Winter was Blaine's least favorite season. The icy wind, the muddy snow, the need to dress up in seventeen layers just to run to the store. He loved to go skiing with his family, but it was something he could actually do in the snow, not just sit around and be trapped in the apartment. He lived in New York City, though, so there was no way to avoid the gloomy season.
It had been on the weather forecast for over a week. 'The biggest blizzard of the decade' they were calling it. Blaine wasn't looking forward to it. He tried convincing Kurt to get a flight and spend the week back in Lima until it all melted, but he refused. Since they were going to be trapped inside their building for however long, they had to stock up. They spent two hours and $300 at the store on food in order to be prepared.
The snow started lightly on Wednesday afternoon. Blaine was at NYADA, and Kurt had stayed home. He woke up with a bad cough and admitted to not feeling well. Blaine had to go class, but he didn't want to leave him. Kurt tried to brush it off as just a little cold, but Blaine wasn't so sure. It had to be bad if he didn't try to hide the fact that he was sick.
As soon as class was let out when the snow began, Blaine hurried to get home. He hated being in the cold and wanted to see how Kurt was doing. He called him to see if he needed anything, but he said he just wanted him home. Blaine tried to get there fast, but the traffic was horrible, even for New York City. He figured Kurt would be watching TV on the couch or something, but he found him in bed, huddled under the covers with only the top of his head visible.
"Hey," Blaine said softly, unsure if he was awake or not. Kurt turned over to face him. He looked horribly pale, and his hair was a mess.
"Hi," he mumbled, his voice raspy from coughing. Blaine kissed him and felt his forehead.
"You still have a little bit of a fever. How are you feeling?" he asked. Kurt closed his eyes and shrugged.
"I'm just tired," he sighed. Blaine brushed his hair back off of his face and looked down at him. Kurt seemed so sick, and he wasn't sure what they were going to do if he needed to get to a doctor. Unless they walked they probably couldn't make it to the hospital. But he would be fine. Kurt never got really sick. It would pass in a day or two.
"Do you want some soup or something?" he offered. "That might help." Kurt nodded.
"Yes, please. I can make it, though," he said, trying to get out of bed. Blaine made him lay back down.
"No no, I got it. Here, find us something to watch on TV." He handed the remote and went into the kitchen. Once he started brewing some hot tea for him he heated up some chicken soup. It wasn't homemade, but he didn't want to take forever just to fix some soup. He put the bowl and teacup on a tray and carried it into the bedroom. "Here you go. Can you sit up?" Kurt pushed himself up and leaned back on the headboard of the bed.
"Thanks," he said quietly. "I found a movie. Can we watch The Vow?" Blaine hated that movie. Kurt had dragged him to the movies and made him sit through it, but he hated it. He was sick though, so Blaine was obligated to watch whatever he wanted.
"That's fine," he lied. "Have you taken any medicine?" Kurt shook his head, so Blaine went back into the kitchen. Nyquil would help his cough and hopefully knock him out for a few hours. With any luck he'd fall asleep quickly so Blaine could turn the movie off.
"Here you go. Take this. I know it tastes bad but hopefully it'll keep you from coughing so much." Kurt reluctantly swallowed it and he gagged, but kept it down. Blaine got in bed next to him as the movie got started. After he finished his food, Kurt curled up next to him. He was shivering like crazy, so Blaine tucked him in snugly and wrapped his arm around him.
"I think I'm tired," he mumbled after fifteen minutes. Blaine smiled to himself. Kurt needed sleep, and Blaine needed to turn off that dumb movie.
"You'll feel better once you've had some rest. Do you think you can fall asleep?" he asked him. Kurt nodded and laid down on his pillow. Blaine made sure to tuck him in again so he wouldn't start to get cold. "Do you want me to leave you alone or stay here until you fall asleep?"
"Stay, please," he murmured. Blaine shut the curtains so it would be dark enough for him to doze off. He rubbed his back, crossing his fingers that he would feel better when he woke up. Once Kurt started to snore quietly, Blaine left him alone to rest.
