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"Are ya sure?" The worried cowboy's voice and expression through the video call questioned the decision that Jack had confronted him with.
Morrison shook his head in response and tried to manage a smile. "Yes, Cole. I don't need anyone to come over and help us out. I'm perfectly fine with taking care of my husband. I've done it countless times before and I'm sure no one wants to see how dramatic he's being right now." He rubbed over his brow and tried to ease the crease in it. "I don't want us to ruin the party you and Han spent so long planning with me and Genji, either. We'll be there for Christmas morning at least." He reassured him.
Cassidy hummed weakly and shook his head at him. "Selfless as always, ain't ya Jack?" He let his shoulders sink as he returned his wary smile with his own sad one. "Don't hesitate to call any of us if you do need help, okay? And I mean that, I'll be callin' to check up on y'all again soon." He promised. He knew that Christmas was the old soldier's favorite, and this being their first all back together... he'd wanted to make it special. This was unfortunate timing for Gabriel to go under the weather, to put it lightly. He chuckled a bit at overhearing whining from the other room coming from the man in question.
"Jaaaaackieee, I need my blankettt," he pouted.
Jack sighed, his few minutes of peace from calling one of their surrogate kids now broken. He quickly ended the call with Cass before Gabe called for him again, the frustration making his muscles tense. He entered the bedroom just as Gabe was finishing whining his name again. He raised an eyebrow at him then paused at seeing where the blanket was, his nose scrunching as the frustration bubbled higher. "Gabriel, seriously?! It's two feet away from you, what the hell?" He marched over anyways and snagged it, his movements stiff as he went to give it to him.
Gabriel whined a bit at the tone that was being taken with him, shrinking down and sniffling weakly from his runny nose. He looked up at Jack with round sad eyes, wordlessly making the other man's anger falter and melt away. Jack knew how sick he'd been, this wasn't just a cold even if he was being more dramatic than was called for most of the time. He softened as well at the blanket tenderly being wrapped around him and the beanie on his head being fixed, sighing quietly in relief since he didn't know if Jack was about to punch him or what from the way he stormed in the room. At least his attempt at puppy eyes worked, but he swore if he ever saw Jack give him his pouty face again he'd melt in an instance. Maybe literally with how unstable his form could be at times.
He felt awful. He was sure he didn't look much better. From Jack's perspective, that was entirely true. His eyes were puffy and red and so was his nose, not to mention the pitiful way he looked at him and refused to budge an inch. But he also looked... alive. So much more alive than the corpse he'd practically been faced with the first time he'd seen Reyes without his mask after all these years. Not that he thought much of himself anymore. He knew he wasn't a looker or the poster boy he used to be with his scars and deep set wrinkles: many from all the stress and worry that Overwatch and the SEP program had put him through. The beard was a newer addition, but he wasn't sure if it helped him look younger or even older. But no matter what, he knew he always looked tired. Especially the past few days with little to no sleep worrying over Gabriel since he'd started to get sick following his most recent treatment. He still worried a lot. About all of them, he cared much more than his prickly personality let on, but he didn't even let Gabriel see that. He'd pretended to go to sleep last night especially, but he'd stayed up constantly checking on Gabe and making sure that he got a full night's sleep for once.
Gabriel's small voice brought Jack back out of his mind, the quiet "thanks" being uncharacteristically timid and only making him soften more for him. He sighed and shook his head at the gratitude. "You know I'd do just about anything for you, even when you're acting like a princess."
"I've always liked it when you've called me princess." Gabriel retorted before coughing from almost laughing.
Morrison scoffed weakly and smiled at that, sitting beside him on the bed and rubbing over his back. "Then I guess I'll have to pamper you until you feel better so you don't whine as much." That only got him a whine in response, which made the rest of his frustration dissipate into his amusement.
~~~
Reyes didn't feel better the rest of the day. Cole did call a couple times, as promised, and did talk to him to check in on his condition. He brought over some food for them, leftovers from the party, along with some medicine from Angie. Jack turned him away at the door instead of inviting him in like he would under normal circumstances; but honestly, Cass didn't want to hang around too long in case whatever Gabe was going through was contagious. He didn't want to get sick, let alone get anyone else sick.
