*I own only plot.*
Jasper woke up the next morning and called Mr Sweet, staying with Trudy, not wanting her to start coughing when he couldn't watch over her. Mr Sweet picked up and said "Sweet."
"Ah. Mr Sweet. Listen, about the library."
"Yes, about that. Is Trudy living up to your expectations?"
"She's exceeded them. And on the topic of her, she's caught a nasty cold and she's been up all night, coughing and sneezing. She needs to be cared for, in case it gets a bit more serious and she needs a hospital. I can't let her work today and I can't leave her unattended. Would you mind giving us a while off, until she's recovered? I'll try to have her feeling better and less contagious before next Monday, but no promises, sadly."
"OK, yes, of course. And I know it's nothing to do with me, but I can't help being a little curious. Is there a romantic spark between Trudy and yourself?"
"More than a spark, Mr Sweet." Jasper chuckled, calm about admitting it, not letting his gaze leave his snuffling fiancee.
Mr Sweet sounded like he was smiling. "Ah, you're dating?"
Jasper chuckled. "Engaged." He corrected.
"Ah. Congratulations to you both. She's a truly lovely lady and you're very lucky to have her."
"Don't I know it. Thank you for your consideration, Mr Sweet. I hope you have a nice day."
"And you, Jasper, and you. Give my best wishes to Trudy, won't you?"
"Of course. Thanks again."
"Anytime. See you soon."
"See you."
Jasper hung up, then held his fiancee's hand, stroking her curls back. She woke, her eyes blurry and her head throbbing. "Jasper? Hihi. Is there any thingy, um, paracetamol? I have a throbbing headache."
"Sure. Don't go back to sleep, love. I'll be back in a sec."
She nestled down. Her cold flooded her and she choked. Jasper caught her and held her up, a bowl at her front to be sick into. Her coughing got more violent and she threw up in the bowl, much to Jasper's horror. He cuddled her while he dried her eyes and nose, then mopped her mouth, gave her water and a smaller bowl to spit it into, then gave her a drink and some paracetamol. She swallowed it with difficulty, then thickly whispered "Sorry. It must be disgusting to see me in such a state."
Jasper kissed her forehead. "No. Even sick, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever looked at."
She giggled, her laugh coming out as a thick noise. "You're so kind. I know I look bad, but trust me, hon, I feel worse than I look. Health-wise. Emotionally, I'm really happy." She told him, sniffling then coughing, hard.
Jasper kissed her curls and whispered "You're going to be fine." She tried to get up, but Jasper held her down. "Stay there. You're not getting up, beauty."
"But... we have work." She told him.
"Actually, my darling, I called Eric. He's giving us time off, so that you, my beautiful angel, can recover and regain your strength. I'm not going to rush you, though. I want you healthy." Jasper told her, giving her a hug.
Her meals that day consisted of soup, in varieties of flavours, lime and blueberry cheesecake trifle, which she loved, ice cream and hot chocolate with extra mint in it. She was carried to the toilet, allowed to do what she had to in private, then put back in bed, her head suitably propped to comfort her and enable her to breathe as best she could. Jasper kept her hydrated, washed her mouth for her and kissed her as she slept, making sure she wasn't worse. He opened windows for her, to ensure she got fresh air, he made sure she was at just the right temperature to make her avoid sweating and shivering. She slept happily, menthol smelling strongly in the room. Jasper made sure she didn't leave the bed unless she was fully wrapped up and snug. He bundled her up as he changed the sheets on the bed, then tucked her back up, the electric blanket warming her up. "Jasper, as lovely as you are to fuss like this, should you? You could get sick, hanging around an invalid like me."
"I don't care. If it gets that nasty cold out of your poor little body, then I'll gladly take a cold. I want the best for my angel."
Trudy fell asleep again, under gentle influence from Jasper, who treated her delicately, as though she was dying from her cold. Everything she suffered, Jasper wanted to protect her from, then did his best to save her that pain. He slept lightly, not really realising that he was asleep until his beloved Trudy began coughing again. He fell asleep on her stomach, using her as a pillow. Her coughs woke him at eleven that night, as she hadn't coughed for the last three hours and Jasper lovingly performed his task of helping her through it. She smiled as she fell asleep again. "I love you." Came from her lips as she began to sleep.
"I love you, too." He whispered back, stroking her locks.