Work Text:
Elphaba woke up to the bed already empty, Galinda's side was already cool. She sat up rubbing her eyes. It was still pretty dark out, the sun had only just begun rising. She grabbed her glasses from the bedside table, as the room came into focus she noticed the bathroom door was closed. She heard quiet whimpering from behind the door.
"Galinda? Are you alright?" She got out of bed.
There was no answer from her girlfriend other than the small sounds she had already heard.
"My sweet? Can I come in?" She rapped her knuckles gently on the door.
"It's unlocked," Galinda's voice sounded weak and wobbly.
Elphaba opened the bathroom door to find her girlfriend curled on the tile floor clutching her stomach.
She slid down to sit on the floor next to her, "What's wrong?"
"mm not feeling well," her eyes were half closed with exhaustion, "I've been throwing up all morning."
She ran her fingers through Galinda's hair, "Do you still feel like you are going to throw up or do you want to go back to bed and rest?"
Galinda leaned into her touch, "I wanna go to bed."
She helped her up, taking most of Galinda's weight as they walked the short stretch back to the bed. Galinda curled in on herself the second she got into the bed, her eyes started closing immediately. Elphaba tucked her in making sure she was comfortable. She grabbed the trashcan and brought it to the side of the bed just in case, before going to gather supplies.
She brought Galinda the heating pad and slipped it into the cocoon that was her girlfriend's sleeping form. Galinda clung to it reflexively pulling it to her abdomen in her sleep. She filled a glass of water and placed it on the bedside table then started boiling water for tea. Elphaba realized she would need some food Galinda would be able to eat so she scribbled a quick note for Galinda just in case she woke up (which Elphaba highly doubted would happen, but just in case) and left to find food.
Elphaba returned not long after with some crackers and assorted fruit that she hoped Galinda would be able to keep down.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked Galinda's face gently. She felt warm but not hot enough to be feverish, Elphaba made a mental note to keep an eye on her temperature though in case it got worse. Galinda leaned into her touch and slowly blinked up at her as she woke up.
"I'm sorry did I wake you?" She murmured.
Galinda just hummed her dissent and shifted slightly. Her gaze landed on the cup of water Elphaba had left. She slowly maneuvered herself into a sitting position with Elphaba's help and took the glass her girlfriend handed to her.
"Drink slowly-" Elphaba warned. But it was too late Galinda gulped down the water in an attempt to relieve her dehydration. It only took a few seconds before she was regretting that decision and hurrying back to the bathroom.
Elphaba followed on her heels, crouching to gather up her girlfriends hair and hold it out of the way. When Galinda was done she rested her head against the cool wall.
"thirsty…"
"I know you are but you need to drink slowly or you'll just make yourself sick," Elphaba explained, "I can make you a cup of mint tea. That might help."
Galinda nodded and they moved back to the bed. Elphaba poured her a cup of the tea she had brewed adding sugar to fit her girlfriend's tastes.
Galinda held the well loved, slightly chipped pink mug close as she breathed in the steam enjoying the warmth on her hands. She took a small sip cautiously. The mint helped relax her immediately, the tea's warmth filling her with comfort. Elphaba had explained mint's stomach soothing properties once and while Galinda couldn't remember the details or how it worked she trusted that it would help.
Elphaba brought her a small plate with a few crackers and cut up strawberries. Galinda grumbled and pushed it away shaking her head.
"My sweet, you need nutrients. Can you at least try to eat something?"
She took a deep breath and resolved herself. She managed to eat all of the crackers and most of the strawberries in tiny nibbles.
"Thank you, you did good," Elphaba pressed a kiss to her forehead as she took the plate back again.
She curled back into the blankets this time with Elphaba with her. Elphaba sat up reading aloud quietly and Galinda rested her head on her lap, hugging her heating pad tightly. She drifted back off to sleep like that, wrapped in warmth and comfort.