Chenford Oneshots

My Stubborn Patient

Lucy woke up to the unforgiving light streaming through the curtains, her head heavy and her throat raw. She barely moved, hoping that lying still would ease the spinning in her head. But duty called—or at least, she thought it did. Beside her, Tim stirred and glanced at her with a sleepy but instantly alert gaze. "You good?" he asked, voice soft but laced with that familiar protective tone. "Yeah, just need coffee," she replied, offering him a weak smile as she swung her legs off the bed. But the minute she stood, the room tilted, and she felt his arm steady her.

"Lucy," he said, his eyes narrowed. "You look exhausted. When did you start feeling like this?"

"Probably last night. But I'm fine, Tim," she insisted, though her voice cracked slightly. "It's just a cold or something."

Tim gave her a look she knew too well—the no-arguments kind of look. "You're not fine. You need to stay home and rest."

"I'll be fine once I get moving. Just... coffee and some medicine, and I'll be good to go," she said, trying to shrug it off. She knew she was pushing it, but missing a shift wasn't her style.

Tim stood firm, crossing his arms. "Lucy, you need to stay home. This is one of those times when you actually listen to me, okay?" he added with a soft smile to ease his point. "I'll handle work. And you, you're staying in bed."

Sighing, she finally relented, nodding as she settled back under the covers. "Fine. But you better not go soft out there without me," she teased, her voice barely more than a whisper.

With a gentle squeeze of her hand, Tim kissed her forehead before heading out, leaving his phone within reach. "Call me if you need anything. I'll be checking in," he promised.

Throughout the day, he messaged her, each one bringing a little smile to her face.

"How are you feeling?" "Drinking water? Resting, right?" "I'm on break. Don't make me come home and check up on you."

When his shift finally ended, he picked up some soup and medicine before heading home. Tim turned the key quietly, not wanting to wake her if she'd fallen asleep. But Lucy was awake, wrapped in a blanket on the couch, her face lighting up the second he walked in.

"Hey, there's my stubborn patient," he teased, setting down a bag with soup, crackers, and extra cold medicine on the table. "How're you feeling?" Lucy gave a weak shrug, but her tired smile said it all. "Better now that you're here."

Tim knelt down beside her, cupping her face in his hand, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "I brought reinforcements—soup, snacks, and the stuff that actually works," he said with a smirk. "You need anything else?"

"Maybe just you," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Without missing a beat, he leaned down, kissing her forehead softly. "I'm right here, Luce." The gentle touch lingered, and when he pulled back, she caught his eyes, seeing something warm and reassuring. "Thank you for taking care of me," she said, her voice softer now.

"Always. I love you," he replied, his voice steady but full of feeling. Her smile widened, even with her tired eyes. "I love you too, Tim." He eased himself onto the couch beside her, wrapping an arm around her as she nestled against him, resting her head on his chest. "How about we put on a movie? Something you don't need to pay too much attention to," he suggested, rubbing her back in soothing circles. She nodded, her eyes already heavy, as Tim picked a lighthearted comedy and let it play in the background. As the movie unfolded, she drifted in and out of sleep, lulled by his warmth and steady breathing. Every so often, he'd glance down to make sure she was comfortable, brushing a gentle kiss to her forehead or pulling the blanket up to her shoulders.

Eventually, she fell fully asleep in his arms, her breathing soft and steady. Tim held her close, feeling her relax entirely, safe in the knowledge that she didn't have to be "strong" right now—she just had to rest. With a contented smile, he whispered softly, "Goodnight, Lucy," before letting himself relax with her, a peaceful calm settling around them both as the night drifted on.

A/n: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed! I'm honestly running out of ideas, so let me know if you want to see anything else!!