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Sebastian knocks on Sam’s front door for what seems to be the hundredth time.
“Sam! C’mon open the door!” Sebastian called out.
He sighed when he was met with no response.
“He must not want to see you.” Sebastian looked over to see Haley unlocking her front door grinning at him.
“Gee thanks, Haley.” He mocked back.
Haley rolled her eyes at him as she entered her house and slammed the door behind her.
Sebastian pulled out his phone, he glared at all the unread texts he sent Sam from earlier that morning. Usually Sebastian would’ve let it go and try to text him again tomorrow but something didn’t seem right. Sam is known to forget things but this was just not like him at all.
“Sam I get it you didn’t wanna lose at pool again, doesn’t mean you have to ignore me!” Sebastian yelled at Sam’s front door.
Thankfully Jodi and Vincent weren’t home to hear any of this, they went to Zuzu City for the weekend. Sebastian and Sam were planning to have their usual Friday night at the Saloon then watch a movie that Sebastian’s been wanting to show Sam. These plans didn’t happen when Sam didn’t show up to the Saloon that evening.
Sebastian turned to leave in defeat until he passed Sam’s window.
That’s it!
“Please don’t be locked.” Sebastian whispered to himself, in front of the window.
Of course it wasn’t locked.
Sebastian slid the window open and hesitated. Should he really go in? Isn’t this some kind of invasion of privacy?
Then he remembered all the times Sam would show up to his house unannounced. He’d barge into Sebastian’s room and just hang out. Even when Sebastian was too busy with work, he’d lay on his bed scrolling on his phone or playing video games. They would just enjoy each other's company in silence. That’s the type of friendship they had. That’s the type of friendship Sebastian cherished.
Sebastian took a quick breath and carefully climbed through the window.
The darkness of Sam’s room was broken by the street light from outside, illuminating through the window.
“Sam?” Sebastian whispered.
His eyes focused on the bed, it was obvious Sam was in it. His blond hair sticking out from under the blanket. Sebastian slowly walked towards the bed, making sure he didn’t step or trip on anything on the floor.
Sam was laying on his side facing towards the wall, so Sebastian couldn’t see his face. Sebastian gave Sam a small nudge, annoyance boiled through Sebastian when Sam didn’t respond or react in any way. All this time Sebastian was texting him, waiting for him at the Saloon, and knocking on his door; and here he was just sleeping.
“Sam.” Sebastian said a little louder than before and gave him another nudge.
A small groan was heard from underneath the blanket.
“I can’t believe you right now.” Sebastian was officially upset. He walked towards the lamp across the room, turned it on, and returned next to the bed.
In a fit of anger he hastily threw the blanket off of Sam.
Sebastian's gaze softened and immediately felt bad when he got a good look at Sam.
Sam’s hair was a blond mess, half of it sticking to his forehead and neck in sweat, the other half splayed out on his pillow. His skin was a sickly pale color and he had dark circles under his eyes.
Sam’s body visibly shivered before his eyes fluttered open. Sam’s eyes wandered his own room before they eventually met Sebastian’s.
“Seb?” Sam weakly called out.
Sebastian nodded quietly, guilt flushing out any anger he had.
“When- when’d you get here?” Sam winced as he slowly sat up in his bed.
“Uh about-”
“Aw shit, what time is it?”
“Like 11.”
“Shit.” Sam pulled on the red yarn tied around his pinky.
Sebastian scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “Sam it’s-”
“I’m so sorry Seb. I swear I just laid down for a minute and then you’re here now. And I’m just so-”
“Stop it” Sebastian interrupted Sam’s rambling, “You’re an idiot, you know that?”
Sam gave him a small grin before shivering again.
“It’s so cold in here.” As Sam began reaching for the discarded blanket, Sebastian stopped him by putting his hand on Sam’s forehead.
“That’s what I thought.” Sebastian frowning at how warm Sam’s skin felt.
“I’m sick.” Sam’s eyes widened with realization.
“No shit.” Sebastian laughs.
Sam chuckles, about to say something before he starts coughing.
Sebastian ran out to the kitchen, grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, returned to the room and gave it to Sam.
