One Hectic Week
Chapter 1
Horatio found himself falling into darkness, grabbing at thin air in an effort to stop the falling. The darkness seemed to distort as if it was alive as he heard the loud roar of a car engine which had his heart pounding as he feared what came next. Suddenly the falling sensation stopped as his body jolted, waking Zoë who lay next to him. Zoë lifted her head to look over at him as he opened his eyes wide, waking up in a sweat.
"Horatio, are you okay honey?" She asked as she rubbed one of her eyes. She shuffled over to him as he calmed himself down and looked over at her and gave her a nod. He looked away to cough and then sat up and sat on the edge of the bed to cough as he leant over, finding it easier to breathe that way. Zoë sat up and got out of bed to get him some water, she quickly came back and sat next to him as she handed him the glass of water as she rubbed his back delicately.
"Thank you" he said quietly and regretted speaking as it threw him into another coughing fit. She moved her hand down to his arm and felt that he was clammy. She moved her hand up to his face and placed the back of her hand on his cheek and then moved it up to his forehead.
"I think you're coming down with something handsome, is there a thermometer in your first aid kit?" She asked as she brushed his hair back from his forehead. He nodded at her and took another sip as his cough calmed down.
"I'll be right back" she said as she got up and walked out, he heard her footsteps as she went downstairs. She picked up the first aid kit and went back upstairs.
"How are you feeling in yourself?" She asked as she crouched down in front of him, placing the first aid kit on her knee as she opened it and pulled out one of the strip thermometers.
"You've got nothing on my first aid kit by the way" she said with a grin as she took the glass from his hand. Horatio chuckled a little, sending him into another short coughing fit.
"I'm sorry beautiful" he apologised as he covered his mouth.
"Don't apologise, now how are you feeling?" She asked, looking up at him softly as she placed her free hand on his thigh.
"I'm fine" Horatio said, with a small smile as his cough subsided again.
"Horatio, the last time you told me that and you were unwell you ended up in hospital with meningitis… so I suggest that you're truthful with me, I do not want a repeat of that…" she said raising her eyebrow at him. He nodded at her knowing she was right.
"I've just got a cough and a small headache, I could feel it yesterday." He said looking at her softly, looking exhausted.
"Okay honey, just relax and I'm going to put this on your forehead" Zoë said as she took the strip thermometer out of the packet and placed it against his head.
"Any other symptoms? Sore throat, nausea?" she asked softly as she looked up at him.
"No" Horatio said softly, exhaling.
"Okay handsome, it might be that you're getting a chest infection, in which case, no kissing for you and me…" she said with a raised eyebrow as she pulled the thermometer off his forehead and looked at it. Horatio exhaled a sigh.
"38.0 – you've definitely got a temperature." Zoë said as she handed him the glass of water again and got up to sit by him.
"I need a shower" Horatio said as he looked down at is clammy hands.
"Okay, have a relatively cool one though, not hot." Zoë said softly as she placed her hand on his back and he got up walking into the bathroom slowly.
Zoë put his first aid kit back and took a shower herself, getting changed in Horatio's room. Horatio came out of the bathroom and began coughing again.
"Oh honey, come and sit down." Zoë said as she stopped buttoning up her shirt and placed her hand on his back as she walked him over to the bed and sat him down. She handed him the glass of water and then buttoned her shirt up as she went to get him a t-shirt and some light joggers. She placed them on the bed beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Horatio, you're even hotter, I told you to take a relatively cold shower." She said looking at him.
"It was warm, it wasn't hot" Horatio said looking at her. She raised an eyebrow at him and pulled out another strip and placed it on his forehead, she waited for it to react and then pulled it off again.
"38.2" she said looking at him with a hand on her hip, he looked up at her innocently and she couldn't help but smile at him.
"Get changed and I'll make you some toast or something." Zoë said as she threw the strip thermometer away. "Give me a shout if you need me" she said and he gave her a nod, she walked out and went down to make him some toast and made herself a slice too. She heard him come downstairs and turned around as he walked into the kitchen.
"Go and sit down honey, I'll be right through" she said as she gave him a smile. Horatio nodded tiredly at her and went through to the living room and slumped down on the sofa, feeling exhausted. Zoë came through with a plate of toast and a glass of orange juice.