That night wasn't any better. It actually seemed like Reyes was getting worse despite the dose of medicine and Jack basically force feeding him to make sure he got enough to eat. He was doing his best to care for him despite the fact they were both just trying to learn how to be in a relationship with each other again. It didn't help that his continued dramatics and requests over little things were getting on his nerves slightly more every time they came up. He stayed up until he went to sleep anyways, taking the beanie off his head and tucking him in more. He wanted him to be comfortable. He snuck out of the room to call Angela about what was happening, staying on the phone with her until he heard Gabriel wake himself up from coughing. The awful hacking noise made him shudder and tense up, worriedly rushing back to his partner. The black sludge on his hands and dripping down his face almost made him recoil and did make him cringe. He had no idea WHAT that was, but he didn't hesitate to come to his side and help clean him up. Maybe this was more serious than he thought... but he still wouldn't forgive him for the drama.
Jack hushed him and let him fall back to sleep on his chest as soon as he calmed down from the coughing fit. They'd talk about it later, he just wanted to let him rest first. He was starting to feel a bit sick, himself. He was sure that was just from his worrying and seeing all that was happening to Gabriel though. After all, he hadn't been sick in years, either. He managed a couple short naps, but any noise that Gabe made woke him right back up to check on him and make sure he was alright.
~~~
Gabriel didn't feel any better or any less tired in the morning. He was a bit surprised to find Jack was awake when he did wake up, whining quizzically at him.
"Hey sleepyhead." That grumbly morning voice nearly made him purr despite how sick he felt. He hoped Jack had actually slept instead of just putting on the voice for show. "How are you feeling?" The white-haired man asked in the same tone.
"Sleepy... tired."
Jack scoffed. "Ah yeah, you're the tired one." He joked but it fell flat from his voice and garnered a grumble from his partner instead of the laugh he'd wanted. "Hey. By the way, what was the crap you spat up last night?" He figured now was a good a time as any to ask.
But Gabriel recoiled and almost hissed at him. "As if I know. I'm not a scientist. And it's none of your business anyways even if I did."
Jack set his jaw. "What do you mean "none of my business"? Your business is my business, you just never included me in it. I thought we were past this and I was helping in your recovery process."
"Send it to Angela then so she can find out for you." He sniffed after he retorted.
Jack sighed and tried to joke again. "Moira might be able to tell us if we get Olivia to help." He wanted to lighten the mood instead of fighting first thing.
"You don't know what she did to me Jack, what she was STILL doing to me and convincing me that she was the only one who could fix it." Gabriel's defensive, snippy tone at merely saying the scientist's name only renewed Jack's feelings about this. He responded more defensively and desperately than he meant to.
"Maybe because you've NEVER told me anything. And you're still not telling me anything besides what you want me to do for you! I'm not some slave, and I thought you TRUSTED me."
"I... do trust you, Jack... I've... I've just always been scared to *hurt* you." Gabriel sat up instead of just looking up at Jack from his chest, breaking apart from his hold. He searched his face, unsure of what he was feeling since he hadn't relearned his expressions yet.
"Yet you tried to kill me more than once. Yeah, always undermining my authority then literally shooting me in the back really says you're scared to hurt me." He scoffed and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at Gabriel in turn.
Gabe shrunk down at that. He snubbed and looked away, coughing weakly before rubbing his eyes. This was a very sensitive topic for them both. He wasn't sure he wanted to get into it just because Jack was trying to joke while he was sick. "Jack... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it like that, I'm just... not feeling well and I shouldn't have snapped. We shouldn't... fight right now. We can talk about this later, after I'm better and we're... both under less stress." He swallowed his pride, his voice getting quiet as he did.
Jack huffed and decided it best for him to remove himself from the situation before he'd say anything he didn't mean. He always had been good at running. He only grunted a bit in confirmation and got up, placing the beanie back on Gabe's head and mumbling that he loved him before leaving the room. Even when they were upset, he didn't want to leave that unsaid anymore. He'd left it unsaid too many times in the past and regretted it all the years they were apart. The time apart for a while would help them both cool off.
Jack sat in their small living room watching the videos and looking at the pictures and messages that he'd been sent from the party the previous night. It seemed like it was a success even without their involvement, though Reinhardt filling in for him as Santa was something he wished he could've seen in person. Such a shame his beard went to waste, though being Santa hadn't been his idea in the first place. He was sure that costume Gabe made for him to do it would come in handy some other time. Knowing him, he'd likely push him to do it and hand out the presents Christmas morning. While seeing the fun that everyone else had, he again felt pity for his partner. He'd been excited for it even though his relationship with most everyone was still rocky. He knew he was trying. But now he was sick, and he'd been getting frustrated at him. It wasn't his fault... well maybe the dramatics and extra pouting were, but he knew he really wasn't feeling well.
