Here's part 2! I was having so much fun it ended up being longer than part 1 XD I hope you enjoy!
Severide's planning had never come in handy as much as it was now, Casey face first into the trash can as he body tried to rid itself of something that wasn't even there. He had woken feeling like he hadn't even fallen asleep at all and practically fallen out of the bed, legs twisted in the sheets as he scrambled for the bin.
He had landed on his side, one leg still trapped and pulled onward the mattress by the sheet, but he was barely aware of his situation as he heaved again, a meager amount of bile and saliva coming up since he was still empty from his previous vomiting session.
Panting, Casey tried to breath through the relentless waves of nausea but failed, lurching forward with a stomach-clenching heave that caused his abdomen to ache further than it already did. The lieutenant didn't even realize that Severide had returned until his boyfriend came into view, crouching next to him as he placed a hand on his back.
"I was hoping you'd just sleep while I was gone. I guess you weren't that lucky," he said, bringing his hand up to Casey's neck where he squeezed gently.
Casey coughed and sighed, his body finally relaxing. "Ugh, make it stop," he groaned and tried to lay on his back, his arms hurting from how they held him up and frowned when he realized his leg couldn't move.
Severide gave him a pitying look. "You're a mess Matty. How'd you end up tangled in the sheets?" he said as he moved the bin aside before reaching over and pulling the sheet until Casey's leg was freed.
Casey rolled over, burying his head in his arms. "No idea."
"Hey, you can't sleep here. The bed is right next to you. Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"
Casey didn't move. "Watch me."
He heard Severide sigh, but Casey knew he wasn't annoyed. It was more amused than anything.
"Lieutenant Casey, always so stubborn." Then there were hands on his shoulders, lifting him and Casey groaned in protest. Knowing that Severide wouldn't let him sleep on the floor though, he moved his aching body and did what he could to help his boyfriend as he hauled him back in the bed.
As soon as he hit the plush mattress, he moved to curl on his side, planning to bury himself in the blankets and sleep for a week, but, once again, Severide's hands were on him.
"No sleep yet, Case. You need fluids and medicine. I think your fevers gone up- you're shaking."
Casey paused where he was laying on his back and found that he was indeed shaking, chills skittering along his spine causing goosebumps to break out across his body.
Severide reached down and helped pull Casey into a sitting position before he said, "I'll be right back with the stuff I bought. No sleeping, you hear me?"
Casey frowned but nodded when Severide stood there, waiting for the blonde to give a response. He nodded, satisfied and then left the room. Casey's eyelids grew heavy, daring him to shut them but he used the rest of his strength to keep them open. The second he shut them he'd be dozing. Thankfully Severide returned quickly, red gatorade and a box in his hands.
"I got your favourite," he said as he walked over, placing the gatorade on the table so he could open the box. Casey smiled. As much as he didn't want to drink anything at that moment, his boyfriend's actions made his chest swell.
"I also got you some tablets of pepto bismol. I think that'll help with your symptoms better than the Gravol I noticed you took earlier. I didn't think you'd want to drink the pepto right now and I saw these so…" he trailed off as he looked up and saw Casey staring at him.
"What?"
"You're cute when you're worried. Makes you ramble."
Severide smiled and his dimples showed.
"Anyway," he continued, a smile still on his face, "I was talking to the pharmacist and she said that as long as your fever isn't at 104 or above that I shouldn't give you anything to reduce it. Something about the fever is doing its job, so we'll leave that for now. But she did stress the importance of staying hydrated so you're going to drink this whole bottle of gatorade with your pill."
Casey's nose wrinkled in distaste.
"I know, I know," Severide said, "but it's important. If you get dehydrated I'm going to have to take you to the hospital and you don't want that right? I'm already disobeying Kidd since she told me to take you if anything changed."
He had a point. It wasn't a point that made Casey happy, but he'd hate it even more if he had to go to the hospital. Sighing, he sat up a bit straighter and swallowed thickly. The nausea was at bay for now, but the thought of drinking anything gave him anxiety.
"What if I just throw it right back up?"
His boyfriend picked up the trash can that was still next to the bed. "That's what this is for." When Casey didn't move he sat down on the bed and grabbed the blonde's right hand. "It'll be okay, Case. If you throw it back up, we'll deal with it. But you need to try and stay hydrated. Just take it nice and slow." He squeezed Casey's hand and Casey squeezed back.
"Okay." He nodded. "Hand me the gatorade."
