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When Leo brought home the flu virus, Chase knew the rest of the month would be chaotic. Once someone caught something, it spread throughout the household like wildfire. Chase was just lucky enough that his immune system was strong.
There was one year when everyone had the flu (a different variant than this time, but only Chase cared enough about the intricacies). Adam and Bree were down for the count for three days. Leo was ill for a week, as were Mr Davenport and Tasha when they caught it. The only one who didn’t get sick was Chase.
“It’s all thanks to my phenomenal immune system,” Chase had bragged.
The others were sceptical, but Chase was adamant. After all, he was the third bionic created; for all they knew, Douglas might have put something in his chip to make him immune to different illnesses.
And so, Chase geared himself up to be everyone’s caretaker for the next month.
Chase would remind Leo to take his meds and drink water; if Chase wasn’t home, he’d text Leo constant reminders. After Leo recovered, Adam caught the bug. Then, the following week, Bree had it.
(Chase was lucky that Mr Davenport was on a business trip. No offence to his father figure, but the man was a menace when ill.)
By the time everyone was healthy nearly a month later, Chase felt exhausted. On top of ensuring everyone was taken care of, he had schoolwork and missions to worry about. His body ached in places he didn’t know existed; everything felt warm, and he had a tickle in his throat that refused to settle.
As soon as everything calmed down enough that Chase could relax, his body failed him. One moment, he was in the lab getting ready for the day; the next, Chase was waking up on the floor, Tasha hovering anxiously over him.
“You alright, sweetie?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Chase replied slowly, confusion in his tone. “I could have sworn I was getting ready for school.”
“The others left already, but I came down to see where you were and found you on the floor. How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know how to describe it, but I feel heavy. Like, everything aches, and moving feels like a chore?”
“Oh, honey, I think you’re sick.”
Chase blinked. “That’s not possible. I’ve never been sick.”
“That might be true, but it seems like you are now. I’d need to take your temperature to be sure, though.”
Soon enough, Tasha dragged Chase upstairs and pulled out a thermometer. Seeing a temperature of 102, she pursed her lips.
“Alright,” Tasha sighed, “let me call the school real quick.”
“Why?” Chase asked. “What’s it say?”
“You have a fever of 102. I hate to say it, but you’re not allowed to attend school.”
“But I have a test this week! And I have homework I need to turn in!”
She levelled him with a look. “Chase, I know you’ve done your homework a month in advance, and I’m sure the teachers know it too. As for your test, you can ask to make it up when you get back.”
Chase couldn’t argue with her logic.
“I’m sure Donald wouldn’t mind if you stayed in one of his many spare rooms until your fever breaks.”
“And if he does?”
“Then he’ll have to answer to me.”
Chase smiled. The thought of lying down and taking a nap sounded fantastic. Trudging upstairs, he allowed Tasha to lead him to a bedroom. Upon flopping on the bed, Chase was out.
The following 24 hours were a little fuzzy. Chase knew he had medicine every four to six hours, and he knew he had a constantly full glass of water beside him, but other than that, he couldn’t tell you anything. The next day was similar.
It was the third day when Chase was reasonably coherent with a mild fever of 99.5.
He was reading a book and minding his business when the others came home from school. He wasn’t even aware they were home until Leo burst into the room.
“What happened to your phenomenal immune system, huh?”
Chase glared in his direction. “How was I supposed to know I could get sick?”
“I don’t know! Maybe because Adam and Bree can get sick?!”
“But I’ve never been sick before!”
“Did you seriously think you couldn’t catch a cold or something?”
“I had no evidence to prove otherwise!”
Leo and Chase stared one another down before Leo chuckled.
“Well, at least now we know. I tried to get your homework for this week, but your teachers said you’d turned them in already.”
“I see nothing wrong with being prepared,” Chase shrugged.
“Yeah, but it’s high school homework,” Leo argued lightly. “No one ever does their homework that early!”
“What’s wrong with turning stuff in a month in advance?”
“Dude, you have a serious problem.”
“You’re so annoying.”
Soon enough, Leo took pity on Chase’s state and left him be. Rolling his eyes, Chase picked up his book again and resumed reading. He’d work on his homework and study for his test, but that was tomorrow’s problem.