Chapter Text
>Lincoln was sick. Nothing serious, but sick enough for him to have to take the last two days off of school.
>Mama Loud was so concerned about him that she called a family meeting in the living from after dinner, which Lincoln did not attend "Alright girls, your brother isn't feeling well, and since Dad and I have work... We'll let some of you skip school to take care of Lincoln."
>All the sisters began to cheer
>"Hold on! I said SOME! I'm only going to let three of you take off school, and you HAVE to take care of your brother the whole time. So, the three I want to watch Lincoln are..."
>"Lori-"
>"Knew it."
>"Lynn-"
>"YES!!"
>"And Lucy."
>"Joy."
>Lola whined to her mother "But why theeeeeeeem!?"
>"Lori's dealt with enough of you to handle this without any issues, Lynn might be able to actually get Lincoln out of bed, and Lucy is used to being coped up inside, so she'll help Lincoln from getting bored."
>"Thanks mom..."
>The disappointed children shuffled upstairs to bed while the three that remained stayed to talk to their mother "Alright girls, I'm trusting you to get your brother feeling better."
>Lori responded "You already know I can..."
>Then Lynn "Yeah, he'll be outside by the end of the day, promise!"
>Then Lucy "This should be fun."
>The following day, the other girls went to school and daycare, leaving the house empty to the four
>Lucy and Lynn slept in and Lori went to the kitchen to make breakfast
>Fifteen minutes later, she came up to Lincoln's room with a food tray that had other sick care items on it. She knocked on the door "Lincoln? You up?"
>He coughed before replying softly "Lori?"
>She entered his room and set the tray on his side table
>Lincoln continued "Don't you know what time it is? You'll be late for-"
>"Mom wanted me to stay home and take care of you. Lynn and Lucy are also here to help."
>"What?"
>"Yeah, like you're that sick." She felt the top of his head with the back of her hand "It's probably just the flu." She sat down on his bed and combed his hair with her hand, then massaged his head a little "How are you feeling? Worse since yesterday?"
>"Yes."
>"How'd you sleep?"
>He chucked "What sleep."
>"Yep, it's the flu." She picked a thermometer off of the breakfast tray "Open up."
>He opened and she placed the thermometer in his mouth
>"Push your tongue down on it."
>After a few seconds she examined the results
>"You're over 100. I'll get you an ice pack for your head in a bit, but take this first."
>She already had a cup of liquid cold medicine. Lincoln cringed at the sight of it "Come on man."
>"It'll make you feel better twerp. Come on, it'll be over in just a second."
>He took a shot of it and only finished the medicine half way
>Lori shot him a glare "All of it!"
>"Yeah, yeah..." He finishes it
>"Good job." She hands him a cup of water. He washes the taste away "Alright, ready for breakfast?"
>Lincoln looks over to the breakfast tray. It's a large bowl of oatmeal, a side of scrambled eggs, and two tall glasses of milk and orange juice. Lincoln's eyes light "Awesome!" He immediately snatches the bowl of oatmeal and starts chowing down "Thanks Lori."
>Lincoln continued to eat while Lori sat and watched him on the bed for a minute or two
>"Uhh, Lori? Is everything okay?"
>"I need to make sure you eat everything. Speaking of which, you should drink some orange juice. It's good for you."
>"Lori, I appreciate this and all but-"
>"You're sick. I'm here to make sure you get better. Orange juice!"
>Lincoln rolls his eyes and chugs the drink
>"Thank you."
>Lincoln talks while he eats "It seems like you've been through this a lot."
>"You don't even know. I taken care of everyone here except you and Lynn."
>"Yeah, she never gets sick."
>"It'd be the worst if she did. One of the most important things to recovery is rest, so I don't want you doing anything today."
>"What about video games?"
>"They're down stairs, so no."
>"Come on, Lori!"
>"Hey, that's why Lucy, Lynn and me are here. But then again, Lynn will probably just try to get you to go outside. If she does, don't. Got it?"
>Lincoln goes into a coughing fit for a few seconds "Sure. I'll stay in bed."
>"Good." She felt his head again "Being sick sucks, don't it."
>"Missing school is nice, but other than that, yeah."
>"Is your phone charged."
>"Yeah."
>"Just text me whenever you need me, okay?"
>"Sure."
>"I'm gonna go get that ice pack, I'll be right back" She looks over at his breakfast tray angrily "Keep eating!"
>Lincoln kept eating
>"Well that was sweet of her-"
>"HOLY CRAP!! Lucy, we talked about this!"
>"Sorry. I was just wanted to watch Lori play nurse from the vents."
>"She wasn't playing nurse."
>"Really, it sure looked like it. See seems to enjoy it too. Maybe she should make a career out of it."
>"Whatever, is there something you want?"
>"I think you're mistaken Lincoln. I'm here to help you."
