Ok guys. I have been really obsessed with PLL for a while now. I have been working on various stories for a few months. This week, I had so much to do for school so of course, all I wanted to do was write. I cranked out this story. Now, normally, I am a huge Spoby shipper, but this story just got stuck in my head, and I went for it.
Spencer knew she had been pushing herself too hard lately. She just had so much to get done with her job that she didn't have time to take care of herself. Half the office was out with some kind of flu bug, meaning Spencer had been pulling major overtime. She needed the extra cash so she couldn't complain, but the long hours were getting to her.
She and Caleb were supposed to get together for dinner that night, but she had canceled on him after realizing she was going to get stuck working whoolay late.
By the time she got home, she had a nice headache brewing and she was so tired. She changed into a t-shirt that was way too big and climbed into bed within minutes of being home. Very quickly, she fell asleep.
The next morning, she woke up feeling absolutely terrible. She pulled herself out of bed, getting in the shower before downing some Advil and getting ready. She raced to work, arriving just on time.
"Morning Spencer," her co-worker Danielle said, "You feeling alright?"
"I'll be fine," Spencer said, going into her cubicle.
She worked for a while, finding it hard to concentrate as her head pounded and her nose got stuffed up, making breathing hard. At noon, she heard someone come up behind her. She turned around slowly, seeing Caleb standing there.
"You rescheduled out dinner last night for lunch today," he said, seeing the confusion in her eyes, "But from the way you look right now, I'd say the only place you should be going is home to bed."
"I'b fide," Spencer said, wincing as she spoke, "I just deed to finidsh this."
"Spence," Caleb said, going over to her, "You sound miserable. Let me take you home so you can rest."
"Bud…" Spencer started, only to be cut off by a series of coughs.
Caleb rubbed her back gently as she cough.
A second after Spencer finished, her boss poked his head in her cubicle. "Spencer, was that you coughing?"
"I'b fide," Spencer said, grabbing a tissue.
"You look like hell," her boss said, "I bet you caught that flu that's going around. Go home until you get better."
"Bud…" Spencer started.
"No buts," her boss said, "Most of the office is out sick right now. I'm actually thinking of giving everyone tomorrow off to get the office clean. Please go home and rest."
Spencer gave in, trying to stand up, but having to sit back down when dizziness overpowered her.
"You alright?" Caleb asked, going over to her.
"Yeah," she said, getting up again slower, "Jud dizzy."
"You're burning hot Spence," Caleb said, putting a hand on her forehead.
She nodded, grabbing her coat. He helped her put on her coat and wrapped his arms around her. Spencer leaned against him as he guided her out of the elevator.
"Why did you come to work today Spence?" he asked as she leaned against his chest.
She shrugged, closing her eyes.
"Alright," he said, "I know you probably took the metro today, but we are taking a cab home."
Spencer didn't have the energy to argue so she just followed Caleb out and into a cab. She fell asleep on his lap. He felt bad when she woke up when they arrived, but he helped her up to her apartment. He brought her into her bedroom, helping her change into a pair of warm pajamas.
"Alright," he said, pulling back her covers and tucking her into the warm sheets, "I checked and you have nothing by Advil and Midol so I'm gonna run to the Walgreens down the street and get you some medicine and other stuff. What are your symptoms?"
"Feber," she said, shivering a little, "Chills, buscle aches, cough, ruddy dose, headache, dizzy, and sore throat."
"Sounds like you caught the flu," he said, brushing a piece of hair from her forehead, "What do you want me to pick up?"
She shrugged, pulling her blanket up, "Soup."
"Alright," he said, "I'll be back in a half hour. If you need anything, just text me."
She nodded a little, closing her eyes. He left the apartment, heading to the Walgreens. He went in, first grabbing a few can of soup. He knew she wasn't a big fan of chicken noodle, but she loved tomato soup and vegetable soup so he grabbed several cans of each of those.
He also grabbed a case of her favorite purple Gatorade and a box of crackers. Hr decided to grab some ginger ale and applesauce in case she ended up with an upset stomach.
He then headed over to the pharmacy area, looking at all his options. He realized he had no clue what to get her so he went over to the pharmacy counter to ask.
"Hello," the pharmacist said, "How can I help you?"
"Hi," he said, "My friend is sick and I need to get her some medicine, but I'm not quite sure what to get."
"Alright," the pharmacist said, coming out from behind the counter, "What are her symptoms?"
