Tessa [Supernatural] (therizein) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-15 22:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, tessa, zeus |
WHO: Tessa, Zach
WHAT: Kryptonite
WHEN: 9/9
WHERE: Their home
WARNINGS: life-threatening illness
Tessa was just returning home from work. There had been a lot of unexplained illnesses, some meteorite-related accidents. A busy day, all told. She was tired, but more concerned for Zach, and how he was handling the stress of yet another Orange County incident. She’d texted him when she could, just to let him know she was thinking of him, and she sought him out the moment she stepped through the door--dropping her bag in a corner of the entryway and popping the buttons of her uniform as she went. Strip, change, snuggle--or maybe strip, snuggle, and then change--was as far ahead as she could think.
“Zach? I’m home...”
“Tessa?” The voice was a croak, distressed and full of discomfort, and came from the bathroom. There, huddled against the shower wall, water freshly turned off, was a thoroughly wretched Zach. His body was greenish, and there was a touch of gold to the green and he shivered. He had gone to work, and on the way home, when he stopped to shop, had stumbled over a number of rocks on the parking lot ground.
And started getting sick. And then, when he tried to pop home, discovered his powers were gone.
“In here…”
Tessa translocated the bathroom, her face etched with concern when she materialized and saw Zack huddled in the shower. She went to him, snatching up a giant bath towel on the way, and paying no mind to the wet walls as she pressed her wrist to his forehead. “What happened?”
Zach groaned and smiled to see her. “Sick. Very sick. And powers are gone. Started when I got off work. Should have realized something was off when I started almost passing out driving home.”
He shuddered and reached out one hand for her. “Be careful. Not sure if it is catching.”
Tessa opened her mouth to tell him that she couldn’t catch anything, but thought better of it. Maybe Zach was only sick because he’d lost his powers first, but if whatever had sapped his powers was the same thing that was making him sick, then it might very well do the same to her. But she didn’t care. “Do you want me to call an ambulance?”
“Might… might be best, yes.” He shuddered, and smiled. “Sorry, love. Didn’t mean for this. Was going to make your favorite dinner and dance with you.” He coughed and shuddered. “Was gonna be sexy for you.”
“It’s not your fault you got sick,” she said, reaching for the phone, and tucking it against her ear while she tucked a towel around his body. It would only take her a few seconds to make the call, but she wasn’t leaving his side for anything.
He snuggled into the warmth of the towel and smiled at her somewhat blearily. “I love you. I wanna live here now.” He nodded. It was clear to him. He needed her. And he loved her.
Tessa got into the shower with him, not caring if her butt got wet. She just wanted to be close to him, to make him feel better. “I love you, too, Zach. My home is your home.” And her home was anywhere he was.
He snuggled her close and he smiled softly. “You are the most amazing woman ever. I can’t believe we’ll be married in a month and some change.” He coughed mid-sentence and it took him a few minutes to stop coughing, turning a little more green as he did. “Sorry.”
“Me neither,” she said, rubbing his back as the coughs wracked him. “It’s okay. The ambulance is on its way. We’ll figure out what’s making you sick, and we’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you. Wouldn’t know what to do without you, wouldn’t want to ever find out. Love you, Tessa.” He snuggled close, wishing he could just stop feeling so wretched.
“If I’m like this, there may be others out there, too.”
She nodded. There were others, some of whom she had helped to rush to the hospital. But Zach was more important to her right now. “Just let me take care of you first, then we can worry about the others.”
“MMmokay.” He snuggled close and just let himself rest. He had to stay awake until the paramedics got there, he knew, or should, maybe? Ugh.”Was gonna ask you out on a romantic date and all. Think it’ll have to wait a few days.”
“Were you?” she asked, trying to help keep him lucid. She hoped they wouldn’t have to wait long. “Well, I guess you’ll have a few extra days to plan.”
“MMMhnmmm. If I can think. Brain not so good right now.” He struggled up and forced himself to talk clearly as somewhere far off sirens closed. “Love you. Want you to be happy.”
"I'm happy," she murmured, stroking his hair and face. "Don't ever think that I'm not happy with you. You know I'll tell you if anything is bothering me. I promise."
“Good.” He snuggled close as he heard the sirens now for real. “Feeling very tired. Don’t go just yet, okay? Do whatcha gotta do?” He kissed her hands and forced himself to kiss her, then slumped down again, tired, feeling dizzy.
She kissed him, willing those sirens to hurry up and get closer. “I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, “I’m going to ride with you, all the way to the hospital.” And she’d punch anyone who tried to stop her someplace tender.
Zach smiled. “Love you, baby.” He snuggled close, and tried to relax past the pain. He shuddered as he heard the sirens get closer, and then doors slam. “Sounds like the cavalry is here.”
“My heroes,” she said, giving a strained laugh, then raising her voice to call out, “In the bathroom! Hang left at the top of the stairs; first door on the right!”
Soon they were there and carting Zach off, with Tessa along, to the hospital. His case was not the first, and he was quickly moved to a second floor room, for the moment alone, and settled in, with an IV giving him fluids and nutrients. When the hubbub was over, and Zach, who had been unconscious for most of it, was sitting up a little, he looked at Tessa., “I can sort of think now, at least.”
She smiled, and reached for his hand, relieved that he seemed to be doing so much better. It had been scary, for a while, especially when Zach had lost consciousness, but she’d done her best to sit back and let the paramedics do their job. “Good,” she murmured, “Because I feel like I’ve been holding my breath since we got into the ambulance.”
His heart felt like it would pound out his chest and he was still green, but he felt a little less like he was dying. He just hoped that lasted. He squeezed her hand weakly, feeling very strengthless right now.
“M’sorry.”
Tessa didn't feel that Zach was dying, though he had come close to the edge for a moment, there. He'd fought his way back, and held on for her. She leaned on the edge of his narrow hospital bed and brought his hand to her lips. "Shh. Not your fault. Just rest, and let your body heal. I'll be right here."
Zach smiled to her, eyes warm despite his pain and discomfort. “Thank you, Tessa. You are amazing. Love you.” He relished just the kiss and her hand, and relaxed as much as he could. Being sick sucked, but with her around, he could and would survive.
She was his touchstone, and that was perfect.