Author's Note: Keep those reviews coming you guys, I'm glad you like it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 4: Sickness

"I like these," Chloe said, looking over some layouts Scooter had made, "They're very, um,"

"Competent?" He tried. She laughed.

"Yeah," She looked at him, "I'm sorry, I'm still dragging, I had this crazy weekend."

"Mm," He nodded. If they didn't make small talk they'd have to spend less time together and he wouldn't have to focus on how nice she smelled.

"You know most people would follow that with, 'What was so crazy, Chloe?'" She looked at him. Why couldn't she crack this guy?

"I'm not most people," He said.

"Clearly," She whispered with a sigh. "How was your weekend?"

"Fine," He shrugged, "I went house hunting with my wife so,"

"That sounds fun," She nodded, just a note of sarcasm in her tone. "How long have you been married?"

"Four years," He said.

"And Rick said you have a daughter?" She looked at him.

"Yeah," He smiled, "Caroline. That's her," He pointed to the picture on his desk.

"With your wife?" Chloe said looking at the snapshot, "She's young."

"Well, she's two there so yeah," He laughed.

"No, I meant your wife," Chloe said. Scooter looked at the picture.

"Yeah, she is," He sighed, "Um, we should focus."

"Really, Scott," She looked at him, "These are great, I'll get them to my editors."

"Great," He smiled. She smiled back. I love my wife, he thought to himself.

Julie sat at the kitchen table going over, once again, the bills that had piled up that month. The money just wasn't there. She sighed and closed her check book. She could stretch the left overs this week, and the next pay check would be substantially bigger.

"Mommy," Caroline walked out of her room after her nap.

"Not right now sweetie," Julie said, "I'm busy. Why don't you watch TV?"

"I don't feel good," She whimpered. Julie sighed and walked over to her and put her hand on her forehead.

"Oh honey, you're burning up!" Julie gasped, "Go lie down, I'll get you some juice."

"And soup?" Caroline asked.

"Of course baby," Julie nodded, "What kind do you want?"

"The kind with the meatballs," Caroline mumbled, "And the little carrots."

"OK," Julie smiled, "Go back to bed, put on your warm night gown." Caroline nodded and wandered back into her bedroom. Julie sighed and went into the fridge and pulled out some orange juice, then grabbed a sippy cup and a straw. She walked into the bedroom and sighed. "Oh Caroline, why didn't you tell me you threw up?"

"I just did now," The little girl started crying. Julie sighed.

"Oh don't cry sweetie," She said, "Come on, let's get you in the bath."

"OK," Caroline mumbled, sniffing up the snot that had run down her nose as Julie picked up a tissue and wiped it.

Once Caroline was bathed, her room cleaned and air freshened and she was sleeping soundly (Thank you cold medicine!) Julie sat on the phone with the switchboard.

"Scott Vanderbilt?" She sighed, to the snooty assistant. "No I don't know his extension, he just moved." She inhaled, "I'm his wife. Thank you." She said as they transferred her.

"Rick Riley," Rick picked up his phone.

"Ugh, I'll kill them," Julie screamed. "Hi Rick."

"Julie?" He said. "Why are you calling me?"

"I was trying to call Scooter," She sighed, "I don't know his new extension."

"Is everything OK?" Rick asked, "He's in a meeting, so they're transferring his calls to me, I can give him a message."

"Caroline's got the flu, and I was just hoping he could pick up supplies on his way home," She said. "Pass it on."

"Yeah," Rick nodded. "Tell the munchkin I hope she feels better."

"Thanks I will," Julie smiled and hung up.

"Hey," Rick walked into Scooter's office where he was sitting talking to Chloe, "Julie just called, um, Cara's sick."

"Why'd she call you?" Scooter looked at him.

"The rocket scientists at reception put her through to me," Rick nodded, "Hi Chloe."

"Hi," She waved, "I should go anyway."

"Buh bye," Rick said as she walked out, "What are you doing?"

