If He Wanted to, He Would

When S(he's) Sick pt.2

Got a request (my first one!) for a part two of my last chapter! Thank you for that! Spinning it so now poor Travy has Taylor's bug but no one's (physically) there for him:( 

Luckily, Taylor recovered fairly quickly from the bout of stomach flu that had her curled up on the bathroom floor two nights ago. Her quick return to wellness was partly due to the rest she'd acquired, Travis waiting on her every need, and mostly due to Travis' mere presence. Soaking in the bath with him and then cuddling for the rest of the day had cured her faster than she anticipated. Taylor was amazed at the difference having someone by your side can make in times of illness. Saying goodbye to him the next morning, however, had made her stomach hurt again but this time it was from longing and much like the virus she'd just fought, it could only be relieved by his presence.

Taylor had just finished her post-show shower, her illness had been perfectly timed for the one day she had off between shows, when Travis' Face Time lit up her phone. She's not dressed yet, still drying the drops of moisture off her skin but she accepts the call anyway. He's seen her naked plenty of times, plus, the camera of her phone is angled at the ceiling.

"Hey baby" she greets, "sorry, I just finished in the shower."

"Tay," is all he says and he sounds off. Voice low, gravelly, and without its usual joyful tone. Shit. She takes a closer look at the image Face Time is feeding her screen and her heart sinks. She had been hoping she hadn't passed on her sickness to Travis, who had sacrificed himself care for her. Taylor had thought that she may have been successful in keeping it to herself when a couple days passed and Travis had shown no signs. However, by the pasty, clammy look of his skin and the way he appeared to be leaning up against the wall of his bathroom, she realized she definitely failed. That damn virus had jumped ship to her poor boyfriend.

"Oh no, Trav," is all she can think to say. "I'm so, so, so sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault." he groaned. He brought a hand up to cover his mouth for a second, then lets it drop, the wave of nausea seemingly passing, and Taylor aches to be there. To sit beside him on the floor, rubbing his back and riding it out with him. 

"It kind of is though."

"No, if it is anyone's fault it's mine but assigning fault doesn't help now." 

They fall silent. Taylor standing there in her towel, gazing sympathetically through the screen at Travis, who's head is now knocked back to rest against the wall. It hurts her, seeing Travis looking feeble, especially when the weakening was a result of her actions. Well, of his action. A consequence of his desire to be there for her even when it risked himself. It dawns on Taylor that while she has easily loved a person to the point of sacrificing herself, she's not sure that they had felt the same towards her. Not until Travis. Joe had always stayed away for this exact reason. 

"Ugh, I'm going to need to call you back," he mumbles, complexion paling even more, and she cringes and nodes. The call blinks out and returns her to her home screen where a picture of Travis, looking healthy and bight, and Olivia covered partially by  her apps greets her. Taylor clicks the side button, shutting the screen, and places it back down on the bathroom counter. 

She finishes up towelling off, moisturizing, putting on her facial serums and brushing her hair into a braid to dry. Taylor considers calling Travis back when she's tucked herself into her bed with a bag of salt and vinegar chips and a bottle of gatorade. Not the most nutritious meal to be eating after a three hour concert but her own stomach is still touchy. Not wanting to disrupt him incase he'd fallen asleep, or worse, was still throwing up, she opts not to call. Some tiny part of her begins fantasizing that she could possibly swing a little visit to him, even a short twelve hour visit? Just to get him through the sickness. Barring a glance at her schedule squashes that glimmer of hope. She has to be back at the stadium in fourteen hours for soundcheck. After tomorrows show, she decides, she'll jet over to Kansas City and they can continue their recoveries together.

A short ten minutes later he phone's buzzing again with Travis' call. Without hesitancy, she answers. This time he's left the bathroom floor and is in bed, head on his pillow and a trash can visible in the background. 

"How you doing over there?" she asked. 

He scrunches up his nose and inhales fully before answering. "Honestly, not fucking good. I think I just puked up my kidneys."

"I don't think that's possible, baby." 

"Feels like it should be," he grumbles. Taylor can empathize, she too had felt like her organs were bubbling up and out of her a couple nights ago.

"You made it to bed at least" she offers. Hoping, it's a sign that he's feeling a little better, or at least, less nauseated.

"Had to. My back was starting to fucking ache and its freezing in there," he complains. Scrunching his eyes shut and pulling his comforter closer to his body. 

"I wish I could be there with you," she suspires. What she wouldn't do for a teleportation device right now. 

"Me too." 

She pulls her own comforter up and around her. Settling herself to mirror the way Travis has positioned himself in his bed, across the country. Travis' eyes flick open and take her in and a small, weak smile appears on his lips. Neither one of them says it, but they both silently pretend that they are together. That Taylor is next to him, her hand coasting up and down his back while he does everything he can to get some rest. It's the next best thing to being there in person. 

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Done:). Keep the requests coming! I'm starting on another series of one shots based on song lyrics so also keep an eye out for her please!!! Thanks!