He checked out the living room window, and the snow was really starting to come down. He made himself lunch and checked the weather on the TV. They were expected to get up to three feet of snow. He didn't want to do the dishes in case it would wake Kurt up. He was certain the Nyquil had knocked him out in a deep sleep, but he didn't want to take chances, so he did laundry and cleaned up the kitchen instead. If they were going to be snowed in the apartment, it ought to at least be clean.
Blaine expected Kurt to sleep for several hours, but he woke up after just two. His horrible cough was a sign he was awake.
"Kurt?" he said softly, pushing open the bedroom door. Kurt was curled up on his side, shivering.
"I'm okay," he choked out, catching his breath after his big coughing fit. Blaine felt his forehead and made him sit up. "I'm tired. I wanna lay down."
"You can in a minute," he told him. "Are you cold?" Kurt nodded, and Blaine grabbed his robe from the bathroom. "Put this on. It's not good for you to have chills." Kurt tied it around him and buried himself back under the covers, beginning to cough again.
"My chest hurts," he wheezed. Blaine was getting worried that he had the flu. If it was just a cold he wouldn't have a fever and be as exhausted.
"Do you want something cold to drink? Or some more hot tea?" he offered.
"Water, please." Blaine got him a bottle of cold water from the fridge and helped him sit up a little bit to take a drink. Kurt kicked his covers off and took off his robe. "I'm hot now." Blaine brushed his hair back and kissed his hot forehead.
"Do you want to come in the living room? We can watch a movie or something if you want," he told him. Kurt nodded and followed him into the front room. Their apartment was tiny, but it was just right for the two of them. Kurt snuggled up against him on the couch, and Blaine turned on an episode of Law and Order. It was nearly five in the afternoon, so Blaine made both of them dinner. All Kurt ate was another can of soup, but at least it was something.
After watching TV until 10:30, they both decided to go to bed. Blaine gave Kurt some more Nyquil to hopefully get him through the night. He wasn't very tired, but Kurt was already dozing off. Even with the heater on high, the apartment was still chilly, so Kurt scooted over close to him, laying his head on Blaine's shoulder. They had at least four blankets over them, and Kurt's body heat radiated onto Blaine, making him hot. He stuck his foot out from the blankets and cooled off.
"Go to sleep," he whispered to Kurt. "You'll feel better in the morning."
The night turned out to be restless for both of them. Kurt slept for four hours, and then woke up coughing badly. Blaine tried to get him a drink and get him settled again, but he was too uncomfortable. They didn't have a digital thermometer but Blaine could tell his fever was getting higher. He laid awake with him for forty-five minutes, slowly relaxing him enough to go back to sleep.
When he woke up again the apartment was absolutely freezing. It was light outside, so they had survived the night, but Kurt wasn't in bed next to him. Blaine looked out the window at the snow. It was still coming down, and the ground wasn't visible at all. He knocked on the closed bathroom door, unsure if Kurt was in there or not.
"Come in," a weak voice moaned. Blaine frowned. He didn't sound good at all. Kurt was curled up in front of the toilet, a thin blanket draped over his shoulders.
"Kurt? What happened?" he asked. He hadn't thrown up, but he looked like a ghost he was so pale.
"I kept thinking I would be sick," he explained, struggling to keep his eyes open. Blaine patted his cheek to get him to stay awake.
"How long have you been here?" he asked him. Kurt leaned forward to rest his head on Blaine's chest. He could feel the heat radiating off of him.
"A little bit," he murmured. Blaine rubbed his back and stroked his hair. He was very sick, but it was impossible to know what was wrong without seeing a doctor. Blaine had gotten the flu several times and he had never been that sick. And he'd only been feeling bad for a little over 24 hours. Everything had come on so suddenly.
