Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from the story and all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s).

I also would like to mention, that I haven't written any fanfiction in a very long time and that english is not my native language so I appologize for any mistakes in spelling ang grammar in andvance.

Chapter 1 – A Hard Days Night

It's been a few month since Jean and Lionel officially started their relationship again. Though they hadn't slept with each other since their weekend at Penny and Stevens, they enjoyed each others company and had a kind of silent agreement, they wouldn't rush anything. Just take one day at a time.

On Saturday evening Lionel surprised Jean with an invitation to a lovely french restaurant. They chatted about everything and nothing and it never got boring and they consumed quite a lot of that tasty french wine. It was long past midnight when they arrived at Jean's house and were all giggly when they ran into Judy and Sandy who also just got back from their night out with Alistair

„Hey you two kids should be in bed by now". Judy remarked with a wink.

„I'm soooo sorry mommy. It won't happen again." Jean tried to keep a straight face but burst into laughter seconds later and the three others joined in.

„Come on everybody, let's get inside and have a nightcap, before we all freeze to death." Judy finally stated and they all followed her into the house.

- In the living room.

„Girls, what can I get you."Jean asked.

„Just a light one please. I think we already had our share of booze tonight." Sandy answered as she made herself comfortable on the couch.

„Lionel, what about you."

He didn't react to Jeans question right away.

„Lionel?" she exclaimed

„Sorry..." he looked a bit startled. „I think I'll have a small brandy please. This wine did get to my head."

Jean prepared the drinks for them and handed them out, then poured herself a glass as well.

„So where have you guys been?" Judy asked.

„'Jaque's', a lovely little french restaurant." Lionel answered.

„And they serve good wine?" Sandy giggled.

„Indeed they did." Jean said, as she sat down next to Lionel on the sofa. „What about you two?"

Judy sighed, „Oh Alistair took us to at least four different bars. Can't remember where they were and how we got there, but it was quite fun."

„Yes it was, but exhausting." Sandy agreed.

„We don't have Alistars stamina. I think I'll go to bed, I'm suddenly really tired." Judy added.

Sandy jawned „Me too, I'll better go home."

„Oh come on you two are young. You can't just invite us to a nightcap and then run off." Jean looked at the girls with disapproval as they went outside.

„Sorry mum. Goodnight!"

„Yes boss, goodnight. See you Monday" And with that they left Jean and Lionel to themselves.

When Jean turned round to Lionel, she found him fast asleep. She sighed, placed a slight kiss on his forehead and put a blanket over him, then went to bed as well.

- Saturday

When Jean woke up the next morning, a slight headache reminded her of last night and when she stumbled out of bed, she felt pretty queasy. She barely made it to the bathroom before she really got sick.

When Judy entered the bathroom she was shocked to see her mother crouched over the toilet seat.

„Mum what's wrong?" she cried out and rushed to her.

Jean looked up and gave her a weak smile.

„Nothing dear. Obviously that french wine didn't agree with me."

„Oh dear. But you didn't seem very drunk last night." Judy took a wet cloth and put it on her mothers forehead.

„I know, but I'm probably not used to it anym..." She couldn't finish the sentence as another wave of sickness hit her.

It took another half an hour before Jean could leave the bathroom again. She finally managed to pull herself together, freshen up and go down into the kitchen. There she found Judy and Lionel sitting over big pots of coffee, looking nearly as weary as she felt herself.

Neither of them had the strength for a long conversation, so all they muttered was a halfhearted „Good morning".

After a while Judy decided to start cooking breakfast. The sheer thought of it, upset Jean's stomach again, so she and Lionel settled down in the living room instead.

„Are we really to old for this?" Lionel finally asked.

„I don't know. But look at Judy. She's having a hard time as well."

„Yes, but she and Sandy partied all night long with Alistair All we had was a bottle of wine."

„Two, we had two bottles." She took another sip of her coffee.

„Well next time we're going to the cinema, they only serve popcorn and soda. My head is killing me." he rubbed his forehead.

„At the moment I don't feel like doing anything in the near future." she leaned back into his arms.

