Christmas at Inferno Hall was quite an affair. Since the mansion was so big, there were obviously a lot of places where decorations could be hung. And it just so happened that today was the day to do the decorating. Lynn was surprised when she woke up to find that Cruella wasn't curled up beside her like usual. She shrugged it off and went on with her morning routine.
She thought it had been one of the rare nights when there had been no nightmares. Cruella was at breakfast, so what few worries had begun to spring up were put to rest. Though she noticed she didn't eat much. After breakfast came tree trimming. It was a beautiful, live evergreen that stood at an amazing twelve feet.
Alonzo, under Cruella's critical eye, retrieved the decorations from storage. The ladies would handle everything inside the mansion while he handled the outside. The ornaments were beautiful and priceless, some dating back to the late 18th century. Lynn handled them carefully, reluctant to touch them even when assured that it was perfectly safe. She began work on the tree while Cruella curled up on the couch and huddled down in her fur, wrapping it securely around her.
She didn't say much, and appeared to be battling sleep, which was unusual for her. Lynn watched her out of the corner of her eye as she worked her way around and up the tree. She tried to coax her into helping, but she waved it off and assured her she was doing a marvelous job. This was also unusual, as she normally loved decorating the tree.
She had told her once that it was her favorite part of Christmas. When she didn't want to decorate it, something was wrong. Lynn began to worry, especially when she noticed the older woman shivering, despite the immense heat of the mansion.
"Come on, Cruella, don't you want to help? It's your tree and decorations after all."
"Nonsense, darling, you're doing a splendid job."
After decorating the whole sitting room, Lynn sat down beside Cruella for a break. The woman shifted closer before snuggling into her side. Ordinarily, the younger woman wouldn't mind, but she had just gotten a lot of exercise. Add to that that Inferno Hall was kept at a staggering ninety-five degrees year-round, and you have the conclusion that the young woman was in no mood to cuddle. She pushed her away lightly, hoping she would get the message and move away.
Cruella let her push her away before shivering and returning to her side. Lynn pushed her away again, this time a little harder.
"Cruella, it's too hot to cuddle down here."
"But I'm cold," the older woman said meekly.
Lynn turned to look at her. Gently, she tilted her chin up and took in her color. She was extremely pale, almost gray, and Lynn noticed that she wasn't wearing a lot of makeup. Experimentally, she tugged back the older woman's coat. She shivered and glued herself to Lynn's side, soaking up her body heat.
She felt a little warm to the young woman, and she began to think that her friend was ill.
"Cruella, do you feel all right?"
"Just cold."
"Mmm-hmm."
Lynn pressed the back of her hand to Cruella's cheek. Unlike a normal person, her skin wasn't burning. Rather, it felt more like a normal temperature. But for Cruella, whose skin was often like ice, this signaled the beginnings of a fever, and a high one at that.
"You're running a temperature."
"Nonsense. Your hands must be cold."
"I'm calling your doctor."
She tried to stand, only to be held back by a pair of arms that were suddenly around her waist. She looked down at the older woman, at the same time wiggling and twisting to free herself.
"Don't leave me," Cruella whimpered, and while it melted Lynn's heart a tad bit, she knew she needed to call the doctor.
"Cruella, turn me loose. I need to call the doctor." This only caused her to tighten her grip. "Honestly, Cruella, you're worse than a child!"
At that, the older woman let go, and Lynn went to call her doctor.
"On vacation? What do you mean he's on vacation? Well, can't you contact him? The emergency? Miss De Vil."
Unwillingly to listen to excuses any longer, she slammed down the receiver.
"What did they say?" Cruella asked, and Lynn took note that she used the door frame for support.
"He's out. Won't be back until after Christmas." Cruella swayed, and Lynn rushed to steady her. "Woah. Okay, that settles it. You're going straight to bed and rest."
"But I don't want to!"
"Too bad. That little episode earned you a one-way ticket to your room."
She helped her upstairs and into her room, though she did give her the privacy to change. She raced in when she heard a thump. She found Cruella on the floor, one hand over her eyes, the other reaching toward Lynn.
