Sicktember Day 2: Persistent Cough/Sniffling
Word Count: 854
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: G/K
Characters: Major Miles
Warning: NA
Summary: Miles is back from the desert—and has a case of the sniffles. Olivier offers up solutions.
Notes: I figure going from extreme cold to extreme hot to extreme cold had to have some side effects
Persistent Cough/Sniffling
Miles sniffed, trying to keep it discreet. He didn't need to draw attention to himself at the moment. He stood silently beside General Armstrong as she addressed the latest batch of cubs to come to the fort. Despite the problems that had occurred right after the Promised Day, Briggs was being treated with more respect and given more attention than it ever had under Bradley. Troops and supplies were regularly being sent up, and General Armstrong was making sure both were put to good use.
Miles, of course, had been in Ishval for a few years, helping with the restoration. Working to restore the land of his grandfather had been an honor, and being able to openly teach his daughters about that part of their heritage meant quite a bit to him, even if his own knowledge was incomplete. Fortunately, various elders had been willing to help with that, and Scar taught him as they worked. Learning the ways of their ancestors in the land of their ancestors was something that he had never thought he would get the chance to do. It had made working even in the stifling desert heat worth it, even if adjusting to that heat had been brutal.
Miles suddenly realized that the general's speech was drawing to a close, and he forced himself to pay closer attention to what she was saying. He had heard it all before, plenty of times. The speech was nothing new to anyone at Briggs. It was the fact that he had let his attention slip into his own introspection that rankled him. And all because of a sniff.
He sniffed again.
Miles resisted the urge to sigh, or the urge to reach for his handkerchief. He had been sniffing a lot lately. He hadn't noticed it at first, if he were honest with himself. It was just something that at some point had turned into a normal part of breathing for him. It was when it started transitioning to a small cough that he took notice. From then on out, he couldn't help but notice just how much he coughed and sniffed. It was far too frequent for his liking, although he didn't think there was anything he could do about it.
General Armstrong finished speaking and turned to leave, Miles following right behind her. The men would help the cubs get settled, and then, later, Miles would take over, giving the cubs a debrief and unofficially observing them. For the moment, though, his place was at General Armstrong's side, so that was where he stayed. He followed her back down the hall, and to an elevator that would take them back up to the level her office was on.
He suppressed a cough.
Without a word they both got on, and the door closed. The elevator started moving up. Miles reached for his handkerchief as he sniffed again.
"Are you going to get that looked at?" Her voice broke the silence.
"Sir?" he said, pausing partway through his motion.
She didn't turn around to look at him. "I asked if you're going to get that looked at. You were sniffing in my ear the during the whole speech. It's distracting."
"My apologies, General. I didn't realize it was that noticeable."
She snorted. "Miles, it's been noticeable since you arrived back here. You've been sniffing ever since then, and now it's turned itself into a cough." She turned her head just enough to pierce him with her look. "Isn't that right."
He should have known that she would have noticed. Even after a few years apart, and even without Buccaneer here, there was no denying that there was a friendship there. She had always been more aware of what was happening with Buccaneer and himself then she had others. He had been the same about her and Buccaneer. Buccaneer had been the same with Olivier and himself. It was just how they were.
The balance seemed all wrong now.
"Yes," he said. "It has. I thought it would go away on its own."
"It obviously hasn't," she retorted.
He sniffed. "No. It hasn't."
She reached out, and stopped the elevator—on, he noticed, the level of sickbay. "You have roughly twenty minutes before the cubs reach Doc. Go see what she can do. I'm tired of hearing you sniff and cough."
"Yes, General," Miles replied, and moved to exit the elevator. He paused though, just before he got off. "…and if nothing can be done about it?"
She met his eyes and smirked at him. "Then I supposed you'll just have to take outside duties, where I can't hear you sniff and cough, and your body can acclimate to the cold once more."
He couldn't help the upturn of his lips. "Of course, sir."
And with that he stepped off of the elevator, the general once again taking it up. Miles turned and headed towards sickbay. Hopefully Doc had something to help him. And if she didn't, well, he could always do the training courses with the cubs.
After all, it had done the trick the first time he was stationed here.