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It was a typical day At middlesea hospital, the sun glistening through the windows, the sounds of the city’s echoing outside of cars honking, birds chirping, and trees wrestling in the winds, it was early spring as the snow started to melt and the leaves and grasses started to get there color back but there was still a giant chill in the air. Just as Paige walked into the lounge, gently setting her bag down on one of the chairs and stretching, as Ian looked up from his laptop, Ah! Good morning, Ada, he said in a slightly chirpy tone. She gently smirked at him, good morning Ian I’m surprised you actually you look half dead this morning like you usually do, he nervously laughed and rubs the back of his neck, well yea I decided to be a responsible adult and go to bed early instead of grinding out job quests and crafting in final fantasy XIV, they both chuckled and have a bit of a chat over some coffee before Paige got up and said, alright I’m off to do my rounds the patients, wish my luck *she says as she grabs her trusty stethoscope and clip board and starts walking towards the door* good luck, hopefully Edega won’t be too much of a bother today right? Heh we can only hope, and with that she was gone, efficiently doing her rounds checking in on Logan haiku and Lucia, lucky and miner and ofc Edega who was still stubborn as ever that he was stuck in one place feel useless in this state after the miracle defibrillator incident, but today seemed a bit better he actually ate some of his breakfast that the nurse provided and actually spoke a few words, Paige was very pleased to see that he was beginning to crack that hard shell he had been holding on to for years slowly but surely. Lastly, she needed to check the mark. She went to his room and gently knocked on the door, Dr. Paige. Can I come in? A solid minute passed no response. She gently opened the door only to find that he was nowhere to be found! She was concerned but then thought, " Where is the only other place he’d be other than his room?, Then it hit her! Yup the records rooms, she thought to herself while silently facepalming as she turned around and started to walk down the hall towards the elevator while fidgeting with her yoyo, the elevator ride was still nerve racking for reason, she had found mark accidentally falling asleep in the records room at least twice before and she just hoped he was alright, there was a ding and the door opened as she walked out and was about to enter the records room when she heard someone call her name. She whipped her head around, only to see the janitor. Oh hi sir she cheerfully said, hey Paige beautiful moring where having aren’t we, Mhmm sorry if it seemed like I was in a hurry I was just about to go check on mark but he wasn’t in his room so I came here, the janitor perked up, oh yea I saw Mr. booker and said hi said he was gonna make myself comfortable in there for some late night reading, Yea that makes sense anyways thanks she said waving him goodbye and entering the records room, and there he was blissfully asleep on the couch. Paige gently walked and nudged him awake, Mark? Mark! He then jolted awake, looking around the room frantically!!, HUH WHAT WHERE WHO?!, whoa, hey, hey, it’s ok, it’s just me Dr Paige, remember? Oh, Paige, he said with a sniffle and tired, sore eyes, I’m sorry I fell asleep again in here, didn’t I? She chuckled, yes, you sure did but then her favorite gently scrunched up in concern, and kneeling to meet him face to face, asked, " But are you ok, Mark? you don’t sound too good, He sniffled again and yawned honestly it’s hard to say, Hmm ok hold on she equipped her truth stethoscope and gently pressed it again marks chest to hear his heartbeat, ok heart sounds good, could you turn to the side for me for a moment, he silently nodded and scotched so Paige could take a look at his back, she gently pressed her stethoscope against his back, Take a couple of deep breaths for me ok, he gently nodded and did instructed his breaths felt sluggish and raspy, Give a slight cough ok? He nodded ok and what was supposed to be a single cough erupted into a mild coughing fit. You ok?! *coughs* ugh god *coughs* yeah, she finally grabbed a head temperature and gently held it above Mark’s forehead for a minute or two until it finally beeped and she could read it, Oh dear!! What’s it say, Doc? 105.0…mark your burning up, ugh yea I figured as much *sniffles*, Paige then gently put on a pair of gloves and helped mark off the couch blanket comfortably wrapped around him as she said, come on let’s get you back to your room, as they started slowly walking back together, they were right in front of the elevator as Paige gently pushed the button to call it, when mark gently raised a hand and took a step back and raised his elbow to his head and within a fraction of a second he- Ah-Ahh!