"Gideon?"
Gabriel shakily pushed himself to sit up against his concerned brother.
"Be quiet" Gideon murmured, rubbing his younger brother's back comfortingly.
"Charlotte, would you please fetch something to help him sleep?" Gideon asked softly.
She nodded and silently left.
"Hurts…please…make it stop" Gabriel moaned weakly.
"I know little brother," Gideon said quietly, hating to see Gabriel this vulnerable.
Charlotte returned, with a small glass of water. Gideon nodded his thanks and coaxed Gabriel into drinking the water.
Gabriel slowly relaxed, his eyelids slipping closed as he leaned against his brother. Gideon rhythmically rubbed between Gabriel's shoulder blades, trying to recall a time when his brother had been this fragile or needing of his older brother.
"Gideon? I think he's asleep," Charlotte observed. He nodded and laid Gabriel back down, tenderly pushing back Gabriel's tousled brown hair.
"What do you think it is?" Gideon asked as he and Charlotte stepped out into the hall.
"I don't know. It looks like a mundie disease."
"Don't Shadowhunters get fevers too? Can the Silent Brothers be called?" Gideon asked.
"Yes and no" Charlotte replied, "it doesn't seem too serious, I think the Silent Brothers can wait."
"Gideon?" Cecily softly called, as she pushed open the door to Gabriel's room, "Sophie's—"
She paused as she realized Gideon wasn't there and Gabriel was asleep. About to close the door, Cecily paused when she heard the younger Lightwood whimper and toss restlessly.
"Gabriel?" she whispered softly. She moved closer to his bed and automatically reached for the damp cloth when she saw the sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Carefully wiping it over Gabriel's forehead, Cecily started in surprise as Gabriel's slim fingers gripped her wrist.
"Cecy?"
"Nobody calls me that except for Will," she instantly winced, knowing how rude that sounded.
Gabriel weakly smiled, "where's my brother?"
"I—I—I'm not sure. Do you want me to find him?" she offered.
"No. Don't bother. Go down to dinner," he murmured, exhaustedly struggling to stay conscious.
"Are—are—are you sure? Because I can stay if you really want…I don't mind…" Cecily babbled.
As sick and tired as he was, Gabriel grinned, "No, go down" he insisted.
Dinner was a subdued affair. Charlotte picked at her food, Henry was in his crypt, Tessa and Jem were reading, Will was gone, and Gideon hadn't even touched his dinner. Cecily turned around at a slight noise at the door, glad to be distracted from the silent meal. All of her joy faded when she saw who was leaning against the doorframe.
"Gabriel!" she cried. At his brother's name, Gideon looked up in surprise, his expression slowly turning to worry.
"Gabriel, you shouldn't be out of bed!"
Gabriel was about to say something when he swayed and collapsed.
