Chapter Text
There was a reason Abed didn’t drink. His thin body did not handle alcohol well. Not well at all. It made him woozy and made colors fly around the room. This included the tiny amount in cold medicine. Unfortunately, it was cold season. He was not immune to the power of a virus.
“Abed, you’re miserable. Take this, and lie down,” Troy instructed his half conscious boyfriend. He handed a normal dose of DayQuil to his sniffling, hacking partner, and watched Abed to make sure he took it. Getting Abed to take medicine was like trying to pill a cat. The man knocked it back after side-eyeing it, grimacing as it went down. When Troy was satisfied it was gone, he led Abed to bed and laid him down. “Try to get some sleep.”
Abed mumbled some and was out.
Troy went to the room to check on him a little later. Abed’s eyes were half open and he was muttering again. Troy felt his forehead. The fever hadn’t broken yet, but it didn’t feel as severe.
“No…”
“It’s okay, buddy. Just me.”
“Who?”
“Troy.”
Abed turned his head away. Troy knew touch was hit or miss, but usually Abed didn’t mind a hand on his cheek.
“Don’t know you.” Abed stared at him with glassy brown eyes. He seemed frightened.
“Oh. Well, I’m Troy, your… friend.”
“I don’t feel good.” This time Abed pressed into Troy’s touch, searching for comfort.
“I know. Your fever is holding on. Go back to sleep. Call for me if you need anything,” Troy whispered. He stopped himself from leaning down to kiss his boyfriend’s forehead. Somehow, he didn’t see that going well.
“Thank you… Troy.”
Abed stumbled out of the bedroom at dinner time.
“Hey, feeling better?” Troy asked as Abed plunked down next to him on the couch. He snuggled his head into Troy’s neck and sighed.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Let me feel.” He put his hand above Abed’s brow and was pleased to feel a significant drop in temperature.
“Did you talk to me while I was out?”
“Uh- huh.” Troy affirmed cautiously.
“I didn’t know that was you.”
“Of course it was me.” Troy pulled Abed into a tight hug.
“Usually people leave me alone while I’m sick. I say weird stuff. They don’t like it.”
“Nothing you say is too weird for me.” Troy rubbed his thumb over Abed’s hand. It was dry because of the weather. They’d have to pick up some better lotion.
“Zeep glorp a loopee.” Abed scratched with a mischievous grin.
“You’re hilarious.”
“I know.”
“Inspector Spacetime?”
“Yes.”
“Want noodles? I have some on the stove.”
Abed didn’t take his eyes off the tv as he pulled up their show. “Cool, cool, cool,” he rasped.
Troy took that as a yes.
They sat close as they ate and Troy soon felt a weight on his shoulder. Abed’s head rested on Troy as his bowl slipped from his hand. Troy caught it and helped Abed back to bed.
No way he was leaving. No way, no how.