A/N: It was my original intention to take this story in a much fluffier direction, but the story had other ideas.
He must have faded off into sleep thinking about New York, because the next thing Jess knew, Luke was coming back up from the diner with a tray of food. The apartment was dark except for the light in the kitchen, so he must have been out for a few hours. He sat up, suddenly overcome by wracking coughs.
Luke put the tray down on the kitchen table and brought Jess a glass of water. He didn't like the sound of the cough, or the way Jess was pressing a hand to his side like it hurt when he coughed.
Jess gulped the water, finally stifling the coughing fit, and fell back weakly on the pillow. He could hear himself wheezing as he struggled to catch his breath. He saw Luke studying him with a worried face. He knew his uncle wouldn't feel so much concern towards him if he knew that Jess had bailed on Liz at the first chance he got, that Jess couldn't protect her, and that now there was no one there to watch out for her. He looked down, studying his hands.
"Hey, brought you some soup. It's chicken noodle."
Jess nodded, "Sounds good." It didn't sound good, nothing sounded good.
"I closed up early tonight, thought maybe we could watch a movie, you know, if you're up for it."
"Sure," Jess was suddenly aware of how strange and hot he felt. Like those wavy heat mirages in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Could a person feel like a mirage? He shook his head a little, trying to clear it.
Luke brought the tray over and set it over Jess's knees. There were saltine crackers on the plate and a glass of ginger ale. Jess thought he could maybe manage the crackers, eating a whole bowl of soup seemed like an insurmountable task. "It's my mom's recipe."
"Huh." Jess picked up the spoon and half-heartedly stirred the soup.
Luke pulled up a chair next to Jess' bed, "So, what do you want to watch?"
"Mmmph," Jess mumbled around a bite of cracker, "you choose." He hoped Luke would get into whatever he picked and turn his attention off Jess. He didn't want Luke fussing over him more than he already was, but he suspected if Luke knew how he was feeling in this moment it would open up a whole new world of fussing.
"Hmmm, well, I know you like horror, how about Alien? Or Event Horizon?"
"Alien." Jess dared a spoonful of broth. It was warm and salty. It felt good on his throat. Maybe soup was doable. He tried to ignore his burning eyes and the little popping crackles he could hear when he breathed in.
Luke started the movie, trying to watch Jess out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't put his finger on it, but Jess just didn't look right. Something about his coloring maybe, or the sound of that awful cough, or the glazed look in his eyes? Luke wasn't sure. Probably it was nothing. He had never really taken care of anyone since his Dad had been sick, and that had been so different. He tried to relax a little and let it go.
Jess managed to drink about half the broth a spoonful at a time before lifting the spoon started to feel Sisyphean. He put the spoon down and rubbed his burning eyes. Ripley and company were headed out of the Nostromo to investigate the distress call. He tried to focus on the movie. Alien was a favorite, specifically it was Liz's favorite and they had watched it all the time together when he was a kid. He felt tears well up in his eyes thinking about it. Jesus, get it together, Jess. He scrubbed at his face with his sleeves, willing the tears away.
The crew was back on the Nostromo, but things weren't looking good for Kane when the coughing started again. A low rumbling cough started from deep in Jess' chest, pitching him forward into a sitting position. His ribs and stomach muscles were so sore he had to press his hands against his sides as he coughed, and coughed, and coughed some more.
Pausing the movie, Luke got up and moved the tray of now cool soup to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. Jess's face was red and his eyes were teary from the effort as he finally managed to stop the onslaught of coughing. He took a few sips of water, his heart pounding and his breathing ragged. Just as he started to catch his breath, the coughing started again, wet and wracking. Jess coughed so hard his vision started going black around the edges and then suddenly, without warning, he threw up all the broth he had struggled to eat and the lone saltine cracker. As he dry heaved he realized Luke was there holding the trash can for him and rubbing his back.
The dry heaving finally subsided and Jess started to catch his breath again. He rubbed his streaming eyes as Luke rubbed circles on his back. When it seemed like everything had calmed down Luke helped Jess pull off his hoodie and t shirt and pulled the quilt off the bed. He returned from the laundry room quickly and brought Jess a clean tee and hoodie.
