Author's Note: Coming in at 500 words, here's the final catch-up chapter! As of now, this story is on the same time table as it's companion. I should update with new chapters this afternoon. As always, hope you enjoy! ~lg
oOo
"I need some help."
Those words bypassed Evan's hesitations and set him into action. He found a pair of tennis shoes in Jennifer's closet and carried them to her bed. Once she'd slipped them onto her feet, he held her elbow as she stood. She steadied herself and let go of his arm, insisting on walking by herself. She stopped next to her mirror to smooth her hair from her face. Evan knew she worried about her appearance, but she shouldn't have taken the time. She was still Jennifer. She was still beautiful.
Through the walk to the infirmary, Evan stayed close. Several times, she swayed and reached out for support. When she did that, he simply took her elbow to steady her. By the time they reached the infirmary, she breathed heavily, as if she'd just run a marathon. That worried him. While the walk to the infirmary hadn't taken long, it should not have winded her like that.
Amanda Cole took one look at Jennifer and pointed behind her. "Over here."
At that point, Evan ceased to care what Jennifer thought. He slipped an arm around her waist and escorted her to the hospital bed. She settled with a relieved sigh and smiled at him. "Thanks."
Cole pushed her way to Jennifer's bedside with a portable Ancient scanner, leaving Evan to step back and let her work. The diagnosis didn't sit well with him. Bronchial pneumonia. Apparently Jennifer's immune system had been compromised by the crud that swept the base, deepening into her lungs. He remained in the infirmary, watching Cole start an IV and a breathing treatment.
Over the next three days, Evan spent as much time as possible in the infirmary. Most of Jennifer's staff didn't question his appearance since she'd asked him to help her get there. But others wondered what had happened between them. Evan wondered what had happened between them. Jennifer had somehow gone from a good friend to something much more. He didn't want to figure out how it happened, and he sure as heck refused to think about where it led. He'd been there, and it had burned him.
Three days later, Jennifer awakened. He waited until that evening to visit, and appeared with two bowls of soup. She smiled. "Hey."
He moved to her bedside. "I brought dinner."
She glanced around. "Thanks."
"Ah. . . ." Did she want help, or. . . .?
She grinned. "Hand the bowl here, and I'll eat." She sipped the soup as if in heaven. Finally, she leaned into her pillow. "Sorry about the other day. I mean. . . ."
Evan reached out and took her hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of her wrist. "Don't mention it." He barely stopped himself from shaking his head. He said he didn't want to go where this led, but he seemed determined to get there as quickly as possible. Some days, he surprised himself.
~TBC
