[pfsb+new mexico] achoo

[porcupineliz]

It's morning on the third day of a four-day visit, and they seem to actually be still enjoying each other's company. For a miracle. Today they're supposed to go exploring one of the nearby neighborhoods, and Liz went to bed last night in happy anticipation.

... and can't seem to pull herself out of the guest bed this morning.

Maybe it's got something to do with the cough and headache she seems to have developed overnight.

Comments

[dr_j]

Jordie doesn't mind -- has never minded -- silence.

He dumps the contents of the barely-defrosted container into a pot on the stove. A few minutes pass; first Liz gets a cup of tea. Then she gets a bowl of soup, not too long after.

Quiet: "If you don't think you'll be well enough to fly, we can make alternate arrangements."

[porcupineliz]

"'S worrying about that," she mumbles into her teacup. "-- well. Wondering."

Beat.

"No, worrying, had it right the first time."

She looks up. "My flight's ... tomorrow, right?"

[dr_j]

"Tomorrow night."

[porcupineliz]

She swallows some soup. It tastes unbelievably good, which tells her how much she needs food even if she doesn't feel hungry.

"I might be feeling okay enough to fly by then," she says, but doesn't believe it. And doesn't sound much as though she believes it.

"... but other arrangements might be good to have in mind. In case."

[dr_j]

Quiet: "I have to go back to work day after tomorrow regardless. So unless you want to wait until the weekend..."

[porcupineliz]

"And I'd have to rebuy the ticket, if I don't make it onto the flight I booked."

She rubs her face, trying to think. Accelerating the progress of the sickness, so that she'd get over it faster, would be possible but not necessarily wise.

[dr_j]

Jordie nods, hands folded in front of him.

[porcupineliz]

A small, hoarse laugh. "And I don't think I can get home just by walking through Milliways, either."

[dr_j]

Jordie gives her an odd look.

"We could go there," he says, after a moment. "Until you're feeling better. Then you wouldn't miss your flight."

[porcupineliz]

She looks blankly at him for a second -- then drops her face into one hand and begins to laugh weakly. It trails off into a hoarse dry cough after a moment.

"I am an idiot," she declares once she has her breath back.

[dr_j]

"...or sick," he points out.

[porcupineliz]

"Or sick." She rubs her face, wincing a little. "So yeah -- I could ride out the rest of this plague there, and then come back to here in time for my flight home?"

[dr_j]

"Yeah."

He studies her.

"You want company?"

[porcupineliz]

Liz looks up at him, tries for a brave smile, and can feel herself not quite making it.

"If you're offering? That'd be really great."

[dr_j]

Light: "We'll get a suite. Make a party of it."

[porcupineliz]

Her earlier resolve to ease off on the thanks is being sorely tested, but holds for the moment.

"A plague party," she agrees, and the wobbly smile gets a bit stronger. "Visitors only admitted with masks to prevent contagion."

[dr_j]

"And snacks. Snacks are definitely admitted."

[porcupineliz]

"Yes, definitely. Snacks and libations."

She eats some more soup, as though elliptically reminded.

[dr_j]

"...if you're okay here," he says after a moment, "I'm going to go toss some clothes in a bag."

[porcupineliz]

She smiles up at him -- and if her eyes are just a little brighter than they should be, it's probably the fever.

"I'm good here. Thanks."




By the following morning, it seems pretty definite that she isn't going to be feeling better in time to make her flight. Milliways it is.

It doesn't take too long to throw her own bag together. Getting dressed after that's done takes most of her remaining energy, but she urges herself not to be a wimp; she can go back to bed as soon as they're there.

[dr_j]

His backpack on, he helps her up the stairs to the small suite waiting for them; there's a big bedroom, and a squishy pull-out couch in the living room.

Jordie escorts her into the bedroom. "I'll run downstairs." Quietly. "For tea. Et cetera -- oh."

There's a tray on the desk in the corner; two thermoses, labeled, one soup, one tea. A covered plate labeled sandwiches; another one labeled cookies.

"We're covered."

[porcupineliz]

"... someone is looking out for us." Her smile hurts her throat, or maybe that's just the flu.

"I think I'm gonna be really boring and go back to bed."

[dr_j]

"Sure." Quiet. "I'll just bring over something for you to drink. And I might venture downstairs, but I'll be right outside otherwise."

[porcupineliz]

"Okay."

She sits down on the bed to toe her shoes off. Changing back into her pajamas seems like an unbearable amount of work; maybe she'll just take off her jeans and sweater and crawl into bed in her thermals. Or maybe crawl into bed and then take them off.

[dr_j]

Meanwhile, Jordie has edged out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

He tosses his backpack on the couch and goes into the bathroom, picking up a clean glass from the side table as he goes.