Something Gained

Chapter Eighty-Five

I spent the next couple of days in bed, apart from when Daniel made me eat and then I went downstairs, and even then sometimes I didn't get out of bed. He had me to a strict tablet taking schedule, drinking water and making sure I was okay. He stayed with me the whole time apart from when he was making food or working out with Michael, he didn't leave the house at all, and barely left my side.

"I'm hungry" I groaned as I woke up
"Well that's new!" Daniel smiled, he jumped straight up and did his usual, handed me water, took my temperature and kissed my forehead. "I'll go make breakfast, then tablets" he said before leaving the room. I still felt crap, but no where near as bad as I did. We were meant to be flying to Spain tonight, I sighed and prayed I was able to go. Daniel had been texting the team doctor about things, when he came back with breakfast he smiled.
"I spoke with Robert, your temperature is normal, and he said if you feel okay to fly then you can" Daniel smiled "do you feel okay?"
"I feel better, not great still" I said as I sipped my orange juice
"He said you'd still feel horrible, for a while anyway. You should keep taking paracetamol, and the vitamins Michael gave you, it'll boost your immune system more and more" Daniel said, Michael had got stuff for us while we'd been home, including some specific vitamins which he said would help and they've certainly done so.
"Thank you Dan, you've been so so so nice and lovely" I said as I snuggled into him
"For better or for worse, in sickness and in health" Daniel chuckled as he kissed the top of my head
"How out of have I been? I didn't realise we got married" I laughed back
"I'm so happy to hear you laugh, it's been so horrible seeing you unwell, ive been watching you sleep to make sure you're still breathing, even at night I keep waking up to check on you" he whispered. I wrapped my arms round him
"You're so cute, I love you"
"I love you bub" he said
"These nicknames" I laughed
"I like them"
"Me to" I said.
"Now, eat your breakfast, I'll put on the telly for you. And you can tell me what I need to pack for Spain" he said
"You're going to pack my bag?"
"Well you're certainly not doing it. You're doing nothing, I'm going to continue to look after you"
"I'm okay"
"No. You're better than you was but still not great" he said reciting my words. I rolled my eyes at him and he laughed and kissed my head again
"You can't do everything for me, what about when you're driving?" I questioned, trying to catch him out
"That's what Michael is for. He'll be right with you the whole time" he said smugly. He'd already thought about it
"And I still have a job to do"
"Yes but you've done everything already that you need to, you'll only be training Sophie and Ben. Speaking of, Sophie asked how you were"
"Oh she did"
"Yeah she's been texting" Daniel said, pottering around the room packing his own bag
"Texting? Texting you?" I said. It did make me feel a bit jealous, I tried to keep it at bay
"Yeah twice, both times asked if you were okay and hoped you were getting better" Daniel said, okay well that was very nice of her. I smiled and ate my breakfast while watching some morning tv. "Lando also text, as has Michael when he hasn't been here, as has Hannah, Liam, Max and Carlos, you're very popular you know" I was surprised. Hannah of course and I was gutted I hadn't been able to see her and Liam, but I could between Spain and Bahrain. Carlos I wasn't really surprised, since I used to work with him, Lando again no surprise, but Max was surprising, bless him.
"Now, what do I need to get first?" He asked as he closed his own suitcase, he packed so easily it always made me laugh.

"Lex!" Lando yelled as I boarded the team plane. Michael, Dan and I were some of the last ones on the plane. Lando jumped and hugged me from beside Jon.
"Hey Lands" I whispered, my voice still awful
"You sound wonderful" he laughed
"Thanks hun" I joked. He hated hun and I loved that he hated it, he rolled his eyes and I sat down opposite to them next to Daniel across from Michael.
"How are you feeling?" Jon asked
"Better, getting there" I said. I pulled out my laptop and put it on the table in front of me
"You are joking that you're going to work?" Daniel asked
"I have to" I chuckled. He handed me a bottle of water and my tablets again. We had eaten before we left for the airport so I needed to take them
"Look at him being so nice" Lando laughed as Daniel took my laptop from me.
"That's what I said" Michael agreed
"That's because it's me" I winked at them.  I took my tablets. "Dan come on?" I sighed
"Nope" he replied. I wasn't happy with him but I could protest, not against him. I needed to catch up with Sophie and Ben, and probably the billion emails I had but I had no choice, Michael had already stored my laptop away after it was handed to him.

Sophie and Ben boarded the plane together finally.
"Hey! How are you feeling?" Sophie asked straight away as she sat down across from Jon and Lando.
"I'm better thank you" I smiled "everything okay with you guys?" I asked them both
"Yeah all good I think. Excited to get going" Ben smiled
"This is Michael by the way, Daniel's personal trainer, therapist, meal planner etc, and that's Jon, the same for Lando" I said as I introduced them. "Guys, we have Sophie and Ben, Ben is with Lands and Sophie is with Dan" I said as I introduced them all. It was the only people Ben and Sophie hadn't met yet as they weren't there the other day. They all exchanged hello and chatted together.
"What's the plan for when we land?" Ben asked
"Hotel check in, change, big team dinner, early night, track tomorrow, that's where it'll get busy and you'll need the sleep" I told them
"Is she always this prepared and full of knowledge of the top of her head?" Sophie chuckled
"Yes" Michael, Jon, Daniel and Lando all said at the same and we all laughed
"When I say the glue that holds us all together, it literally is" Jon said
"Aren't you cute" I winked at him and he laughed
"But I beg of you don't ask her about anything work related right now, she's strictly on bed rest... ish" Daniel said, I rolled my eyes at him and huffed.
"And we go again! New year, new season people" Lando yelled changing the subject
"Hell yeah!" Daniel and Michael yelled.
"I'm just glad to have another girl to be honest" I laughed "you lot are too much on a good day"
"I got your back" Sophie reached over and fistbumped me
"Someone's definitely feeling better. Barely got one word out her before" Michael laughed. I stuck my tongue out at him
"Is that enough that I can do some work please?" I asked Daniel, he sighed
"Alex you're still not well"
"And if I don't do the work I've missed then I will be so behind" I sighed
"Can I help?" Sophie asked
"Unfortunately not" I sighed
"Stop being grumpy, you're not well!" Daniel scolded, I rolled my eyes at him. I was not happy about it but I didn't have the energy to try and argue with Daniel, or Michael who was giving me warning looks. I knew they came from a good place.
"I can't not work the whole time" I muttered
"No, but where I can prevent it is enough" Daniel smiled. I nudged his arm in frustration before, once again, admitting defeat.

The plane journey was just general chit chat, laughs, snacks and vibes. Sophie and Ben fit in well with everyone, we got to the hotel and I sorted out the small groups rooms as usual and handed out keys, giving them all 90 minutes before we met for dinner, the whole team in the same hotel as usual. Ready to go again.
"You're tired bubs" Daniel said wrapping his arms around me as I looked out the window of Barcelona
"I am" I sighed
"Why don't you sleep? I can wake you up in an half an hour?" Daniel whispered as his head rested on my shoulder. I nodded, I think it was best. He put his arms round my waist and picked me up and carried me to bed as I giggled. He laid down and I laid on his chest and snuggled in, sleep consuming me straight away.