A/N:
It has been decided! Honestly, I didn't think that I would get such a good response in such a small time! You're all so helpful! You see, I had narrowed it down to those 3 and couldn't decide what order to put them in, and then I though "Why not go to the people reading it?" so I did…THANK YOU! I suppose I should give personal thanks to those who did add their opinions…
--
Sick Day
--
"Stay in bed!"
"No."
"009…"
"Well, why should I? I'm not-"
"You're sick, face it!" 003 said tapping her foot on the ground.
"Pashaw…I'm not sick!" 009 retorted, but laughed at himself afterwards causing 003 to sigh in frustration. Only two days had the brunette been sick and his fever kept getting out of hand sometimes, which caused him to say things…
For example…'Pashaw'
Never, in his two years as leader of the Cyborgs used the word 'Pashaw.' This led to suspicion and 002's first guess of being delirious was correct. 009 was indeed hallucinating. Badly. The pink rabbit trying to eat him was, indeed, one would call; "A dead give-away".
Now currently arguing with the third cyborg, 009 was sitting on his bed in his blue night clothes with his covers draped over his head, covering half his face and refusing to stay in bed on the grounds that he wasn't sick.
"009, just stay. In. bed. Alright?" she asked aspirated at their leader's stubbornness to submit to her will.
"No…I'm fine," he said with a cheesy grin and waving her off.
"Do you know what? You'd be in the infirmary right now if I hadn't pleaded Dr. Gilmore that you would recover faster if you were in your own room so you could be more comfortable," she said, nearly fuming at this point.
'I swear to god, I love him, but if he doesn't do what I say I'll have to hurt him…'
Her only response was 009 chuckling "You're cute when you're mad…" he said.
This of course, earned her face to go beet red and before she could reply, 009 decided to point out something else "You're even cuter when you're blushing," he commented.
"009 I-"
"I'm tired…" he said with a large yawn. Her shoulders slumped and she watched him crawl under the covers and grab one of his pillows "I'm really tired…" he said quietly. 003 stayed and watched as he fell asleep quickly.
She sighed once more and took the thermometer from the side stand and carefully put it in his mouth "I don't know what I'm going to do if you keep this up 009…" she said quietly, brushing his bangs out of his face and waiting until the gadget in his mouth could get an accurate reading. Pulling it out as carefully as she could she frowned at its readings.
"Maybe you should be in the infirmary," she whispered reading the two different numbers. Slowly making her way out of the room, she took the thermometer with her and closed the door softly.
"So, how is he?" 002 asked crossing his arms.
003 handed him the thermometer which had been programmed on memory "see for yourself," she said waiting for his response.
"103…he should be in the infirmary…I know we're cyborgs, but this is stupid," he said pointing to it. She nodded and motioned for him to follow her down the stairs. "How'd he get so sick anyway?" 002 asked.
"Beyond me," she said looking into the living quarters of the dolphin.
"Hey, if you're looking for Dr. Gilmore, he went out to lunch with 007, 005 and 008," 004 said appearing in front of them, making 002 jump somewhat. Seeing 002 jump made the German laugh, but only until he saw the thermometer in 003's hand.
"Is it set on memory?" he asked taking it from her. She nodded as he had the same reaction as her.
"But…42 is a bit high isn't it?" he asked giving the small machine back to her.
"Do me a favour and tell everyone else, keep an eye on 009. If it goes any higher, get him down to the infirmary," she said looking at both 004 and 002. They both nodded in agreement.
''
Opening his eyes slowly, he quickly made the observation that the room was spinning and closed his eyes tightly once more. Groaning, he sat up and looked around the room to see he was still in his room but his head was thumping.
"About time you woke up man," He turned slightly to see the red head sitting in his arm chair, playing a hand held device.
"Uh…sure," 009 said collapsing back onto the pillows brining not only comfort, but relieving some of his pain.
"Now what was it that…oh yeah, so, do you need anything?" the American asked. 009 looked over to him through the corner of his eye and saw him still playing with the hand held and sighed.
