Author's Note: I received this prompt from wdw_p2k_jtb_mah_nhc:

'Maybe they go and get risotto at a new restaurant that's opened in Utah and after they're fate EJ doesn't feel well and he ends up having food poisoning. He's able to drive back to ashlyns but ends up throwing up at hers and Gina helps him get better.'

Because I already did a sickfic where EJ was sick, I decided to flip the roles around :)

Summary: Gina gets food poisoning from a dish of seafood risotto.

Gina was starting to get a little concerned.

What she had thought were late-onset nervous butterflies swarming around in her stomach were now turning into something a lot more uncomfortable. She was currently curled up against EJ's side, his arm slung around her as they sat on his couch to watch a movie. Risotto had been… really awesome, a little awkward, of course, but so fun that EJ and Gina hadn't wanted to part ways and had decided to go back to EJ's house to watch a movie.

Gina felt a little dangerous. EJ's parents were out of town for the night. This was the set up for some PG-13 rom-com and that was never how her life went. She wished she could just enjoy it, but…

Her stomach hurt. So. Much.

"Hey, you okay?" EJ asked, rubbing her shoulder. "You're all stiff." Then he went stiff and quickly lifted his arm from across her back. "Sorry, is this not comfortable? Are we moving too fast?"

"No, no," Gina said. Her palms were starting to sweat, her mouth running dry. This couldn't be happening right now. This was her first date, with the most sweet, funny, attractive guy she knew. She was fine, she was fine, she was fine-

"EJ, I think I'm gonna throw up," Gina blurted in a rush, shooting to her feet.

EJ's eyes went wide and he leapt up. "Okay," he squeaked, grabbing her arm. "Okay, it's okay."

Gina gritted her teeth as EJ all by dragged her to the downstairs bathroom. Gina immediately broke away from him and fell in front of the toilet, just managing to lift the seat before she lost her her $22 oyster risotto dinner.

"Oh, G…" EJ murmured, kneeling down next to her and rubbing her back as Gina gagged again. "Oh crap… I really hope you didn't get food poisoning."

Gina leaned back, panting and throat raw. She felt panic rising slightly at the thought. She hadn't gotten sick since moving in with Ashlyn, had never thrown up without her mother around, and on top of all of that she wasn't even in her temporary home. To have food poisoning now, of all times…

But after two hours had passed and Gina still wasn't able to leave the bathroom for more than ten minutes at a time, it became clear that food poising was exactly what this was.

"I'm so sorry," EJ groaned. He hadn't left her side once that evening save to get her the occasional glass of water and some pepto bismol, both of which she'd promptly regurgitated. "This is all my fault."

"I'm the one who got the oysters," Gina rasped. She felt utterly drained, her face chalky pale and her throat burned raw. She was about to say something else but was interrupted by a dry heave and leaned over the toilet again. When she'd finished, there were tears on her cheeks. "This- this isn't how I wanted tonight to- to go."

"You and me both," EJ sighed.

He reached out and pulled her into his chest and Gina nestled her sweaty face on his shoulder. "This is so embarrassing," she murmured, tears still leaking from her closed eyelids. "And disgusting. Embarrassingly disgusting."

"Hey, think of it this way," EJ soothed, brushing her hair back from her face and swiping at the tears that escaped down her cheeks with his thumb. "I have officially seen you at your lowest, and I still think you're beautiful."

"I kind of want to tell you I love you," Gina mumbled, half-asleep as his fingers brushed calmingly along her hairline.

"Let's go on a few more dates first," EJ told her with a smile, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Do you think you're okay to get up and lay down?"

That made Gina jolt. "I can't stay here," she gaped, straightening even as it made her exhausted stomach muscles protest.

"I've already texted my parents and made sure they're okay with it," EJ said, putting a hand on her arm. "But if you're not okay with it I can definitely drive you back to Ashlyn's house."

Gina chewed on her lip, considering. On the one hand, she didn't want to stand up, much less get into a moving vehicle and drive twenty minutes to Ashlyn's house. On the other hand, she had gotten so used to the bed in Ashlyn's guest room that it practically felt like her own, and it would be much more comfortable to be in a familiar house if she was going to be spending the entire night throwing up.

"I- I don't know," she said, tears welling again. "I think that- that I should go back to Ashlyn's."

"Okay," EJ said immediately, getting up. "I'll grab you a bucket and some more water and we can head out, then." He reached down and Gina grasped his hands, letting him help her to his feet.

The blood immediately drained out of her head and she staggered dizzily, almost crashing into the sink. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," EJ cried, grasping for her arms to keep her upright. "Take it easy there, G."

Still feeling immensely unsteady, Gina gripped the front of EJ's jacket and tried to get her feet under her. "I'm okay," she said after a moment. "Let's go."

EJ helped her to the car and then brought her a plastic bucket and some water. He texted Ashlyn to let them know they were coming and backed the car out of the driveway.

"Still okay?" he asked Gina as he started driving down the road.

Gina nodded, weakly gripping her bucket. The motion of the car wasn't as bad as she'd thought it would be, and her exhaustion was starting to drag down her eyelids. EJ reached over and put a hand on her knee, thumb rubbing circles.

Gina was asleep before they reached the highway.