Severide motioned for him to hold out his hand. When Casey did, he placed a small pink pill in his palm, handing him the gatorade in his other hand. Without giving him time to work himself up, Casey popped the pill in his mouth and washed it down with a small gulp of gatorade.
They both waited in silence for a tense moment and when Caxsey didn't speak, Severide asked, "You okay?"
Casey let out a breath. That first sip hadn't stirred any nausea. If anything, it had shown him how thirsty he actually was.
"I'm good," he said as he took another small sip.
"Good. I'm going to go clean the trash can and put the other stuff I bought away. You keep drinking that nice and slow and then when I'm back we can cuddle in bed, alright?"
"Alright," Casey echoed and took another sip, stopping himself from chugging the whole bottle right there. Now that he was drinking, his body was screaming for more. But he knew that if he let in and chugged it, it would be making a reappearance all over the bed.
It took a few moments and a lot of willpower, but the lieutenant managed to finish the whole bottle. He was just scooting down in the bed when Sev reappeared. His boyfriend smiled softly at him as he walked over to his dresser, pulling off the shirt and pants he had put on to go out before pulling on a pair of gray sweats and a blue longsleeve shirt. Then he was in the bed, rolling on his right so that he was facing Casey. He pulled the blankets up so they were up to their chins, making sure to tuck them so Casey was completely covered.
Casey blinked sleepily as Severide reached over and cupped his face with his hand. "You drank the whole bottle. That's good, Case."
"Knew you'd just threaten me if I didn't," he murmured, pushing his face into Severide's rough hand.
Sev chuckled, brushing his thumb over Casey's eyebrow before he trailed it down the blonde's face, hooking it under his jaw.
"How do you feel now? Do you still feel sick?"
The blonde gave a half shrug. "My body hurts mostly, but my stomach still doesn't feel right. I'll probably throw up again at some point."
Severide brought his hand back up to cup his cheek. "Hey, no need to worry about that now. If it happens, it happens. But you just focus on the present and getting better."
Casey nodded as his eyes slipped shut.
"Just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up," Severide said as he continued rubbing soothing circles on Casey's face, moving his hand so it ran through his hair just the way Sev knew he liked it.
Casey was getting really tired of waking up this way. He had woken up with a gasp, sweat coating his forehead as he looked at the clock and saw that it was quarter after two, only a bit over an hour since he had fallen asleep.
He sat up and groaned as nausea pooled deep in his stomach, saliva flooding his mouth.
Severide woke up with a start, either feeling Casey move or hearing him groan.
"You okay?" he asked, voice thick with sleep as he already began to sit up.
"I'm going to be sick again," Casey answered, already moving to get out of bed.
"Shit, okay, one sec." The bed creaked as Severide got up, quickly rounding the end of the bed before he was at his boyfriend's side. Wasting no time, Severide helped Casey stand before they shuffled to the bathroom. He placed Casey in front of the toilet gently before he lifted the lid and took up his position behind the blonde.
Casey leaned forward, gripping the toilet rim so tight his knuckles turned white as he swallowed but kept his mouth clamped shut.
"Come on, Case, don't do that. Just let it happen babe," Severide chastised, knowing what his boyfriend was doing.
"I'm just so tired of throwing up," Casey said, voice low as he barely opened his mouth, not trusting what would happen if he did.
Severide rubbed his hands up and down Casey's back. "I know, it sucks. But the only way to get through this is to get whatever the hell it is you swallowed in the river out."
A gag shot through him and he jerked. "Don't even talk about that…"
"Talk about what? How you swallowed multiple mouthfuls of that brown water that smelled like trash and-"
The rest of his sentence was cut off as Casey lurched forward, vomiting forcefully.
"There you go. Just let it out…"
Casey heaved again, a waterfall of bright red puke gushing out of his mouth. He might just have to change his favourite gatorade flavour after this. Each heave sent another gush of red into the toilet, making for a grizzly sight.
Severide supported him the whole time, one hand on his back and the other on his head as Casey lurched forward with each heave, his head coming close to hitting the porcelain rim of the toilet.
"Breathe Casey. Relax," he soothed.
If he could he would, but his body was determined to try and kill him as it got rid of everything he had even thought about eating in his life.
He coughed as he choked, his body trying to inhale as it heaved and then that turned into a gag, spinning him into a cycle of choked breaths as his stomach clenched, but nothing was coming up anymore.
"Hey, hey, easy," Severide said, concern taking hold of his voice. "In and out, nice and slow bud. You're empty."
