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staycalmandhugaclone · 1 year

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Fever - Tech - Pt 6

If you're new, this all starts with Touch Starved!

Part 6 for Fever.

Febuwhump Day 11

Warnings: TW: symptoms of withdrawal, accidental drug exposure via fungal spores, high fever, reference to vomiting, delirium induced violence, guilt

WC: 4,723

Twenty-nine hours… for another twenty-nine hours, that fever ravaged him. Twenty-nine hours of strangled screams and desperate pleas. Twenty-nine hours of promising him the pain would end; of holding him as his stomach churned, and fighting against violent attempts to flee or fight or rip the IV from his vein. Twenty-nine hours of watching the doubt and sorrow steadily grow in his brothers’ eyes as first Echo and then Hunter took turns working alongside me to keep him safe even as they relentlessly encouraged me to choke down a few bites of rations and sips of water, tried to convince me to sleep but, even during those fleeting moments when I yielded, body settling restlessly atop Crosshair’s borrowed mattress, I found no reprieve as the worry coiled in my gut churned anew from his every cry of pain.

When the room finally fell into a strange quiet, I found myself hesitating; floundering in confusion from that foreign stillness. My eyes cautiously fell over the sleeping form atop my cot, blindly watching his torso swell with deep, unhurried breaths. I barely noticed my hand reach for the scanner, nor the way it shook in my unsteady grasp as I held it over him, vision faltering ceaselessly into unintelligent swirls of color as I struggled to make sense of the readings.

“Doc?” Blinking back some of that disorientation, I swallowed against the dryness cloying my throat, attention briefly flicking to Hunter before returning to the small screen.

“His… his fever broke.” The words sounded strange. Heavy yet somehow hardly there at all. “I need… I need to change the sheets… I don’t – I don’t want him to wake up in dirty sheets.” The scanner was no longer in my hand – I must have set it down as I began reaching for the dark grey fabric.

“Doc.”

“And-and clean blacks-he’ll want… he’ll want clean blacks…” Why was my voice cracking?

“Hey,” He called softly, but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge him, focus locked on the task lest something break inside me. “Hey-hey; Doc, look at me.” My entire body bucked as his hand brushed over my shoulder, a tremble stealing over me with such a sudden violence, I couldn’t begin to form a response before he gently pulled me to face him, and the worry in those umber eyes only fueled my growing distress.

“Okay,” The word sighed from him with a deep understanding that left what façade of control I’d clung to crumbling as tears pooled atop my eyes. Body deflating in a slow breath, his arms slid around me, holding me just enough to ease me against him. I tried to force out some words of dismissal, tried to prove that I was fine even as my shoulders jerked with each shattered gasp, mouth twisting into a scowl beneath the effort to restrain them.

“You did good, Doc. He’s alright.” His voice swept through my hair in a quiet rush of heat, sending a shiver blooming down my spine, and instantly I found myself clinging to him, hands clawing into his back, his shoulders, sobs screaming from me with every ounce of fear and exhaustion and relief I’d had to fight back for far too long; the crushing strength of his embrace the only thing keeping me from falling apart entirely.

“Alright,” He murmured against me, “It’s alright, now – you got him through it.” My knees threatened to buckle, but he merely held me tighter. “Shh.” A wave of static sent gooseflesh down my neck, my arms; body curling desperately into him in a moment of pure need, face pressed to his chest as I hid in his embrace. “Shh, just breathe, cyar’ika.” That word… “I’ve got you.” I’d heard it before; I was certain I had, but hearing it in the deep timber of Hunter’s voice left a flush of warmth rippling in its wake.

“Good… just breathe.” The quiet praise fluttered from his lips in a slow sigh, one hand beginning to drag tender circles over my back until I found myself wilting against him, convulsing sobs fading to trembling exhales. Still, he held me, broad form sheltering me from the world beyond his touch.

