AN: Be warned that there is mention of puking in this chapter kind of a lot since Eddie, Christopher and Buck are all sick. While back I got sick on my stomach, not as bad as Eddie does, but close to Buck's level. If seems kinda similar I do have one of Buck and Tommy only that wrote the day after felt better. That one won't be up yet as of this posting, but in the future if reading this and have already read that one or vise versa.
Summary: The third date is spent differently than was planned. Rocker is helping Tommy take care of their boyfriends and Christopher who are sick.
Title: You Mean More To Me, Eddie
Buck: Hey, I know that you and Eddie have plans today, but he's sick. Christopher is too. Headaches, fevers, chills. They're throwing up and the other as well. Tommy and I have been with them all night. Eddie said that you had some joint task force raid thing last night or you were going to blow up a bridge. He was delirious, I doubted you were blowing anything up. Took Tommy and me both to keep him from falling. He refused to go to the ER last night, but Hen and Chim gave us advice on how to keep them hydrated until we can convince him to go to the doctor when it opens. Christopher doesn't have it as bad as Eddie does. I just wanted to let you know. Also, your boyfriend is a stubborn ass right now. Swears that it's just the stomach bug it'll be gone in another day.
Rocker had read the message when he'd gotten out of the shower. He'd been on a raid that turned into a chase through the woods trying to find the last two suspects. It had been a hundred acres they'd had to cover. The helicopter searching from the air had located one, but the other had been using leaves for cover. There had been so many traps in the woods. It finally ended with the guy in zip ties. It had not been an easy task getting the guy to surrender. Cabrera and he both had bruises to prove it. The two of them had tag teamed him. At the end she had gotten a running start and he'd dropped down. She'd used his back as a launch and did a round house which knocked him out. It was only the second time that the move had been used, but it had worked.
He'd planned on going to bed for a few hours since Eddie and he weren't meeting up until eleven. It was six now, but knowing that Eddie and Christopher were sick, he couldn't go to bed. He got dressed and grabbed a couple of things putting them into a second duffle he had. He was off the next two days since he'd worked three twelve hour days. Then there had been yesterday which he'd been on the clock for eighteen hours. Hicks had said he didn't want to see the 50 squad for the next two days. That meant training the recruits either. He'd been happy to let Deacon and Tan handle it.
He sent a quick message back asking if they were still at Eddie's. The reply came back fast saying yes. The drive to Eddie's didn't take long since it was early. The morning traffic wasn't so bad. He walked in the house because in the text had been a message to just come in. He went towards the kitchen finding Buck, but he didn't see Tommy.
"Are they asleep?" Rocker asked.
"Christopher just feel asleep. I managed to get him to drink some slushy like ginger ale. It's literally the only thing he's been keeping down." Buck said with a yawn.
He was not going to fall asleep. He just needed another cup of coffee. His best friend and their son needed him. He still needed to start the laundry. He wasn't feeling that great either. He was really hoping he didn't get sick too. It had come out of nowhere. One second, they'd been having fun playing the new video game that he'd gotten Christopher.
The next Christopher had dropped the controller and covered his mouth. He'd known the look from many times before. He'd had Christopher off the couch and in the bathroom. They hadn't completely made it, but most of it had gotten in the toilet. He'd wondered why Eddie hadn't come to check on them or Tommy. He knew they wouldn't just ignore Christopher being sick. Eddie had been throwing up in living room. His boyfriend had literally gotten a puke bath from their friend. Eddie was still horrified by that.
"Why don't you go lay down on the couch. You look exhausted and a little pale." Rocker said. He sat his bag down out of the way going over to Buck. He used the back of his hand feeling his head which felt hot. "You're burning up. Okay, so three of you will be seeing a doctor." He was hoping that Tommy wasn't sick as well because he wasn't sure if he could manage all four of them alone.