"Thank you beautiful" Horatio said softly, she gave him a smile and a nod and walked back out to come back with another plate and some orange juice. She sat down next to him and placed her orange on the coffee table.
"At least it's a Saturday and you can relax." She said with a smile.
"Mm-hmm" Horatio agreed with her. They spent the morning relaxing before Zoë got Horatio back into bed again as he was completely exhausted.
"I'm really sorry handsome, but it looks like you're going to have to put up with my cooking this evening" she said with a smile as she sat him down on the bed. Horatio chuckled a little.
"It's not that bad" Horatio assured her with a small boyish smile.
"Hmm… you won't be saying that after you eat it…" She said with a grin. Horatio chuckled a little but it threw him into another coughing fit.
"Sorry handsome, I'll try and keep the jokes and sarcasm to a minimal" she said as she rubbed his back. She handed him a glass of water as he finished coughing.
"You try and sleep, I've got some shopping to do and I'll be back a little later. Give me a ring if you need anything okay?" Zoë said softly as she sat by him.
"Okay beautiful, I'll see you later." Horatio said as he laid down and looked over at her.
"Actually rest, okay?" Zoë said as she stood up and leant over him, brushing his hair back away from his forehead.
"I will" Horatio said roughly. Zoë quickly went into the bathroom and came out with a wash cloth and placed it on his forehead.
"Keep that there and I'll see you later" Zoë said as she leant in and kissed his cheek. He gave her a smile and she then left and popped home before going out shopping. She returned to her house with shopping and put things away and tidied up a little before heading back over to Horatio's and letting herself in. She had picked up a few things from hers, like the ear thermometer. She had also picked up a few things from the shop for him. She put it all away before she went upstairs and found Horatio awake, but resting.
"Well, at least you rested honey." She said as she walked over to him with another glass of water and the thermometer. She could see just how much he was run down, he looked pale and fatigued.
Horatio exhaled a small laugh and looked over at her sleepily as she sat on the edge of the bed. She placed the thermometer in his ear as she placed her hand over his. She looked at it.
"38.7, Horatio, you're burning up." Zoë said as she took the duvet off him.
"Can you sit up for me handsome?" She asked and he sat himself up.
"Thank you" she said as she picked up the glass of water and handed him two aspirin's.
"These should bring your temperature down. Do you still have a headache?" She asked softly.
Horatio took the two tablets and nodded at her.
"Okay handsome, I want you to take your shirt off after you finish the water." She said as she got up and walked into the bathroom, taking the wash cloth with her. Horatio put the glass down after drinking as much as he could and took his t-shirt off just as she asked. She knew he was feeling really bad because he wasn't his usual self.
"Okay honey, just lie back for me" she said as she sat on the bed next to him as he shuffled down and laid back down. She placed a cold damp wash cloth on his forehead and he moaned tiredly, feeling the nice cold cloth against his head.
He picked his hand up and placed it in her lap and gently rubbed her thigh with his thumb, it was a comfort for him. She delicately dabbed at his neck and chest with another damp cloth. He closed his eyes and relaxed, quickly falling asleep. Once Zoë knew he was asleep she very gently picked his hand up and placed it by his side as she got up and picked a blanket out of the cupboard and put it over him as the duvet was too warm for him. She hadn't seen him unwell since his last illness which hospitalised him.
"It doesn't hit you lightly does it honey, always hard and fast." She said softly as she exhaled, feeling for him. She went downstairs and sorted a few things out before going back up and replacing the damp cloth as it had started to warm up. She put a load of washing on before going back upstairs and picking up his glass of water and taking it downstairs to fill it with fresh water. She went back up stairs and saw him moaning in his sleep with a distressed expression. She placed her hand against his cheek and he felt just as warm. He began to fidget a lot as his expression became increasingly distressed. He began to call out for his brother, Ray, Zoë's heart ached for him. It choked her up slightly seeing the pain in his expression. She placed her hand in his and then got up to leave when Horatio woke up suddenly. He began to cough and sat up as Zoë made her way back over to him. She picked the cloth that had just fallen into his lap up and placed it on the side.
