Main Characters: Chris and Vin

Notes: This is one of my earlier pieces and takes place soon after Chris and Vin became C/V, and they still maintain two households. It's just a little snippet of comfort with an ailing Vin and a comforting Chris...just the way I like them.

Webmaster Note This story was previously hosted at another website and was moved to blackraptor in July 2012.

Chris Larabee growled as the annoying ring of the telephone intruded on his dreams. He squinted at the nearby alarm clock, cursing when he saw that the read-out announced the time as 3:18 a.m. He pulled the covers up, deciding that the answering machine could talk to whatever fool was calling him at this early hour on a Sunday morning. His voice, made even less emotive on the tape, gave the standard instructions, followed by the requisite beep.

"Chris? You up?" The voice was little more than a harsh rasp of a whisper. He frowned, realizing quickly that it was Vin. He rolled over and grabbed up the handset. "Vin? What's wrong?"

"I... well," Larabee recognized the sudden shyness in the Texan's voice. It meant that he was in need of a helping hand; it was the only time he sounded so young and unsure.

"Come on Tanner, just spill it," the blond coaxed gently.

"Ain't... I ain't feelin' so good. I... I," he groaned softly.

Chris heard the unmistakable sounds of the younger man being sick. Cursing under his breath at the sound, he waited until things quieted on the other end of the line before saying, "Vin, you with me?"

"Yeah," came the breathless reply.

"I'm on my way. I'll be there within the hour, hear me?"

"'Kay."

Larabee turned off the phone and pulled his weary body from the warm bed. Dressing quickly, he stopped in the kitchen to raid his cabinets for crackers, mint tea, and anything else he might need when he got to his friend's apartment. He had been there often enough to know that the most nutritious things to eat at Casa de Tanner were usually the containers the junk food came in.

The blond restrained himself from speeding, acknowledging that Vin was ill, but not at death's door. It was a difficult task at best. They had only acknowledged their feelings for one another a few weeks before. Chris shook his head, recalling that a virus had sidelined the young man then, just as it appeared to have done now. He had gotten on the stubborn sharpshooter for not taking care of himself better. If it turned out that this was a relapse, he would read the man the riot act. Vin was the picture of health in every way, save one. He managed to contract any and every virus, bug and cold within fifty miles. The bull-headed man refused to take care of himself when he did, shrugging off the others concerns while he sniffled and wheezed around the office.

When the team leader reached the tired looking building where Vin lived, his mind was swinging between anger and concern like a pendulum. Grabbing up his bag of supplies, he sprinted across the street and up the stairs. Just as he raised his hand to knock at the Texan's door, it squeaked open. He looked up to see Vin standing there, wrapped in a heavy quilt. Chestnut curls were wild and uncombed, blue eyes bloodshot and rimmed with dark circles. Whistling softly, Larabee said, "Damn. You look worse than you sound."

"Fuck you," Tanner groused, moving aside to let his boss and lover into the apartment.

"Appreciate the offer, but I don't think you could handle it right now," Chris quipped. He disappeared into the tiny kitchenette, reappearing soon with a cup of tea and a package of crackers. Vin had made it as far as the couch and lay curled up under the covers. The blond sat down on the coffee table, holding the mug and packet until the other man acknowledged his presence. One fever bright blue eye peered over the edge of the colorful quilt. The older man smiled and held out the food and drink.

"Ungh," the already raspy voice was muffled further by the cover, "don't think I can, it'll just come back up."

"Try a little, it should help settle your stomach."

Tanner took the offering hesitantly. He managed to down the hot drink and a few of the crackers, then settled back beneath the quilt. A short time later, his eyes flew open, telling Chris quite clearly that he had predicted his body's reactions only too well. Struggling out of the layers of quilt, he made a stumbling dash for the bathroom.

Larabee followed, entering the darkened bedroom that set between the living room and bathroom. He nearly gagged at the smells that assailed his senses. It was obvious that Vin had been sick much of the time since he had last seen him on Friday. As he searched his memory for signs that the younger man was ill then, he opened the room's single window to let in fresh air. Turning on the light, he saw the rumpled, sweat-soaked bed and a tall wastebasket sitting ominously nearby.

Venturing into the bathroom, he found his partner huddled over the toilet. Trying not to gag himself, he stepped across the room and knelt next to the trembling form. Rubbing the young man's clammy back, he simply offered his presence. Several minutes passed before Vin managed to lift his head. One hand reached for the handle, the other swiping at his mouth. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Chris assured him. He stroked the tangled curls back tenderly. "Reckon I should have left well enough alone. I'm gonna go change the bed, you think you can manage to get yourself into the shower?"