>"Well, Lori seems to have me covered. You can just go back to bed if you-"
>Lucy climbed into Lincoln's bed and cuddles up next to him "Okay."
>"L-Lucy? What are you doing?"
>"I'm trying to take advantage of your body heat."
>"God, your skin is ice cold."
>"Exactly."
>"K-knock it off, Lucy!"
>"...but you're so warm..."
>He sighed "Fine, but you'll have to explain this to-"
>Lori opened the door to see the two siblings in bed
>"Lucy, what are you doing?"
>"Cuddling."
>With that Lincoln blushed and sat up in his bed more "Umm, she j-just came it to check up on me."
>Lori raised her eyebrow "She shouldn't be so close to you. She could get sick."
>Lucy looked up to her sister "I welcome that."
>Lincoln began another coughing fit
>Lori ran over to his side, kneeled to his level and rubbed his back as he coughed "You alright?"
>Lincoln looked sick in the face
>"Crap!" Lori ran to the bathroom, took the small trash can from it, and carried it to Lincoln's room "Lucy, give him some room."
>Lucy left the bed and backed over to the end of the bed, looking at her brother with concern
>Lori placed the trash can at the side of his bed
>Her sickly brother panted and made disgusted looks
>"I'll leave this here if you-"
>"BLGGGGAAH!"
>"Lucy, get a cup of water!" She rubbed Lincoln's back again
>Lucy bolting to the bathroom
>By the time she got back with the water, her brother seemed better
>Lori took the glass from Lucy and slowly brought it to Lincoln's face, only letting him take a sip
>"Don't drink too much at once or you'll just throw up again. I'll go get some ice for you to suck on. Lucy, watch him."
>Lincoln wiped his watery eyes
>"Are you okay?"
>He coughs and smiles at her "Never better."
>She gives him a hug "I'm really sorry you're not feeling well..."
>He pulls an arm around her shoulder "It's okay. You guys are really helping."
>"Anything for you Lincoln." She gives him a quick peck on the cheek, which makes her blush again
>They sit on the bed silently until Lori came back. Lori spoke calming "I got some ice. Want any?"
>"Yeah, sure."
>She placed an ice cube in his mouth
>Lincoln seemed uncomfortable by the gesture. He tries to speak with the ice cube in his mouth "Uhh, Lori? You know you could've just handed it to me right?"
>"Shut up, twerp. Now lay back down for me..."
>Lincoln obliged
>Lori put the ice pack on his head slowly. He still recoiled from the sudden cold sensation
>Lori continued to calm him "Shhhhh... Better?"
>He nodded
>"How does your head feel right now?"
>"It hurts pretty bad."
>"Would you like one of us to massage it?"
>"I-I-I mean... if that would help."
>"Lucy, please hold this on Linc's head" 'This' referring to the ice pack "Lincoln, I'm gonna need you to sit up one more time and move forward for a second, okay?"
>Again he obliged as Lori crawled into bed
>Everyone got themselves situated. Lori had her legs crossed, with a pillow on her lap and Lincoln's head resting there. Lucy sat at the edge of the bed, still holding the ice pack to Lincoln's head
>Lori began to massage the sides of Lincoln's head with her fingers
>"Ahh, ahhhhh, that feels nice..."
>"Shhhhhh... just relax..."
>Lincoln calmed down to the point that he started to close his eyes. Minutes later, he was asleep on Lori's lap
>"Wow." Lucy said emotionlessly "You're good."
>"I know. I'm going to stay with him for a while. Go back to bed and be on call for when I need you."
>"Sure."
>Before she could leave the room Lori called out to her "Thank you."
>"Yeah, no problem."
>Lincoln napped in Lori's lap for an hour. He woke up to the sensation of her rubbing his hair lightly "Hey."
>He responded "Hey."
>"How're you feeling?"
>"Awful, but at least I can sleep through it."
>Lori lowered Lincoln's head gently onto the bed and she move his head from her lap and stepped off the bed
>"I'll let you rest. Text me is you need anything. Also, how does soup sound for lunch?"
>"Great. Thank you so much, Lori."
>"Anytime, little bro." She closed his door
>Lincoln laid in bed for twenty minutes trying to far asleep again, but to no avail. He heard a knock on his door "Lori?"
>"It's Lynn."
>He went into another coughing fit before saying "Come in."
>Lynn spoke in her usual high octane manner "Hey, bro-"
>"Please! Not so Loud!"
>"Oh, sorry."
>"It's alright. Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."
>"I get it. You're not feeling yourself. Do you know what you have?"
>"Lori says it's the flu. But I'm also coughing a lot. I... just feel terrible."
>"Sorry, bro. Anything I can do to help."
>Lincoln sniffed before answering "I don't think so. Well..."
>"What?"
