Work Text:
There had been an awful stomach bug outbreak on campus. Everyone was going down with it from faculty, to students, to the janitors. But not Elphaba. Elphaba never gets sick. She hasn’t had an illness of any sort since she had the flu when she was eleven. When Glinda was down and out with the stomach bug two weeks ago she made sure to sleep in her own bed and not kiss Elphaba but the older girl made it a point to let Glinda know that she would not be getting sick “Elphaba Thropp doesn’t get sick”. If Glinda was well enough she would have rolled her eyes.
Glinda now found herself alone in Elphaba’s bed. Putting her arm out feeling for her girlfriend only to be met with the cool empty space of an empty bed. Frowning Glinda moved to look at the clock, glowing a 2:04am back at her, it wasn’t uncommon for Elphaba to have late night bathroom visits but something felt different. Sitting up to look around the room, she saw the rays of the bathroom light peeking out from the mostly closed door. “Elphie?”. There was no answer instead Glinda heard a choked groan followed by the most awful retching sound. Glinda the ever concerned girlfriend sprung out of bed and into her bathroom. Seeing her Elphie hunched over the toilet, heaving, emptying her stomach contents. “Oh Elphie!” Moving forward to pull the older girls braids from her face. Finally catching her breath Elphaba sat back on her heels. “Glinda I am not sick it must of just been something I ate. I am fine”. “I didn’t say you were love!”.
Dropping Elphie’s braids Glinda moved to the sink filling a glass of water and passing it to Elphaba who used it to rinse her mouth out. Reaching over to flush the toilet and then slowly pull herself upright using the sink edge to grip onto. Once she was up right Elphaba leaned her full weight against the counter, feeling her legs shaking underneath her and feeling her head swim with a dizziness that had the room spinning. “Come on Elphie let’s get you back to bed”. Taking her girlfriends hand and gently leading her back to her bed. Glinda tucked her in and turned towards her desk to grab the first aid kit her Momsie had sent with her. Digging through it and retrieving a thermometer and making her way back over to Elphie. Brushing her hand against her forehead with a gasp “Elphie you are burning up!” Gently Glinda placed the thermometer in Elphaba’s ear and waited for the beep. Turning it over in her hand and frowning when she saw that it read 38.8°c. “Elphaba Thropp you are sick!”. Murmuring back at her “I don’t get sick Glinda”. Rolling her eyes and moving to fetch some paracetamol to help make Elphaba more comfortable and hopeful help bring her temperature down.
Handing Elphaba the two tablets and a glass of water “just sip the water Elphie”. Elphaba took them with an attempted glare at Glinda. She knew how to take care of herself, she had done it all her life. Her father would ignore her when she was sick so she had to learn how to cope on her own. Glinda went to climb on the bed but stopped when she saw the taller girl freeze. “What is it Elphie?”
“I just don’t feel like cuddling or sharing the bed right now”. Glinda nodded and moved back to her own side of the room. Her bed felt so big and lonely without Elphaba to snuggle in too. “Try and get some sleep Elphie”. With that Glinda closed her eyes and fell back off to sleep. Waking up again but this time by the sun that had risen into the sky. Glinda turned to look over at Elphaba’s bed glad to see her still asleep. Quietly Glinda got up and got ready before slipping out into the bright morning light. Glinda made her way to the Oz Mart to pick up some supplies for Elphie.
Picking up the yellow basket she walked through the store collecting, Gatorade, dry crackers, chicken soup broth, cleaning supplies and a bucket” hurriedly she paid and made her way back to the dorm as quickly as she could. Juggling the bags of shopping and fighting with her keys Glinda accidentally fell back against the door making it close with a loud thud. Cringing she heard a “oh no oh no.. no” come from Elphaba’s spot in the bed. The green girl tangled in her blankets tried to hurriedly make her way to the bathroom but it was too late. She soiled herself. The potent smell hit Glinda and she fought not to make a big deal about it as to not embarrass the girl. Finally freeing herself from the blankets she made her way into the bathroom, unfortunately all the jostling had upset the green girl’s stomach so before she could worry about her clothes Elphaba was back hanging her head into the toilet.
