Sicktember Day 8: Contagious
Word Count: 1038
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: K/G
Characters: Sheska
Warning: NA
Summary: Sheska is sick. Investigations still needs her. This will have consequences.
Notes: NA

Contagious

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!

Sheska groaned as the phone's ringing broke into her consciousness. She stuck her hand out from under the blankets that she had bundled around her, blindly patting around for the phone. She finally managed to put her hand on it and pulled the receiver towards her. She had to maneuver it around the blankets, but she eventually got it to her ear.

"Nnnmgh, hello?"

"Sheska? I'm sorry to bother you."

"…Captain Focker?" At least, Sheska was fairly certain that it was him.

"Yes," he said, and he sounded extremely apologetic. "Sheska, listen. I know you're sick, but we need you to come in."

"…what?" it took Sheska a moment to truly comprehend what he said.

"We need you to come in," Focker repeated. "There's been a huge break in the case, completely unexpected, but we need to pull files quickly and you're the only one who can do it. We need you here."

For a moment, Sheska was quiet.

"…sir, you do realize that I have a fever, I'm sneezing and coughing, and that I've been throwing up."

There was a moment of quiet on the other end. "…I know," Focker said, and he sounded quiet, apologetic, "but we really need you."

Sheska was quiet for a moment, and then she sighed. "…. yes, sir."

"Thank you," Focker sounded relieved. "I'll send a car around for you. It'll be there in twenty minutes, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Sheska."

Captain Focker hung up, and Sheska laid there for a moment before groaning. Slowly she pulled herself upright, finally reaching over to hang up the phone. Blearily she pushed towards the edge of the bed and slowly stood up. The world swayed around her, and she reached out for the bedpost, using it to stabilize herself.

Somehow, she managed to find and pull on her uniform and brush her teeth, as well as fix herself a cup of ginger drink to try to help her stomach. She knew it wasn't cold outside, but she was freezing, so she bundled herself up in her winter coat, hoping that it would help. The knock came at her door about twenty minutes later, and Sheska made her way to it.

A private stood outside her door, and he looked at her sympathetically. "Sorry ma'am. I was told to pick you up."

Sheska nodded and picked up her purse. "…just pull over if I say to."

He winced slightly but nodded. The man had thought to bring her a mask, and she slipped it on, not wanting to get anyone else sick, although it fogged up her glasses as she attempted to breathe. Still, she followed him down and to the car, let him open the door for her, and then just curled up in the seat for the ride to work, pulling her coat closer around her. He must have noticed that she was cold, because at some point, she felt the heat come on even as she dozed.

The arrived at Central Command all too soon, and the private woke her and escorted her in. She was shivering, coughing, and she felt miserable, but still, when she walked in records, everyone seemed relieved to see her.

"Sheska, I'm so sorry," Captain Focker said. "Here just—just sit down and tell us where to find things."

Sheska nodded and stumbled over to the chair. "What do you need?" she asked.

"We have a number of lists here," Focker said, holding it out toward her.

Sheska shook her head. "No… no just read it to me."

She didn't miss the looks that passed between Focker, Rachel, and Susan, but he did as she requested and began reading off the information that they needed. Sheska rattled off file locations at every one of them, and then offered up locations for more information. Susan wrote down any information that they didn't have there, sending another private after them.

Whatever it was that they had uncovered must have been big, because before she knew it, not only was it Focker, Susan and Rachel pulling records, but Lieutenant Ross, Sergeant Brosh, and even Major Armstrong were going after files she suggested. Records was hopping with people grabbing files, going over files, pulling information from files, and copying information.

At some point someone put a blanket around her, put a cool rag on her head, got her some more tea, and placed a waste basket by her for her to throw up in. Several times she dozed off, only to be woken for more information. She would rattle if off, and then sink back into her haze of sickness. More than once, she made use of the wastebasket, and often she was wracked with shivers. Her washcloth was replaced often, especially as she was having trouble keeping the fever reducers down.

At some point she fell into a deep sleep that her body demanded. She wasn't entirely aware of someone lifting her up, of being carried off somewhere. She vaguely recognized that she was in a car at some point, and then, later, of being encouraged to change and settled into a bed. After that, it was just impressions of someone taking care of her, of fever dreams, and vague recollections of throwing up and going to the bathroom.

A few days later her fever broke, and she became aware that she was in the Armstrong estate, in a guest suite. Apparently, Major Armstrong had brought her here to his family's home to recover after they didn't need her help anymore. His family encouraged her to stay a couple of more days to make sure she was recovered, but once the fever was broken and she was able to eat again, she recovered rapidly.

Unfortunately, her sick visit to records and investigations had consequences. She had been highly contagious at the time, and her virus swept through both departments, leaving them understaffed and overworked for about two weeks. However, thanks to her help, a major internal black-market ring had been exposed. It was counted worth it by all involved, although Sheska began work on a better internal filing system so that the next time she was sick, they wouldn't have to call her in.