"Do you want to get back in bed? Or do you think you're going to throw up?" he asked him. Kurt pointed silently at the bedroom, and Blaine helped him get to his feet. Kurt was shaking so bad he was afraid he would fall over, so Blaine kept his arm around him as he guided him into bed. "I know you're not feeling good, but we'll get you feeling better. Do you think you can eat a little bit? Just some oatmeal or a piece of toast?"
"Oatmeal," he said weakly, his lips barely moving.
"Okay, I can do that. I'll be right back." Kurt didn't respond, so Blaine just left. He was starting to get seriously concerned. Kurt seemed out of it and wasn't acting like himself at all. Blaine made his oatmeal and got him some Tylenol to take in hopes of bringing his fever down. He heard him coughing, but didn't want to give him any more Nyquil to suppress it. He wasn't sure it was the best idea to use it to make him fall asleep.
Once he fixed his food he went back into the bedroom and tried to get him to sit up and eat, but Kurt didn't want to move. Blaine finally got him propped up on two pillows and managed to get him to eat. He was refusing to be fed, so it was a struggle for him to do it himself. He could only take a few bites before insisting he felt full. Blaine gave him the medicine and helped him sit up a little bit more to swallow it successfully without choking.
"Stay with me," Kurt said, reaching out and grabbing Blaine by the hand.
"Hang on. I'll be right back." He went into the bathroom and wrung out a washcloth with cool water. It couldn't be healthy for a person to be that hot. Blaine held it on his forehead and cheeks, hoping to cool him of at least a little bit.
"Too cold," Kurt moaned, trying to bat his hands away.
"Babe, you're really hot. We've got to get you cooled off," he explained. "Just relax." Kurt slowly eased into it, and even grinned a little. "Does that feel good?" He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes shut the entire time. Blaine sat down on the bed next to him and patted his back as he started up coughing again. Kurt seemed like he was going to be sick, so Blaine got up to get him a trashcan. "It's okay," he told him. "You're okay, just breathe." Kurt continued coughing, and eventually coughed up some blood. That sent Blaine into a panic. Kurt knew what was happening and he began to get upset. "Hey," he told him. "Hey, don't worry. You're gonna be okay."
"My chest hurts," he whimpered, holding back tears. "I can't breathe." Blaine had to take him to the hospital. He checked outside the window. It was snowing pretty hard, but it looked like some snowplows had come through so the taxis were running.
"Listen to me," he said to Kurt. "We have to get you to a doctor, okay? I know you hate it but you're really sick, honey."
"No," he pleaded. "I'm cold. I'm okay." But they both knew he wasn't. Blaine pulled a hoodie on over his head and helped him get shoes on. "I don't want to go, please." He coughed several times and stopped talking. Blaine got dressed quickly and helped him get up.
"Lean on me," he told him. "I'll help you walk. It's gonna be okay." he got him out the door, not bothering to lock it behind him. Blaine was thankful their building had an elevator. He wasn't sure they could make it down three flights of stairs. "It's cold outside, but we'll only be out there for a couple of seconds." Kurt nodded and Blaine led him outside. It was bitterly cold, and there was hardly any sunlight. He tried to protect Kurt from the harsh wind that was blowing against them. He was shaking violently and could hardly walk. "Come on, just a few more steps."
Once at the curb Blaine got them a cab. The nearest hospital was two and a half miles away, but it took them over forty minutes to get there with all the snow and ice on the roads.
"I want to go home," Kurt begged, still trembling. Blaine rubbed his back in soothing circles and let his rest his head on his shoulder.
"I know," he whispered. "We won't be there very long. It's gonna be okay."
When they got to the hospital Blaine tried to take him inside quickly before he started shaking again. There has hardly anyone in the waiting room, and since he was having chest pain and a hard time breathing they let him go right in to see a doctor. Kurt was visibly nervous, and Blaine just wanted to know why he was coughing up blood. It happened again as they were waiting on the doctor. Fortunately he didn't throw up, but it was just as bad.
