Teeloganroryflan
Part two! Part two! Part two!
Glad to see you're so eager for the next chapter, that makes me very happy! Here it is (((:
Becs2202
Great first chapter and story. You have captured the brothers well. Look forward to more.
Thank you! The one thing I was worried about the most was getting the personalities right, as it's the first story I've written about them. I'm glad you think I did that well xx
I love sick ethan and caring cal! This was such a good start and I can't wait for more in the second chapter!
Thanks so much, I'm personally a fan of sick Ethan & caring Cal too! (:
This was really good! Please update again soon?
Thanks! I'm writing more as I type this, but as I don't have any chapters prepared already, there may not always be regular updates, sorry xx
So, this chapter ended up being pretty long, hope you enjoy it! (:
2.
"Here you go, Nibbles," Cal said, re-entering the room with two mugs of warm tea in his hands.
Ethan lifted his head from his hands, wincing as he squinted under the new bright light that illuminated the room. "Thanks," he muttered, frowning and rubbing his temples, "Cal, I-"
"Headache?" Cal questioned, interrupting the younger's apology to voice what he'd suspected since Ethan had returned home.
Ethan nodded slowly, frown etched on his face, "maybe I-I.. I might be feeling a little under the weather," he admitted.
The young doctor took in a sharp breath, and started coughing painfully, not even bothering to try and hide his suffering this time. He'd just admitted to Cal that he wasn't feeling a hundred percent, so what was the point if it would only cause him more pain.
Cal winced, shifting along the sofa so he was closer to his brother and gently patting his back, rubbing comforting circles as well. He took Ethan's mug from the coffee table, holding it ready for when his coughing ceased.
A few moments later, Ethan's coughing finally stopped, and he cleared his throat, taking a minute to get his breathing even again.
"Hey, Eth, you okay?" Cal said softly, concern seeping through into his words. He held Ethan's mug out to him, hoping it would help his throat that was no doubt sore, even if Ethan tried not to let on that it was bothering him.
The younger kept his eyes closed however, letting out a light moan, head flopping down into his hands once again.
"Nibbles?" Cal said worriedly, not using the nickname in a playful manner for once.
Ethan sluggishly lifted his head, squinting at Cal to try and make out his facial expression, as he was still not wearing his glasses. "Yeah? Sorry…" he mumbled drowsily.
"Tea, Ethan?" Cal pressed, guiding the mug into Ethan's hand to avoid any blind accidents.
"Thank you," he whispered, lifting the mug to his lips with a shaky grip. The warm liquid felt amazing on Ethan's sandpaper-like throat, and the doctor was glad to finally have something warm in his system, as he never seemed to have warmed up after being out in the cold winter air. Ethan managed a small smile when he registered the flavour of the tea, "peppermint," he stated, looking up at Cal.
"Yep," said Cal, popping the 'p' of the word. He looked fondly down at his younger brother, knowing the peppermint tea reminded him of the days when they were younger, when they were both ill and tucked up in their mother's bed. Cal would complain the whole time, while Ethan used to just suffer in silence, Cal always put it, never letting on how bad he felt. Much like nowadays in fact.
"I didn't know we had any," Ethan continued.
"Well I.. I went and bought some after my shift earlier, because you looked ill and…" Cal trailed off and Ethan smiled, touched by his brother's thoughtfulness. He always found it nice when this side of Cal came out, he was a really caring person, and it almost made him look slightly.. innocent almost, in Ethan's eyes.
"Thank you, again, Cal. That's actually really thoughtful of you," Ethan praised, knowing it was part of what fuelled Cal, as he was never particularly self-motivating. "And.. I-I, I'm sorry about earlier.. when I got all.. snappy.." he hesitated through the awkward apology.
"Sometimes, little brother, you should just admit it when you're not feeling well. It would save you all this, you know.. guilt," the older said teasingly, playfully poking Ethan in the ribs.
He whined in response, swallowing a mouthful of tea. "Stop it, Cal, you know that I find that ticklish," Ethan moaned semi-seriously, part of him too tired to take part in Cal's teasing, but the other part savouring this moment between the two of them.
"Oh, relax Nibbles, I know you're enjoying this really," Cal continued, quickly taking two fingers and flicking Ethan on the forehead, as he had always done when they were younger.
"Caleb, I mean it," Ethan said through a smile, trying to sound sterner. Cal smirked, having learnt all of Ethan's weaknesses throughout their childhood. He took two fingers and lightly stroked Ethan's neck, just below his ear. Ethan immediately flinched away from the touch, and Cal chuckled at how ticklish his younger brother was.
As Ethan was now defensively covering his neck, Cal took the opportunity to flick him straight on the nose. Both men were silent for a few seconds, before bursting into fits of laughter at their childishness.
The moment was cut short, however, when Ethan's laughter triggered another coughing fit. He whimpered, the coughs tearing through his sore throat and bringing tears to his eyes.
Cal reacted immediately, racing to the kitchen and fetching Ethan a cool glass of water in record time. Sitting back down next to his brother, he began to gently rub circles across Ethan's back again, hoping to calm the younger. "Breathe, Ethan," said Cal seriously, not liking the sound of the uninterrupted, harsh coughs.
Ethan had had asthma quite severely when they were younger, but it had gotten better over the years. Cal knew it could still flare up, though, usually when Ethan was ill and congested. He let out a sigh of relief when the coughing began to ease off, Ethan's breaths becoming steady again.
"Okay?" he asked. Ethan gave a careful nod, accompanied with a light moan, and took the glass from Cal's hand. He desperately chugged the cold liquid down, anything to soothe his burning throat.
Grimace displayed on his pale face, Ethan rasped, "I don't feel well, Cal." Tears quickly filled his eyes from the uncomfortable, burning pain swallowing caused his throat.
"Hey.." Cal soothed gently, resting his palm on Ethan's forehead briefly to check for a fever. He was warm. The older sighed, "let's get you to bed, Eth."
At this point Cal wasn't sure if Ethan's symptoms were leaning more into the cold or flu sector, and he hoped it would not end up being the latter, as he couldn't bare seeing Ethan so ill last time. He also didn't want his younger brother to constantly keep suffering like this. So, Cal was hoping the fever was just a result of the extra work Ethan's body was having to do to fight this infection, and that this would end up just being a cold.
He helped Ethan get to his feet, the younger swaying woozily as the pair made their way into Ethan's bedroom. Cal helped his brother change into pyjamas and brush his teeth, and eventually got Ethan tucked up in bed. Cal gathered a glass of water, some Ibuprofen and some tissues – he hadn't missed Ethan sniffling earlier on in the night – and placed everything on the bedside table.
"Ethan?" Cal hummed; stroking the younger's hair as he dozed in and out of sleep.
Ethan moaned sleepily, "Hmmm?"
"Can you take some Ibuprofen, it'll help you sleep," said Cal softly, a few pills already resting in the palm of his hand. He propped Ethan up on a pillow, so the headboard wasn't too uncomfortable for him. He handed Ethan the pills, and then the glass of water. The younger whimpered as the pills scratched his throat. "Alright?" Cal asked caringly once Ethan was lying down again, head resting on the soft pillow.
"Yeh, thanks Caleb," he rasped in reply, eyes drooping shut.
"Night, Nibbles," Cal whispered, standing up from Ethan's bed and moving across the room to turn the light out.
Sorry for the ending there, it just kind of drops…. Hopefully I'll have another chapter up by tomorrow! xx