Casey inhaled a shaky breath and held it for a second before he released it. He coughed a few times but his breathing got easier as he repeated the process. When his breathing was once again calm, his stomach settled once more, he collapsed against Severide's warm body, utterly spent.
Mirroring his earlier actions, Severide reached over and flushed the toilet before he pulled Casey closer. A rough hand slid over his forehead.
"You don't feel any warmer than before. I guess the meds aren't helping with the nausea though."
"My body's trying to kill me."
His boyfriend sighed and leaned down so his chin rested gently on top of the blonde's head. "I wish there was more I could do for you."
"You're here for me. That means a lot."
The strong arms around him squeezed gently before a kiss was placed on the top of his head.
"Do you want to go back to bed?"
Casey shook his head. His stomach still felt unsettled and with the pattern of events so far, he'd only end up back here in an hour.
"Still feel like you're going to throw up?"
He just nodded again, too tired to do anything else.
"Okay, bathroom it is then. I'll be right back, I just need to get some supplies."
Casey sat forward as the warm body behind him left. He shivered from the lack of body heat. As usual, Severide was back within minutes. This time, however, he was carrying a thick fuzzy blanket along with their duvet, two pillows, and a can of ginger ale. He placed the pile of bedding on the ground before he walked over and handed Casey the pop. I shook a few cans and opened them before I put them in the fridge so they'd be flat. I figured carbonation wasn't the best thing for you right now.
Casey took the can and stared, confused when his chest ached and hot tears burned the back of his eyes and throat. He tried to blink them away, but his emotions bubbled over and a few tears fell, spilling down his cheeks.
"Hey," Severide said softly, kneeling in front of his boyfriend. "What's the matter?"
Casey wanted to say something, tell Severide how much he appreciated being looked after, how honoured he felt having a boyfriend as caring as Sev was, but the emotions clogged his throat, overwhelming him in his sick state. He could only shrug, more tears trailing down his face.
Severide pulled him into a gentle hug, burying Casey's face in his shoulder.
"It's okay, Case. You're just overwhelmed from the fever and lack of sleep. You'll be okay, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
Casey nodded and sniffed, sinking into the hug until Severide pulled away and looked at him in the eyes. He smiled sadly as he wiped the tear tracks on his boyfriend's cheeks. "You drink some of that ginger ale and I'm going to get us set up nice and cozy okay?"
"Okay," he rasped, throat still tight with emotion. He watched as Severide laid the fuzzy blanket on the floor, smoothing it out before he placed the pillows on one end. Casey sipped on the drink as he watched his boyfriend putter around, finishing half of it before Severide turned back to face him. Casey held out the can and his boyfriend took it, placing it on the sink before he sat on the far side of the blanket, motioning for Casey to come lay down. He got Casey settled first, making sure the pillow was just right before he laid down next to him, the right side of his body pressed against the blonde's before he pulled the duvet over them.
With a sigh, he turned his head toward his boyfriend. "You comfy?"
"Yes. Thank you, Sev."
"Always, Case."
For a makeshift bed on the bathroom floor, it was surprisingly comfy. Casey found himself falling asleep quickly, Severide's presence next to him soothing and secure. Of course this only lasted so long. Both of their sleeps were interrupted as Casey woke sometime later, the night still dark, already gagging. Thankfully he only had to stumble a few feet to the toilet where he took up his too-familiar position. Severide was quick to follow, whispering soothing nonsense as he rubbed Casey's back. Thankfully for both of them, the vomiting didn't last as long this time and soon they were stumbling back to their makeshift bed.
This vomiting routine happened a few more times throughout the night. After the next few rounds, Severide would always push more fluids into his boyfriend so he wouldn't get dehydrated. It was a grueling routine and Casey was exhausted as he finished vomiting for the seventh time that night. He knew Sev was just as tired since he had been up with him each time, but his boyfriend never complained.
This time, however, once Casey fell back asleep he actually slept without disruptions. The next time he cracked open his eyes, the sun was streaming into their apartment. He had finally made it through the night. And upon waking this time, he wasn't nauseous for once.
Casey rolled onto his side, turning to face his boyfriend. Severide was still fast asleep, face smoothed out and peaceful. He didn't want to disturb his boyfriend since he had kept him up most of the night, but he couldn't help but reach a hand out, cupping Sev's face, feeling the scratch of his slight beard, before he rubbed his thumb gently over his bottom lip.
Severide inhaled slightly and his eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times and then smiled when he saw that Casey was awake.
"Everything okay?" He asked, stretching his body under the duvet that still covered the both of them.
