Who Needs Powers?

Chapter 2: No One Wants the Flu

It was flu season around the school, and while that meant K and Jean both were trying to keep the newborns away from the kids, somehow, it wasn't quite enough to keep things from spreading all the same.

Susie was the first of the Bishop girls to catch it, but almost as soon as Susie had gone from sneezing to the tossing-her-cookies stage of the bug, Katie had it too — which meant Hank and Logan were very busy with their respective girls asking for their dads to help them whenever they had to throw up again.

And then Barney got it... then Rachel came down with it... it was just a matter of the fact that Jean and K had taken the very-new babies to a totally different wing and more or less kicked everyone else out that kept them from the flu bug. It really was bad this year.

Clint tried to help as much as he could. Even though he was super grossed out, he could help with the non-puke parts of stuff. Like getting water and some crackers when the kids who were sick felt well enough to try and keep some down. Or sitting with Katie when she was just so miserable she started to cry and then felt worse because she got too snotty to breathe.

He was just headed downstairs to fill up several more water bottles when he ran into Hank headed up to check on his many patients — especially the little ones — and gave Hank a little smile. "Hey, Dr. Blue. Need any help?"

Hank smiled at Clint. "I see you're already doing your part, young man."

Clint nodded. "No one's feeling very good," he explained. "But I'm not puking, so... I'm getting water and crackers."

"A sensible arrangement," Hank couldn't help but laugh.

"Katie thinks she's dying," Clint said, rolling his eyes. "She's so dramatic."

Hank chuckled and shook his head. "She's too young to remember ever being this sick. I'm sure, to her, this is the worst she can ever remember feeling."

"Okay, that's true, I guess," Clint allowed.

"And how are you feeling?" Hank asked, waiting for Clint to fill up his water bottles so they could set about their task together. After all, he knew Clint still had a bit of an aversion to doctors, but if they spent some time taking care of his siblings, Hank hoped he could see the good side of medicine — helping others to feel better.

"I'm fine," Clint promised. "I don't have any sniffles, even. I guess it's 'cause I got the flu, like, three times last year, so the universe decided to give me a break," he joked.

Hank couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, yes. Very scientific."

"Yeah, but I like it," Clint said, grinning up at him as he screwed the cap back on the last water bottle and the two of them headed up together.

Hank chuckled at that as he came upstairs to where Logan had Katie on his stomach as she curled up and miserable. Scott was close by with Rachel similarly pale and gross, while Barney clearly just wanted to be left alone. "My good assistant Mr. Barton has the water I assume you all asked for," Hank announced as he came in.

Barney waved Clint over. "I like having my own water boy."

"Oh, shut up, Barney, or I'll dump it on you," Clint warned.

"Oh, but you're such a great nursemaid..."

"Oops," Clint deadpanned as he dumped the entire water bottle into Barney's lap.

Rachel giggled from where she was tucked into Scott's arms. "You got wet."

"He sure did," Clint said, shooting a grin Rachel's way before he brought over her sippy cup of water.