you so much, please don’t scare me like that again” You just nodded. “I’m so sorry and I love you too”
“Darling don’t be sorry I just want you to take care of yourself” You nodded again. “I’m trying” you told him. “I know. Got to sleep darling, you need your energy” he told you and you looked up. “I missed you so much” you told him and he brushed his lips over yours before kissing you. “now sleep!” he said more commanding which made you chuckle.
~time skip~
You were aloud to go home the next day. But they sternly said that you were still on bed rest and really had to take it easy. Benedict picked you guys up and brought you home. Tom had already called your mom that everything was fine. When you were in the hospital Tom kept in contact with her on how you were. After an hour and a half you and Tom were finally alone again.
You plopped down on the couch. “no, no, no young lady, the doctor said BED rest. Now get your cute ass to the bedroom” Tom said stern. You pouted at him “but I have been laying down for 3 days now….. please let me sit down on the couch. or I will lay down on the couch” you said with a cheeky grin. “you better get your ass in that bedroom right now. I’m not asking again” Tom said but more serious. You knew he wasn’t joking. You led out a sigh.
“fine but only if you lay down with me! you hadn’t had much rest either. So I’m not going unless you’re going with me” This time it was his turn to led out a sigh “so bossy” he joked and you smiled innocent at him. “Fine” Tom said giving in.
Before you were getting in bed you stepped into the shower together. As sweet as Benedict was, changed the sheets of your shared bed when he picked up some stuff for Tom. Tom softly washed your hair. “We really need to bring flowers when I’m better. Just to say thank you for their help.” You told him. “That’s nice. But let’s get you better first alright?” you nodded.
He slowly brushed your hair. When he was done you turned around and stood on your tippy toes to give him a kiss. He sighed in the kiss from comfort. It turned passionately fairly quickly and Tom stopped you knowing what you were doing. “No.” he just said while his hands rested on your cheeks. You pouted again and Tom just chuckled at you antics. “you’re still sick. When you get better we’ll have all the time for other activities” he told you with a grin and a wink. He gave you a peck and put a towel around your body.
He dried you up nicely and put you in some fresh clothes. “Tom I can do that myself now.” You chuckled. “I know I’m just not letting you do that right now.” You both got into bed and laid face to face. His hand rested on your cheek and his thumb caressed your face. Your legs intertwined. He scooped closer to you so your foreheads were resting against each other. He gave you a tiredly long kiss and you curled up laying your head against his chest. Both in each other arms slowly drifted you both into a much needed sleep.