Casey hummed in confirmation. "We actually managed to get a few hours of sleep."
"That's good, you needed the rest. How do you feel now?"
"For once I didn't wake up nauseous, so there's that."
His boyfriend chuckled. "That's quite the milestone given the night we had."
Casey flopped down against his pillow. "Ugh, that sucked."
Severide grabbed Casey's hand and pulled it to his mouth, kissing it softly. "At least you seem to be on the mend now. I even think your fevers gone down. Do you think you could handle some breakfast? Something plain like dry toast."
Casey winced. While he wasn't currently nauseous, he didn't want to tempt fate. He was just happy not to be vomiting.
"I don't know…"
Severide shifted and smiled knowingly. "You haven't even moved from the bathroom floor and you're already worried about throwing up food that isn't even made yet?"
Casey shot his boyfriend a dark look. "Have you been the one throwing up every hour all night? You try it sometime and tell me how fast you jump to eat food. My body's trying to throw up things that aren't even there."
"Well I was the one who was up with you every time," Severide said but raised his hands in surrender when Casey's eyes narrowed. "Alright, not the same thing. I get it. But seriously Case, you won't get any better unless you fuel your body. Just try one piece. For me?"
Casey sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. He knew Severide would just keep hounding him until he gave in. "Fine. One piece."
A grin split his boyfriend's face. "Good. Now how about we get you changed into clean clothes and then I'll make us some breakfast. It is breakfast right? I have no idea what time it is," he admitted.
"Why don't you look at your watch?" Casey suggested and Severide paused before he looked comically at his wrist.
"Right. This is why you're the brains of the relationship."
Casey laughed and started to move, but Severide stopped him with an outstretched arm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To change like you said? This shirt is disgusting after last night."
"I said we were going to change."
Casey frowned as he glanced at Severide's puke-free shirt. "You're not even dirty."
"You've been throwing up all night. You're probably dehydrated. I'm not letting you get dressed on your own. You could fall and crack your head open."
"You make it sound like I'm ninety," Casey grumbled, but accepted Severide's outstretched hand. His boyfriend helped him up slowly and Casey was remiss to say that Sev had been right. As soon as he was vertical a wave of dizziness caused him to stumble, but Severide's strong arms around him kept him rooted in place.
"Shut up," Casey said. He didn't even need to look at Severide's face to know what look he was sporting.
"Didn't say anything," his boyfriend replied nonchalantly as he helped Casey into their bedroom.
"I could hear the words tumbling in that big head of yours."
Severide snorted and even Casey cracked a smile.
After Casey was changed into fresh clothes, feeling and smelling a lot better than he had before, Severide helped him sit on one of their bar stools as he made Casey his toast. True to his word, he only made one and left it dry since he didn't want to make things harder on Casey's stomach with butter.
Casey eyed the toast with distaste, letting the edges crumble onto the plate.
"You know, eating usually involves putting the food in your mouth and chewing," Severide joked as he spread peanut butter on the toast he had made for himself.
Pointedly, Casey brought the toast to his mouth and took a big bite, chewing aggressively. Severide only shook his head, a smile on his face.
"Stubborn."
As he swallowed the first bite, his body didn't immediately reject it, so he took another, and then another, until the whole piece was gone.
Severide had devoured both his pieces in the time it took Casey to eat one and he was now washing the plate, watching his boyfriend carefully.
"You want another one?"
"No. I feel okay, but I don't want to risk it."
Severide nodded and turned off the tap, placing the plate in the frying rack before he wiped his hands on a nearby towel.
"I'm happy with that for now, but you will be eating more later. But for now, you want to watch some tv? Or are you tired?"
"I'm not tired. We can watch some tv."
While Casey knew his body wanted more sleep, it was also deciding what to do with the sudden food in his system. He didn't feel nauseous, but his stomach was churning and he didn't think laying down was going to help. Hopefully sitting and watching some tv would allow it to settle and he'd be able to sleep the rest of whatever the hell this was off.
His plan worked for the first twenty minutes. He and Severide sat side by side, Casey pulled into Sev's left, a blanket spread across both their laps. Severide had put on Storage Wars, a show they both enjoyed watching whenever it was on tv, but Casey was barely watching now. His stomach hadn't settled down. Instead, it had increased its protest. The nausea had come flooding back in in the last five minutes, but Casey hadn't moved, nor had he said anything. He really didn't want to throw up again. He was so tired of being sick. But as his stomach gave a particularly sharp lurch, he realized he might not have a choice.
