As much as he wanted to call Carolina and apologize for how he acted in the grocery store the other day, York couldn't—he was too busy dying of whatever plague he'd caught.

He had to call into work two days in a row, effectively giving him a four-day weekend, knowing he wasn't going to be able to enjoy any of those days. His nose was running like a faucet, he was coughing non-stop, his body kept alternating chills and hot flashes, and he spent most of Thursday night kneeling in front of the toilet, throwing up every thirty minutes.

So it was just awesome when at about noon on Friday, someone knocked on his door while he was half-asleep on the bathroom floor.

He raised his head from the tile, shivering under his makeshift blanket of a beach towel, wondering if he was delirious or if someone really was there. The knocking continued and he wheezed as he got to his feet, shuffling out of the bathroom towards the front door. He grabbed a real blanket on the way and wrapped it around himself as he reached for the doorknob, swinging open the door.

It was Carolina.

She had a small bag in her hands and was smiling at him, but the smile faded as she took in the sight of him bundled up in a heavy comforter. "Uh…shit, are you sick?"

"No, I was about to go run a marathon," he replied, sniffling. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to talk, but I can come back later." She turned away and he coughed, watching her turn back to face him.

"You can stay," he said, hating how pathetic he sounded.

"Are you sure?"

"Get in here before I change my mind," he replied, gesturing for her to come inside. She nodded and stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind her as he shuffled back towards the couch. At least the nausea had mostly passed and instead he was just shivering uncontrollably. He sat on the couch as she opened the fridge and put something inside.

"I made you a mango salad," she called out. "It's in the fridge for whenever you feel better."

"Thanks," he mumbled, lying on his side. The headache lessened slightly when he was lying down. She came over to sit on the floor, staying a few feet away for good measure. "So how's the boyfriend?" he asked quietly, the throbbing in his head increasing just slightly.

"What boyfriend?"

"Not healthy enough to play that game."

"…He's fine."

"And you?"

"I'm okay."

"Just okay?" He perked up slightly at that, and wondered if she noticed.

"Yeah. Don't really know how I'm feeling some days."

"Mmm."

"How are you? Besides the…" She waved her hands around to indicate the plague currently eating away at his life essence.

"I'm okay too."

"I didn't know you had a new job. When did you start?"

"Accounting. Few months ago."

Carolina blinked. "Oh. That's great!"

"Actually doing something with my degree, at least."

"I'm very happy for you." She really did look happy—she was practically beaming.

"Not that big a deal," York muttered, coughing.

"It is a big deal. You're doing something you love, and that's fantastic."

"I don't love math, but it pays the bills. More consistent than construction, at least."

"Yeah, I bet."

"So tell me about the guy," York ventured, closing his eyes. He heard her stir, and when he cracked open his eye, he saw her lying on the carpet, staring at the ceiling.

"His name is Church. Met him when—well, a while ago."

"When?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Is he why—" York stopped and coughed a few times. "No, never mind. I don't want to know."

"He's why I missed seeing you leave," she answered, sounding upset.

"Are you guys serious?"

Silence.

"Have you…you know…"

Longer, more awkward silence.

"Okay then."

"It wasn't planned," Carolina finally said.

"That makes it all better," York replied, the headache intensifying.

"That's not—"

"Sorry, that was mean." He sat up slightly, swallowing. "Fuck. Hang on." He threw off the blanket and dashed towards the bathroom, reaching the toilet just in time as he felt the bile reach the back of his throat. He vomited forcefully but only for about ten seconds, a personal record that day. Letting out a low moan, he flushed the toilet and leaned back against the wall, enjoying the cool plaster against his back.

"This is familiar," he heard Carolina say from the doorway, and he looked up to see her getting a towel from underneath the sink, wetting the corner of it. "Here," she said, handing it to him. He took it and wiped his face, pressing the lukewarm cloth to his mouth as he breathed heavily.

"Thanks." He managed a small smile.

"I can't just leave you like this," she replied, smiling back. "Do you think you can get to bed? Or do you want to stay here?"

"Here. Here is good. Here is safe. I like here."

"Okay, okay. I'll go get you some water."

After she left he managed to get to his feet using the counter as leverage, and stared at himself in the mirror. He looked like shit warmed over—his face was pale, his skin was clammy, his hair was sweaty and sticking up in every direction. He tried to smooth it down but it was looking worse the more he tried, so finally he gave up and splashed some water on his face, slapping his cheeks to bring some color back.

