Sickness
"Disgusting!" The word just slipped out after he watched the string of saliva finally break after the woman brought her hand far enough away from her lips. With a whimpered groan she then rubbed her hand clean in the grass and stayed there on her knees to brace against another gag.
With another strong heave Elle coughed out bile, it was sour and felt like it burnt her brain as it made it's way out through both her nose and mouth. Her hair slipped from behind her ear as she spat to clear her mouth and with nothing on hand to clear her nose she could only use her bare hand to pinch her nose and wipe away the excess.
Again she dragged her fingers over the grass in an attempt to cleanse her hand before reaching up to tuck her hair back away. "Tch." Levi scoffed as he swiftly batted her grubby paw away with a back hand, "Your hand is filthy!" he scolded her.
Elle gave a grumble in dismay, she felt bad enough with out him glowering over her, judging. "I've probably already got sick in my hair away way." She uttered, her tone defeated and laced with pain.
"You may be fine with the stench-" Levi started as he placed the water canister down to free his hands, "-But I'd rather not smell it!" His words were a sharp stab to her self-esteem- no one liked to smell bad after all.
Elle was distracted as her abdomen gave another painful contraction and forced her to retch but nothing came up. Her eyes watered some more but she was glad for the moments peace to breathe; but that was broken as she felt her hair shift with a soft tug, "Don't touch me!" She all but wailed.
"Calm down." Levi droned, his tone flat but face annoyed as he gathered her hair and worked it into a twist to bind the locks together. With nothing to tie her hair back, he hooked a finger into the collar of her top to pull it away from the back of her neck and threw the twist of hair down her back to keep it out the way. "Here!" His blank tone remained the same as he picked up the water canister and thrust it towards her.
"Thanks." Elle grumbled as she accepted it and he stood. She fumbled with the cap and used her first swig to rinse her mouth before she took a drink. No, she didn't feel right. She hunched over in preparation for another retch.
"You have nothing else to bring up!" Levi scolded her. Her vomit was all liquid and other than the stark yellow of the bile it was clear she'd had nothing to eat. He stepped behind her, gripped her by the shoulders and forced her to sit up, "You're just dry heaving because it's all your stomach knows!" He advised, strengthening his hold as she tried to lurch forwards and instead further pulled her back against his legs so she stayed upright. "Breathe through it!" He ordered her.
Elle quivered against the need to keep heaving and the pain from all that her stomach had pumped. Desperately she gasped for breath and forced her body to keep tense, disciplining it until her stomach gave up it's assault.
Levi could feel her struggle but gave no comfort nor further instruction. Her throwing up was not something he was worried about, her general lack of self care rose some concern however. She'd run herself down badly before by not taking proper care of herself and in that moment he remembered it quite vividly.
The door flew open with an eager energy as the tall, smiling man swung into the house, "I'm home!" He called as he stepped in and held the door for his less energetic friend.
Eloise jolted awake in shock from where she'd dozed off in the chair. The warmth of the fire had easily lulled her tired, sick body to sleep. "Elliot?" She spoke in a groggy surprise, "I didn't think you'd be round so early!" She struggled to force a smile. Her skin was pale and had a visible gloss from the cold sweat that had taken over her entire body.
"Eloise, it's mid afternoon!" Elliot stated with a shake of his head.
"Is it!?" She perked with shock. She looked to her brother's comrade, Levi, for the truth but only saw a mixed look of concern and confusion on his face.
She hadn't gotten up to greet them as she usually did nor start to potter about and fuss, "Are you alright?" Her brother asked. He came to her just as she was pushing herself back up into a proper sit and now he was closer he could see she didn't look well. He pushed the back of his hand to her forehead and a frown creased his brows, "You're burning up!" He worried.
Eloise gave a soft sigh as she tugged the blankets tighter around her body- she felt cold. "I am sat next to the fire, Elliot," She gently pushed his hand away.
A slim brow flicked up on Levi's face as he looked to the fire place. It had gone out some time ago by the look of the few fading embers. "You were." The short male corrected.
"ELOISE!" A shrill voice called. The three knew who it was before he came bursting in, "The doctor won't be able to see you till next week!" He huffed in panic.
"I'll be better by then, don't worry, Sam." She waved the matter away.
