Sam rolled over with a groan. He heard Gabriel let himself into his apartment, which wasn't an uncommon thing, but it was Wednesday at nine in the morning. Where he'd gotten a key Sam had no clue, but he'd shrugged it off, he practically lived in his apartment anyway.
There was a soft knock on his bedroom door. Socks let out a low growl from his spot next to Sam's leg. "Go away, I'm dying." he muttered.
Gabriel opened the door anyway, "I know." he said softly. "I was just making sure you weren't actually dead."
"I'm not."
"Does that mean I get to be your nurse today, you know, without the sexy nurse costume, although I think I could find one if you want."
Sam rolled his eyes, "Yes, you go find your nurse outfit," then he paused, "while I go throw up." He said getting out of bed and rushing towards the bathroom.
"Oh, gross." He cringed following Sam to the bathroom, and pushing back the sweaty bangs that clung to his forehead.
"You know you can leave at any moment you want to, right?" Sam said rocking back on his heels.
Gabriel shook his head, "Not when you are broken." Sam stood up and went back to bed, groaning as he laid down. "Aren't you gonna brush your teeth?"
"I'm not kissing anybody."
Gabriel sat in the bed next to him, "Is there anything you need?"
"Actually yeah, I need you to shut up." Sam said into the pillow.
With a sigh Gabriel got up, "I'll be back later."
Sam felt a bit guilty, all Gabriel wanted to do was help, but honestly, he felt like shit, and wanted some quiet. He got up from the bed fast, and rushed back to the bathroom, this time alone.
When Gabriel returned later, Sam was asleep, tangled up in the blankets, sweating like the room was on fire. He hesitated a second before placing a palm on his forehead and sliding it down to feel his cheek with the back of his fingers. "You loser." He whispered going to get a wet washcloth.
Sam stirred a bit as the cool washcloth was placed on his forehead. He threw an arm across his face and pulled it back quickly at the cold. "Wha-?"
"You've got a fever." Gabriel said.
"Oh." He pulled the blanket up farther around his neck.
"Go back to sleep, I'll bring you some water." Sam didn't protest, if he had been feeling any better he probably would have made some objection about him being a 'big boy', but instead he was shivering as if it was below freezing.
He returned with a glass, and found Sam half awake.
"Drink this."
Sam took the glass and drank it slowly, the glass chattering against his teeth. He was half dazed, and really sleepy. "C'mere." He murmured. Gabriel looked at him strangely, but laid next to him on the bed. "You're a nice nurse."
Gabriel smiled. "Go to sleep." Sam rolled over and rested his head on Gabriel's chest.
"I feel so bad…" he mumbled.
"I know."
Within minutes, Sam was asleep again.
It wasn't that Gabriel didn't want him there, he enjoyed being Sam's pillow, but he was uncomfortable; half sitting up, and propped on an elbow. He pulled his arm out and fell back. It had occurred to him that he could probably get sick too, but it didn't seem to matter.
Sam was still sweaty and his hair clung to his face in strands. His cheeks were splotched pink, and he was still shaking slightly. Gabriel brushed Sam's hair out of his face again, and smiled to himself. Besides the fact that he was sick, Gabriel thought Sam sleeping was adorable.
His phone vibrated in his pocked, and somehow he managed to pull it out.
Where are you?
-Stella
At Sam's
-Gabriel
Why aren't you at work then?
-Stella
I have better things to do, like be a pillow.
-Gabriel
What?
-Stella
Gabriel took a picture of Sam, on his chest, and sent it to her.
Awh! What's wrong with him?
-Stella
The loser got himself sick…
-Gabriel
She texted him a few more times, but he ignored them. So what if he missed an hour of work. It's not like they'd fire him; he was one of three that worked at the Gallery and both Stella and the other person was working there today. Why they needed all three of them there was a mystery to Gabriel, but he'd eventually come in.
Sam shifted, and got up quickly heading directly for the bathroom, once again to expel what little was still in his stomach. Gabriel took this as a sign that he should probably get up from the bed and get ready for work. He refilled the glass and made sure Sam was almost okay before locking the front door behind him as he left.
Back at home, he stripped from his clothes, his shirt was damp with Sam's sweat. With a grimace, he peeled it off and hopped into the shower. Within twenty minutes he was heading for work.
"Thanks for arriving early!" Stella said.
"I try." Gabriel said punching in the time card. "Why am I here?"
She shrugged. "I don't make the schedule." Gabriel sighed and took his seat next to Stella behind the front desk. "Why didn't you just call in?"
"I'm not sick."
"No, but your bae is."
Gabriel spluttered, "You did not just say bae… Tell me that didn't just come out of your face."
"So what if it did? You didn't deny it."
"He's not my bae!" he glared. Stella laughed.
Only seven people showed up at the Gallery, which wasn't uncommon, but didn't require two people being there, let alone three. After a long boring day, Gabriel hesitated going back to check on Sam. He was an adult after all.
He knocked lightly before unlocking the door. Sam was sat on the couch curled up underneath a blanket, eating from a box of Cheerios.
"Oh look, you're among the living again!"
"Yeah, I mean I still feel pretty awful, but hey." He shrugged turning the sound down on the television.
"You gonna go to work tomorrow?"
"I'll get there when I get there."
Gabriel glanced at the television then back at Sam, "Well, if you're good, I think I'll go."
"Hey, wait!" Gabriel turned back, "You said you knew I was sick, how?"
"My Sammy senses were tingling. No, I don't know." He laughed.
Sam was quiet, "Thanks." He said. "You know, for being my nurse. Although you never did get your costume."
"My costume guy was busy. But remind me and I'll show you sometime." He winked.
"Definitely." Sam blushed turning the volume on the television back up.