A/N: A little disappointing on the reviews front. Thanks to starbuck0322 for her amazing beta work, as usual, and to those of you who reviewed. Just to be clear, neither of the authors (this is a collaboration) condone cheating in any form. A few minor character spoilers may be present in the coming chapters.

Gillian awakes with a groan.

Her stomach is feeling queasy and her head is spinning. She hasn't felt herself for the past few weeks. She's been tired, but then again work hasn't been the best of late. She has been stressed more than usual, and she is sure she has been letting herself get run down.

Suddenly, she sits upright in bed; her hand flies to cover her mouth. She barely reaches the bathroom in time before heaving, emptying the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.

Alec wakes up to the sound of Gillian vomiting. He knows she hasn't been herself lately, but had assumed it was because of Sophie and her hectic work schedule. He waits a few moments before calling out to her.

"Gill? Do you need anything?"

He wasn't going to ask if she was all right, her heaves where enough to let him know she wasn't.

Gillian is about to answer him when she feels the bile begin to rise in her throat again. She steadies her stomach and a few moments later, grabs a wash cloth from the sink, wipes her face and rinses her mouth.

"Yeah, honey," she says, calling out for their en-suite. "I'm ok. I'm just not feeling the best at the moment. It must have been something I ate."

She sighs, returning to the bedroom and sits on the bed next to Alec, clutching a pillow to her chest. She closes her eyes in an attempt to stop the room from spinning.

Alec sits up in bed, rests his chin on Gillian's shoulder and strokes her back. "I might be getting jealous of that pillow, you know," he tells her, wondering exactly what sort of food poisoning would cause her to remain sick for this long.

"This has been going on longer than food poisoning," he tells her. "Maybe it's time you go to the doctor." His tone indicates that his statement was somewhere between a suggestion and an order.

She can hear Alec behind her; feels him stroke her back. "Mmm... that feels nice," she whispers into the pillow.

Gillian tilts her head to the side, eyes remaining closed. "I'm sure it's nothing, Alec," she says and reaches out to grab his hand. "I just don't have the time at the moment; work is hectic. Maybe when it slows down a little, I'll go then. But I'm sure it'll pass in a day or so." She opens her eyes and gives him a weak smile as she squeezes his hand lightly.

Alec kisses Gillian's hand and continues to rub her back. "If you're too busy to see a doctor then maybe that's the perfect reason to go. You're far too busy to afford being sick. Take the morning off and get some rest. I'll call my assistant and have her rearrange my appointments and I'll stay home. I can give you a massage," he offers. He knows Gillian's been upset with him lately and he's willing to grovel.

Gillian sighs into the pillow again. "You know you can't take the morning off, honey. What about your meetings?"

She really doesn't have the time to stay at home and see a doctor. She can't help but think about the pile of paper work waiting for her on her desk. She groans again and begins to stand. A wave of dizziness assaults her and her knees buckle beneath her. She drops unceremoniously onto the bed.

"What's more important, Gill?" Alec asks, frowning. "Meetings or my sick wife?" He watches as she stands up then as she collapses back on the bed. "No, Gillian. Enough's enough. You're staying in bed, and that's my final word. No arguments." He pulls the covers back and tucks her into bed. "Now, I can give you a massage, I can get you some water and crackers, or I can get you a book. Those are your options. No work and no telephone calls."

As she squeezes her eyes shut, she can hear Alec mutter beneath his breath; about staying home, enough being enough. She then feels his arms wrap around her and is vaguely aware that he is rubbing her back under the covers. She nods her head slightly, and asks Alec for the glass of water.

"Maybe you're right" Gillian finally concedes. "I think I should see a doctor. Would you call and make an appointment for me?" She mumbles in Alec's direction.

Alec nods and re-tucks her in, walking out of the room. He makes his way to the kitchen and gets Gillian a glass of water, setting it on the kitchen counter as he goes through her diary to find the contact details for the doctor. He calls and makes an appointment for later that morning before taking her the glass and setting it on her nightstand.

"Appointment's at 11," he informs her, picking up his laptop and sits in the armchair they have in the corner of their room. He opens the laptop and writes emails to Heidi and his own assistant to let them both know that the Fosters wouldn't be at work today.