After a few sips, Sam placed the water bottle on his night stand.
Sam smirks, “I haven’t seen you run like that since-”
“Shut it.” Sebastian said as he walked over to Sam’s drawer. He opened it and shuffled through Sam’s clothes.
“What’re you doing?” The blond asked.
“Dude, you’re sweating through your clothes that can’t be good.”
Sam looked down at his clothes, his T-shirt was stuck to his skin, damp with sweat and his shorts didn’t feel any better. The sheets underneath him were also somewhat soaked with sweat.
“Oh,” he breathes out, feeling a bit disgusted.
“Here. You change into those while I look for fresh bed sheets.” Sebastian hands Sam new clothes and walks out of the room.
Sam quickly gets up, changing his boxers and shorts. Black dots start to fill the corners of his vision as he raises his arms, removing the damp shirt. Sam lets out a few deep breaths as he drops the shirt on the floor. The room starts to spin and he feels himself falling until he’s not.
“-okay? Sam are you okay?” Sebastian’s voice sounds so far away.
Sam’s coughing and trying to catch his breath. He can’t tell if he’s still standing or where he is in the room. And he’s freezing, why was it so cold in his room?
“Breathe, Sam. C’mon.” He feels a hand rubbing circles on his back.
Sam listens to Sebastian’s instructions, “Breathe in,” he breathes in, “Breathe out,” he breathes out.
After repeating this a couple times, with some coughing in between, Sam had calmed down but he felt exhausted.
When he came to, he was sitting on the edge of his bed with Sebastian right next to him. Sebastian’s hand still rubbing circles on his back, it meant a lot since Sebastian was never really one for physical touch. Sam weakly leaned his head on Sebastian’s shoulder and closed his eyes.
He finally felt warm.
***
Sebastian sat still, letting Sam rest on him. He was still trying to process what had happened. He glanced at the bed sheets he panickily dropped on the ground once he saw Sam about to collapse in front of him. Luckily, Sebastian had caught him in time but it was hell trying to get him to breathe properly.
It freaked Sebastian out seeing Sam like this. Sam was always so energetic and animated, it was odd seeing him so drained and almost lifeless.
As much as he didn’t want to wake up Sam, Sebastian had to get up to continue to take care of Sam. He looked back at the sheets on the bed, they were still no good to lay in, he had to change them.
“Sam,” he gently said, “we have to get up.”
After a moment or two, Sam nodded but didn’t move.
“Bro.” Sebastian chuckled.
“M’kay.” Sam mumbled sitting up.
“Okay, I’m going to change the sheets so let’s move you to the couch in the living room.” Sebastian said getting up.
Sam shook his head, “No I wanna be in here with you.”
Sebastian was about to rebuttal but he looked at the blond and knew there was no arguing with him.
“Okay fine just hang out on the floor while I do this real quick.” Sebastian extended his arms to help Sam up.
He sat Sam down on the floor with his back supported by the side of the bed.
Sebastian quickly removed and changed the sheets, he put the sweaty sheets and Sam’s clothes in the hamper.
“Alright time to get back to bed.” Sebastian looked over to see Sam asleep once again, his head lolled forward with his hair covering his face.
“Sam, c’mon.” Sebastian shook his friend gently.
Sam didn’t budge.
Sebastian worriedly lifted Sam’s head, his eyes were closed and his mouth open ajar, sweat dripping down his face. With each shaky breath his body would shiver but he still felt warm to the touch.
Sebastian frowned, it seemed like Sam’s condition was somehow getting worse. He had to get Sam in the bed and help him recover.
With all his strength, Sebastian lifted Sam up onto the bed and carefully laid Sam down. Sam’s sweaty upper body was fully exposed, with everything happening Sebastian had almost forgotten Sam was shirtless all this time. There was a bruise on the right side of his abdomen from last week, when Sam attempted to show Sebastian that he could do this "insanely epic" skateboard trick. It seemed to be healing well, Sebastian's fingers ghosted over it. Sebastian shook his head out of his thoughts, before he could get Sam into a shirt he needed to do something about the sweat.
