Work Text:
Angela is sick.
Yes sick.
A fever of 103F and a raging headache. Now for most people that would mean you don’t go into work and spend the day resting in bed but not Angela. The idea of spending her whole day in bed bores her just thinking about it and plus, she can't afford to rest when the studio was understaffed and when she has two shoots to do today with no one to take her place.
Who does the universe think she is.
She gets out of bed and stumbles to get ready for work, her head spins and standing makes her feel even worse but she pushes through, her stubbornness taking charge.
‘It’s just a little cold.’ she tells herself even though she looks as If she's about to drop dead at any moment.
She knows she look terrible to and makes as much as an effort as her sick body can to make herself look at least a bit presentable.
Spork watches this whole process, looking unimpressed at his owner's persistence at going to work. He bites at her socks and barks at her but all he gets in response is a kiss on the head or a head pat. Eventually he gives up and goes back to sleep on Angela's bed.
She finally gets out the house and somehow makes it to her car, she knows driving to work is a terrible idea, but her sickness has clouded her mind and whatever sense of self-preservation she has left.
She gets to work just on time, having narrowly survived the journey to work after almost crashing multiple times. She heads in a greets everyone, trying to act out her usual energetic self. Most people believe it as most of them are sick themselves or just very unobservant.
Everyone but Amanda, the woman she loves.
As soon as Angela walks in Amanda sees right through her façade and her smile fades.
“Ange? Are you okay? You look like shit” she laughs but the concern in her eyes is evident.
“I'm fine Manda, just a little cold, nothing I can't handle” Angela responds, her voice unusually weak
“Babe don’t lie to me, you look terrible” she says seriously now, and it makes Angela start to feel guilty for worrying her loved one like this, seeing the concern in the taller woman's eyes. Amanda reaches out to put a hand on Angela's forehead, but Angela stops her, shakily grabbing Amandas wrist with clammy hands.
“I'm fine Amanda I promise” she tries to sound convincing, but Amanda knows Angela better than anyone, probably better than Angela knows herself.
Angela knows this.
Amanda stares straight into Angela's tired eyes, her own eyes filled with love and worry.
“Baby you're not fine, your pale, sweaty and shaky. Plus, you're not acting yourself at all, you can't fool me Ange you know that. If you're not feeling well just go home, I'm sure we can find some else to cover for you or try do it without you, It’s no problem honey.” Amanda says in that soft tone Angela loves.
Angela has to look away, knowing if she looks at Amanda any longer, she won't be able to keep this up.
“I'm just feeling a little under the weather is all, nothing to worry about. I’ll do the shoots and go home straight after I promise.” She looks up at Amanda with puppy dog eyes, knowing Amanda can't resist it.
Amanda lets out a long sigh, filled with concern and defeat.
“Fine but if I see you looking worse, I’ll drag you home myself got it?”
Angela nods and slowly makes her way to set. Amanda watches her go, her chest tight with worry.
Her first shoot is with Trevor and Shayne, reading reddit stories. It was long and Angela was trying her hardest to not pass out right there and then while also trying to act lively and energetic with barely any energy in her body. She just has to keep repeating to herself.
‘I’m fine, just a little longer, you’ll be fine.’
When the shoot is done Angela slowly makes her way to the green room, her body heavy. She's got another hour till she has a resident's evil video with Amanda and Spencer as Arasha, Courtney, Chance and basically everyone else is sick themselves.
She flops onto the couch and closes her eyes. She feels 10x worse now and knows she can't act like she is okay for much longer. Her head is pounding, her fever is increasing and she I starting to feel more and more lightheaded.
She starts to think about Amanda and how concerned she was about her, it makes her heart race knowing Amanda cared so deeply about her. It only makes her love for Amanda grow stronger and she wishes Amanda could just take her home and care for her but her pride of not looking weak simply won't let her.
After just sitting there for a little while she checks her phone, the light making her wince, 50 minutes left, she decides to go to the set now while she still has a very small amount of energy. Even moving was becoming harder, her body just felt heavy and unresponsive but that wasn’t gonna stop her.
As she walks in and of course Amanda is already there, having a habit of waiting in the room ages before it even starts.
As soon as Amanda makes eye contact with Angela her eyes widen in concern.
“Holy shit Ange! You look like you’re about to pass out!” She rushes over to the pale woman, already feeling the heat radiating from her. She puts the back of her hand on Angela's forehead and this time she doesn’t protest. As soon as Amandas cool hand touches her forehead she shivers at the contact.
Amanda gasps.
“Ange you're burning up! I’m telling Spencer you sick and then I’m taking you home” She quickly walks off, not wating for Angela's response.
Her mind is racing with worry.
‘For fuck sake Ange, why do you have to be so stubborn.’
She quickly goes to Spencer who isn’t far from where they are and explains the whole situation. He immediately understands and ultimately decides to cancel the stream, Telling Ian who is also sick at home. Amanda starts rushing back to Angela and sees the smaller woman swaying on her feet. Her eyes widen in alarm, and she starts to run.
“Angela!”
Angela sees Amanda coming back but her vision is dark around the edges and her hearing is muffled. She goes to speak but a weak whimper leaves her mouths and her vision goes black.
