A/N: Another chapter. Will try to work on the next. And Lisa I'm attempting to work on Shared Bodies. My muse is not cooperating. :/
Chapter 2: Bedside Manner
Emma put the packets of antibiotics and the bottle of Tylenol on a nearby table, taking one antibiotic and two Tylenol out and grabbing the bottle of water. She headed back to the bed where Killian was still sleeping. Though she hated to wake him when he was trying to rest she knew that he needed to take the medicine and get the fever down. Emma sat down on the side of the bed and moved her hand to the pirate's cheek. He opened his eyes to look at her partially annoyed.
"I know you're tired," said Emma with a smile. "But you need to take the medicine Dr. Whale brought for you. It will help make you feel better."
Killian attempted to sit up with some difficulty and immediately fell back into the bed with a groan. Emma reached over to help him and he reluctantly took her hands as she lifted him to the sitting position. He leaned against her attempting to catch his breath. Emma realized that he didn't have the energy to do much as she pulled him closer, letting him use her as his anchor. His opened his eyes briefly before shutting them again.
"Everything's spinning," he mumbled.
"It's okay," said Emma holding up the three pills. "I need you to take this medicine. It won't work right away, but it will help make you feel better. There are three pills you have to just swallow. They taste terrible if you let them sit in your mouth so I need you to swallow them immediately when I put them in your mouth. I have water to help get them down."
Killian just nodded and looked up at her. "You're beautiful when I'm sick."
Emma laughed. "I think you're getting delirious," she stated.
"No, it's true," he replied before going into another coughing fit.
"Alright, enough of that," she said, helping him sit up a little straighter. "Open your mouth."
Killian did what she said opening his mouth. She popped the three pills into his mouth before quickly uncapping the water and holding the bottle up to his lips.
"Take a drink," she said, tilting the bottle enough so he could feel the water against his lips. He moved his hand up to help her tilt the bottle so he could drink from it. Once he swallowed, Emma moved the bottle away watching has he licked his lips. His eyes remained closed as he leaned against her again.
"Did you get them down?" she asked.
"Yes," he rasped. "Awful."
"I know," said Emma with a smile, helping him to lie back down on the bed. "But it will help."
"Whatever you say, love," he replied keeping his eyes closed.
It was going to take a little while for the Tylenol to take effect and he was still burning up. Emma knew she had to find another way to help cool him down, but she wasn't exactly sure what she would be able to do. It wasn't like she could go to the fridge and get an ice pack. Here she would have to find some other way to keep his fever down, but she wasn't sure what. She could leave and get some supplies before coming back, he did appear to be sound asleep again and she wouldn't be long. Emma stood up from the bed and headed to the cabin door before glancing back to the now sleeping pirate.
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It had only taken Emma a half an hour at the most to gather some supplies she would need to take care of Killian while he was on board his ship. She got more bottled water, a bag of ice which she put in a cooler, some blankets, washcloths, and a couple changes of clothes for her. If she was going to be staying on board the ship to take care of the pirate for a few days she wasn't about to stay in her same clothes. When she made it back to the captain's cabin, Killian was still in the same spot she left him. He didn't look any better and she could tell he was still burning up.
Emma took a couple of the washcloths and wetted them with the water before sitting them in the bag of ice to get them cold before walking over to where the pirate was sleeping. She put her hand on his forehead, but she couldn't tell if his fever had come down at all. At her touch he opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"I thought I had dreamed that you were here," he admitted.
Emma smiled. "I'm really here; I just needed to get some things. You're fever isn't coming down and I needed something to help cool you off."
Killian reached up to touch her cheek. Emma was surprised by the action, but stood still wondering what was going on in his head.
"Real," he stated simply.
Emma smiled grabbing his hand and holding it in hers. "Yes, I'm real," she stated. "And I have some cold washcloths that might help get you cooled off."
