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“How is she?” Tree asked over the phone, concern evident in her voice.
“Getting worse by the minute,” Karlie sighed as she dumped a bowl of Taylor’s sick down the toilet. Taylor could be heard sobbing in the background, having just had a third round of vomiting. She hadn’t felt this sick in a long time, maybe since she got food poisoning from bad shellfish that one time. She wanted to die, she was so miserable. And Karlie couldn’t do much to help her feel better- the puke just kept coming and she couldn’t keep anything down. Fuck this.
“Oh god,” Tree responded. “Did she throw up again?”
Karlie rinsed the sick bowl and hurried back to the bedroom, setting it down by the foot of the bed and crawling under the covers with a still sobbing Taylor. “Yes. Multiple times. She’s so sick, Tree, I- like, I don’t even know what to freaking do,” Karlie worried, grunting as Taylor clambered on top of her. “Easy, baby.”
“I’m coming, Kar,” Tree decided. “I’ll be there in twenty.”
“Tree, you don’t-“
“Karlie, I’m coming. Just focus on calming Tay down and I’ll be there soon.”
Karlie sighed. “Kay. Thanks, Tree, see you soon.”
~
Tree let herself in and set her bags, which contained some things she had quickly grabbed at the local pharmacy store to create a makeshift care package, on the kitchen table. She figured the girls were upstairs, and her suspicions were confirmed when she heard noise emitting from the bathroom. She rapped on the door, and a moment later, Karlie opened the door just wide enough to speak to Tree.
“Hi,” Karlie breathed, looking exhausted and at her wit’s end. Taylor could be heard sniveling behind her, and a weak “Kar,” had Karlie turning back to her sick girlfriend.
“Hold on, baby, Tree’s here,” Karlie sighed before facing Tree. “She’s a mess,” she murmured to the older woman. “I’m trying to bring her fever down but she won’t get in the damn bath. Even after she puked all over herself.“
Tree grimaced. “What’s her temp?”
Karlie swept a hand through her sweaty hair. “103.3 last time I checked.”
“Jesus,” Tree replied, pushing into the bathroom, causing Taylor- who was sat naked on the toilet lid- to startle. “Hi, Tay. You look-“ Tree stopped herself from being brutally honest and saying ‘like shit’. “Very sick.”
Taylor sniffled and wiped at her nose. “Kar,” she murmured, reaching for her girlfriend. Karlie crouched down in front of her and placed her hands gently on her knees. Taylor shivered at her touch. She was so cold.
“Sweetheart, the bath’s only getting colder. Just five minutes and then you can come right out, okay?” Karlie cooed, pleading with her stubborn girlfriend.
Taylor shook her head and released a quiet sob. Karlie looked exasperatedly to Tree, who sat down on the edge of the tub and dipped a hand in the water. “It’s really not that bad, honey. Karlie’s right, it’s only getting colder.“
Taylor shivered again and drew her knees to her chest.
“Please, baby,” Karlie sighed, caressing Taylor’s hand. “We need to get your fever down.”
“Taylor, do you want to go the ER?” Tree posed, opting for a tough love approach since Taylor still wouldn’t budge. “Orrr,” she rose an eyebrow. “Do you want to get in this bath for five minutes?”
“Fine,” Taylor cried, and Karlie breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out for Taylor and held both of her hands as she walked over to the tub. Tree grabbed one of Taylor’s arms, Karlie the other, and the pair helped Taylor carefully lower herself into the bath water.
“It’s freez-freezing!” Taylor looked to Karlie, wrapping her arms tightly around her chest.
“I’m sorry, baby, it just feels that way because you’re so burned up,” Karlie replied, grabbing Taylor’s shampoo.
“Five minutes?” Taylor squeaked.
“Mhm,” Karlie hummed. “Can you tip your head back, bug, so I can wash your hair?”
Taylor obeyed, and Karlie got to work wetting her matted golden locks.
“Do you have a washcloth? I can help,” Tree offered, eyes searching the bathroom.
