Acknowledgements:
Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The BTN Chatters - for their support
Disclaimers:
"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.
The fever had broken around 2AM, but Charlie still tossed and turned, achy and miserable. He hadn't gotten the flu this bad for years; he'd been good about getting his flu shot - like most of the professors he knew - but he'd missed it this year. He made a note to himself to tell every one of his TAs it was now their job to drag him to the annual flu shot day just so he didn't miss it again.
Unable to sleep, he alternately tossed his covers off - too hot - then pulled them back up - shivering cold.
So tired, so close to sleep, yet his body wouldn't rest.
A cool hand was laid upon his brow, his forehead relaxing under the calm of his mother's touch. He breathed easier, sank into his pillow and fell fast asleep.
It wasn't until he woke up that he remembered she was dead.