"Hey, you're standing! Good job." Carolina was in the doorway again, a plastic cup of water in her hand. He managed to nod and take the cup, sipping from it as he sat down on the edge of the tub.

"Thanks," he said again. She shrugged and sat down in the doorway.

"No problem. Sorry I just showed up, by the way."

"Where's…Steeple?"

"Steeple? Oh, Church. He's sleeping off a hangover. Dakota and CT got really drunk last night and he somehow out-drank them." She shook her head. "I didn't feel like joining in."

"I see."

"So I thought I'd come by and ask you why you ran off at the grocery store the other day," she continued.

"Oh."

"At a loss for words? That's not the York I know." She chuckled quietly as he shrugged.

"Don't really have an explanation," he replied, looking down into the tub.

"So you just didn't want to see me, and you ran off without saying goodbye? Again, not really the York I know. The one I know always has to get the last word in somehow."

"What do you want from me?" York asked, slowly raising his head to look at her.

"I…well, I want to know why you ran off."

"No, what do you want from me?" he repeated, setting the cup of water down on the edge of the tub. "Not…today. In general."

"I don't know."

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know!"

"I bet you do."

"I don't know why I'm here, I just—"

"Just what?"

"I just want us to be normal again!" she shouted, causing him to wince. Her voice was louder with the echo of the small bathroom.

"And how do you think that will work?" York asked, closing his eyes to block out the harsh overhead light that was making the headache pound again. "You have a boyfriend."

"I don't know, York. I just don't get what you're doing. I told you I love you, and then you just shut me out. Why did you do that?"

"I was tired of trying," he replied, swallowing roughly. Come on, stomach, now is not the best time to throw up. "Tired of being the first to act on anything. You told me that, and then…nothing. I don't know what I was expecting, though."

"I don't…" Carolina trailed off, unsure of what to say. York shrugged and reached for the water, taking another sip.

"It's okay. Besides, you said you wanted to take some time to yourself. Though I guess that meant jumping into bed with that other guy."

"That's not how it—"

"Please, I don't need details." York pressed a hand to his chest, taking a deep breath. "I just…can you—" He stopped, focusing on the floor for a second, before groaning and dropping to his knees in front of the toilet, vomiting again, this time for much longer. Apparently the water was not sitting well in his stomach.

"You're dehydrated; you need to keep drinking water—"

"Stop it. I can…" He wiped his mouth with the towel, flushing the toilet. "I can take care of myself," he said over the rushing water. "You're not obligated to be here."

The look on her face almost made him want to apologize immediately, but it was true.

"Oh." She nodded. "I'll go then."

"Carolina…"

"No, it's fine. I hope you feel better soon. If you get worse, make North or Maine take you to the hospital. I'd take you myself, but I can tell you don't want me around."

He stayed silent, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths as she left the bathroom, and he could hear her picking up her keys in the front room. The door opened and closed a moment later, and he leaned his head against the edge of the toilet, cursing out loud. Managing to stand up, he dragged himself to the sink and brushed his teeth, feeling slightly better afterwards, but resumed swearing.

"I don't think swearing is going to make the pain go away."

"It helps," he growled as he set the toothbrush on the counter, looking up to see Carolina standing in the doorway, glaring at him. "I thought you left," he added as he knelt down next to the toilet.

"I'm not going to leave you again." She knelt down next to him and picked up the towel by a clean part, wiping his forehead for him.

"You don't live here."

"Not what I meant, idiot." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, squeezing his shoulder with her hand. "This is my grand gesture."

"Helping me when I'm sick doesn't really qualify as a gesture. It's more of an act of charity."

"Shut up."

"Can't. I babble when I'm sick, you know that."

Suddenly her lips were on his, desperate and hot, and he fought back, wrapping his hand in her hair, grabbing the strands as if they were life preservers. He felt delirious, his chest constricting, wondering if he was dreaming or if Carolina was really there, in his arms, cool against his own heated skin. Her hands were pressed into his chest, soft and comforting.

"Fuck," was the only word spoken a moment later, and he wasn't sure who said it.

Part 63

"Hi Church! I miss you!"

"Yeah, I don't miss you," Church replied, scowling at how sad Caboose looked in the small computer screen. "How are you?"

"Sad because you're gone. But Tucker has been over a lot, which has been fun!"

"Yo, asswipe!"

"Fuck off, Tucker," Church said. "And get the fuck out of my apartment."

"It's Caboose's apartment too, and he invited me, so fuck you," Tucker replied, sticking his face into the frame. A moment later his hand was also in frame, flipping him off. Caboose pushed him away with a frown.

