Tiny ficlet offering

loves-pie:

For @thatmysticbafflingwonder, who requested that someone write her sick!fic. I hope you feel better soon, bb. <333

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Chris was woken by an abrupt light flooding
the dark bedroom. Disorientated by sleep, it took a moment for him to realize that
a) it was the bathroom light, b) Zach was no longer in bed with him, and c)
judging by the hacking cough audible through the half-open door, it was more
than a simple need to empty his bladder.

Sure enough, Zach emerged a few minutes
later, clutching a glass of water and looking very pale. “Sorry,” he said
roughly upon seeing that Chris was awake.

Waving the apology away, Chris shifted to
sit up slightly. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

“I don’t feel so good either,” Zach
replied, grimacing as he set the water down on his nightstand and sank back
into bed. Chris pressed a palm to his forehead.

“Jesus, you’re burning up.”

Zach shivered violently. “Doesn’t feel like
it.”

“Come here,” Chris said, raising his arm invitingly.
The fact that Zach burrowed into Chris’ side without protest was a clear
indication of how bad he felt. Sick Zach didn’t bother with snarky remarks and
word games—something Chris rather enjoyed, although obviously he’d rather Zach
didn’t have to get sick to let that side show.

Chris hummed and ran a hand through Zach’s
hair—he’d always found that soothing when he was sick as a kid.

“Mmm… s’nice,” Zach said, voice croaky. His
skin felt like a furnace everywhere it made contact, but Chris could still feel
the shivers wracking his body. He tightened his hold.

“Try to get some sleep.”

Lying in the darkness, listening to Zach’s labored
breathing gradually even out, Chris’ thoughts turned to the flight booked to
take him back to L.A. the following day. With Zach sick, he’d just have to risk
his team’s wrath and stay a little longer. There was nothing urgent on his
schedule now anyway—a couple of extra days off weren’t going to hurt.

Truth be told, the prospect of taking care
of Zach for a change was more than a little appealing. Smiling to himself,
Chris placed a soft kiss on Zach’s forehead and allowed his eyes to close.