Horatio finished coughing and apologised again.
"Stop apologising it's okay." She said with a smile and she handed him the glass of water again.
Horatio pushed it away gently.
"You have to drink otherwise you'll become dehydrated honey." Zoë said softly as she looked at him with a caring expression. He nodded knowing she was right and took the glass.
"Do you think you can come down to eat something, or shall I bring something up?" She asked as she brushed his hair back again.
"I can come down; I'm feeling a little better now." Horatio said as he looked up at her with his blue eyes sparkling.
"Okay handsome" she said with a smile as she picked up the thermometer again.
"38.0 – that's better" she said with a smile as she put it back on the side and got up, handing him his t-shirt. He put it on and got up as Zoë picked up his glass, they walked downstairs.
Horatio sat on the sofa while Zoë sat next to him and turned to him with a smile.
"What would you like for dinner? We can have pasta… or pasta or I can make a salad? Or there's more pasta?" She asked with a grin. Horatio chuckled a little and then coughed a bit.
"It's okay; I'm not too hungry at the moment." Horatio said softly.
"Hmm… are you just saying that so you don't have to eat my cooking?" She asked with a grin.
Horatio chuckled more, causing him to cough again.
"I'm sorry honey, jokes to a minimum. Oh wait, that wasn't actually a joke…" she said as she got up with a smile. He grinned as he stopped coughing and reached for the glass of water on the coffee table.
"You're going to have to put up with my cooking and I've decided that we're having pasta and salad?" She said with a grin, looking to Horatio for his acceptance.
"Okay beautiful." He said as he leant back and looked up at her tiredly. She walked round the sofa and brushed his shoulder lightly.
"Do you want anything else to drink? Orange juice? Iced tea?" She asked as she looked down at him as he relaxed his head back on the sofa, looking up at her.
"I'm good with water, thank you though" Horatio said with a smile.
"Okay honey" she said as she walked out and put some dinner on, preparing some salad while the pasta cooked. She brought two plates through with pasta bake and salad on the side through to him and sat down next to him.
They both put their plates down after eating.
"My cooking isn't that bad…" she said as she looked at his half eaten plate with a cheeky smile.
"I know beautiful, I'm really not hungry though. It was lovely and thank you." Horatio said with a small smile as his headache returned with revenge.
"Okay honey, I'll forgive you. I do admit, I think I cooked a little too much… I couldn't finish mine either." She said with a smile. She then got up and tidied the kitchen, Horatio following slowly.
"Beautiful, you shouldn't be doing all of this" Horatio said as he tried to help tidy. He walked over to her and placed his hand on her ass as he picked up a glass and intended on putting it in the dishwasher.
"Go and sit down mister. I'm doing this and you're supposed to be resting." She said as she playfully turned him around and urged him to go back into the living room as she took the glass from him. He walked through again and slumped on the sofa as his head pounded and he felt weak and generally unwell.
Zoë came back through and sat next to him. She looked over at him and saw that he was once again feeling worse.
"We should get you back into bed" Zoë said softly as she placed her hand against his forehead again.
"Not too warm at the moment" she said as she got up and picked up his glass and held her hand out to help him up.
"Come on honey" she said softly as she let Horatio past so he walked in front of her.
"I'm just getting you fresh water, go straight up" she ordered softly as she walked through to the kitchen and then rushed up after him. He was just sitting on the bed as Zoë walked in. He rubbed his face and felt really awful. 'I never get ill, what is going on?' Horatio questioned himself.
"In to bed" she said with a smile as she placed the water on the side.
"I'm going for a shower; I'll be right back okay?" She said as she picked up a towel from the cupboard.
"Want some company?" Horatio asked with a boyish grin.
"Not if you want me ill in the bed with you…" she said with a small grin. He gave her a nod and then relaxed into the bed as she walked into the bathroom and had a shower. She came back out and put her shorts and small top on before turning to Horatio.
"Have you still got a headache?" She asked him.
"A little bit, why?" Horatio replied, looking over at her.
"Because I was wondering if I need to dry my hair in another room? The hairdryer is pretty loud." She softly as she looked back in the mirror.
