★ but I'm going to be okay as long as you're beside me along the way

[complexguy]

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[complexguy]

He knows she's right, and he manages to eventually get up after a moment, letting her lead him to the bathroom. He hates the cold water, but he knows he needs it, and once he sinks into the tub, it does feel good against his warm skin. He settles his head back, closing his eyes as he sinks into the water.

[dharmalady]

Juliet kneels right by the tub, lightly, tenderly, stroking his hair and then lightly trailing cool water up and over his chest.

"How can you be so sick, but look so good?" she asks rhetorically.

[complexguy]

That pulls a soft chuckle from him, but his eyes stay closed. His head does turn towards her, though. "I know I'm real damn sick 'cause I don't even feel like foolin' around right now."

[dharmalady]

Smiling softly, she presses her lips to his forehead.

"We have plenty of time for that. You just let me take care of you now, okay? I'm a retired doctor."

[complexguy]

He smiles sleepily again, briefly opening his eyes to look at her. "You must love me a lot, comin' outta retirement and all."

[dharmalady]

"I love you more than I've ever loved anyone, James," she says seriously. "I would do anything for you."

[complexguy]

He has to open his eyes for a moment to look at her, reaching out to cradle her cheek. "Goes both ways, sweetheart."

[dharmalady]

"I know," Juliet promises, pressing a kiss to his palm.

She keeps him in the back a few more minutes before helping him out and back into bed.

"How do you feel right now? Hot or cold?"

[complexguy]

His skin is still a little warm, but cooler than it was. "Cold. Warm me up?" He grunts a little, curling into her.

[dharmalady]

She hates that he's sick, but she doesn't hate the cuddling, and she smiles softly, wrapping the comforter around them both.

"I like being your personal furnace."

[complexguy]

"Good at it."

He's still coughing badly, but as she holds him and he warms up a little - without being too warm - he finally feels like he can get some sleep, which is what his body needs. Eventually, he drifts off to sleep, snoring because he's so congested.

[dharmalady]

When he wakes up again, she wants to get him into a steamy bathroom, but for now, this is what he needs.

She'll get him some food, make sure he drinks water, and then hold him as long as he wants.

[complexguy]

When he does wake up again, he actually feels even worse now, but that just means he's more compliant, and he goes to the steamy bathroom easily with her. He barely speaks, just grunts at times until they're back in bed. Once he's managed to eat and drink a little, he just wants to sleep again.

"I feel like shit, Juliet."

[dharmalady]

"I know, baby," she whispers softly, stroking his hair.

"I know, and all I can do is treat your fever. I'm sorry. I know it sucks," she tells him gently, knowing that if his fever hasn't gone down in about another day, she needs to get him to the infirmary.

"I wish I could give you something to make it better."

[complexguy]

"You're makin' it better," he mumbles, his head resting in her lap. His fingers move, stroking across her kneecap tenderly.

[dharmalady]

"Doing everything I can," she promises.

She rotates advil and tylenol, tries to help him breathe and keep him comfortable. It hurts to see him hurting and not being able to do more.

[complexguy]

The next two days, his cough just gets worse and worse, his fever still lingering but not getting worse at least. Finally, on the fifth day of being sick, his fever breaks. When he wakes up in the morning, he's drenched in sweat but he's cool to the touch, and his coughing has started to ease.

[dharmalady]

Juliet's been about eight hours away from calling Horace and telling him the sub needs to be ready for an emergency trip. That's how long she waits after one more does of Tylenol, knowing if it doesn't help, then they need to go before his fever does decide to climb when his body can't fight the virus anymore.

But finally just after sunrise, she's awake and reading when she hears him sigh in his sleep. Reaching over, she can feel the damp coolness on his forehead and she finally relaxes. Still, she only dozes and is awake when he is, ready with warm tea with a little honey to help soothe.

"Fever broke," she says with a soft smile, sitting on the edge of the bed. She'll get him into a bath to wash him soon, but for now, she wants to assess how he is.

[complexguy]

His eyes open fully to look at her, his hand wrapping around her wrist for a moment. For the first time since he got sick, his eyes are actually clear, not glassy and foggy. "Saved my life," he grunts out. Is he being over-dramatic? Probably, but he sure felt like death.

[dharmalady]

"Well, if your fever hadn't broken, we'd be on the sub right now," she tells him seriously.

"I was worried," Juliet admits, bending down to kiss his forehead tenderly.

[complexguy]

He grips her wrist, wanting to hold her right there. "Can I get another kiss?"

[dharmalady]

"You can have anything you want," she breathes out, kissing him again.

"Whenever you want, I can help you into a bath," Juliet offers.

[complexguy]

"Kinda want one now," he mumbles, starting to push himself up. He just feels sticky and gross. "You get in first." Yes, he definitely wants to be held and he's not ashamed to admit that.

[dharmalady]

"Let me help you in, then I'll get in behind you," she promises, wanting to be able to help him if he feels like he might pass out.

Juliet gets up and steps up to help him gently to the bathroom, kissing his shoulder softly before turning on the hot water in the bath.

"Ready?"

[complexguy]

He nods a little, then slips into the tub, letting her get comfortable behind him. Once they're both in the tub together, he sinks back against her. He's still so damn exhausted, so he doesn't say anything, just closes his eyes as she holds him.