Hey everybody. Sorry for the delay. Apparently both my brain and my email account are partially broken. Many thanks again to my beta QuixoticLullaby for her help as well as her patience.

Warnings: language

Chapter 25: Healing Sleep

The three men expected for Sanzo to fall asleep the moment he laid down. His exhaustion was apparent to all present. Instead, to the men's dismay, the monk fought off unconsciousness with every last little bit of energy he still possessed. His violet eyes would fall shut and would seem to indicate that Sanzo's body had finally pulled him under. But only a few seconds later their leader would drag himself back into wakefulness with desperate determination. The other Party members would look on with hope every time his eyes would close only to feel disheartened when the blonde would open them once again.

Goku was worried. His sun...he meant friend, Sanzo had been apparently avoiding sleep for a while now. To him, it seemed the monk was afraid of falling asleep. The 'younger' brunette knew the blonde better than anyone else and he knew that the man's stubbornness would have only sustained this fight until he had been essentially carried into the inn by Gojyo. If the only thing keeping him awake was his mulish pride, then he would have begrudgingly admitted that the pretence was pointless after that display of weakness. Yet he still fought with a dogged determination that bordered on reckless stupidity. There was something else keeping Sanzo awake. Perhaps it was whatever the monk had been dealing with several weeks ago. If so, it was bad enough to prevent him from falling into the restorative sleep that his body so desperately needed.

And once again it was his fault. Hadn't he sworn to watch and protect Sanzo even from himself? But he had stupidly let his own problems and thought draw him away from the blonde. Goku nearly growled in frustration but he knew he needed to remain focused on the monk for now and figure out his problem once and for all later. He would not let this happen again. "Sanzo," he said cautiously "you should really try and get some rest before the doc gets here." The man's violet eyes glanced at him before quickly darting away to glare at the ceiling.

"Sanzo, you should listen-" Hakkai started.

"Don't." Sanzo whispered harshly. "Don't tell me what I 'should do'. I'm seeing the doctor like I promised, but don't you dare try and tell me what to do." The words got quieter and quieter towards the end of the statement as the toll of speaking worked itself upon the monk's exhausted body.

Goku tried to think of something he could say to make the man listen to reason and sleep, but he was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. It swung open to reveal the innkeeper holding a tray with a small teapot and cup. "I have the tea I promised." Chu hua walked in and set the tray on a small bedside table. She poured the steaming hot tea carefully into the small cup and held it out to Sanzo. The monk glared at her suspiciously but after examining her face for a bit, he seemed to at least accept the fact that she was here to help. He started to struggle to prop himself up on the pillows laying at the head of the bed.

The older woman put down the cup and reached out to help him up. The blonde flinched away and hissed "Don't touch me."

She gazed at him sternly and said. "You are not well. By forcing yourself to move you are just doing more damage. Damage which could mean a longer recuperation. I'm going to help you up whether you like it or not young man."

A brief battle of wills ensued as the two glared at each other and waited for the other person to give in, but the illness proved too much for even Sanzo's stubbornness. After a long moment, he scoffed and muttered "Whatever." Chu hua nodded approvingly before reaching out toward the monk again. Despite his outward nonchalance, the monk tensed up as he felt her hands on him. Thankfully, she moved quickly and with an efficiency that spoke of many years of nurturing the sick.

Once he was settled against the pillows, the innkeeper once again picked up the cup and offered it to the monk. It had cooled slightly during the exchange, but it still steamed slightly. The blonde took it carefully and examined the liquid closely: looking at it and smelling it to try and discern what was in it. "Just drink it." the woman said with a roll of her eyes. "I promise, you will feel much better after you do."

After another short hesitation, he took a small sip. Once he had decided that the tea was not harmful in any way, he drank it slowly until he had drained the cup. Chu hua took the empty cup from him and put it back on the tray. Sanzo wanted to order the woman to get out of his room now that her errand was done, but all of a sudden he felt so tired. His eyes felt as heavy as lead and despite his best efforts, the monk was finally pulled under to sleep.

The three watched with fascination as the obstinate blonde stayed asleep this time. "What the hell was in that tea, lady?" Gojyo asked astonished.

Chu hua glanced up at him with a sly smile. "Oh just some heal all, ginseng, chamomile, and lavender. It was my Grandmother's surefire insomnia cure. Even great-grandfather Su-won couldn't resist its effects and he had the most stubborn case of it that I have ever known." She gathered up her things and as she was leaving told the men "The doctor should be here in about an hour. I'm sure he'll be able to help your friend." The men could only hope that her confidence was well placed.