Stubborn (Secret Santa for Kaze wo Hiku)

[LapidotLover22]

I have to say, I struggled a bit with this. I haven't written in months, I don't write sick fic, and I'm not sure I've ever even written hurt/comfort, much less for sneeze fic. Honestly, I think you'd have been happier if given a secret santa who knew what they were doing, because I did not (not to put Junia down at all, I know she did her best and I do want to thank her for her hard work). But, I tried my best to meet at least some of your requests and I really hope you still like it, @Kaze wo Hiku Happy New Year (since it's too late for Christmas)! 

Would anyone like to remind me why I, a proud feminist, thought it was a good idea to marry a stupid macho manly man?

Of course, no one answered my seething rant. I was alone in our nice warm house stirring a pot of soup as I stared out the window at the aforementioned manly man---AKA my husband---as he shoveled our snow congested driveway. 

Guess who else was congested. My husband, that's who. Gerald had come down with a cold last night, and though he tried deny it, the minimum of ten sneezes per hour, near constant sniffling, over use of his handkerchief, which had led to angry red, chapped nostrils, and coughing until his lungs were likely inside out did not lie.

But nooooo, I thought with a roll of my eyes, a manly man like Gerald has the immune system of a viking, whatever that's supposed to mean. It's just allergies, he says. No, it is not, it's the dead of winter, all the pollinating plants are basically dead. The house is dusty, he says. No, it is not, I dusted the other day, and he isn't even allergic to dust. He's fine, he says. No, he is not, and when he finally comes inside out of the fifteen degree cold, he's going straight to bed even if I have to drug him with Nyquil spiked tea.

Not a bad idea, actually.

As I contemplated if it would be more effective to use tea or cocoa to better mask the medicine, I took a spoon and ladeled out small amount of soup. After blowing to cool it off, I tasted the soup and deemed it ready. As I turned the stove top off, I turned only to watch my husband pause mid shovel. His back is to me, so I couldn't see what the cause. I know he hasn't given up, the driveway still needed another four or five shovels. Gerald never left a job unfinished, no matter how insignificant. Still, the shovel fell from his grip as he began to dig in snow pants for something. His handkerchief, I surmised, as I knew what was happening now.

He lost the fight against his nose and brought his gloves up to cover his body bending sneezes or coughs, I couldn't tell which from here, but I assumed the former. I began to worry when he hadn't stopped after a few moments, as he normally did. Then Gerald began to sway, and my heart began to pound. After an eternity, or more accurately, twenty seconds had passed, he still hadn't stopped swaying or sneezing. Even worse, he'd fallen to his knees.

I cursed and scrambled to pull my snow boots on and barreled out the door. I ran to my husband, who had dropped to his hands and was still sneezing and coughing at the same time, it turned out. I dropped to my knees and threw my arms around him, uncaring of the snow soaking my jeans. I briefly considered trying pull him up and drag him into the warmth of the house, but he was a foot taller than I am and twice my weight, so I quickly gave up on that idea. 

So, I just keep my arms around his broad shoulders and stay by his side, just making sure he knew he was not alone as he shivered and shook through his fit. I knew he knew I was there when he wrapped his own arms around me. I also knew he was not accepting my support so much as trying to keep me warm. He has this incredibly irritating habit of putting my needs above his, no matter what I said about it. That's why he' was out here to begin with. He didn't want my supervisor yelling at me for being late to work, so he was shoveling the driveway so my snow tireless car wouldn't get stuck. As if I was planning to go to work today instead of taking care of him. But, as far as he's concerned, he's not sick, so why would I stay home? Stupid manly man.

Finally, the fit ends, and the poor thing is wheezing and shaking so hard, I worry he'll pass out. How would I ever get him inside?

"Gerald," I rub and pat his cheek, only now noticing how warm it is. Damn it, he has a fever now. His eyes are squeezed shut with strain as sweat trails down his forehead despite the frosty chill in the air. He'd pushed himself too hard. "Ger Ger, look at me. Please, look at me, baby." 

He finally opens his sky blue, bloodshot eyes. They glisten with tears that trail down his cheeks. His chest must have feel like a chainsaw had a seizure within his lungs. He panted with small coughs interlaced with each exhale for another few seconds before finally speaking.

"Maren," he rasps. The chainsaw thing might not be far off. His teeth chatter a moment before he continues. "You don't have coat, you shouldn't be out here." 

Typical. He just had a physical breakdown and all he cares about is my lack of winter wear. "Gerald, you are sick, and you are coming back inside this instant."

