Author's Note: Sorry the update took so long! I was swamped in school work and stuff. The reviews have been great-- keep it up! I hope you like this chapter...

--Maureen—

I don't know how it happened, but I must have fallen asleep at Mimi's place. I remembered vaguely Mimi commenting that I had a fever the night before, but I hadn't really felt it more than merely having the chills until this morning, but as soon as I came around I felt nauseous, and my head and throat hurt. I coughed raggedly and my chest felt like it was on fire.

I couldn't see Mimi, so I started to panic, thinking that maybe she had left me or something, which in retrospect was kind of stupid as I was in her loft, but whatever. I was sick. My entire body ached and I highly doubted that I could get up even if I had any desire to.

A couple of minutes later, the door swung open and Mimi walked in.

"You're up!" She said brightly, grinning. I groaned. She stuck her tongue out at me. "Well, sunshine, that's what you get for not taking care of yourself." She brought me a glass of water.

"Thanks." I managed hoarsely. She nodded.

"It's nothing. I take it your not feeling all that great?" She asked as she helped prop me up against the pillows on the bed. I shook my head and took the water shakily. I coughed again. "That doesn't sound good, Mo, you should get to a doctor." I shook my head.

"No...I'll be fine." I said quickly, wincing at the pain if speaking. I took a drink of the water, trying to soothe the pain. She looked at me skeptically.

"Do you even know where you are going to sleep tonight?" I was confused briefly before I remembered the events of the previous night and Joanne's tirade.

"Shit." I coughed again.

"See what I mean? Chica, you gotta get yourself some help. I would help you out, but if what you got is contagious, I gotta look out for myself first." I nodded guiltily.

"Sorry." She looked at me sympathetically.

"No, don't be sorry-- mira, I'm just trying to look out for you."

"I know, but still...I've been selfish."

"You're just stubborn. I betta get used to it." She laughed. I scowled playfully. "Oh, you know I love you." Then she sighed. "I'm gonna get Mark to take you to the doctor, okay?" I nodded, drinking the water slowly. She ruffled my hair and departed.

Shortly thereafter, Mark stumbled into the room, blushing and look down at the floor. I couldn't help but smile, however that caused me to start on a coughing fit that felt like it lasted about a minute. He rushed to my side.

"Hey, are you okay?" I shook my head and cleared my throat. "What hurts?" I rolled my eyes.

"You sound like my mother." He sighed.

"That's not a first. Seriously, what's wrong?" I relented.

"Everything hurts, Marky!" I whined shamelessly. "My throat, my head, my whole fuckin' body!" He felt my forehead and withdrew it quickly.

"Jesus Maureen, you're burning up!" I groaned and slid down into the bed. "I'll be right back." He disappeared into the bathroom, and then returned with a glass thermometer. "Say ahhh," he prompted.

"I'm not four!" I complained as he shoved the thing into my mouth, distorting my words. He glanced at his watch.

"You sure act like it. Hold it," he instructed. I made a face at him. He tucked my hair behind my ear. He looked at his watch again. "Okay. All done." He took the thermometer. "Jesus...come on, I'm taking you to the hospital." He helped me off the bed, then realized that I didn't have a jacket. "Hold on, I'll be right back." He ran up to the loft and returned with the old plaid one. He gave the corduroy one that he was wearing to me, as it was warmer, and slid on his old coat. I started crying. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry!" I said, continuing to cry. He looked confused.

"For what?"

"Everything." He seemed to get what I was saying.

"Shhh, it's all in the past. Come on, get up." I carried on about how sorry I was and continued crying as he half carried half dragged me to the hospital. He tried to soothe me and I finally stopped.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what that was about." He smiled.

"It's okay, I'm used to it." I shot him a look and we both laughed.

We arrived at the hospital shortly thereafter. I could tell he was unhappy about being there, but he was keeping it together for me because I needed him to. I held onto him tightly, nervously. We had to wait in chairs for two hours before a doctor would see me. He asked for my symptoms and examined my body thoroughly.

"We're going to need to do a blood test." My eyes bulged.

"Wh-what?" Mark took my hand, sensing my panic.

"It's just a precaution. Chances are you just have influenza or something, not a big deal, but there is a possibility that it is something more serious, like HIV." Mark moved closer to me, trying to comfort me. I couldn't say anything, so I just nodded. He took the blood sample and took it off to the lab, and as soon as he left, Mark took me in his arms and I broke down crying. He rubbed my back, but I could tell he was pretty upset, too.

"Mark, what the fuck am I gonna do?"

"I'm going to assume you cheated on Joanne?" I sighed.

"Do you really need to ask?"

"I'm…sorry."

"It's okay. But…I just want you to be prepared if the results are positive." He looked at me incredulously.

"Maureen, don't worry about me. This is your life we're talking about here. Right now you're the one you should be worried about."

"I guess…I'm just…scared."

"Me too, me too."