Today's request is for @mostly-space-scrap who requested 'Fingers Through Hair' ^_^
The sound of pained coughing launches Cere from a dead sleep. She bolts upright, breathing hard, heart thumping, as a strange kind of silence falls. She looks over and sees Merrin is also awake. They share a look. They both know what – who – it is.
A worried, if muffled, beep confirms it a moment later.
Cere is on her feet, telling Merrin to stay put. Whatever’s wrong, she knows Cal won’t want a crowd. She steps into the hallway and immediately finds Greez. She nods to him, and he nods back. She’s got this one.
Greez slides back into his cabin, surrounded by a cloud of worry. Merrin isn’t much better. Cere hopes she’s shielding her emotions better than they are, although it’s unlikely Cal is in any condition to concentrate on anything other than holding tight to the pain she knows he’s in.
Cere’s going to fix that as best she can. Knowing Cal’s in the ‘fresher, Cere knocks gently on the door. “It’s me,” she says.
The door opens, but it’s BD who’s doing the opening. Cal is by the ‘fresher, back to the door, legs bent, arms wrapped around his ribs. Cere’s concern steps up a notch. She steps in, closes the door, and crouches down at his side. She can smell the vomit, see the sheen of sweat coating his face and neck. Of real concern are the specks of blood on his lips.
His eyes are closed, his breathing deliberately slow and measured. “Sorry,” he says, voice thin and strained.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m going to get you some water and some meds. BD, monitor him.”
BD whistles quietly. Cere moves to the galley, grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge and hefts the med kit back with her. She returns to the ‘fresher and finds Cal where she left him. He hasn’t moved. BD looks up at her, beeping worriedly. She sits at Cal’s side, gives BD a reassuring head pat, and rests her hand on the back of Cal’s head. She can’t find much of a fever, which is a relief, but it doesn’t explain why he’s been sick.
“Migraine?” she asks, handing over the water and a painkiller.
“No.” Cal doesn’t open his eyes as he takes both items. He swirls a mouthful of water and spits it out before drinking some and injecting the painkiller into his arm. “Nightmare. The children. Bad. Threw up.” He takes another careful breath. “Pulled something. Chest hurts. A lot.”
“The painkillers will help,” Cere says. She’ll check the wound once she gets him back to his bed.
“Hope so,” Cal says, a ghost of a smile flitting over his pale lips.
BD gets closer, pressing himself to Cal’s stomach. Cal manages to move a hand to so his knuckles brush against his legs. It’s all he can manage. BD gives a sad beep, looking up at Cere for help.
“What do you need?” Cere doesn’t really want to leave Cal on the floor. He’s at an awkward angle, half draped over the refresher on his good side, but she’s genuinely worried if she helps him up right now, he might pass out and cause himself more harm.
Cal’s lips tremble and he shakes his head. Cere’s not sure if that’s a ‘nothing’ or a ‘I don’t know’, so she chooses the latter and reaches out. She runs her fingers through his hair, long strands golden red against her skin. “We’ll take as long as you need.”
He leans into her touch, warm tears running under her palm. He’s sick and injured, and right now he needs comfort. She imagines it’s been a very, very long time since he had someone look out for him.
It’s been a long time since she had anyone to look out for.
Projecting calm into the Force, Cere reminds Cal to breathe. She feels the tension fading from his muscles as the painkiller kicks in. He’s going to fall asleep in here before too much longer. That’s probably not what he needs.
“Are you going to be sick again?” she asks.
Cal shakes his head. Talking is beyond him.
“I’m going to get you up and back to bed, if that’s alright?”
He nods after a slight hesitation. BD makes way as Cere carefully gets Cal to his feet. He weaves drunkenly, leaning heavily on her. BD opens the door and the three of them make slow progress back to the engine room. Once there, BD shoves the blankets down to the foot of the bed with his head then leaps out the way as Cere settles Cal. She makes quick work of checking his injury, but there’s no sign of new blood or damage. It’s a massive relief.
She tucks him in. He’s already asleep. Knowing she won’t sleep again tonight, she heads back to her cabin and grabs her pillows, blankets and datapad.
“He is alright?” Merrin asks from her own bed.
“He’s asleep again,” Cere says. “Nightmare.”
“I see,” Merrin says. “In the morning I will brew some of my healing tea. It will help.”
“He’ll like that,” Cere says. “Get some sleep too.”
“I intend to,” Merrin replies. “I am unpleasant when I lack rest, and I would hate to roast someone accidentally.”
Wishing her a good night, Cere steps out. As expected, Greez is in the hallway again. “How is he?”
“Resting, and probably very sorry for the mess in the ‘fresher.”
“I’ll clean it before I head back to bed. Only this once though.”
Cere squeezes Greez’s shoulder and heads back to the engine room. She finds Cal as she left him, BD perched by his head and monitoring closely. The little droid’s lights are dimmer than usual. He’s running himself ragged watching over Cal.
“Come on, BD. Recharge. I’ve got Cal for tonight. He doesn’t want you running out of charge any more than you want him unwell.”
After running one last scan, BD hops down and heads to the workbench to recharge. Cere uses the Force to close the engine room door, sets up her blankets and pillows, settles herself just outside vomiting distance, and slips into a light meditation, ready to launch into action should Cal need her again.
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