Work Text:
Sam let out another sneeze.
He curled further under the covers and closed his eyes as he felt another shiver coming.
God did he hate being sick.
Though he supposed it's what he got for diving headlong into a cold river on their last case.
Max had gotten sick too of course. With the two always in such close proximity when one got sick, so did the other.
As always however, the cold had barely affected Max. Illness seemed to roll off the rabbit like water off a duck's back. Rarely was Max ever out of commission for more than a day after getting sick.
Sam wished he could say the same about himself.
He let out another sneeze.
Sam peaked an eye open at the sound of their door clicking open, Max entering holding a bowl of soup.
Max plodded over gently, placing the soup on the nightstand. "Hi, you awake?" He asked in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
"Hey little pal" he just about managed to croak out, a smile coming to his face despite his current circumstances.
"I made ya some soup. Or err, microwaved ya some soup."
The rabbit moved closer, placing a hand on Sam's forehead. "Ya feel hot. Do ya need anything? Ice pack? Wait, if you're hot do you give someone an ice pack or a hot water bottle? Wait, should you even be eating?"
Sam let out a laugh, breaking Max out of his small tirade. "I'm fine Max, honestly. All I need is some rest. C'mere, quit worryin" he lifted up the blanket, nodding to Max to get under.
"You sure? I can get ya some-"
"Just come here ya dope." He said with a smile.
The rabbit let out a sigh, climbing onto the bed and into Sam's arms.
Max pressed in close as Sam lowered his arm around him, gripping his pyjama shirt as he nuzzled his face into Sam's chest. He gave the rabbit a small peck on the forehead.
The little guy had been running around like a headless chicken since he'd got sick. Max teased him for his overly-doting nature, but he'd argue Max took the cake at times like this.
It'd always been the same. Whenever Sam got sick or injured, Max tended to hover about him like no tomorrow. He distinctly remembered a time when they were little and he'd broken his arm. Max had practically treated him like glass when he'd had his cast on, constantly offering to do things for him for weeks on end even when he'd insisted it was fine. Even after he'd gotten his cast removed Max would still occasionally ask if he needed help.
A muffled voice came from his chest "You sure you don't need-"
"I'm sure darlin'." he said with a laugh.
He'd found it annoying at the time, to have Max hovering around him. The older he'd gotten though, the more he found it endearing and maybe even a little funny. Though he wished the poor rabbit wouldn't tire himself out so much.
It'd been about three days now, and while he wasn't better, he hoped he was on the upswing. Sam had insisted multiple times he'd be fine and that Max could go and watch TV in the office if he'd wanted, but he'd stubbornly refused. Sam had simply rolled his eyes with a smile.
Max had been consistently nearby on either his bunk, a chair or most often in Sam's bed with him, cuddled up close. The only times he wasn't with him were when he was gathering up various items he thought Sam might need.
His bed was adorned with extra pillows and blankets galore, so cushy he thought he'd sink into it. Various hot water bottles and ice packs had been offered, even if none had been needed. Hell, he'd even caught the rabbit trying to use their decrepit old laptop to look up various ailments. That'd quickly had a stop put to it when Max had woken him up in a panic thinking he might have dropsy. How Max had even gotten onto an aquarium forum in the first place he'd never know.
The feeling of Max in his arms was comforting. The fact the guy like his own personal little heater was always a bonus.
He felt the rabbit's breathing begin to slow, nose twitching adorably as he began to drift off. He pet the rabbit's head without thinking, earning a sleepy purr. The gentle constant noise was enough to make him feel drowsy himself, and he slowly felt himself begin to drift off.
He was sick. But he had Max. Honestly, it was almost worth it.
He let out another sneeze.
Almost.