Work Text:
Trinity woke up harshly to her alarm and slapped her phone to shut up, it fell on the ground and went quiet. she lay in her bed shivering, Her whole body shook with these trembles that racked her entire body making it hard to really make sense of anything, but she was extremely hot and sweaty. It felt like she had just come out of a sauna and been doused in sweat. Her head was pounding over and over making it hard to keep her eyes open. Her throat felt like she had swallowed a bunch of razor blades, mixed with some acid in it. She coughed a couple times, which was a horrible pain she never thought she would feel.
She heard music from the kitchen, some stupid rock song that Dennis listened to while making food, and she heard Dennis humming along to it and through her horribly congested nose, which actually seemed to be the least of her issues, she could slightly smell the sweet aroma of pancake, and before she could enjoy the sweet smell she loved to wake up too–
Fuck
A harsh wave of nausea hit her from the smell and her stomach leapt like she had just gone on a ride and even with the extreme weakness in her bones that was weighing her down, and how they felt like lead, she leapt up from her bed and sprinted to the bathroom past Dennis.
“Trinity” she heard his voice from behind her but ignored it and once she got to the toilet she fell down on her knees and threw up everything she had eaten yesterday. Her hair was plastered to her face as she kept throwing up, eventually once it stopped she was now dry heaving. One hand holding the toilet the other hand holding her stomach holding it, hoping it would just stop.
She heard the music shut off abruptly and then the sound of rushed footsteps from behind her as the door swung open behind her, and Dennis ran in stopping at the sight of trinity dry heaving into the toilet.
“You couldn't even knock could you” She said dryly.
He ignored her sarcastic comment “Oh fuck, trin are you okay?” His voice was laced with concern which made her dry heave more.
“Yeah huck, im just peachy” she said through dry heaves, her voice was hoarse and god did it hurt to speak.
“Trinity-” dennis was cut off by another dry heave, Dennis grimaced at the sound.
Eventually she stopped and just rested her cheek on the cold porcelain of the toilet trying to cool down the extreme temperatures her body was switching from, her entire body felt heavier than normal.
She had work soon, was all she could think. And she couldn't afford being late, not when she was behind on charting, and she had patients to see. So slowly she pushed herself up and when she turned she was faced with Dennis in the doorway who was unmoving. Her gaze was icy but he didn't break the contact.
“Move” she winced at the pain that ran through her entire body from her throat as she spoke
“Fuck no” he scoffed. Looking her up and down, she slightly looked like a beaten down puppy.
“Huck, we’re gonna be late for work. I'm gonna be late for work.” She was getting irritated and panicky, she needed to get there. Even though she had a horrible headache and just wanted to lay in bed, she couldn't let anyone else down, she was behind om everything, and she hated herself for it.
He laughed, laughing in disbelief at her words “you’re not going to work. Not happening. I'm calling robby and we’re staying home” he said matter of fact, crossing his arms.
Her eyes went wide at this “What the fuck?? You cant just make that decision for me im going-” she was cut off by a coughing fit as she grabbed the end of the sink coughing hysterically into her arm, this had to be the worst experience of her life, the pain that racked her body with each cough mixed with the headache made her lightheaded, her entire head spun with each cough.
Once the coughing stopped she slid down to the floor back against the wall, shaking, she was so dizzy, and it felt like someone had shot her multiple times in the skull, She wanted to cry, why did she want to cry, she was delirious obviously, she didn't want dennis to see her like this, she should've just locked the door, and died alone in this stupid mucky bathroom.
Dennis stared at her on the ground, with a “see i told you” face. And she shot as menacing of a glare at him as she could muster.
It looked more like her slowly looking up at him than anything, so he ignored her attempt at being mean and pulled out his phone and called Robby, after one ring he answered.
“Hey, Whitaker, what's up?” Robby asked, he was slightly yelling and Dennis could hear the loud ER in the background, they were already late, but dennis didn't really care.
“Hey Robby, me and Trinity won't be able to make it today.. Trinity has seemed to have caught the plague.” His voice was sarcastic, but filled with care for his friend. “im gonna stay with her to take care of her, because she can barely stand.”
Robby accepted this and soon the call ended. Dennis put his phone in his back pocket and looked down at Trinity frowning. Her head was leaned against the wall, eyes half open. She was pale and sweating, but shivering like she was in a snowy tundra, her eyes were red and she looked so weak.
He went to the kitchen and got one of their emergency flu tests they had, perks of being a doctor.
He walked back in and quickly swabbed her nose and did the test, putting it on the counter of the kitchen and then went back in.