Sebastian quickly went to the bathroom, grabbed two clean washcloths, soaked them in cold water and rung them out so that they were just damp enough. He opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed a Muscle Remedy, this would have to do for now .
Sebastian walked into the room and placed the muscle remedy on the nightstand. He put one washcloth on Sam’s forehead and gripped the other washcloth in his hand. Totally normal to wipe down a sick person, a shirtless sick person who happens to be your best friend .
He pushed the hesitancy aside and got to work. He started gently patting Sam’s shoulders, his arms, then his chest and slowly worked his way down to his abdomen.
Sebastian flinched as he felt a hand with a gentle grip on his wrist. He looked up to see Sam's dazed, half lidded eyes looking back at him.
“It’s cold, Sebby.” Sam’s words were slurred together as if he were drunk. He let go of Sebastian's wrist and touched the washcloth on top of his forehead, confused how it got there.
“It’s alright Sammy, it’s all done now.” Sebastian said, trying to avoid eye contact.
Sam hummed and let out a weak breath. Just before Sam could fall asleep again, Sebastian grabbed the Muscle Remedy.
“Hold on, you need to take this first.” Sebastian blurted out.
Sam looked over and nodded, slowly pushing himself to sit up and leaned his back against the headboard of the bed.
His shaky hand reached out for the Muscle Remedy.
Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed, “Do you need help taking it because I-”
“No, I got it,” He coughed in between “I’m not a kid.” Sam stubbornly said, grabbing the bottle.
The closer the bottle was to his lips the shakier his hands got, a few drops were already leaking out of the bottle.
“Sam, let me help.” Sebastian said, reaching out.
Sam was about to argue until he noticed the tiny drops that had already landed on the bed.
“Fine.” He grumbled, handing the bottle back to Sebastian.
Sebastian slowly lifted the bottle to Sam’s lips and angled it so he could drink. They had to pause halfway through the bottle because Sam had a coughing fit. Afterwards he was able to finish the bottle.
Sam wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, “What does Harvey put in that stuff?” with a disgusted look.
“Stuff that will help.” Sebastian responded, “Here while you’re sitting up let’s put your shirt on.”
Sam smirked, “Why… don't you like what you see?”
“You wish.” Sebastian grinned and he turned away to get a new shirt for Sam to wear. His face suddenly felt very flushed.
When he turned back around, Sam was taking off the washcloth from his forehead, unbothered.
Sebastian tossed the shirt to Sam, who barely caught it.
“This didn’t go so well last time.” Sam said quietly, looking down at the shirt in his hands.
“That’s probably because you stood up too quickly. This time will be fine, if not I’ll be here to catch you again.” Sebastian reassured him.
Sam nodded and slid the shirt over his head. He carefully slipped his arms through the arm holes and adjusted the bottom half of the shirt.
“See, you did it.” Sebastian smiled proudly.
“Thanks dad.” Sam jokingly said.
Sebastian chuckled and shook his head, “Okay now lay back down, you gotta get some more rest.”
Sam nodded and did as he was told, laying back down. Sebastian pulled the blanket up and covered Sam with it. He placed his hand on Sam’s forehead, he felt butterflies in his stomach as Sam closed his eyes at the touch. Sam’s temperature was better than before but still warm. Sebastian grabbed the washcloth and placed it on top of Sam’s forehead.
Sam’s dazed eyes studied Sebastian once again. Sebastian wondered what Sam could be thinking. Their faces seemed so close to each other but no one moved, they stayed still in their comfortable silence.
“You’re gonna stay right?” Sam quietly asked.
“Of course.” Sebastian answered a little too quickly.
“Good. Put on that movie you wanted to show me.” Sam smiled.
“You’re gonna fall asleep.” Sebastian rolled his eyes.
“Well then we can watch it again some other time, c’mon you gotta listen to the sick guy.” Sam persuaded, before coughing, the first few were fake but then they developed into real coughs.
“Fine.” he walked over to Sam’s desk and grabbed his laptop.
He put in the password for Sam’s laptop, “password”, and put on the movie.
He placed the laptop on the bed and joined Sam in the bed.
Within minutes, Sam was already asleep, the sound of his soft breaths were the only thing Sebastian could focus on throughout the night.