"She's got some flu bug that going around her office," Caleb rattled off as he followed the pharmacist, "She had a fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, runny nose, headache, dizziness, and sore throat."
"Sounds like the flu. The strain going around right now is vicious. Make sure she's getting a lot of rest and fluids. This should help," the pharmacist said, handing him a box of Theraflu along with a bottle of Dayquil and Nyquil, "She can take the Nyquil during the day when she's feeling really bad so she can sleep, but she can take the Dayquil if she want to stay awake during the day."
"Thanks," Caleb said, adding the medicine to the cart.
"Tell your friend to feel better," the pharmacist said, "You might also want to grab a box or two of tissues."
"Thank you," Caleb said, grabbing some tissues and heading to check out.
He walked quickly back to her apartment, quietly going in. He put the groceries away and headed into her room with a bottle of Gatorade and her medicine. She was awake when he walked in, looking miserable.
"Hey Spence," he said, "Were you alright while I was gone?"
"I'b so achy," she said, groaning.
"Well, I've got some medicine for you and Gatorade so maybe that will help," he said, measuring out the dark red medicine.
"Thanks," she said, taking the cup and downing it before taking the gateade and taking a small sip.
"Can I get you anything else?" he asked, rubbing her shoulder a little.
"Cad you ged me another blanket from the ched?" she asked through chattering teeth.
"Sure," he said, opening the chest at the bottom of her bed.
He pulled out two of the heavier blankets and draped them over the sick girl.
"Anything else?" he asked, rubbing her back.
"Will you lay with be?" she asked shyly.
"Of course," he said, climbing into the bed next to her.
She moved over and put her head on his lap.
"Someone's clingy when their sick," he said, running his fingers through her hair.
"You dow dat," she said, giving him a half smile.
"This is true," Caleb said, rubbing her back, "Spain taught me that."
They had been in Spain together for about two weeks.
During that time, Spencer had gotten a horrible case of strep throat that left her completely miserable. Caleb had been staying with her when she got sick. He had taken her to the doctor and gotten her medicine. Her fever was wicked high and she was one of the unlucky ones who threw up when they had strep which made her throat burn worse. Caleb had held her hair back and stayed with her the whole time.
He learned quickly that a sick Spencer Hastings was a cuddly, miserable Spencer Hastings. He held her for hours at a time, rubbing her back and playing with her hair as she tried to sleep off her illness.
He hated that she was sick, but the two of them had enjoyed the time they spent together especially after her antibiotcis has started to help her feel a little better.
However, until the fever broke, and she was feeling a lot better, she just wanted him to cuddle her. Caleb never complained because he liked cuddling and missed holding Hanna often.
Caleb was brought back from his daydream by a coughing fit from the girl next to him.
"Shhh," Caleb said, rubbing her back, "Try to breath. You're alright."
Spencer coughed for a long time, eventualy catching her breath.
"Here," Caleb said, handing her the bottle of Gatorade.
She took a few sips before handing it back to him and collapsing into the bed.
"Come here," Caleb said, pulling her into his embrace, "You're alright."
She fell asleep against his chest, her breathing rough and ragged. He looked down at her, smiling a little. He grabbed a tissue and gently wiped her nose which was running like a fountain. He held her for hours as she slept. Suddenly, she work up coughing had again.
"Shh," he said, rubbing her back, "Shh. Breathe, Spence."
She coughed for a long time, finally stopping and leaning her head against his chest. He ran his fingers through her long, sweaty haid, trying to calm her down.
"I'm right here Spence," he said, holding her clode.
She was shivering against him.
"How about a warm bath?" Caleb asked gently, looking down at Spencer.
She nodded against his chest, moving a little so he could get out of the bed.
He got up, heading into the bathroom and starting the bath. Spencer had some eucalyptus essential oil, so he added it into the bath water to help her breath better and sleep. He then went and helped Spencer into the bathroom.
"I'll be right outside if you need me," Caleb said, rubbing her back as she sat down on the edge of the tub.
She nodded, starting to get undressed as he left the bathroom. He went into the kitchen, grabbing out a container of soup he had bought the day before. He put it in a pot and started heating it on low. He stirred it, starting a tea kettle boiling. Once it boiled, he put a chamomile tea bag in with honey and lemon.
About twenty minutes later, Spencer opened the bathroom door and headed back to her bedroom. Caleb went in a few minutes later, finding her climbing back into bed.
"Hey," he said, walking in with a tray with tea, crackers, and soup, "Did you have a good bath?"
