Roadtrip Oneshots

Jandy, Chest Infection

Jack

I guess the headache and the constant aches and pains were warning enough that something was wrong.

But as usual, I ignored them. Because that's me, Jack Duff. The king of ignoring signs, whether they be physical signs for the road or for my personal safety, or signs such as gut instinct.

I'm fairly sure that that was my first mistake... ignoring everything.

***

It was currently five in the morning, and I'd hidden myself in the bathroom. I hadn't slept well at all, and hadn't for the last few days, constantly drifting somewhere between sleep and consciousness. I had been sweating uncontrollably the whole night, and my headache and the faint pains everywhere only made it worse. I thought I was just ill or something. And I knew that I'd made Brook stir in his sleep a few times, so I made the decision to hide in the bathroom. After all, none of the boys would be up until at least nine or ten, seeing as they'd all gone to bed late last night.

I'd collapsed faintly to the floor, leaning against the bathtub as I gasped for breath. I tilted my head back, and just breathed heavily for a few minutes.

This, whatever this was... It was only getting worse.

What I was doing now had become and almost nightly occurrence. I always felt bad knowing that I'd woken Brook up, so I came in here where it was quiet... and also because it meant that there was another wall separating me from everyone.
It meant that I was less likely to wake everyone up.

I didn't notice as I slowly drifted off, my chest still heaving for breath as I leant against the bathtub. My body slumped downwards, but I had no energy to pull myself back up again.
Maybe it was better if I fell asleep... maybe one more sleep would make this all go away...

***

"Wake up! Jack... wake up!" My eyes snapped open with a jolt, and I reeled sideways when I saw Andy's face inches from my own.

"Jesus! Give me a heart attack!" I exclaimed as I sat myself upright, before closing my eyes. I rested my hand on my forehead, but cringed when I felt how sweaty I was.

"Have you been here all night?" He asked, and as I looked up I saw the concern in them. I sighed then, defeat making my hand fall to the floor.

"Since about 5:00AM... I think I kept waking Brook up." I answered. My chest felt tight all of a sudden, and I coughed into my hand.
Only the tightness didn't go away, although it transformed into a painful discomfort in the centre of my chest.
I rubbed it harshly, but ended up coughing again.

"I told you we should've taken you the doctor days ago... you're not getting any better Jack... you're so pale." Andy said, his voice full of sympathy. I felt a hand in my hair, but I weakly pushed it away.

"I'm all sweaty... don't..." I trailed off in a coughing fit, and it ended with my face red, and my muscles in my stomach aching again. I winced and groaned as I tried to stretch, completely forgetting that my whole body literally hurt.

"I don't mind." Andy whispered back, and he continued to run his hand through my hair. Not gonna lie, it was relaxing, and  I may or may not have nearly drifted off again. I sighed softly, but the moment of bliss was ruined as I coughed again.

Only the coughing didn't stop.

I reached out to grab Andy's hand in a panic when I couldn't seem to catch my breath, my eyes wide and full of tears.

"Jack. Jack look at me." I heard. I snapped my gaze upwards and looked right into his eyes, and I could see the fear and panic in them, even if my vision was a bit blurry.

I could see he was trying to hide it.

"Calm. Down. Take all the time you need. Just. Calm. Down." He spoke loudly and slowly, and I found myself nodding along.

I tried to do as he said, sucking in huge breaths that shook my body, holding them for a few seconds, and then releasing them. I coughed a few times in between, but after a few minutes they all but dissipated.

I was sweating even more now, and my chest had this consistent burning pain deep inside.
I groaned, closing my eyes in distress.

"Jack? Talk to me." Andy's voice drive through the fog in my head, and I blinked sluggishly.

"My chest burns." I winced again, trying to pull myself up from where I had all but slid to the floor.

"Okay... okay, no! Stay there Jack, don't move yet." Andy shouted the last part, and after a seconds hesitation I gave in. I layed on my side, sighing when I felt something soft beneath my head.

"Not moving. Got it." I groaned again, but ended up violently shaking when I coughed again.

A quick succession of hacking coughs that burned my throat, brought tears to my eyes, and also brought up an alarming amount of phlegm. I spat it onto the floor beside me, using one of my arms to hold myself up with, although I was shaking like crazy.

"What is go- What's wrong with Jack?" Mikey suddenly panicked in the doorway, and I looked up briefly to see his eyes wide, before I coughed up another round of phlegm.

"By the looks of it, he's got a chest infection Mikey. And Jack... I don't care what you say I'm taking you into the hospital. I knew we should've brought you in sooner." Andy scolded himself as he rubbed my side.

Once I was finished I collapsed back to the floor, gasping, out of breath, and moaning quietly at the discomfort.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Mikey asked as he lingered in the doorway. I let my eyes drift over to him, and smiled softly.

"Some water would be good right about now... thanks." I said hoarsely. He left immediately, and I let out a breathy laugh.

"Always the willing volunteer." I gasped, wheezing slightly. I heard Andy sigh heavily from beside me, and I looked at him properly for the first time.

Still panicking slightly. Still scared. But a lot calmer. Sitting on his knees, and I realised that his jumper was beneath my head.

"Because he's worried about you. We all are Jack. This started about a week ago, and you wouldn't let us take you to the doctor's. Now this happens." Andy said softly, running a hand through my hair. I closed my eyes and breathed shallowly.

I didn't want another coughing fit.

"I thought it was just a cold Andy." I tried to defend, but Andy let out a chuckle.

"Clearly you were wrong." He paused for a few seconds. "Look... you're like a little brother to me Jack. So of course I'm going to worry about you." Andy spoke honestly, and I smiled.

"And you're like my overprotective older brother then." I responded, sticking my tongue out.

"Too right. Now, once you've had a drink, I'm taking you straight to the hospital. No arguments." Andy helped me sit up so that my back was against the bathtub (again). I winced as my chest burned.

"But..." I sighed, trailing off when Mikey came back in with a glass.

"Here you go." He said as he leant over Andy to hand me the drink.

"Cheers Mike." I coughed lightly, bringing the glass to my lips and taking a few sips.

"No buts." Andy put his foot down, and I just nodded. There was no point in even trying to win against Andy.

I could never win an argument against my older brother.

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