“We’ll get him comfortable; okay?” He continued in a gentle promise, shifting just enough to let his lips whisper atop my brow as he spoke. “Get him in fresh blacks, clean him up a bit; change the sheets,” I could hear the small smile in his voice, “But I want you to get out of here for a couple minutes – hit the fresher and find something to eat; get some sleep if you can.” Before I’d managed more than the beginnings of an objection, he added in that same quiet, “We’ll stay with him – take my bunk.” His cheek slid against my brow, hand abandoning that soothing movement to settle warmly over my jaw as he tilted my head up to let him touch his forehead softly against mine.

“That’s an order. Alright?” The terrible gentleness of his words robbed them of even a whisper of command, rendering it into a quiet plea that I couldn’t bring myself to fight, and I felt his relief ease the tension from those broad shoulders as I gave a small nod. “Alright.” He held me a while longer, until tremors no longer seized through me with each unsteady breath and the tears had long since dried from my cheeks before finally guiding me across the room, arm wrapped firmly around my lower back to steady me.

Echo and Wrecker stood waiting just beyond the medbay door, and I vaguely noticed Crosshair perched around the corner to the bunk room. It felt strange to finally step out of that room, and I found myself floundering a moment, unsure how to exist in a reality free of the constant need to stand watch of the man now soundly sleeping behind me.

“He’s…” I started, but my voice faltered, jaw shifting uncertainly for several seconds before remembering what it was I was trying to say. “His-his fever broke, so…” My eyes slid shut, willing myself to truly understand the words coming out of my own mouth, “He… he should… wake up soon.” A hum caught in my throat. I didn’t notice my legs waver until Hunter’s arm tightened sharply around me to keep me from falling.

“Echo.” At the quiet call, the arc quickly moved to ease me against him. I felt myself blink, mind belatedly understanding what was happening, and a sound broke over my lips that was meant to be some dismissal or reassurance or at the very least, something coherent, but the nearly choked grunt fell painfully short.

“Come on, Doc; mind if I hold on to you for a bit?” My gaze wondered blindly to find the brilliant gold of his eyes, jaw shifting only briefly before yielding beneath that terrible exhaustion and, with a heavy sigh, merely let myself melt into his touch. Some distant whisper of logic noted the footsteps treading past us as Wrecker and Crosshair joined Hunter in the medbay, but it took all of my focus to follow Echo’s slow movements as he carefully guided me away.

“Maybe you should get some rest, first.” He offered gently, pausing beside Hunter’s bunk, but I was already shaking my head, eager to rid myself of the sick and sweat and dread clinging to my skin. “Doc, you’re barely standing.” He pressed, barely whispering the words even as his hold tightened around me. Drawing a deep breath, I strained to drag myself back to proper awareness.

“M… I’m fine.” Still, the short words left in a mumble, but I managed to press myself forward, legs just steady enough to steal that first step before Echo quickly moved to stay with me.

“Okay-okay.” He murmured, shifting to hold more of my weight at the first hint of a tremble threatening my stride. I barely noticed the deep worry creasing between his brows as he reluctantly let me step away from him through the refresher doors; barely noticed the effort of peeling the fabric from my aching body or the unnerving sensation of the sonic pulsing mercilessly around me until my bones throbbed, but I was relieved to find a clean set of blacks awaiting me atop the counter once I was done.

It wasn’t until I pulled the top over my head, noted the several inches of excess length in the sleeves that I realized they weren’t mine. Crosshair. His scent just lingered in the dark fabric. I didn’t bother rolling the access fabric about my wrists and ankles, too weary to do more than bunch the material high enough up my calves to prevent me from tripping as my feet dragged beneath me to the door.

Echo was already there, pulling me back against him the instant his eyes found mine. I think I was already beginning to fade during the short walk to the bunk room, body sagging heavily against him, eyes refusing to open for several seconds between each tedious blink. Some gentle murmur danced around me, but the only thing that mattered was the comforting embrace of the bed rising up to meet me, the collection of scents surrounding me, the relief that I could finally sleep.

