* Disclaimer * I do not own Les Miserables or any of the characters.

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

I awoke with Gavroche viciously shaking my arm.

"Eponine! Eponine!"

"What?" I can barely keep my eyes open, and truthfully I'm a bit irritated with so many people demanding things of me.

"Monsieur Marius is awake." With a grumble I slowly sat up from my chair and dragged my feet behind me. When I reached the top of the steps I could faintly hear him struggling to hold back a scream. He was in agony. My pace quickened and I ran into the room, to see him laying on his side holding his stomach. Joly and Enjolras were there trying to calm him down and lessen the aching, with no luck. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, he looked miserable but even in his condition he still acknowledged that I was there.

" 'Ponine."

"I'm here." I pulled my fingers through his thick hair. He placed my hand in his and breathed heavily though his teeth, trying to stop the throbbing or at least get his mind off of it.

"Oh Gosh." Marius curled his body together and held his breath. I feel so horrible for him; I've never seen him in so much pain. He began coughing and choking violently, attempting to cover but failing sorely.

"Enjolras, go get him a bucket or a pan or something!"

"He has a stab wound not the flu!" I yelled in his direction, why would he need a bucket?

"He has abdominal trauma!" What the heck is that? I was tempted to ask but stopped. There were more important things to do that ask questions. Marius still lay there coughing into the crook of his arm. Thankfully Enjolras came at a perfect time with the bucket, which Marius grabbed so quickly it nearly hit me in the head. He gasped for air in between each cough, and if I sounded anything like he did who can blame him for thinking I was dying. I guess I'm better now, but definitely not feeling particularly "well". Marius groaned and began throwing up in the bucket.

"I'm outta here!" Gavroche said as he ran out the door. "Feel better Monsieur!"

Marius continued to vomit in the bucket while holding his stomach, his face with a sheet of sweat and his body quivering. I don't know exactly what to do other than sit there and rub his back in an attempt to comfort him, which I probably wasn't doing a very good job at. Finally, he stopped and fell back into his abode of pillows. He struggled to keep his eyes open as he grabbed my hand again in his. I gave a weak smile, as I looked down at him in his decrepit condition. If only I could do something to help him.

"Here Enjolras, take this." Joly handed him the bucket and he grimaced.

"Why me?"

"Because you don't have any medical training and this is the only way you can help right now without being in the way."

"What about her?" he gestured toward me as he tried to avoid the bucket.

"Eponine needs to stay with Marius, she's the most comfort he has right now." Enjolras scoffed and walked out of the room with his arm out holding the bucket.

For a revolutionary leader, I was surprised at the way he responded. It would be much more gruesome at the barricade. Marius' breathing softened and his grip on my hand was much looser. I could tell he was slowly calming down, but the pain didn't seem to dissolve as quickly. I took my other hand and grabbed a wet towel, then gently wiped his forehead off. He sighed in content and closed his eyes as if to go to sleep. Its good to know that he's finally relaxing after that whole scene.

"I can give him a little more pain medication when he wakes up, but it's to soon right now." I nodded and looked back down at Marius how had already dozed off.

"But don't give him that stuff that makes him so irritating I want to pull my hair out." Joly chuckled and pulled a little bottle out of his bag.

"I think we learned that he doesn't take that stuff to well. Give him this in about an hour, or when he wakes up."

He placed a small white pill in the hand that wasn't in Marius's possession and stood up from his chair.

"Waters on the table."

"Joly," he turned stopped and turned back around. "Thanks, for everything."

"It's not a problem Eponine, I'll send Enjolras back up with the bucket soon."

I laughed a little and agreed, making sure to be quiet so I didn't wake Marius.

"Okay." Joly rotated back and lightly shut the door behind him. My eyes immediately went back down toward Marius. Honestly, he's never looked so horrible, except for maybe when he was "dead" but now you can see the pain, and I can tell how much he is suffering.

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault." I whispered as I leaned down and gently pressed my lips against his. He stirred in his sleep, but thankfully didn't wake up. I'm not exactly the best at playing nurse. Slowly, I felt myself drift off next to him. I guess its okay to rest for a couple hours.

~..0..~

" 'Ponine." I could barely hear his voice through my clouded mind.

"Marius?" His forehead was once again coated in a sheet of sweat, and he could barely speak. I jumped up from the bed and grabbed the pill and water off of the nightstand.

"Here," He nodded and took it in his hands. I'm beginning to think he doesn't even remember any of his comedic act from earlier, if he had I have a feeling he wouldn't be as willing to take more medication. Marius popped the pill in his mouth and guzzled the water down until it was completely empty.

"Thank you." I smiled and took the glass from his hands.

"I'm gonna get you another cold towel for your head." He nodded and closed his heavy eyelids as I went to the washroom. After looking around for a while I noticed there was a small basket filled with white hand towels in the corner. I poured some cold water on one of the towels over the tub, and then wrung it out so it wouldn't drip. When I got back into the bedroom Marius was holding his stomach again. His face was scrunched up and his breaths were heavy.

"Are you alright?!" Panicking, I ran over to the side of the bed and dabbed the towel on his head. He tried to speak, but his voice was ceased with a coughing attack.

"Do you need the bucket?" Marius shook his head in disapproval, and began to calm down. I touched his forehead with the back of my hand to see if his fever had gone down any. Much to my dismay it seems to have risen, but what do I know? I'm not a doctor. The pain seemed to lessen and Marius leaned back on my arm as I sat on the side of the bed. There was a feint knock on the door and I carefully got up to open it, looking back to make sure Marius was still all right. When my hand reached the doorknob I silently turned it, only to see a blur of blonde curls roll past my face.

"Marius!" The mademoiselle knelt down beside the bed and put his hand in her perfect unscarred palms. She reached in a small bag of hers and pulled out a few Sous and throwing them at me.

"Thank you for taking care of him." She was very genuine, and obviously way too innocent to mean me any harm or make me feel inferior, but somehow she did. I could feel the anger rise up inside of me. Or was it jealousy? She pressed her pink lips against his and sat there stroking his hair. I took a step forward to give her a piece of my mind, but a strong arm held me back. I turned around to see Enjolras holding me back from making a mistake I would most certainly regret. He pulled me out of the room and shut the door behind him.

"Ey! What was that for?"

"Trust me 'Ponine you didn't want to do that." I jerked my arm away and grumbled as I stomped down the stairs. I know he's right, but I don't have to admit it.

~..0..~

Marius's POV

I awoke expecting to see Eponine by my side, holding my hand in hers. My vision is blurred but I can still make out my surroundings. 'Ponine's smooth fingers ran across the side of my face and I took her hand in mine, only to notice her once olive skin tone was now pale and exceptionally pure, and her dark hair was golden and in perfect soft spirals.

"Its alright Marius, I'm here now you don't need to worry."

"Cosette?"

Well there ya have it. I hope it was enjoyable! Please follow and Review! As I'm sure you can guess, there will be some interesting conversations in the next chapter so expect one soon!