For the next hour or so, Steven did his best to tend to his guardians. He cleaned up Pearl's vomit and, in case she threw up again, moved her onto the couch, rolled her onto her side, and placed an empty bucket on the ground next to her head (he learned this technique from an episode of Under The Knife). He also placed an icepack on each of the Gem's foreheads and even started a pot of tea on the stove. By the time the Gems began to stir, the house smelled strongly of mints.

"Ugh," Pearl was the first to rise, clutching her head. "Steven?"

"Try and relax, Pearl," Steven said, placing a cup of tea next to her. "And there's a bucket if you get sick again."

"Sick ag-?" Pearl's frayed and wrinkled cheeks blushed. "Oh dear, Steven, did I really-?"

"Yeah," he admitted, "but it's okay. I cleaned it up and everything."

"Oh my head," Amethyst rose from her spot, followed by Ruby and Sapphire. "What's that smell?"

"Here," Steven handed her a cup of tea. "I had to look the recipe up online, but I think it's exactly how Pearl makes it."

"Steven, that's very sweet of yu-yu-" Pearl was cut off by another surge of vomit, which thankfully mostly made it to the bucket.

Sapphire winced as she rubbed her single eye. "Ruby and I thought we could use our heat and frost powers to neutralize the tornado," she explained.

"Turns out unfusing in 200 mph winds was not the best idea," Ruby grumbled.

"I got hit by a cow," Amethyst muttered. "And it wasn't even funny."

Pearl staggered off the couch, trying to regain fortitude. "Well, what matters is we won. The monster is bubbled and..." Her eyes widen. "Garnet had it! Ruby! Sapphire! Did you-!"

"I got it," Steven gently pushed her back down to the couch. "It's safe in Garnet's room."

"Well, chalk another victory for the C-Gems," Amethyst said, with weak enthusiasm. She pushed herself to her feet and stumbled for the temple door. "Well, I'm going to bathe in my junk. Call me in a week or so."

"No," Steven grabbed her wrist and dragged her onto the couch, followed by Ruby and Sapphire. "You guys need to hear me out."

Once he had all their attention, Steven cupped his hands, took a deep breath, and said, "I think you guys need a break."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What? From Gem missions?"

"Exactly," Steven explained. "You've spent this entire week doing nothing but work and I think it's starting to hurt you."

Pearl rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Steven. We've been in worse situations than this. Sure, we may have gotten a few scratches, but other than that we're fi-fi-oh!"

"Here come the chunks," Amethyst chuckled as Pearl lunged for the bucket, before going back to massaging her temples with her thumbs.

"See?" Steven pointed a finger at the barfing Gem. "When's the last time Pearl barfed? Amethyst, you can barely walk. And Sapphire, you and Ruby look terrible."

Ruby sneered at this remark, but it was true. In addition to their dirty clothes and disheveled hair, both their faces were streaked with creases and wrinkles and Sapphire's half-opened eye was red and sore. She rubbed it, wincing slightly. "Well, maybe I have been a little over reliant on future vision."

"Ah, you guys are all pathetic!" Ruby grumbled. She flexed her biceps. "See? I feel like a million-ow!" She squealed and clutched her sore arm.

Steven sighed and took on a more compassionate look and tone. "Look, I know it's your duty to go on missions and fight monsters and stuff, but this is getting out of hand. You were barely home all this week. You almost got creamed during that last mission! You're working yourselves down to the Gem and it's got me worried. You need to take a break from it before you go crazy."

Taking a seat in front of them, Steven took all their hands in his. "I know why you leave me out of missions. You want me to have a life. Well, I want you all to have lives too. You're so much more than just warriors to me."

At those words, Pearl and Sapphire felt tears forming in their eyes. Ruby and Amethyst were likewise.

"Please," Steven gave them all a hopeful smile. "If you can't do it for yourselves, just do it for me."

After a moment of silence, Ruby and Sapphire got up from the couch and took each other's hands. One flash of light later and Garnet appeared, her shades gone and her eyes leaking tears. Picking up Steven, she hugged him, joined immediately by Pearl and Amethyst.

"Okay Steven. We will."