-ATCHEWW!!! Paige gently flinched at the pure shock of how loud and violent it was, bless you she said, Thank you mark said with a sniffle, gesundheit!, another voice caught their attention they both looked up to see the janitor again, oh hi again, hey Ada, and Mr booker glad to see you too I see your not looking so hot right now, he said with a look of concern, Yea he said with a sniffle I- he was about to say something but he raised his elbow to his mouth again and gently a finger sorry give a moment! he said taking a deep inhale- Ah-Ahh!-ATCHEWW!!! They both take a half a step back, Bless you they say in unison,*sniffles* thank you *sniffles* ugh god sorry my sneezes have always been annoyingly loud, Paige chuckles it’s ok, yea you can’t help something you can’t control, just then the elevator dinged and the doors opened, well we best be off take care Mr janitor, as Paige waves goodbye, escorting mark sea ya around Feel better Mr booker he says waving to mark, as he gently waved back. They make it the ground floor and start walking towards his room when mark spoke in a raspy quiet voice,*sniffles* I’m sorry Dr Paige i shouldn’t have gone to the records and just stayed in my room like you told me to,*sniffles gues this is my karma for not listening and falling asleep in there the other two times heh,*coughs*,Hey it’s not your fault while yes I do think that you need to try and kick that habit,it was honestly a random chance that you could’ve gotten sick and if you were uncomfortable in your room you could’ve asked me or Ian to adjust your bed settings for you,your not burden mark,your in good hands,our hands *she says gently smiling at him with the purest and gentle smile and could* *he gently smiled back at her and chuckled leading into a cough* thank you Dr Paige i couldn’t be more grateful and happy to have someone like you and the rest of middlesea taking care of me…a-and gabe of course heh,you really must live your job,the smile stays in her face,I sure do,they continue walking down the hallway only for mark to stop them both two seconds later as he gently raised his elbow to his face again saying with a hitchy voice I-I gotta-s-sneeze Ah-Ahh!-ATCHEWW!!! Bless you, Paige said, gently patting his back, thank you he said softly, with a few sniffles, trying not to let his nose run. But they realized Paige wasn’t the only one who blessed him, they turned to the side to see Logan, Lucia, and Hailey. Paige’s eyes shot up in shock, Uh? What are you guys doing out of your rooms, oh don’t be mad me Paige we just wanted to take a talk stretch our legs you know, Logan and Lucia nod along with Hailey and Paige sighs, alright well it makes sense you guys are young but don’t stay out for too long ok, ok they all say in unison, it was then they all turn their attention to mark, Oh boy… mark thought mark in his mind, that was big sneeze mr booker,hailey said, are you alright?, Eh, heh, I'm ok, I just have a cold, it's no big deal, aww well, I hope you feel better, mr booker said hailey with Lucia and logan nodding, they looked at each other for a moment before smiling at and getting up from the hospital bench and trying to hug mark, Paige immediately blocks them by putting herself in front of mark,woah!,woah!,woah! There guys, said paige, heh yea mark said with a cough, as much as i appreciate to tought and TLC im probably very contagious, sniffles, with that being said the words all registered in the kids heads and the all sat back down on the bench like a stack of domonios, oh heh right yea probably best we social distance said Lucia, Paige playfully smirked at them damn straight she replies to the trio just as amrks faces scruched up again and stifled a *sneeze* into his sweater, Bless you they all said in unison, Mark gently wiped his nose with his sleeve, ugh thanks alright big guy come on paige said, starting to walk away with mark, feel better mr booker they all said in unison waving at them as they were getting farther away, heh what a curious bunch huh paige, mark said glancing at paige, she gently chuckles i’ll say. Finally they make it to mark’s room as he gently settled into bed his blanket hugged around him and paige