Cooling off

With Fitz made comfortable for now, she then tends to Joshua's needs… "Josh, did Daddy manage to give you breakfast this morning?"

"Uh huh," he nods his head and relays, "I had some toast with peanut butter." Olivia looks up at the clock; it was almost noon. She wonders how long ago that was? "Are you hungry now sweetpea?"

He nods again. So she heads to the fridge freezer in search of lunch material… "How about a sandwich, do you fancy that?"

"No Mummy... Can I have Smiley faces pleeeease?"

Smiley faces? She looks in the freezer and after a quick rummage around finds a pack of Smiley faces and some chicken nuggets. Not the healthiest choice, but for now it will do. She'll make a proper dinner for her and Josh later. With Josh's food placed in the oven, she then retrieves the defrosted chicken spotted earlier in the cooler, and goes about making some chicken broth for Fitz.

Busying herself in the kitchen, she keeps an eye on Joshua, who has happily occupied himself with his toys in the living room. Bless him, only half dressed in his infamous superman t-shirt and briefs (the extent of Fitz's efforts this morning), he seems perfectly content in wearing just that; and considering the scorching heat it probably makes sense to leave him be. She feels guilty that she couldn't take him to the cinema as planned though; not that he seems fussed, but truth be told she was so set on Fitz going with them, that she wouldn't have wanted to go without him. Besides, one look at Fitz, all weak and feverish and she knew she couldn't leave him at home alone. In fact, in the years that they were together she can't recall him ever coming down with colds or flu; apart from his injuries sustained in Iraq, when he served as a field doctor, Fitz was not one for getting hurt or ill- if anything he was built like tank, impenetrable, so it was a shock to see him like that. And so understandably her instincts to take care of him immediately took over.

With the broth simmering nicely on the stove and Joshua's food still cooking in the oven, she goes and checks on Fitz. He was fast asleep, his congestion causing him to snore even louder than usual. There were many things she missed about him, but she had to admit his snoring was not one of them; not that he could possibly help it now. Getting closer, she checks on his temperature once more, much to her dismay he is still very hot, so she pulls the covers off him slightly to help cool him down. Deciding it would be best not wake him and let him sleep his fever off for a little while longer, she forgoes giving him paracetamol for another hour or so.

In the meantime, unable to help herself she starts to tidy up the room.

Apart from the mess, she notes that very little has changed since she left. Of course the absence of a woman is notably felt, but everything else has remained the same, same décor, same arrangement of furniture… same bed. A heat flushes to her cheeks as she recalls memories shared with Fitz in this room and this bed. Ultimately, it had been the place where she and Fitz had consummated their vows as husband and wife. They were so in love with each other, that their wedding night extended for two nights and two more days. Only leaving the bedroom for food and rest breaks; they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Making love, touching, snuggling, sleeping in each other's embrace, then back to making love again, until they were too tired to move... A total contrast to the cold and clinical moments of intimacy that she allowed to take place in the months leading up to her departure. The shame she feels in just thinking about it- knowing the impact that sort of deception would have upon Fitz confidence and prowess as a lover and man; it's no wonder that he has kept his feelings about her so well hidden. She can barely forgive herself, let alone expect him to do the same.

Indeed, these are the memories that taunt her; memories she still finds difficult to face, and by being here (where it all took place) also means there is no hiding from them either. She wipes away a stray tear, grateful that Fitz is too out of it to witness her fragility… After all, now was probably not the time to discuss such matters, he was too ill and she was still trying to make sense of it all.

Suddenly seeking retreat, she quickly picks up the last of Fitz's mucus filled tissues; sufficiently clearing the floor of all mess and checks on him one last time before heading back outside to Joshua, for a much needed pick me up.

xxxxxxxx

Being with Joshua, was like a dose of good medicine to her soul- he made her smile, he made her heart soar with pride, and despite the past he loved her unconditionally. He was her little superman, who saved her every time she was in danger of falling. And not before long, just by simply playing with him her subdued mood had shifted to a more happy medium. Lunch went by with ease, clearly smiley faces and chicken nuggets were a winner in his eyes, and he ate them with gusto. When she went to wake Fitz for some lunch and more meds, Josh tagged along too, with his toy stethoscope around his neck and doctors bag at the ready. Even Fitz, despite how he was feeling smiled at the sight of him.