"This is my time with Church, not yours," he lectured, turning his attention back to Church. "Where's Carolina?"

"She's at a friend's house." Church shrugged. "She'll be back soon. I'm sure she says hi."

"Well, say hi back! And do it in my voice, so she knows I said it."

"Sure thing."

Something made a noise off-camera and Church saw a Tucker-shaped blur run behind Caboose, as though he was chasing something. "What was that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing!"

A second later what sounded like a bark was picked up on the mic, and Caboose started babbling nonsense about video games until Tucker came over and whispered something in his ear. "I've gotta go, Church!" he said suddenly.

"What?! What's going on, you fucking—"

"Bye!" Tucker cut him off, ending the call. Church tried calling back, but they'd already logged out of Skype. He tried calling Caboose's cell phone, but no one picked up. Firing off an angry, hate-filled text, he tossed his phone onto the floor and leaned back in the chair, seeing Dakota staring at him from the couch, where she'd been reading a magazine.

"What?" he asked irritably.

"Was that your brother?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Wow, you're mean to him and his friend."

"Okay, firstly, you don't know him, and secondly, his friend—Tucker—is an asshole who exists solely to make my life miserable, so fuck off."

"Fine, fine." Dakota chuckled. "Just observing, that's all."

"Observe elsewhere."

"This is my apartment!"

"Technicality," Church grumbled, opening a browser to check his email.

(b)

"That wasn't because of you," York groaned, resting his head on the edge of the toilet seat rim as it flushed. He'd just finished throwing up again, and felt like he was dying.

"No, I know," Carolina said, rubbing his back. "I'm sorry."

"I really fucking wish I wasn't dying."

"Yeah, me too."

"No, you don't get it." York shook his head, which was more of a rocking back-and-forth motion since he couldn't really lift his head. "I want to talk things out, but I can't focus on anything right now."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that. You didn't do anything."

"Sor—okay, uh, never mind," she said, catching his glare out of the corner of his eye. "We can talk later, I promise."

"You know what?" He managed to sit up and look at her. "I'm done talking. Why don't we just give it a shot?"

"It?"

"Us."

"Oh." Carolina thought for a moment, and a smile spread across her face. "Okay."

"Okay?" York didn't know what to say to that. He'd been expecting a fight. "Really?"

"Really."

"What about Church?"

"I'll end it." She shook her head. "He's not you, York. I want you."

"Really?" He didn't know if it was the sentiment or the exhaustion, but he wanted to cry or fall asleep; either sounded like a viable option at the moment.

"York, I've loved you for a long time. I didn't think I was ready, but I think I've just been deluding myself and making excuses. And I'm really sorry it's taken me this long to figure that out." Carolina leaned over and pressed her forehead to his shoulder. "I'm really, really sorry."

"It was worth the wait," he whispered. A second later he groaned as his stomach cramped again, and he pre-emptively leaned over the toilet. "Fuck, I'm going to die…"

"Do you want me to leave?" she asked, pulling away.

"As much as I want you here, I think you should go back to Dakota's," he replied, staring down at the fresh water in the bowl. "Just…let him down easy, okay? And wait until you get back home. I don't want him to have a terrible vacation because of me. Even if he is a dick."

"You haven't even met him."

"Why are you defending him?"

Carolina sighed. "He's still a friend."

"Are you going to stay friends?" He lifted his head to look at her.

She shrugged. "I…don't know. I want to. I think his brother would be upset if I just stopped hanging out with them. But I don't know if that would be awkward for Church…or for you."

"I trust you." York smiled. "I'm not worried."

"I wasn't even thinking of that, but good to know."

"I want to meet him."

Carolina laughed, rubbing his forearm. "I think that's the fever talking."

"I'm fine," he argued. "I want to meet the guy, okay? If I'm feeling better in a couple days. Promise."

"Why would you ever want to meet him?"

York shrugged half-heartedly. "To see my competition. Just…I have my reasons, okay? Come on. I doubt he'll care. Does he even know who I am?"

She looked away. "Um…sort of. I mean, I told him about you and Wash, and most of our history."

"Oh, good, so he probably already hates me. Then it'll be an entertaining time for everybody." At the mention of food, his chest began to hurt as though he was about to be sick again. "Oh god—please leave. I'll call you when I feel better. I promise."

"Okay. I'm sorry I can't help—"

He started dry-heaving, with nothing left in his stomach to get rid of. By the time he looked up again, grabbing for the towel, Carolina was gone—but he was feeling better than he had in weeks.

