12 Days of Lorne-Day 6 Fic/Granting a Wish

[rubygirl29.livejournal.com]

Happy 6th Day of Lorne! I'm starting out the morning with a story featuring Evan and Cam Mitchell, h/c, and holiday sweetness. And ... because somebody wanted Lorne singing ... a wish is granted.


Title: Silent Night
Author: rubygirl29
Genre: Slash
Pairing: Evan Lorne/Cam Mitchell
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: I don't own them, but I want them under my tree!

Author's Note: Somebody wanted Lorne singing ... we'll get to that eventually!



Silent Night

Cam sat on the edge of a gurney in the infirmary at SGC, waiting for Carolyn Lam to return with the results of his rapid-strep test. His head throbbed, his throat burned, his chest was tight and every muscle and bone in his body ached ... even his eyes hurt when he blinked. He was hot, cold, sweating and shaking with chills. He felt like crap.

Dr. Lam returned, tablet in hand. "Colonel, the good news is that you don't have strep throat. The bad news is that I don't know what you have. It could be regular, boring every day flu. Or it could be something that you picked up off world. I'll do some blood tests, but those will take a few hours, so I suggest you lay back and relax. I'll get some ibuprofen for your fever and we can start you on some anti-viral medications. After that, we'll have to wait and see what happens."

"Great," Cam croaked. "I need to make a phone call."

Carolyn handed him her cell phone. "It's on me."

"Thanks." Cam took the phone and punched in his parent's phone number. "Mom?" His voice was weak and raspy. "It's me."

"Cameron? Goodness, dear. I can hardly hear you."

"Mom ... Evan and I won't be coming to Kansas this year. I'm sick."

"Are you all right? It's not serious?"

"It's the flu, Mom. I'll be fine. Honestly. I don't want to spread my germs around with my Christmas cheer. And since Kath is pregnant -- I really don't want to risk giving her anything. I promise it's not a ploy to avoid the relatives."

"I know, dear. We were looking forward to introducing Evan to the family." Cam had to smile. He could hear his mother blushing over the phone. He coughed, and it sounded bad. "Cam?"

"It's just a cough, mom. I've got a great doctor looking after me and when I leave work, Evan will feed me chicken soup or something. We'll get there soon, I promise."

His mom gave him a teary good-bye, and Cam hung up. He felt completely justified in not telling his mother that he was in the infirmary. That would have put her on the next plane to Colorado Springs.

He was punished for his evasion with a long, hard coughing spell. Totally exhausted, he fell back against the pillows. He closed his eyes to keep the room from spinning. Where was Lam with those meds? He ached, he felt like an elephant was sitting on his chest, he was hot and cold at the same time. He was sick.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Evan didn't like finding out through the grapevine that Cam was in the infirmary. He was walking down the corridor towards his office when he ran into Colonel Carter. She looked tired, and her fatigues were stained and dusty. "Hey, Evan," she said. "On your way to the infirmary?"

"Infirmary? Why?"

She blinked at him. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew about Cam."

A flutter of panic surrounded Evan's heart. "What happened? Is he hurt?"

Sam blushed. "No. I'm sorry, he's ... he's kind of sick. Probably a virus, but he's fine, really."

"If he were fine, he wouldn't be in the infirmary." Evan didn't know what else to say. "I'm on my way." He loped down the corridor while his heart beat out in a rhythm. Be all right, be all right, be all right.

He pushed through the doors and stepped in front of a nurse, stopping her in her tracks. "Where's Colonel Mitchell?"

"Cubicle 3." She looked a little overwhelmed. Evan noticed that most of the beds were filled. "What's going on?"

"Dr. Lam thinks it's the flu. It's spreading fast. Three new patients in the last hour."

"Great." He went into Cam's curtained cubicle. Evan, more used to seeing Cam in bandages and hooked up to bags of blood was relieved. The only IV hooked up to him was hydration. His eyes were closed and there were vertical lines between his brows. He was flushed with fever and looked utterly exhausted. There was a paper cup on his bedside table with two pills in it. Evan approached the bed quietly. He held Cam's hand to his lips. "Hey, flyboy. How are you doing?"