"What happened?!"
"Just a little dizzy spell, nothing important."
"You fell, so yes, it is important. Come on," she said as she helped her up. "There now."
Satisfied that she was settled in bed, she turned to leave and heard the distinct sound of covers being thrown off. She whirled around and caught Cruella attempting to follow her.
"Stay!"
"I'm not a dog, darling," she replied before sneezing.
"Be that as it may, you do need to stay up here. I have things to do elsewhere. I will be back later."
"But I want you to stay!" Cruella whined.
While Lynn secretly found this cute, she knew she needed to run her errand.
"I'll be back shortly. Until then, find something to amuse you."
All she had to do was run to the drugstore to pick up a few things she knew Cruella would need. She wasn't even gone a half hour, but the urge to turn around and keep going was strong when she heard Cruella screaming all the way from the third floor when she walked in. She simply sighed and headed upstairs, hoping that the medicine she brought would put the woman to sleep. She barely had time to duck the phone that flew at her the minute she opened the door to Cruella's bedroom. Alonzo was cowering in a corner, trying in vain to shield himself with a tea tray.
Cruella calmed instantly when she saw Lynn.
"Lynn darling," She tried to sound helpless but the congestion that had manifested ruined the effect. "He refused to give me anything with my tea."
"And does he have a valid reason for that?"
"Y-yes, Miss. She b-became sick on her s-stomach soon after you left."
"I see. Thank you, Alonzo, I'll take it from here."
He stammered out his thanks before making a hasty retreat. Lynn, hiding the bottle of medicine behind her back, approached the woman.
"Aw, poor baby. Well, I brought something to help you feel better." She revealed the medicine, and had to laugh as the heiress disappeared under her covers. "Come on, Cruella. You've got to take something if you want to feel better."
"No, I won't take it."
Lynn sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"Cruella, you're a grown woman. Take your medicine."
"No!" she yelled. "It tastes bad," she added in a calmer voice.
"What would I have to do to get you to take it?"
"Cuddle with me?"
Lynn sighed and removed her boots before pouring out the dose. Cruella smirked, knowing she had gotten her way.
"Take this first." She held out the cup, but even that wasn't enough to wipe the smirk off Cruella's face. "And wipe that smirk off your face. I'm only giving in so easily because you don't feel good."
After the older woman had taken the medicine, Lynn, true to her word, climbed in beside her. Cruella made it known that she wasn't letting the younger woman go anywhere anytime soon by facing her and wrapping her arms around her waist. Lynn simply drew circles on her back until she fell asleep. She then attempted to get up. Despite the strength of the medicine Lynn had given her, Cruella woke up as soon as Lynn was standing up.
"Don't go. You promised."
"Honestly," the young woman said with a smile as she got back in bed, "you're worse than a child."
…...
"Was she like that the whole time?"
"I'm getting there..."
…...
Lynn soon discovered that she could not be apart from Cruella for very long before she would hunt her down, which was not always pleasant. She didn't hate her for it, she really didn't. She understood the craving for human contact when you were sick, she just wished Cruella craved a little less of it. She was constantly wrapped around her torso, which did sometimes become uncomfortable, especially late at night when she had to go to the bathroom. She also whined and complained. Exactly like a very small child.
Lynn found that she cried easily when her fever was high. The sight of her usually strong friend crying because coughing hurt her chest broke her heart, but she couldn't do anything but give her medicine and hope the fever would break. She sat up many nights when the woman couldn't breathe and would distract her by telling her stories until she fell asleep. Her fever broke at the end of the week, by which point Lynn was thoroughly exhausted. But not so exhausted that she didn't jump for joy when she was able to see something other than sky blue walls.
…...
"The whole time?"
"Like glue."
"I honestly don't know which is worse: Cruella in a rage or Cruella ill and clingy."
"Trust me, you don't want to witness the second one."
"Right, well. Okay, I have to ask: What did you think of her trying to steal those dalmatian puppies?"
"Oh God, that's a story..."