"I can't get sick too. They need me. I never get what they get." Buck protested. "Christopher hates throwing up. He'll get sick from getting sick. Eddie refuses to eat or drink anything. I have to threaten him every time. He'll start feeling guilty because he can't help Christopher so then I'm trying to convince him that I got it. If I'm not there to tell him that then he's going to…" He felt it the second his stomach started rebelling. He clamped his mouth shut and covered it before he took off in a run. He almost collided into Tommy who'd been coming from Eddie's room.
Tommy recognized the look from the ones that Christopher and Eddie had right before they'd thrown up. He took hold of Evan moving him to the toilet. He hadn't bothered closing the lid after the last time. It was probably a good thing because the second Evan was down, he was throwing up. He stayed beside him with an arm around Evan until he finished throwing up, at least for the moment.
Eddie and Christopher had gone four rounds before it had been over food wise. When they'd tried drinking stuff it had started coming up too. Evan had given him a run down of how it usually went. It hadn't been the night they planned, but he hadn't left even when Evan kept telling him he'd be okay with them. He was definitely glad he hadn't left because with Evan sick now, he would have felt like crap for leaving. That wasn't who he was either. Just because his friends were sick, he wasn't going to leave. His boyfriend especially. He knew Eddie felt horrible for throwing up all over him. Rocker had done worse before. He'd kept telling Eddie he wasn't mad at him.
"Is there anything I can do?" Rocker asked from the door. "You're not feeling sick too, are you?" He added to the question.
"At the moment no I'm not sick. It doesn't mean I won't get sick. There's a new stomach bug going around. When Hen was on the phone last night, she said Denny and Mara are sick too. She had to take Karen to the doctor. She's about the same state Eddie's in. Which is why I'm close to not giving a fuck and calling an ambo. He refuses to admit he's that sick. Howie said Jee was staying with the Lee's because Maddie and he are both sick. They're not that bad though. I have a higher chance of getting sick because Eddie didn't make it off the couch." Tommy explained as Evan started a second round of throwing up.
"Fuck, okay I will work on getting Eddie to the doctor and Christopher. You take care of Buck. If you get sick too then I'll figure it out." Rocker said. "He will go to the doctor without an argument for me." He wasn't letting his boyfriend get worse because he was stubborn.
"I tried and he thought I was you. He still said no." Tommy said.
"You didn't know the right trick. Today would been the third date so there is motive to get him to go." Rocker replied. "When's the doctor open?"
"If it's after seven they already are." Buck said leaning against Tommy. "You're going use sex as a motivation, aren't you? He said today was supposed to be date three. There was no way he was missing it." He groaned moving his hand over his stomach. "I think he's going to miss it. Christopher wasn't happy about missing out on you all going to the…" He didn't finish the sentence.
"There will be other days. The only thing that matters right now is you all get better." Tommy said. "The on-call nurse said if we hadn't convinced him to go to the ER to bring them in at seven-thirty. She wrote Eddie and Christopher down. The number is the second in Evan's recent calls log. See if Evan can be seen then too." He wasn't taking chances.
"Copy that." Rocker nodded before he left the bathroom.
~ER BT ER BT ER BT~
The motivation hadn't needed to be used, at least not the sex part. After the phone call Rocker had gone into Eddie's room. He'd woken him up since the nurse had said they could come in as soon as they could. He hadn't given Eddie a chance to object. He'd told him flat out he was going to the doctor. Eddie tried saying no, but he pulled the covers off giving him a choice. He'd carry him out or he'd help him walk to the truck. Third option was an RA to the ER. Buck had finally emptied his stomach contents by then. Tommy had helped him get the three of them out to the truck. He'd sat in the back with Eddie on one side and Christopher on the other. Buck had been beside Tommy, who'd drove, with a trash can in case.
Thankfully the doctor that Eddie and Christopher went to was equipped to give IV fluids there. Eddie had been taken right back when they had gotten there. He'd gone with him since Eddie refused to use the wheelchair. Buck hadn't been wrong, he was stubborn. The nurse had taken blood to run tests to make sure it was the new stomach bug that half the patients they were seeing had. She had hooked up an IV bag before she'd left the room. The nurse had gotten confused seeing Tommy and him both. She'd thought he kept going from one room to the next at first. He hadn't left Eddie's side the whole two hours they were there. It had taken time for the results, and it had come back as the stomach bug for the most part. Though dehydration was a part too.
