AN:
Before the chapter starts I want to thank Ally & CrystalFeather0900 for their comments!
Poor Mitch. Ma baby - gosh, he's so good looking. O.o Atm I'm fangirling hard for Skyenja, so he has to suffer a bit more. Do you enjoy this chapter? I'm a drama queen, so be warned - it's getting so dramatic in about 5/6 chapters... *grins maliciously*
Also leave me a comment, please, I don't mind constructive critique. Remember: The more comments, the sooner the chapters will be uploaded! ;)

Music tip:
B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams - Airplanes
youtube: watch?v=NTxt7rERzm8

For You

Chapter 4:
Take a Breath

[Still flashback]

"Can somebody take us out, I can't, I'm gonna-"
The coughing started again and an annoyed Mitch turned away from the microphone. He heard Bash's voice as he rattled the known ending off, but he couldn't understand a single word. Finally the recording ended and as they returned to their Skype call, Mitch tried desperately to hold back another cough. The scratching in his throat got even worse over the last couple of minutes and he knew that something big was coming. It was hard to control it, so he began to hold his breath. For a few seconds it actually worked.

"That was so-much-fun! Great recording," Jerome laughed from one of the other rooms of the Team Crafted house, but Mitch could hear his voice only over the call. The others agreed and Bash was the first to go. "Sorry guys, have to go now. You know, the date with my beautiful-"
"Yeah Romeo, we know. Just go and leave us alone already!" Ryan interrupted him playfully and a short time later he'd said his goodbye and signed off. "But seriously man, you shouldn't have recorded," Adam started with an amused, but worried voice. "It's still pretty bad. Just rest, your fans will understand."
Mitch couldn't hold his breath any longer and so he started to breathe through his nose again. His hands were pressed on his mouth to restrain him from coughing. The scratching in his throat was troubling him and with every breath it became harder to hold back. Ryan's voice demanded his attention as he kept on struggling, "He's right, you don't sound so good, man. It's not going to get better if you force yourself."

As Mitch didn't reply they finally began to worry.
"Mitch? Buddy, you're there?"
Jerome seemed to be confused and anxious, so before they would storm into his room, Mitch removed his hands from his mouth to reply. Definitely the wrong move to make.

"I'm trying not to cough ag-"
He couldn't even finish his sentence before the coughing started again. But this time it was way worse than during the recording. One hand was balled to a fist and held in from of his mouth, the other one clutched at the table-edge. The laughter, which had started at the beginning of his forced out sentence, died down immediately, as the guys could hear the deep and painful coughs. To make it even worse it turned into a coughing fit and he let go of the table, to lean forward.

The voices from the call blurred into one and he couldn't make out a single word. He didn't even notice that Jerome and Adam had abandoned their places. Only when a hand was placed on his shoulder did he notice the other person in his room. "Adam, stop standing there and open the windows, he needs some fresh air." Jerome. The panic got weaker as Mitch heard the controlled voice directly at his side. The Bacca would fix it.

Nonetheless the situation was freaking him out.
Between two coughs he forced out a quiet "Can't breathe", as he gasped desperately for air. His headphones were removed and while Jerome put an arm around his shoulder and lifted him up, the Canadian's best friend muttered concerned, "You have to calm down, alright? Calm down and fucking breathe, Mitch."
Every cough ripped his throat apart and hurt as hell. His heartbeat was way too fast and the world around him started to spin. Another hand grabbed his free arm, strong but cautious. Adam. His other hand grabbed Mitch's and the Canadian unconsciously clung to him.

They arrived at the window and finally the coughing stopped.
For a moment the only thing that could be heard in the room was his gasping, as both of his hands grabbed Adam's hand and Jerome's shirt firmly. The cold air from the outside helped him but he still struggled a minute to breathe normally again. Jerome was the first to speak, "You okay, buddy?" By the tone of his voice Mitch could tell that his best friend was scared to death. Instead of a reply he nodded weakly and at last Jerome let go of him carefully. As soon as he began to sway the person to his right grabbed and steadied him. Adam. Of course. Mitch didn't dare to look into his face.

Jerome exchanged a glance with Adam, then began to retreat with the words "I'm getting Ian, you look after him!"
As he was gone, Adam uttered a deep sigh. "Never scare me like that again." His voice was very low and cautious, nothing like his usual tone. He sounded commanding, no, rather demanding. Mitch's flesh started to crawl, but not because of the cold. "…'m sorry," Mitch whispered and leaned against Adam's chest. Instead of breaking the brief contact, he strengthened his grip on Mitch and pulled him closer.