W / T \ Y

When EJ pulled up to his aunt and uncle's house, Ashlyn and his aunt Olivia were out the door in minutes. EJ eased out of his seat, relieved to see strained lines in Gina's face finally relaxed as she slept with her head tilted back.

"Hi, honey," Olivia said, giving her nephew a quick hug. "How's she doing?"

"She's asleep right now," EJ said in a low voice, carefully opening Gina's door. He reached around her and unbuckled her seatbelt, then slowly eased his arms underneath her body. Gina didn't stir as EJ maneuvered her out of the car and fully into his arms. Ashlyn opened the door for them and put her hand out to protect Gina's head from hitting the doorframe as they all walked inside.

Once EJ had gotten Gina mostly settled and Olivia had taken over, the actor returned to the living room and to his cousin.

"So," Ashlyn said as they both took heavy seats on the couch. "How was the date? Before all the puking, that is."

EJ grinned. "It was really great," he admitted. "I mean… I was kind of hoping to end the night with a, you know, a kiss, but…"

"There's always next date," Ashlyn consoled him, patting his arm.

EJ shook his head dubiously. "If she agrees to go out with me again."

"EJ," Ashlyn groaned. "You can't honestly think that Gina will let getting food poisoning- which was completely due to chance- influence her decision on whether or not she goes out with you again."

She looked at him incredulously. EJ shrugged, and Ashlyn let out a groan. "You're hopeless," she blamed. "Absolutely hopeless. If anything, tonight is just going to make her want to go out with you again, one because you literally looked after her when she was sick, which is secretly every girl's fantasy, two because she'll want a traditional end to a date night just as much as you and three because you're just a great guy and I'm pretty sure she's in love with you."

EJ shot her a glance. "Thanks, cuz," he muttered. "I guess we'll see, won't we?"

Olivia walked into the living room. "I left her some water and tums and a note to come wake me up if she starts feeling bad again," she said. "Personally, I'm going to head to bed, so goodnight, you two."

"Night, mom," Ashlyn said, smothering a yawn behind her hand. "I think I'm actually gonna turn in, too."

EJ nodded, looking towards Gina's door uncertainly. "Do you think that-"

"She'll be fine, EJ," Ashlyn interrupted, anticipating what he would say. She caught his expression and sighed. "But if you want to stick around our couch is open real estate." She patted his head as she passed him on the way to her room. "Up to you, cuz. Good night."

W / T \ Y

Gina woke up blearily, her entire body from her throat to her abdomen aching as she groaned and turned over on her side. The clock on the side of the room, blurry through her bleary eyes, read 11:46.

Gina slowly sat up, rubbing her face. She caught sight of a glass of water on her bedside table and took a slow, cautious sip, cringing as she was actually able to feel the cool liquid go down her esophagus. Her mouth was insanely dry, and she could feel her lips cracking at the corners. Last night had been an absolute train wreck, but also…

Not. Really, really not.

Despite how gross she felt, Gina felt a grin spread across her face as she remembered EJ pulling out her chair for her, complimenting her on her outfit, insisting on paying for her meal, and yes, even rubbing her back as she threw up in his bathroom. If there had been any question that he was the sweetest guy on the planet, it was now answered.

Gina frowned, trying to remember how exactly she'd gotten into bed. She didn't remember seeing Ashlyn or Olivia or Pete, or even getting out of the car. Weird.

She took one last sip of water and stood up, grabbing her night stand to steady her balance for a moment before trudging out of her room. There were two figures sitting at the kitchen counter, one on his phone and the other reading a book. The former jumped up the moment she walked in.

"Gina!" EJ cried, hurrying over. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead and Gina felt an absolute thrill run through her. "How are you feeling?"

"Disgusting," Gina admitted. "But a lot better. Thank you, EJ, for taking care of me last night."

"Of course," EJ said seriously, rubbing her arm. "Do you want anything to eat?"

Gina's stomach clenched. "Yeah, maybe not just yet," she said with a hoarse laugh, moving over to the kitchen counter to take a still-weary seat on one of the stools. "Good morning, Ash."

"Nice to see you awake," Ashlyn beamed at her. "You went full Disney princess last night, with EJ carrying you from the car while you slept."

"You carried me?" Gina gaped, not sure if she should hide under the table or laugh.

EJ winced. "You were sleeping!" he protested. "You'd just been puking your guts out; I wasn't going to wake you up."

"No, no, that's really sweet," Gina assured him, smiling. "Thank you. Again." She tilted her head slightly. "Wait a minute, what are you still doing here?"

Ashlyn hid a smile behind her laptop as EJ sat back down. "I, uh… well, I just wanted to stick around and make sure you were okay. And my parents weren't home anyway."

"He spent the night on the couch because he was worried about you," Ashlyn said casually, not looking away from her computer. EJ turned red and kicked her. "Hey! It's true."

"Seriously?" Gina asked, a grin spreading across her pale face. This boy was never going to stop surprising her, was he? "Aw, EJ…"

"You two are sickening," Ashlyn said, smiling broadly. "Never change."

"Thanks Ash," Gina said, cringing, "But please don't mention the word sick right now."

Author's Note: That was FUN! Thanks so much wdw_p2k_jtb_mah_nhc.