Work Text:
It’s been two days since Dennis called out of work with a now diagnosed “raging case of strep,” thanks to Dr. Jack Abbot. Trinity didn’t think she’d be dragging her friend to the ER at three am, but sacrifices were made and they did what they had to do.
He’s starting to feel a little better now, and for the first time in a few days is actually up to eating something, so Trin has ordered their favourite ramen and is currently loading ‘Criminal Minds’ on the TV, so that they can continue their binge watching. There’s soft blankets strewn over the couch, and Dennis is just finishing up in the shower. She also has a sacred day off tomorrow, so what better way to celebrate that, too?
“Huckleberry, come on, ramens gonna go cold!” She calls out, pressing pause on the television remote. “I’m pressing plaaay!”
He can’t shout back at her (she is fully aware of this), and so hurries his way back into the living room from the shower; hair still damp and curls a mess. “Wait for me!” Dennis whisper yells, hopping onto the couch and immediately curling into the warmth of the blankets.
“Here,” she hands him the takeout box. “How’re you feeling?”
“Better. Better for showering, too.”
“Good, ‘cause I wasn’t going to allow you on the couch otherwise.” Trinity teases with a slight smirk, taking another forkful of her own ramen.
Dennis just rolls his eyes, smiling. The steam from the food washes over him, the feeling an extra comfort. The warmth of the ramen soothes his throat, too, and the entire moment is… very homely. He’s not sure if Trinity ever feels this sort of sappy feeling, and he’s certainly not about to ramble about it — he hasn’t got a fever anymore, so that can’t be the excuse — but it’s something he’s trying his best to enjoy, and not internally freak out about ever losing.
“Who’s your favourite character?” Dennis asks around a small mouthful of veggies. “Who do you think you’d get along with the most?”
“Well, those are two separate categories, Huckle.” Trinity sips her drink. “… Prentiss, and no, actually. Prentiss. In so many ways.” She smirks, and Dennis pulls a face immediately.
“You?” Her feigned innocence returns.
“I dunno. I think Dr. Reid is cool, I’d learn things from him. Do you think Hotch is like Doctor Robby?”
She laughs. “Eh, kinda. I think you’re a little nerd just like Reid.”
“I’m taking that as a compliment.” He shoots her a look, then goes back to his food for a while; the pain in his throat worsened from talking.
They sit in a comfortable silence for a while, concentrating on the episode, Trinity glancing sideways just to ensure he’s alright when he doesn’t make anymore conversation (or ask any stupid questions.)
“You okay? You don’t wanna eat anymore?” She eventually gestures to his half-empty takeout box still in his hands.
Dennis blinks, shaking himself out of his semi-trance. “Hm? Oh. No, I’m okay. Throat hurts.”
“You took Tylenol recently?”
He nods, opting for non-verbal ways of answering for now. Sipping on his water, Dennis sniffles slightly. He thinks to himself about how different things would be if he still lived in the abandoned floor at the hospital, or, hell, at home. Even if she teased him mercilessly for the way he sneezed, or how his voice would crack with a sore throat, he would still choose living with Trinity over any of his past experiences. She had a strange sort of way of showing she cared, but the fact that she cared was something big to Whitaker. Something new, slightly scary, but so welcomed.
“Hm. You want anything else?”
“You’re offering to wait on me hand and foot?” Dennis can’t help but slightly tease back, despite the action of talking causing physical pain right now.
Trinity rolls her eyes. “Don’t push it. I’ll go make you tea in a second.”
He smiles. “Thanks. I promise when I’m better I’ll do the laundry for a week. I’ll cook too.”
She reaches over to poke him, “hey,” Trinity begins, “you don’t owe me anything. But, if I catch this, I will be murdering you.” She shoots him a sarcastic look.
Dennis just smiles again, and pulls his blanket tighter around his shoulders. This is what it’s supposed to be like, he thinks to himself. Having a sibling who loves you.
End.