„Me neither, but I've got to go home." he kissed the top of her head.

„I know."

„May I see you for lunch next week?"

„You may, but I'm not sure I will ever be able to eat again." she looked up at him.

„We'll go just for drinks then." Lionel teased and managed to make her smile a little.

- Monday morning.

Jean woke up again with a terrible headache, she glanced at the watch. Half past eight. When she realized she'd slept through the alarm, she jumped out of bed, regretting it immediately.

The same queasy feeling as the day before developed and for a moment she wasn't sure if it was really already monday. Maybe she had dreamt about Saturday evening and Sunday morning and now it's all happening again in real life.

She had no time to think about it, as the sickness made her rush to the bathroom.

It took her half an hour to get away from the toilete and another half an hour to get ready for work. Down in the kitchen she found a note from Judy.

„Couldn't wake you up. Gone to work. Hope you had a good rest. See you later. J"

Jean skipped breakfast and headed straight to the office with a big cup of coffee to go.

„Morning boss." Sandy greeted Jean with a big smile.

„Morning Sandy." Jean managed a halfhearted smile.

„Boy you look … uhm..." Sandy struggled for words. She didn't want to offend her boss but Jean really looked awfull.

„Don't say it. I've seen myself in the mirror." Jean cut her off and went into her office. She expected do find Judy, who obviously has gone out.

„Where's Judy." she shoutet out to Sandy.

The young secretary entered the room. „She took over your appointment with Mrs. Willis."

„Oh yes, I've totally forgotten about that." Jean sat down at her table with a big sigh.

„Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea?" Sandy asked before leaving.

„No I'm alright, thank you."

Jean leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.

Judi came back from her appointment at 11 o'clock to find her mother staring outside the window. Her mind obviously miles away.

„Mum..." Jean still didn't notice her daughter standing in front of desk.

„Mum wake up" Judy said, waving a hand infront of her mothers face.

Jean was startled and nearly jumped out of her chair.

„Hell Judy, you gave me a fright." Jean said, catching her breath.

"Sorry. Where were you?"

„What do you mean. I was and still am here."

„No I mean with your thoughts."

„Oh... I don't no. Nowhere and everywhere." Jean ruffled through some papers, avoiding to look at her daughter.

„You don't look very well." Judy noticed her pale face.

„You don't have to tell me that. And why didn't you wake me up this morning?" It came out harsher than she intended.

„Well I'm sorry." Judy bluffed back. „I tried but you were fast asleep and then I thought it would do you good. But it certainly won't happen again. Next time I'll order a marching band."

„I'm sorry love." Jean apologized „I'm just not myself today."

„I can see that." Judy was still a bit cross but her words softened. „Listen why don't you go home and take the day off? It's not much to do anyhow. Tomorrow you'll be better."

„No, no. I'm fine." Though she knew she wasn't. Her head was killing her, despite the two aspirin she'd taken earlier. Jean got up to get a file but nearly stumbled, one hand reaching out for the wall to stabilize and the other hand rising to her head.

Judy rushed to her side.

„You're obviously not fine. Come on sit down." She helped her mother back in the chair.

„Do you want me to get a doctor?"

„Oh don't be ridiculous."

„I'm not. You look like a ghost, you are dizzy and obviously feeling rather unwell. At your age you should take such symptoms seriously."

„What do you mean at my age? What's that got to do with it?" Jean was rather upset.

„It has nothing to do with it. Hell if I was in your shoes I'd see a doctor." She gave her a stern look.

Jean sighed, „You're probably right. At least he might be able to give me something stronger against my headache."

„Of course I'm right. Off you go then. Sandy and I can manage here."

„Thanks love." She gave her daughter a kiss on the head and prepared to leave.

- Noon

Lionel entered the „Type for you"-office. Sandy greeted him with a smile, „Hello Lionel. What can I do for you?"

„I'm here to take Jean to lunch." He answered.

„Oh... I'm afraid she's not in."

„But we had a date. Do you have an idea when she'll be back?" He couldn't hide the disappointment.

