A/N I am so sooo sorry, a billion times sorry, for not updating for awhile! I was on a family vacation and then I had to deal with school crap. -.- But anyway, I'll try to make this chapter as long as possible to make for it. I promise!
Chapter Ten
Raj was passed out on the couch, bottle of beer still in hand, one leg on the floor, and one on the couch. He used his left arm as a rest for his head.
"This is highly disturbing," Katie commented, staring and trying not to giggle at his quirky position.
"If you think this was bad," Leonard said in a low voice, "you should have seen the time he went through a phase where he couldn't talk to women without drinking."
"Why?" Katie snickered.
Leonard shrugged. "The hell if I know."
"Well, we can't just leave him here," Katie said sympathetically.
"Why not?" Sheldon enquired. "He's a grown man, he can provide for his own necessities."
"Says the one who made me rub Vix and sing 'Soft Kitty' to you when you were sick," Penny scoffed. She turned to Katie. "Don't fall for it when he's sick. Leave."
"Aww, leave Shelly alone." Katie held Sheldon close in a protective stance.
"That's disgusting," Leonard commented.
That got a whack on the side of the head from Katie. "Ow!"
"At least get the beer can out of his hand," Katie said. "That looks pathetic."
"Alright," Leonard agreed, reaching for the beer can; only to see Raj's hand tightening around the can protectively.
"Jesus," was all Katie said.
"Yeah, let's just leave him here." Leonard ushered Katie, Sheldon, and Penny, up the steps. "Go! Go! Go."
The next morning, Katie felt unusually stuffy and hot. She felt her own forehead, but couldn't decipher if she was ill. She sneezed.
Yep, I'm sick. Great. Just what I needed.
She got up to get a tissue, but was interrupted.
*knock knock knock* "Katie." *knock knock knock* "Katie." *knock knock knock* "Katie."
Katie sighed and headed to the door, her legs dragging- she felt stiff and concerningly uncomfortable.
She opened the door. "Hello, Sheldon." Her voice was slightly nasally; a side effect of a stuffy nose.
"Hello, Katie," Sheldon replied. "Leonard was wondering if-" Suddenly, she sneezed, covering her elbow.
"Are you sick?" There was a slight worried note to Sheldon's tone.
"No," Katie sniffled, dabbing at her red eyes. "I'm fine." Her confirmation was accompanied by yet another sneeze. "I think I'll stay in here today," she said hoarsely. "I'm feeling a bit...under the weather."
"Oh." Sheldon felt slightly disappointed, but tried not to show it. "I'm sorry. Well, I'll be seeing you later, then." He turned to go, but Katie put a hand on him and stopped him.
"Wait."
"Yes?" He looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Do you think you can stay with me?" Her eyes were watering, as if she was crying. "I'm feeling kind of lonely. I get lonely whenever I'm sick."
"Oh," Sheldon said. "Very well."
They stood there, a just-long-enough-to-be-noticed awkward pause between the two.
"Well, come on in." Katie pulled him inside, closing the door.
She crawled underneath the covers, and Sheldon stood awkwardly at the side of the bed.
"Sheldon, what did your mom do for you when you were sick?" She was suddenly craving her mother's presence- at least someone mother or parental-like to take care of her. She couldn't take care of herself when she was sick.
"She would sing me 'Soft Kitty'," Sheldon said, sitting next to her- but not too close- "and rub Vix on my chest."
Awkward. "I don't know what 'Soft Kitty' is," Katie admitted.
Sheldon took a deep breath, then touched her shoulder awkwardly and sang, "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur, happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr….purr...purr."
"That was nice." Just him comforting her made Katie feel a bit better, if not physically mentally. "Do you have any Vix?"
Sheldon stiffened. "I believe so," he said.
"I bet it feels good," Katie said, feeling slightly childish- and somewhat guilty- for depending on her boyfriend so much. She didn't want to seem clingy, as they'd been together officially less than twenty-four hours.
"Alright then," Sheldon replied simply, as if discussing the weather, and exited the room. She hoped he would come back. She sneezed, blinking vigorously to get the sleep out of her eyes.
Sheldon returned a moment later with a white bottle of Vix. He sat down next to her and tugged at her shirt collar. Katie blushed, eyes wide.
"No no, relax," Sheldon said. "Pull your shirt up."
"Why would I ever do that?" Katie seemed slightly offended.
"For the Vix," Sheldon replied, annoyed.
She hesitated, then took a deep breath and slowly pulled her shirt up. "There!"
Sheldon stared at her chest. "Stop it, you perve!" Katie shrieked. Guys were guys, Sheldon or not.
"I apologize," Sheldon said quickly, then began rubbing the cream on her chest, between her breasts. It was nice and cool, and she sighed contently.
"You have to leave your shirt like that for a few moments," Sheldon said, closing the bottle once he was done. "Otherwise, you will defeat the whole purpose of what I just did."
"Yes sir," Katie said. She smiled. "Thanks for taking care of me, Sheldon."
"You're welcome," Sheldon answered lightly.
"Will you sing me soft kitty?" She stared up at him with watery eyes.
"So Katie, warm Katie, little ball of fur-" he put his hand on her stomach and began rubbing in circles, counter-clockwise- "happy Katie, sleepy Katie, purr, purr, purr."
"Aww, Sheldon." She felt her heart swell with emotion. "That's really sweet."
He didn't respond, just gazed off into the distance at something only he could see.
"You know," he said, "we have quite a few hours until my bedtime."
"What did you have in mind?" Katie perked up like a happy puppy.
"Something involving sheets and pillows?" Sheldon suggested, then coughed awkwardly.
Her eyes widened. "Wow, we're gonna build a fort?!"
"Yes," Sheldon replied. "I never got to go into my brother's and sister's fort when I was little. They never let me in."
"You're the best boyfriend ever!" Katie kissed him on the cheek. Suddenly, she was feeling much better- and it wasn't the Vix, either.