Karlie tossed her a washcloth, and Tree dunked it in the water.
“Kar,” Taylor whined, tears sticky on her cheeks.
“Shh, it’s okay, bug,” Karlie placated. “You wanna get this over with, right?”
Taylor nodded sadly.
“Honey, I’m just gonna wipe you clean so you don’t have icky throw up on you,” Tree told Taylor as she squirted body wash onto the washcloth. “I’ll be quick.”
Taylor was too sick and exhausted to care that her publicist was literally washing her like baby. She allowed Tree to run the cloth over her pale body and even briefly over her most intimate areas. Tree knew Taylor hated feeling sweaty and gross, so she wanted to clean her well. Karlie kept Taylor distracted with sweet nothings as she finished detangling her hair with conditioner, and Tree eventually wrung out the washcloth and laid it to dry.
“Feel a bit better, princess?” Karlie asked once she finished with Taylor’s hair and pulled the drain.
Taylor shrugged and closed her eyes. “Think m’gonna puke again,” she grimaced, scrambling to grab the edge of the tub and pull herself up.
“Oh no,” Karlie reacted, helping Taylor out of the tub and getting her kneeled in front of the toilet. Tree grabbed a fluffy towel and gingerly laid it over Taylor’s shaking shoulders. Taylor always cried when she threw up, but she didn’t understand how she had any tears left to cry at this point.
“Get it out, Taylor,” Tree said softly, rubbing the younger woman’s back as Karlie pulled her wet hair into a loose scrunchie.
“Don’ want to,” Taylor sobbed, leaning back against Karlie, who shushed her softly. “Shh, baby, you’ll feel better once you do.”
Taylor sat in front of the toilet for a few minutes, bracing for the next round of puking… but nothing came up.
“Kar, let’s get her dressed and back in bed. She can always use the sick bowl if she needs,” Tree suggested, and Karlie nodded and kissed Taylor’s cheek.
“Back to bed, bear,” Karlie helped Taylor stand and wrapped her towel around her. “We’ve gotta check your temp again.”
“No,” Taylor whined, more tears streaming down her face.
“Taylor,” Tree warned. “Please don’t be difficult, we’re just caring for you, sweetie.”
Taylor whined louder and buried her face in Karlie’s neck. “You’re fine, sweet girl,” Karlie murmured, rubbing up and down her back. “Let’s get your dressed.”
Karlie led her girlfriend to the bedroom, Tree in tow, and sat her on the bed.
“Do these sheets need changing?” Tree asked, scrunching her nose at the smell emitting from the bed.
“Yeah,” Karlie sighed, digging through their bureau for some comfy clothes for Taylor to wear.
“I’ve got it, you get her dressed,” Tree told Karlie, beginning to strip the bed. Karlie thanked her and brought a soft, oversized tee, some panties, and a pair of loose sweats over to a sniffling Taylor.
“Don’ feel good, Kar,” Taylor whimpered, letting her towel fall as Karlie searched for the neck hole in the big tee.
“I know, sweetheart,” Karlie cooed in response, helping Taylor into the shirt. “I wish I could take your sickies away.”
After getting Taylor dressed, Karlie grabbed the thermometer. “Open, baby.”
Taylor pursed her lips and shook her head, which had both Karlie and Tree releasing frustrated sighs.
“Taylor, please listen and let Kar take your temp. We need to know that the cool bath helped,” Tree explained gently.
“I’m freezing, Tree!” Taylor complained. “Of course it helped.”
Karlie cupped Taylor’s chin and thumbed her lower lip, peering into her glassy eyes. “Baby, please. We can snuggle after, kay?”
Taylor crossed her arms defiantly. “Stop, Karlie, just feel my fucking forehead.”
Tree raised her eyebrows and took the thermometer from Karlie. “Taylor, do you want this up your bum?”
Taylor glared at Tree and shook her head.
Tree pursed her lips. “Then be a good girl and open up.”