>"It's a lot to ask for, but if you're up for it..."
>"Anything, bro!"
>"Lori said I couldn't play video games because they're downstairs and she doesn't want me moving."
>"Lame."
>"I know right! So... if you could get the console and dad's old T.V. up here-"
>"No problem! I've got this!"
>Lynn brought up everything needed for Lincoln to set up his games. The whole process only took about five minutes. Once he got everything set up, he asked "You wanna join me?"
>"You bet man."
>Lynn and Lincoln played a sports game (Lynn's favorite obviously) for half an hour or so. The two were both sitting on the bed, Lincoln calmly maneuvering his controller while Lynn mashed buttons like crazy and waved her controller all over the place. There was a knock at the door
>"Come in." Lincoln called
>It was Lucy "Oh, so this is what you've been doing."
>"Yep" Lincoln said "You should join us."
>Lucy looked on the screen to an overhead view of a soccer field with small players, some with icons around them saying "P1" and "P2"
>"Do you have anything more... dark?"
>"It's only one player but Lynn and I won't mind watching."
>Lynn whispered to him "Come on, dude. That sounds boring."
>Lincoln grinned and whispered back "Trust me. You'll love this."
>Lincoln powered the system down, popped the new game in and let Lucy sit between him and Lynn on the bed. After the console powered up again, the game's opening cinematic started
>A black and red cartoon animal silhouetted against the moon pulls a gun out of nowhere as intense rock music plays in the background. Lynn and Lincoln immediately begin laughing
>Lucy looks over to them "What's so funny?"
>Lynn answers "N-nothing. That's just a little over the top, don't you think?"
>"Uhhhh, no."
>The three continue watching the cinematic. The main character on screen speaks "I have no memory of my pass, except my love..."
>Lucy chimed in "Already, I can relate to this character."
>Lynn looked at her confused "How?"
>"We both have black hair and unrequited love."
>"Unrequited love? With who?"
>Lucy whispered to Lynn "I'd rather have this conversation somewhere else." She looked over to her brother and blushed
>There was another knock on the door
>Lincoln called again "Come in."
>Lori opened the door with her foot. She was holding a tray with a big bowl on it. To her surprise Lynn and Lucy were sitting on the bed with Lincoln
>Lori's expression turned sour "I thought I told you no video games."
>"You said not to because they were downstairs-"
>"I know what I said... You just threw up and they could make you nauseous or something."
>Lynn spoke up "He's been fine so far."
>"...Whatever." She seemed more frustrated "I brought you lunch." She placed the tray on his side table "I guess you won't be needing me."
>Lincoln called to her before she tried to close the door behind her "You're right, Lori. My head is kind of spinning..." He lied "Sorry I didn't listen."
>"...You're alright twerp. But you should stop if you don't feel well." She addressed her sisters "Come on, guys. Give him some place for a little while."
>"You guys don't mind, do you?" Lincoln asked
>"No problem, bro."
>"Yes."
>Lori particularly pushed to her sisters out of the room "I made soup for you guys too. Help yourselves."
>"Awesome! Thanks, Lori!" She bolted out of the room. Lucy stood there for a moment, but eventually followed her other sister to the kitchen. Lincoln and Lori were alone again
>"Are you gonna watch me eat again?"
>"Normally I'd insist that I'd stay here until you finish all of it, but you should take it slow if you're feeling nauseous."
>"What kind of soup is it, by the way?"
>"Chicken Noodle. The real number one cold and flu medicine."
>He put a spoonful to his mouth "It tastes better, I know that."
>"You're getting another dose in a few hours by the way."
>He rolled his eyes and kept eating
>Lori watched him closely "Are you feeling any better?"
>Lincoln shook his head "Nope."
>"Man, you're not in good condition."
>"Thanks, Lori."
>"No, I mean it. You'll be here for a few more days at this rate. Mom's probably gonna have me stay with you the rest of the school week."
>"T-that's not really necessary-"
>"Yes, it is mister. You need me. I don't care if I miss school or don't see Bobby! I'm going to stay literally right by your side until you're better!"
>'Mister?' Is a Lincoln could think to himself. He expressed himself "Geez, Lori. I don't know what to say..."
>"How about 'Thank you, Lori! You're the best big sister in the world!'"
>He set his soup down, sat up, and hugged his sister "Thank you, Lori. You're the best big sister in the world."
>Lori paused for a moment before hugging him back, feeling warm and comfortable in his embrace
>After being with Lincoln while he ate lunch, Lori went down to the dinning room to talk to her sisters
>"Yo." Lynn called out as she continued to stuff her face
>"Hey. I'm sorry if I was being kind of bitchy back them."
>Lucy replied "We're used to it."
>"...Annnnyway, I wanted to tell you that I checked up on Lincoln again. He's not doing great."
