Chapter Text
The next day, the fever broke. Relief flooded the room. When the medics came in for their morning rounds, they removed the oxygen mask, but kept the IV in place, maintaining a steady stream of antibiotics. Crosshair slept through it all, but looked much more comfortable.
He woke up for lunch and ate slowly with little bargaining from Echo. He already looked less feverish, though he was still too warm and tired. Even his breathing finally seemed to be getting better. When Hunter listened, it sounded less wet and his breaths were fuller. Bones said that they would keep him for another day, then they could leave.
Despite this, Hunter couldn’t shake the off feeling that had settled in him. He felt like something could go wrong at any moment. It already had twice. He dreaded the moment something else happened and they had to stay there even longer. All because he couldn’t lead his team and keep his brothers safe on a simple mission.
He paused and blinked at how quickly his thoughts had spiralled into disaster. He was being ridiculous. He looked around the room at his brothers. They were laughing at something Crosshair had said, who sat on the bed with a smirk.
Things were getting back to normal. This time tomorrow, they would be back on the Marauder and hunting down that spy.
He listened back in properly. Wrecker was telling some story they’ve heard a hundred times already. One that they were all there to witness when it happened. He listened closely, remembering that day fondly as Wrecker spoke, laughing along with the others whenever Tech or Echo corrected him. He clung to that normalcy.
They were okay.
He was not okay.
He had no idea why or what was happening. They were leaving the med centre in an hour, the others getting ready to leave. Echo and Wrecker were getting the ship ready while Tech and Crosshair talked with Bones about the rest of Crosshair’s recovery.
Hunter, for some reason, was stuck in place. He had gotten up to join Echo and Wrecker, but froze when he got to the door. Had he left the room since they arrived? He didn’t think so. He hadn’t been able to let Crosshair out of his sight the whole time. Now that he was about to, he felt his chest tighten. The thought of leaving the room sent the image of Crosshair lying in that alley flashing through his mind. That sent that all too familiar sharp lance of panic through him.
He was being ridiculous. He had to go help prep the Marauder. He had to listen to what Bones had to say. He had to help and be there for his brothers now that they were allowed to leave. But he just stood there, uselessly. Just like he’d been useless to his brothers on that mission. He’d let them down and almost gotten one of them killed. The feeling of anxiety from the waiting room loomed over him. The dread of entering this room for the first time.
He had no idea where these thoughts were coming from. It was fine now, Crosshair was okay, they were leaving. He had done his job and looked after them. now they had a mission to finish. He had to stay strong for them. But it was like all the anxiety and paranoia of the last few days were finally catching up to him, leaving him breathless and lost in a tumultuous storm of thoughts and feelings.
He glanced up when he heard a voice and saw Bones looking at him with concern. Tech and Crosshair, who was no longer attached to the IV and had swung around to sit on the edge of the bed, watched from behind him. His brothers’ faces were unreadable.
“You need to breathe, Hunter.” Bones was saying to him, voice gentle and calm.
Hunter’s brow furrowed as he realised he was gasping for air, unable to get a full breath as he spiralled. He put a hand out and leaned heavily against the wall as he gasped. He couldn’t breathe. His arm felt shaky as he leaned into it.
Bones approached him slowly, hands outstretched towards him. He gently put them on his shoulders when he didn’t pull away. He spoke softly the entire time as he guided him to sit against the wall before he could fall. His legs shook as he sunk to the ground, the world greying.
He tried to listen to what Bones was saying, but he couldn’t look away from Tech and Crosshair. He couldn’t tell what they were thinking as they watched him break down in front of them. He thought he could see disappointment in Tech’s eyes, and Crosshair scowled harshly but that could mean anything. He saw Crosshair say something to Tech who shook his head and said something in return, their eyes never leaving him. The scowl deepened.
A hand taking his broke off his staring and he looked back over at Bones, who kept a gentle smile on his face as he took his hand and held it to his chest, breathing deeply. Hunter frowned and tried to listen to what he was saying.
“Come on, deep breaths, Hunter. Like this.”
He tried to copy him, but his breaths hitched and stuttered. Bones said something else, but Hunter was too focused on breathing to listen. He focused solely on the rise and fall of his chest and matching it to Bones’s, desperate to focus on anything other than his taunting thoughts. Slowly, colour returned to the room and sound filtered back into his ears.
“Very good. You’re doing great, trooper.” Bones was saying. Tech and Crosshair were quiet behind him.
He took a deep breath before he spoke, his voice shakier than he would have liked. “Sorry about that.”
Bones helped him stand. “No need to apologise, it happens.” He looked over to Tech and Crosshair. “I’ll make sure that information is sent to your datapad as soon as possible. Stay safe out there, troopers.” He flashed them one last smile and left the room.
The three of them sat in silence for a moment before Crosshair broke it, that scowl never leaving his face. Though now that he wasn’t panicking, Hunter could see the concern it masked. “Care to tell us what that was about, Sarge?”
Hunter let out a tired huff and moved to sit on the other bed, his legs still feeling shaky under him. “I’m fine.”
“I do not believe a panic attack counts as fine. How long have you been feeling like this?” Tech said.
Hunter just gave him a look.
Crosshair scoffed, arms crossed. “If this is how you treat yourself in a literal med centre, it’s a wonder you’ve made it so far. What were you thinking, di’kut? There are three other people on this team who would have gladly helped. Who I’ve been told did try to. Or are you too good for that?”
It was Hunter’s turn to scoff at that. “You’re one to talk. You’re the worst out of all of us.”
“At least I admit it.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, Tech watching impassively.
Hunter broke first with a long sigh. “You’re right. But it’s my job to look out for all of you, as your leader and ori’vod.”
“It’s our job, as a team and brothers, to look out for each other. No one is so high above the rest that they’re exempt. You said that yourself, Hunter. That’s not how we do things.”
“Alright, I’m sorry.”
Crosshair huffed. “You better be. This happens again and I’m telling Cody we need a new Sergeant who can actually look after himself. Now get me out of here, if I’m not on the Marauder in the next ten minutes, I’m going to hit something.”
Hunter let out a genuine laugh at that, moving to help Tech steady Crosshair as he stood. They stayed close by his side as they moved through the med centre. He could walk just fine on his own, but quickly lost his breath, needing to pause a few times and just breathe.
They made it to the ship before anyone took any drastic measures. Wrecker shouted happily when he saw them, rushing over and easily picking Crosshair up. He ignored the indignant squawk and hissed threats as he carried him back to the ship.
Echo greeted them as they entered the cockpit, looking more relaxed than he had in days. Wrecker had set Crosshair down on a seat, standing next to him. Crosshair curled up as much as he could in the seat without impeding his breathing, not pushing him away when Wrecker’s hand landed on his shoulder. Tech settled into the pilot’s seat.
Hunter felt tears prick in his eyes as he took in his family. After his breakdown just a few minutes ago, the sheer relief of seeing them all together and happy again was almost too much. He took a steadying breath and wiped his eyes. He turned to Tech as Echo started the ship and they took off.
“Alright, Tech. What’s our first lead?”
Tech began to rattle off the best leads he had narrowed down as the ship shuddered and shot forward into the dancing blue of hyperspace.