7 Days & 7 Nights: Tea, safety and family
Ch 7
As Larry watched the teen's face he was certain of two things.
One: The medicine that they'd given the Pharaoh was in full effect and he was seriously high.
Two: This somehow was the most coherent the young King had been all night, a sad testimony to the nights traumatizing events.
The suddenness with which the Pharaoh had stopped struggling against his pain had been unsettling, but with Sacagawea's knowledgeable words Larry finally allowed himself to relax for the first time that night. Seeing the pain leave the teens eyes sent waves of relief crashing over him.
As Larry met the Egyptian's gaze he could see how extremely dilated Ahk's pupils were, the drugs causing them to create large black orbs surrounded by disks of hazel.
His heart clenched at Ahkmenrah confession however, the words spoken softly and without guard. While they may never know exactly what he'd experienced while he was away, Larry's imagination was helpfully supplying images of the teen being trapped and suffering.
"Ahkmenrah, I'm so sorry...we've got you now, just relax and go to sleep Your Highness."
Ahk swallowed thickly and blinked lazily at Larry's words, before trying to take in his surroundings drunkenly. Finally settling on the Roman and Western, the two had worked their way onto the mattress and next to the Pharaoh's side, Ahk took a shuddering breath slowly.
"W's sc'rd…b'rnin n' fire...w's 'lone." The Pharaoh said again weakly, just above a whisper, his words barely legible.
"I know buddy, try not to think about that right now." Larry said, running a hand through the Kings sweat drenched hair.
"Ahky we're all here, you're not alone partner we're takin' care of ya. Don't be scared now, we gotcha." Jed said without missing a beat either.
Ahkmenrah clenched his eyes shut, "No.." he said almost adamantly, as if he was trying to shake his head clear. "Was scared...h'rd you..talking..but.." he stopped and clenched his eyes shut. "Felt fire..burning me…can't think straight." he ended softly.
Jed stepped forward and patted the Egyptian's shoulder, fighting to keep his emotions in check.
"That's right partner, and I'll always be there ready ta call you back if you get lost again. The medicine is just making you sleepy, don't fight it pal."
"Are you in any pain now my liege?" Octavius chimed in equally as softly, seeing the Egyptians slightest grimace.
The teen took another deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I…feel..hot..s'better though…"
Larry who was sitting against the back of the couch with the drugged and injured Egyptian lying limp against his chest, awkwardly reached down and removed the cloth the teen had on his forehead before passing it to Teddy. He was still extremely fevered, he just hoped the teen would pass out soon and they'd be able to ride the remaining 4 hours our uneventfully.
Teddy came back with the cloth cold again, along with another mug of tea from Sacagawea.
This drink contained just a spoonful from the previous mug mixed with the ibuprofen and the normal ginger tea. Sacagawea was hoping that the extremely diluted mix would be enough to gently nudge the teen into sleep while also bringing his very high fever down. Then she could properly treat his burns with the new first aid kit she'd retrieved. She stepped forward to take a seat at the foot of the bed, her gentle hand resting on the youth's knee.
Nodding to Teddy as he took the cool cloth Larry gently wiped the parts of the teen's face that were uninjured with it before draping it across his forehead. Ahkmenrah took another shuddering breath only to let it out in a sigh which reverberated against the Guard.
Larry motioned to Teddy with his mostly free hand to come closer with the mug until he was also sitting on the mattress at the teen's other side. He then spoke quietly, trying not to startle the teen who seemed to be conscious but in a drugged and feverish daze, eyes squinting before clenching shut he would try to move, or shake his head. The fever was obviously still affecting him and making him uncomfortable.
"Ahk? You still with us bud? Can you drink a bit more of that tea? It'll help bring your fever down and make you cooler" Larry tried.
The Pharaoh hummed in confirmation but when Teddy attempted to get the King to drink from the mug, he refused to. Ahkmenrah wouldn't move except to try and turn away from the drink.
Jed tried to get his attention." Common Ahky, ya feelin' better ya said? Just take a few sips, and it'll make you feel even better!"
The King groaned pitifully at Jed as Larry tried to sit the teen up a bit, Teddy reached forward to rake a hand through the Pharaohs hair comforting him, letting him adjust to the new angle.
"Common Son, just drink a bit of it for now then you can rest again." The Former President tried to bargain.
Ahkmenrah mumbled something unintelligible to Teddy, Sacagawea or Larry but Octavius caught the words easily.
"He said he's too hot, I believe My Liege. Can we cool the beverage?"
Sacagawea nodded and retrieved the mug from Teddy, who smiled sweetly to her reassuringly as she flashed him a guilty look. After all, none of them had thought about it, he must've downed the first mug simply due to thirst.
When she returned having ran cold water over the outside of the mug until the contents were cool as well, she handed it over to Teddy again.
"Thank you Miss." He said taking it from her before using his free hand to cup the Pharaohs very warm neck. "Your Highness, the medicine is cold now and mighty refreshing I believe. Try to take a sip for us?"
The Egyptian managed a miniscule nod and even tried to lean forward, albeit unsuccessfully.
Larry held him sit up a bit more and spoke comforting words while he sipped from the mug. Teddy kept his hand on the Pharaoh's neck to steady Ahk as he strained, but managed to finish it. When he was done Sacagawea took the mug back and went to refill the mug with water in case he woke later.
When she returned Larry was slipping out from behind the nearly dozing teen so that Teddy and he could lay the King down properly. As they moved him Ahk's eyes remained closed and while his breathing hadn't even out to indicate sleep, the pain lines on his face had smoothed.
Once he was settled Teddy and Larry resumed their positions on the edges of the mattress.
While Sacagawea sat by his hip. She then reached forward to wipe the Pharaohs face and uninjured areas of his arms with a cool damp cloth she had before she began to apply burn cream she'd gotten from the first aid kit. As he gently smoothed the balm she noted that his skin was already cooling down having gone from startlingly hot to warm.
After she was done she wiped her hands clean on a cloth provided by Teddy as Ahkmenrah opened his eyes again. He seemed to struggle to do so this time, and tried to catch the woman's hand before she withdrew it.
Sacagawea paused and picked up his offered palm.
He swallowed thickly, watching her as she held his warm hand.
"...you...remind me of my Mother…miss her..." He said quietly before his eyes drifted shut again, surely a drug and exhaustion induced confession. The loving smiling blossomed across her face was just as unguarded as she stroked the top of his hand with her thumb.
"That's very sweet of you Ahkmenrah, I'm honored to be associated with a woman who would raise such a wonderful person as you." She stroked the side of his cheek once with her knuckles. "Sleep now Ahkmehrah, we will watch over you while you rest." Teddy spoke softly, while Larry carded a hand through the teens wild hair.
After a few breaths he started and asked "Octavius..n'...Jed?"
The two miniatures had moved to the arm of the couch while the teen was being moved and now with Larry's help returned to the mattress and had climbed their way to sit on the pillow next to Ahk.
"We're right here my liege. We have taken up post and will guard you while you recover." The Roman General promised solemnly.
"That's right partner, we ain't going nowhere anytime soon, you just close them eyes and let the medicine do its job now." Jed reassuringly said while taking a seat on a fluffed up crease of the pillow next to Ahk's head, Oct joining him soon after.
As Ahkmenrah begun to follow his new families advice and stopped fighting the medicine he also started to truly relax and let himself drift away, finally free from pain and safe.
His breathing evened out, he even managed a yawn, and seemed to melt into the pillows and bedding. After awhile his breaths became deep and rhythmic until the others were sure he was asleep.