>Lucy and Lynn both seemed more concerned. The latter sister asked "He's not going to need to go to the hospital, is he?"
>"No! I just want to make sure someone's always watching him for now. You know, incase he throws up, or goes into a coughing fit again or something."
>"Yeah, we'll keep an eye on him."
>"Great! Lucy, you'll get the first shift." She smiled to her sister "Do you have something you can do to entertain him?"
>"I-I'll think of something."
>Lucy left her lunch and headed up stairs to her brother
>Knock knock
>"Who's there?"
>"I'm not Luan. You don't have to do that."
>"Oh, hey Luce."
>She sat down on the side of his bed and stared at him for a minute
>"Uhhh, you need something?"
>"Lori told me to watch you. You now have my undivided attention." As if he didn't before...
>"Lucy, y-you're kind of freaking me out."
>"Sorry, Lincoln. I can't take my eyes off you."
>Trying to distract his sister, he asked "Hey, do you have any new poems?"
>"Yes! I-I mean, of course I do." She pulled a notebook out of nowhere and opened it "This one is called 'The Virus'.
'Hardly in motion
You try to survive
I sit by your side,
Wait for you to die
Your body is weak
And for now mine is strong
I'll give you my strength,
So you carry on'."
>"W-wow, Lucy. That was pretty good. Not sure how to feel about the whole dying part but-"
>"It's about you."
>"Yeah! I think I got that!"
>Lucy continued to read and write poems with her bedridden brother for some time
>Later on in the afternoon, Lynn called through the door "Hey, Lori told me we need to change shifts. She don't want you getting sick."
>"Whatever, we'll continue this one later, Lincoln. Also, I'm loving your use of double entendres-"
>"I swear they're not intentional, it just comes out that way!"
>Lynn raised her hand as her jumps in place at the doorway "Tag me in!"
>Lucy hit her on the hand as she walking out of the room
>"Yessss. So what's up with you, bro!?"
>"Lynn, remember what I said about tuning it down?"
>She mockingly imitated Lucy by slouching and half closing her eyes "Oh. Sorry, Lincoln. Here, is this better?"
>"Yes actually." He said with a smile
>She rolled her eyes and returned to her normal voice, although softer than usual "So what do ya wanna do?"
>"Well, I have board games."
>Lynn gagged
>Lincoln wasn't surprised by her rejection of the idea "Come on! You've probably never played a board game for longer than an ten minutes!"
>"Yeah, bro. With good reason."
>"I know one you'd like."
>Lynn scoffed "Try me."
>"Get the one that says 'Battleship' off the shelf." She placed the game on the bed and sat opposite Lincoln. Lincoln explained the rules to his sister as he set up the game and it's pieces
>After playing a practice game that Lincoln won (of course), Lynn was full invested as the end of the second game neared
>She spoke with confidence as she made her potentially game winning move "G8!"
>"Miss."
>"Oh come on! I've almost got you!"
>"B4."
>"Hit... B8."
>"There ya go. You sunk my battleship."
>"Yes!" Lynn raised a fist in the air
>Lincoln out stretched a hand to her "Good game."
>She shook his hand. After a seconds, Lincoln rubbed the side of his head in pain. He noticed his head was feeling warmer than usual
>"That was so fun! Let's go again."
>"Actually Lynn, I'm not feeling too great."
>"What's wrong?"
>"I-I'm not sure. I just need to..." He just stared at her, his eyes squinting. Try as he might, he just couldn't seem to form the words
>"Uhh, you're acting kind of funny, bro. Do you want me to go get Lori?"
>"Yeaaaah, yeaaaaaah. That sounds niiiice..."
>"I'll be right back."
>Seconds later Lincoln could hear Lori rushing up the stairs. He heard her talking to Lynn in the hallway "I know what's going on, just give him some space for now and I'll take care of this." She came in "Here!" she said as she handed him an ice pack
>Lincoln's eyes were half closed and he spoke like a drunk "Hey Lori! Ah, what's that for?"
>Lori felt his head with the back of her hand
>"Jesus you're burning up! How long have you felt like this?"
>"J-just a few minutes... Don't make such a big d-deal about it..." Lincoln's head started swaying
>"Lincoln, listen to me okay? Your fever is too high. It's making you all confused." She laid he head down, laying on the bed next to him and holding the ice pack to his head "Just calm down and try to sleep. There's nothing to worry about, okay?"
>"Suuuuure, whatever you say..." Already he was closing his eyes and relaxing his muscles
>"I'm staying here with you until to fall asleep, alright buddy?"
>"So this is a sleepover..."
>"Sure, now try to rest okay?"
>"...Goodnight, mom."
>Lori was stunned before choking up a little and giving her little brother a kiss on his sickly, warm cheek "Goodnight, Lincoln. Hope you feel better soon."
END