Taylor huffed but obliged, allowing Tree to place the offending object under her tongue. She closed her mouth around it and Karlie kissed her forehead. “Good girl.”
Taylor continued to glare at the two women as they waited for the thermometer to beep. When it did, Karlie took it from Taylor’s mouth and read it. “102.6. Little better.”
“When’s the last time she took fever reducer?” Tree turned to Karlie.
“Umm,” Karlie thought for a moment. “Like 10ish? She’s prob due for another dose.”
“No!” Taylor cried, curling up into a ball on the bed. Tree rolled her eyes at Karlie. “She needs another dose. 102.6 is still concerningly high.”
Taylor sobbed and Karlie patted her hair, at a loss with how to comfort her girlfriend, while Tree measured out another dose of Ibuprofen with a syringe. Taylor refused to swallow pills, so children’s liquid medicine was always on hand.
“Let’s sit her up, Karlie,” Tree murmured, helping Karlie to sit a sobbing Taylor up. “No med’cine!” Taylor cried, trying to bat Tree’s hands away.
“Sweetheart, it’ll make you feel better,” Karlie reminded, taking the syringe from Tree. “Look, it’s me, okay? I’ll do it super quick.”
Taylor didn’t have much fight left in her, so she swiped at her eyes and parted her lips for the syringe. Karlie squirted the liquid into her mouth, and Taylor quickly swallowed, grimacing at the gross taste.
“Hopefully she can keep that down,” Tree sighed as she handed Karlie a bottle of water to offer to Taylor.
Taylor shook her head.
Karlie frowned. “Can you try a sip for me, bug? You need to stay hydrated.”
Taylor sniffled and took a tiny sip of water before leaning heavily into her girlfriend.
“Good girl,” Karlie cooed. “Let’s lay down and see if we can get some more sleep,” she yawned.
“Good idea,” Tree smiled, helped the two younger women under the covers. “I’ll go clean up a bit, call me if you need anything, Kar.”
Karlie nodded. “Thanks, Tree, you’re the best.”
~
Tree busied herself with cleaning up the bathroom after the bath ordeal and making some chicken noodle soup for Taylor. She opted for the easy route, just pouring a can of soup she found in the pantry into a saucepan and heating it, but it was better than nothing. Probably the only thing Taylor could keep down, she thought.
While the soup was heating, Tree went back upstairs to check on the girls. Upon entering their bedroom, she saw Taylor conked out with Karlie awake and hovering over her.
“Hi,” Karlie whispered. “She’s out.”
“Thank god,” Tree replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed and peering over at the lump of blankets that was Taylor, tufts of blonde hair poking out. Tree smiled softly before looking to Karlie. “Kar, you should go clean up, shower. I can stay with her while she sleeps.”
Karlie bit her lip. A shower sounded amazing, but she didn’t want to leave Taylor in case she woke up and needed her.
“Seriously, Kar, I’ve got her. Go before she wakes up,” Tree reassured Karlie, scooting fully onto the bed and lightly stroking Taylor’s side (or what she thought was her side beneath the caccoon of blankets).
“If she wakes up-“ Karlie started.
“Go, Karlie, you smell like puke,” Tree pointed to the door.
“Thanks, Tree,” the younger woman replied sarcastically, finally agreeing and sliding out of bed. Tree quickly took Karlie’s place rubbing Taylor’s back, sucking in a breath when she stirred. But then Taylor settled and continued snoring, her nose completely blocked up, and Tree sighed in relief.
A stretch of nearly ten minutes passed with Tree rubbing Taylor’s back and playing with her hair before Taylor was suddenly shooting up and releasing a violent gag.
“Shit,” Tree sprang into action, grabbing the sick bowl and holding it under Taylor’s chin. “Sorry, sorry,” she rubbed Taylor’s back as Taylor dry heaved and began to sob. “Get it out, sweetie.”
Taylor wailed and finally vomited some stomach bile. “Good girl, that’s it,” Tree continued to hover the bowl under her chin until she was certain Taylor was finished.
