Angeal walked into his apprentice's room. He always woke Zack up. Other 1st class SOLDIER thought it was wrong to do because the 2nd class shouldn't have to be reminded. Angeal didn't care and told them that Zack was hiss apprentice and he would do what he felt helped. "Zack, it's time to get up."
Usually all he had to do was tell Zack that it was time to wake up. This time it didn't work. He gently gave Zack a little shake but still nothing. He put his hand to Zack's forehead. "Zack! Gaia you're burning up!"
He got some cold water and placed it on Zack's forehead. "Angeal…w-what's wrong?"
"Shh. Zack, don't talk."
"
"Angeal…"
Angeal gently stroked a few strands of Zack's hair. "Don't talk. That's an order. You need to rest."
"Yes…Sir."
Zack slowly drifted into a deep sleep. Angeal paced in the room. He was worried about Zack. He was Zack's mentor. He had to take care of him. He took one look at Zack. He was trembling and his fever seemed to be rising. Sadly there was nothing he could do. Having to hear his moans of pain didn't help either. "Hang on Zack. You'll be okay."
Then Angeal remembered he had a meeting to go to. He called Sephiroth. "Hey, Sephiroth. Yeah I know I'm suppose to go to the meeting. I know. Look Zack is sick. I can't just leave him here. No, he has a fever. It seems to be rising. Okay. Bye."
He hung up and went to check on Zack. "Worse comes to worse no matter what I'm going to make sure you're okay Zack."
"A-Angeal…I can't…much longer…"
Angeal stroked a few strands of Zack's hair. Zack fell asleep again. More like unconsciousness. He began to worry more. All of a sudden his phone started making a loud beeping noise. "What now?"
He answered his phone. He heard Sephiroth. "Well Angeal you seem to worry more than other mentors. Give Zack Restore Materia."
Angeal hung up. There was no way that Angeal was going to give Zack Restore Materia. He knew Sephiroth was trying to get him to come to the meeting. "Sephiroth…he's my apprentice not yours."
Zack eyes slowly opened. "You…need to go…to that meeting…Angeal…"
"Not with you in this state. It's okay. They'll understand."
Zack shook his head. "Don't…worry about…me. I'll…be okay."
"I'm not going, Zack.
Zack's eyes were halfway opened. "I…don't want…you to get in trouble."
Angeal shook his head. "It's no trouble. Try to get some rest, okay?"
"Yes Sir."
Angeal walked out of the room. He would check up on him later but right now sleep would only work for Zack right now. Angeal would have to report this. It was a rule that if anything happened they'd have to report it. That also included fevers. It didn't really matter if it was a small fever either. Angeal walked to his small desk. "Might as well write it up now."
He labeled the top as Zack Fair. They would know it's a report. He wrote everything down. Angeal went to go check on Zack. His fever seemed to be going down. It was usually a good sign. He left the room and would check on him in another hour or so. An hour had past and Angeal went to check on Zack. Last time his fever seemed to be going down. Now it seemed to be going up. "Zack. Zack, wake up."
Zack's eyes slowly opened, not fully. "Angeal… w-what's happening? Why do I feel so strange?"
"I… I don't know, Zack."
Angeal was worried. Zack seemed to notice. "Angeal… why are you so worried?"
Angeal became confused. "How did you figure that out?"
"You're shaking, sir."
Angeal seemed to notice because he looked at his hand and like Zack said it was shaking. "Oh, it's nothing."
Angeal knew he was lying to himself. He WAS worried. He never saw someone with such a high fever. He still wondered what could have been the cause. The other day he had been fine, perfectly okay and willing to wake up in the morning and continued training. What could have made Zack so sick? As he recalled after training Zack was so tired he took a shower and fell asleep. Angeal knew it couldn't have been because he was tired. "Sir?"
"Hn? Zack, what is it?"
Zack seemed to be a little worried. "What's wrong?"
Angeal decided to talk. It seemed to keep Zack relaxed and it made his fever seem to go down when he wasn't thinking about it. That was hard to do seeing how you feel hot. "I'm just worried about you. I never had seen you with such a high fever before. You seemed so healthy last night. I don't understand what could have happened."
Zack shook his head. "I… I don't know either."
"Anyway, I want you to be healthy so please, try to go back to sleep."
Zack closed his eyes, forgetting to add 'Yes, sir' and went to sleep. Angeal didn't mind. Anything that could take Zack's mind off the fever would work. He gently stroked Zack's hair. "Get better, Zack."
It was seven in the morning when Angeal went to check on Zack again. Zack seemed to be resting peacefully. Still it didn't hurt to be sure. Angeal sat down at the edge of the bed. "Zack… how are you feeling?"
Zack opened his eyes. "A little better. Um…Angeal? You didn't get in trouble, did you?"
"Why would I be in trouble, Zack?"
Zack shook his head. "Never mind. I just don't want you to be."
Angeal eyes softened. He pulled Zack into a friendly embrace. "I wouldn't care if I got in trouble. I only care about you. I don't care what you think. I am your mentor and I will make sure nothing ever happens to you."
Zack smiled and fell asleep in Angeal's arms.
Wow I don't know if I should make a sequel to this or not. Well let me know if I should