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Negan watched Rick carefully, he looked a little out of it. His blue eyes glazed over in thought. "You alright honey?" Negan asked slipping beside him. "Are ya feeling alright?"
Rick looked up softly, blinking for a moment to fix his vision.
"Fine."
"That's not the Rick I know." Negan muttered kissing his forehead, as his lips touched his face he was surprised to feel such a warmth. "Lay down will ya honey?
"I'm fine Negan."
"Eh, lay down." Negan instructed, Rick rolled his eyes and did as he was told knowing he wouldn't be able to argue with him for long. He laid back on their bed and waited for Negan to do whatever he had planned. Negan headed to the bathroom and looked around for a thermometer.
Negan returned to their room. "Open up."
"I don't need to."
"It's your mouth or somewhere else." Negan warned, Rick froze and opened his mouth knowing not to argue with Negan when he got in protective mode. Negan could be terrifying, but he was also a giant teddy bear. Negan smiled happily as he placed the thermometer in his mouth, Negan waited for a moment before he pulled it away.
'Tsk'
Rick looked up at him warily. That didn't sound good.
"You've got a fever Ricky." Negan muttered kissing his forehead again. "So you just stay here and I will be right back alright?"
Rick nodded as Negan disappeared out the door once again. Negan slipped down the stairs and grabbed a cup to fill with water, he then flipped on the stove to warm up some soup. He was going to make sure he takes care of his Rick. He grabbed a bowl and a tray, he set the bowl on top of the tray as well as the cup. He found a can of chicken noodle soup and began to warm it. As it warmed he found a slice of bread and set it on the tray. Rick needed to eat as well, take care of himself to stay healthy,
Rick groaned, he hated feeling weak. He wasn't and he knew he wasn't but being sick never faired well with him. He laid bac head on the soft pillows as he watched out the window. His people going about their day. He hated being out of commission in case they needed him.
Negan finished the soup and spooned it into the bowl. He smiled filling the glass with water and walking up the stairs. He set the tray on the bed side table. "Eat and rest, then you'll be fine. You'll get better."
"A fever is what's going to kill me, not a walker, not a neighboring evil. It will be a fever."
Negan narrowed his eyes. "Don't talk like that, I won't let no bug take you out. You're mine."
Rick snickered feeling his lips press to his temple. He took his bowl of soup, he smiled as he smelled the chicken and noodles. "This is really nice, thank you.."
"I'm going to take care of you, and I will take over as leader while you're sick okay? Take care of Judy and Carl too."
Rick smiled, Negan was something special. The man watched him carefully, he sat beside him on the bed while he enjoyed the soup and bread. He drank the water after Negan handed it over to him. "You need to take care of yourself. Probably why you're sick Ricky. You best start taking better care. No more hunts or supply runs without a jacket."
"I promise.. I'm sorry."
Negan smirked. "Good."
Negan pulled Rick into him and held him close. Rick laid back and fell asleep after a while, Negan watched the rise and fall of his chest. He didn't want to leave him to parole their community, he truly just wanted to lay with him and cuddle. He held him a bit longer, kissed the top of his curled hair, and then headed down the stairs pulling on his leather jacket.
He did his best to take over Rick's job, sending out a hunting party with Daryl in the lead. He soon had Michonne take over for him so he could return to Rick.
He made his way up back to their home and up the stairs, he set his jacket on the back of the door and pulled off his boots before climbing back into bed pulling his sick lover into his arm. "I love you Ricky, always will."