Cam opened his eyes. "I'm sick," he managed to whisper. "Need drugs."

"I've got them." Evan slid his arm behind Cam, holding him semi-upright so he could swallow the pills. He let him down gently and kissed his temple. "You have a fever."

"I know that."

"I'm sorry." Evan brushed his hand over Cam's hair. "Not a great gift for Christmas."

"Ha-ha. Must be courtesy of the Grinch." He winced as his head throbbed. "Don't get too close."

"Just try to keep me away," Evan sat next to him. "I'll just hang out here until Dr. Lam comes back with the results of your blood work. All you have to do is rest."

Cam coughed. "Ow." His voice cracked piteously, and Evan felt an overwhelming tenderness for his partner. He hoped this wasn't anything more serious than a case of plain old Earth influenza. Cam was young and strong; he'd survive that ... God, he had to survive, because Evan couldn't live without him.

He held Cam's hand to his lips. Even his fingers were hot. "Oh, baby," he breathed. "You've got to get better."

DADT was gone, and Carolyn Lam wasn't about to tell tales about a patient, so when she came back in, he just set Cam's hand gently on the covers and looked up at her. "I'm his emergency contact," he said.

"I know that, Colonel." She smiled. "I have some reassuring news. Colonel Mitchell has a case of good old Earth flu. Nothing exotic. I'd like him to stay here overnight just to keep him on IV hydration until his fever goes down, but he should be able to go home tomorrow as long as he has somebody to look after him." She lifted a delicate brow. "I take it you're on leave?"

"Yes, ma'am, I am." He smiled. "I'll keep an eye on him."

"Go home and get some rest. We'll take good care of him tonight." She left in a rustle of crisp fabric and a drift of light fragrance.

Evan hated to leave, but Cam was out of it. The staff would take care of him as promised. He sighed, kissed Cam's forehead, which already seemed cooler, and left. He drove to the condo they called home. The development was bright with Christmas decorations and lights. Their condo was dark. It looked forlorn and out of place. Evan pulled into the drive. He knew they had Christmas decorations somewhere. He went into the garage and found lights and a wreath in a large plastic bin. Perfect. Putting the lights on the porch rail and hanging the wreath took less than an hour.

A tree was next on his list. He really wanted to go inside, light a fire and settle on the couch -- not until he had a tree, though. He drove down the streets until he found a lot selling trees to benefit homeless families. He was surprised there were so many people shopping for a tree at this late date. Evan stuck his hands in his pockets and walked through the lot. Families surrounded him, reminding him of Cam's family in Kansas. Little children with happy faces and voices squeaky with excitement ran up and down the rows of trees. He stood in the middle of an row, feeling out of place and alone.

One little girl tugged at his wrists. "Are you a hero?" she asked looking at the service patches on his leather bomber jacket. He didn't know how to answer that. Mercifully, her mother ran up to him, laughing.

"I'm sorry. She's doesn't have a shy bone in her body. "Yes, Molly. He's a hero." She held out her hand. "Thank you for your service to America."

Evan was momentarily speechless. "You're welcome," he finally said, thinking of all the men and women he knew who had been doing the fighting since 9/11. Sometimes, he felt guilty for being fortunate enough to have Atlantis. "We do it for people like you and Molly. Seeing her makes it all worthwhile." To Evan's chagrin, her eyes filled with tears.

She pulled herself together and smiled at him. "What kind of tree are you looking for?"

"A small one. I live in a condo."

"It's my turn to help you. There are some really nice ones, not big enough for me, but for what you're looking for, they're perfect. Three rows down that way."

"Thanks. Have a Merry Christmas, Molly. And to you, ma'am." He found a tree, paid for it and gave extra for the charity. Back at the condo, he set up the tree and strung it with lights. His dad had alway put the lights on the tree first. Evan stood back and admired his work. The lights made the tree look cheerful even without ornaments on the boughs. He sat for a while with a beer, just enjoying the quiet and wishing Cam was next to him. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and his wish for this Christmas was to spend it with Cam here at the condo that was their home, and not in the infirmary at SGC.