"Elliot!" The youngster near cried in relief, "Eloise needs to see a doctor before it's too late!" He panicked.
Shock flew to the older brother's face as he looked from his sister and to the young, freckled boy, "What's wrong with her!?" Elliot joined in with the panic.
Eloise hung her head with a groan, "It's just a stomach bug!" She tried to reassure.
"No!" Sam countered with a furious shake of his head, "A lady where I live had the same thing and she died!"
"It's not the same thing!" Eloise tried to speak up, an annoyed frown settling on her face.
"How long has she been like this?" Elliot questioned Sam, completely ignoring her.
"Days!" The youngster dramatised.
"Will the pair of you shut up!" She found the strength to shout and they both jumped and looked back to her, "If you want to be useful, go out side and get some fire wood so I don't have to!" She ordered them in a barking tone and luckily for her they both did as she demanded.
Eloise sat back in the chair with a pained sigh, "I'm sorry, Levi," She spoke softly, "I'd offer you a drink but I don't have the energy."
Levi turned from where he'd been looking at the large stack of firewood already present in the house and to her. "It's more important you rest." He stated as he uncrossed his arms and walked towards her. Wordlessly he grabbed some of the wood from the basket next to the fire place and tossed them down before crouching to re-light the fire.
Eloise watched him for a moment, she studied his profile and as usual the stoic expression gave nothing away, "How are you feeling about this expedition?" She whispered.
Levi paused as he allowed the small flame he'd created the chance to grow. "No different from the others." He stated.
Eloise knew he'd be indifferent but she felt unsettled, more so than she had done before, "Do you have to go on this one?" She then pried.
Levi used a bit of wood to push the flame further into the fire place and towards the larger bits of wood he'd thrown down. "You want Elliot to stay." He was to the point, no question in his tone.
"I want you both to stay," She corrected him, "I don't feel right, I feel like something awful is going to happen." She brought her bottom lip into her mouth, biting down gently to still it's quivering.
Levi placed the wood he was holding to one side, he wouldn't add it to the fire just yet, it'd only suffocate the small flame. "Something always happens." He then looked to her as he stood.
"I know," She sighed, "But I just have this really bad feeling." She gripped her blanket tighter around herself as she gave a gentle shake of her head. Her face was etched with a deep fear but also it was begging with him to not only understand but to believe her.
Elliot came crashing back into the house, dropping wood as he went which forced the young Sam to pick them up after him.
"Don't make a mess!" Eloise scolded as she stood. Her limbs felt heavy but she forced them to move.
"Sit back down!" Elliot scowled in outrage, dropping more wood as he pointed aggressively to the chair.
Eloise's face had glazed over in dread and with a sudden burst of movement she threw herself over to the sink just in time to throw up.
"Lou!" Sam wailed in worry. The youngster dropped what he was doing and rushed over to her side instantly. He placed a hand to her back and smoothed big soothing circles- or so he thought.
The woman flinched away from his touch as if she'd been burnt, "No, don't touch me!" She wailed as if in pain.
Elliot awkwardly set the rest of the wood down and came to his sister's side, "She doesn't like to be touched when she's throwing up," He explained to the younger lad as he shooed him back, "The motion makes her feel worse." Elliot passed him a smile to show him not to worry before giving his sister his full attention.
Silently he pulled all her hair back despite her whimpering protests and fixed her locks in to a plait. He took the ribbon she'd given him as a charm off his wrist with his teeth and used it to secure her hair before he then left her to it.
Silence quickly filled the home- apart from Eloise's echoed panting from where her head was hanging in the sink- and so Levi spoke up to break it. "I'm going back to the garrison," he said as he started to leave and Elliot and Sam could only watch him go, confusion on their faces, "I'll bring back one of the medics." He finished as he walked out the door and closed it behind him, leaving little room for argument.
.
Eloise had dropped off into a good sleep after the military doctor had left, but she still felt groggy when she stirred a few hours later.
She peeked her eyes open and gave a few blinks in hopes it would fix her focus. Next she dragged a heavy hand from under the covers to place to her head but was distracted by the damp cloth folded there.
