Chapter 4, we're making progress here. I'm still not sure where I'm going with this story, so suggestions are welcome!
Enjoy!
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JJ awoke early this morning. She wasn't sure what exactly had woken her up when she felt a movement beside her. Emily had rolled over during the night, on the other side of the bed, JJ's side. Her hot forehead was pressing against the bare skin of JJ's arm. Her right hand was tingled in the blonde's shirt, clutching it like a security blanket. The young woman had to smile at the sight, Emily looked simply adorable in her sleep. JJ wouldn't have pecked her as the cuddling type, but the older woman had never given much away about her private life, not to mention her nocturnal preferences. Getting to see those sides was a privilege not many people got to share with JJ, and the young woman still had no idea how she had earned it herself. But it wasn't only the fact that Emily had started to open up around her that made her happy. JJ somehow enjoyed being so close to the brunette. It's been a long time since she'd shared the bed with someone and she'd started to feel lonely on weekend nights. With Emily, that feeling was gone.
JJ was pulled from her thoughts by a soft moan, indicating that the other woman was waking up. Emily opened her eyes and was greeted by the blonde woman smiling at her.
"Good morning sleepyhead" The brunette looked a little confused at first at the sight of another person in her bed, but then she remembered yesterday's events and how her friend had happened to sleep in her bed. Suddenly aware of her sleeping position, she quickly removed her hand from JJ's shirt. The blonde carefully sat up to give her a little more space.
"How do you feel?" she asked when the brunette was completely awake and orientated.
"Little better" Emily answered, her voice hoarse and raspy. JJ handed her the glass of water from the nightstand which she gratefully took. The blonde mustered her closely while she drank.
"You look better, at least you're not as white as the sheets anymore. You still have fever though, I want you to take it really slow today. You were like a little furnace on me last night"
Emily's eyes widened when she realized how close she had gotten to the blonde during the night. She stopped paying attention on her task for a second and choked on her drink, breaking out into a violent coughing fit. In seconds, JJ's hand was on her back, patting it gently while she gagged and gasped for air.
"Easy Em" JJ soothed her after the coughing had slowed down and her breathing turned normal again. "Small sips, 'kay?" The brunette nodded, ears burning red in embarrassment. The younger woman comfortingly rubbed her back one last time before standing up.
"I'm gonna make breakfast, do you want anything specific?"
"I'm not hungry" Emily stated. In fact, she was hungry, she was just afraid her body wouldn't accept food yet. The memory of what happened to yesterday's meals was still too vivid to think about food again, not to mention actually eating. JJ softly shook her head.
"You still need to eat though. At least try a little toast so your stomach has a chance to get used to the feeling of food again" she said and offered the brunette another sweet smile. Emily nodded, she knew her was right and besides, she didn't want to argue after everything JJ had done for her. The blonde left the room with her go-back and seconds later Emily heard her moving around in the bathroom.
In the kitchen, JJ was humming along a Bryan Adams song on the radio while chopping tomatoes and cucumber. The blonde was so occupied with her task that she didn't notice Emily entering the room and walking up to her. Her feet started moving to the rhythm and when the song reached the final refrain, she turned around in an attempt to make a pirouette, almost knocking the other woman off her feet.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you" Emily apologized quickly after she had regained her balance. JJ shook her head and feigned anger.
"Didn't your mother teach you it's bad manners to sneak up behind people like that? You're lucky I didn't accidentally stab you with the knife!" she playfully scolded her friend, but stopped when she saw the flash of guilt in the older woman's eyes.
"Hey, I'm just kidding! I didn't hurt you, did I?" Emily blushed and shook her head, although the move had left her slightly dizzy. The younger woman offered the brunette her sweetest smile and turned around to face her vegetables again. When she was done, she maneuvered the used plate and knife into the sink and rolled up her sleeves.
"JJ, you don't have to do that, this is my house and you're my guest!" Emily cried out when JJ started to wash the dishes. "Please let me help you with that" She tried to grab the sponge out of JJ's hand, but the blonde gently pushed her away.
"Emily, it's fine, I'm almost done" she laughed. "Please sit down" she said with emphasis and pointed to one of the barstools next to the kitchen isle. The older woman made another attempt to say something, but after a stern look from JJ she knew there was no use in arguing, so she reluctantly climbed on the chair.
"Where do you keep your fresh towels?" JJ asked and Emily, not even sitting, jumped up again in an attempt to show her, very much to the displeasure of her circulatory system. Her vision blurred, and she swayed at the loss of a focus point. Her knees gave in and she squeaked as she tried to get a hold of the chair, but a fall seemed inevitable. She prepared herself for a hard landing on the kitchen floor when she suddenly felt two arms around her waist.
JJ had turned at her sudden outcry and had reacted in a heartbeat, catching Emily before she could fall. With the brunette in her arms, she leaned back against the counter to cope with the additional weight.
"Sorry" Emily mumbled and tried to pull away, but her legs still didn't seem to support her body. Luckily, JJ's arms were still around her waist, carefully pulling her back against the blonde's chest. Completely embarrassed, the brunette hid her face in the younger woman's neck, wishing the foggy feeling in her head to go away. JJ sighed and stroked Emily's back reassuringly.
"It's okay Em. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning and your body is still fighting that virus. The doctor told you to rest, remember?" She felt the brunette nod against her shoulder.
"How about you sit down on the couch, I'm gonna finish this and then we can have a little breakfast, okay?" Emily nodded again and lifted her head from JJ's shoulder. The blonde wrapped her arm around her waist and guided her to the big sofa in the living room. Then she returned to the kitchen to prepare the toast and some tea for her sick friend.
"Here you go" JJ smiled when she returned five minutes later with a plate of different light products, such as vegetables, grapes and toast, and a cup of fresh mint tea. She set everything on the small glass table and settled beside Emily on the couch.
"Thank you, Jennifer. Really, you've done so much for me, I don't know what I did to deserve this" the brunette said quietly.
"Oh Em" JJ sighed and sat down next to her. "Look at me beautiful" she demanded softly, just like she did in the hospital the evening before. When brown eyes finally connected with hers, she continued.
"You need to stop doing this. You're my friend and it hurts me that you keep apologizing for needing help. You're worth being taken care of" JJ spoke softly, but with a lot of passion in her voice. Emily was taken aback by her words. She took a shaky breath and opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. A single tear escaped her eye and slid down her feverish cheek. The younger woman lifted her hand and gently wiped it away with her thumb. An unguarded Emily showing emotion openly was rare, but JJ was extremely glad it was finally happening. She reached for Emily's hands without losing eye contact.
"You're worth it, Emily. Do you understand me?" she repeated and brushed over her knuckles, trying to get across her message not only through words, but through physical contact which allowed her to convey so much more love and affection. In response, the older woman clasped her fingers tightly before nodding softly. JJ could see she was fighting against further tears which were threatening to fall from her eyes and she knew Emily had gotten her message. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Emily's forehead as a final statement.
"Now try and get some food into her system, I can't let you starve to death while I'm in your house" she joked, and Emily laughed and wiped her eyes.
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What do you think? How should I continue? I have some ideas in mind, but I would love to hear yours!