~~~
And he didn't start feeling any better, either. In fact, his condition worsened past the cold-like symptoms through the day. Gabe was still acting like he was going to die, but Jack did genuinely feel bad for him at this point. He did start to find it amusing how he was acting more like a baby than a grown man. Even if it was still frustrating. He rejoined him and watched sappy holiday movies to make fun of them with him and try to help him feel better in the evening. He wasn't afraid of getting sick even if it was possible, he'd just work through it like he always had if he did. He didn't talk about what happened earlier in the day, he just wanted things to get better. And if he had to go housewife mode to make that happen, then he would.
They saw the sparks of their old selves in this. Small domestic moments, even if they had to come from unfortunate circumstances, were extremely rare in their lives. Jack didn't disturb Gabriel when he ended up drifting off in his arms in the middle of one of the movies... though part of him wanted to given he was drooling on his chest. He couldn't necessarily blame him though, since he couldn't breathe out of his nose to begin with.
~~~
With another dose of medicine in the morning, and a hefty coughing fit and time spent hunched over the toilet in the morning, it seemed the worst of it was over. Gabriel was more than thankful for that. Though, he had to keep pouting and whining when he realized it would get him more of Jack's attention and affection. He avoided any sensitive topics that would cause contention, instead soaking in the quiet moments they were sharing. Maybe this wasn't half bad. It was almost peaceful compared to the missions they been on and the way Jack had quickly become a workaholic again even without being a leader in the reforming organization. He whined especially when his sunshine excused himself and completely left the room without an explanation, sniffing and pouting for him to come back. Jack seemed determined to do whatever he wanted to though, and he knew he couldn't stop him when he got like that. That was one of the many things and mannerisms they shared. He kept waiting... watching the movies Jack had queued for them and waiting. He made it through one and a half before he huffed and contemplated calling for him to make sure he hadn't abandoned him in their little apartment. He was already extremely restless from having to stay in bed for so long, and being alone really wasn't helping. Then the door opened before he finished weighing the options for what to do. That sheepish smile his sunshine walked in with lit up the room.
Jack was carrying a tray. Gabe couldn't quite see what was on it until he got closer. Then he softened as he looked at it and back up at Jack. "Oh, cariño..." he murmured, and Jack was the one to nearly melt at being called that.
"I did my best to copy your mamá's recipe... but you know I'm not a very good cook... maybe the bread will make up for it..?" Baking was more his forté after all, and homemade bread wasn't hard to begin with. The soup admittedly didn't look the best, but it did smell good to him... not that Gabe could smell right now. Maybe if it didn't taste good he wouldn't even notice, at least that's what he could hope for.
~~~
No thanks to Jack's attempt at cooking, Gabe did continue to recover. Though to be fair, the soup wasn't bad... but nothing could compare to a mother's cooking. The baking was another story, Gabe didn't know how he'd survived so long without it. Even sick, he could tell just how good it was. Despite the improvements, Jack called Cole and the others to let them know sadly that they wouldn't be able to make it for Christmas after a few more days passed.
But he had something else up his sleeve.
The knock at the door holding the tree and most of the returned agents early Christmas morning surprised everyone in the room. Despite the word he'd previously given, Jack stood at the door with a mischievous smile. He had a bag over his shoulder holding all the gifts that they'd gotten for everyone, only further accentuating his Santa costume. He waved at everyone and stepped inside to allow everyone to see the state that Gabriel was in. He was holding a large tray of cookies that Jack had baked, but his expression was not nearly as jolly as the other man's. That was due completely to the outfit he was wearing. Being dressed as an elf was the last way he wanted to spend Christmas morning, but Jack has insisted since they'd missed the party. He felt like it was mainly just for revenge for his dramatics though.
At least everyone found it charming. It was a warm holiday, and it felt like family for both of them despite the surrounding circumstances. They had each other again anyways, that meant they could manage anything life would throw at them. There really was no place like home for the holidays, and the best home they had was in each other.
~~~
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