"One. Two. Three, and back and slash." Pearl directed, standing by as Connie and Steven sparred.

Pearl really didn't need to instruct Connie vocally anymore, the girl caught on to the subtle movements Pearl made and reacted to them beautifully. The directions were mostly for Steven. It wasn't Steven's first sword practice, but Steven always did better if Pearl was giving him cues. Steven was progressing wonderfully, he did require much more time than Connie, but that was fine. As long as he became proficient in protecting himself, Pearl was fine with that.

Steven was sweating, his tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he struggled to stop Connie's sword. Connie wouldn't stab him or anything like that - she had accidently whacked him earlier this week and he still couldn't get her to stop apologizing (it hadn't even hurt, his hair was too poofy). Connie wasn't moving as fast as she did with Pearl, but it was fast enough to keep him on his toes. Every now and then he would catch a look at her and falter in his step.

"Steven, keep up now." Pearl instructed, noticing the slight misstep. Steven nodded with a slight grunt and tried to remain focused. But it was hard, because Connie didn't look too good. Her eyes were hard but misty. She had a blush on her cheeks and her forehead was damp.

Maybe that was normal for the average person, but Connie's body had gotten used to her new exercise regime. She hadn't broken out into a sweat in weeks, to see the beads of sweat pour down his friend's face made him worry.

Steven could hear, every now and then, Connie stifle a pained noise. Steven wanted to ask her what was wrong, but she wouldn't slow and whenever he caught her eye, she would look pointedly away or distract him with a strong thrust.

"I think that's good for now. Why don't we call it a day?" Pearl said suddenly, clapping her hands together. "I need to hurry back to the temple, you may continue to practice with one another, but please do be careful."

Steven didn't have to receive Pearl's glare to know that the last part of that sentence is mainly for him, not

With that Pearl gracefully left them. Steven wiped his brow and finally got a good luck at Connie. As soon as Pearl had turned her back to them, Connie had sighed heavily and rested her hands on her knees in a slump. The calm, collected breathing Connie had been maintaining, became quick and harried.

"Connie? Are you alright?" Steven asked, not sure whether to touch her or stay back.

"I-I'm fine Steven. It's just hot is all." Connie panted, dropping down to a squat.

Steven sat up and felt the eerily cool air around them. The Sky Arena was never hot, if anything it maintained a coolness that felt similar to air conditioning. Steven gathered up the courage to place his hand on Connie's tiny back.

"Whoa, Connie you're really hot." Steven yelped.

"Excuse me?" Connie gasped, laughing some when Steven realized what he had just said.

"I-I mean that you k-know that….um…I think I'm gonna stop now." Steven stuttered, his face getting redder and redder. "B-but you really are warm."

Connie sighed and sat up, bunching up her thick hair so that some air might hit her burning neck. "It's nothing, just a little fever-."

"A fever?!" Steven yelled. "Connie what are you doing here if you're sick?"

"I'm not sick, it's simply a fever. It's only a little one." Connie said, stretching before grabbing her water bottle. She sat down on the arena steps and took a long swig. "Besides, I've never missed a session before."

Steven sat down next to her, slurping his juice. It was true. Connie was never late or absent. Pearl admired this very much, constantly praising them both when they were both present and early. Steven knew Connie was very meticulous, kind of like Pearl, but he hadn't realized how far she would go.

"Pearl wouldn't mind if you were gone just once." Steven whispered, looking down at his juice box. "Especially if it was because you aren't feeling well."

Connie shook her head. "I'm fine. I just need to rest for a little while."

Steven sighed, but didn't argue. Connie didn't look as though she needed to argue right now. She looked like she needed some soup and the entire DVD collection of Under the Knife. He helped her to the warp pad, ignoring her when she insisted that she was fine. He held her in the warp stream, worried when she closed her eyes and had let herself begin to float upward.

"When do your parents get home?" Steven asked, easily dragging Connie to the couch to sit down.

"They'll be out late. Dad's got a late security gig and Mom's on the night shift for surgical patients." Connie whimpered, grimacing as her stomach ached. She hadn't wanted to worry either of them, so she had done her best to seem healthy before she had left the house. But the warm up Pearl had prepared and the light sparring had made her stomach ache and her head all woozy.

"When my Dad's done at the carwash he'll drive you." Steven said, fluffing a pillow before resting it underneath Connie's damp hair.

Connie sighed. Now Mr. Universe would know she was ill too. There would be no way she could hide this from her parents now. She could barely walk so she would need help to the door. Oh…her parents were going to give her such a lecture. And then what if she got Steven or Mr. Universe or even worse Pearl in trouble?

Connie could hear Steven rustling around to her right. She opened her eyes and tried to rub the blur out of them. She hadn't been able to see straight since this morning. She saw a Steven-colored blob approach her.

"Hey Connie, I was wondering if maybe I could take your temperature?" Steven asked quietly, leaning rather close.

Connie groaned and nodded. She would need to properly gauge her illness if she was to explain this to her mother.

Steven pressed the thermometer into her ear and they both waited for the quiet beep. Steven brought it to his face and Connie watched on curiously.

"What's it say?" Connie asked.

"102.4." Steven said. "That's not good, is it?"

"Nope, it's not the worst, but it's worse than it was this morning." Connie sighed, groaning as she sat up. She wiped her brow and slid her legs off the couch.

"Whoa, were do you think you're going?" Steven asked, his hands hovering around her torso. Steven may not look it, but he was quite capable of keeping Connie down if he thought she was going to hurt herself.

"Bathroom. My stomach."

As soon as Connie said that, Steven offered his hands to help her up. He led her to the bathroom and when Connie was situated, he ran straight to the temple.

A/N: When you have writer's block for CGA, write random short fics about your favorite characters and hope it ends soon.