adjust his bed to a Nice relaxed obtuse angle so he wasn’t laying flat on his back he stated his makes him dizzy,*sighs* thank you dr Paige, *sniffles* and sorry again fo all the trouble, You dont need to apologize mark and of course its my pleasure, i gonna go get you some more cold supplies, and check in on some other patients ok? He gently nodded his head and slowly sank into the mattress and cushiony pillows. He doesn't remember his bed being this comfortable; it felt like a cloud with a cozy comforter, and his blanket, of course, wrapped around him like a warm tortilla. After Paige came back with all the cold supplies, she disappeared for most of the rest of the day, checking on patients and catching up on paperwork. She came again to check on Mark before leaving the hospital, but afterwards, the night was quiet, not bustling and talkative as it was during the day. Mark felt his eyes began to close as he was skimming the book he was reading in the records room when he feel asleep his nightstand lamp giving off a warm gentle glow making the room quite cozy, he hears a knock on the door, come in *coughs*, it was edega, Oh *coughs* gabe uh hi are you ok i thought youd be in your room, reading, not talking to anyone…, Yes well but, Ada said i should get out of bed to stretch my legs and get some fresh air at least twice a day, plus i-uh heard you werent feeling well i wanted to come check on you, i thought it would be the most considerable thing to do since you take time out your day to come visit me, read to me, talk to me….His face runs hot as he rubs the back of his neck. Mark felt the same way, avoiding eye contact with him for a moment. Ahem! Um i brought you a hot chocolate from the hospital cafe, Mark perked up as Gabe sat on the edge of the bed handing it to mark, their hands touch for a moment and he shivers runup his body, as he took a small sip, gosh as he always been so attractive even while look like a mess thought edega,*sniffles* its delicious thank you babe, WHAT! Edega’s eyes widened, wh-what did you say? I said thanks, Gabe, is everything ok ?... Yes mark everythings fine my apologies he sniffs looking away, mark does the same until he felt a tickle in his nose, oh!-uh oh his face gently scruched up and raised one of elbows to his face again,edgea immediately noticing the sighs of an incoming sneeze he gently got up from the bed standing by his tand gently holding the back of his head as he sharply inhaled and- Ah-Ahh!-ATCHEWW!!! *sniffles* god holy shit *sniffles* excuse me,Gesundheit,said gabe handing him a tissue from his side table, here,guh thank you,he said gently blowing his nose as gabe winced,ugh sorry you know how loud and uh*clears throat* messy* my sneezes usual,its alright mark,he said walking over to the right side of the bed and sitting right next to mark,heh you really didn’t need to come visit me gabe,*sniffles* but i-i-I,atcheww!!-atcheww!!-atcheww!!,Oh my god holy fuck *sniffles* gesundheit,he said gently holding marks hand making soft circling motions ontop of his hand,*sniffles* guh thank you,*sniffles* sorry,i appreciate it,he gently sighed and layed back in bed letting himself sink into the mattress and pillows again,edega gently sat up and saw the book that mark had been reading before he walked in,he gently picked it up skimmed the front and back and went to the page that mark had left off on,a nonfiction memoir classy choice,your the one always reading to me mark,would you mind if its the other way around this time perhaps?Heh, that sounds-ah!-Atcheww! *sniffles* wonderful, he gently smirked at Mark, pointing at his nose,y-you got a lil s-something right, he looks down and immediately notices the lil snot bubble he had, oh! Oops, give me a second, he said, gently turning away to gently blow his nose, and with that, he finally began reading to Mark. After finishing only two chapters, he glacned over at mark to see that he was out like a light, he smirked and bookmark the spot he was stopped on gently got up on the bed and put the book in the side table drawer and rearranged every on the table nicely as he gently sighed and looked at mark and softly smiled as he kneeled down and gently kissed him on the forehead, as he walking towards the door and was about the leave he looking back at the precious sleeping mark one last time grinning one last time and softly saying, Get well soon Mark ❤️🩹, i love you and with edega finally softly closing the door and going back to his room, letting mark getting the rest he needs and deserves <3.