^*^*^*^*^*^*

He was drinking his coffee the next morning when the phone rang. SGC. He answered and was startled to hear Cam croak out, "Come and get me. Now."

"You sound terrible."

"Kavanaugh is in the bed next to mine. If I have to listen to him whine and complain, I'll go crazy. Please get me out of here." His voice stopped working and he started coughing. "Please," he gasped.

"I'll be there soon, okay? Hang in there. You've been in worse situations than having Kavanaugh next to you."

"Name one."

Because Lorne had been tempted on more than one occasion to use a stunner on Kavanaugh, he replied, "The longer I'm on the phone, the later I'll be." He disconnected to the sound of Cam coughing.

He packed up some warm clothes for Cam, checked on supplies of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, honey and teas, orange juice and chicken soup. All the necessities. He grabbed the afghan off the sofa and drove to Cheyenne Mountain to save Cam from Kavanaugh and bring him home for Christmas.

He met Dr. Lam in the corridor outside the infirmary. "Is Cam really well enough to go home?"

"Well enough? He has the flu. Ideally he wouldn't be going out at all, but there's no reason why he can't go home."

"That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks, Doc."

"I'll bring his paperwork. You probably know the drill for the flu. Rest, lots of liquids, fever reducer as needed. OTC cough medicine unless he needs something stronger. Just keep an eye on him. The flu can be tricky."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then you're good to go. And have a Merry Christmas."

When he walked into Cam's cubicle, he was greeted with a wide, warm smile. Cam held out his hand. "Thank God! Get me out of here before Kavanaugh comes back from x-ray."

Evan kissed the top of Cam's head, then studied him. He still looked sick. His eyes were watery, he was pale, except for the bright flush of fever on his cheeks, his lips were chapped, and the tip of his nose was red. To Evan, none of that mattered. Cam was still beautiful.

"Let's go home," Evan said. He helped Cam dress, wrapped a warm scarf around his neck, and held on to him as they walked to Evan's jeep. He could feel Cam shivering. He settled him into the jeep and tucked the afghan around his body.

"I'm not a hundred years old," Cam grumped.

"No, but you are sick. I don't want to spend Christmas day in the hospital. So let me coddle you, okay?"

"Nice word," Cam wheezed. "Thanks. I love you."

Evan smiled. "I know."

It wasn't late, but it was a heavily overcast day with clouds that promised snow. The Christmas lights were on a sensor, and as Evan pulled into the drive, they came on. Not spectacular, he decided, but Cam's smile was worth the effort. He got out, opened the front door, and helped Cam inside. "Close your eyes," he said, and flipped on the tree lights.

"Okay."

Cam's smiled widened, and his eyes shone in the lights. "Wow! You did this for me?"

"No. I did it for us. I know this isn't the Christmas Eve we had planned, and I know you'd rather be with your family than here, but I'll do my best to make it a good one."

"You already have. I'd kiss you if I weren't afraid of giving you this creeping crud." He coughed so hard that his knees nearly buckled. "Couch ... now."

Evan helped him settled down. He brought in the afghan from the car and turned on the fireplace. "You want anything? Tea? Chicken soup?"

"I want you to sit down with me," Cam said. Evan settled himself behind Cam and wrapped him in his arms. "How's that, babe?"

"Nice." Cam sounded drowsy. His head dropped back against Evan's shoulder. "Just want to sleep ..." And as quickly as that, he was gone.

Evan dozed off with him. When he woke, the only light in the room was from the firelight and the lights on the tree. Cam was a warm weight, but when Evan touched his cheek to Cam's forehead, it was cooler than it had been, and his breathing seemed easier. Evan smiled, grateful and at peace even if his arm was completely numb. He slid it from beneath Cam's shoulders, and the motion made Cam stir restlessly. He opened his eyes. "I'm awake," he said, yawning.

"I noticed. How do you feel?"

"Thirsty, and a little hungry. My throat feels better."

