Chapter 14-Sickness Over Time

Beni:

It had only been three days since my asshole of a former coworker (Lacy called and said he got fired) injected whatever the hell was in that syringe into my system. Unfortunately I have yet to properly look at my blood. It wasn't that I didn't have the right equipment or didn't know how, or was to lazy. My microscope was sitting on top of the kitchen table with slides of my blood samples under the lenses, but I was physically unable to stop coughing long enough to actually take a good look.

The sneezing had started yesterday. I had been sneezing every ten seconds for about and hour, and apparently that was enough to make Bucky confine me to my room with none of my notes (They were all on paper, I was paranoid and didn't put them in my laptop), so I sat here with my laptop, some water, and a ridiculous amount of movies and books so I could keep myself entertained. And since I kept getting either too hot or too cold, I wore a long sleeved shirt and a pair of boxers.

Over the coughing, sneezing, and sore throat because of said coughing, I felt physically worn out. I was not my usual happy self that I tried to be. I'm a mix of an optimist and a realist, so I always try to find at least something good in real life. But being sick, the only perk was unlimited Netflix and food in bed. And no working. After what happened, I didn't really feel like going back there at the moment. It would just remind me of Levi and his crazed smile that sent shivers down anyone's spine if they looked long enough.

I groaned as I sneezed yet again, knocking the laptop out of my lap and onto the floor. I caught it about a split second before it landed on the ground, which was surprising. My reflexes had never been that fast. But I didn't have much time to think about it because Bucky decided to walk in.

He stopped in the doorway, looking at me with a confused expression. I was not surprised, considering I was halfway off the bed with my laptop two inches off the ground. I sneezed again, almost dropping the damned thing again, before I finally managed to sit back up without his help. And even if he did want to, he couldn't. Bucky had a tray that had a bowl of steaming, chicken noodle soup with a towel thrown over his shoulder. Although I felt sick to my stomach, the starvation overpowered it, so I gratefully took the soup with a thanks.

"How do you feel?" he asked, taking my discarded laptop, closing it, and putting it on my nightstand.

"Like I got hit by a car driven by that green blob off of that mucus commercial we always make fun off," I replied. I was annoyed t how nasally my voice sounded, because with it being stuffed like this, I either sounded two octaves lower or two octaves higher that my usual voice. I had to turn into a mouth breather, and that made eating kind of weird because I was inhaling it instead of taking it slow. I almost choked on my first spoon full because I was inhaling and almost got some of the liquid part in the wrong pipe. That sent me into a coughing fit, but thankfully I didn't spill anything. I did not want another fiasco like the laptop a few minutes prior.

Bucky just chuckled and ruffled my slightly messy hair and sat down in a chair beside my bed. He had been nice enough to call work and told them I was to sick to come, and apparently to sick to call in work. Lacy kept texting me, and I kept telling her I was fine, but I could see why she was worried. Hell, I was starting to get emotionally exhausted from worrying.

"Do you need anything else?" he asked, leaning forward and checking my forehead with his real hand. He frowned slightly and squeezed a thermometer under my arm.

"My notes?" I tried. He shook his head.

"No. You're sick."

"So. That hasn't stopped me before."

"You're right. That's why I'm here."

"Uuuuuggghh."

If I didn't have the soup I would have flopped down on my pillow, but I was only half way done, and I knew Bucky was here to make sure I ate all of it. So that's exactly what I was going to do. But his soup was really good-better than anything I had ever tasted.

"Good Lord, Chewbacca, this tastes like it was made by Jesus," I said. He chuckled slightly and took the thermometer back. Then he frowned.

"You have a temp of 108."

"In...Celsius?" I asked hopefully. He shook his head and I groaned.

"You need a doctor."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I've had enough of doctors and what if they find out about the shit going through my blood, huh? I don't wanna be a lab rat. Well in this case lizard, but you the point."

Before he could counter, my cell rang. I groaned again at the sound. It seemed louder than normal, even though it was turned up only half way. He raised an eyebrow as I looked at the caller ID.

It was Sam.

"Hello?" I said with a sigh.

"Beni? God, you sound awful."

"Thanks," I said sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed."

"Well I heard you were sick, so I was calling to ask if you needed me to come over and help you out a bit."

"Thanks, but that job is taken by my friend Rupunzel. I really appreciate it, though."

"No problem. It was actually Steve who made me call. I personally don't wanna go over there and get what you have."

"Totally feeling the love right now. Well tell Steve I said thanks."

"What about me? I'm the one who called."

"Go screw yourself."

"Love must really hurt."

"Goodbye, Sam. I might text you tomorrow."

I hung up before Sam could say bye, and Bucky took my now finished soup away. I thanked him again and stretched, feeling a familiar, not so nice feeling.

"Oh, geez," I said. I somehow made it to the bathroom (With Bucky's help of course) before throwing up what I just ate. It tasted amazing going in, but it did not taste fine going out. Bucky stood there holding my hair back and patting my back as I kneeled over the toilet for the next five to ten minutes. When I was done Bucky handed me a glass of water for me to rinse the puke out of my mouth. Then he carried me to my bed and pulled the covers over me before I could protest.

I was really glad he cared. If he didn't then he wouldn't have held my hair back, and you can always tell if you have a good friend when they do that.

"Hey, Bucky?"

"Yeah?" He said, turning around slightly.

"Thanks for...For everything you've done the past few days. I really appriciate it."

"No problem, Beni," He said, giving me a warm smile. "Just get some rest."

I nodded and yawned while he shut off the light and closed my door.

It wasn't long before I fell into a PTSD-induced sleep, but it was better than nothing.