Amanda sees Angela start to fall forward as she collapses; she quickly reaches out and grabs her before she hits the ground. Angela is limp in her grasp, unmoving.
“Angela?! Ange can you hear me?!” She shakes her slightly, but Angela doesn’t respond. Panic grips at her heart as she gently lowers her to the ground on her back. Angela's eyes are closed, and she is sweaty and pale. Way too pale for Amandas liking. She quickly puts her finger under her nose, just to make sure she's not dead or anything. To her relief she feels a weak breath, but her relief is short lived when she realizes how laboured it is.
“Ange come on wake up!” but Angela doesn’t even make a sound.
“Spencer! I need your help now!” she called out desperately as she strokes Angela's sweat soaked hair. He runs over to them, eyes widening at the site.
“Holy fuck is she okay?” He asks, now panicked as he sees Angela's pale and motionless form on the ground.
“I need you to get a wet cloth and thermometer now!” she says worriedly.
He runs off to get them, leaving Amanda with Angela. She looks at her, eyes filled with panic. “God your too pale…too still…please wake up…open your eyes for me please” Amanda begs desperately as she shakes her more roughly, but Angela remains unmoving and unresponsive, her chest rising and falling shallowly.
Her eyes fill with tears, and she gently pats her cheek. “Please Angela, I need you to wake up for me… please please please… please wake up and tell me you’re okay…wake up and start acting like your cute childlike self…”
The tears start to stream down her face and her thoughts start to spiral
‘What if she doesn’t wake up’
‘What if this is it’
‘What if I never got to tell her I love her’
She is snaped back to reality when Spencer runs back in, wet cloth in one hand and thermometer in the other. He passes them to her, and she immediately presses the cold cloth against Angela's sweaty forehead before gently putting the thermometer in her mouth, waiting for it to beep.
“Spencer, I need you to take my car keys and drive my car as close to the doors as possible, okay?” He nods and runs out of the room once more. Amanda gently lays Angela's head in her lap, still pressing the wet cloth against her forehead as she cries quietly.
The thermometer beeps, Amanda takes it out, her fever has risen to 103.9F.
Way too high for Amandas liking.
Just as Amanda is about to break down, Angela lets out a soft groan.
“Ange? Can you hear me?” she asks, her voice now filled with hope
“Yea…yea I can hear you” Angela gets out groggily, Opening her eyes half lidded.
Amanda sighs out of relief and gently strokes her hair again “God Angela, you scared the shit out of me you idiot.” she smiles through her tears
“sorry” Angela weakly gets out, her voice makes Amandas heart ache.
“No, it’s not your fault, you just need to take better care of yourself…you worry me” Amanda replies, her voice cracking.
Angela still sees the tears rolling down Amandas cheeks and her heart sinks, she feels guilty for letting herself get this bad and worry the love of her life, so she shakily reaches out and cups her face, her thumb gently wiping away her tears. It makes her realise just how much Amanda cares for her and how much Angela loves her.
Amanda leans into the touch rests her hand on top of Angela's, keeping her hand there.
Somehow, even though Angela looks like she's about to be embraced by death Amanda can't help but find her so attractive, it made her cheeks flush a little, but she pushed it down, knowing she has to focus.
‘Not now Amanda Jesus’, she mentally slaps herself
Spencer runs back in, telling them he had moved the car to the door. Amanda thanked him before carefully scooping Angela up into her arms and carrying her bridal style out the building. Angela didn’t even try to protest, way to weak and enjoying the closeness, resting her head against Amandas chest, closing her eyes. Amanda glances down and smiles softly.
They get to the car and Amanda gently places her in the passenger seat before getting in the driver’s seat herself and driving off. Amanda puts a hand on Angela's thigh and keeps it there grounding herself while making Angela feel butterflies in her stomach.
Then she realises her own car is still in the parking lot.
“What about my car?” She asks tiredly.
“I’ll get in when you're feeling better” Amanda replies softly.
Angela just nods, too exhausted to do much else.
They arrive at Amandas apartment and she carries Angela inside, going to her bedroom and laying her down in the bed. She then goes to get a new wet cloth and some fever reducers. After putting the fresh cloth on Angela's forehead and making her take the fever reducers, she sits on the edge of the bed, running her fingers through Angela's hair yet again. A nervous habit.
“Manda?” Angela asks quietly.
“Yeah hon? What's wrong” She replies, a hint of concern coming back in her voice.
“Lay with me…please?” the vulnerability in her voice made Amandas heart clench.
“Course baby” she gets in, and Angela immediately snuggles up to her, resting her head on her chest.
“Hey Manda?” she asks again in the same voice.
“Yea Ange?”
“I think I love you…” Amandas heart skyrockets at Angela's words. “it’s just… seeing how much you care has really made me realise that I really love you… more than a friend… and I want you.”
Amandas cheeks flush once more as she rubs Angela's back.
“Oh Ange…I think I love you too, but I also think we should have this conversation when you're not about to die Infront of me yea?”
Angela lets out a weak chuckle but agrees and starts to drift off to sleep, not before mumbling one last time “I love you Manda” Amanda kisses Angela's forehead and responds softly “I love you to Ange.”