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7. Sick on a date
“Well, I think that new sushi restaurant should be in rotation for our dates forever,” Nick said as he walked hand in hand with Charlie down a London sidewalk.
“I agree. Although I wish there was more of a dessert menu,” Charlie replied.
Nick looked at his partner with a sparkle in his eye. “We could always stop and get something.”
Charlie smiled, and they headed towards an ice cream stand.
“Nng,” Nick moaned, rolling over in bed. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but he knew that he felt bad. Actually, he should probably go to the bathroom if he didn’t want to make a mess on the floor. Wrapping an arm around his stomach as he hurried to the bathroom, Nick had to bite back a gag until he was safely in front of the toilet.
“Nick?” Charlie was standing in the bathroom door rubbing his eyes sleepily. “What’s the matter?”
“Think I’m gonna throw up,” Nick replied, crouching down and leaning over the bowl. An unpleasant pressure in his stomach was growing rapidly and it seemed like he could feel the vomit creeping up his throat.
“Let me know if you need me.” Charlie knew that Nick preferred to be alone when he felt sick to his stomach, so he closed the bathroom door most of the way and sat on the floor in the hallway, ready to jump into action if Nick needed him.
Once Charlie was gone it was like Nick’s body knew that he could throw up, because as soon as the door closed he was throwing up everything he’d had at dinner plus some. It was a miserable time, as it always was, but Nick was disappointed to find that he didn’t even feel better once it was over. The cramps in his stomach felt like it was being shredded and there was a gurgle from down low that told him he needed to drop trousers and sit on the toilet in case this stomach bug was going to come out of both ends.
Charlie winced when he heard diarrhea happening behind the bathroom door and decided that he would be better off in the bedroom. While he wanted to be there if Nick needed him, he also really didn’t want to hear anyone pissing out of their ass, and that included himself. He quietly stood and went back to bed.
He must’ve fallen asleep because he jerked awake when he felt Nick crawl into bed next to him. “Feeling any better?” Charlie asked, turning to face his partner.
“I’m empty, at least,” Nick responded, curling into a ball and burying himself under the covers. He was freezing and shivering, his hands and feet practically numb from the cold bathroom floor.
“I’m sorry, love,” Charlie cooed as he pulled Nick close to him. He frowned when he felt how warm Nick’s skin was and how the other man was shaking. “Think you can go back to sleep?” Charlie wasn’t sure what time it was, but since it was the weekend it wasn’t that important anyway—they could sleep for as long as they wanted to.
“Mmhmm,” Nick replied, sleep already pulling at him. He was exhausted and hoped that he could sleep peacefully until morning.
“Good morning, sleepy head,” Charlie said as Nick shuffled into the living room, blanket wrapped around his shoulders. “Are you feeling better?”
Nick just groaned in response as he curled up on the couch. He hadn’t thrown up since the first time last night, but his stomach still hurt.
Charlie felt Nick’s forehead, pleased when he felt a normal temperature. “Think you want to try eating something?”
“Tea, maybe?” Nick didn’t feel even remotely hungry.
“Coming right up,” Charlie replied, kissing Nick’s forehead. Around the corner, Charlie made a cup of tea and toasted one slice of bread, hoping that Nick could nibble on it a little.
Nick hadn’t moved when Charlie returned. “I made you a slice of toast, in case you want to try nibbling on it.” He set the cup and plate on the side table and sat down on the other end of the couch. “Movie day?”
Nick nodded and pushed himself up so that he could drink his tea. By the time they were halfway through Wonder Woman, Nick had eaten the slice of toast and was feeling a little better. While his stomach still hurt, he wasn’t feeling overly nauseated anymore.
“More tea?” Charlie asked, noticing that Nick’s cup was empty. He wanted to keep his partner hydrated.
“You don’t have to get up,” Nick responded.
“I want more anyway.” Charlie got up and took the two tea cups with him to heat some water. “You don’t need to pause it,” he said when Nick moved for the remote. “I already know what happens.”
Nick snuggled back down in his blanket and closed his eyes as Charlie kissed the top of his head.
“Be back in a jif.”
The two of them spent the remainder of their Saturday on the couch watching movies, and when it was time for bed Nick was feeling mostly back to normal.
“Thanks for today, Char,” Nick said as they undressed for a shower.
“Of course, love.” Charlie turned the water on and waited for it to get warm. “I know you’d do the same for me.”
Nick sighed as he stepped under the hot spray. “Guess we shouldn’t go back to that sushi place, eh?”
Charlie stepped in after him. “Guess not. Bummer.” He wrapped his arms around Nick and moved them so that they were both under the water, kissing Nick’s temple gently.