The doctor had checked Tommy over too when he'd heard he'd been thrown up on by Eddie. The bug was affecting everyone differently. Some only got mild upset stomach other's were in Eddie's state. He'd said he wanted to be safe than sorry. It only took twelve hours to show signs. It had been fourteen, so Tommy had been in the clear for the time being. Buck hadn't thrown up on him, but he was close to him. It was transmittable, but if Tommy had avoided getting sick from Eddie. The doctor had been hopeful he wouldn't get sick. They had always been good at not getting what most people got.
Luckily it hadn't taken that long to get some meds that would help. After the IV meds Eddie was moving better. The nurse had refused to let him walk out though. He'd complained, but used the wheelchair. Rocker had pushed it telling him he was glad he'd listened that time. He wouldn't have let him walk out either. Buck and Christopher hadn't felt that badly, so they'd walked. Tommy had stayed with both of them since they'd been seen in the same room. It had been the same set up on the drive home. Tommy had gone inside getting the meds and a few other things.
Eddie and Christopher had fallen asleep against Rocker. Tommy had taken a picture of them when he'd gotten back in the truck. He had also got one of his boyfriend sleeping. They had gone back to Eddie's after that. Buck and Christopher going inside. Tommy had followed beside them just to make sure they got inside without any problems. Before they'd left Rocker had stripped both beds. He hadn't had a chance to put clean ones on, so Tommy took care of it. Buck and Christopher sat on the couch and Rocker brought Eddie in the house setting him on the other side of Christopher.
~BT ER BT ER~
"I need a shower." Eddie said. "I feel like I still got puke on me." He also didn't want to lay in the clean bed feeling dirty. "I just don't see standing up the whole time working." It had been nice having Rocker support him on the way inside. At least he hadn't needed to carry him this time. If he hadn't felt so sick he'd have enjoyed it. Right now, he wasn't enjoying much.
"I think we all do, but you can go first." Buck said not bothering to open his eyes. His stomach still felt sore and raw on the inside. "I'm sorry I got sick on you two. Was supposed to take care of you."
"It's not your fault you got sick too Buck." Christopher said. "You don't have to worry though. Dad and you are dating two really awesome brothers. They are taking care of us." He said. "I don't think anyone outside of mom would have been okay if you puked on them dad." He giggled ignoring the slight pain that was there,
"Please don't remind me. I was trying to make it to the kitchen." Eddie groaned. "I'm really sorry Tommy. I swear I'll make it up to you."
"It's not the first time he's been puked on." Rocker said coming into the living room. "I think I remember a few times when he was still at the 118 and he got puked on. Not to mention that one time I was sick. I think the most epic was his ex."
"I would take Eddie puking on me forever over that." Tommy said glaring at his brother. There was no heat behind it, but he hated thinking of that. He also knew they couldn't expand on the explanation in front of Christopher. "The beds are made up. I thought I could set up the air mattress in here. Evan and I can stay again tonight." He offered.
They had planned on all spending the day at the wildlife sanctuary. Tommy wasn't sure what the night plan had been. Rocker hadn't said, but it had included all of them. Now, with Eddie, Christopher and Evan sick they were staying in. More than once when Eddie had confused him for Rocker during the fever fog he'd kept begging him not to cancel their third date. He needed it so they could have sex. He could not wait any longer or he was going to lose his mind. It was complete and utter torture not being able to get himself off too. That had been more than he'd expected to find out.
"That could work. We can move the couch and coffee table against the wall when you two are ready to crash." Rocker agreed. "I can help you get that shower if you want, babe." He said to Eddie. "We put the kitchen chair in there and you can sit. It would work for all three of you." He'd already offered Tommy to get a shower if he wanted while he kept an eye on their sick patients. Tommy had informed him he'd gotten one hours ago while Eddie and Christopher had been sleeping. "If after you shower then feel free to get some sleep." He directed to Buck, but he looked at Tommy too. He had been up most the night too, but he had gotten a nap in the truck while waiting on Tommy to come back out. Tommy hadn't had any sleep since the day before. He could tell he was starting to get tired.
