13 Novella 3

Sick

TW: slight gore

"-No she had a nightmare, she's worried sick." Says Missy quietly.

"She's been restless all night, even muttering at some point." Adds Jenny and you scrunch your face slightly.

"I'm surprised she allowed you both near her" says another voice; The Doctor.

"I don't think she's going to let either of us out of her sight for too long until that fades." Chuckles Missy.

Someone touches your forehead lightly with the back of their fingers and you groan slightly, waking slowly.

"She's very warm, you know you two shouldn't stay too close physically, you'll overheat her" says The Doctor.

"Actually we did think of that- only every time we tried to give her space she gripped us tighter."
Says Jenny fondly, and you notice one of your legs is wrapped around Jenny's, and the opposite hand is clenched around Missy's t-shirt.

You can't bring yourself to let go.

"How's her arm? Has it been bothering her?" Asks an amused Doctor.

"I don't think so, do you think she'll wake up if we have a look? I don't want to panic her" says Jenny worriedly.

"I need to check it anyway, I'll be quick" says The Doctor, slowly picking up your arm and unwrapping it.

You groan lightly and she pauses then continues gently. There is a sharp intake of breath when she removes it fully and you feel the cold air stinging.

"Oww!" You shriek, sitting up suddenly.

"It's ok my love you're ok!" Says Missy hurriedly as you panic at everyone around you. Instinctively, you look down at your arm and dry retch. It's red raw and shiny like a burn, and the letters have spilled through the skin, oozing blood and pus.

Gagging, you stumble off the bed past Jenny and run to the bathroom where you throw up in the toilet, then sit, shivering, freezing cold.

"Oh god" says Jenny running behind you. You lean back on the bath and close your eyes, feeling horrendous.

"Doctor what do we do?!" she says in horror as you groan in pain, then wrap your arms tightly around your legs.

"(Y/n) whats bothering you? Is it your arm?" Asks The Doctor and you try to speak.

"C-c-c...Cold" you shiver and Missy immediately bends down and engulfs you in her body heat.

"Get her back into bed" says The Doctor seriously and you feel Missy pull you to your feet where you stand swaying slightly, until you fall back down again in a dead faint.

You open your eyes obediently as someone calls your name and you see three faces swimming above you as you lie on the bathroom floor.

"What- what happened?" You ask, trying to get your eyes to focus.

"You're not very well my love" responds Missy anxiously, leaning down and slipping her hands underneath you. With no strength, your limbs flop uselessly and you can barely hold your head up. The Doctor notices and holds it up for you as Missy carries you gently back to your bed.

"It hurts" you mumble and someone applies something cold to your arm. You shiver and tuck into Missy who joins you back on the bed where you curl up tightly, only your arm held by The Doctor left exposed.

Jenny pulls the duvet back over you but you are still freezing.

"Doctor what do you think it is?" Asks Missy in a low voice, holding you securely.

"I think it's a ticking time bomb. Look." She says and you open your eyes slightly to see what she's looking at.

"Wasn't that... didn't it say 48 yesterday?" Inquires Jenny. True, you must have read it a hundred times, but now it read 24.

"I think it's counting down, and she's only going to get worse as it progresses" say the Doctor gravely and you know she's right. You groan softly and Missy looks down at you.

"Missy and Jenny?" You mumble quietly and Jenny strokes your cheek.

"We're fine, and you're going to be too" she says determinedly and you feel her pull away.

"Don't go!" You exclaim weakly and she pauses.

"Actually it might be better if you stay, try and keep her calm, the stress isn't helping" says The Doctor and Jenny sinks back onto the bed where she sits with one leg dangling off.

"I'm going to get some medicines that might help, don't let her go back to sleep just yet." Says The Doctor before catching their expressions. "We'll figure this out." She says softly, but you don't think anyone in their room believes her.

"Remember she can hear your worry, it's a paradox, more she hears you stress, the more it will impact her." Says The Doctor lowly and you feel Missy's thoughts attempt to shift a little lighter. It doesn't help much.

The Doctor leaves and returns ten minutes later with some food and medicine, which she tries to feed you. You turn your head away and scrunch your face, trying to burrow back under the covers.

"Oh no you don't" says Missy peeling back the covers. "Come on, you've got to keep your strength up." She chuckles lightly, and brings a spoonful of the food to your lips. You push them together and turn your head away as she sighs.

"Try some water" suggests Jenny, and this time you allow a little bit of drink.

The Doctor tries to give you medicine but you turn at that too.

"(Y/n) it might help." She says, sighing when you don't respond. "Missy?" She asks and the Time Lady nods, then pinches your nose lightly. You gasp and open your mouth and The Doctor takes the opportunity to tip the sweet tasting stuff down you throat.

You cough and gag but they hold your mouth shut until you've swallowed. You scowl and Missy laughs.

"Sorry my love" she says, kissing you lightly on the forehead. You relax and curl back up, ready to sleep.

They continue to mutter quietly but you are exhausted and warm.

You don't try to fight the wave of lethargy that pulls you under.