Working Through It (1/?)

[toastytoast]

Hey there! This is my first post to the forums, but I thought that someone might like to read one of my stories/plotless excuses for sickfic. I hope you like it!

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When Finn had woken up that morning, he knew immediately that he was sick. Not just cold, though. Of course he had to catch the flu that'd been going around, that was just his luck. He hardly ever got sick, but when he did, he always crashed hard.

His head was pounding, and his hair was damp with sweat. His throat felt raw, and sitting up in bed, he realized every one of his muscles was sore. Despite everything, he forces himself up and into the shower. The house is quiet, he's the only one awake at 5 AM on a Saturday. He has the morning shift at the car wash. Yeah, nobody ever shows up, but he's already been out five times in the past two months, to take care of his little sisters, and there's no way he's letting himself get fired. Not over a headache and a sore throat.

He hopes the hot water will help some, but it seems to do the opposite. When he gets out, he's shivering, and even his eyes ache. He pulls on the first pair of jeans he can find, and almost forgets to tie his shoelaces. His dog, Pluto, a small border collie, nuzzles his leg, whimpering.

Finn feels a cough building somewhere deep in his chest, and tries to smother it to avail. He doubles over, tucking his face into his elbow. He doesn't want to wake up his sisters, and god forbid, his stepmother. She's pretty hard on him as it is.

At work, he gulps a cup of coffee in an effort to stay awake, but he can't seem to keep his eyes open. At 9, his nose starts to run. He knows he must look terrible, he's shivering, dizzy, and constantly sniffling.

"Sweetheart, you look like death!" His head snaps up from the cash register to an older woman standing at the counter with one hand on her chest. "You caught what's going around?"

He tries to smile and shakes his head.

"I'm fine, it's just allergies." He rings up her order, clearing his throat. His breath hitches, and he starts to cough into his elbow. His shoulders shake with the effort, he's too tired to tense them up anymore.

"You just get some rest, alright?" She adds a few dollars to the tip jar and he nods. His shift won't be over for another three hours, and he'll only have an hour between then and his next job at the restaurant. Saturdays were always busy, he had to save as much money as possible to support his sisters. Their stepmother wasn't the most reliable, Finn had to do most of the "mothering" himself. They were five and six, and working 14 hour days may not mean dinner for him, but they won't be hungry. He would never let that happen again.

That night, coming home, he's exhausted. It takes him a while to realize his phone is ringing, and he fumbles for it.

"Uh, hey."

"Hey, babe. I've been texting." It's his girlfriend. Elaine. Lane, she likes to be called. Her voice makes him melt. "Are you ok?"

He wants to pour it all out to her, ask her to come over and lay next to him, but he knows if he does she'll just fuss over him.

"Yeah, just busy. What's up?"

"Oh, I was just thinking we could hang out, but if you're busy-"

"Yeah, I haven't been home yet. Tomorrow's better, I think." He's resolved to get rid of this cold tonight, and get himself back in gear.

"Alright. I'll call you then." He can hear in her voice she's upset.

"Bye."

He tries to stay focused on the road, but his dizziness is coming and going, and he's glad when he can finally get out of the car.

"Finn! Why are you here so late?" It's Jen, his stepmom, calling from the kitchen.

"I had work." He calls back, and for the first time he notices how rough his voice sounds. He hopes she made dinner, so he can just go to sleep, but knowing her, it's unlikely. He kicks off his shoes, walks into the kitchen. "Where are Lilly and Anna?"

She frowns and crosses her arms.

"They're upstairs." The table is bare, and the sink is empty.

"Did they eat?" She looks offended.

"Of course they did. Who do you think I am?" He sighs and sits down.

"Sorry, it's just, sometimes you forget." Grabbing an apple from the fridge, he leaves before their conversation can become an argument. He doesn't bother with taking off any of his clothes, just collapses on the bed, almost instantly asleep.

He wakes up coughing, in the middle of the night. Every motion makes his head throb, and his t shirt is soaked with sweat. Catching his breath is a struggle, and for the rest of the night he swaps between freezing and burning.

Luckily, there's no work Sunday. He doubts he could get out of bed even if he wanted to at this point, and he completely forgets about his date with Lane until she calls.

"Are you home?" He takes a breath to respond, but breaks out into a coughing fit.

"Y-yeah." He coughs again.

"Whoa, you sound horrible. Like, really really bad. Have you been to the doctor?"

"No, it's not so bad. I'll be fine."

"I'm coming over, right now. Just stay put, ok?"

(TBC, I'm pretty sure.)

[IveGotRedHair]

Aw I really like this! Please continue

[Arty]

Nice!!! Poor guy.

[pompito01]

Awwww, i really love this! More!

[Dutchgirl]

Yeah, I like this story. Poor Finn. I hope his girlfriend will be there soon.