"I could sleep some more. The truck nap wasn't enough." Buck said with a yawn.
He was fighting to stay awake. He wouldn't mind at all cuddling up with Tommy. Before the nap he'd been up for over twenty-four hours. He was grateful to Tommy for being there with him and for him too. He could have left like he'd said he could. Instead he'd stayed. Rocker didn't have to show up either. Buck was sure he had to be exhausted from work. He'd asked him earlier if he'd gone to bed. He'd said no, he'd come over after he'd seen the text he sent.
"I'll go first since you two aren't moving." Christopher said after another few minutes.
He got up going towards his room to find his favorite pajamas. He didn't want to put regular clothes on. The sick days he always did pajamas and slept. He was thirteen now, but when he was sick, he still wanted to be near his dads. He wished they had a bed large enough that could include all five of them. Though it was probably best if Buck and Tommy got some sleep. He could also tell that Rocker was starting to fade. He'd remembered his dad saying something about him working the night before. He'd asked Buck earlier if Rocker was going to come or if he'd stay away. He had spent time with Rocker, but someone being sick could have a person act differently than when they were feeling good.
"In case you aren't up for standing the whole time I went a head and put the chair in the shower. I can pull it back out if you don't want it though. Just don't want you to fall if you get lightheaded again." Rocker explained when Christopher came back out of his room.
"Thanks." Christopher smiled. "Not just for that, but for being here. You didn't have to show up. Tommy didn't have to stay either, but you two are here. It's not how it usually goes. My dad always feels guilty when we both get sick at the same time. Buck takes care of us and sometimes we all end up in dad's bed. No one ever stayed besides Buck."
"I know how feels to be sick. It's awful and you feel miserable. I couldn't be at my place wondering constantly how the two of you were. I care about both of you. I also care about Buck, he's my friend too. He's also dating Tommy which your dad said the other day you had us down for stepdads someday. I know it's been about a month since I met you two at that dinner. However, I don't plan on going anywhere unless your dad tells me otherwise. I wouldn't mind having an awesome teenager in my life forever." Rocker replied. "I'm sorry in the past you two have only had Buck here. If you want, I can get Tommy to help me move your dad's mattress. We can put it and the air one in the living room. All five of us sleep in there." He offered thinking about what Christopher had said.
"It wouldn't be weird? All of us sleeping in there?" Christopher asked. "I also don't think my dad's going to let you go. You make him smile in a way that I never saw my mom be able to do. I hope that you don't go away. It's what we're used to. People leaving, even if isn't always their choice." He sighed.
"Family's what you make it. So, if you want all of us in the living room then I can make it happen. As long as I can help it, I'm not going anywhere. I can't promise unforeseeable events won't happen. I have seen that too many times to make those kinds of promises. We can still go to the wildlife sanctuary when you're feeling better. We can do the camp out too. I got a fire pit in the backyard. We can make s'mores the old fashion way like we talked about." Rocker offered.
"I do and we have a deal." Christopher said putting his hand out.
Rocker put his out shaking Christohper's. It was the second deal they'd made. The first being weeks back on him being good to Eddie. "I'm going go get Tommy to help me with the bed."
~BT ER BT ER~
It was ninety minutes later with showers gotten and the mattress laid out in the living room floor. The couch and table had been moved making room for the bed and air mattress to be pushed together. It made one huge area to lay on. Tommy and Rocker made the mattresses up individually since there wasn't a sheet big enough to cover both there. They had gotten their boyfriends and Christopher to eat a little something. It had thankfully stayed down along with some ginger ale. Christopher still wanted his slushy like which Rocker had found a cup and poured some into it.
Now, Rocker was lying on Eddie's left with Christopher on his right. Buck was on Christopher's left and Tommy beside Buck. They hadn't bothered turning the TV on. It hadn't taken long for Buck and Tommy to crash. Christopher had been next. Rocker was sure that Eddie was asleep too. He was close to falling asleep himself. He'd lost count the number of hours he'd been up. He didn't care though, the only thing that mattered was making them feel better.