Joshua was something else.

And as it so happens, so was his father-who was now taking on the role of a petulant child, refusing to drink the broth that she had made for him…

"Come on Fitz, you need to eat something to keep your strength up…"

"I know, I'll have it later…" he dismisses instead, only opting for the paracetamol before lying back down again…

"Fitz, even you know tablets on an empty stomach are not good for you…" She persists, despite the realisation that her words are only falling on deaf ears, as he turns his back to her and grumbles into his pillow… "I'll be fine…"

"Shall I leave it here then…?"

Faintly, he replies with a… "Hhhmm... yeah"

Giving up, she looks at Joshua who looks back at her knowingly and states… "Daddy's being a bad patient!"

"Yes Josh, he is, and a very stubborn one at that too!"

xxxxxxx

A couple of hours later, both she and Joshua had fallen asleep in front of the TV; that's until she is suddenly awaken by a loud groaning sound coming from Fitz's room. Careful, not wanting to wake up Joshua, who is sprawled out over her lap, she gently picks him up and carries him into his bedroom, before rushing to Fitz's aid. Expecting him to be awake, instead, she finds him tossing and turning, moaning in pain and mumbling incoherently in his sleep. She goes over to him, and immediately realises he is drenched in sweat, his top, his boxer shorts, his sheets completely soaked through…

His fever was at it's peak.

"Fitz… Fitz?" Delirious it seems; she tries to wake him out of it, but with little success… "Fitz we need to get you out of these wet clothes…"

Still no response.

Knowing he will only get worse if he remains in his garments, and realising he's not about to break out of this spell any time soon, she resolves to change him out of his clothes herself. After all, it's not as if she hasn't seen it all before. So she fills a wash bowl with lukewarm water and retrieves a towel and washrag from the bottom of his chest of drawers. Methodically, she goes about removing the wet items of clothing; first with his top, which she peels off his heated skin and then gently proceeds in sponging his upper torso with the cool water, drying him off thoroughly after, and then redressing him... before gingerly moving on to his lower region. Although, there is no sexual motivation behind her actions, she can't help but feel a tingling of recognition as she pulls down his boxers, revealing him to her gaze- she had almost forgotten...

Stop it, stop it now she tells herself. Focus back on the task at hand...

Not wanting to stimulate him in anyway, afraid that it might just be the key to him waking up, and inevitably place them both in a very precarious situation, she deliberately avoids his most intimate of areas and concentrates mainly on his thighs and legs, running the cool damp cloth along them in a bid to cool his body down, before quickly drying and covering him back up again in a fresh pair of boxer Phew. With that accomplished, albeit with extra shaky hands, she somehow manages to manoeuvre him to remove the dampened sheets from underneath him and replace them with clean dry ones. By the time she's finished, she is fit to collapse herself! Although she hasn't failed to notice, that his frantic stirring and agonising moans have quietened down quite considerably, completely justifying her actions and also making her feel good in knowing she has helped in some way. Although, with his fever yet to break she suspects he's not fully out of the woods just yet, and therefore vows to keep a closer eye on him as the evening progresses.

Desperate for the relief of a cold shower herself, yet realising there's not much point in doing so, if she's only going to end up all hot and bothered again in the kitchen, she wisely gets a start on dinner first. Using the chicken that was not used up in the broth, she quickly seasons it and grills it on the stove with some red peppers, chillies and onions, whilst chopping up a side salad to go with it. Knowing that what she has chosen to prepare will not take too long to cook, she's hoping that she'll have enough time to quickly jump in the shower and redress before either Fitz or Josh requires further assistance.

****

Twenty minutes later, mission accomplished, she sighs in sheer gratification as the cool spray washes over her heated skin. However, as she loses herself in the cleansing sensation, she finds her thoughts forbiddingly stray to those of Fitz, and the undeniable effect he still has upon her mind and her body, heightening all of her senses. And as her soapy hands gently skim over the tops of her breast, a sudden awareness washes over her, as she comes to the realisation that her desperation to cool off had reached far beyond the effects of any adverse weather conditions or subsequent heat from the kitchen... No, when it came down to it- it was all about Fitz!