"Aspirin…please," 009 answered, muffled by the pillow. 002 nodded and dashed out of the room, leaving his game on. In the incisive beeping victory music only made the throbbing in his head harder.
"Stupid Jet," 004 growled entering the room and ripping out the back of the game and throwing its remains into the paper bin in the corner, smiling at the fact that he'd managed to get a hole in one.
"Thank you so-o-o much 004," 009 said sitting back up.
"No problem…where is he anyway? He's supposed to be watching over you," The German said looking out and down both halls.
"He went to go get me some Aspirin," 009 replied feeling his headache incline.
"Speak of the devil!" 004 said seeing 002 walk into the room with a glass of water and two small white tablets. "We where just talking about you 002…Well, hope you feel better soon 009. And 002? Turn off your toy next time," he said leaving the room.
002 shrugged and handed 009 the medication and turned back to his chair only to grunt "Where's my…--004!" he yelled making 009 flinch. "What have you done with my game boy?" he yelled leaving the room leaving a much relieved 009 to peace and quiet.
Lying back down on the pillow, he decided that more sleep would be best at this time.
''
"009's finally up and about!" 007 said grabbing the younger cyborg by the shoulders and pulling him into a head lock "And may I say about time too!" 007 added laughing while 009 struggled against him.
"Uh…007," 002 said pointing behind him.
"Wha?"
Turning around, the older cyborg saw…her…
"…um…003, I didn't see you there," 007 said nervously. A quick observation determined that indeed, the object in her hands was one of 006's heavy frying pans. "Uh…I…was just giving the boy a hug you see and I-uh, um…nice-to-see-you're-alright-009!" he said quickly and letting go of him.
"Right, let this be a warning to everyone! Even though 009 is allowed out of bed does not mean that he is well enough for your horse-play, understand?" 003 commanded to the room full of men. They all nodded stiffly.
For such a petite woman, she had a very tight control over them all…
"Uh, 003, I'm fine, really," 009 said trying to ease his teammate's tension.
"Well, say that to your medication bottle," she said smiling.
"She scares me sometimes…" 002 whispered to 004.
"I heard that!" 003 yelled at him.
He immediately went rigid and covered himself from the impending strike…but after a moment of waiting, it never came…as it had turned out, in his whimpering he'd missed the fact that everyone had gone into the mess hall for the dinner especially cooked for 009's recovery.
"I love sausages!" he heard the British cyborg tease from the other room.
Jet growled and ran into the room as fast as he could, picked up a plate and scooped up the last two snags before anyone else could get them. "002! They were mine!" 007 whined still having his fork positioned over the large platter where they'd previously been.
"Oh stop it! You sound like a married couple," 008 said pointing it out.
At his quick comment everyone burst out laughing, but 009 only gave a small and unenthusiastic laugh before looking back down at the table like it had become the most interesting thing in the world. 003 noticed this quickly and tapped him on the shoulder "Are you alright?" she asked quietly under everyone's laughing.
He nodded in response "Yeah, just being up and about for the first time this week is making me a little woozy."
'Liar.'
'I'm a bad liar.'
"So, why don't you go back up to bed and I'll bring you something?" 003 offered trying to talk below 002 who was now yelling and distracting everyone at the table. Luckily. "I'd be more than happy to."
"Nah, it's alright, I'll be--"
'Clang'
"009!"
Everyone stopped laughing and watched as their leader hit his head on the table first, but then collapsing onto the ground with a loud thud. "…-009?" Anyone who couldn't stand next to his unconscious form stood up on their toes and looked over the table.
''
"He just passed out. He'll be fine by morning," Dr. Gilmore spoke quietly and tried hard not to wake 009 who was now resting peacefully in one of the infirmary cribs. A small tube was running over his face and under his nose kept a steady supply of oxygen ready for him to inhale with his next breath.
"Um, what about his head?" 003 asked pointing to her own forehead. The Doctor laughed for a brief moment, but then turned to face 009.
"Just a bump."
