DISCLAIMER: Nope still not mine.
SUMMARY: Tara and Tommy are getting ready to head for Angel Grove to celebrate Christmas.
Jason kissed his sister's forehead before wrapping an arm around Kimberly and heading for the front door. "See you two in the morning. You said we were meeting at IHOP before heading out?"
"You got it. See you there about seven?" Tommy shook his friend's hand and watched them leave. He lifted his arm as he felt Tara come up beside him.
Once the other couple had pulled out of the driveway, Tommy turned off the porch light and turned, enfolding the woman he loved against his chest. "Tired?" he asked her, bending over her.
She just nodded, wrapping her arms around his waist. He smiled and turned her toward the stairs. The two of them walked upstairs for a nice peaceful sleep.
"Tara, time to get up." Tara's eyes fluttered a couple of times before she opened them.
"Do we have to?" she asked, giving him the puppy dog eyes that always made him melt.
"Yes. We have to. You just have to be awake long enough to eat breakfast. Then you can sleep the whole way to Angel Grove. I promise." He brushed the hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
He noticed that her eyes seemed kind of glassy but he thought it was just that she was still tired. "Okay." Her voice was awfully quiet.
Stretching, she climbed sluggishly out of bed. She headed for the bathroom only to hit her knees with a coughing fit just shy of the door. Tommy started toward her only to stop short as she got herself under control and stood back up.
"Tara, what would you like for breakfast?" Tommy asked gently.
The waitress watched as the young woman leaned over and whispered into Dr. Oliver's ear. She had been one of his students not so long ago. She remembered how nice a guy he was.
"She just wants two scrambled eggs and some dry wheat toast." The waitress nodded and went to turn in their order.
Tara and Kimberly excused themselves and Tommy turned to Jason. "I'm really worried about Tara, Jase. She had a coughing fit before we left the house that literally dropped her to her knees."
"Keep an eye on her, bro. She's had pneumonia three times at least. It seems to come on quite quickly."
"I am. She scares me sometimes. All I want is to make sure that she's safe."
"She IS safe. As long as she's with you, she's safe. Just watch out for her."
The girls came back, the food arrived and conversation turned to more mundane topics.
After they had finished eating, the waitress brought their tickets. "Thanks, Dr. O, Coach Scott."
"Oh hey, Maggie. How's college?" Tommy asked.
"It's tough, Dr. O. Almost as tough as some of your tests." She chuckled. "But I'll make it through."
"I'm sure you will," Jason responded. "Just remember; that which does not kill us …"
"Makes us stronger." Everyone laughed except Tara who buried her head in Tommy's shoulder.
Maggie noticed that Dr. O had his arm around the young woman's shoulders. "I'm sorry. Maggie, this is Tara. Tara, this is one of my former students, Maggie Andrews."
Tara lifted her head and gave Maggie a shy smile before snuggling back into Tommy's shoulder. "Hi, Tara."
Lifting her head again, Tara smiled at the young woman. "Hi, M-m-maggie."
"I hope everyone's treating you okay."
Tara nodded. "Th-th-thank you."
"Tara and Tommy are dating," Kimberly volunteered. Kim knew Maggie and could see what she was doing.
"That's great, Dr. O! I'm glad to see you found someone!" She looked around and shrugged. "I guess I need to get back to work. I'll talk to you later."
Tommy stood up. "Jase, why don't you take the girls outside and I'll take care of the ticket." When Jason started smiling, Tommy shook his head. "You get the one on the way back."
Jason nodded and tossed the tip on the table before taking Tara and Kimberly outside.
Tara buckled into the front seat of the jeep, watching Tommy interact with Maggie. "She's p-p-pretty."
Jason looked at his sister for a moment and recognized the look on her face. "Sissy, she's not interested in Tommy that way."
"Why not?"
"She has someone. A girlfriend. In fact, if she was flirting with anyone, it was you."
Tara's eyes flew open wide and her face went beet red as she shook her head. "No! N-n-no!" She buried her face in her hands.
Just then, Tommy stepped outside. When he saw Tara with her face buried in her hands, he ran to her. "Tara?" He put a hand on her shoulder. When she flung herself into his arms and buried her face against his chest, he rubbed her back. "What's wrong?"
She just shook her head. "Jason had to tell her that Maggie was flirting with her."
"Tara, she wasn't being serious. She flirts with every beautiful woman that comes in. She always has. Baby, I'm sorry." He kissed the top of her head. "I want you to look at me." When she did, he smiled down at her. "Besides, I would definitely fight her for you."
Tara smiled back up at him before giving him a big hug.
"Can we get going?" Jason asked.
Tara and Tommy climbed into the jeep while Jason and Kim climbed into his car. The two couples headed off to Angel Grove.