Disclaimer: I do not own Fifty Shades of Grey, or any of the characters.
Ana POV
I woke up disoriented and for a moment didn't know where I was. Oh yeah, Christian's penthouse, Escala. The unfamiliarity came from the fact that I didn't sleep in his bedroom because we fought last night. I looked around and he was nowhere to be found, probably didn't even come searching for me, but certainly didn't sleep in this room with me. I then glanced at the clock, 7:30… shit, I am going to be late for work! As I sat up dizziness suddenly hit me. I stayed still for a few moments for it to pass then cautiously stood up and went to the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast before getting ready for work.
Neither Christian nor Gail was anywhere to be found but there were some eggs and bacon ready on the counter. Thank God for Mrs. Jones! At least I don't have to worry about making breakfast when I'm in a hurry.
After I finished I went to Christian's bedroom to get ready as my clothes were in his walk-in closet. Christian still nowhere, he probably already left for Grey House. As I was putting on my pencil dress, dizziness washed over me again. What the hell is wrong with me? It passed as fast as it came, and I left for work.
It was a quiet day at SIP, only a few manuscripts to be looked over, but by lunch time I had a massive headache and felt absolutely miserable. Maybe I should have stayed at home… Even Hannah noticed that something was off but I told her it was only a headache and to get me some Advil. Not that it helped any. At 2 pm I decided to go home and bring my manuscripts and laptop with me to finish up things there after an afternoon nap.
By the time the elevator arrived at the top floor of Escala I could barely stand upright. I dumped my stuff in the library which functioned as my study and went straight for the guest room, which I slept in the night before, not even bothering to change clothes and fell asleep by the time my head hit the pillow.
I awoke at dusk, again, not knowing where I was for a moment. Christian was sitting in a chair across the room looking at me impassively.
"Hi." – I greeted in a small voice, not really knowing what to say. Honestly I didn't even remember what we fought about the previous night. More importantly my head still hurt and I felt really groggy.
"Hi." – he said back still not revealing anything. – "Care to tell me why you came home in the middle of the day from work?" – Is he mad at me? Is this about last night or because I left work early?
"I had a headache, I thought I would finish up from here after a quick nap, but I guess I was out of it." – his expression changed, worry etching his features.
"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" – he asked with concern.
"Christian, it's just a headache, no big deal, and I didn't know if you were speaking to me… you were really angry with me last night…" – I said tentatively.
"Ana, I am always on speaking terms with you if it's concerning your well-being and health." – he stated softly.
"Again, it's just a headache, no big deal. But thank you for your concern."
"Okay then… I will leave you to rest, I still have work to do, I will be in my study." – his solemn attitude was back. He was still angry after all.
After he left, I decided to get up and get some dinner, but suddenly felt so weak that I couldn't get up. Is this really just a headache? Maybe I was just hungry, I didn't have much for lunch, but my appetite wasn't the very best even at the moment… maybe I'll just eat something light.
Gail was in the kitchen, busy preparing something.
"Hi, Ana. How are you feeling? Mr. Grey said that you came home early with a headache. I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier." – she inquired worriedly.
"I'm fine, Gail." – this is getting old soon, why is everyone worked up about a headache?
"What would you like to have for dinner?"
"Maybe something light? A salad maybe?"
"Coming right up."
"Thank you."
As I sat at the breakfast bar I started to feel a bit cold and I realized that I was still wearing my sleeveless pencil dress. I stood up and went to the bedroom to change into something warmer and more comfortable. By the time I returned to the kitchen Gail had already finished and left. Christian was probably still in his study working, I wondered if I should wait for him with dinner but I started to feel tired again so decided to just eat quickly and turn in for the night.
As I got up I paused for a moment debating whether I should sleep in Christian's bedroom or the guest room again. I didn't feel like facing Christian again in the evening or morning in case he was still angry so I just went to the guest room. My pajamas were still here from the night before, I grabbed them and went to the bathroom to shower.
The warm water felt really nice but somehow I still felt cold. Afterwards I dried off and dressed as fast I could and got under the covers. I fell asleep shivering slightly.
The next morning I felt absolutely like death. I felt congested and could hardly breathe through my nose. Great just what I needed… a cold… I tried to feel my forehead, definitely a bit too warm, probably a low-grade fever. I fumbled for my cell phone, it was already 9 am, so Hannah was probably in the office wondering where I was. I called and told her that I wasn't coming in because I was ill, but that my stuff was here with me so I would be reachable via email and phone, and that I would look over the manuscripts if I felt up to it.
I was sure that at this time Christian had already left for work. I debated with myself if I should call him. He did say that he was concerned with my health even if we were fighting, but I didn't really want to bother him with a cold. I decided not to, I can take care of myself for God's sake! I walked to the bathroom looking for a thermometer, which I found in one of the cabinets. I sat down on the edge of the bathtub while I waited for it beep. Beep. 100.1. Not too bad. Definitely not fuss-worthy.