"You can do it here, my headache isn't that bad." Horatio said softly.
"Okay handsome, as long as you're sure?" Zoë said brushing her hair, looking back at him.
"I'm sure beautiful" Horatio said with a small smile as he dropped his head back and looked over at Zoë, turning on his side. He looked her body up and down, admiring her. He couldn't help but smile even though he was feeling rough. She dried her hair as Horatio gazed at her, at her ass quite often. She looked over at him in the mirror.
"Down boy… do I need to put trousers on?" she said with a cheeky smile, seeing him ogle her and getting quite excited over it. Horatio chuckled slightly as he continued to watch her as he flicked his eyebrows up and a massive boyish grin appeared across his face. She grinned at him then bent over to dry the underside of her hair.
"Now you're just teasing." Horatio said with a boyish grin and a large arousal coming from under the blankets, looking at her ass. Zoë began to laugh.
"I'm not making you look, am I?" She said with a grin as she stood back up and turned the hair dryer off and put it on the side. "And if you think I'm sorting that one out, you've got another thing coming…" She said with a wink as she walked through into the bathroom to do her teeth and tie her hair up. She came back out and Horatio had gotten himself under control. She sat on the edge of the bed as he looked over at her. She picked up the thermometer and put it in his ear.
"38.3, it's creeping back up again…" she said looking at him softly.
"How are you feeling?" She asked softly as she placed her hand on his chest.
"Better than earlier and even better now you're wearing less." Horatio said cheekily.
"Hmm, the temperature isn't hindering your cheekiness… so that's a good indication I suppose." She said with a grin at him and he then placed his hand on her bare knee and ran his hand up her inner thigh as she placed the thermometer back on the bedside table.
"You have to stop that." She said with a grin as she placed her hand over his to stop him.
"Why's that?" He asked.
"Because you're ill and I don't want to get ill and if you carry on I'm going to get ill." She said as she placed his hand back on the bed and got up. Horatio began to cough again and sat up, covering his mouth. She turned around and rubbed his back. Horatio stopped and reached back for the water, he began to cough again and Zoë took the water off him. With every cough his head began to pound more so. He stopped and took some more sips of water and his cough subsided.
"An early night for the both of us I think." She said as she put the water back on the side when he handed her the glass.
"Try and get some rest handsome." Zoë said as she walked round and pushed the duvet down. She sat on the bed and looked over at him as she picked her feet up and sat against the headboard.
"No funny business, just rest, okay?" Zoë asked with a smile as she pulled a book out from the bedside cabinet draws. Horatio nodded as he slipped down.
"Can I at least share the duvet with you, I feel cold?" Horatio asked with a smile.
"Yes, but if your temperature spikes again, you're having the blanket. Believe me handsome, you're hot." She said as he pulled the blanket off and threw it to the end of the bed as she placed the duvet over him.
"Now please try and sleep" she said with a smile as she looked back at the book and found her place.
"Okay" Horatio said, raising his eyebrows at her, she looked round at him and chuckled a little.
"How about making me feel a little better and wearing less?" Horatio asked cheekily, she looked over at him and chuckled as she shook her head. Horatio grinned at her. He lifted his hand and placed it on her back as she leant forwards to sort the duvet around her legs and pulled her top away from her back and ran his hand up her spine.
"Horatio…" She said looking around to him with a raised eyebrow. He looked up at her with a slightly boyish smile, lost in the feel of her soft skin. She let him do it as she was lost in his eyes as his hand delicately caressed her back. He saw her weakness and ran his hand higher, finding the back of her bra and quickly snapped it undone.
"Horatio!" She chuckled as she pulled his hand down from her back and looked over at him with raised eyebrows. He chuckled back at her, giving her an innocent expression as she pulled the bra off and threw it over to some draws.
"That's the only thing you're getting off me." She said as she looked at him.
"The only thing?" Horatio questioned.
"Yes, now please try and sleep." She said softly as she looked over to him. He exhaled and nodded. Zoë slunk down a little more, but still partially sat up as she picked her book up and began reading. Horatio turned onto his side and looked up at her, feeling a need for her. She saw him looking over at her and then glance down at her breasts.
