His ears perked up as shuddering breaths made their way through his thoughts. He peeked into the bathroom, eyes landing on her slightly shivering frame in front of the toilet. He didn't know what to say, but he doubted that she would hear him. She didn't even seem to notice his presence right now. Natsu kneeled a few feet behind her and watched her back move as she breathed. He took in the goosebumps on her legs, the clenched fists, and deep breaths. Before he could stop himself, a hand raised and softly squeezed a shoulder.
Had she not been focusing so much on herself, Lucy would've jumped at the contact. She felt the warmth he radiated and it was nice on her skin, yet it didn't help her stomach. It barely registered that Natsu was touching her ever so gently. His tender squeeze helped her a lot to tell her that she wasn't alone in the room suffering and that he was ready to help when she needed it.
She needed to clean up, but she was too weak to get from the shower to bed let alone changed by herself. Her face flushed at the thought of needing Natsu's help to wash her. She couldn't just stay in her clothes while he helped her shower because they smelled and they'd be too hard to take off as weak as she was. Trying to conserve her vanity was only going to make things worse in the long run. She tried to keep her heartbeat down, but for a different reason this time. She had to bite the bullet and do this. She would just have to swear Natsu to secrecy and hope he didn't forget to keep his mouth shut.
"Natsu...I need your help..." She sat up as best as possible, feeling his hand pull away. Cold replaced the lack of contact. She tried to meet his eyes and failed. Her face was a permanent red, but she figured he'd attribute it to her being sick. "Can you get me my pack please?"
"No problem." He stood and hurried to the main room; happy to be able to do something. He yanked her bag off the floor and headed straight back. He set it before Lucy and headed for the door, hand on the knob.
"Natsu...wait..." She refused to look at him as she tried to formulate her words. "I need to see a doctor about what's wrong with me... Could you send Happy to the lobby and see what he can find out and then come back?" She waited until his exit before quietly removing her clothes. She grabbed a nearby towel, sat on the tub lip, and waited in embarrassment. She was trying to not make her condition worse, but just knowing what was about to take place was making her heart thunder and she didn't need that right now. She kind of hoped he hurried because she was starting to freeze with nothing but her short hair to keep her warm. The towel definitely wasn't helping.
Natsu relayed the message and watched Happy fly off. He turned for the bathroom after the main door clicked shut. "Okay Lucy, Happy is -" Everything halted in a split second and he dumbly blinked. His eyes fixed upon a bare back and blonde hair covering most of her face. What he could see was bright red. The second Natsu's brain recognized that Lucy was stark naked with her back meeting his eyes, his brain snapped and went into panic mode. Her being sick totally didn't register right now. A hand slapped over his eyes as he took a retreat step backward. "AH! I'm sorry! Don't kill me!"
Had she felt better, Lucy would have been amused at the amount of conditioning Natsu had received from her about this situation. He had snuck in her apartment at the wrong times so much and had been punished every time that he now was assuming the worst. She tried not to smile. "It's okay... I – I need your help Natsu..." She mumbled, refusing to meet his eyes. "I don't have the strength to do this by myself." She weakly clutched the towel draped over her front. There was silence and she could sense tension in the air. She forced herself to meet his eyes. "Please Natsu..." The cold of the tub was biting into her legs and the air met her back and she tried not to shiver, but was losing the battle.
This whole situation was really weird to put it mildly. He had waited for the other shoe to drop until their eyes met...then Natsu could see she was serious. He wondered if she had sent Happy away for this reason. He was well aware that he was beet red, even though this wasn't the first time he'd seen more than necessary due to walking in on her at her apartment or whenever her clothes got damaged during battle. "You're...not going to punch me, right?"
Her head shook. She clutched the towel to her a little more to keep warm. "I won't punch you." She quietly echoed. Just sitting like this to try and keep her balance was already wearing her down. Sitting upright in and of itself wasn't helping either. "I'll tell you what to do so don't worry."
He still didn't buy her words for another moment. This had NEVER happened between them and this felt like an out of body experience that someone other than him was going through. But the reality of how ill Lucy was hit him like a ton of bricks when the slight trembling she had been doing the last few minutes turned up another notch. Of course she would be cold considering that she was naked, but Natsu didn't think it was as simple as that. She must have a fever too if her whole body was trembling like it was. His ears could easily hear her breathing affected by the shivering and he finally conceded. Trying to get his face to go back to its normal tone, he looked away with a quick nod. "All right..."
Lucy had to give Natsu serious credit for the situation despite the huge amount of tension in the room. He did exactly what she said, deftly followed her instructions, was really gentle with her, and did a great job. He was oddly mature the whole time and made no side comments as he helped her dress. She noted that his face would flare up a bunch of times from beginning to the end, but so had hers.