I walked into Christian's bedroom looking for something warm to wear. I found my comfy sweats, perfect for just these occasions. I looked around some more and also found a nice blanket that I could carry around with me in case I got too cold. I went to the en suite and looked around to see what kind of medicine we had. Found some Tylenol, NyQuil, DayQuil. These would do. By the time I finished my ministrations I felt out of breath and had to sit down on Christian's bed. Yupp, no denying it… definitely sick.
I still felt absolutely congested and also my throat was starting to bother me too, it felt tingly and scratchy. I got my stuff, medicine and some tissues, and went to my little study to drop them off then back to the kitchen to make some lemon-honey tea and an orange juice. After I finished took these back with my to the library as well, took some Tylenol and DayQuil with the orange juice, and got myself comfortable with my blanket and laptop in the armchair with my tea on the side table. I fired the mean machine up and read some emails, got some things done, then started to read one of the manuscripts. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew is that Christian was waking me. I looked around and it was still daytime, maybe 2 in the afternoon.
"Hey…" – I said, my voice a bit raspy. – "What are you doing home so early?" – I asked surprised.
"Well, I got a call from a very worried Mrs. Jones that you never left for work and that you were probably ill because you were all bundled up in the library. Why didn't you call me, Ana?"
"Well, exactly for this reason. You would have come running home over nothing when you have a company to run. I didn't want to bother you, and it's just a cold, I'm fine and totally capable of taking care of myself!"
"You are not fine Ana, you are shivering and have a fever, please let me take care of you." – I hadn't even noticed my shivering up until he pointed it out.
"I don't want to get you sick too." – I declared seriously. You have a company to run for God's sake! I would never live it down if I got him sick.
"Don't worry Baby, I have a strong immune system." – he smirked with his signature half smile. I knew I wasn't winning this.
"Fine…" – the moment the word was out of my mouth he scooped me up in his arms and started to walk out of the library. – "Hey! I can walk you know!" – I exclaimed.
"I know, and I can carry you." – he said amused by my protest.
He took me to his bedroom and set me down on the bed gently, arranged the pillows so that I could comfortably lie back down and got me under the covers, then went and got my stuff from the library. He also came back with the thermometer.
"Open up." – he was playing nurse. I complied, who am I to take away his fun. We waited patiently for it to beep then he looked at the reading with a concerned face.
"What is it?" – I asked. I didn't feel too bad so it couldn't be that high to warrant that expression.
"101.8" – he said grimly.
"That's not too bad." – I try to ease his worry. - "What time is it? I can take some Tylenol if it sets your mind at rest?"
"It's just after 2:30."
"Good, I took some around 9:30, so another other one should be fine now." – I told him as he handed me the pills and the orange juice.
"Did you have lunch?" – he questioned nonchalantly. He probably already knew the answer from Gail.
"No, I fell asleep in the library probably around 11. But I'm not that hungry to tell you the truth."
"Maybe some chicken soup?" – he asked expectantly.
"Chicken soup is fine, thank you."
"Great, I will ask Mrs. Jones to make some, I will be right back!" – he got up enthusiastically. Seriously… but if taking care of me makes him this happy so be it.
I closed my eyes for what felt like only a second, but when I opened them again, he already had my soup on a tray in his hands. I sat up a bit more straight and he placed it in my lap.
"Thank you, Christian." – I appreciated the gesture with a little smile and started to eat little spoonfuls of it. As I looked up I caught him staring at me. – "What is it Christian?" – I asked softly.
"I am sorry." – he articulated finally, regret evident in his voice.
"About what?" – I inquired with surprise.
"About the fight, for ignoring you afterwards, I feel I got you sick by stressing you out." – he said sincerely.
"Don't be silly, I probably caught it at the office, it's been going around."
"Maybe, but if I paid more attention to you and not stressed you out maybe you wouldn't be ill."
"I think it is pointless to go into 'what ifs'." – I smiled at him trying to ease his mind. – "You are here taking care of me now, that's all that matters."
"How are you feeling, honestly? None of that 'I'm fine' bullshit!" – he exclaimed seriously. I sighed and was tempted to roll my eyes.
"My head hurts, I'm congested, have a sore throat, pretty much it. Like I said a simple cold, nothing to get so worked up about." – just as I get that out I feel the need to cough at the back of my throat. I turned a little to the side to not cough on Christian – I still don't want to get him sick! – and coughed into the crook of my arm.
"And apparently you have a cough." – he noted dutifully. – "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you, I think I will just try to sleep a little." – I yawned.
"Mind if I hold you?" – he implored with a shy smile.
"Sure." – I said, scooting down and he lied down beside me, spooning me from the back. I drifted off to sleep almost instantly.