"She's a client," Scooter shrugged.

"She's a hot client," Rick said, "And you're married."

"I am aware that I'm married," Scooter said.

"She's interested in you," Rick looked at him, "And from the looks you've been giving her, I'd say you're interested."

"I'm not interested," Scooter said shortly, "I'm interested in one woman, Julie, who I should call."

"Well, Caroline's got the flu, so I'm guessing she can't chat," Rick said. Scooter nodded, "She said to pick up supplies, I don't know what that means, I figured you would."

"OK," Scooter walked in to the apartment, "I have meatball soup, Vicks and Children's cough medicine."

"Shh," Julie whispered, "You are my hero, but she just fell asleep again." He smiled and kissed her. "Stop, I'm all gross and covered in Cara puke."

"You're beautiful," He smiled and kissed her.

"Mommy," Caroline cried from the other room, "I threw up again," Julie groaned.

"I'll go," Scooter said, "Sit down, relax." She smiled, as he walked into the room. "Hey Angel," He sat down on her bed.

"Hi Daddy," She said weakly. He hugged her.

"I brought you the soup you like," He said, "You feeling up to having dinner?"

"Mm mm," She shook her head. "I threw up."

"Yeah," He nodded, "You're not feeling so hot today huh?" He kissed her forehead, "You go back to sleep OK? Yell if you need me or Mommy." He took the bucket she thrown up into out into the kitchen. "She's on fire."

"102," Julie sighed.

"Did you call the doctor?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yes, we've got an appointment for tomorrow," She said, he walked over to the kitchen table, "Scooter, wait," She stood up.

"Is this the checking account?" He picked up her checkbook, "Jesus Jules, why didn't you tell me we were this short?"

"It's not important," She shook her head, "I mean, once you get the money from the new paycheck we'll be fine."

"We can't close on a house when we have fifty dollars in the bank Julie," He sighed. She looked down. "I know you loved that house, but we just can't right now."

"Scooter, it's our checking account," She looked at him, "We still have the down payment money in savings. And those stocks that you managed to salvage from your dad,"

"I just don't think it's the right time," He said, she sighed, "Julie, soon, OK? Just not right away, give it a few months."

"I'm gonna go shower," She whispered and kissed him. "Just, wash that out," She pointed to the puke bucket, "And take it back into her."

"Sure thing," He smiled. She walked away, and he grabbed her hand, "Hey," He pulled her close, "We're gonna be fine."

"You've been saying that for four years," She shrugged, "I'm a little sick of waiting for Scott." She walked into the bathroom. She fired the water up and undressed and took her hair down and pulled a brush through it. She got in and squirted some shampoo into her hand. She worked up a lather. She was exhausted, not just from taking care of Caroline all day, from four years of nights like this one. Did he know how badly she needed to be a grown up? He'd lived in this place since college, turning this apartment into a home had been really hard for her, living here had been really hard for her and she thought he knew it.

Scooter sat on the edge of Caroline's bed gently stroking her hair.

"Daddy," Caroline whispered.

"Yes sweetheart?" He said.

"Mommy said when we get a house we could get a puppy," She said softly, "Could we really?" He looked at her and smiled. Julie hated dogs, he always joked that it came with the Cat territory. But he'd had a golden retriever growing up, that unfortunately, was still with his parents. He missed that dog, it was a silly thing to miss, he knew that, but it didn't change the fact.

"Yeah," He nodded. "What kind would you want?"

"A golden retriever," She said, "Like the one in the picture of you." He smiled and hugged her. "So we could?"

"Cara," He looked at her, "It may be a while, before we get a house."

"That's OK," She whispered, "Daddy?"

"Mm hm," He nodded.

"Can I just go to sleep now?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure," He laughed. "Good night sweetie."

"Night," She yawned and he kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too," He said closing the door behind him. He didn't deserve them, he'd always thought that.

Reviews Please!