She nodded, coughing a little.
"Good," he said, putting the tray on her lap, "You need to eat something before you go back to sleep, alright?"
"Oday," she said, picking up her spoon.
Caleb went into the bathroom, grabbing a comb and hair tie. He went back into the bedroom, sitting down next to Spencer and brushing her hair. He then brained it into two neat braids. Spencer touched the braids.
"How did you learn dat?" Spencer said, taking another small bite of soup.
"Hanna," Caleb said, "When you guys first got released from A's lair, Hanna had a lot of issues and me braiding her hair calmed her down when she was having a hard time."
Spencer nodded, "I always made Toby rub by back in a certain way after thad to calb be down."
Caleb nodded, wrapping an arm around Spencer. He hated thinking about the time the girls had spent down in A's lair being tortured. He knew Hanna had had a really hard time with it but hadn't really known any of the other girls well enough at the time to see how much damage it had done to them.
Spencer had opened up to him some about that time after he had been staying with her when she had gone through a phase of horrific nightmares. She had times during her life after A that the nightmares got bad.
When she was with Toby, she would call him when they started or go home for a day or two to see him because she could barely function when she was dealing with nightmares.
When they happened after she broke up with Toby, she would curl up in her bed, call Aria, and try to block out the world.
When it happened when she was in Spain with Caleb, right before she got sick with strep, she woke up screaming and barely able to breath.
Caleb shot up, a little scared, but almost immediately knew what to do. He had held her for over twenty minutes before she could breathe properly again and another half hour until the tears stopped. Caleb had done it again twice the first night.
In the morning, after Spencer had woken up a little, he asked her about it, figuring it had something to do with A. She kept her head down as she explained to him about the episodes. He had lifted her chin, wiped her tears, and hugged her, telling her that she was one of the strongest people he had ever met.
He had helped her through the night terrors for three nights.
The third night, she woke up after the second nightmare with a fever and that had started her strep.
That was the first time since she and Toby had broken up that she felt like she might make it through the nightmares.
Thankfully, she had only dealt with them one time since Spain.
"I'b full," Spencer said, handing the tray to Caleb.
"You didn't eat much," Caleb said, looking at her food.
"I can't eat bore," Spencer said, sniffling a little bit.
"Alright," he said, taking the tray, "I'll be right back."
Caleb put the tray in the kitchen, cleaning the bowl. He grabed a bottle of Gatorade, bringing it back to the bedroom along with Nyquil.
"Take this," he said, handing her the medicine.
She took it, sipping on the drink.
"Hold be?" she asked again, looking at him with her glassy eyes.
"Of course," he said, "Let me go make some food for myself and I'll be back in two mintues."
She nodded, curling up in her bed. He made himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and grabbed an apple and granola bar before going back to her bedroom. He climbed into bed, helping Spencer get confortable in his lap before he ate his food. Spencer rubbed her face on his stomach, groaning a little bit.
"What can I do Spence?" he asked, rubbing her back.
"I hurt," she said, sniffling and coughing.
"I'm sorry," he said, rubbing her back, "Your medicine should kick in soon so you can rest."
She nodded, trying not to think about how much her body hurt. Caleb finished his lunch, adjusting a little so Spencer was more in his lap. She put her head on his chest, sighing.
"You need to get cooled down, Spence," he said after a few minutes, "I'm going to get some cool cloths."
He got up, filling a bowl with cool water and rubbing alcohol before going back to her bedroom. He got back into bed with her, helping her get situated before he wiped it across her forehead.
About twenty minutes later, Spencer finally fell asleep.
Caleb knew Spencer was typically a healthy person so when she got sick, it was awful.
He had brought his bag into her room so while she slept, he worked on some of his work. Spencer woke up again coughing two hours later.
She struggled to catch her breath as Caleb rubbed her back. Eventually, she got her breath back, leaning against Caleb after exerting all her strength in the coughing fit.
"Drink," Caleb said, grabbing her Gatorade and having her take a few sips.
She handed it back to him, rubbing her eyes.
"Do you want to watch a movie?" Caleb asked.
She nodded a little as he helped her move out of his lap.
"Pride and Prejudice?" he asked, knowing she loved that movie.
She nodded tiredly as he put DVD in. HE got back into bed as she climbed over to him.
"I know," he said, rubbing her back as she whined a little bit, "Rest Spence."
Soon enough, she fell asleep.
There was the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it!