There was a fleeting moment of frustrated denial, of wanting to pointedly ignore the sound of my name floating through the darkness despite the little thrill that always accompanied hearing it whispered in the gentle voice, in knowing the gruffness so innate to his speech as he addressed his brothers always quelled into a tender murmur when he spoke to me. Still, the exhaustion pressing me mercilessly into the blissful warmth of a bed I knew wasn’t mine left me reluctant to abandon the comfort of sleep, not until he pressed in that same tender whisper.

“Tech’s waking up.” Chest jerking in a small gasp, my eyes instantly flew open, needing mere seconds to focus on Echo’s face; to note the small smile on his lips and feel a rush of relief wash over me in its wake. There was no urgency in his stance, no danger or cause for panic. “Thought you might like to be there.” I answered with a weary but earnest smile of my own, nodding as I forced myself to leave the bed. The supportive touch of Echo’s hand slipping over my lower back was unnecessary but felt right, and I found myself leaning gratefully into him.

“How long was I out?” I asked, voice thick with sleep.

“A good five hours.” He nearly praised, and I scoffed.

“One of these days, I’m going to force you all to redefine what ‘a good amount of sleep’ is.” I grumbled, but the laughter was clear in my words, and he let out a quiet chuckle, thumb absently brushing atop my spine.

As we entered the medbay, I nearly laughed anew at the intensity with which the others were studying the peacefully sleeping form nestled on my cot. Crosshair’s mattress was gone, and they managed to move both my mattress and Tech back to the bedframe protruding from the center of the far wall. Wrecker hovered protectively just bedside the bed, hand resting atop his brother’s shoulder, while Hunter leaned against the counter near them.

Crosshair, however, was tucked into the very corner, perfectly still beyond that little sliver of wood spinning absently between his lips as his teeth ground beneath nerves still raw from the chaos of the past few days. Even that tiny movement paused the instant his attention shifted, expression frozen in that same mask of suppressed tension, but something about the way he looked at me left me hesitating for just a moment, painfully aware of the way his gaze took in the entirety of my form still clad in his blacks with the briefest flick of those piercing eyes.

My brow hitched in a silent question, almost challenging him to voice whatever little quip might have sprung to mind in that fleeting look, but I didn’t wait for him to respond before continuing toward the bed.

“Breathe, guys.” The little tease escaped in a quiet chuckle. “If he wakes up to you all staring at him like this, I wouldn’t blame him if he panicked again.” Hunter’s jaw shifted stiffly a moment before he forced a deep breath in to his lungs, letting his stance loosen with the slow exhale.

“I know,” Wrecker mumbled guiltily, “We’re jus’ worried about him, is all.” I offered him a warm grin, hand sliding over his arm a moment before automatically reaching for my scanner. Echo didn’t follow me into the room, instead turning to approach the sniper. Crosshair’s eyes snapped to mine for barely a breath longer before turning his attention to the arc, head tilting slightly so I could only just see his lips shift around words too quiet for me to hear.

“Everything looks good.” I assured them as a list of vitals began dancing across the screen. Tech’s lashes fluttered slightly as I spoke, and I instantly felt my expression soften. Leaning down slightly, I let my hand sweep tenderly through his hair, treasuring the softness of curls now clean of sweat from that blistering fever and, allowed to dry naturally, had puffed out into a luscious mess. His torso swelled beneath a leisurely breath, eyes slowly cracking open.

“Hey Tech.” I murmured, willing a gentle warmth into every syllable. He stared dumbly toward me for a long moment, body lingering in that blissfully laxed trance as his mind slowly took in the stillness around us. Finally, those eyes widened, struck by a sudden realization, and, breath fleeing him in a trembling huff, closed amidst the violent flood of relief. Void of strength or shame, he didn’t fight the quiet sobs, tears falling unhindered into the pillow.

