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Eddie rushed as he filled a glass of water and wet a cloth, hating to spend even a few seconds away from Steve and his fever. Eddie squeezed the cloth to damp, not bothering to dry his hands before heading back to their bedroom. Steve still lay curled on his side, his sweaty hair dampening the pillowcase a darker blue.
At the sound of Eddie returning, Steve pried open one tired eye.
“Hey, got you some water,” Eddie started as he sat on the edge of the bed. He’d changed out of his jeans and shirt for work and into sweatpants and one of Steve’s old tees. Eddie kept his hair tied back in a loose bun, wanting nothing to come between him and taking care of his sick boyfriend.
Steve groaned as he pushed himself to his elbow. He’d stripped off his shirt sometime in the night, and still felt too warm as the covers fell away. His arm shook with the effort to sit, and was thankful when Eddie guided him the rest of the way to upright. Steve whined at the movement and effort, and only wanted to sleep.
Eddie pressed a kiss into Steve’s damp hair. “I know you’re tired, babe,” Eddie soothed as he watched the numbers climb on the thermometer. “We’ll get you some painkillers and then you can sleep, okay?”
Eddie ran a hand over Steve’s temple and down to his neck. Eddie reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. “Here, sip this. Slowly, okay? And then, take these.”
Steve took the pills from Eddie and swallowed them with a wince, and managed half the glass of water before pulling away. He felt awful, and even the effort to drink felt like too much.
“I’m not liking the look of this fever, Steve,” Eddie mumbled, biting his lip in worry. He pressed the back of his hand against Steve’s forehead, then reached for the thermometer. “Here, open up.”
“You jus’took it,” Steve mumbled around the thermometer under his tongue.
“I know,” Eddie worried. “But you look worse than you did an hour ago.”
“Gee tanks,” Steve grumbled with the thermometer under his tongue. Steve let his head fall into Eddie’s chest as Eddie cuddled him closer.
“Well, the meds should kick in and help.”
Steve pouted around the thermometer but nodded as the device beeped.
“100.5. You don’t do anything halfway, do ya, Harrington?”
“Mm-mm. N’m’glad you’re here,” Steve mumbled into Eddie’s shirt, shifting so his arms wrapped around Eddie’s waist as he leaned into his chest. The aching in his bones was heavy and it felt as if he was trapped in molasses. Steve was heavy on Eddie’s chest, the fever sapping his energy.
“Course I’m here.”
“Didn’t wan’to keep you home.”
Eddie looked down at Steve on his chest. “You didn’t want to keep me home?”
“Kieth’s a menace. N’you just started there.” Steve’s voice was a hoarse mumble.
Eddie stroked Steve’s shoulder. “Doesn’t mean you should be alone, though. Especially when you’re not feeling well.”
Steve whimpered and hugged Eddie closer.
“Besides,” Eddie continued. “I can handle Kieth. Remember how he tried to tell me rings weren’t company policy?”
Steve let out a weak laugh. “Failed at that.”
“Exactly. And now I wear extra just to piss him off.” Eddie pressed another kiss to Steve’s head. “When did you start feeling like this?”
Steve shifted against Eddie’s chest. “Yesterday. Felt kinda…weird. N’hot.” Steve managed a weak shrug. “N’it’s summer.”
Eddie nodded. “And nothing else feels weird? Your stomach or anything?”
Steve shook his head and pulled out of Eddie’s arms. “Jus’ feels like I swallowed knives.” He fell back to the bed and turned to his side, trying to find a comfortable position. His limbs were heavy and even laying down, his head still pounded in his ears.
Eddie placed a loving hand on Steve’s bare shoulder and reached for the cool rag. “This fever has you burning up.”
Steve could only groan in response as he pushed off the rest of the covers around his legs.
Eddie ran the rag over his temples and neck. The cool touch felt like a miracle and Steve let his eyes slip closed as his body cooled slightly.
Eddie continued his ministrations until Steve curled on his side and Eddie stroked the cloth over his cheeks.
Steve mumbled a word as he let sleep start to pull at his mind. “Stay?”
Eddie gave Steve’s shoulder a squeeze and he carefully climbed on the bed so he lay next to Steve.
It took Steve a minute to turn over and into Eddie, snuggling up against the man’s side with his head back on Eddie’s chest. Steve hummed contentedly against Eddie, letting the rhythm of Edde’s breath be a lullaby.
Eddie stayed with Steve until he fell asleep, occasionally carding his fingers through Steve’s sweaty brown hair.
And Steve slept, knowing that Eddie was right there if he needed anything.