"You're being naughty, please try and rest Horatio." She said looking over to him as she placed the book down again. He once again reached over and placed his hand on her stomach, quickly pulling her top up.
"Horatio, hands to yourself, please." She asked softly as she exhaled, knowing that she wouldn't be able to resist him much longer. He ignored her and moved over closer and lifted his hand to her left breast as he sat up.
"Horatio, no" she said a little more sternly as she pulled his hand away from her chest and looked at him. He realised he had crossed the line and quickly apologised.
"This temperature is really messing you up, Horatio." She said softly as she placed her hand against his forehead again.
"I'm really so sorry beautiful, I don't know what came over me." Horatio apologised sincerely.
"It's okay, just try and rest now. Please." She said looking over at him and he nodded as he slunk back into the bed and moved away from her slightly, knowing that if he was closer he'd lose himself in her again.
She went back to reading her book and he closed his eyes, quickly relaxing next to her. She became absorbed in the book and Horatio still hadn't managed to fall asleep, he quickly began to get slightly fidgety. He was at that frustrating point where you're half-asleep but also half-awake and can't pass into sleep. It was now dark outside and relatively late. Zoë looked over at him, noticing him fidget constantly. She put her book down in her lap and looked over at him, caringly. She reached over with her right hand and very delicately ran it through his hair. He quickly opened his eyes and looked over at her.
"No luck?" She asked softly and he shook his head. She shuffled closer and began to play with his red-hair as he placed his arm over her thighs and began to sweep his fingers over the very soft skin on the back of her knee. She knew it wasn't him making a move; it was more of a comfort thing so she let him do it. He felt the extremely soft and delicate skin and it seemed to relax him more so.
She then placed the back of her hand over his forehead.
"You're hot again, it's probably why you're not getting to sleep well." She said as she ran her hand through his hair once more as he looked up at her. She gave him a caring expression before reaching over him and picking the thermometer up again. She placed it in his ear as he exhaled.
"I don't think you should wear your bra as much as you do." Horatio commented cheekily.
"Hmm and what makes you say that?" Zoë questioned.
"Easier access and your breasts are perfect." He commented. Zoë couldn't help herself but let out a laugh.
"You know I love my bras and that I think my boobs are too small, the bras give me more confidence." She said softly.
"I know, but I'm telling you that they're perfect, just like you. You shouldn't need to wear them in bed though, I've seen them plenty of times without the bra." Horatio said softly, looking at her. A shy smile appeared across Zoë's face.
"38.8, now stop being cheeky and rest." She sighed as she got back out of bed, placing her book on the side and went into the en-suite. She came back out having dampened some cold wash cloths. She got back in her side and pulled the duvet off him, pulling it all to her side.
"I'm not being cheeky, I'm giving you a compliment." Horatio replied to her previous statement.
"I'm going to ask you to take your t-shirt off again please and I love my bras.." She said with a smile as he sat up and pulled his t-shirt off, throwing it to the end of the bed.
"Thank you honey" she said as she handed him two more aspirins. He took them with water and then laid back down. She placed one of the wash cloths on his forehead again and then dabbed at his chest and neck with the other. She leant against the headboard as she dabbed at his chest and he put his arm over her legs, stroking her skin on the side of her leg. She saw his breathing relax as he finally began to fall to sleep as she gently swept her fingers across the skin on his forearm as he swept his fingers across her leg. She watched him fall asleep and then stopped dabbing at his chest as she lightly threw the damp cloth over onto the bedside table. He was no longer stroking her leg so she knew he had fallen asleep but continued to run her fingers over his skin, she picked up her book again and began to read again. She continued to stroke his forearm until she finally found herself quite tired. She looked over at the clock and realised that she had spent hours reading. She put the book down and gently placed Horatio's hand and arm on the bed beside him and pulled the blanket up and covered him, feeling that he was a lot cooler now. She slid down and pulled the duvet up and curled up, turning the wall lights off.
Horatio began to wake as his cough pulled him from his dreams; he tried to be quiet and got up, he quickly walked downstairs to get a glass of water. Once he'd stopped coughing he went back upstairs feeling exhausted. He looked at the alarm clock and sighed as it showed 5.30. He lightly got back into bed, trying not to wake Zoë but he had no luck and Zoë woke up as he sat back on the bed.
