Hope sniffled and looked at the two of them. "Sorry," she moaned, and slowly worked her way up into a sitting position. "Where'd Smeagol go?"
"Down here," he groaned, poking his head up. Deagol made a face and Hope gasped.
"Your nose is bleeding!" she squeaked, her voice giving out from her soar throat, and she sneezed again, flinging her head forward, her hair flying into her face. Smeagol scrambled up to his feet and hurried out to grab a cloth for his nose.
"You don't look very well at all, Hope," muttered Deagol. "You must've gotten a cold."
"Really?" her voice cracked. "What tipped you off, Sherlock?" She coughed roughly and sniffed again. "Bloody nasty medicine didn't help at all!" She sneezed a third time and made as if to climb off the bed, but Deagol stopped her.
"Oh no you don't!" he scolded. "Your ankle, remember?"
She groaned, secretly wishing it had only been a bad dream, but when she pulled the blankets off to look at it, it was wrapped up just like she remembered, and she could even feel it begin to throb again. "But I don't wanna stay in bed all day!" The irony of it was half the time she'd give anything to stay in bed all day, and now that she had to she wanted to get out.
"Here," said Deagol, standing in front of her, and turning so his back was facing her. She hooked her arms around his neck and he lifted her up, sort of like a piggy back ride, and made his way to the door.
----
Smeagol took one look at the two of them as they entered the kitchen and began to laugh. "Wouldn't stay in bed, eh?"
"Yeah right," said Hope, and she pointed to the table. "Chair!" Deagol moved over and lowered her down so she was sitting in it. Smeagol poured her a cup of tea and gave her one of Tabby's blueberry muffins, which she practically inhaled. "Could someone grab me my hairbrush?" she asked. "It's on my dresser... I think..."
"I'll get it," said Smeagol, standing up to leave.
"And a scrunchie too!" she called out as he passed her. He stopped and looked down at her with a small smile. She looked at him funny and offered a half grin. "What?"
"Just glad you're..." he stopped and shook his head. "Nevermind," he muttered and kissed her on the cheek. Part of her felt bad because Deagol was being completely forgotten about, but the other part had been wanting him to kiss her so she let him do it hoping that Deagol would understand. If he didn't he didn't say anything.
When he left she glanced up at Deagol who frowned, and pretended to look at the clock. "I really... uh... I need to leave," he muttered, heading for the door.
"Oh," she muttered. "Okay. Bye!" she called back.
"Feel better," he muttered, waving to her and walked out. She couldn't help but notice the frown was still plastered on his face. She sighed and sunk back in the chair, wishing now she hadn't let Smeagol kiss her if it made Deagol that uncomfortable.
----
Deagol glanced back at the house and shook his head. "Look but don't touch," he muttered. "She's Smeagol's."
He knew he had to forget about her or else there would be trouble, but his mind drifted to the previous night, before she had scrambled over so her head was between their feet there had been a moment, just a moment, when she and sighed in her sleep and rolled over, closer to him, her head resting on his chest and her hand on his shoulder. He knew he should have pushed her away, but he couldn't. He'd even come close to putting his own arms around her but she'd readjusted herself away from him before he could, and he knew now it was a good thing she had. To think what Smeagol would have done if he'd woken up and found his love in the arms of his best friend!
He shook his head and knew now he had to stop. He felt horrible for letting her snuggle up to him like that, and knew that he had to either stop thinking about her like that or stay away from her. Anything he needed to do to keep his friendship with Smeagol.
----
"Where'd Deagol go?" asked Smeagol as he walked back in, handing her the hairbrush and scrunchie.
"He had to go home. His parents were probably worried."
"But Tabby said she'd told them where he was," he muttered.
"Oh. Maybe he forgot?" They shrugged and he kissed her cheek.
"Smea," she muttered.
"What?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her neck and kissing her cheek.
She paused, not sure of how to ask what she needed to but decided to be direct. "Please don't kiss me in front of Deagol again." He looked up at her in surprise and she offered him a small smile. "It's a little awkward, okay?"
"Why would it be awkward around Deagol?" he asked.
"Not just him," she muttered. "I guess around anyone it's awkward. Next time just the two of us, okay?" He smiled and nodded.
"All right," he whispered and kissed her lips. "And I am glad you're alive. I was afraid that man had done something to you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and kissed her neck. "At least he's locked away now." She nodded into his shoulder and clung to him tighter. He didn't really understand why there was still fear in her, but it was there so he sat there, holding on to her for as long as he needed to. Until she was all right.
----