She pulled the warm swatch of cloth from her clammy head and blindly fumbled with setting it on her bedside table, she then worked at sitting herself up. It was a monumental effort, her head not only felt heavy but twice the size and balancing on a weak neck. It was an odd feeling.
"You should still be resting." His tone was calm and even. No onslaught of frantic emotions or panic and no berating attitude- yet.
"Levi?" She was surprised to find the blurred figure sat at her bed side had focused to reveal him. "Where's Elliot?" She then questioned before a look of apology came to her face, "He hasn't forced you to stay here has he?" She asked with a dread for the answer.
Levi shook his head, "No." He answered simply and the pair fell into silence.
Levi watched the look of confusion that came over her youthful features, she was working though possible answers to where her brother was and he was about to give her the information but her actions forced him to pause.
Eloise gripped her bed sheet and pulled it off as she made a move to get out of bed. Levi's boot slammed down hard from where he'd uncrossed his legs so fast and stood in her way, "What do you think you're doing?" He'd asked a question but it seemed more like a scolding as he glowered down at her.
She could only peek up at him, feeling oddly guilty when she hadn't really done anything wrong, "Getting a drink?" She offered as her excuse. She was thirsty.
His eyes narrowed at her, "Get back in bed!" He clipped. Glaring until she did as he demanded.
Eloise couldn't say much about his nursing techniques, but he was attentive enough to already have a jug of water and a cup ready. "Thank you," She spoke softly once he handed her a cup and she took a few dainty sips.
"Unless you're ready to eat, I suggest you lay back down and rest." He flicked a brow up at her after she'd placed the cup on her bedside table.
"I can't stomach the thought of food," She whined as she slunk back into her bed and pulled her covers back over herself only to feel a sweltering heat build up under the fabric. She pushed the sheets back down with a suffocated gasp, feeling the relief of the cool air after she'd done so.
"That's not how this works." Levi spoke down at her. He was an intimidating character already but having him tower over her for once was quite frightening.
Levi gripped the sheets she'd just pushed off herself and flung them back over her, covering her whole. Eloise gave a small mewled scream in surprise and pulled the fabrics from her face only to have them become incredibly tight and heavy.
Levi had gripped them too and held them in place over her, "If you want to get better, you have to sweat it out!" He told her and only when he saw she had backed down did he release her.
Eloise lay still frowning at the ceiling, she felt horrible and the waves of heat her body was giving off was torturous, "Thank you for bringing one of your military doctors, he was very nice," She spoke quietly. Hopefully the conversation would distract from the sensation of being cooked alive in her bed.
"He said you'd be fine in a few days." Levi stated and she nodded. He'd told her the same thing and it was nothing she didn't already know.
Young Sam was a terrible worrier, she though, and a fluster too.
Eloise's drowsy eyes brightened with a sudden alertness as a wonderfully cold cloth was placed to her forehead and she watched as Levi retook his seat.
Perhaps he would make a good nurse, she mused, her small smile hidden in the sheets tucked around her chin.
Silence fell for a while before Levi broke it, "Elliot won't be going on the expedition."
Again her eyes flung open, she was alert and staring in wide eyed surprise at the ceiling. Had she heard right? "What?" She questioned, springing to sit bolt upright with such a new found energy that it threw the wet cloth from her forehead.
"Tch!" He scoffed at her reaction, "Damn it you brat! Lie down!" He stood and shoved her back down onto the mattress, flinging the sheets back over her and pinning her with them.
"Why?" She mumbled, slightly gagged from having the sheets over her mouth and chin.
"So he can look after you." He answered, picking the cloth up from where it landed and nearly slapping it back on her forehead, "You dare get up again!" He threatened with a point and she stilled instantly.
She lay still, thinking about his answer, "But I'm not that ill?" She was confused.
She didn't see the nod of agreement Levi gave. "I spoke to some of the officers about the situation and suggested he stay behind, he'd only be distracted if he went-"
Eloise jumped in, interrupting, "But when he speaks to the doctor and finds out I'm not that ill-"
"I've convinced the doctor to say otherwise, as far as everyone else is concerned you're very sick and Elliot would be a danger to himself and others worrying about you." Levi returned the favour and cut her off in favour of a quick explanation.
Silence fell again and she lay there in her confusion. She was struggling to wrap her head around what was happening, "Why?" Eloise fixed her asking eyes on her brother's friend.
