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Working in a job like that of the Octonauts, there was always the risk of injury. They took precautionary measures to avoid injury, but you couldn’t always avoid it. Especially when you were dealing with creatures that could move faster in the water than you could. Especially if the fish had spines with venom in them. The lionfish in particular.
Barnacles and the crew had gotten the lionfish back to their home, luckily with only one person getting stung. Captain Barnacles himself had gotten stung while making sure Peso wouldn’t get stung. The medic had taken care of the sting wound quickly and Barnacles assured him it was ok. That was about 3 days ago. Normally Peso would not want Barnacles to do any heavy work after getting stung, but they needed his help with some environmental restoration. Eventually the crew forgot about the sting from the lionfish. The only one who didn’t was Captain Barnacles.
Barnacles groaned as he woke up. His arm hurt, pain pulsing through it. He forced himself up, wincing slightly. He flicked on his light, blinking at the light. He rubbed his arm, pausing when he felt liquid on his paw. He looked down at his arm, noticing the swollen, oozing wound. He groaned, leaning against the wall. He could wake Peso, but it was the middle of the night. The Octopod was closer to the surface so they could see the light coming through the water. It was still dark.
Barnacles stood up and walked over to where he kept his spare first aid kit. Every member of the crew had one in their quarters, it was mandatory. He cleaned off his paw before he touched anything in the kit. He opened it, rummaging through before he found the antibacterial wipes. He cleaned off the wound, wincing. He then rubbed the wipe over the wound. It stung. He could feel the heat from the wound through the wipe.
After he finished with the disinfecting wipe, he began to wrap it in gauze. He made sure the wrap was flat, that way it would fit under his suit. He could feel the wound throbbing slightly. He sighed as he put the kit away. He felt like he was running a low-grade fever, his ears folded back slightly. He sat down on his bed again, wincing as his arm throbbed. He felt mild nausea swirl in his gut. The bear groaned, letting himself lay back down. Hopefully he would feel a bit better in the actual morning.
Barnacles didn’t stay asleep until the actual morning. He woke up again about 2 hours before anyone else. He didn’t feel better at all, he actually felt worse. A slow, pulsing pain had taken over his arm. His fever had gone up, and his nausea had increased. He groaned as he sat up, wincing as his head ached. He decided to just get up and get ready for the day. He put on his suit, wincing at the pressure on his arm. He went down the tube, wrapping an arm around his middle as it swirled.
He made it to the kitchen on the Octopod. Maybe some tea would help settle his stomach. He got the cup out, putting the ginger teabag in it. He used the coffee maker to get hot water. He then took his cup and sat down at the counter. A chill ran through him. He leaned on the counter, mug in his paws. He groaned as nausea swirled within him. He lowered his head to the counter, sighing at the cool material against his fevered skin. He closed his eyes, a slight grimace on his face.
Barnacles was woken by the sound of voices. A paw landed on his shoulder. It pulled away just a moment later. More hushed voices. He groaned as he lifted his head, pressing his paw to his face. The voices were quiet. “Captain, are you alright?” Kwazii asked him, but Barnacles didn’t hear him.
“Hmm? What did you say?” Barnacles asked, rubbing his eyes.
“He was asking if you are feeling alright, Captain.” Shellington said.
“Yes yes…I’m fine…” Barnacles said.
As soon as he said it, he realized how much of a lie that was. His stomach was swirling violently, fever aches plaguing his entire body. The worst part was his arm. It was throbbing and pulsing, pain shooting through it with every heartbeat. He had to hold back a pained whimper. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him. He had to move. He went to stand up. The second he was upright, he stumbled. He tried to catch himself, unfortunately he ended up using his injured arm. A cry of pain escaped him as he sagged against the counter. “Captain!” The rest of the Octonauts cried out.
“Flappity flippers! Are you ok?!” Peso was at his side in an instant.
Barnacles felt his stomach lurch. He shook his head, wincing as his head pounded. He could feel another paw on his back, Kwazii based on the small, accidental prick of claws. “What’s wrong Captain?” Kwazii asked.
“I-I don’t feel so good…” Captain Barnacles said, a nauseated burp leaving him.
“Do you need to sit down?” Dashi asked him.
“I- I don’t know... HLK!” A gag cut him off.
He bent over and vomit spilled out of him, splattering on the ground. Kwazii jumped back, tail puffing up. He felt Peso’s flipper on his back, rubbing circles gently. Tweak held a bucket under him as he threw up again. Kwazii had put his paw back, helping keep Barnacles upright. Finally, his stomach emptied itself. He still felt nauseated, but there was nothing left to come up. Kwazii and Peso eased him away from the mess on the floor. Shellington pulled over a chair for Barnacles. Peso’s flipper pressed against his arm and Barnacles yelped, pain shooting through his arm. “Captain! What’s wrong?” Shellington asked him.
“Wait a minute…That’s where the lionfish stung him…” Peso said.
A cool cloth was pressed against his skin, and he sighed, leaning into the contact. Dashi was holding the cloth, she gave another to Shellington. He pressed that one to Barnacles’ neck. The polar bear sighed, wrapping his good arm around his turbulent belly. “Captain, I want to check your arm, ok?” Peso asked.
Barnacles nodded slightly and let Peso take the top of his suit off. Peso hissed when he saw the wound. It was inflamed and oozing. “Yeeow! That doesn’t look good.” Kwazii said, wincing.
“It’s infected…That’s what’s making him sick.” Peso added, already grabbing a washcloth to clean it with.
Barnacles hissed as Peso began cleaning the wound. “I never should have let you help us. You still had an open wound…this is my fault.” Peso said.
Barnacles gently patted Peso’s shoulder with his good arm. He still felt nauseous and achy, but he didn’t want his crew members blaming themselves. A small, nauseated burp escaped him. Green paws placed the bucket down in front of him. He felt a paw gently rubbing his back, surprisingly helping his nausea.
“Don't worry Captain, we’ll have you feelin’ right as rain in no time.” Kwazii said.
Barnacles didn’t doubt that. He trusted his crew more than anything. Everything would be alright.