elles_letters | Fic: "Snow Globes for Christmas: 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,'" Psych

Rating: G
Summary: "This is the worst holiday ever." Day 5 of Snow Globes for Christmas.
Warning: Not one I can think of.
Disclaimer: I can't even afford all the DVDs. =(
"This is the worst holiday ever," Carlton sniffled as curled deeper into the bed sheets.

Carlton has never been prone to whining and he didn't think he was doing so now. He could have been at his mother's, getting a home-cooked meal and warm spiked egg nog; he could have been at the station, watching the younger officers make fools of themselves for O'Hara's attention. Instead, he was home, alone, with a 102.5 degree fever and only one good nostril.

"Merry freakin' Christmas," he mumbled to himself piteously.

"Poor baby," a familiar voice suddenly spoke up.

Startled, the detective shot up in his bed and turned to see Shawn standing in his doorway holding a worn fleece blanket and a bulging plastic bag.

"Spencer!" Carlton yelped, irritating his already sore throat. "What are you doing in my house?"

"Oh, remember a while ago when I said I break in all the time? That wasn't a joke." Shawn bustled into the room and dumped his burdens on the foot of the bed. "I've got the necessities: a blankie, chicken soup, alka-seltzer, some Vapo-Rub and orange juice." Shawn grabbed a small blue jar from the plastic bag. "I call dibs on applying the Vapo-Rub."

"Get out, Spencer," Carlton growled. The growl turned into a cough which then turned into hacking.

Shawn frowned and rushed over to the bed.

"You sound awful, man," he fretted. He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed circles into Carlton's back.

Carlton tried to wave him away, but the fever had drained much of his strength. "Leave me alone. I can barely tolerate you when I'm well."

Shawn smiled and clicked his tongue. "Is that anyway to speak to your nurse?"

"Nurse?"

"It's bad enough spending Christmas Eve alone. I couldn't let you spend it alone and sick. I'm here to take care of you."

"I don't need you pitying me, Spencer."

"Not pity, Lassie," Shawn said seriously. "Just concern."

"Since when do you worry about me, Spencer?"

"You have to ask, Lassie? After all we've been through?"

Carlton sagged against his pillows. As much as he hated to admit it, he was slightly cheered by the idea that someone had taken time out of their night to check on him. Even if that someone was a royal pain in the ass.

Still…

"What about your plans? I thought you spent the holidays with Guster or your father. There's also the department Christmas party. You could have even gone with O'Hara."

"Yeah, I could have, but I'd rather be here with you," Shawn shrugged. "Besides, it's no fun without you there to get drunk and awkwardly hit on."

Carlton flushed. "I hate it when you do that."

The younger man shrugged and dabbed Carlton's nose with a tissue. "And yet, you never stop me."

"Careful." Carlton took the crumpled tissue from Shawn's hand and tossed it into a nearby wastebasket. "I don't know if I'm contagious or not."

Shawn reached into his pocket, pulled out a cough drop and popped it into his mouth. "I'm all prepared."

Carlton rolled his eyes. "That won't protect you from anything, Spencer."

Shawn grinned before leaning forward and pressing a kiss on Carlton's warm forehead. The older man could smell the honey and eucalyptus on his breath.

"You don't have to worry about me, Lassie. I'll risk it."

A/N: Poor, sick Lassie. I've been sick on a holiday. It sucks. And you don't want people hanging around you because you don't want to spoil their evening with your illness.