Wrecker’s fingers tightened around his arm, thumb tracing small circles atop the dark fabric. A moment later, Hunter moved to join us, silently reaching forward to grasp one of Tech’s hands in his, followed by Echo settling his hand atop his brother’s side. I was surprised to hear the door open behind us and glanced back just in time to see Crosshair vanish into the hall, heart sinking in confusion and disappointment, but, when he returned with Tech’s goggles I found myself beaming at him.

I was just finishing my report when slow footsteps trudged into the kitchenette. Tech still had a blanket draped about his shoulders, eyes half-lidded behind the familiar orange lenses of his goggles, but I was elated to see him finally well enough to walk on his own.

“Good morning.” I greeted warmly as he lowered himself heavily into the seat across from me and couldn’t help but laugh softly at the confusion that instantly pulled at his gaze.

“Per standard operating procedure during lightspeed travel, it’s currently…” He let the words fade at the sight of my teasing grin. “Ah, yes…” He relented, offering a wisp of a smile in return.

“Think you can handle a smoothie?” I offered, already pushing myself to my feet.

“Yes, that would be…” There was an air of distraction in his almost mumbled reply, “Yes; thank you.” I quickly prepared the drink before letting myself sink into the chair beside him.

“You okay, Tech?” I let the smile slip from my lips as I set the cup down before him. He started to answer, paused, and drew a deep breath before trying again, gaze locked pointedly on the absently dance of his finger atop the dinged metal of the table.

“After I was… exposed,” He finally managed to force the words out despite the nervous shifting of his jaw, “Wrecker has informed me that it was you who, well, carried me back… Is that correct?”

“Oh.” The sound of surprise escaped me before I could begin to restrain it. “Um, well… yeah for a while, at least. I think we were probably only halfway to the Marauder when Wrecker caught up with us, and he took you from there, but,” I gave a small shrug, “before that, Echo needed to provide cover fire, and I’d already given you something to start neutralizing the spores, so…” I let the words fall away, unsure why he’d bothered asking.

“That is… impressive.” He admitted, and I could see the deep flush creep through his cheeks. My face instantly pulled into a wide grin.

“Yeah?” I chirped, catching my lower lip between my teeth as I beamed at him. “What? Didn’t think little ol’ me could haul you around?” I teased, gently bumping my shoulder against his.

“Well… no, I didn’t.” He admitted, blush deepening, which only served to fuel my glee. He cleared his throat and reached for his datapad. “Here, I believe this is of interest to you.” He said quickly, eager to change the subject. I let my attention shift to the screen as he began to drink. Lyrics. I stared almost blindly at them for a long moment, mind seemingly incapable of properly reading them in those first few glances.

“Tech… what is this?” I heard the breathlessness in my own voice, fighting vainly not to risk allowing myself to assume, to hope as I turned wide eyes back to him. He seemed struck for a moment, whether from the intensity of my gaze or something else entirely, I couldn’t fathom, but I felt the air catch in my chest as I waited for his answer.

“Well, I thought that was…” He cleared his throat once more and, voice softening, began again, “It is an old folk song. It seems to have originated on Saleucami, but I believe it matches the” Before he could finish, I flung myself toward him, arms locking him against me hard enough to force a small huff from his lips.

“Is this… Tech how did you…” I could barely gasp the half-formed questions, body shaking with glee as I pushed myself away from him to see the shock in his eyes. Nearly hyperventilating, I looked back over the words as though reading them for the first time, and I could hear that soothing melody, felt how the words would dance amidst the notes I’d heard throughout the entirety of my youth.

“Can I- can you send this to me?!” I begged pushing his datapad back toward him.