"Does this count as a third date or do I have to wait even longer?" Eddie asked. "I was really looking forward to that date. It wasn't just a steppingstone to the sex though. That's going to be fun, but you are perfect. I mean most people in new relationships aren't going to have their partner helping take care of them like this. It's not just me either, you are here for Christopher and Buck too. I really don't know what today would have been if you and Tommy weren't in our lives. I puked all over him, I was even gaging from it, but Tommy just kept telling me it was okay. That Buck had Christopher, I didn't have to worry about a little puke. It's what friends do."
Eddie was sure that the others at the 118 would do that if they needed to and hadn't been sick. They showed up for each other, but he hadn't had someone in either of their lives show up like this. Yeah he was friends with Tommy and he was dating Buck. They were completely in love after almost eight months. It just was still this surprise when Tommy didn't leave. And now Rocker, who he hadn't even made it a full month dating was here too.
Things like this just didn't happen. Tommy had gotten him to laugh when he'd felt like hell too. He'd needed that laugh because he'd about cried knowing he'd puked on Tommy. He'd accidently done it to Buck once, but they'd known each other for six years. Rocker had helped him take a shower before he'd laid down. He had teased him about how he hadn't needed to get sick to get him in the shower. He wouldn't have touched him, but they could have taken one together.
"I'd already thought of this as a third date. It might not seem romantic, but there is that whole saying sickness and health. I'm not proposing right now, we haven't even had full out sex. However, one day I hope you say yes because I can't see anyone else, Eddie. Spending today together like this it's not just what friends do. It's what family does. Some would never understand this, but the five of us work. Who knows maybe someday might add to that." Rocker said moving his hand over Eddie's stomach. He was careful not to apply any pressure. "I also know that Tommy's not ditching Buck, Christopher or you either." He'd heard Tommy say those three words more than once to Buck. He had heard them returned too. "Might end up with a double wedding." He joked.
"We'd have to hide the clipboards from Buck. He turns into a terror if one is near him." Eddie said with a groan. It didn't freak him out at what Rocker said. He'd panicked more than once when people mentioned him and Ana together that way. He'd thought he was having a heart attack it had been that bad. Right now, it had him feeling like it wouldn't be an awful idea.
"I met him the other day. Tommy had this smirk on his face. I tell you I was kind of scared. I mean I take down criminals for a living. Your best friend with a clipboard and my brother's expression had nothing on them when comes to that wild look they had going on. I turned and about ran back to my place. I didn't go back over there until I got a text asking if I was coming back for dinner." Rocker said shaking his head at that memory.
"Tommy is kind of nuts over that side of Buck. We have done our best to get him on our side, but he won't come to the light. He said he'd rather stay on the dark side. Christopher gets a kick out of Buck with a clipboard too. Buck gave him one and said he was going to teach him how to be a mini Buck. There are times when I randomly find clipboards in the house. I know I got rid of them." Eddie said. "It's worse than that bracelet that time, but I know I'm not cursed. It's those two, but I swear that your brother's in on it too. You are my only hope against them." He sighed before it turned into a yawn.
"I'll help you fight the clipboard villain squad, but after we get some sleep." Rocker smiled kissing the top of Eddie's head. "You gotta get better. I hate seeing you sick. Hate them being sick too. I'd rather be sick than have any of you." He was careful with his hold not wanting to make it too tight.
"Sounds good. Hate being sick too, but I had a wonderful boyfriend helping take care of not just me. My son and co-parent too. I wouldn't wish this on you or Tommy. Just glad he didn't get sick too." Eddie said closing his eyes and letting sleep take him.
~TBC~
EN Thanks in advance for reviews and kudos. I hope that you enjoyed and it wasn't too horrible. I wanted Rocker taking care of his man. Plus I couldn't help resist adding Tommy there too and they double team taking care of their boys. This also means with this chapter the third date happened so they are going to be having some fun finally, just not in the next chapter lol.