“Where-,” Taylor croaked as she leaned into Tree. “Karrr,” she cried.
“Kar’s showering, honey, she’ll be back soon,” Tree soothed, patting Taylor’s nearly dried hair.
“Want,” Taylor pushed off of Tree with a sob, who then scooted her against her side and wrapped an arm securely around her waist. “Kar. Stop, Tree, l-lemme.. go,” she fought weakly against Tree’s embrace, but Tree didn’t let up.
“Karrrrrr,” Taylor cried.
As if on cue, Karlie burst into the room in a towel and rushed to Taylor. “Hi, baby, I’m here. Shhh,” she grabbed Taylor from Tree and wrapped her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head several times. “Did you get sicky again, sweet girl?”
Taylor nodded against Karlie’s chest miserably, and Karlie cooed at her as she rubbed her back.
“She threw up a bit of bile,” Tree informed Karlie. “There’s nothing left in her stomach, the poor thing.”
Karlie kissed Taylor again and adjusted her towel. “Can I get dressed, cutie, and then I’ll come snuggle you?”
Taylor gasped and shook her head vehemently, looking up at Karlie with watery eyes and a wobbling lip. Tree sighed and climbed out of the bed. “I’ll get you some clothes, hon. There’s no way she’s letting you go again,” she chuckled.
Karlie thanked her softly and wiped at Taylor’s cheeks with the pads of her thumbs. “No more tears, sweetheart, I’m here. Shhh. Did Tree snuggle you while I was showering?”
Taylor pouted. “Needed you.”
“I know, bear, I’m sorry. Tree insisted I go shower while you were sleeping. I was hoping you wouldn’t wake up before I was done,” Karlie rubbed her thumb over Taylor’s knuckles.
“Bad Tree,” Taylor mumbled, glaring in Tree’s direction.
“Hey,” Karlie chastised. “Tree’s been a big help, don’t hate her for that.”
Taylor’s eyes welled over with tears and she blubbered, “Lub Tree. Could nev-never hate.. hate her, Kar.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I know,” Karlie soothed. “I shouldn’t have said that, I didn’t mean it.”
Tree came over with a band tee and grey sweats for Karlie. “Didn’t mean what?”
“Nothing!” Taylor cried, weepy and delirious from her fever that still hadn’t broken. Tree held her hands up in defense.
“Relax, baby, shhh,” Karlie told Taylor as she adjusted her towel around her shoulders and grabbed the tee that Tree had given her.
“Don’ look, Tree,” Taylor told Tree seriously, causing Tree to scoff and roll her eyes before making a show of shielding them with her hands.
Karlie laughed and patted the top of Taylor’s head. “Silly bear.”
“Very silly,” Tree agreed, sparing a glance toward Karlie and giving her an exasperated look.
Karlie dressed quickly, and then switched places with Tree, settling Taylor on her lap. Tree kissed Taylor’s forehead before going downstairs to grab a bowl of soup for her, along with some Ginger Ale. She had poured the soda in a plastic cup and placed a straw inside to appease Taylor.
“Oh, look, bug!” Karlie smiled as Tree came in with everything on a tray. “Tree brought you yummy soup. Ooo and some Ginger Ale,” Karlie tried to get Taylor in the mood to eat, knowing she would most likely fight it.
“Not hungry, Kar,” Taylor whined, Karlie’s shirt clutched tightly in her fist. Tree was right, she wasn’t letting her girlfriend go again. Not on her watch.
“But it’s so yummy, Tay!” Karlie argued. “And Tree made it special for you,” she kissed Taylor’s rosy cheek.
“Sure did,” Tree smiled, sitting down on the bed with the tray on her lap. “Try a few spoonfuls for me?”
Taylor eyed the bowl of soup suspiciously but ultimately gave in just to get her girlfriend and Tree to shut up. Her head was pounding and she could barely breath. God, she hated having to mouth breath when she was sick.
