Denise was sitting on the bathroom floor of the Sherwood home for the sixth
time that day, or perhaps it was the seventh, or the sixteenth, a lot no
matter how you looked at it, and while she wracked her brain to come up with a
reason why she couldn't figure it out. Once she'd finished emptying her
stomach and flushed the contents away she used her arms to push herself off
the floor only to discover she was far too weak to do anything more than stay
right where she was and wait. She stretched out on the bathroom floor and lay
her head on the bathmat hoping she wasn't coming down with anything more
serious that a one day flu. She was a nurse, she took care of sick people, and
hated being sick herself. Denise's head was spinning so she closed her eyes
hoping to stop her world from spinning off of its axis. Before she knew it
she'd fallen into a sleep so deep she didn't hear the phone ring, or the
children playing outside the window, or even her husband's old truck
announcing it's presence as it clanged into the driveway.

Frank got out of the car and went inside the house. It had been a fairly easy
day on post so he decided to take Denise out to dinner. They hadn't been
spending much time together lately between her working on the ambulance and
his demands at the Fort. He noticed Denise's vehicle was parked outside
their home so he was surprised when he was met with a still silence instead of
his perky wife's kiss and smile.

His first though was that she was out with Claudia Joy or one of her other
friends, but she was usually very good about telling him those things, so he
called out to her as he removed his jacket and began slowly walking through
their house looking for Denise's beautiful face. "Dee, baby are you
here?"He called as he went to through kitchen. Finding nothing, he tried
the bedroom, and again found only an empty room. Frank was about to go to the
phone and call Denise when the shallow, gaspy breathing coming from the
bathroom peaked his attention.

He turned and walked into the room. What he saw made his heart stop dead in
his chest. Denise ,his precious wife, was laying on the bathroom floor looking
as if she been run over by a Mac truck. He fell to his knees and took her into
calling her name as he cradled her to his chest and demanded, "Denise, baby,
wake up! Dee, wake up, baby!"

The feel of Frank's arm and the smooth sound of his voice penetrated through
Denise's sleepiness. She stirred and opened her eyes slowly. When she met
her husband's worried gaze she offered him her best smile, "Hey, Frank.
I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in." She tried to push against his
chest and rise from the floor but his strong arms stopped her and held her
still.

"Oh no you don't, baby doll. You aren't going anywhere until you tell
me why are you laying on the bathroom floor. Are you ok?"He asked his voice
laced with the concern in his eyes.

Denise gave him the best smile she could to reassure him and replied, "Yeah,
honey. I'm fine. I'm just not feeling my best is all. Don't worry, I'm
sure it's nothing." She leaned up and placed a firm kiss on his cheek the
tried once again to get out of his embrace and off of the floor. She'd move
an inch then reconsidered the idea when a wave of dizziness swept over her.
She didn't want to frighten Frank anymore than she had already done so she
stayed in his arms and let him cuddle her until the dizziness had passed and
she was more sure of herself. Once she succeeded in rising, she tugged at
Frank's hands and pulled him up with her.

"Are you hungry? I could make you some dinner if you want," she offered
walking into the kitchen and beginning to gather pots and pans without waiting
for his answer.

Frank followed her to the kitchen and when she saw she was still shaky at
best, and not in any condition to be waiting on him of all people, he walked
up behind her, slid his arms around her waist and caught her hands. He held
her still and leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek from behind,
"Sweetheart, don't worry about cooking. I'm not hungry and by the looks
of you the only thing you need to be doing is lying I bed. Now, hop to it
soldier. Off to bed with you," he commanded in his best stern soldier voice
then kissed her forehead lightly to let her know how concerned he was.

Denise laughed, then turned on her heel and gave Frank a mock salute. "Sir!
Yes, sir!"She said standing on her tiptoes and kissing him gently. She
walked past him towards the bedroom and giggled when he gave her a light tap
on the butt.

She turned and smiled at him before continuing to the bedroom to lay down. The
truth was she didn't feel like herself and was glad she was getting to rest.
She was even happier that Frank was here with her, she always wanted him close
to her when she felt anything other than happy and healthy. "I wonder what
is wrong with me?"She thought just before snuggling with Frank's pillow
and falling into a peaceful sleep.