They stayed at the hospital longer than expected. When the doctor came in he ordered a chest x-ray and breathing test, and it was determined quickly that he had bacterial pneumonia. Blaine was shocked. He'd only come down with a cold the day before. The doctor explained that his form of pneumonia developed quickly and had more severe symptoms, but it was easily treatable with antibiotics. Because of how sick he seemed, the doctor decided to admit him for the night to observe him to make sure he didn't get any worse. Kurt was upset, but Blaine was relieved he was going to get better.
Once they settled him in a room a nurse came in to put an IV in him. Kurt was weak and barely able to stay awake, but his eyes widened at the thought of a tube in his arm.
"Blaine," he pleaded. "Don't make me get one, please. I'm too tired. I hate it here." Blaine was willing to trade places with Kurt just for the sake of him not having to get stuck with the needle. They both weren't fond of the hospital, but Kurt couldn't stand everything about it. He had to calm him down before he got all worked up.
"Hey," he began, "it's okay. Squeeze my hand. It'll be over in just a second. And then you can go to sleep. This stuff will help you feel better." Kurt tensed up and whined loudly as the nurse stuck the needle into the back of his hand. "Kurt, it's okay. It's almost over. Relax, I'm right here." Kurt slowly calmed down and laid back on the thin, white pillow. "There you go. You're all done." The nurse stuck two little tubes in his nostrils and hooked it around his ears.
"That's to help him breathe," the nurse told Blaine. "Let him get settled and hopefully he'll rest. The antibiotic we gave him should make him tired, and sleep is the best thing for him. I'll come check on him in about thirty minutes to see how he's doing."
"All right," Blaine said. "Thank you." The nurse left and Blaine turned his focus back to Kurt.
"I don't want to be here," he complained. "Take me home." Blaine stroked his hair and held onto his hand.
"Shh," he soothed. "It's okay. You'll be feeling better soon, I promise. I'm gonna stay with you the whole time. You won't be alone." Everything had moved so fast. He went from the waiting room of the ER to being admitted and diagnosed with pneumonia in half an hour. Kurt was normally so healthy. Blaine never expected him to be ill with something so serious. Hopefully he would only have to stay in the hospital for one night, though.
"I want to talk to my dad," Kurt mumbled. Blaine hadn't thought of that. He pulled out his phone. "No, not now. Too tired. Later."
"We'll call him later," Blaine repeated. "Just relax. We'll be back home in no time. You're gonna be okay." He tucked the thin blanket snugly around him and kissed his cheek. Kurt was obviously exhausted, but he was fighting to stay awake. Eventually his mouth fell open, and his breathing slowed. He had been taking in quick, short breaths, so whatever they were giving him was already in effect. Kurt's fingers curled around his hand, and Blaine watched over him in his half-asleep state. He didn't look good at all, and he couldn't imagine how bad he was feeling.
After several minutes Kurt's hand went limp in his. Blaine told him he wouldn't leave him, but he wanted to run back to the apartment. They had left in such a rush Blaine hadn't thought to grab a phone charger or anything important. But what if Kurt woke up and needed something? No, Blaine was staying by his side no matter what. He knew how much being in the hospital scared him. Blaine looked at him, curled up on his side, fast asleep. He wished he could just fix him so he wouldn't need to stay in the hospital. He was willing to do anything to make him better.
Author's Notes:
Oh my goodness. This took me forever to write. When I got the prompt for it I really liked the idea so I got started right away, but I had to start over like three times. I really hope you liked it. I tried to be as medically accurate as I could, and the website I used said bacterial pneumonia symptoms could show up in as little as 24 hours. So if it seems kind of fast-paced, I was just basing it off of the websites I used.
I'm not updating my other story today, but I'm working on a chapter for tomorrow! I'm doing my best to write and update quickly, but I also want to take time to edit thoroughly and make sure it's not just something I threw together. I might not get to update this story a couple of days this week. But I am going to do my best to post everyday. If you give me prompts I will hopefully write them as soon as I can.