"Arms up," Luke said.
Jess complied and Luke pulled a warm long sleeve tee down over his arms and head. Luke helped him get the hoodie on and then laid Jess back gently on the pillows. He could see the veins in his nephew'a forehead standing out from the effort and he could hear him wheezing.
"Uncle Luke?" Jess's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yeah kid?"
"I'm sorry." Jess was shivering a little as the chills started again.
"It's okay, kid, You're sick, you can't help it." Luke smoothed the damp curls back from Jess' clammy forehead.
Jess looked up into Luke's eyes, "I don't feel good."
"I know, I know you don't. You're gonna be okay though." Luke tried to sound reassuring.
Jess nodded. Luke held the glass of water to his lips. "Here, try to drink some water." Jess took a few obedient sips.
Luke took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm going to take your temperature, then you're going to take some Tylenol and some of this heavy duty cough syrup and hopefully get some sleep. Does that sound like a plan?"
Jess nodded again, shivering a little as Luke slid the thermometer under his tongue. It registered 103.1. Luke tried not to think about it. "Okay, cough syrup!" He measured the sickeningly sweet smelling liquid into the little cup and helped Jess drink it. By the time he followed it with the Tylenol and chased that with some water Jess' eyelids were already drooping heavily.
"I'm sorry," Jess whispered again.
"It's okay, kid, you're okay, I've got you."
After sitting there long enough that he was sure Jess was asleep. Luke got up and started the laundry, finished the dishes, and did his usual nightly clean up around the apartment. He came back and sat by the bed for a bit, listening to the rattling sounds as Jess breathed in and the whistling sounds as he breathed out. He knew the doctor hadn't seemed all that concerned this morning and said to bring Jess back on Monday if he wasn't better, but from where he was sitting now at 10:30 on Friday night, Monday seemed pretty far away and he felt like the situation was escalating past his pay grade. Jess' fever was consistently high, but what concerned him the most, even more than the obvious symptoms, was how docile and compliant Jess had become. Not a single joke or jab all night. Not a flinch or recoil at being touched. And the kid obviously had to be beyond miserable to look his uncle in the eye and openly admit that he didn't feel good.
He paced around the apartment trying to find something to do with his nervous energy. He got another quilt out of the cupboard and spread it over Jess, tucking it around his sleeping form. Jess moaned a little in his sleep but didn't stir otherwise.
Finally, since Jess seemed to be well asleep, Luke decided to take a shower and get ready for bed. He enjoyed the hot water on his tense muscles and dressed quickly when he got out, throwing the damp towel around his shoulders. As he brushed his teeth he heard Jess coughing. Damn, he thought, I was hoping he'd get a little more sleep than that. He headed back out into the apartment to check on his nephew.
Jess was curled up in the fetal position, coughing uncontrollably. His eyes were squeezed shut as he coughed and he looked like he was in pain. Luke sat with him until the coughing stopped and helped him sip some water. He put a hand to Jess' cheek and was surprised to find he seemed even warmer than an hour ago. Jess' breathing seemed more labored as well.
"You doin' okay, kid?"
Jess didn't answer.
"Hurts to cough?"
Jess nodded.
"Hurts to breathe?"
Jess nodded again.
"Okay, I'm no doctor, but I think maybe we should go to the emergency room."
Jess opened his eyes and looked at Luke. His uncle's voice was calm but he looked worried. Jess was worried too. He had never been this aware of his own pounding heart or the effort it took to breathe. He nodded.
Realizing he was wearing his pajamas, Luke threw on a pair of jeans, some sneakers, and his jacket and grabbed his wallet and keys. He pulled Jess up to a sitting position and helped him put his shoes and jacket on. Jess seemed like he was barely able to keep his eyes open, he tried to get to his feet but was so dizzy he only got halfway to his feet before he started to stumble. Luke caught him under his arms and decided it was probably easier just to carry the younger man. He scooped Jess up and they made their way out to the truck.