It was nice to finally leave the bathroom, but doing so presented a new challenge. There was only one bed, somewhat small at that, and only chairs and a table as the remaining furniture. Lucy didn't want to make Natsu sleep on the floor or huddle up in the chairs all night. She got all the way to the bed, with help of course, and got under the covers before making up her mind. She scooted to the corner and met Natsu's eyes. "Natsu...why don't you take the other half?"
He blinked a few times before what she was saying registered. "Nah, I'm good. You're sick; you should take it."
"It's not like you haven't crashed in a bed I've been in before. I'll be fine. There isn't anywhere else that's comfortable for you to sleep in."
His arms crossed. "It's not the first time I've taken the floor from something like this. No big deal. Just get some sleep." He flashed her a thumbs up to help his case.
Lucy could see that she wasn't going to win against chivalry here. When Natsu had made up his mind, there was no getting around it. She could be the same way sometimes, but she was too tired and sick to argue right now. Trying to do so would only use up valuable sleep time. "Okay..." She laid down and took a minute to find a comfortable position. "Thanks for everything Natsu."
He smiled at her and gave her shoulder a light pat. "Don't mention it. You get some sleep while I go and find out where Happy is." He waited till she nodded in understanding before he grabbed the room key and headed out. It wouldn't be a comfortable night's rest, but maybe he could grab a few blankets and pad the floor a little. Still, he had it easy compared to his poor friend.
All was quiet in the main area, but it was evening and Natsu wasn't expecting a crowd. He looked for Happy, but didn't see a shred of blue anywhere so he headed for the attendant. "Excuse me. Did a blue cat come down here not that long ago and ask about a doctor?"
"Yes sir. There is one nearby and he said he'd head out looking for her. I drew him a map and he headed out maybe ten minutes ago."
Yosh...then hopefully Happy would manage to bring one back soon. Natsu decided to head back to the room in case Lucy needed him. Happy was way ahead of him and thus it made no sense for Natsu to go to the same place just because he didn't want to wait around. He just needed to put some faith in that Happy would find the doctor and manage to convince her to come at this hour to take a look at Lucy. He mentally kept his fingers crossed that it happened. If Lucy needed him to clean her, she was in bad shape!
His face burned all over again, eyes burning holes into the floor. Never in a million years would he have imagined giving Lucy a sponge bath! He knew how she felt about such a thing, though he didn't understand it, and he usually kept a respectful (yet fearful) distance. That and she was REALLY scary when she was mad! He had a feeling that no matter how hard he tried not to think about tonight, it was only going to pop up in his thoughts all the more. He had a feeling this may end up being a long night...
He fumbled with the blankets he was given and unlocked the door. He tiptoed in and tried to close the door as silently as possible. He didn't need to worry about the darkness as his keen eyes did a good job of using the low light to his advantage. It also showed him the disheveled covers of an empty bed. He quickly scanned the room. "Lucy?" He tossed the covers in a corner of the room when the first retch met his ears. He hurried into the bathroom, pausing in the dark. He could only stand there and listen and worry...what else could he do?
'Man, this is bad...this is three times already! It's not even midnight yet!' He was torn between hunting down the doctor himself and staying there to support her. What was going on with her? She mentioned river water, but how would just drinking it make her sick? He drank from rivers all the time and he was fine!
He waited till the tell-tale sign of her unsteady breathing took over; a sign that she managed to take control and was pretty much done. He quietly walked in and helped her to stand in the same way as before. He helped her to the sink to clean up and then walked her to bed without words.
She sunk into the mattress, practically out already. "Thanks N -"
He put a finger over her lips. "You don't need to keep thanking me idiot. That's what I'm here for. Try to get some sleep. Happy is bringing a doctor right now."
He stood there until she fell asleep and then went to lay out his makeshift bed. He got everything as good as it was going to be and got changed to sleep. He lay there, arms behind his head, marveling at how the day turned out and wondering if they'd be able to even head home tomorrow. He hoped that Happy got back soon! Silence descended, but his mind was in turmoil. This waiting was killing him, but he kept telling himself to be patient. Lucy wasn't over this sickness and if he left to find the doctor then she'd be all alone to deal with it by herself for however long he would be gone for. That was unforgivable; he didn't want to let her suffer by herself if he could help it.
Minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Natsu bolted up to get it, mentally crossing his fingers that it was the doctor. If not, the person on the other side of that door was going to get a fiery earful if Lucy woke up! Not that he noticed her stir when he crossed the room however...