Emma let go of his hand before walking over to the area where she had dropped the bag of ice and washcloths. She grabbed one of the cold washcloths out of the bag and headed back to the bed sitting next to Killian before placing the cold fabric on his head. He gasped and jumped when the cold washcloth touched his skin but eased back into the bed after a moment. Emma smiled at the fact that he almost seemed more comfortable before hopping off the bed to grab another washcloth. When she sat back down on the bed Killian was looking at her.
"What?" she asked as she began to dab the washcloth to his neck and exposed chest.
"Why are you doing this?" Killian asked. His voice was still very hoarse and he appeared to be in pain when he spoke.
"I don't know," Emma answered honestly. "I guess it's because I had been alone most of my life. I've been sick several times and every time I wished that someone was there to take care of me. Honestly, I was kind of scared when I found you here. You don't ask anyone for help even when you clearly need it. I guess I didn't want you to be alone like I always have been."
"I don't understand why you care," said Killian. "But thank you."
Emma smiled as Killian closed his eyes again. She thought about why she cared and she didn't understand it herself. The idea that he wouldn't be there anymore caused her pain and she wished she could figure out why. Had she really grown attached to the irritating pirate that wouldn't leave her alone? They did have a fair amount in common and she did enjoy spending time with him so she figured she might be able to call him a friend. She wished that Dr. Whale had left his thermometer so she could keep an eye on his temperature. There wasn't one in her apartment and she hadn't really thought of picking one up before coming back to the ship.
At this time she wasn't willing to leave him again. He was starting to look a little more peaceful while sleeping which made Emma think that maybe his temperature was coming down some. She took the cold washcloth off his forehead and placed it on his chest. He shivered, but didn't open his eyes. Emma began to stroke his hair while she watched his chest rise and fall. There was no way of telling how long he would be sick, but she knew that at the very least she would need to stay with him for a few days. At least until she knew he would be able to take care of himself.
Emma was getting lost in her thoughts and had stopped paying attention to Killian, though she continued to stroke his hair. When she began to focus again she looked down to see Killian starting at her with a confused expression on his face. She realized that she was still stroking his hair subconsciously and moved her hand away before biting her lip embarrassed. He gave her a slight smirk.
"What were you doing?" he asked.
"S. . .Sorry," Emma stuttered. "I . . . don't really know. I guess it just seemed natural. . . . I thought you were sleeping."
"I feel like there is a cannon ball on my chest," Killian explained. "Sleeping isn't very easy."
"I'm sorry," Emma repeated.
"You're cute when you're flustered," he stated, smirking.
"Shut up," Emma said turning her head in an attempt to hide the blush that was creeping up on her.
Killian laughed causing another fit of coughing. He groaned putting his hand up to his chest.
"Okay, I'm seriously regretting not getting you cough syrup now," said Emma with a small smile.
"What's that?" He asked unable to hide the pain in his voice.
"Its liquid medicine that helps with the cough," Emma explained.
"Does it taste as awful as the other medicine you gave me?" He asked, looking up at her.
"Worse actually," Emma admitted.
"Then no thank you," Killian replied, closing his eyes again.
"I'm not actually trying to poison you, you know," said Emma with a small laugh. "I'm trying to help you get better."
"You keep telling me that, but how can I be so sure?" he asked raising his eyebrow at her.
"If I didn't want you better I could have just left you here alone when I found you," Emma replied with a smirk. "Problem solved."
"Fair enough," Killian replied.
"Besides, I actually miss hearing your stories," Emma admitted. "They help me get away from the real world for a little while. And it would be best if you were actually able to stay awake for more than ten minutes and didn't sound like you were dying."
"I didn't know you actually enjoyed my stories that much," Killian stated.
"I've spent far too many hours here listening to you tell stories about Neverland," Emma pointed out. "More than I ever intended to. When I was younger I always wanted to go to Neverland."
"Maybe, after you cure me, I will take you there," he said with a laugh before coughing again and grimacing.
"I might take you up on that offer," Emma stated with a smile, resting her hand on his forehead. He was still warm, but the fever did appear to have come down some. "You need to rest now. Sleep is always good when you're sick."
"Are you going to be here when I wake up?" he asked, almost afraid that she would leave once he closed his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," she promised.
