Forever Has to Start Somewhere

Chapter 14: The Substitute

Brody took one step into the room and then stopped. "Jesse. You are wearing a surgical mask."

"It's flu season," Jesse defended. "I can't risk getting sick and having something happen to my voice."

"I could understand wearing the mask outside, but you're in our room," Brody declared. Overcoming his surprise at the sight of Jesse sitting on his bed with a surgical mask over his face and his laptop in his lap, he tossed his dance bag into the corner and walked into the room.

"Half of your ballet class is out sick," Jesse deadpanned.

"How do you even know that?"

"Details." Jesse shrugged. "You should be more careful too, you know. Do you know what illness can do to a dancer's body?"

"Yes actually. Because I've been sick before and I recovered as people tend to do," Brody said. He leaned back against the dresser on his side of the room. "Does your girlfriend know you're this crazy?"

Jesse's lips pursed. He looked up from his laptop to meet Brody's eyes and the dancer was surprised to see the faint trace of anger in his eyes. Jesse said, "Rachel had laryngitis last year. She spent a week without her voice and it was the single most terrifying experience of her life. I absolutely refuse to risk making her feel even half of the hopelessness I felt back then."

Brody felt a spike of guilt shoot down his spine.

He didn't talk to Rachel a whole lot, but even he could tell how much her singing meant to her. He also knew how exactly how much Jesse cared for Rachel.

He couldn't imagine watching someone he loved lose something that meant that much to them.

"Oh. Fuck, I'm sorry, Jess. I didn't mean to bring up a bad memory."

Jesse stared at him for another moment. He sighed after a moment. "No. I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just been a rough day."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"There's not really anything to talk about," Jesse dismissed. "Rachel's glee instructor went home with a fever bad enough that he was hallucinating so I'm worried about Rachel. Half this campus is coughing on every surface or puking their guts out so I'm worried about myself. And I still have three papers to write and a performance on Wednesday before I can even consider packing for Thanksgiving break."

"Oh." Brody searched for something to say. He came up with, "That really is a shitty day."

Jesse let out a shocked laugh. "For sure."

"Have you heard about this tater tot thing?" Adam questioned.

Jesse raised an eyebrow at the blonde as he flopped into the seat beside Jesse. "What tater tot thing?"

"Apparently McKinley's principle banned tater tots and Mercedes is leading some sort of rebellion," he said. "Kurt's been talking about it all week."

"No," Jesse said with a shake of his head. "Rachel's been a bit more concerned about the substitute taking over glee club and I've been a bit too concerned with trying to keep us both healthy despite the distance."

Adam glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. He pointed at the surgical mask over Jesse's face, "Is that what is about?"

"You know, the mask was actually the first thing Brody said to me. You are surprisingly calm about it."

"I've had Kurt talking to me about a tater tot rebellion," Adam repeated. "I don't think anything else I see this week will top that insanity."

"Mm." Jesse's lips curled up in a smirk even though he knew Adam couldn't see it. "You and Kurt have been talking then?"

"Yes. You were right about us getting along."

"I'm right about most things." Jesse faced forward again. He pressed his lips together as he stared at the stage. "What do you think the chances are that I'll get sick in the few minutes it takes for me to perform my number?"

"I think there's a one hundred percent chance you're being overly dramatic about this whole thing," Adam said. "But I'm sure you have your reasons. So...slim? Even if someone here sneezes or coughs, I doubt the germs would make it all the way up to you on the stage."

"Noted."

Rachel stared at Jesse with her lips pursed and a look in her eye that made it clear what she was about to say.

"Don't," Jesse croaked. He was sat on his bed with his blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders and a half empty box of tissues next to his knee. "Brody already gave me a whole speech about how this was karma for taking things too far and Adam laughed at me for a solid five minutes when he saw me."

"I'm sorry," Rachel said. "How are you feeling?"

"Horrible," Jesse answered. "I can't breathe out of my nose and I feel like there's something stuck in my throat."

"What'd the doctor say?"

"It's just a cold. He gave me some antibiotics." He mustered up a weary smile. "As long as I take them, I'll be better by the time I fly out to see you this weekend."

Her lips turned up in a soft smile. "How long are you going to be here?"

"Two weeks," Jesse said.

A look that was equal parts shock and joy crossed her face. It made Jesse feel a little better.

"How?" she demanded. "I thought you only had three days for Thanksgiving!"

"The school does. I managed to convince my professors that attending sectionals would be a beneficial for my education. They're going to email me my classwork for that week."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know. But I wanted to and the opportunity was there."

Anything else she was going to say was interrupted by Jesse falling into a coughing fit.

When he recovered, Rachel said, "You should sleep. It'll help."

"Mm….Sing me to sleep?"

"Sure."

There was a moment of silence as Jesse tossed the tissues onto the floor and rearranged himself. He settled down with his head on his pillow and his laptop on his nightstand.

"Text Brody to turn off my laptop when he comes in," he said.

"I will. Are you ready then?"

He nodded.

She drew a small breath before beginning, "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun."

Jesse let his eyes drift shut as her voice washed over him and lulled him into sleep.

E/n: This one had less to do with the actual events of the episode and more to do with Jesse just hating flu season which takes place during the episode kinda? Hopefully you guys still like it. It's a bit shorter then usual.

Also, I hope no one minds the daily updates? Originally I was only going to update every other day but I enjoy writing this and Meet Cutes Are Better the Second Time (my claringberry fic u should check out bc i love it) so much and I don't really have any other hobbies that I end up writing this in the mornings and Meet Cute in the evenings.

Song used: A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins). Not technically a lullaby but Rach would make it work i think.

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