Chapter Text
It starts in the morning, Lucy rolls over in bed and feels for Tim. He is there but he is sweating like a dog and feels warm to the touch.
She sits up a little concerned and puts her hand on his forehead, he stirs a little a opens one eye to look at her.
“What are you doing?” He rasps his voice sounding hoarse and tired.
“You are hot.” She says. Tim lips twitch up in a smile, and she knows what’s coming.
“Thank you.” He says smugly.
“Not like that.” She says rolling her eyes. “You feel like you have a fever.” Tim’s smile disappears and she puts her hand back on his forehead.
“I’m fine.”
“I think you have a fever, babe.” She says gently and softly knowing Tim will refuse to accept this.
“No, I’m just a little under the weather.” He says. “I’m fine.” Lucy clicks her tongue at him, not impressed by his refusal to admit he is sick and gets out of bed.
“Where are you going?” He protests reaching out for her. She pauses at the end of the bed, and studies him.
He looks pale, and sick and if he saw himself in the mirror maybe he would admit it.
“I’m going to get you some medicine and something to cool you down.” She says. She walks away before he can say anything.
When she gets back from the bathroom with all the supplies Tim is no longer in bed. She lets out a frustrated huff, and walks to the living room where she sees Tim in the kitchen making coffee.
“What are you doing?” Lucy asks. Tim turns to face her, and sucks in a breath.
“Making coffee.”
“Tim, you are sick. Please go lay down and let me take care of you.” She says in almost a pleading tone. She knows how stubborn Tim is, and he would run himself ragged if he pushed hard enough.
“Baby,” Tim says coming around the corner holding a mug of coffee. His hands are shaking and he has to put the mug down so it doesn’t spill. “I’m okay. I needed to get up.”
“You need to lie down.” Lucy says. She takes his hand, and pulls him towards the bedroom and pushes him into bed. “You are sick Tim. You have a fever.” She gathers up the supplies again, and gives him some Advil to hopefully lower the fever. And then she puts a glass of water by his bed.
“Rest.” She says. “I’m going to go to the store and get you some soup. Just rest Tim.” And she turns around and hurries out the door.
She hurries out the door, knowing if she’s gone long Tim will go on a run or something. She drives to the store around the block and gets a variety of soup and then hurries out.
When she gets back to the apartment, it’s quiet which either means Tim is sleeping or he’s not there.
She tiptoes into the bedroom and sighs in relief when she sees him still in bed. The covers are kicked off, hanging off the bed and he looks even worse.
“Tim.” She says hurrying over to him. He’s pale still, his forehead still warm. “Oh baby.”
“I’m fine.” He mutters opening his eyes which are bloodshot.
“You are not.” She says sternly. “You are sick, you have a fever. Why can’t you just admit it?” Tim blows out a breath, and closes his eyes. She runs her fingers through his hair, and massages the top of his head and then she disappears into the bathroom to grab the thermometer to take his temperature.
She puts it under his tongue, and ignores the glare he gives her. It finally beeps and she pulls it out to look
100.1
“See.” She says and she shows it to Tim who just blinks a little. “100.1. You are running a fever, and you need to stay in bed.” Tim sighs softly, and she watches as his face falls slightly.
“Are you going to take care of me?” Tim asks. Lucy nods her head, she had a the day off and Tim did too. They were going to spend it together and possibly go for a hike but—
“Of course.” She says. “There’s no place I would rather be.” Tim gives her a look, and she holds his gaze.
“I’m sick.” He says and Lucy grins at him finally admitting it. “Wouldn’t you rather be somewhere else?”
Lucy shakes her head, and moves around the bed and climbs in. “I want to take care of you Tim. I want to be your safe place and your nurse. I want you to feel better.”
Tim lets out a sigh, and closes his eyes. “Okay.” He says. “I love you.”
Lucy gives him a soft kiss on the cheek, and then watches as he slowly falls back to sleep. She stays in the bed for a minute before she’s sliding out and tip toeing to the kitchen. She gets some medicine out so it’s ready when Tim needs it and then starts to clean up the apartment. A few minutes into cleaning, she hears Tim call out her name.
“Lucy!” He calls out and she hurries into the bedroom where she sees Tim sitting up in bed.
“What’s wrong?” She asks in concern. He reaches out for her, and she moves closer to him.
“I miss you.” He mutters. Lucy gives him a long look, and then presses her lips to his forehead.
“You are delirious because I was just in the other room.” She says. “Now get some rest and tell me when you want something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry.” He says and then he smirks at her. “But I am hungry for something else.”
“Not happening Bradford.” She says stepping away. Tim pouts at her, but she turns away from him.
“Get some rest babe. I will check on you in a little bit.” She says. She turns around at the door, and waits until Tim’s eyes are closed. And then she shuts the door behind her hoping he actually gets some sleep.
***
Tim wakes up and blinks blearily and sits up as the room comes into focus. He feels hot and sweaty like he just ran a marathon. His head is pounding, and he feels exhausted even though he knows he just got some rest.
He hears a knock at the door, and then it opens and Lucy comes through smiling when she sees him.
“You are awake.” She says coming to stand by him. “How do you feel?”
“Awful.” He mutters. She sighs a little, and then puts her hand on his forehead.
“You aren’t as warm.” She says. Tim sits up more and Lucy disappears into the bathroom. She comes back with glass of water and Advil.
“Thanks.” He mutters as he takes it and then sets the water aside.
“I’m glad you are finally admitting you are sick.” She says shaking her head at him a little.
“I hate it.” He grumbles. Lucy smiles at him sympathetically and runs her fingers through his hair.
“I know.” She says. “But the more you just rest and take it easy, the faster you will get better.”
“And you will take care of me?” He asks. She lets out a soft laugh and gives him a kiss on the forehead.
“Of course.”
“Then I’m okay being sick.” He says. “If you take care of me.” Lucy lets out a laugh, and gives Tim another kiss.
“Of course.” Lucy says. “You are worth it. Now I’m going to make you something to eat. You need it.”
“Okay.”
Lucy leaves the room, and she’s back ten minutes later with a bowl of soup in her hands. She hands it to him and he sighs a little. He’s still not feeling great but—
“Eat.” She says. “It’s not heavy so it will be good for you.” Tim takes the bowl from her and starts eating. He puts it down after only a few bites, and she sighs but it’s better than nothing.
“Now what?” He asks. She feels his forehead, and he still feels warm but—
“A cool shower. If you are up to it.” She says. “And then you can rest some more.” Tim nods and slides out of bed, and walks into the bathroom. He turns on the shower, and steps under it, he hates to admit when he’s wrong but he really does feel awful. When he steps out of shower, there is a clean towel and clean clothes waiting for him.
He gets dressed and slowly makes his back into the bedroom where Lucy is waiting for him. He slides under the sheets and he does feel a little better.
“I’m sorry you’re sick.” Lucy says. “But the less you deny it, and just rest the faster you will get better.”
“I know.” He mutters. Lucy just smiles at him, and presses a kiss to his forehead. He hates being sick, but he loves that Lucy is taking care of him.
“I love you.” She says softly.
Tim settles down into the bed, looking up at Lucy his eyes already feeling heavy. “I love you too.” He says and he really does. He knows she would do anything for him and he would do anything for her. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
Lucy gives him one last kiss before she’s leaving the room. The last thing he hears is her whispered. “Always.” And then his eyes slip close and he falls into a slumber.
And with Lucy by his side, he knows he would feel better soon.