"That's because you haven't been coughing it raw." He kissed Cam's temple. "Chicken soup and hot tea?"

"And water."

"First thing."

They ate chicken soup in front of the fire. Cam took another ibuprofen, which brought his temperature down to nearly normal. The box of ornaments under the tree made him smile. "You found the ornaments. That's great."

"Are you up to some decorating? Or you can just sit here and supervise."

"I think I'm strong enough to lift a balsa airplane." He pushed himself off the sofa. He swayed, and Evan put his arm around Cam's waist.

"Maybe you ought to let me do the heavy lifting." Cam just made an inarticulate growl of disgust at his weakness, but he couldn't deny that his knees were shaking. Evan pulled the afghan over Cam's legs. "Comfy?"

"We could wait until tomorrow morning to put on the ornaments. I'd be more comfy if you just came back here with me." Cam looked hopeful. "My momma always made me a hot toddy when I was sick. Hot water, bourbon, honey and lemon."

Evan raised a brow. "How much bourbon?"

"Just a tablespoon. You can put in two now that I'm a big boy."

"Right." But he went into the kitchen and made up mugs of toddy. He brought them out and settled in next to Cam. "So, this is the cure-all?"

"We'll know tomorrow," Cam yawned and took a sip. "Just like mom's." His fingers moved through Evan's hair. "I'm sorry I got sick. It's not much of a holiday for you."

"Babe, anytime I'm with you ... even if it's just an hour or two, is a gift. Two whole days to have you all to myself? That's the best present I could ask for. Not that I didn't want to spend time with your family, but I'd rather be here."

Cam sighed. "Me, too." He set down his mug. "You know what? I think I can manage one ornament." He stood up and went to the box of ornaments. He took out a tissue-wrapped bundle and opened it up. It was the Moravian star his mother had given him a few years ago. Made of parchment paper and gold frame, there were twinkle lights wired inside. Cam reached up, balancing on Evan's shoulder for support, and settled the star on the top of the tree.

Cam looked up, and Evan was struck by how beautiful he was with his profile limned in light, his perfect lips, his strong throat. "I love you," he said quietly.

"Now and forever," Cam said and kissed him lightly, a bare skim of his lips across Evan's. "Dr. Lam said I wouldn't be contagious after 24 hours on the anti-viral medication. That brings us to Christmas."

"You still need to rest," Evan warned.

"That's what the night is for." He set his head against Evan's as they looked at the star, at the hope and joy it promised.

"Silent Night ... Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright ..." Evan sang softly. Cam hugged him closer, and he finished ... Sleep in heavenly peace."

Cam sighed against his hair. "Nice. Better than nice. It's perfect. I love you."

"Now and forever." Lorne decided he didn't care about the flu. He didn't care if Cam had bubonic plague. He tugged him down and kissed him properly; tasting whiskey, salt and Cam's own sweetness. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

There wasn't much else to say. Evan slid his arm around Cam's waist and felt Cam's arm, warm and strong, around his shoulders. Wrapped in each other and not needed anything but to touch, they went into the bedroom. Cam was asleep almost the instant his head hit the pillow. Evan stretched out the length of his body. Cam was warm, but not feverish. Outside, the lights in the development slowly blinked out. Evan wondered if it was snowing, but he was too comfortable to move, and reluctant to wake Cam. His eyelids grew heavy, and Cam's hand sought his, even in sleep. Evan smiled, burrowed closer and slept in the silent night.

The End

Comments

[fififolle]

That was abso-bloody-lutely adorable!!!
*melts into a puddle of sparkly hearts and flowers*

Evan raised a brow. "How much bourbon?"
"Just a tablespoon. You can put in two now that I'm a big boy."
LOL!

[rubygirl29.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-) I can't resist Cam and Evan. They are so lovely together. Happy Holidays!

[mandykaysfic.livejournal.com]

Best kind of singing!

That was just lovely - sigh....

[pe1804.livejournal.com]

This is so sweet - a real christmas treat.
Thank you for sharing.

[rubygirl29.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Have a Merry Christmas!