Disclaimer: Warn ya, then I'll stick you like Lilith. BTW, I think this is after the liquid-Shinji episode saga thing.

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"Awful?" Shinji repeated, a little confused as to the contradiction Rei just made. "Didn't you say the taste didn't matter?"

"I explained that unnecessary sugar is wasteful in medicine, but I can still give out an opinion." With her saying that as if the most obvious thing in the world, she began walking back to her bed still littered with the same bloody bandages.

"Ayanami, isn't this place a little...unsanitary for a person sick like you? Maybe that's why you got the fever so badly." He absent-mindly noted all the things wrong in his world of 'normal things.' "I mean, you have possibly infected bandages all over the room, you're near a construction site which means very little decent sleep, rats most likely, there's no heating even during the cold weather..."

"Ikari, if you don't mind..." she interrupted the rant.

Shinji turned around, now miffed at himself for saying such things to her apartment. Sure, it's not the greatest place in the world but still...it's her place. She has enough responsibility to live by herself. What do I know about normal? I live with a psychotic german girl, a drunk guardian, and a penguin. Yes, very normal Shinji. "Yes, Ayanami?"

She continued past the boy blocking the way back to the 'infected' bed. "If you don't mind, I would like to sleep now so that the liquid would take effect faster."

He got the hidden tone in her voice. I messed up. Stupid, stupid! "Ayanami, wait! Listen, I want to say-"

"Yes?" Normally, she would've kept her head back so it would a little easier for him to speak, but instead her eyes directed right at his. Shinji's gears stopped cold at the sight of her dazed eyes, wondering if being sick meant she couldn't hide her expressions as easily. She really didn't look sick much since looking flushed is out of the question, and no wet forehead.

Some people use the liquid of sweat to make medicine. Use that excuse while you caress her head.

The third looked around. What the? Who said that? And is sweat really used to make medicine? No reply. Darn...I must be going crazy or something. Must be the side effects after returning from the EVA.

"Ikari, you announced a thought that wanted be told to me. What is it?" she repeated.

"Oh, yeah." Shinji shook that mysterious voice out of his head before remembering the question. "Ayanami, I wanted to say I'm...sorry about my ranting."

Her eyes drooped even more, yet still he could see those red orbs staring at him quizically. "Ranting? About what? Were they not facts that you have listed to me, or was that some sort of insult on your part?" She didn't mean to make it like any other girl had found some hidden meaning under a sentence, but then again Shinji wasn't really good on tact.

"I-er...well..." Again he stuttered, and if Rei wasn't as patient as she was he would be slapped for being slow. Arg! I've been hanging around Asuka too long.

You're damn right! That German witch should be burned at the stake, her hideous red hair back to ashes!

He whipped his head again at the words. "Ayanami, did you hear something?"

"No, I did not." Rei answered.

Shinji was very confused now. Rei doesn't lie, so that either God is finally talking to him after killing the Shintos or he's gone crazy. Or maybe God is just a crazy voice inside messenger's heads. And so far, all the messengers are dead. I'm not feeling good about this. Even worse, the voice seems perverted and biased against Asuka.

"Ikari-"

He snapped out. "Rei-whoah!" The girl suddenly fell against him, her forehead resting on his shoulder. "Rei, what's going on?" His hands gently lifted her chin slightly to see that her eyes had fallen shut and her breathing a little short. He checked with the back of his hand against her head, extremely worried now since it was clammy.

"I..kari...I am...fine..." she struggled with the words, as her body felt weak everywhere from head to toe. Speaking of head, it was drumming fiercely of pain from apparently a symptom called a 'migrane.' "Is this a...migrane, Ikari?

This was a bad situation. "Rei, have you ever taken shots for vaccines before?"

She took a moment, then shook her head. "No. Dr. Akagi said vaccines were not needed. She explained my own were good enough."

This is bad. Getting a fever for the first time without vaccines isn't good. Medicine isn't enough. She needs more liquids like chicken soup, a warmer blanket, a space heater...

She is sick. Sick people usually stripped bare and held together in warmth in the old days. She's a fine body, boy so you can take advantage of now. Just unbutton that bright shirt and-

An intense amount of blood showed on his skin, most notably his face. What the? Who the heck is saying that?! Shinji still didn't leave his hand away, letting him know that Rei was really burning up now. Without much thought to panic, he immediatly carried her over to the bed and gently laid her down. Much of the blanket was thin, so he had to make do and covered most of her body.

From his pocket, he got out the NERV cellphone and began calling. "Misato? Yes, this is Shinji. I'm over at Rei's house. No, I am not! Er, Rei's sick and I need you to get a few things, please? The stuff? Yeah, it's chicken soup cans, a bowl, some orange juice, lots of blankets, the space heater...no, Misato. There's no stairs. Alright, thank you Misato!" Click.

Then he realized his folly. I called her Rei?! Not Ayanami, but Rei?! Great. Now Misato's going to tease me about being lovers or something and never let up.

Then prove her right by sleeping with the girl now. She'll feel much better with that extra warmth in the blankets until that hot woman comes. Doesn't she look so adorable resting there?

Unconciously he looked back, admitting that Rei looking peaceful was rare but equally calming. Wait a minute. He looked back one more time to see that she was asleep, then stepped outside the apartment closing the door shut.

Alright! Who are you, and why are you telling me these things?! he screamed mentally.

Who else? You don't think you were the only one that came back from the EVA, boy.

Who-...who are you? The wheels kept going on and on.

I'm a gift from your mum. The 14th 'Angel', at your service to...well, make sure you get service!