Karlie spoon-fed Taylor until the older woman whined and pushed her hand away. “Good job, cutie,” Karlie told Taylor, noticing that she had managed to get almost half the bowl of soup down.
“Good job, honey,” Tree echoed. “How about some Ginger Ale?” she offered the drink to Taylor, who took a few sips before wincing and leaning back against Karlie.
“Too fizzy,” she explained, nuzzling into Karlie’s chest.
“Sorry, bug,” Karlie patted her cheek softly.
“Kar?” Taylor mumbled into Karlie’s boob.
Karlie looked down at her girlfriend. “Yeah?”
“Needa pee,” Taylor mumbled.
“You need to pee?” Karlie clarified.
Taylor nodded into her chest but made no move to get up. Tree moved the tray out of the way and pushed the covers down to the foot of the bed. “Up you get, Tay.”
Taylor pouted at Karlie. “Carry me?”
Karlie kissed Taylor’s pout. “I can’t carry you down the hallway, cutie. C’mon, I’ll help you walk,” Karlie offered instead, helping a pouty Taylor out of bed and wrapping an arm around her waist. Taylor leaned into her and they got about halfway down the hallway before she entered into a coughing fit and had to stop in her tracks.
“It hurts, I know, sweet girl,” Karlie rubbed Taylor’s back through her hacking coughs and prayed she didn’t start gagging and throwing up again.
As Taylor continued to cough, she suddenly felt warmth travel down her legs. Glancing down, she realized what was happening and released a sob. Karlie followed Taylor’s gaze and registered that Taylor had lost control and was effectively peeing through her sweats, a puddle forming on the wood floor.
“Oh, princess, it’s okay,” Karlie tried to soothe a now wailing Taylor, who‘s coughing fit had finally dissipated. “Just a little accident, no worries, baby. We’ll get you all cleaned up. Shhhh, sweet girl, you’re okay,” Karlie peppered kisses all over Taylor’s red, tear-streaked face, but even that didn’t placate her.
“What happened, Karlie?” Tree appeared in the hallway, having heard all of the commotion.
“Um-“ Karlie sighed and lifted a sobbing Taylor onto her front, cringing at the wetness that was now seeping into her own shirt. “She was coughing and coughing, and then she-“ Karlie gestured to the puddle on the floor.
“Oh,” Tree’s eyes widened and she stepped around the puddle to rub Taylor’s back. Karlie set her down and grabbed her hand.
“Sweetheart, let’s go get cleaned up, kay?”
Taylor nodded sadly. “S-sorry, Kar,” she whimpered. “I’ll clean it.”
“No, baby,” Karlie shook her head, leading Taylor into the bathroom. “You’re too sicky, Kar will clean it up,” she wiped her thumbs under Taylor’s leaking eyes. “It’s okay, sweet girl, try some deep breaths for me.”
Tree, who had followed the girls into the bathroom, dampened a wash cloth with warm water. Karlie pulled Taylor into a tight embrace and whispered sweet nothings to her until her cries were reduced to hiccups.
“There you go, Tay. Let’s get you undressed, cutie,” Karlie encouraged, taking Taylor’s subsequent nod as permission to help her undress. Karlie cringed a bit as she peeled Taylor’s soaked sweats and panties off, and Tree held Taylor’s hands to steady her as she stepped out of the smelly garments. Karlie then pulled Taylor’s tee off, as it had also gotten wet, and left her naked and shivering once again. Poor thing, Karlie thought.
“Good girl,” Karlie cooed as Taylor widened her stance and allowed Karlie to clean her up. Tree grabbed a second damp washcloth and quickly ran it over Taylor’s bum and backsides of her legs, wanting to hurry the process of cleaning her up since Taylor was activity shivering and whimpering as she stood pliant. Tree’s heart hurt at how small and helpless Taylor appeared, but she felt better knowing that she and Karlie were doing everything they could to help her feel better.
“Kar!” Suddenly Taylor turned and threw up into the toilet, Karlie jumping into action and crouching behind her. Tree made sure Taylor’s hair was out of the way and cringed as the younger woman retched up all of the soup she had eaten.