“Of… of course.” He replied, fingers tapping absently atop the screen, and I eagerly wrenched mine from my hip to open the message the instant it arrived, throat already shifting around the lyrics in a something just below a whisper. A giggle caught in my throat as I turned back to him. He was slightly more prepared for the violence of my second embrace, only just tensing beneath my touch, but, when I pressed my lips to his temple, fingers slipping through his hair in a motion that had become painfully familiar over the past few days, his entire body went stiff.

“This is amazing, Tech.” I breathed the words against him, desperate for him to hear the depth of my sincerity, “You’re amazing… Thank you.” I rested my forehead against him for a moment longer before turning away, hand darting out to snatch my datapad as I started from the room in a rush, eager to toy with the newly revealed knowledge in the semi-privacy of the medbay.

“Um,” I froze as he carefully grabbed my wrist, gaze turning back to find him staring once more at the worn table, that anxiety again leaving him tense. I waited in silence as he struggled over the stiffness suddenly lodging in his throat. “I… I fear I also owe you an apology.” As though only just realizing he’d reached for me, he quickly pulled away with something like shame stealing over him.

“What? You don’t…” The way he glared as his fidgeting hands was enough to grant me a dreaded understanding. “Oh… oh, Tech, I hoped you wouldn’t remember that.” I sighed quietly, returning to the seat beside him. His jaw shifted but closed without offering a response. “Hey,” I called, hands sliding over his, and the absent movements of his fingers instantly stilled. “Tech, look at me.” The quiet plea only fueled his guilt as he pointedly lowered his gaze to the flooring beneath us.

I found myself reaching for him once more, but this time with a gentleness as my fingertips slid softly over the clenched muscles balled beneath his cheeks. Releasing a deep breath, I moved to stand near enough to rest my chin atop his head, touch easing him toward me in a soft invitation. He didn’t fight me, merely allowed me to hide him against my chest, thumb brushing lightly over his cheekbone as my other arm wrapped firmly around his shoulders.

“I know you know none of that was your fault.” I murmured through a soft smile, “You know exactly what happens to cognitive function with all those chemical imbalances, and I hope you now that I know it, too.” There was teasing lilt in my voice as I murmured the gentle reminders against him, head shifting to let my lips dance against the mess of curls still in a hopeless disarray from the his bedrest.

“I acknowledge that my emotional response is not driven by logic,” he admitted in something of a mumble, “but that knowledge has offered little relief. I… I nearly killed you.” He barely whispered the words, body shrinking against me, and I had to take a slow breath to reign in my own emotions.

“I’m sorry.” He startled as the apology fell from me in a tense plea, so taken aback, he finally allowed himself to look toward me. “Tech, I know what that kind of delirium can drive people to do. I should have taken precautions. That’s on me.” I stated firmly, “Not you.” I watched the beginnings of an objection form over his tongue, but he let that initial response die as his gaze fell to the skin below my eyes for any lingering discoloration.

“And this?” he asked, fingers pausing barely a breath from my nose. I scrunched it up in a hapless smile, delighted to see the gesture ease at least a touch of that guilt.

“Like I told Hunter: occupational hazard.” Before he could stop himself, his eyes rolled at the dismissive reply, and I let out a quiet laugh. With a final sigh, I pulled him back against me. He hesitated, but, slowly, let his hand sweep up my back, shoulders finally beginning to loosen.

In the day and a half it took to finally reach Kamino, Tech made gradual improvements. He still struggled to merely tread the length of the ship alone, but he was well enough to insist upon returning to his post in the cockpit despite my objections. The instant he settled into that familiar chair, however, the burst of comfort it brought him quieted my lingering concerns.

As we landed, Wrecker automatically moved to his brother’s side, arm locking the still unsteady man against him as they started toward our barracks while the rest of us gathered what few crates of supplies needed to be hauled out of the Marauder for restocking.

