Chapter 37

Several hours passed and Jean remained unconscious. This started to worry Narumi and he was already on edge. He had been keeping an eye on Jean from the moment he returned to the office and so far she had remained motionless. When he went to check on her this time, however, he noticed that her fever had subsided. So why is she still passed out, he wondered to himself. He reached over to touch her head when she moved slightly.

"Jean, can you hear me?" He said. Getting no response, he tried again. This time he heard her groan and move her head. Taking his hand off of her head, Narumi gently but firmly shook her shoulder. To his relief Jean opened her eyes. For a moment she seemed confused. She looked around the room and then focused her eyes on him.

"Narumi?" She whispered and tried to sit up. Narumi placed a hand on her back and helped her sit up. Wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, Jean tried to ask something. Narumi leant down and asked her to repeat that.

"What's going on?" She asked again, still feeling under the weather but glad her voice was back.

"You fainted hours ago. You've had me worried." Narumi answered.

"I did? I don't remember doing that. How long was I out?" She asked and was taken aback to hear that she'd been out for more than eight hours. "No wonder you were worried about me." Jean went to sit up and was confused when Narumi stopped her.

"Maybe you should rest a bit longer." He suggested when Jean attempted to stand a second time. A little annoyed Jean eventually stayed where she was. She still felt weak.

"I'll get you something to eat." Narumi said and started to head for the kitchen only to stop in mid step. "Oh man, I just realized something. I don't have anything." He looked embarrassed and Jean shook her head.

"It's okay. You've probably been looking after me this whole time anyway." Jean said and Narumi nodded slightly.

"I guess but I usually don't forget. What's up with me?" He replied and Jean actually laughed. Taken by surprise Narumi could only stare at her. Eventually Jean pointed out that he was worrying too much.

"What do you mean by 'worrying too much'?" He asked her and she raised an eyebrow in response.

"Well you are freaking out about me and not having gone shopping. Correct me if I'm wrong so far." She said and Narumi sighed, motioning her to continue.

"You're also treating me like an invalid when I only have the flu. Before you get bent out of shape, I'm grateful you took care of me. Don't get me wrong. But I want to you to back off a bit and take some time off for yourself." She finished and noticed a somewhat confused expression on his face.

"Back off? That's a bit much, isn't it? I take care of you and that's the thanks I get?" He replied and without another word walks toward the coatrack. As he retrieves his hat Jean asks what he was doing.

"To take a break, what's it look like?" Narumi mutters and walks out the front door.

Sitting on the couch, taken aback at Narumi's response, Jean wonders what she said to make him walk out like that. It's at that point that Jean realizes she had basically told him to leave her alone.

"Smooth move. Now he probably thinks I'm a bitch. Great." She said out loud.

"I wouldn't go that far." She heard a voice respond and was startled to see Gouto sitting on the desk.

"Man, did you have to sneak up on me?" She asked the cat, rubbing her eyes. Walking over to her, Gouto shrugged.

"Sorry. Anyway why'd you go and get rid of Narumi like that? The man has his faults but he does care about you. Much as it pains me to admit, he is a good guy. I can't believe I just said that." He said and Jean gave a sad smile in response. Seeing how miserable she looked, Gouto sat down on the floor and looked up at her. "Hey he'll come back. He always does." He said.

"Hopefully." She whispered and stood up. Feeling stronger than she had before, Jean wrapped a blanket around her and started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Gouto asked, standing up.

"To find Narumi and apologize for what I said." She answered, reaching for the doorknob only for someone to open the door at the exact same time. Jean stepped backwards just in time, the door just missing her face. Standing there she was more than a little surprised to see Narumi. Still holding onto the doorknob he blinked down at Jean.

"Um oops?" He said and Jean shook her head. Moving aside Jean watched as Narumi closed the door and turned around. Running a hand through his hair, he tried to come up with some way to explain his earlier actions. Noticing the lost look on his face, Jean coughed to get his attention. When that didn't work she placed a hand over his, causing him to focus on her.

"Narumi, what's really bothering you?" Jean asked him and Narumi was silent for a moment. Unable to answer her, he tried to avoid her gaze. Getting nowhere fast, Jean narrowed her eyes at him. Thinking she was still mad at him from earlier, Narumi tried to apologize. No longer angry, Jean tried to tell him that he didn't need to but he wouldn't listen.

"I know you're still angry at me and you have every right to be. You only wanted me to take a break and I walked out on you." He stopped speaking and tried to gather his thoughts. It didn't help that his head felt kind of fuzzy. Jean tried to ask him something which he didn't quite catch.

"Is something the matter? You seem kind of distant." She asked. When he didn't answer her straight away Jean moved towards him. Wondering why his couldn't explain himself better Narumi was caught by surprise when Jean pulled him into a hug. For a moment Narumi was silent than he spoke up.

"Not that I mind this or anything but why are you hugging me?" He asked.

"You looked like you needed one. Plus I feel pretty bad about before. Sorry." Jean answered, still gripping him tightly. Eventually he returned the hug and Jean noticed that he was trembling slightly. Jean went to speak up, to ask if he was sure he was alright, when he sneezed without warning.

"Oh hell no." He muttered.

End of chapter 37