"Sev," he said, voice barely above a whisper. He tried not to gag as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sev," he repeated louder this time and he felt his boyfriend shift.
"You say something Case?"
"M'gonna be sick," he choked out and gagged, hand rushing to his mouth.
"Oh- shit, one sec," his boyfriend said as he jumped up, first responder reflexes in full force, and rushed over to the kitchen where he grabbed a small garbage can from under the sink. He had just rushed back over and thrust the bin under the blonde's chin when Casey gagged again and then heaved, the toast he had eaten not even half an hour ago making a reappearance. His boyfriend held the garbage steady as Casey lurched forward again, vomiting harshly. The toast scratched his throat making it burn more than it already did from all the vomiting.
His body gave a couple more heaves, these ones motley empty, and then he was done, falling back onto the couch. Severide walked the bin over to the kitchen, far from sight, and walked back to the couch, kneeling in front of the sick blonde.
"Aw, man. I'm sorry, Case. I was really hoping you'd be okay now."
"S'okay. I thought so too."
Severide stood and reached his hand up to press against Casey's forehead. He felt it for a second before he brushed a few unruly locks of hair back from Casey's sweaty forehead.
"The good news is you don't feel any warmer. Your fever's still down. The food was probably just a bit too much for you to handle." A guilty look crossed Sev's face and Casey reached out and took his hand.
"It's not your fault. You're just trying to make sure I get better. And I love you for that."
Severide bit his lip, considering this and then he smiled slightly. "I love you too. I'd kiss you, but you kinda just threw up so…"
Casey rolled his eyes.
Severide chuckled and then sobered, his face serious. "You want to go back to bed, see if you can sleep this off? Are you still nauseous?"
Casey shook his head. "No, I'm not nauseous. I'd rather just sleep right here, cuddled up with you."
"I can do that."
Severide moved to the right and sat at the far end of the couch. He shifted so his legs were on the couch and then positioned the pillows behind his back. Then he motioned for Casey to lay down. Casey fit his body in the crook of the couch, wedged between the back cushions and Severide's side. His boyfriend pulled the blanket over them so it was up to Casey's shoulder and then rested his arm around Casey's side, pulling him impossible closer. Snuggled up next to Severide, Casey was asleep in minutes.
A smell permeated the fog of sleep Casey was in and he stirred, instinctively turning to where the smell was coming from. He stretched, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and realized that Severide was no longer next to him. He sat up, confused as to where he went, but smiled when he saw him in the kitchen, stirring something in a large pot. Whatever was bubbling on the stove smelt delicious and Casey's eyes widened as his stomach grumbled. Actually grumbled, telling him it wanted food.
Tentatively he stood up, making sure to go slow, and then shuffled over to the kitchen. Severide must have heard him because he turned and grinned as soon as he saw his boyfriend.
"Hey Case. Feeling better? You look better. There's actually colour in your face."
Casey sat on one of the bar stools. "My stomach is actually grumbling for the first time in 24 hours."
"Really? That's great, babe. Just in time too. I made soup."
Casey's eyebrows rose. "You made soup?"
"Don't look so surprised. I can cook. I just don't do it often."
Casey watched in amazement as Severide ladled out two portions of steaming soup before he slid one over to Casey.
He inhaled deeply, his stomach growling again at the savoury smell. It was chicken noodle, but the noodles were the bigger spiral ones that Casey liked better than the long, thin ones, and he could see chunks of actual chicken along with celery, carrot, and even turnip. While turnip wasn't traditionally in chicken noodle soup, it was one of Casey's favourtie things to add to any soup he made so Severide had made sure to put it in.
"There's turnips in here," Casey said softly.
"It's your favourite right? I figured you deserved a good meal after everything you've been through these last 24 hours."
Casey spooned some soup up and blew on it softly before he took a bite and groaned. After not eating for so long and being sick, the flavours were incredible. His stomach grumbled happily as he swallowed the first spoonful. It warmed him from the inside out in the best way.
"This is amazing. Thank you, Sev. Thank you for staying up with me all night. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Severide walked over and wrapped his arms around Casey's neck before he bent down and gave him a soft kiss. Casey could taste the salty broth on his lips.
"I will always be here for you, Case. I love you."
"I love you too," Casey whispered and Severide ducked down again, kissing him harder, more passionately, before he drew back.
"I was enjoying that." Casey pouted and Severide smirked.
"Finish your soup and maybe we can take this back to the bedroom, yeah?" He teased, raising his own spoon to his mouth and taking a bite, never breaking eye contact.
"Deal."