Chapter 11

3rd person pov:

The first sign that something was wrong came in the form of a cough. Soft at first, then growing into something more persistent. Fourth tried to ignore it as he sat on the couch, focusing on his laptop screen. He had his online classes to finish, after all. But as the minutes passed, the tightness in his chest grew worse, and he found himself having to pause more and more to catch his breath.

His hands shook slightly as he closed his laptop, feeling the dizziness spread across his vision. He didn't want to admit it, but he could feel his illness creeping up on him again. His body was familiar with this routine—weakness, breathlessness, the constant feeling of being on the verge of collapse. And yet, he never quite got used to it. It was as though his body was at war with him, betraying him at every turn.

"Fourth?" Gemini's voice broke through the haze in his mind. He hadn't even realized the older man had entered the room.

Fourth glanced up at him, trying to steady his breathing. "I'm fine," he muttered, attempting to sound casual, but the words tasted hollow.

Gemini didn't look convinced. He walked over to Fourth, a worried frown pulling at his features. "You don't look fine," he said, kneeling down beside him. "You're sweating. And your breathing sounds a little off."

"I'm fine," Fourth repeated, a little louder this time, though the weakness in his voice betrayed him.

Gemini didn't argue. Instead, he gently reached out, placing a hand on Fourth's shoulder, guiding him to lie back against the cushions. Fourth's body was already starting to feel too heavy, and the effort to fight it was slipping away.

"You're not fine," Gemini said quietly, his voice laced with concern. "Let me get you some water, okay?"

Fourth didn't protest. His mind was clouded, and he let Gemini help him, even as part of him felt that this wasn't something he could let anyone see.

The next few hours blurred together. Gemini stayed close, keeping an eye on him, offering him water, checking his temperature, but Fourth's fever was rising steadily. Every time Gemini touched his forehead, the heat made him wince. Still, Fourth fought against the idea of needing help. He didn't want to be a burden, didn't want to drag Gemini into his illness.

By evening, Fourth was barely able to sit up. His body ached, and the cough had gotten worse, a deep, rattling sound that made him feel like his lungs might collapse. He closed his eyes, trying to breathe through it, but it only seemed to make everything worse.

"Fourth," Gemini said, his voice steady but filled with concern, "We need to call Pond. I know you don't want to, but you're not okay."

Fourth shook his head, trying to gather the energy to protest. "No. Pond's busy. They're on the business trip with Phuwin. It's fine, I can wait."

Gemini's brow furrowed. He didn't want to push, but he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. "You don't have to wait, Fourth. You're clearly sick. You need someone here." He pulled out his phone and hesitated, staring at the screen. Pond and Phuwin were both on their business trip, which meant it would take a while before they could return. Still, he needed to know what to do.

"I'll manage," Fourth murmured, closing his eyes as the pain in his chest flared again. His body was shutting down, and no amount of stubbornness could change that.

Gemini paused, watching him closely, then made the decision. He called Pond anyway. If he couldn't get help from them directly, he needed advice. The phone rang several times before Pond finally picked up.

"Gemini?" Pond's voice was muffled, a distant echo of the noisy environment around him. "What's up? We're in the middle of something."

"Fourth's not doing well," Gemini said quickly, trying to keep his voice calm despite the rising panic. "His fever's high, and his symptoms are getting worse. I can't seem to bring it down. What should I do?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Gemini could practically hear Pond processing the information, trying to assess the situation.

"Stay calm," Pond's voice was firm now. "Is he still conscious? Can he drink fluids?"

"Yes," Gemini replied. "Barely, but he can drink water. He's sweating a lot though, and he's shaking."

"Good. Keep him hydrated as best you can, and try to get him cooled down. Use wet cloths if you have to. Just don't leave him alone, and keep monitoring him. It'll take a day or so before I can get back to you. I'll send some instructions to your phone, just follow those until I get there. But if it gets worse—if he starts having trouble breathing or passing out—you need to get him to a hospital."

Gemini swallowed hard. The idea of taking Fourth to the hospital was terrifying, especially with how weak and exhausted the younger boy seemed. But Pond was right.

"I will," Gemini replied, his voice more strained than he intended. "Thanks, Pond."

After hanging up, Gemini's gaze fell back to Fourth. His breathing had become shallow again, and he was starting to look even paler than before. Gemini quickly moved to get a wet cloth, doing as Pond had suggested, gently pressing it to Fourth's forehead. Fourth flinched at the cool touch, but it was a small comfort to him, even as his body continued to tremble.

"Hey," Gemini whispered, his voice soft. "You're not alone. I'm right here."

Fourth didn't respond, but the faint pressure of his hand on Gemini's wrist was enough to tell him that Fourth was still with him, still holding on, even when his body felt like it was slipping away.

The night was long and drawn out, with Gemini keeping vigil over Fourth, adjusting the cloth on his forehead, offering sips of water, and whispering reassurances. But the fever didn't break. And by morning, Fourth was barely conscious, lost in the haze of the illness.

Gemini sat by his side, tired and helpless, but not willing to leave him alone. It was going to be a long wait until Pond returned, but for now, he had to make do with what he could.

The next day, after hours of constant monitoring, Pond and Phuwin finally returned. The first thing Pond did when he walked in was check Fourth's vitals, his movements precise and professional.

"He'll be okay," Pond finally said, the relief in his voice palpable. "But it's going to take a few more days for him to fully recover."

Gemini let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the exhaustion from the night before hitting him all at once. "Thank you," he whispered, looking at Pond.

Pond nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at Fourth, still sleeping peacefully despite everything. "Take care of him," he said, his voice gentle. "He needs both of you."

As Gemini sat back down beside Fourth, watching the younger boy sleep, he finally allowed himself to relax, knowing that for now, Fourth was safe. But deep down, he knew that this was just another part of their journey—a reminder that they would face struggles together, and that sometimes, the most painful growing pains weren't the ones you could see, but the ones you had to weather through, side by side.