AN: I apologise now my brain is warped. I don't own any of the characters I am just corrupting them. Oh Vaccras, now Ori has found my books…I'm never getting rid of them…wait that's a good thing. Yippeee.

FanFiction Queen: I don't ate my computer just the internet :D. I take it you liked Bilbo and Thorin's interaction then. I like my Beorn as well I'm hoping he works with the story. I did try to update several times yesterday but it was being silly, as it has been several times today.

Chapter Fifty One – Back to Reality.

When Bilbo awoke the next time it was to the sound of gentle Khudzul. His brain was wonderfully and disastrously clear and as his memories of the previous day and night flooded back to him he groaned and flopped backwards so he was lying by Thorin's side rather than across his chest. The only good thing he could find in the complete mess of yesterday was that his composure seemed to have returned to him with a decent night's sleep and with its return he was more able to cope with his aches. Sighing softly he wriggled from the blankets, careful not to disturb Thorin's still sleeping form, and made his wobbly way to the table where the remains of a large meal still sat. He ignored the appraising glances he was receiving from the dwarfs (who he now realised knew he had used Thorin as a pillow the previous night) and clambered onto one of the cut off logs to get something to eat.

He was surprised by how tidy the table still was after a group of dwarfs had eaten at it, but put it down to most of them still being too hurt to actually misbehave. Once again there were mounds of rich smelling, herby, crusty bread and Bilbo was delighted to find that when he broke it apart it was still hot. Earthenware pots were filled with honey, jams and delicious preserves which he happily spread onto the bread, leaving the honey to treat wounds later. Heavy pitchers contained sweet apple juice and Bilbo greedily gulped down some from a mug full, the large drinking vessel making it impossible for him to down the lot. There were bowls of late summer/early autumn fruits and his groan of delight echoed across the room as he bit into a juicy sharp-sweet red plum.

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Across the room Thorin stirred and flung an arm across his eyes to block out the sun, only realising he was alone when it registered he hadn't smacked Bilbo in the face with his hand. The noise of someone really enjoying a meal made him sit up and peer blearily around the hall. Groups of dwarves were lounging languidly either in the warm sunlight streaming through the windows and open doors or in front of the now dancing fire. He pushed unsteadily to his feet, cursing as each movement made his joints ache. He could smell coffee and the thought of the strong, bitter, hot drink, its taste tempered by a small amount of milk and honey forced him not to give up and just crawl back under the furs.

Unaware of the questioning glances at his shirtless form Thorin sank heavily onto a sawn off log across the table from Bilbo. Amusement made itself known as the normally polite hobbit merely grunted at him in greeting, barely switching his attention from the food in front of them. Despite said amusement Thorin responded in kind as he poured himself a large mug of coffee, adding a small amount of milk and honey to the brown-black brew. The hobbit pushed a plate of warm bread rolls at him and Thorin took several gladly, spreading them with the thick yellow butter and lashings of a hazelnut spread.

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By the time Bilbo and Thorin were sated the company had grown bored of watching them for any indication of what had happened the night before and had returned to whatever they had been doing before the two had awoken.

Wanting to escape before it became awkward Bilbo slipped from the table and made his way over to Oin, secretly glad his legs seemed to almost want to support him now. "Master Oin," he called, his clear voice cut through the healers partial hearing haze with ease. "If possible would you be so kind as to make sure I do not have a concussion." The confused look on Oin's face had Bilbo sighing, "It is just a precaution Master Oin, I hit my head in the goblin tunnels and it was only recently brought home to me I was an idiot for not mentioning doing so to you at the first chance we got to deal with healing matters."

Bilbo didn't see Thorin flush lightly but several members of the company did and their confusion merely grew. Bilbo did see Ori grin widely as the scribe caught on and he narrowed his eyes across the room at him, hoping to convey that any mention of their conversation the night before would end badly for the dwarf. Ori merely grinned wider and fell into a giggling fit drawing the attention away from Thorin's reaction to Bilbo's addmition that he had listened to the dwarf's rant.

Bilbo rolled his eyes as Oin pushed him to sit in the light of a window to better see his eyes. He barely flinched as the healer probed his skull and his eyes must have been doing the correct thing as Oin was nodding, "No concussion, but you did take a nasty knock, the bruising runs from the back of your skull and down your neck and under your collar. You have a hard head Master Baggins."

Bilbo sighed in relief, before realising he might have been too previous in thinking he could escape. "If it took until now for someone to convince you head injuries aren't to be trifled with I dread to think how long it will be before you decide to bother me with anything else." Bilbo swallowed as Oin glowered at him from under bushy eyebrows. "I've been watching you Master Baggins, I watched you after the trolls all the way back then and I watched you on the Carrock. You are an excellent healer, even more so in that you put others before yourself, I know you treated yourself at Rivendell and while I know I am not up to your standard I would hope you would trust me enough to allow me to treat you now."

Bilbo widened his eyes as he realised where Oin was going with this, he wasn't sure how the healer-warrior was pulling off Balin's grandfatherly guilt trip but it was working. He scrabbled to his feet shaking his head as he did, "AH no Master Oin I trust you I do, it's just I need no healing so don't waste your time on me when others need your skills more." He was backing away as he spoke and failing to look behind him came up against a solid dwarfen form at his back. The hissed intake of breath didn't tell him much, but the smell that filled his sense seconds before a familiar voice filled the air around him did. He swore.

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Thorin had watched Bilbo approach Oin with slight embarrassment and a strange warmth in his chest that the hobbit had listened to what he had said and it had stuck with the smaller man despite their exhausted state the night before. His embarrassment fled along with the strange warmth as he listened to Oin extoll the extent of the bruising on Bilbo's form. He was pushing to his feet and striding across the room a frown drawing his brows together as he listened to Bilbo try to push further healing away. The tea might have made him hazy last night but he knew the hobbit was more injured than he was letting on. He grabbed his chance as Bilbo backed into his chest, "Stop it Bilbo," he hissed quietly into a pointed ear.