Glinda opened the balcony doors to help the smell and followed Elphaba into the bathroom. She didn’t expect to see the girl crying, clutching her stomach. “Oh Elphie what’s the matter, are you in pain?” Glinda’s voice was soft and laced with concern. Teary eyes looked at Glinda and it made her hear shatter into a thousand pieces. “I had an accident all in my bed like a child. Oh Oz I am so sorry Glinda, I am mortified”. Glinda reached out and took the green hands into her own. “Elphie you couldn’t have helped it. Why don’t you strip off and take a shower. I will change your bedding and take the soiled sheets and clothes to the laundry.” Having no energy to argue that she could do it herself, Elphaba sighed and nodded. Moving to take off her soiled clothes and rinse the worse of the damage out before dropping them to the floor and getting into a warm shower.
Stripping Elphaba’s sheets and collecting the now wet clothes, Glinda took them downstairs to the campus laundry. Collecting some extra towels, Glinda came back up to the room glad to hear the shower still running. Quickly putting clean sheets back onto Elphaba’s bed, adding some extra towels on the bed just incase. Elphaba slowly made her way out of the bathroom in just a towel and sitting down on her bed. “Glinda, I think I might be sick”. Coming around to stand in front of Elphaba, she leaned down to kiss her hot forehead. “Let’s get you into some comfy pyjamas”. There was no ‘I told you so’s, no yelling at her for having an accident’. Just quiet love. Helping Elphaba step into her sleep shorts and pulling the tee over her head. Glinda then help Ephaba move into the bed and get comfortable.
Glinda pulled the now chilled Gatorade from the mini fridge and handed it to Elphie. “Small sips. I got a bucket so you don’t have to keep getting up every time you need to throw up, Oz knows that was so draining.” Sipping the Gatorade before laying back down to get comfortable, hoping to fall back asleep. Instead the older girl tossed and turned struggling to find a comfortable position with the ache in her stomach. Letting out a low whine making Glinda turn and look at her from her desk. She had never seen her girlfriend look so small and pitiful. Rising from her chair Glinda went back over to Elphaba’s bed feeling her forehead again. “Let’s check your temperature again. It’s time for more paracetamol too.”. Checking her temperature and getting some more pain medication. Glinda settled in behind the taller girl, gently pulling her into herself.
Feeling the warmth from her girlfriend it was enough to lull Elphaba back into sleep. She wasn’t sure how long she was out but she woke to a deep churning in her stomach. Glinda felt the way Elphaba abruptly sat and wordlessly handed her the bucket. Rubbing slowly, soothing circles on her back Glinda softly spoke “it’s okay Elphie let it out”. When she was done Glinda took the bucket to the bathroom to empty and wash it out before returning it beside the bed. Glinda also brought with her a damp, cool washcloth to place on Elphie’s heated forehead.
They followed this pattern for the next few hours, Elphaba sleeping only to wake to be sick. Glinda changing out the washcloth. Glinda never once complained. The next morning when she woke up she saw Elphaba sitting at her desk, looking a little bit sweaty and still pale. “Elphie you should be in bed resting!” Glinda said sitting up. “My temperature broke two hours ago and I have been keeping the Gatorade down since 6am”. Ever the same stubborn girl she continued on with her homework that she couldn’t do the day before. Glinda got up making her way over to Elphaba to pull her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “I am glad you are starting to feel better my sweet”.
“Thank you for being a good nurse.”
“Ah so you admit you were sick!” Narrowing her eyes back at Glinda “I have no idea what you are talking about, I don’t get sick!” Rolling her eyes and moving to take a shower, leaving Elphaba to her homework. Glinda smiled to herself glad to have her sassy girlfriend back.