Why Don't We One Shots

When she needs me, Daniel Seavey

Daniel had always prided himself on his ability to stay calm in almost any situation. But as he stood in the doorway of his apartment, looking down at his girlfriend curled up on the couch, everything inside him tensed with worry.

She looked miserable. Her normally bright, sparkling eyes were dull, the usual energy she carried with her seemed to have evaporated entirely, replaced by a paleness that made his chest tighten. He knew she'd been feeling a little under the weather the past couple of days, but seeing her like this—wrapped in a blanket, a box of tissues scattered around her—made him realize just how bad it had gotten.

"Y/n..." Daniel's voice came out soft, barely above a whisper as he stepped into the room. She looked up at him weakly, offering a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Hey," she croaked, her voice hoarse from the cold.

Daniel's heart ached. She was always the one to take care of him, always the one who showed up with soup when he was sick, making him laugh when he felt miserable, and calming him down when his mind raced. Now, it was his turn.

He walked over to the couch and knelt down beside her. "Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair away from her forehead, his fingers cool against her heated skin.

"I didn't want to bother you," she murmured, her words muffled by the stuffed-up feeling in her nose. She tried to sit up but winced, clearly exhausted by the effort.

Daniel frowned. "You could never bother me, Y/n. You know that." He carefully adjusted the blanket around her and sat beside her on the couch. His hand found hers, gently squeezing it. "I want to be here for you, okay?"

Y/n gave him a small, grateful smile, and Daniel's chest warmed at the sight. He reached for her water bottle from the table and offered it to her. "Here, drink this."

She took a sip, letting the cool water soothe her dry throat. Her body shuddered slightly as she finished, leaning back against the cushions, looking so defeated that Daniel wanted to wrap the world around her and protect her from everything.

He hated seeing her like this. She was always so full of life, so vibrant, that it felt wrong to see her so quiet, so sick. "I hate this," he murmured under his breath. "I hate seeing you like this, baby. You're usually the one taking care of me."

Y/n let out a soft, almost inaudible laugh. "You'll get used to it," she teased weakly, though it lacked her usual spark.

Daniel chuckled softly but couldn't hide the concern in his eyes. He gently rubbed her back, feeling the tension in her muscles, the fever radiating off her. He could tell she was uncomfortable, her breathing shallow, and there was a faint shiver in her voice every time she spoke.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I don't care how long it takes. I'll make sure you feel better. Promise."

Her gaze softened as she looked at him, her partner in life. Her fingers weakly squeezed his hand in return. "You don't have to, Dani. I'll be fine."

"Nope," he replied, shaking his head, his voice firm but gentle at the same time. "I'm not letting you convince me otherwise." He paused, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead and then her lips, careful not to disturb her. "You've always taken care of me when I needed it. Now it's my turn."

Y/n closed her eyes for a moment, a peaceful expression settling on her face, as if just hearing him say that made her feel a bit better. "I really don't deserve you, you know that?"

Daniel smiled, a mixture of affection and seriousness in his expression. "Don't say that. You deserve the world, baby." He sat up straighter, now fully determined. "You stay here, and I'll make you some tea. Then, I'm going to put on your favorite movie and make sure you don't have to lift a finger, okay?"

She looked at him through half-lidded eyes and hummed, her exhaustion evident, but there was a flicker of warmth in her gaze. "Okay, but only if you promise to sit with me the whole time."

"I wouldn't dream of leaving you alone," Daniel replied, leaning over to kiss her again. "I'm not going anywhere." He was the stability she needed in her life.

Daniel moved around the kitchen, preparing the tea as quickly as he could, trying his best not to knock anything over in his hurry. As much as he hated seeing Y/n in pain, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of purpose in taking care of her―just as she had taken care of him so many times before.

When the tea was ready, he returned to the living room, finding her exactly where he had left her. She was curled up under the blanket, looking pale but a little more relaxed, her eyes closed in the peaceful way people look when they are just on the edge of sleep.

"Got your tea," Daniel said softly, sitting down beside her and offering her the cup. She took it from him gratefully, her fingers wrapping around the warm mug as if it were the only thing keeping her anchored.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice still raspy. She took a careful sip, and Daniel watched as she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the liquid.

Daniel settled next to her again, propping his legs up on the couch and pulling the blanket around both of them. Y/n leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder, and for a moment, the world felt like it was slowing down. He ran his fingers through her hair gently and whispered sweet nothings into her ear.

"Just rest," he said softly, his voice like a low hum. "I'm here, okay? Just relax. I've got you."
Y/n nodded weakly, the tension in her body easing slightly under his touch. It was as if the weight of the world had shifted, just for a moment, and she didn't have to carry it alone anymore.

They sat in silence for a while, the flickering glow of the TV casting a soft light, the sound of the movie playing in the background barely reaching their ears, and they just enjoyed the moment. Daniel's fingers continued to thread through her hair, a calming rhythm, the sound of her steady breathing reassuring him that she was slowly, but surely, starting to feel better.

"I love you," Daniel whispered, his voice full of tenderness.
Y/n shifted slightly, her face still buried in his shoulder, but her lips curved into a soft smile. "I love you too, Dani."

He held her a little tighter, a quiet promise in the motion. "Don't ever forget that, okay? I'm always going to be here for you, just like you've been for me."

She nodded, her fingers wrapping around his hand, pulling him even closer, as if she were already finding comfort in his words. And Daniel knew, no matter how long it took, he would stay by her side through it all―just as she had always been there for him.

Because love, he thought, was just as much about showing up when the other person needed you the most, no matter how small the gesture seemed. And for that moment, as they sat together in the quiet, Daniel couldn't think of anywhere he'd rather be.

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AN: I feel like this one was a bit repetitive. But it's the last one of the streak of sickfics, I promise. Don't forget to vote!! Thanks for reading xx