He wrapped strong fingers around the hobbit's upper arm to stop the smaller man darting off and raised his voice slightly, "It's okay Oin, we should believe Master Baggins. After all he wouldn't be hypocritical enough to scold my nephew for not mentioning injuries and then fail to do so himself, healer or no." He forced his face carefully blank as Bilbo stopped fighting and sagged against his chest and Oin looked at them suspiciously. Thorin watched the healer carefully and soon Oin seemed to believe Bilbo was well and shrugged to go harry Kili into drinking more tea and having more paste spread on his bruises.

Thorin pulled Bilbo out of the open front doors, careful of his own injuries as he towed the smaller man behind him. "Sit," he snapped, pointing to a low but sturdy bench. When Bilbo did as he was told without argument Thorin plonked ungracefully beside him. "Why did you lie to Oin Bilbo?" he sighed, wondering if his words had affected the hobbit so much that he would refuse to get his wounds treated.

He wasn't expecting Bilbo's snort, "I am a healer myself Master Oakenshield," he stated simply, "I am capable of dealing with any injuries I get, head wounds I will see others for but please accept I can take care of myself."

Thorin looked him over carefully, "You know blackmail can work both ways Bilbo." He stated mildly.

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Bilbo looked at Thorin in shock for a few seconds before he started giggling. "Aye I suppose it does, but just what are you going to blackmail me with Master Oakenshield?" he smirked up at the dwarf, as Thorin's smug look fell from his face.

He tilted his head, hair falling around his face in a dirty halo, "Okay I will play this game later I just want a bath," he whined.

"Ah Bilbo," Gandalf's voice from behind them had Bilbo cursing and made Thorin jump. The dwarf's wince had Bilbo leaning closer to check the bandages wrapped around the muscled torso. Despite everything he couldn't help but let his fingers linger and took no small amount of relief as Thorin leant into the touch, his blue eyes going hazy.

Satisfied the dwarf hadn't injured himself Bilbo turned with a scowl to Gandalf, "What is your game old man," he spat. His fierce expression knocked the wizard's grin off the wrinkled face, "You should know better than to sneak up on people who should really have stitches in their wounds."

He turned back to Thorin momentarily at the dwarf's gasp, "Aye Master Oakenshield I should really have put a few stitches in some of the worst wounds but I wanted to make sure infection wasn't going to set in first." He patted a bare wrist gently as Thorin open and closed his mouth watching the realisation of his own injuries hit home.

"Right wizard what did you want," he as good as spat.

Gandalf seemed to shuffle uneasily before he answered. "Our host said there were hot springs in that out building there," an age-spotted hand pointed at a low wooden structure. "He also said we were to use what we needed."

Bilbo raised an eyebrow and it was only Thorin's hand on his shoulder that stopped him making good on his threats against Gandalf's beard. He took a deep breath and leant slightly back against Thorin, once again showing his loyalty to the dwarf. He grinned cheerfully up at the now fretting wizard, wondering just how he could be scary enough that an Istari would worry about upsetting him, he was a hobbit. A hobbit well versed in travelling, herb lore and fighting fair enough, but still a hobbit. He raised an eyebrow, "I can bet Beorn also told you not to meddle," he sighed, "Have you checked said hot springs out?" he questioned suspicious of the wizard's clean hair and beard.

The grey head nodding had him sighing again, turning his back on the wizard he shifted so he was facing Thorin again, "Would it be selfish of me to want to go first this time?" he was rewarded with a rolling laugh before Thorin winced and held his ribs. "Right," sighed Bilbo, "no making you laugh." He hopped from the bench and stood in front of the dwarf, realising the wizard had slipped off again. "You are going to stay sitting here I will have Bombur bring you some more tea, normal strength this time." He grinned sheepishly as Thorin's blue gaze sharpened. "I made it too strong last night, did you not wonder why we slept as long?"

"Hmf! Explains why I babbled like a drunken dwarfling then," growled Thorin and Bilbo smiled cheekily at him.

"Aye Thorin, better a drunken dwarfling than a drunken tween, I distinctly remember you at least attempting to be sensible." He bit his lip at the sight of Thorin's pout and stepped between the dwarf's open knees, "You really have to stop doing things like that," he growled knowing his eyes were changing colour and wondering just how long it would take for Thorin to realise just what the dark forest green colour meant. He ran clever fingers into the mane of dark hair working loose small knots with ease. Beneath his petting Thorin shuddered slightly, his sharp intake of breath bringing Bilbo back to himself, "I told you to braid your hair." He huffed stepping sharply away and clasping his hands behind his back. "Now stay Bombur will bring you tea, I am going to chase the younger dwarfs to the hot springs, get them clean first."

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True to his word Bilbo had managed to get Bombur to take Thorin some tea and after a hurried discussion with Oin he had convinced the healer-warrior that a hot bath in clean water would do the dwarfs wonders. Oin was soon grinding herbs into a paste that could be used for washing as Bilbo left the hall to hunt down a sheep to find somewhere to wash and dry their dirty clothes, and to maybe find something the dwarfs could wrap themselves in while said clothes were drying.

He smiled thankfully when Balin took over the washing duties, "I will bring the younger dwarf's clothes to you as they are bathing, Bahhh," here Bilbo pointed to the sheep standing by his side, "has found several tunics that will come down to mid calm on most of us while they dry." Bilbo fixed the white haired dwarf a stern look, "you will be joining the older dwarfs when they bath and I will gather your things and make sure they are clean."

AN: Review? Thorin needs love to feel better.