"Mmm" she moaned and then looked up at him as she rolled onto her side. "Are you alright Horatio?" She asked softly.
"Mmm" Horatio mumbled as he nodded as he leant back against the headboard. He put his hand up to his head as it pounded. Zoë sat up as she reached over for the thermometer and stuck it in his ear, seeing the extreme fatigue on his face as he rested his head back.
"38.9, oh handsome" she said as she got out of bed and picked up the wash cloths.
She came back into the bedroom having dampened them again.
"Can you lie down for me please?" Zoë asked as she sat by him on the edge of the bed. He slowly slid down, even lifting his arms felt like it was too much effort.
"Well done honey" Zoë said seeing just how unwell he was feeling.
She placed the wash cloth on his forehead while she dabbed at his arms, chest and neck and wiped him down.
"How are you feeling?" She asked softly as she dabbed at his chest.
"Marvellous" Horatio mumbled.
Zoë exhaled a small chuckle before asking him again.
"Really, how are you feeling?" She asked.
"Not brilliant, but nothing I can't handle." He said looking over at her, exhausted. She gave him a nod.
"Is your headache any worse, better or about the same as yesterday?" She asked softly.
"About the same." He replied.
"Okay, any tenderness in anywhere?" She asked softly.
"No" Horatio replied quietly.
"No stiff neck?" She asked softly.
"No" Horatio said softly.
"Sensitivity to light?" She asked as she leant over and opened his eyes wider, assessing how quickly they react.
"No" Horatio said softly. "It's not meningitis again, that headache was severe." Horatio mumbled lightly.
"Okay handsome, I had to check" she said softly as she ran a hand through his hair. He nodded a little and closed his eyes again. He began to fall back to sleep and Zoë got up, but Horatio woke up again. She walked round the bed and sat up on her side next to him as she ran her hand through his hair. She continued to dab at his chest to cool him down and he began to fall asleep again as she continued to play with his hair. She dozed off as well and woke up at 8.30 slumped against the headboard.
She carefully got out of bed, not waking Horatio and went for a shower in the main bathroom so she didn't wake him up. She tidied a little before nipping to the shop for some more aspirin and then got back and checked up on him, he hadn't moved.
She kept herself occupied for most of the day while Horatio slept almost continuously - stirring every now and then when Zoë would take his temperature, which remained quite high still and when she replaced the wash cloths. He finally woke that evening around 6.30pm still feeling exhausted despite the amount of sleep he had gotten. He looked over to the clock and saw the time and sighed as he rubbed his eyes with his hands. He took a deep breath and felt pain in his chest and then began to cough, violently. He sat up again and Zoë quickly came up hearing the severity of the cough. She rubbed his back gently as his cough began to subside.
"How are you feeling?" She asked as he got his breath back.
"Like I'm going to cough up a lung any minute." Horatio mumbled as he exhaled.
"Sounds like it too, stay there I'll get whatever you want." Zoë said softly as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I need the loo" Horatio said quietly looking up at her tiredly.
"Okay handsome, go slowly, call me if you need anything." She said softly as she picked his glass up and turned around and went to get another as Horatio stood up and began to walk to the loo when he started to feel unbalanced on his feet, he stumbled into the wall and Zoë immediately turned around, seeing Horatio fall against the wall. Her heart raced as she almost threw the glass onto the top of the draws and rushed over to him, taking hold of him.
"I think I got up too quickly" Horatio mumbled breathlessly. Zoë quickly placed his arm around her neck and hers around his waist and lower back. She began to help him back to the bed as quickly as he could manage, but every small step he took she could feel his weight on her more and more.
"Stay with me handsome" she said as she tried to pull him over to the bed but he stopped and his head began to get lower as his vision was almost gone.
"Stay with me!" Zoë said as she felt his body relax and become a dead weight as she pulled him into her, barely keeping hold of him. There was no way she could drag or carry him over to the bed. She very gently laid him on the floor, delicately placing his head down and then she lifted his legs. He began to come around again, slowly. She rubbed his sternum in hope that it'll bring him round quicker but he began to cough. Zoë immediately rolled him over into the recovery position and placed her hand under his head; lifting it off the floor and opening his mouth with her other hand in case he was sick or coughed up sputum.