003 sighed in relief. When he wouldn't wake up it scared her to death. But now that he was asleep and she could see his chest rise and fall, everything was alright.
…only as far as she knew.
"I'll stay in here tonight and keep and eye on him." Francoise then moved over and pulled a chair up next to the bed. "I'll call you if anything happens."
"That's good. I was just going to ask you to keep an eye on him tonight as it so happened," he said placing a hand in his jacket. He watched as the young blonde nodded with a smile but then return to watching 009.
'I'll tell her about the tests tomorrow.' He thought leaving the room with its last two guests overnight.
Only half way out the door he was nearly run down by 002 who was speeding along. "Dr. Gilmore is 003 in there?" he asked.
He nodded in response and the young American bolted into the room coming out moments later with 003. "Wait, what's going on?" he called out. 003 stopped on the stairs and turned to him.
"There's a large fleet heading this way. Keep and eye on 009 for us!" she yelled before being yanked up the rest of the stairs by 002.
"Tell everyone to keep safe!" he yelled out. But to no avail as they had already left. He sighed and entered back into the house's infirmary, placing both hands in his pocket he moved over to the chair and sat down steadily.
"Well 009, it seems if you aren't going with them this time."
He studied the boy carefully and prayed that he could hopefully come up with a vaccine to the virus that resided in the resting cyborg's body. It was dormant, but it needed a trigger to spread and cause havoc.
What kind of havoc? And what was the trigger to it? Not even the professor knew himself.
He frowned when he saw 009's eye twitch slightly as if he was blinking "009, are you awake?" he asked. After no response he cursed himself for talking, and maybe waking a patient who needed rest.
"Only R.E.M I suppose…" he said leaning back in his chair.
Soon, more than a little over an hour passed by and sleep had overcome the good doctor. Cracking one eye open, 009 looked over to make sure that he was fully asleep before silently sitting up and throwing the covers aside.
"I'm sorry," He whispered before tiptoeing out of the room.
''
"Damn it!" 004 cursed under his breath. Having to reload meaning the swarms could regroup and come together once again. But still all the same, it was either start over, or die…
Besides…they had to stop at one point or another…didn't they?
Jet quickly flew over head and fired at the spider flying type things currently attacking them and fired again, and again, and again until like 004 had to pull back to reload. "This isn't working!" 007 called out turning back from a giant hammer.
"You got that right!" 006 said puffing another wave of flames over a horde of Black Ghost creation.
"I got it!"
Everyone distracted for a brief second looked over head. "009! What are you doing here?" 002 yelled flying just above him. He gave a weak smile in response but it soon turned to a serious look before switching on his accelerator.
Of course, time slowed dramatically and he smirked at everyone's reactions. Most of them looked angry though. He couldn't blame them, they'd been fighting a losing battle for over 2 hours now. Concentrating back on the task at hand, he quickly looked around the battle field feeling his timer on the switch running out.
'There!'
Dashing forward and over the cliffs he spotted the machine spitting out the creations. With a quick and swift blow with his fist it exploded knocking him not only out of his accelerator mode, but knocking him back across the field.
''
"009! You should be in bed!" 003 scolded him.
"A thank you would be nice!"
All around them the fiery remains burnt to crisps and smoke rose up from the battle field. "She's right 009, you should have stayed in bed," 002 commented flying in next to him.
"Fine! Ignore the fact that I came out here and saved you a lot of time and prevented someone from getting hurt!" he half yelled in frustration, but mainly anger. "Just one…just one thank you would be all I need."
"Thank you then."
Everyone turned to see 004 with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed against his chest "You're right. You did not only save us a lot of time and ammo, but you also came just on time so no one would get hurt…even if you are sick."
"004 you--"
"I what? Thank him for saving us?"
For once, 003 was at a loss for words. She sighed and shuffled her feet "I'm sorry 009…we…I just don't want you getting really sick." She stopped and looked up at him "Thank you for coming out and helping us."
