*This takes place around the midseason of the first season*
Tam hated being sick.
And not the runny nose occasional cough sick- that just annoyed her. She hated the dry eyes, cough hacking, lazy feeling, headache, queasy stomach that made you want to die.
Just her luck. She caught whatever was floating around the Colossus by shaking someone's hand or inhaling the wrong way.
She hated being sick.
So when Tam managed to pull herself out of bed, stumble through the streets, and wander into the Garage- she was automatically stopped by Jerik Yeager himself.
"What in Castilon do you think you're doing?"
Tam squinted at her boss' shifting shape and managed out, "Going to work."
Yeager rolled his eyes. "Not for a millisecond. I don't need you spreading whatever this is."
"Boss", Tam rasped, feeling a wave of nausea roll through her. "I'm fine, really."
The floor rolled again, and she thought for a moment she was going to lose the protein bar she had for breakfast.
The old man huffed. "Kaz!"
Kaz poked his head around the corner. "Ya?"
"Tam's got whatever's going around." Yeager said. "Can you make sure she gets home without falling over the edge of the Colossus?"
She gave Kaz her best glare, which was more of a squint.
"Sure." He stepped forward, reaching to grab her arm.
"Don't you dare." She snarled, yanking her arm back, which was an awful mistake. The sudden movement made the room start to spin.
"Tam!"
The garage was a mix of colors, and the only thing she could hear was the panicked sound of her own name.
Two things she learned in that moment were- A, never spin in a circle when talking makes you nauseous- B, breakfast doesn't taste as good coming back up.
"Tam?"
Kaz and Yeager's faces began to look more like their faces, and Tam realised that she was on the floor.
She looked up at her boss and said, "Any chance I can still work?"
Yeager sighed, raising his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "You can when you feel better." He turned to Kaz. "Get her out of here."
"You don't need any help cleaning up... that?" Kaz nodded to the mess on the floor.
Yeager rolled his eyes. "We have droids. They can do it."
And he walked away, leaving the two behind.
"Alright-" Kaz started to lean forward, to help her up.
"No." She snapped. "I- I can get up by myself."
Tam managed to stand after a lot of struggle and wobbled forward. Kaz watched her, and when she took a step he reached for her again. Tam just batted his hands away and mumbled how she didn't need his help.
When the two got outside, the fresh air was actually relieving. Tam silently thanked Yeager for sending her home.
She felt her balance slip away again, and Kaz grabbed her arm.
"Hey!" She tried to wiggle out of his grip, but either he had gotten stronger or Tam had become weaker. Both of which she wasn't ready for.
"You keep falling towards the edge." Kaz said, not letting go.