“There goes that,” Tree mumbled, looking exasperatedly to Karlie.
Karlie sighed and rubbed Taylor’s back. “All done, bug?”
Taylor nodded and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, grimacing at how gross she felt. Karlie gently pulled her back to sit in her lap and kissed her hair while Tree grabbed a new washcloth and approached Taylor with it.
“Tay, I’m gonna wipe your face real quick,” Tree began to remove the sick from Taylor’s chin and gently patted at the tears still streaming down her face.
“Karrr,” Taylor whined, trying to turn her face into Karlie’s chest.
“Shhh,” Karlie soothed, sitting Taylor up a bit.
“Blow, sweetie,” Tree held the washcloth under Taylor’s nose, and Taylor whined before obeying.
“Harder,” Tree encouraged, catching the gunk coming out of Taylor’s nose in the washcloth and wiping beneath her nostrils.
“Kar,” Taylor whimpered. “M’cold,” she crossed her arms over her chest miserably.
Karlie smiled at her sympathetically. “Sorry, cutie, let’s go get changed.”
“I can grab her some clothes,” Tree offered, drying her hands off after having washed them.
“Sure,” Karlie replied gratefully. “Tree?”
“Yes?” Tree spun around.
“Can you grab me a shirt, too?” Karlie gestured to the wet spot on her shirt, trying not to let Taylor in on the fact that she had gotten wet from the prior ordeal. Tree winked at Karlie and nodded. “Course.”
“‘M sorry, Kar,” Taylor grabbed Karlie’s hand and kissed the back of it.
“Baby, what?” Karlie cooed, kissing Taylor’s moist cheek. “Why are you sorry?”
Taylor whined. “Got pee on you!”
Karlie sighed in realization. “Baby, that doesn’t bother me one bit. I know you’re super sicky, it’s okay, sweet girl,” Karlie gave her weepy girlfriend a squeeze. “Remember when I spilled wine all over you that one time?”
Taylor giggled at the memory. “Wine’s lot diff’rent than pee.”
Karlie shrugged.
Taylor looked up and pecked Karlie’s chin. “Love you, Kar.”
“Baby, do you wanna try to go again before you get dressed? Just in case?” Karlie suggested.
Taylor blushed but nodded, clambering up onto the toilet with Karlie’s help. She was wiping when Tree came in with her and Karlie’s change of clothes, but Tree wasn’t fazed. She’s seen everything at this point.
Tree handed the bundle of clothes to Karlie. “I grabbed some options.”
“Thanks, Tree,” Karlie set the clothes on the counter and quickly picked out what she figured Taylor would want to wear. The older woman looked freezing and Karlie wanted to get her clothed as soon as possible.
Once Taylor was dressed with both Karlie and Tree’s help, Karlie pulled her hair up into a bun and kissed her nose. “Better, cutie?”
Taylor nodded sat patiently as Karlie stripped her wet tee off and changed into a hoodie Tree had brought. Tree grabbed all of the soiled clothes and announced that she was going to go start a load of laundry.
Karlie and Taylor washed their hands and made their way back to their bedroom, climbing into bed. Karlie had Taylor take a few sips of water, and then she snuggled her girl close and caressed her warm cheek. Taylor’s head was nestled in between Karlie’s breasts. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. You’ll feel better soon,” Karlie murmured.
When Tree returned, she was met with the sight of both Taylor and Karlie fast asleep. She tiptoed over to the bed and pulled the covers over their sleeping forms, laying a soft throw over top. She then bent and kissed whatever body part was visible on each girl before puttering around the room a bit and cleaning up what she could.
This wasn’t in my job description, Tree thought as she scrubbed the floor clean from Taylor’s accident. Karlie had mopped it up with a towel as a quick fix, but the wood floor still needed to cleaned and disinfected. Tree sighed. She just hoped, for the love of God, that Taylor would sleep and feel better when woke up. Probably too much to ask…