Hesken Fever is a real pain

[for_everyone]

The problem with doing maintenance work on a space ship is that sometimes, there are stowaways. This particular one is bacterial, and Hera got a faceful of its little colony before realizing it had hidden away inside the hatch's locking mechanism.

It's almost painful to tuck herself away in her bunk, because there's so much repair work to be done, but --

Well.

The fastest way to cure something like this -- congestion, sore throat, chills, and all -- is to rest. The fastest way to rest is to nap, and Hera is trying very hard, blanket pulled up to her chin and eyes held determinedly closed. Unfortunately she aches, and her brain won't stop fuzzily running back and forth, so --

Mostly she's just waiting. It will probably be lunchtime soon. Or maybe dinner.

Comments

[notallofus]

"I'm gonna remember you said that," he says, trying to keep himself from wincing when she does.

[for_everyone]

"'m not that mean," Hera says, taking another careful swallow of soup. It makes it a little easier to talk immediately after, right up until it doesn't.

"To you. Or anybody."

[notallofus]

"No," he says quietly, leaning his head gently against hers. "'Course you're not."

[for_everyone]

"I'm tough," she says, all current evidence to the physical contrary. "We're all tough."

Chopper, Zeb . . . Kanan, too.

"But we're not mean."

And, of course, this is where Hera starts coughing again.

"Ow."

[notallofus]

"We've got to be."

Sometimes. But for now, he slowly moves away from her again. "I can get some water. And - more tea?"

[for_everyone]

She's almost done with the soup, now, and takes a minute or so to finish it before flailing around with the empty bowl, careful not to fling the remnants on Kanan. Or the bed.

"Yes, please. Maybe I'll be able to sleep. Finally."

[notallofus]

He tries to grab the bowl, so as to help with the flailing. "Okay, I'll be right back."

As he moves to put the bowl back on the tray and stand, "And I'll see if Chop'll finally let me give you more medicine."

[for_everyone]

Hera lets go of the bowl after a momentary tug, as if she doesn't quite trust both of them to have a grip on it, and worried about letting go.

Then, as she leans back against the pillows again, making a face at the sweat-dampness of the sheet --

"When 's been four hours. Or six? I forget."

[notallofus]

"I think it's been almost four."

But he's not really sure if the directions are four-or-six hours, either. He's going to bug Chopper about it either way.

[for_everyone]

She yawns, tucking herself down a little more in the blankets.

"Make the tea first. 'n you won't get shocked."

[notallofus]

"Good thinking."

He gathers up the tray, and - well, he should head straight for the door. But he can't keep himself from stopping by her long enough to briefly touch her shoulder again.

[for_everyone]

Hera leans back into the touch for a moment before settling more heavily onto her bunk.

Maybe it really will be easier to sleep now.

That'd be nice.

"Do my best," she says, in a fading mumble, eyes drifting closed.