"Y' sayin' I stink?"

"Pretty much," Larabee smiled as he continued to stroke the long hair. "But it might make you feel better, too. Can you?"

"Yeah, I ain't that far gone," Tanner said with a wry smile.

Delivering a light kiss on the fevered brow, the blond left the room. He quickly stripped the bed, then carried the heavy wastebasket from the room, trying very hard not to look at it. Returning with a freshly lined and empty replacement, he sat it near the side of the bed he knew Vin would take. The sound of running water came from the next room, and he hurried to put fresh linen on the bed. Finishing, he closed the window and went to check on the ill man.

Vin was just finishing toweling himself dry when the blond entered the bathroom. Larabee handed the younger man a pair of sweats and tee-shirt. "Here, cover your skinny ass up before you get even sicker."

A glint in his eyes, having nothing to do with fever, shone as the Texan drawled, "Thought you were kind of partial t' my skinny ass."

"Usually," Chris said with a thoughtful tone, "but not when your digestive tract is this unstable."

Returning the blond's cocky grin with one of his own, Tanner said, "Thought y' liked livin' dangerous."

Effecting a shudder, the older man said, "Not that dangerous. I'll stick with psychos and criminal masterminds, thanks."

Tanner chuckled, the sound turning into a wheeze before he made it into the bedroom. Larabee took his elbow to steady him and guided the shivering man to the bed. Slipping under the fresh, cool sheets, the young man frowned as the covers were pulled up over him.

"What's the matter?" The older man wondered if they were about to make a return trip to the other room.

"Where's my quilt?" Vin asked softly, sounding very young and vulnerable.

"Quilt? It's still in the living room where you left it."

"Oh," he couldn't quite manage to cover the disappointment in his voice.

"It probably smells pretty rank at the moment."

"Yeah... reckon it does." He looked forlorn, picking listlessly at the thick comforter covering him.

Shaking his head, Chris stepped into the other room and returned with the quilt. He couldn't help but smile at the look on the other man's face when he saw it. Tanner threw back the fresh covers, and he wrapped the quilt around him. Larabee watched as his friend and recently acquired partner relaxed, his entire body exuding contentment.

"Thanks," Vin sighed as he snuggled down beneath the quilt.

"No problem," Chris replied. "I'm gonna crash on your couch, okay?"

"Uh... yeah. Reckon I ain't too healthy t' be 'round at the moment."

"Reckon not, but if I'm gonna catch anything off you, I've already got it. Just didn't figure you needed anyone jostling you right now."

Waving a hand in the air, Tanner said, "Hell, I slept in alleys with rats runnin' along beside me when I felt worse 'n this Cowboy. I can handle your knees 'n elbows."

Chris couldn't help but cringe at the visual the other man's words gave him. He had some idea of Vin's troubled adolescence, but it still bothered him when the young man referred to such things. Pulling himself from his thoughts, he looked to see something in the flushed face peering at him over the quilt. Stripping down to his boxers, he climbed in on the other side of the bed. He glanced at the alarm clock as he settled in next to his companion, reading 4:40 on the digital read-out. Wearily his blond head dropped to the pillow.

Vin smiled, turned his back to the other man and wriggled toward the middle of the bed. Larabee took the hint and spooned against the warm body. He stroked his fingers through the damp curls gently, hoping to lull the ailing man to sleep.

Yawning, the long-haired man mumbled, "Feels good."

Chris noticed the neat hand-stitching on the coveted quilt, and suddenly realized its importance. Running his hand over the colorful squares, he said casually, "Nettie make this for you."

The shaggy head bobbed once and a tired voice replied, "Was my birthday present."

"It's beautiful," the older man replied as he returned to brushing through the dark locks. The explanation was clear. Vin was seeking to surround himself with what little love and comfort had finally invaded his life while he was feeling ill. The hard-edged agent felt the hot sting of tears, humbled at the thought that he was now a part of that equation for the younger man.

"Chris?" The raspy whisper broke into Larabee's thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He smiled at the words, simple and poignant as he read the meaning behind them. Wrapping himself more closely around the lean body, he kissed the long neck gently. As he felt his partner slowly relax in his arms, he whispered, "You're welcome."

The End

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2001