in sickness...

[that-flies.livejournal.com]

Title: In Sickness...
Pairing: Joe Pavelski/Ryane Clowe
Team: Sharks
Rating: PG (?)
Joe's POV
A/N: Shortness.


I peeked over at him through my jersey, his eyes were pale and his body trigged a jerk in his chest. I didn't take my eyes off him as Ray laid him down and stuck a needle into his shaking arm. His vein pulsed rapidly and his chest heaved up and down.
 
I left my stall, still half-dressed in my gear, and walked up to him. My hand grasped his sweaty, convulsing one, my fingers winding tightly around his.
 
Through his hallow, stingy breathing, he flashed his tormented eyes at mine. They burned through me like a fire on a gas trail. I hated seeing him like this.
 
His grip loosed briefly as he lay limp. Finally feeling the effects of the IV, sweat beads gathered on his forehead as he regained strength, licking his dry, chapped lips graciously.
 
His strong hand still felt weak and thumped lightly against my palm. His breathing steadied, although he coughed frequently inbetween gasps.
 
He didn't flinch when Ray tore out the metal restraining him down. When Ray walked away, he acknowledged me by a quick nod of his head.
 
 ~~
 
I tenderly caressed him in my arms on the bus ride to the airport. His arms coiled around my back for support while his struggling body hung feeble to me.
 
Pressing my head into his scolding chest, my lips kissed him softly. His heart responded with stronger beats as he chocked out another breath and buried his face into the crevice of my neck. I reached my cold hand to his forehead in hopes it might help.
 
He still clung to me walking onto the plane. I slid him up next to the window and crawled in after him. He turned slowly, breathing deeply as he looked me over.
 
I tried to look back at him, but the purple under his eyes was too much for me to handle. All I could do was throw myself onto him and flood his coat with tears -thinking it was all my fault he'd become ill.
 
He lifted up head up meekly and wiped a droplet running down my cheek, collapsing his hand on top of mine.
 
 ~~
 
The plane ride to Newark was short, but felt like an eternity watching his ghostly form.
 
He wanted to sleep, so I helped him get off his shirt. I noticed the mark still on his arm and rubbed around it gingerly. 
 
"Pavs." He whispered, "You're too good to me."
 
I immersed my body into his own shirtless form, allowing his arms to bind around me. He kissed the top of my head and glided his damp hands though my hair. 
 
As we scrambled our way into bed, I made sure he was tightly against me, and I was holding his hand against my chest.