“CT-9902, you are to report to medical bay 7M.” I was moving the instant I heard that unnervingly melodic voice; could already feel my heart flooding my veins with adrenaline as rage sent sparks rippling down my fingers. Two lanky figures stood between us and the route to our barracks. One seemed more interested in their datapad than the man they were speaking to, while the other addressed Tech directly, and I could see the discomfort and hesitation growing in Wrecker’s expression, gaze flicking between his brother and the scientists before him.

“Oh kriff.” Hunter’s low curse flitted just beyond my awareness, attention locked on the Kaminoan reaching toward Tech’s shoulder. Lips wrenched back in a feral scowl, I threw myself between them.

“Don’t touch him.” The threat in my snarled words was unmistakable, and it left a suffocating silence in its wake that I found myself pointedly oblivious to. “Any questions regarding these men can be directed to me. Any procedure requests or additional testing will be approved and performed by me.” My knuckles cracked beneath taut muscles locking them into fists. The Kaminoans shared a hesitant glance before turning back to me with that air of superiority, and I instantly felt my shoulders draw back, head tilting slightly as my legs tensed.

“Try it.” I dared, willing them to test me if only to feign some illusioned permission to retaliate.

“I’m afraid CT-9902 is needed elsewhere.” My head snapped up at the familiar voice, surprised to see Shaak Ti gliding nonchalantly toward us. “I believe his medic has already provided a detailed report and has proven her capabilities in treating the exposure.” Her voice sang softly from lips held in an easy smile. “Please pass my apologies on to Nala Se, but I must insist on addressing Republican matters first.” The one with the datapad read over something for a brief moment, long fingers floating atop the screen before looking back to the Master Jedi.

“Very well.” They hummed, but I could hear the discontent in their voice before both turned and tread back through the hanger. Shaak Ti watched them a moment before turning toward me, brow hitched in a tiny smirk.

“Thank you, General.” I murmured, straining to force back some of the tension still coursing through my body.

“Such animosity will not award you any favors among the Kaminoans.” She warned in something just shy of teasing, but I couldn’t bring myself to feign even a whisper of that mirth.

“I couldn’t give two kriffs about earning their favor.” I spat, glare shifting to follow the retreating forms just as they vanished into the endless halls. The look of sympathetic understanding on her face threatened to send a blush up my neck despite how my teeth ground against it.

“I agree that some of their methods… aren’t ones I would prefer.” She relented, “But there is a need for diplomacy between us if a balance between our beliefs is to be reached.” I said nothing, unable to bring myself to yield in light of the memory of Tech’s desperate fears, and I didn’t doubt how effortlessly the woman before me could sense that as those dark eyes studied mine. She released a slow breath, the quiet of that simple act infecting me in a way I was hesitant not to call intentional.

“Given the… unique nature of this squad, I do not believe it would be wholly unreasonable to appoint a single individual to oversee the entirety of their care.” My eyes widened slightly, hope just beginning to ease the rage still coiling through my chest. “I will speak with the Kaminoans on your behalf, but you must earn this title by proving you can conduct yourself in a manner worthy of such a position.” She pressed, brow raising slightly. Drawing a deep breath, I stood tall before her, shoulders squared.

“Yes, General.” I replied formally, fighting back the relief and gratitude vibrating through me. She bowed her head slightly as she moved a hand to rest warmly atop my shoulder.

“Thank you for taking care of them.” She whispered those parting words with a knowing smirk before turning and, with the same unhurried grace, returned to the troupe she’d surely been speaking with moments before. The instant she was out of sight, my shoulders sank beneath a shuttered sigh.

After granting myself mere seconds to breathe, I turned back to find the others watching me with something near enough to shock to leave me frozen. It took a moment to gather myself, to think over the risky display of obstinance that had left them so taken aback, the stroke of pure luck in Shaak Ti’s presence that had saved me, and I knew I’d have done the same a thousand times over to keep Tech away from the Kaminoan labs.

“I keep my promises.” I explained simply and, without waiting for them to reply, moved to Tech’s side, arm automatically slipping around his waist to offer what support I could to help him to our room.

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