(b)

"Bullshit."

"What?!"

"There's no way you have three aces."

"You asshole." Dakota tossed her cards at Church as the front door opened, and Carolina stepped inside, dropping her purse by the door. She had a smile on her face as she came over to them, crouching down beside their card game that was spread out on the carpet.

"Whatcha playing?"

"Bullshit," Church replied with a grin. "And Dakota has a fucking terrible poker face. I've been kicking her ass the entire time."

"I still think you're cheating," Dakota defended, standing up as she threw the rest of her hand onto the floor. "Where have you been?" she asked Carolina.

"Just out."

"Really."

"Yeah, Church was asleep so I thought I'd go for a walk," she replied, standing up as well. Church followed suit and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her back for a kiss. Dakota watched as they made out for a minute, but noticed that Carolina looked awkward doing so. She wasn't holding Church quite as tightly as she had been the previous couple of days.

"Okay. Want some food? We have some pizza left over."

"No thanks, I ate earlier."

Church nipped at her earlobe. "Want to take a nap?" he murmured, his voice suggestive.

Carolina laughed and nuzzled into him. "Maybe later," she whispered back. He shrugged and let go of her, heading to the kitchen for more food. She watched him walk away, not sure how she was going to avoid more physical contact with him for the remainder of the trip.

(b)

York had finally made it to his bed and passed out for nearly 14 hours, waking up early morning the next day feeling a hell of a lot better, despite his dry throat and occasional coughing fits. Most of the nausea had seemingly passed and he'd texted North to bring him some breakfast once eight a.m. rolled around, knowing Maine would be awake by then and not angrily woken up by the phone.

He'd made that mistake only once before.

He heard the front door open and close, and a minute later, dishes were clinking around in the kitchen. York stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, controlling his breathing to fight the headache that was probably around the corner. Those still hadn't gone away.

"Knock knock."

He looked over to see North standing in the doorway, holding a plate of toast and a small glass of orange juice. "Hey," he greeted.

"Feeling better?" North sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for York to scoot up into a sitting position, handing him the plate and glass.

"Yeah, actually. I'm finally hungry." He picked up a piece of toast and took a bite, savoring the flavor, groaning as he swallowed. "I think this is the best toast ever. Of all time."

"Good." North grinned as he watched York eat, taking small bites in between sips of juice. "You definitely look a lot better."

"I think I'm on the mend." He finished the first piece and leaned forward, balancing the plate on his legs. "Thanks a lot."

"No problem. We're just upstairs, after all." North reached out and pat his hand. "Hey, by the way, thanks for being cool about everything before. I know I already said it, but I appreciate you listening and not…I dunno, judging me or something."

York smiled and nodded. "Yeah, of course, man. You're my best friend. I don't want things to be awkward between us."

"And in that spirit, I feel obligated to tell you that we had dinner with Carolina the other night." North frowned. "Did you know she's in town?"

"Yup."

"Did Wash tell you?"

"No, I ran into her, before I was dying, anyway. But he did tell me about the dinner."

"And—"

"And the boyfriend, yes." York shook his head. "It's okay. Really."

"You're…not upset." North cocked his head curiously. "Why?"

"Because it's not a big deal."

North was silent for a minute, thinking, and suddenly he hit his palm with his fist. "Oh my god, you two are back together."

"Is it that fucking obvious?" York mumbled through an embarrassed smile.

"When?"

"Yesterday. She came over to talk but ended up helping take care of me, I was really sick."

"Oh my god!" North practically shrieked, flailing his hands. York rolled his eyes and leaned back against the pillows.

"Way to break the gay stereotype," he said, coughing a few times.

North finally calmed down and leapt over the space between them, crushing York in a massive hug. "I'm so happy right now!" he yelled, his voice partially muffled against York's shoulder.

"I'm…glad for you?" York choked out, trying to push him away so he could resume breathing.

"Oh my god I'm gonna go tell Maine!" North jumped off the bed and rushed out of the room, the front door slamming behind him seconds later. York reached for his phone and sent a quick text to Carolina, leaning back against the pillows again, picking up another piece of toast.

(b)

York (8:22am): North knows. Brace for fallout.

Carolina frowned, reading the text again. Next to her on the foldout couch, Church stirred, yawning loudly. "What fucking time is it?" he complained, rubbing his eyes.

"Nearly eight-thirty," she answered, putting the phone down. "Sorry, go back to sleep."

"Nah, I'm awake now. Who's texting you this early?"