Levi reclined back in the chair and crossed his arms, "You didn't want him going right?" He flicked a brow up at her. He could tell she was deeply worried about Elliot going on this expedition and of all the times he'd see her, never had he seen such a haunted expression on her face as when she was asking earlier that day.
A delightful relief washed over her, freeing her chest of the weight of worry. "What about you? Are you staying too?" She looked over with a hopeful expression.
"No. I have no reason not to go." The stoic expression on his face and the calm truth in his tone hurt and in that instant the weight of worry came crashing back onto her chest so heavily Eloise felt as if her sternum may break.
She thought on his words for a long while, and struggled against the lull of sleep, "I can think of some reasons for you!" She finally mumbled, her tone sounding hopeful even through her drowsy haze.
Levi looked to her, his expression softening. She was tucked up rather snugly in her bed sheets and the swatch of cloth on her forehead seemed to swamp her. He could tell she was fighting against sleep with how her eyes drooped and lids seemed to struggle to open. "Go to sleep." He ordered her softly.
"Promise you'll come back safe," She uttered in a sleepy slur and Levi sighed. "Promise and shake on it!" She pressed, shuffling an arm out from under her sheet and holding a limp hand out.
He shouldn't be making these promises but it wasn't something new for Eloise to ask, the only difference was she was asking only for him this time and not Elliot. "Alright." He took her clammy hand.
A smile came to her face from the relief his agreement brought. "Don't fall asleep in the chair, it's bad for your neck!" Were her fading words as she finally allowed herself to drop back off to sleep.
Eloise- she was a spirited character, kind, and undeniably passionate. She coped well on her own when her brother was away and was welcoming to who ever he dragged back to stay at the house; which was a far better comfort that the garrison thanks to the attention Eloise would put into caring for her guests.
She was sturdy but she wasn't unbreakable. Levi saw it every time she'd give her brother a hug before he left for the wall. In her eyes it was as if everything turned against her and it was only her determination to save face for Elliot's sake that would pull her through the dire need to break down each time.
Things were different now.
Eloise was different.
"Are you done?" Levi clipped down at her. A slim brow twitched in annoyance as his words brought no movement or answer from the woman.
Elle remained in a slump, half hugging the tree she was sat by in order to keep herself anchored.
"Oi!" He lifted a foot and nudged her with the toe of his boot.
"No! Don't move me!" She protested in a drowsy slur as she clung tighter to the tree, "I'll be fine after a sleep, just leave me here!"
"Not. Happening." He clipped at her. "Get up now before I drag you up!"
Reluctantly her limbs were forced to move and she used the tree to claw her way up on to her feet again. Elle felt dizzy and the day light was an assault on her eyes that were struggling enough as it was to see beyond the blinding pain beating around her skull. "Can I keep the water?" She asked as she clutched the water canister he'd given her. She'd emptied hers by drinking it then throwing it back up and finished off the rest by dropping it.
Levi narrowed his gaze at her. Again Elle wasn't looking at him as she spoke, but he was quick to notice it wasn't something she was doing on purpose this time. She gave a hard blink to try and focus her eyes while her brows came together in a concentrated frown.
The Captain parted his lips ready to speak but Elle staggered back in a loss of balance. Had it not been for some impressive reflexes on her part she would have ended up in her own pile of sick. Elle used the tree for support once more and Levi gave her one last blank look before he turned and walked away from her.
Martyn was still reluctantly tending to Niki when Levi strode past him. "When you're done with that mess," Levi spoke in indication to Niki, "Go sort the other."
Martyn looked from the Captain and to Niki, who'd been forcing her incessant bitching and whining onto him, and finally over to where Elle was hugging a tree. "What the fuck?" Martyn breathed out.
He really despised the fact that it was the two women before him that had helped get him to safety on their last expedition. He should have been thankful, that he knew, but it was also because of them that he was now here.
He wanted to turn around and say how he shouldn't be considered for the elites because what had happened on the last expedition was not him. He wanted to drop both Niki and Elle and all the unwanted responsibilities they ended up forcing upon him.
"This is not worth the hassle." Martyn grumbled to himself as he passed an irritated look between the two women.