"Stop talking, please."
A thin smile crept on his face, as he ignored the pleading tone and stated in a low voice, "So crazy. Never had that before." Another sigh could be heard, probably because Mitch wasn't cooperating much. Even though they were so close right now – and alone – he didn't dare to say, that Adam's presence calmed him down. They had their moments before, but nothing concrete. Not yet. As Adam refused to reply, he added, "I was so scared. For a moment I thought I was going to die."

The smile had disappeared from his face, as well as the humorous tone from his voice. Mitch was shaking and pressed himself into the protective embrace, while Adam began to stroke his side. Such a simple touch had never felt so good. "It's okay, I've got you."
The words were enough to overwhelm Mitch, who had dreamed of such a quiet and intimate moment since their fateful kiss back in Germany. To stop the whimpering, he bit on his lip and buried his face on Adam's shoulder.

The peaceful moment was interrupted, as another hurtful cough ripped through his throat. Adam stopped the stroking and glanced down at the sick Canadian in his arms. Another painful sounding cough followed, as Mitch winced in his arms and put a hand on his throat. "That's it!" he heard from above, but before he could look up into Adam's hazel eyes, two strong arms lifted him up without any problem. "You get into the bed – now."

Even though his throat still hurt, Mitch couldn't hold back the wide grin on his pale face. "Wow, didn't know you were one of this type." As soon as Adam understood his words he blushed furiously. Combined with his big brown eyes, it was actually the cutest thing Mitch had seen so far. Nonetheless he tried to hold back the low chuckle, while Adam whispered outraged, "Damn it, Mitch, don't say stuff like that!"

Finally Adam lowered him onto the soft mattress, but as he wanted to get back up and let Mitch go, he grabbed Adam's shirt even tighter. "Mitch?" His voice was weak and unsure, suddenly the joke from before seemed to be all too real. Of course the Canadian had nothing like that in mind – rather the fear that was still residing in his head. He just couldn't shake it off. Not alone. Not without him.

"Please, don't go. Not yet."
His voice was barely audible, but according to Adam's sigh he heard him anyway.

"Mitch, Jerome and Ian could be back any second now, we shouldn't-"
He tried to talk him out of it, but Mitch was absolutely determined. He needed those few minutes with Adam.

"Just a few minutes. I need you right now, Adam. Please."
He still hesitated for a few moments, but he already knew that he couldn't refuse this pleading tone anything. Neither those glassy eyes. Just now, as Adam looked closely at Mitch's face, did he notice his flushed cheeks. Carefully he sat down on the bed himself and put Mitch sideways onto his lap. As soon as they both were in a comfortable position, Mitch closed his eyes and let out an exhausted sigh. He seemed to be on the verge of falling unconscious, all due to a short recording, not resting properly and a horrible coughing fit.

To be honest it scared the hell out of Adam.
"I was so scared. For a moment I thought I was going to die."
Back then Mitch hadn't been alone with that thought.

Slowly Adam laid a hand on Mitch's burning forehead to measure his temperature. "I think the fever is going up again," he muttered and put his cold hand on the hot cheeks as well. Mitch didn't answer, instead he changed his position so that his back rested against Adam's chest. "Wait, give me a second," Adam said and moved back until he felt the wooden head of the bed behind him. Carefully he moved Mitch as well, so that he could lean on him again. To make the situation less awkward, Adam sat on the bed cross-legged. Mitch meanwhile stretched his legs and closed his eyes again, as Adam continued to cool off his face.

"You feel any better?"
"…a bit. Still exhausted."
"We need to get your temperature down first then you can sleep."
"You're doing a great job so far."
"I wasn't joking, Mitch."
"Me neither."

An irritated sigh could be heard and even though the Canadian couldn't see him right now, Adam rolled his eyes. Meanwhile Mitch enjoyed the unknown feeling that was caused by their close contact. Adam's breaths were strong and regular and slowly Mitch adjusted to it. He still had to cough sometimes and it still hurt, but Adam's hands rubbing up and down his arm and his side made the pain disappear immediately.

And before the worn out Canadian could notice the two persons in the doorway, his body began to relax and he finally fell asleep in Adam's arms.

My god, I love to write about a suffering Mitch. I'm so evil. But... This way Adam can be his prince in shining armor and save him, right? ;D

Please leave a review and check out my twitter. That way you'll know when I'm about to upload a new chapter!
/Milumaus

Also check out my other Team Crafted / Skyenja fanfiction called LOVERS OF FREEDOM! It's about the current situation with Microsoft. ;) It's worth a try, believe me!