He yanked the door open and there stood Happy with an elderly woman. He gave a relieved smile and stepped aside to let them in. He headed over to Lucy's bed and gently shook a shoulder, feeling a little bad at having to do so. "Lucy." She groaned and mumbled something unintelligible. "Lucy, you have to wake up. The doctor is here."
The word 'doctor' made her peek an eye open. She slowly sat up, squinting as the light was turned on. She managed a slight nod to the doctor. The woman walked up to Lucy and put two fingers under her chin to feel for a pulse. The room was quiet for a while as the doctor poked at her a bit.
Natsu sat in the corner of the room, one leg bouncing in anticipation as he watched. The doctor was silent as she worked and it took all of his will to not jump up and shake a diagnosis out of her. When the doctor asked a question, he supplied just one answer before Lucy could speak up and received a glare that spoke of a real threat of punishment. He wisely kept quiet after that. But he was still antsy, albeit tired, for a release from the situation and to get Lucy back to normal.
The doctor kneeled and rummaged in her bag, pulling out a few small envelopes, some powders, and a bowl. She poured the contents in the bowl and then separated the contents into the envelopes. When done, she handed them all to Lucy. "Take one of these now and then every two hours until you run out. Make sure to get plenty of sleep. If you can keep any food down, stick to light soups and rices. Don't eat any thick foods or meats unless you want a repeat of your evening." The doctor turned and stared at Natsu. "You boy!"
He immediately sat up straight. "Yes!"
"Go get this young girl a glass of water. A small one!"
He jumped up, again happy to be able to do something. He hurried back and handed over the needed item, then took up his seat again.
The doctor finally left and Lucy settled back into bed. The medicine didn't make any immediate difference, much to her disappointment. The room quieted down and Lucy listened to Natsu get comfortable on the floor, somewhat feeling bad that she had the entire bed. There wasn't even a second pillow she could give him! "Natsu?"
"Ah?"
"Good night."
"G'night."
"Good night Happy."
"Good night Lucy. I hope you get better soon."
She smiled and agreed. Not long after, she gratefully passed out again. Her rest was not that good however. She stirred a few times, but thankfully fell right back asleep. It was still night when she woke up again. The same ominous rolling in her gut called for her to get up, but she really didn't want to. The bed was warm and she didn't want to get all chilled again from the cold floor. But she didn't have an option and if she stayed in bed, she'd soil it. She threw the covers off her and hurried to the bathroom, not trying to be quiet. She didn't have the luxury. She made it with seconds to spare and fell to her knees as the familiar contractions started.
Natsu jolted awake as noises met his ears. Half asleep, he stood with fire ready in one hand, before the light showed him an empty bed and open bathroom door. He fully woke up and hurried to the noise. A hand scrubbed his face to try and keep him awake as he leaned against the bathroom doorway, grimacing. Never had he felt so powerless. If Lucy was being attacked physically, he could step in and take over any damage she might receive. In this case, his fire would only make things worse and burn her. All he could do was be there for her and support her.
After agonizing minutes, she took control back again and did the same breathing patterns. The same warm, strong hands gently helped her to stand and get her back to bed without a word. She started to get comfortable and stopped. "Natsu, how long have I been asleep for? What time is it?"
"It's only been an hour and a half since the doctor left."
Lucy groaned. "I suppose maybe I did get some sleep... Can you get me some water and another envelope? I'll just take my medicine now."
Natsu provided the materials and took them back when Lucy was done. She fell quickly asleep, sleeping a little better than before. It was still night when she woke up again though. Natsu helped her just as he always had; a strong, silent presence. She was so grateful that he was here. She had no clue what would happen if she had to deal with this by herself. She took another envelope and passed out again. She had one more episode just as the barest traces of dawn came through the window.
Lucy settled into the bed again, utterly exhausted. Before Natsu could get too far to his own section of the room, she grasped his wrist. "I'm sorry you lost so much sleep because of me Natsu."
His mouth opened to rebuke her, but he stopped when he smelled tears glinting in the poor light. His mouth snapped shut. Before he could stop himself, his hand wiped her face dry. He gave her a little smile as his hand returned to his side. "Idiot. Don't say such things. You worry about getting better."
She was feeling better and the span in between every time she was forced to get out of bed was lengthening. She only hoped that the episodes were finally done and she could get some real rest. She nodded and fell asleep almost instantly.
Lucy was fast asleep, but Natsu wasn't. He stared at the hand he had used to wipe the tear away, still wet. He could smell the salt from her tear and feel the cold as the air attempted to dry it. He stared at it for the longest time, unblinking, before it went behind his head with the other. He quietly sighed and closed his eyes.