Zeb woke up with a headache. It wasn't too bad, but then Ezra decided to start yelling at Chopper about something and between his shrieking, Chopper's wailing, and Kanan yelling at both of them to shut up, he soon had a migraine.
He took some painkillers and thought that would be the end of it. By lunch his headache was somehow worse and his throat had began hurting. As long as he got to lie down he should be ok. He was an honor guard of Lasan; he wasn't going to be stopped by some karking cold.
"We have a mission," Kanan called.
They gathered in the meeting room. Zeb sat down and tried to ignore the feeling of nausea growing in his stomach.
"What's the plan?"
"Fulcrum alerted us to a small shipment passing by Lothal. The shipment is small, only a small amount of food and medical supplies, so security is going to be pretty light. Should be easy enough if everything goes according to plan."
"Since when do things ever go according to plan?" Sabine asked.
Kanan laughed, "That's fair."
For once though things did go according to plan. The Ghost shot out of hyperspace right in front of the shuttle causing the perfect distraction. Meanwhile, the rest of them snuck on board in the Phantom. Sabine began setting charges in the hanger while Ezra and Kanan began loading supplies onto the ship. Zeb was stationed at the end of the corridor to cover them from any imperials.
He felt his headache getting worse and he had to keep stopping himself from coughing, but he was fine.
Eventually the troopers caught on and came after them, but he was able to hold them at bay.
Until he passed out.
He dimly remembered Ezra yelling his name before everything faded to black.
"Zeb!" Ezra yelled as his friend fell to the ground. He let go of the crate, grabbed his lightsaber, and began firing at the troopers.
"Kanan Zeb got hit!"
"I see him!" Kanan yelled already running down the corridor
, "Cover me!" He grunted as he lifted Zeb up, the Lasat was kriffing heavy.
"Sabine I need some help!"
"What's wrong with Zeb?" She yelled over the blaster fire.
"I think he got hit."
The next few minutes were tense but they managed to get Zeb on board the Phantom and shot into hyperspace.
"You guys alright?" Hera asked over the comm.
"We're ok, but Zeb got hit."
"He what!"
"Is Zeb gonna be ok?" Ezra asked. He was putting on a brave face, but Kanan could hear a slight tremor in his voice.
"He'll be fine, probably."
"Well that's reassuring."
"Kanan I can't find a blaster wound," Sabine said.
"What?"
He looked over Zeb and didn't see anything, but the Lasat was still out cold, "Maybe..." He put his hand to Zeb's forehead, "He's burning up."
"He's sick?"
Kanan nodded, "He must've been feeling bad for awhile to pass out like this."
"And he still went on the mission?" Hera asked, "When we get back, I'm gonna kill him."
Garazeb Orellious had faced down armies.
He had destroyed ships, fought countless battles, and killed some of the most dangerous creatures in the galaxy with his bare hands.
And right now he was kriffing terrified.
Because none of that compared to the look Hera Syndulla was giving him right now.
"What in the galaxy were you thinking?"
Zeb winced at her volume. You wouldn't think that a being that small could be that loud.
"How could you not tell us you were sick! You not only jeopardized the mission, you also put your crew and yourself in danger!"
Zeb groaned, "I'm not that sick."
"You passed out!"
"I'm fine now."
"Oh no you're not. You mister are going to take some medicine and the go lie down."
"Oooo Zeb you better listen, she's using her mom voice," Sabine teased.
"I do not have a mom voice."
"Yes you do." The entire crew chorused.
Hera sighed, "The point is, you are going to bed, now."
Zeb grumbled but did what she said, he wasn't dumb enough to go against a direct order from Hera. Besides, he was a little tired, maybe he could just lie down for a few minutes...
He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
When he woke up a few hour later his headache was nearly gone. Groaning he got up and walked into the kitchen. The rest of the crew was in there already eating dinner.
"Good you're awake, I was just about to ring you your food." Hera said
"Nah I'm not very hungry, just wanted to get some water," Zeb protested
"Zeb you're sick, you need to eat."
"I feel fine now," Zeb said weakly.
"Really cause you look like bantha dung." Ezra pointed out.
Hera glared at both of them and shoved a bowl full of soup at Zeb.
"Eat."
The stew was actually pretty good, and it soothed Zeb's sore throat. When he was finished Hera put a hand on his forehead, "You still feel warm."
"Hera I'm fine, I swear."
"Say 'I'm fine' one more time and you won't be going on any missions for a month."
Zeb shut up.
"Ezra can you go get him some more medicine for his fever? And Sabine can you get him an extra blanket."
"Yep."
"On it."
"You know you really had me worried," Hera said, "Kanan and Ezra thought you had been shot."
Zeb chuckled nervously, "Yeah sorry about that. It happened kinda quickly."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Zeb shrugged, "It's no big deal I was f... I mean I didn't feel that sick."
"Still, you should have told us. We're family Zeb, we have to look out for each other."
Zeb nodded, "Thanks Hera."
Hera stood up, "That being said if you ever pull a stunt like that again you'll be on carbon scoring duty for the rest of the year. Got it?"
Zeb smiled, "Got it."
Hera laughed, "Go get some sleep."
"Sir yes sir."