Chapter Text
I wake up to the alarm on my watch. Before I open my eyes, I can tell I feel like poop. My eyelids are so heavy. My head hurts.
"Ouuuugh..." I say, opening my eyes.
I turn off my watch alarm, and it takes a surprising amount of effort. I have to be in a meeting in 15 minutes.
I lay there staring at the ceiling, contemplating whether to actually go or not. Stratt is expecting me there, though. I should really go. But if I'm sick, maybe I shouldn't... But it's an important meeting. I think. Probably. I don't remember. Every meeting for the Hail Mary is important, I guess.
I'll feel better after I eat something, I decide.
Yeah, well I never got the chance to test that hypothesis. I got out of bed rather fast in an attempt to stimulate an adrenaline surge, and as soon as I took about 2 steps, I was gone. I don't remember going down.
I woke up on the floor. How did get here?
Oh right, I tried to get out of bed and I guess I failed miserably. My head hurt even more than it did before. I probably hit it when I passed out. That's concerning. Oops.
Wow, I felt awful. I was cold and hot at the same time, I had full body shivers, but I also had a crazy fever. It was like I was on fire but like if fire was cold. Ow. My head hurt so bad, but when I instinctively tried to furrow my brow in pain it made my head hurt even more, so I had to force my forehead to relax, which is hard when it feels like you got hit by a bus.
At least my nose isn't stuffy!
I might have just jinxed myself.
..........Luckily the floor is wood, so I muster up the energy to rap my knuckles against it.
I'm laying facedown on the floor, my limbs sprawled out. Yeah, I don't think I'm making it to this meeting. I think I'll just stay here...on the floor.... I close my eyes.
A PING! from my phone jolts my eyelids back open. I keep laying for a moment. It's probably Stratt telling me to get my butt over to the meeting. Ugh. I don't move for about 30 more seconds, trying to find the strength to crawl over to my phone, which is sitting on the small desk next to my bed. I finally make my way into a sitting position, and begin turning around and crawling to the desk on all fours (no way am I trying to stand up again). Luckily, I don't have to go far. I did this all very slowly, having learnt my lesson the first time.
I reach up and grab my phone, and then immediately flop back down on the floor.
Sure enough, it was Stratt.
THE BIG STRATT👀 2 min ago
Where are you? We have a meeting. Come to room 301.
I'm dying, I text back, kind of on autopilot.
In hindsight, maybe I should've said something other than "I'm dying," but oh well. I was too tired to type back anything else. I closed my eyes again, once more sprawled out on the floor.
STRATT POV
I was about to begin the meeting, when I noticed Dr. Grace was not present. This is odd, because he hasn't been late to a single meeting.
"Erm, has anyone seen Dr. Grace?" I ask the group of about 10 people in front of me.
Everyone either shakes their head or just stares blankly.
"Okay," I say.
I progress with the meeting, hoping he will just come in at any moment. 10 minutes in, he still hasn't shown up. I message him.
Where are you? We have a meeting. Come to room 301.
A few minutes later, he responds.
RYLAND GRACE
I'm dying
I wait for more explanation, but there's nothing.
What in the world? I think, What does that mean?
He could be joking or exaggerating, knowing his personality. But if he's seriously in trouble, I can't risk waiting until the end of the meeting to check up on him.
Where are you? I text again.
No response.
I am starting to seriously worry. I wave over an officer standing in the corner of the room, and tell them to go see if Dr. Grace is in his room.
GRACE POV
I'm laying faceup on the floor with my eyes closed when I hear a knock on my door. I check my phone. Oh. Stratt texted me again, but I didn't see it.
THE BIG STRATT👀 7 min ago
Where are you?
Someone knocks on my door again. "Dr. Grace?" I hear someone say through the door. It's not Stratt.
"Hello..?" I say, my voice sounding like I actually did get hit by a bus.
I clear my throat and try again.
"Yes?" I call out.
"Ms. Stratt is asking for you in room 301."
"uhhhh..." I respond.
"What do you want me to tell her, sir?"
"Tell her I can't make it," I say, "Tell her I'm sick."
"Yes sir," says the muffled voice, and I hear footsteps disappearing.
I close my eyes again. I feel so bleh.