"York. He's usually up early."

"Who?"

"Nick Fury," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, right. Am I going to get to meet him?"

"Do you want to?"

Church smiled as he sat up. "Kind of. I mean, you talk about him all the damn time."

"Oh." She frowned. "Do you want me to set up lunch or something? We don't leave until tomorrow night."

"Yeah, why not. Why don't you show me around L.A. today, and we can have a big lunch with all your friends tomorrow? Maybe I can make a better impression," Church mumbled.

"Are you sure?"

"Might as well." He leaned over and kissed her shoulder, sliding his hand down between her thighs.

"Hey!"

"Aw, come on, no one's awake," he grinned, kissing his way down her arm as his hand moved slightly higher. She squirmed away and shook her head.

"I'm not doing this in the living room where anyone can walk in," she lectured, throwing the blanket off of them. "I'm going to start some breakfast. Why don't you go shower and I'll take one after you?"

Church slid off of the bed, stretching his arms over his head. "Only if you promise to join me," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"Just go," she said with a laugh. He made his way to the guest bathroom as she went into the kitchen, thinking of what to make for breakfast.

A small pile of toast was first, followed by setting out small dishes of jam and butter. She was in the middle of cracking eggs in a bowl to make French toast when someone punched her in the arm, and she turned around angrily to see Dakota grinning at her, still in pajamas, looking smugger than she'd ever seen.

"What the fuck was that for?" Carolina groused.

"So where were you yesterday?"

"I told you, I went for a walk."

"To York's place? That's a pretty far walk."

Carolina concentrated on whisking the eggs as she poured milk into the bowl. "What are you saying?"

"I'm just hurt that you wouldn't tell me, your best friend in the whole world, that you got back together with York."

"What?!" The whisk fell into the bowl as she nearly dropped it, barely catching it before it clattered to the floor. She set the bowl on the counter and turned to stare at Dakota, face set in surprise and confusion as she watched Dakota hold up her cell phone, the screen brightly showing a text from North proclaiming that 'omg omg Carolina and York are back together this is not a drill I repeat spread the word!'

"So it's true, then?"

"Going…to kill…North…"

"Easy there, tiger. That answers the question, then. So, when are you telling Church?"

"Telling me what?" Church was standing behind Dakota and she jumped a little, shoving her phone into her bra underneath her sleeping shirt.

"That Lina is allergic to strawberry jam, and she needs me to get some grape jam instead," Dakota replied easily, sashaying out of the kitchen as Church stared after her, eyes trailing up the backside of her legs to her fitted sleep shorts. "Let me go throw on some jeans and I'll run out. Back in a bit."

Carolina tried to compose herself, digging the whisk out of the egg and milk batter as Church leaned up against the sink, grinning at her. His hair was still wet, and he was wearing low-riding jeans and a fitted blue t-shirt. If she hadn't had much more pressing matters on her mind, she would have enjoyed the view.

"Man, such a shame she's taken," he said with a whistle. "Breakfast almost done?"

"Yeah, if you can finish making the French toast I can shower, then we can eat."

"Don't you want to wait till Dakota gets back?"

"I'll live. And stop lusting after my friends; it's creepy."

"Aw, it's in good fun. She's hot!"

"And she knows it," Carolina chuckled. "Wait till you see her girlfriend."

"She has a girlfriend?!"

"What, didn't she tell you about Lee?"

Church sighed. "She mentioned a Lee, but I assumed it was a guy…" He looked sad for a moment before the realization fully hit him. "Oh, god, she's a lesbian. That makes her even hotter."

Carolina rolled her eyes as she shoved the bowl of batter into his arms, interrupting whatever horrible train of thought was likely running through his head at the moment. "I'm gonna go shower. Keep making food, I'm hungry."

"Yes, ma'am." He started whisking and set the bowl on the counter to reach for bread as she left, practically running towards the bathroom.

Once there she stared at her reflection in the mirror and realized how happy she knew she must look to others. She couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face as she started thinking about seeing York the next day.

A/N: Okay, earlier when I said I didn't think this was going to end anytime soon? ...I lied. So I'm gearing up for the end here, if that isn't obvious. I've still got a short ways to go, and a few events I want to do. ALSO, I'm gonna be adding "extra" chapters at the end-already I have a flashback to North and York in college, and one to North and Wash when Mr. Flowers introduced them. If there's anything you want to know more about (periods of time I skipped over, certain relationships, flashbacks, whatever), please let me know and I'll write it!