Title: A Day In The Life – 2 – In Sickness And In Health
Author: Xanfan
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: X/A
Summary: Inspired by a request from Eithnex for Autumn of Angel. A follow-up to my A Day In The Life,
from Spring with Xan.
Spoilers: All of both shows
Warnings: SLASH
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective
owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way
associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is
intended.
_________________________________________
Angel paced back and forth, shooting angry glances at his foe.
“Give it to me now!” Angel shouted. He would have what he came for. He needed it to end the suffering.
“But…”
“NOW! Give me what I’m after right now or I will rip you to shreds and dance on your entrails,” Angel
threatened menacingly.
His opponent looked at the angry vampire patiently and gave him a condescending smile.
“Sir, as I explained to you earlier, it will take me a few minutes to fill Mr. Harris’ prescriptions. If you will
please have a seat, I will call your name when they are ready for pick-up. Or, you can go read a
magazine…or go to the drink section and pick out some clear liquids for Mr. Harris. I am sure he will
need them to help him get over this flu,” the drugstore pharmacist advised patiently.
Angel wandered off muttering about germs being evil and grumpy people.
******
An hour later, Angel quietly opened the door to their apartment and eased through it, juggling the bags
full of sports drinks, 7-Up and chicken broth and the little bag with Xander’s medicine.
“Angel, is that you?” a croaky voice called from the living room.
“Xander, what are you doing out of bed? I thought I told Spike to make sure you stayed in bed. I knew I
shouldn’t have left him to watch you, but I figured he’d be kicked out of the pharmacy for asking for free
samples or something like that,” Angel said, worriedly.
“Oi, I’m not that bad. I was watchin’ the whelp, but he wanted a change of scenery, so I moved ‘im out
here. Didn’t even let ‘im walk, carried him out myself,” Spike said with feigned offense as he headed out
the door.
“Thanks for stopping by on such short notice Spike,” Angel said begrudgingly.
“Not like I don’t live upstairs. Let me know if you need more help with the whine-machine,” Spike called
over his shoulder.
“Angel, I’m fine, Spike took very good care of me. He didn’t even try to cop a feel or anything when he
moved me. But I was so bored in there, out here I can watch T.V. and stuff,” Xander said before he
started coughing.
Angel rushed to his side and dithered over him until the coughing fit was over, not sure what he should
do.
“Relax Angel, it’s just the flu, I’ll be fine, now come give me snuggles and tell me what kind of meds I got
and how I’m supposed to take them,” Xander said.
Angel smiled and lifted his Xander and sat down with the boy draped across his lap and proceeded to fill
Xander in on his meds and the proper way to take them, according to the pharmacist and the notes from
the doctor. Who had long since learned to write explicit instructions for Angel when Xander was sick,
otherwise he would be getting frantic phone calls in the middle of the night about the slightest thing.
After over a couple of hours of a mothering/panicking Angel, flipping through channels and getting half-
way through a crossword puzzle book, Xander smiled weakly at him and said, “Angel, I hate to ask, but
could you go get me some egg drop soup from Lee’s? I remember it made me feel better last year when
I got the flu.”
Angel eagerly agreed and called Spike to come down and watch Xander, and left after giving Xander a
quick kiss on the lips.
When Angel was gone, Xander sighed roughly. He loved Angel, and missed him already; just not so
much the look in his eyes like Xander was a foot away from death.
“You’ll have to be patient with him, whelp, be patient with us both. You gotta remember we came from a
time when people died from influenza by the hundreds, if not thousands,” Spike said from the doorway.
“I know, and if I didn’t feel like crap warmed over, I’d think it was cute and sweet,” Xander said. “Okay, I
do think it’s cute and sweet and it gives me warm fuzzies. I’m a sad, sick man.”
“I know you are, and were long before you caught the flu… just think of how much torture material I can
get out of this, I’ll be annoying him and you for months to come about bein’ poufier poufs,” Spike said
with a grin.
Xander just rolled his eyes.
******
Angel stroked a lock of hair out of Xander’s face and used his touch to settle the man back into his
restless sleep.
He knew that he was being a ‘nancy boy’ as Spike said, but he couldn’t help it. Xander being sick scared
him. It was hard to see him weak and tired and in pain. And even though he knew the flu wasn’t a death
warrant like it used to be, he couldn’t help but remember seeing entire towns being wiped out by the
influenza. It terrified him and he couldn’t help but fuss.
Xander rolled over into his arms, seeking the cooler body as a relief from the slight fever he still ran.
Rich brown eyes opened and blinked at him drowsily, then a beautific smile crossed the beloved face
when recognition dawned. “Angel,” Xander sighed warmly, then coughed.
“I’m here, my love,” Angel assured him with words and touch from a lightly stroking hand on his neck
and shoulders.
“Glad you’re here, need you here, you’re comfy. Hold me, I can’t sleep good without you holding me,”
Xander said woozily before he rolled over and fell back to sleep.
Angel chuckled, and wrapped his arms fully around his Xander and settled into sleep himself. Even
when stuff like illness interfered, he somehow felt all was right with the world when he had his boy in his
arms.
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