Bearing the Burden
Category: Double Drabble. Culmets. RickyVerse. Literal Fluff. Very Slight Angst. Very Mild Sickfic.
Time Frame: Any.
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: Being a doctor means others come first. Even when you don't want them to. Good thing Hugh has a little help from his friends.
Note: Another Ricky story, because I just can't help myself.
At least Paul's fever had broken.
Not that Hugh hadn't expected it to, given the medications he'd given him.
Still, it was a comfort to see that the flush had faded from Paul's pale cheeks
Because Hugh had to go.
His mama used to say "the shoemaker's wife goes barefoot," and while Hugh tried to do better than that, the fact was that he was on shift in ten minutes, and Paul wasn't that sick.
He had the modern equivalent of what used to be called a cold. He'd be fine. And if he needed anything, he could comm.
But Paul looked so small, fast asleep and burrowed under every blanket they owned, that Hugh couldn't help the sigh that escaped him as he turned to go.
Paul must have heard him, because he stirred. Hugh looked back over his shoulder to see if he was awake, but Paul just nuzzled himself deeper into the blankets.
As he did, he rolled over a little, and when Hugh saw what was tucked against Paul's chest, he chuckled.
He was still smiling when he left for his shift, with far less concern than before.
After all, Ricky hadn't lost a patient yet.