She looked up at him “Huck.. I feel so bad” she groaned like a toddler. God trinity was whining like a baby, who was she? Her arms were wrapped around her stomach and she squeezed her eyes shut
His eyes softened and her scratchy voice, she sounded naasally and half dead really. “I know trin, cmon let me help you into the shower and ill get you pajamas.” she nodded, too tired and sick to be able to protest or even throw a snarky comment like normal.
He grabbed her arms and somehow from pure force was able to lift her mostly limp body up. She leaned slightly against the wall, eyes downcast at the floor, from the sheer embarrassment of the entire situation.
“Do you think you can shower alone?” he asked, looking at her as she needed to lean against the wall to stand.
She laughed “Wow so forward.. But I'm not into you like that huck” she slowly met his gaze. Her laughing turned to a cough.
He smiled slightly, the end of his lips quivering. “Alright ill take that as a yes, you get into the shower and ill get you pajamas and tylenol..” he listed off things he would get her but mostly trinity was zoned out. By the time she came back to life he was gone and the door was closed.
—-
Dennis closed the door behind him and heard the hiss of the shower turn on. He went to her room and grabbed the pair of pajamas he’d seen her wear many times before, just a large graphic tee and long pants. He set them on the table outside the bathroom.
He then walked to the kitchen and finished the pancakes he was making before setting them on the counter. He grabbed tylenol, and Advil from the cupboards and brought them with him. He then went and began to watch tv in the living room constantly checking the time.
His alarm went off for the test 15 minutes into her shower and when he checked it her frowned, type B flu. You couldn't really avoid getting the flu as a doctor, you were around sick people all day and it happened to the best of them. He went back to the living room and plopped down on the couch somehow already drained from the morning and it wasn't even 10am.
About 30 minutes later Trinity walked into the living room in the pajamas he left out, looking slightly more alive than before. Dennis paused whatever he was watching looking at her
“You have the type B flu” he said bluntly before she could say anything to him.. It wasn't really a shock to either of them, but it's nice to have confirmation.
She groaned rolling her eyes “you have to be fucking kidding me. This is why I hate working with kids! They always give you sicknesses.” She threw her arms up in exasperation. The day before she had a kid patient who had the type B flu but it was so severe they took her to the doctor, and well, the kid had coughed all over Trinity's face.
He looked at her apologetically “happens to the best of us. Are you hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head no “i think i would genuinely throw up if i ate anything.” she muttered looking away, her stomach churned at the idea of food in any way.
His eyes softened at her for like the 10th time that day. She saw this when she looked over, rolling her eyes. “Come on Huckleberry, don't go all mushy on me now” she shot at him, grimacing at his kind expression.
He rolled his eyes “come on sit with me, you’re like a sick puppy my god.” he said rolling his eyes
They were never really the closest friends ever, mainly roommates but Dennis cared deeply for Trinity and she looked so tired and weak, he had never seen her like this and she obviously didn't want him to see her like this.
She looked at him on the couch where he patted a spot for her, hesitating, deciding whether to go and lay in bed and die alone or sit with her roommate. Tough decisions these days. Before ultimately walking over and sitting down resting her head on the back of the cushion, eyes closed, the cold leather of their couch seeped into her bones making her feel a little better. Dennis stared at her, trying to see her next move. Trinity could feel his gaze boring into her as she opened one eye to look at him.
“What.” she asked sharply, her whole body was tense and ached, and she began to cough again. For a second, it still felt like she was swallowing razor blades every time she spoke or coughed. She was still shivering like crazy but less sweaty, now actually she was becoming cold.
“Nothing nothing.” he quickly looked away, flustered from getting caught staring. He turned on the stupid reality TV he was watching, something about first responders. She rolled her eyes at him and then closed her eyes again trying to just focus on her breathing and not the fact she felt like she had been lit on fire, and doused in acid over and over again then shot a couple times. So she listened to the sound of the action, relaxing her body a bit, letting some of the tenseness in her muscles settle. She was safe, and she felt comfortable
She was so tired and maybe she didn't need to be alert at all times, and she felt herself drifting off until eventually she was out like a light. The last thing she remembered was her head falling on something soft, and the feeling of being safe, with a kind warmth that seemed to surround her, making her feel infinitely better even if she still felt like death.
A little while into watching the show Dennis felt a weight on his shoulder making him startle a bit, and he looked over. Trinity had fallen asleep and was completely limp on him. He smiled, wrapping an arm around her cold body, squeezing her shoulder slightly. He grabbed a blanket with his free arm and put it on her. She felt like an ice pop.
He smiled at her “get well trinity” he muttered, resting his head on hers not caring if he got sick, he was just happy to help her.
In her sleep, Trinity smiled.