Chapter Text
John had been sick for nearly two days, he’d insisted it was only a cold but Alexander called bullshit on that, nevertheless off to work he went. Where he didn't do work but annoyed Washing with his anxiety and rang John every few hours, this got him sent home early. Unsurprising, John was still sick when he got there. He lay in the tangled bedsheets, drenched in sweat and gripping at his right side.
“How you doing?” Alexander asked, trying to sound okay.
“Can you help me get to the bathroom?”
Alexander nodded, John, wiggled to the end of the bed, wincing from the pain. He leaned heavily on Alexander’s shoulder and staggered to the bathroom. John crouched in front of the toilet and emptied the measly contents of his stomach then collapsed to the cold tiled floor, tears pricking in his eyes.
“John!!?” Alexander panicked and knelt to look in his eyes.
“I’ll be okay sweet pea.” John reached up and patted Alexander’s greasy hair.
“You need a glass of water?” Alexander asked and John nodded.
Out in the hallway, Alexander found his phone with shaking hands, “Lafayette?” he whispered in the kitchen as he poured water for John.
“Alexander? How are you doing my dear?”
“I- John’s sick. I-I don’t- I-don’t,” Alexander burst into tears.
“I will be over in a minute, try your best to stay calm,” Layette said and Alexander nodded, “Okay?”
“Okay.”
Layette hung just as Alexander heard a muted scream from the bathroom. He shoved his phone into his pocket and ran the glass of water to him. John was doubled over with pain that read clear as day on his face, when he saw Alexander, he did his best to hide it, “Thank you.” he took the water from Alexander and did his best to sit up.
Alexander helped him, lent him again the cabinet and clung onto him, “I rang Lafayette.” John mumbled an unintelligible reply.
Alexander sat, he focused on his breathing and the feeling of John’s curls between his fingers, his other hand was shaking out the stress. He thanked God when he heard a knock at the door. “It’s open and we’re in the bathroom,” he called and kissed John’s sweaty forehead. He noticed that there two set footsteps coming down the hall.
It was only Hercules and no need for worry, he stayed in the doorway while Lafayette came and knelt down in front of John, “What is going on?”
“I’ve just got a bad pain in my stomach, nothing that needs all this fussing,” John said through gritted teeth.
“Is your right side?” Hercules asked still standing in the doorway, John nodded, “And you have a fever? And I’m guessing you’ve thrown up, that’s why we’re in the bathroom?”
Alexander nodded for him, he wanted some form of attention on him, feeling like he’d lost control of the situation.
“It might be appendicitis, I would go to the hospital just to sure.”
“Would you like me to ring for an ambulance?” Lafayette turned to look at Hercules.
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
Alexander ferociously shook his head and muttered to himself.
“What is it, bubs?” Hercules asked.
The only response Alexander could manage was a string of distressed nos, his face contorted with tears. Hercules gently picked him up, “Move John to the couch.” he said and left the room, “What’s up?”
“They took my mother away.” Alexander knew the line of thinking was absurd but his mind could never get out that the last people he’d seen when his mother was alive were two paramedics, then she was dead.
“He will be okay.” Hercules shifted him onto his hip and kept his eyes away from John painfully walking to the living room with help for Lafayette.
Hercules tried to listen to the phone call due to Alexander sobs, he massaged Alexander’s head with his big hands and hummed a lullaby that vibrated in both of their chests. It was now a waiting game. Waiting for an ambulance, waiting for Alexander to calm down.
The latter happed first. There was a firm knock at the door, Lafayette let in two women with burnet hair tied in tight buns. Hercules carried Alexander to the living room, they watched John being questioned and given pain killers. Hercules whispered kind supportive words into Alexander’s air. Next, they questioned if anyone wanted to join him in the ambulance. Alexander firmly shook his head, so Lafayette volunteered. Hercules placed Alexander on the floor and gave him and a quick hug and kiss, whispering “Ring me when he gets out.”. Alexander shared on a forehead kiss with John swallowing down his panic.
Then they were alone, Hercules looked to Alexander. He looked shell shocked, eyes bloodshot, cheeks tearstained and hair messily escaping its tie. “He’ll be okay.” Hercules sat on the couch and patted the spot beside him, Alexander sat, “What are we watching?” Hercules fumbled for the TV remote. Alexander shrugged. Hercules flicked through the channels until he found some bullshit that seemed mindless enough to take Alexander’s mind off what had happened, it had bearly any plot but there were sexy shirtless men. Perfect.
Hercules got up once Alexander settled, he went to get a blanket and something to eat.
He threw the blanket to cover Alexander then rummaged through the kitchen and found a bag of chips. He placed the bowl on the coffee table in front of the couch. He snuggled down with Alexander, assuring him that everything was okay. Alexander found comfort in Hercules platting his hair and the crunch of the chips in his mouth.
Alexander fell asleep before Lafayette rung. Hercules gently shook him and he woke with a jump, “John’s out of surgery and we can go see him if you like?” Hercules said quietly, Alexander nodded, “Do you want to get changed? Suits aren’t that comfortable.”
Calling what Alexander was wearing a suit was a stretch, he was wearing his favorite pair of loss fitting blue jeans and red checked flannel, “Can I take the blanket?”
“Yeah, they won’t care.”
Francis got a drink then they set off in Hercules old Toyoda for the hospital downtown. When they got there, Hercules made to do the talking. It took them a few attempts but in the end, they found John’s room. Layette sat on a chair talking to John in the bed wrapped in a white blanket, he looked and smiled at Alexander. Hercules didn’t hesitate to enter the room, Alexander did. Fear glued him to the spot, he stared blankly at the white walls. He snapped out of it when John called for him. He cautiously walked over to him, John took his hand in his and pressed it to his lips, “See, I told you I would be okay.”