"Horatio can you hear me?" Zoë called loudly as she quickly took his pulse, letting go of his mouth. It seemed to be quite fast. Horatio managed to nod at her as he stopped coughing.
"Okay honey, you're okay. Just lay still for me for a moment and relax." She said softly as she rubbed his arm slightly.
She continued to talk to him for a while and then got him to sit up, kneeling behind him in case he passed out again.
"Boy, you're really under the weather; I don't think I've ever seen you pass out before." Zoë said softly as she rubbed his shoulder as he rested his head back against her chest. She gently stroked the side of his head as she spoke to him.
"Okay handsome, do you think you can get up and get back into bed?" Zoë said softly.
"Yeah, but I still need the loo." Horatio said softly.
"Okay, we're going to get you up slowly." She said softly as she placed her arms under his and slowly pulled him up, with his help.
"Wiggle your toes and clench your bum cheeks, it'll increase your blood pressure." She said softly.
He let out a small chuckle as he exhaled.
"Just stand for a little while." She said as she held on to him tightly. She spoke to him more and then a few minutes later let him go.
"Go to the loo, shout if you feel odd or need anything, okay?" Zoë said as she rubbed his forearm and he gave her a nod. Horatio made his way into the loo while Zoë sorted the bed out, ready for him to get straight back into it. Horatio came out after washing and drying his hands and slowly walked over to the bed. He sat on the edge and took another deep breath and felt the same sharp stabbing pain and grimaced, raising his hand to his chest.
"What's wrong? Chest pain?" Zoë said as she immediately walked over to him and crouched down.
"Horatio tell me what's wrong." She said seriously as he looked up at her. He nodded and she immediately stood up.
"Stay there, I'll be right back." She said as she rushed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. She jogged down the road and picked up her first aid kit from the boot of her car and ran back to Horatio's. She rushed up the stairs and threw the bag on the bed.
"Do you still have the pain?" She asked as she whipped out a small ECG monitor. She quickly stuck the pads to his chest and attached the leads.
"No" Horatio said quietly as he leant on the bed.
"What sort of pain was it?" She asked him as she looked at the monitor.
"Sharp, stabbing pain?" Horatio questioned himself, not really knowing how to explain it.
"Okay handsome, was it brought on when you took a deep breath?" She asked as she placed the monitor on the edge of the bed and pulled her stethoscope out. Horatio nodded at her.
"Good news is that it's not a heart attack." She said with a smile as it was what she had initially feared. She knelt on the floor and listened to him breathe.
"Can you take a deep breath for me? If it hurts too much, don't worry about it." She said as he tried to take a deep breath but stopped when the pain hit him again.
She got up and leant over him, listening to his back. "Steady breathing" she said as she listened.
She crouched back down and placed the stethoscope down.
"Have you coughed anything up? Sputum?" She asked as she looked up at him.
"Yes" Horatio replied as he controlled his breathing.
"What colour was it?" She asked as she rubbed his leg.
"I don't know I didn't look at it…" Horatio said looking at her with raised eyebrows.
"Okay well the next time you do cough it up, tell me or show me, okay?" Zoë said as she stood up and picked the thermometer up.
"I can tell you that you definitely have an infection, but I'm not a doctor." Zoë said as she placed the thermometer in his ear.
"38.5, we need to cool you down." She said as she gestured for him to lie down, as he did she pulled off the ECG wires. After he had laid down she placed a pulse oximeter on his finger before going to the bathroom to dampen the cloths.
She came back in and placed one on his forehead and dabbed the other over his chest and neck as she looked at his oxygen sats.
"95%, not too bad, it's below what it would normally be though." Zoë said thinking, also counting how many breaths he took.
"Hmm… resps are higher too." She said talking to herself.
"It's a trip to the doctors for you tomorrow." Zoë said as she took the pulse oximeter off his finger and dabbed at his chest and neck.
"I don't need to go to the doctors, it'll sort itself out." Horatio said roughly.