Small voices of gratitude soon spread through the group and 009 smiled "Good. Now can we go home? I'm really tired." 009 placed a hand over his mouth and yawned widely causing a few people to laugh and the comment "Fly catcher" to come from them making the others laugh.
003 nodded and started leading the way back. "Right, everyone we have a long walk ahead of us, we should get going," she said taking the lead of the group with 009 close behind.
After awhile of walking it had become apparent, that it was, indeed, boring. So 007 decided to get a conversation going.
"What did Dr. Gilmore say about you coming out here 009?" he asked putting his hands behind his head.
009 instantly froze and felt his stomach lurch…if that was a good thing?
"Uh, well, you…I, um…snuck out." He said the last part in a little above a whisper not wanting to know what was going to come next. But at the same time he knew what was coming.
"You snuck out?" 003 yelled whirling around.
"Yeah. I kinda did."
"009!" he immediately flinched at her yelling. The others looked at each other. This was going to be one long walk home…
''
The yelling hadn't lasted too long, but long enough for 003 to get her point across. 009 once swallowed keeping his stomach down and the iron taste down as well. He knew it wasn't good, but who could he tell?
'What the—this is interesting.'
009 could feel the ground being pulled out from underneath him. Not good. He could also feel his stomach coming back up again, but he didn't know if he could keep it down this time…
'Maybe…if I…'
He put his hand over his mouth and starting cough softly.
'Nope.'
His coughing got worse and he could feel liquid on the palm of his hand.
'Oh crap.'
"009, are you alright?" 003 asked stopping along with everyone else.
'Ow…'
Dropping to his knees, he could soon fell the liquid starting to drip through his finger and run down his hand. "009! What's wrong?" 003 asked racing forward and crouching near him at an alarming rate.
'Forgive me…this is gonna be real gross.'
Using his other hand for support he started shaking and couldn't help it any longer. Finally letting go, he brought up all the blood in his stomach out onto his hand and let it spill onto the ground.
"HOLY SHIT! 009!" he didn't know who it was…a good guess would be 002. He's the only one known to curse like that.
'Sleepy…'
Feeling his eyelids droop he collapsed onto the ground only to be cradled in 003's arms moments later. "009!"
'Tired…'
"009, stay with us!" someone else yelled.
"Joe! C'mon!"
'Go away…'
"Joe?"
'Give me a break…'
"Joe? Wake up! This isn't funny!"
'Huh…wha?'
"Joe, wake up!"
The bright light burned his eyes and so brought his hand over his eyes to block it. "He's fine Dr. Gilmore…just being a lazy bum." Whoever it was laughed at her own comment and leaned over him. "So, are you going to get up now?"
"Francoise? What…what am I doing here?" he asked sitting up, head still throbbing.
"You mean you don't-- careful -- remember?" she asked helping him sit up. He shook his head in response only making it thump harder. "You threw up in your sleep last night so we brought you down here…"
"OH! Ow…oh yeah, I do," he said smiling remembering something else that happened last night.
"I'll go get you some aspirin," she said standing up and walking over to the small cupboard next to the infirmary cot. Finally, everything started coming into focus and he could see the drip gone from his hand.
'Thank god Dr. Gilmore took it out…it was annoying the fu-'
"Here you go," Francoise said handing him a glass of water she'd gotten for him obviously while he'd been thinking. "Dr. Gilmore said for you to not take too many at a time."
Focusing on her, it wasn't long before he noticed something…
"A-are…you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine…why?"
"You look…a little flushed…"
End A/N:
Well, here ya go! The next chapter and its extra long as thanks for the input! I hope you enjoyed this because I'm not gonna be able to get the next chapter up because I'm gonna go spend some time at my dad's… (Sarcastic laugh) …such fun!
Review…thoughts, opinions, interests…but no flames!
-Crystal Remnant
And a special thanks to the following people!
Chickitita
pfsc
003 fanatic
mika zero-zero twenty-one
Maria
Rebel Star Kitten
hikarisailorcat
CharizardRulz-Cyborg009Rulz
Kitty-Chan, UchiNaru no Miko