Hey readers! :) just want to say how thrilled I am at the response this sorry has got so far, it really means so much to me! I'm so happy! Big thanks to Anon, the Goliath Beetle, LucediDio, Shikyoblossom20, forsain7, DragonEclipsed, Lifepaw, Meadow Flowers and stareyyy for the faves/follows/reviews, and if anyone else likes this story, please review as well! Now on with the chapter, I hope you like it. :) disclaimer: I still don't own anything :(
Germany heard his brother shuffling about further back in the house, and resigned himself to the fact that he'd probably have to take of him for a few days, as he was undoubtedly sick. Over the years, Germany had mastered the art of caring for his brother, who was not always the most willing and obedient patient one would hope for. Germany felt the corners of his mouth twitch up slightly as he remembered all the various times he'd had to drag Prussia back to bed, whenever the albino had insisted he was well enough to go out, ignoring the fact that he could barely speak through sneezes, and times when Germany would finally convinced Prussia to take medicine which was promptly spat out again, usually all over the German nation's clean uniform. His brother could be such a stupid dummkopf sometimes.
Although these memories were somewhat humorous, Germany couldn't help that familiar feeling of overwhelming sadness welling up inside him, as he thought about how strong his great brother used to be. When he was a full nation, one of the most powerful and influential countries in Europe, Prussia was practically invincible. Nothing could bring him down. True, Hungary had on more than one occasion knocked the stuffing of him and his army, but Prussia had always risen up again with his head held high, and that stupid smirk plastered all over his face. Germany had looked up to his brother so much when he was young, and had wanted to be just like him when he got older; strong and unbeatable. The nation sighed, wishing he could turn back time, and make it so that his brother wouldn't have to pay for Germany's mistakes.
Germany stood up abruptly, determined to shake these gloomy thoughts out of his head, and decided to find Prussia. He'd heard the scuffling come from the kitchen, and as he turned the corner to enter it, he was alarmed by what he saw. Prussia was leaning heavily on the kitchen counter, gripping it so tightly his knuckles had gone white, and he seemed unaware of Germany's presence, although the nation thought his brother had murmured the word "West". However, everything else slipped from Germany's mind as he watched Prussia's legs start to buckle, before his body slumped, and he started falling.
"Gilbert!" Germany shouted, lunging forward to catch his brother before he cracked his head on the hard floor. Germany cradled the unconscious ex-nation against his chest, and was shocked at the amount of heat that seemed to be radiating from Prussia. His face was flushed, with sweat beading along his brow, and Germany could hear how laboured his breathing was. "Gilbert?" he asked, gently shaking Prussia. "Gilbert, c'mon, wake up." But his brother didn't move. Germany decided he should get him to somewhere more comfortable, as they were both crouched awkwardly on the kitchen floor.
Germany managed to stand up, while still supporting Prussia, and hefted his surprisingly heavy body up into his arms, so that the nation carried his brother bridal-style. Germany paused for a second, debating where to place Prussia, before deciding that he might as well put him back on the sofa, seeing as there were already plenty of blankets there. After arranging him as comfortably as possible, Germany sat back and spent a few minutes watching him. He'll be fine, Germany assured himself. He always is. In truth, this was scaring Germany; Prussia had been sick before, yes, but rarely to this extent. Germany could only hope it wasn't too serious.
A quiet moan caught his attention. Prussia had opened his eyes, and was once again staring up at Germany. "West?" he murmured, before slowly lifting his head up. "Wha' 'ppend?"
"You fainted Gilbert. I said that you didn't look well."
"Fainted? I'm too awesome to faint, West," Prussia said, attempting a grin, which came out as more of a grimace. "You're making me sound like that little girl Austria." Prussia tried to sit up a little further, but the moment he did so the dizziness and nausea returned with a vengeance, and he knew he was about to lose his breakfast.
Germany frowned as Prussia suddenly bolted upright, about to push him back down, before realisation hit him, and he sprung forward to grab a conveniently placed bin, before thrusting it under his brother's head. Prussia promptly vomited up everything he'd eaten that day, while Germany rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe him, whispering, "It's all right bruder, don't worry."
Once he'd finished, Prussia coughed a couple of times, before shakily leaning back onto the sofa, clutching the bin to his chest. When he was sure there was no more to come, Germany gently prised it out of the albino's arms, before hurrying off to dispose of the contents in the toilet. He returned a minute later with a damp washcloth, a clean bucket and a glass of water, setting the bucket down nearby in case it was needed later, while Prussia wiped his face and rinsed out his mouth.
"Thank you," the ex-nation murmured, before rubbing his eyes tiredly. Again Germany raised his hand to Prussia's forehead, and found that his brother's temperature seemed even higher than before. Germany reached for the thermometer that he'd also thought to grab, tilted Prussia's head up, said, "Open up", and popped it into his mouth. After a minute or so, Germany removed it, and frowned in concern when he saw the result; his brother was running a fever of 39.8* Celsius.
"You should go back to bed, Gilbert," said Germany. "It'll be more comfortable there, and you need rest." But Prussia had already sank back down onto the sofa, muttering, "'m tired. Stay here." And with that, he promptly fell asleep again. Sighing, Germany stood up, and started to clear up some of the mess that had accumulated. He took away all but one of the blankets, leaving just a thin, lightweight one so that Prussia didn't overheat, which he carefully draped over his brother's sleeping form. Germany also fetched a fresh cloth, soaking it with cold water before gently laying it across Prussia's brow. Germany was worried about this fever; it was high, higher than the others Prussia had previously experienced, which had been predominantly minor colds. Germany wondered why his big brother was suffering so badly this time.
The nation brushed a hand over his short hair, straightening a few strands that had worked loose, and sat down on the armchair in the corner, thinking it would be best to stay and keep watch over his brother, in case he woke up and needed something. Germany picked up a book from the small table with the lamp on it, flipped it open to the current page, and started to read quietly, while having a couple of swigs from his beer bottle, which had been forgotten in all the commotion. Eventually, the weariness he'd felt since returning from the meeting finally caught up with him, and Germany could feel his head nodding and his eyelids drooping as he joined Prussia in sleep.
Hoped you liked this chapter. :) please review to let me know what you think, and to make any suggestions for improvement. See you soon!
