[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]

"No," he says, gentle, as he adjusts the cloth on her forehead and pulls down the blanket. "Just a dream. If that."

[porcupineliz]

She gives a long sigh, and closes her eyes; the damp cloth feels good, although she can't suppress a shiver when one drop of moisture trickles down behind her ear.

"A dream," she echoes. "It was ... in my hands. Everywhere."

[dr_j]

He finishes tugging down the blanket, and sits on the side of the bed. "Better?"

[porcupineliz]

"Yeah."

The drop of water making its way down her cheek is probably from the washcloth too. Probably.

[dr_j]

Quiet: "it's been a while since you've taken anything. Do you want to?"

[porcupineliz]

With some effort, she opens her eyes again. "Yeah. I -- yeah."

The barest attempt at a smile. "My everything hurts."

[dr_j]

"We'll fix that." He gets up carefully, goes to the dresser (where he's laid out a small pharmacy), shakes two pills into the cap, and comes back over. "Can you sit up enough to drink?"

[porcupineliz]

Slowly, laboriously, she pushes herself up on one elbow; it feels like less effort than actually sitting, and the slightest effort is painful at the moment.

"This enough?"

[dr_j]

"Yeah." He sits again, holding out the pills, and picks up the glass. "Whenever you're ready."

[porcupineliz]

She swallows, with some difficulty, and reaches for the glass first. It's cool against her palm, and the first sip is an almost painful relief.

After a second sip, she transfers the glass to her supporting hand and holds out her hand for the pills.

[dr_j]

Carefully he dumps them into her hand. "Better?"

[porcupineliz]

"Better already."

First one, then the other; the second one doesn't quite want to go down, and she finishes most of the water getting it to go.

[dr_j]

Jordie folds the damp washcloth. Quiet: "I might wake you up again later to drink more water."

[porcupineliz]

"'S probably a good idea."

She rubs her eyes. "Time is it?"

[dr_j]

"Mid-afternoon. I think."

[porcupineliz]

"... yeah. Time is weird here."

She swallows the last of the water, and settles back down fully horizontal with a sigh, cradling the glass carefully.



"I don't think I wanna go back to sleep."

[dr_j]

"Then don't," he says, lightly.

He hasn't moved.

[porcupineliz]

"But 'm still too tired to get up."

Beat.

Woefully: "My life is so hard."

[dr_j]

A small smile. "You could just luxuriate in bed."

[porcupineliz]

She looks up at him, with a faint smile. "With nice men bringing me cool drinks?"

[dr_j]

"Just one of us," he says, lightly.

[porcupineliz]

"One is good."

Her hand finds his, resting on the bed at his side, and feebly curls around it.

[dr_j]

Jordie turns his hand over -- the better to grip hers.

Quiet: "This is as bad as it'll get. Promise."

[porcupineliz]

She has to blink hard again, turning her head on the pillow in an effort to hide it.



"How long 's this usually last? Like ... three, four days?"

[dr_j]

"Seems about right," he says. "So, you know, boring, a little unpleasant... but it'll pass."