"I can't go inside," he protested through coughs and shudders before he tries to stand, pulling out of my arms. "I have to shovel, you have to go to work." He gets to one foot before sways and falls back to his knees, his hands using my shoulders to remain upright.

I shook my head at his one track mind. "I'm not going to work, Gerald. I called and said you're sick and need me to take care of you. They understood. And even if I hadn't been planning to call off, I absolutely would now because you have a fever."

"I-I don't ha-ha-have... ha-hah..." he stuttered out before the hitches fully took over. His cherry red nostrils flared wide and trembled for three whole seconds as he built up, his jaw going slack along with his grip on my shoulders. And then he just froze, his whole body locking up with the exception of his quivering nostrils. I knew what was happening---he refused to sneeze on me. His nose could feel like tumble weeds were having a flash mob deep inside, but he would keep he sneeze in to prevent my infection. 

Well, at least he had succumbed to the idea that he had something to infect me with. That was a start.
I wasn't going to allow him to torture himself for me, of course. In this, at least, I knew how to stop him. I took my index finger and thumb and flicked the tip of his nose. I saw his nostrils flare as wide as I'd ever seen them as his nose kicked into overdrive and he gasped before I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and tucked my head into his neck, out of his blast range. Now, he wouldn't feel guilty for spraying me.

"Marh-hh-MahhHAAAA-ESCHHH'iueee! Eghch! Eh! EEESCCHHHH'iuee! Hagch-hahhh-HHAAASSCHHHHHH'iiiueeeee!" 

Three big sneezes with a couple of coughs in between. All of it sounded as if it had ripped his throat apart. I wanted to cry as he moaned and sniffled pitifully, vainly. He needed his handkerchief. I needed to get him inside where his handkerchief was. I needed to get him laid out on the couch, snuggled up in a blanket, his head resting in my lap where I could spoon feed him the soup I'd made while we watched a movie while the fireplace crackled with the warmth he desperately needed.

To make all of that happen, I needed to get him inside. 

"Gerald," this time I rasped. Odd, I knew for certain I wasn't sick, but my throat definitely ached. "Please come inside."

Gerald, dazed from his fit and shuddering from two types of cold, snapped out of it and pulled back from my embrace. I don't know what he saw there, but his expression became one of guilt as he gave a compliant nod before he wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. When had I started crying for real?

Normally, I wasn't the sort to use tears to manipulate my husband. I refused to be that kind of wife, mainly because I knew I could with Gerald. Nothing made him crumble more than seeing me cry because of him. But I wouldn't feel guilty over this. Whatever it took get my baby inside where I could take care of him. 

He stood us both up silently and we shakily made our way into the house. He closed the door and almost fell against it in exhausted defeat. His cheeks were bright red from both fever and from his fit. I helped him take off his winter clothes and pulled him over to the couch. I helped him lay down and ran to the bedroom to get his favorite pillow and the comforter. I also grabbed his green striped handkerchief. 

I ran back to living room and found Gerald in the same position I'd left him, except now his arm was covering his eyes. I piled my supplies next to the couch before falling to my knees in front of his head. 
"Gerald," I called.

He removed his arm so he could see me. He still looked tired and defeated, but now the guilt was also back. At least he'd stopped shuddering.

"M'sorry, Mar." he sighed out, his voice nothing more than a crackling whisper. "I was trying to do my part like I'm supposed to, but all I did was worry you." 

I spread the blanket over him as he apologized. "I know you think because you're the man, you have to take care of me no matter what problems you yourself are facing, but we're married, Ger Ger, and I'm supposed to have and hold you when you're dealing with sickness, not just health."

He smiled as he cupped my cheek. "That almost made sense."

I giggled. He sniffled. I gave him his handkerchief before stroking his sweat damp hair. "Blow your nose before you start sneezing your throat apart again. I made soup and I'm going to fix you a bowl along with a wet cloth for your fever, and you're going to let me feed you while we watch your favorite movie."

His eyes brightened as he buried his Rudolph nose in the hankie. "Deadpool?"

"What else?" I kissed his brow as he blew.

[Kaze Wo Hiku]

Awww don't be so hard on yourself Soulsong this is adorable!! Ah Gerald you stubborn man XD. Honestly you got so much of what a like in one fict I enjoyed reading it immensely!! 

Gerald struggling to finish the driveway for her. The couch scene was just

Thank you so much for this!!

[LapidotLover22]

YOU'RE WELCOME 

[Arty]

And his favorite movie is deadpool? Kill me now he's perfect!! And so selfless. *swoons*

[CharliesGirl]

This was freaking amazing! I absolutely loved it, and Gerald is a very appealing character!