"You're going to the doctors, you'll need antibiotics. If you don't go, you'll be off work even longer because there is no way you can work like this." Zoë said raising an eyebrow at him.
"Of course I can work." Horatio said looking at her.
"No you can't, you just passed out trying to walk to the loo and you're getting chest pain with deep breaths…" Zoë said, looking at him raising both eyebrows. Horatio exhaled.
"It's just an infection." Horatio said, not wanting to have to take time off.
"Which could land you in hospital if you go to work and make it worse…" Zoë said as she wiped his arms down. Horatio exhaled a sigh again.
"I'm sorry handsome, but when you get ill, you get really ill." She said as she looked at him softly.
"You never get ill with the simple things do you? Always have to go for the nasty illnesses." She said with a smile raising her eyebrow. Horatio chuckled, knowing there was some truth in it, but he was quickly thrown into a coughing fit and sat up as Zoë handed him a tissue and rubbed his back.
His cough subsided after a minute and he went to throw the tissue in the bin when Zoë stopped him.
"Look at the colour of it or I will have to…" Zoë said as she stopped rubbing his back.
Horatio looked at her, displeased.
"I know it's not nice, but it can indicate what sort of infection you have." Zoë said urging him to. Horatio quickly looked at the tissue.
"Reddy orange I guess" Horatio said as he threw the tissue away.
"Would you say rusty then?" She asked softly and he nodded at her.
"That's not such good news for you then, it's most likely pneumonia, from the sounds of it it's only one lobe affected, I can't be sure though." Zoë said as she got up and passed him a glass of water.
"Pneumonia?" Horatio questioned.
"Yes, don't ask me how you contracted it because I haven't got a clue…" Zoë said with a small smile, completely confused as it wasn't a prevalent illness in Miami.
"You definitely need some antibiotics, you're symptoms aren't severe enough to take you to the emergency department, but you definitely require a look over by a doctor." Zoë said as she placed her first aid bag on the floor by the draws. Horatio sighed as he laid himself back down.
"No work for a week, I suspect." She said as she walked back over to him.
"The news just gets better and better, doesn't it?" Horatio said softly as he exhaled steadily.
"Mm-hmm, and if I get that too, you're going to be in a lot of trouble…" Zoë said softly as she sat on the edge of the bed and dabbed at his chest and neck again.
"I will try my best to keep it to myself." Horatio said roughly.
"Do you think you can eat something?" Zoë asked softly.
"I'm really not hungry." Horatio croaked.
"I know honey, not even something small? Like a slice of toast?" She asked rubbing his arm.
"I can give it a go" Horatio said quietly as he looked over at her tiredly.
"Okay handsome, I'll be right back up." She said with a smile as she got back up. He gave her a nod and she walked out. She made him some toast and came back up with it as he pulled himself up and leant back against the headboard. She handed him the plate and picked up his glass and took it downstairs to fill it up with fresh water again and brought up two aspirin tablets after tidying the kitchen a little.
"Can you not manage anymore?" Zoë asked softly as she looked at the half eaten slice of toast.
"I really can't, thank you though." Horatio said softly.
"Okay honey, take these and try and get some more sleep." She said as she handed him the tablets and glass of water. Horatio gave her a nod and took the glass and tablets out of her hands.
"Thank you" Horatio said roughly and then popped the pills as Zoë picked up his plate and told him to lie down. He did as she asked and she took the plate downstairs and stuck it in the dishwasher. She went back up and placed the cold cloth back on his forehead and wiped him down with the other cloth. He quickly fell asleep and she placed the cloth on the side as she pulled the blanket half up over him. She left him to sleep and relaxed downstairs before getting a shower and getting into bed lightly, not disturbing Horatio. She knew he was in a deep sleep as he didn't even stir when she got in the bed when he'd usually wake or at the very least stir. She took his temperature quickly and it showed 38.5. 'What is tomorrow going to bring? Surely it has to be better than today?' She asked herself before she fell asleep, wrapped up in the duvet after covering him with the blanket.
Thank you all for reading, I'm afraid that my posts will be slowing down for the time being as my exams are fast approaching, post speed should be back up to normal the week after next.