They all had turns, sitting with Natsu and making sure he was ok. It was Gray's turn, and it was just killing him. He had no problems with Natsu but he felt so guilty, it was his fault that Natsu was like this. If only he had warned him in time, this wouldnt be happening. Natsu looked like a train wreck, sweaty bangs stuck to his for head, and his bandages were already stained with more blood. Gray sighed as he went through Lucy's bag, finding the bandages to wrap Natsu's wound with.
" Hey fire brain, we have to change them again." Gray said. Natsu slowly sat up with a whine. Gray made his way over to Natsu, kneeling down and taking off his shirt to see the stained bandages. Gray slowly and carefully unraveled the bandages, throwing it to the side when he got it off completely. The wound itself was still bleeding a bit, but he noticed something odd about it. He looked closer to find black spots near the wound, that can't be good. He then started to wrap it, earning a groan from Natsu. He shut his eyes tightly as he gripped Gray's hand, he tried his best to hold in a cry of pain. Gray moved Natsu's hand to his shoulder, causing Natsu to open his eyes in a look of confusion and pain.
" Whenever it hurts tell me." He said. He then began to wrap the wound again, as carefully as he could. Half way up Natsu's stomach Gray felt him squeeze his shoulder, looking up to see Natsu's eyes shut tightly.
" I-it hurts" Natsu barely choked out. Gray stopped and let Natsu have a break for a second.
" Tell me when to continue." He said. Natsu took a few breaths before he nodded, signaling Gray to continue. Gray then began to finish wrapping it, only taking a few minutes and about two to three hisses from the salamander. He helped Natsu lay back, being as gentle as he could. As Gray walked to the other side of the cart, he heard Natsu say thank you in almost a whisper. This made him smile, but he still felt bad. Why did it have to be Natsu? Why couldn't it have been him? He sat with Natsu untill it was Happy's turn, of course stoping so Natsu could let out his wave of nausea. This ride home was horrible indeed, not to mention when they hit bumps along the way, it made his stomach lurch even more.
" You look terrible!" Happy yelled when he first saw Natsu.
" I feel horrible." Natsu said with a moan. The small cat jumped up on Natsu's chest, sitting down and looking at his sweaty face.
" We're gonna stop soon for the night." He said making Natsu a little bit happier, he hated this stupid devil car. Happy leaned forward and touched Natsu's for head, pulling back much like Lucy had done before.
" The fever hasn't gone down." He said with a frown.
" I feel so pathetic." Natsu said, trying to ignore the tickling in his throat.
" It's ok Natsu, you didnt see it coming." Happy said, trying to make him feel a little better. All of a sudden the cart stops, earning a releaved sigh from Natsu as he slowly sat up. Soon Lucy came in, with two blankets and pillows.
" Sorry, we're both sleeping in here tonight." She said, making a small pallet on the floor for herself. Natsu gave out a defeated groan, so he had to spend more time in this hell hole huh? Lucy threw a pillow to Natsu, along with the blanket.
" How much longer till' we get to Magnolia?"
"Only a couple of miles."
" Thank goo hng" He couldnt even continue as a coughing fit racked his body. Lucy rubbed his back, trying to sooth the horrible coughs coming from Natsu. After his little coughing fit he laid back, pulling the cover over his head to try and get away from the sudden coldness.
" nu-uh-uh." Lucy said, pulling down the cover off of his face." Why?" He whined. Was she trying to let him freeze to death?" That's just going to make your fever worse."
" But im cold!" He protested. Lucy just rolled her eyes with a small smile." Your going through a cold sweat Natsu, the coldness will help, I promise." Natsu sighed with defeat, soon falling asleep along with Lucy.
" So how was you're visit with Natsu?" Erza asked, both Gray and herself had started a small fire outside the cart. Gray sat next to Erza, as they just watched the dancing flames. Gray didn't awnser at first, but just brung his knee's to his chest. The silence played a melody with the fire as it began to flicker from the wind.
" It was...fine."
" Gray."
" Ok, when I changed his bandages, he literally looked like he wanted to cry from the pain.
" Erza didnt know what to say." It was that bad?" She asked. She didnt want him to rush the awnser, no she just wanted to know.
" Yeah it was, I feel bad that he is in so much pain because of me." He admitted. Natsu and Gray were never that close, but they still looked out for each other. He never wanted to hurt Natsu, yeah sure they got into fights at the guild, but there was never serious harm not as serious as this.
" It wasn't intentional Gray, and im sure he will be ok, as stubborn as Natsu is this should be nothing for him." She said with confidence. Gray gave a small smile, it was true, Natsu would probably fight this off with no problem, but he was still hurting.
" Why dont you get some sleep." Erza suggested, only getting a nod from Gray as he got up and went to the tent. Meanwhile Erza sat there, thinking about Natsu.' He was really hurting that bad, I didnt really get to see him today.' She then got up, looking at the cart with a sigh.' I'll be the first one to check on him tomorrow.' She thought with determination. If anyone could figure out what was hurting him so much, it was Erza. Erza then slipped into the tent as quietly as she could, seeing Gray curled up in the blankets.' He looks like a cat.' She thought with a small smile.