„I'm sorry, no I don't. But Judi's in. Maybe you ask her." Sandy didn't want to tell him about her bosses whereabouts. Though Lionel was Jean's lover, Sandy would feel as if she'd betray Jean.

„No I don't want to bother her." He turned round to leave.

„I'll tell Jean, you were here." Sandy questioned.

„Yes, you'll do that. Goodbye Sandy."

„Bye Lionel." She gave him a big smile but she could see his frustration.

- At the GP's

Dr. Turner had examined his patient and she'd told him the whole story about the dinner she had in the french restaurant and what had happened since.

„Well Jean, there are two options. Either you caught this nasty gastro intestinal-flu, that's circulating or you got food poisoning." Dr. Morgan stated.

„And when will you know for sure?" she asked, not sure which she'd prefer.

„A couple of days at the most. I'll have your blood tested for the most common food poisoning bacteria and of course for that virus. In the meantime I'll prescribe you a small dose of Activated carbon and a painkiller for your headache. And I want you to drink lots of fluid." He handed her the prescription.

"Thank you Hugh."

"Not at all. Take it easy for a little while. I'll see you in a few days."

"Goodbye"

They shook hands and Jean left the practice. It was nearly 4 in the afternoon when she returned to her own office. She found Judy and Sandy having a coffe break and they stared at her expectant when she came in.

"Oh don't look at me as if I'm going to explode any second." she put her purse down, poured herself also a cup of coffee and sat down with the girls.

"Sorry mum, but how did it go?"

"Fine I guess." She said, taking a sip.

"What does that mean?" Sandy asked.

"That means he has no clue. It could be a virus or food poisoning. We'll find out in a few days."

The two young women exchanged worried looks.

"Oh come on you two. I'm not dying or anything. It's probably just a stomach flu. He gave me some Activated carbon and I'm sure I'll be back to my usual self tomorrow." Jean tried to take their worries away but she also tried to persuade herself. "Now back to business, what have I missed?"

"Lionel was here to take you to lunch." Sandy reported.

"Oh dear, I've totally forgotten about that. I'll call him later and apologize."

Jean did try to call Lionel at least three times that day, but with no luck. On Wednesday she went by his flat but of course he wasn't there. She didn't expect him to be anyway, so she left a message. It wasn't as if they made any commitment to each other but come Friday she still hadn't heard anything from him and she couldn't help but worry a bit. At five in the afternoon she decided to call it a day, Judy and Sandy had already gone home to get ready for a night out with Alistair.
Jean felt rather exhausted, though the sickness was gone thanks to the medication.

She was just about to close the door when she saw Lionel walking down the street.

He smiled at her broadly but was bewildered when Jean didn't return his smile.

"What's wrong?"

"Where the hell have you been?" she asked sternly.

"I could ask you the same thing. You stood me up for our lunch date on Monday."

"That's no reason to disappear without warning."

"Well you were the one who said, we shouldn't take things too seriously too fast. And I didn't disappear, I simply visited my father."

She didn't know what to say, she knew he was right, but she also felt a bit hurt.

"Are you okay Jean. You look a bit tired." He finally broke the silence.

"Well I am. I had a hell of a week and all I can think of is going to bed and sleep for a very long time." Her voice softened.

"I guess that means you won't come to the cinema with me."

She gave him an apologetic look "I'm so sorry. I'd probably fall asleep after the commercials."

"But you have to eat. Let's have a quick dinner and then you can fall asleep on my sofa, while watching television."

"Oh no, I'm not going out to dinner with you. I'm still feeling a bit sick when I think about the last weekend."

"What do you mean?"

"I've been sick until Tuesday and even went to see a doctor. He thought it was food poisoning."

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry. But shouldn't I've been sick as well if it was that?"

"Yes I guess so. Well maybe it was just a stomach flue then."

"Let me apologize for that. I'll cook you dinner. How about that?"

"You don't have to apologize, it's not your fault but a quiet evening sounds lovely. I'd like that." she finally smiled at him and grabbed his arm as they walked off to Lionel's flat.