Title: Faithfully Yours
Author: MichelleBA
Summary: The lives of Tony Almeida and Michelle Dessler, together and apart, through the good and bad.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tony Almeida, Michelle Dessler, or any of the other mentioned "24" characters or things.
~ Chapter 55 ~
The next morning Tony sauntered into the kitchen. He looked up and saw Liz "I'm sorry I slept so late, you can help yourself to coffee, breakfast, anything you need I was just up all night with her"
"Don't even worry about it, what time did it stop?"
"Around 5:30 we fell asleep on the bathroom floor" he rubbed his eyes "At 6 I carried her to bed and cleaned the bathroom, I fell asleep at 6:30"
"You poor thing" she said as she watched him make coffee.
"So you've seen her sick before right?" Tony asked.
"Yea" she answered shaking her head.
"What comes next?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Sleep" she answered with a smile. "Lots and lots of sleep… like seriously days of sleep"
"Oh thank God…" he said with a smile and sigh of relief "No more puking?"
"Nope that's just in the beginning," she laughed. "It's the same every single time"
"Sorry it had to happen last night, with you here visiting and all"
"Sorry it had to happen at all" she answered "But it's ok I can come back and visit next week or something I don't live too far"
"Good" he said, "I think I've got a lot to learn from you" he chuckled.
"Probably" she laughed, "Oh and by the way do NOT bring food anywhere near here for the next few days… unless you want to be up all night again…I made that mistake and I felt so bad"
"Thanks" he chuckled "What does she eat?"
"Absolutely nothing, she goes into like hibernation, but don't worry she'll get better in fact, the first sign that's she's getting better is she'll be hungry that's a very good sign" she smiled.
"She usually has a very good appetite" Tony smiled "She eats double what I eat"
"Really?" she laughed
"Yea, its funny"
"Well, I'm gonna get goin" she said finishing her coffee. "it was nice to meet you" she said hugging him.
"Same here, hopefully when Michelle's better we can make plans"
"Sounds good"
Once Liz was gone Tony slid into bed behind Michelle. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her warm body towards him. He rested his face against hers and realized it was very hot. He felt her forehead; she was running a high fever. "Michelle?" Her softly stroked her rosy cheeks "Sweetheart, you ok?" She didn't respond. He kissed her and her eyes opened lazily.
She sighed "Hey" she said in a very faint weak voice.
"You feel warm, really warm baby… I need to take your temperature" he reached for the thermometer on the bedside table and she cuddled closer to him.
"I'm freezing," she said cuddling closer as she began to shiver.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled the covers over them "Your cold?"
"Freezing" she whispered struggling to keep her eyes open.
He cradled her head "C'mere" he put the thermometer under her tongue.
'102.1' he read but she pulled it out of his hand and squinted to see it "Don't worry, I've had worse, I'll be fine" she whispered running her thumb across his chin.
"I'm really worried about you baby" he said kissing her hand "how do you feel, where does it hurt…be honest"
"Alright…" she sighed "My head is killing me, which makes me dizzy and nauseous when I move, I can't keep my eyes open and I'm freezing which makes me shake and my muscles all ache…" she started breathing faster and faster as she got upset.
"Shh it's okay baby" he pulled her as close as possible "I'll keep you warm just relax" he kissed her head gently "I love you" in her ear and she was fast asleep.
A few hours later Tony was awake again he headed downstairs and heard Michelle's phone ringing. He looked at it 'Danny' he put the phone down and let it ring. He made himself a sandwich and heard the phone again. He walked over and saw it was her brother and she had 6 missed calls from him. "Either it's something important or he's really worried, but either way this is not good' he picked up the phone.
"Michelle?!" Tony heard Danny say frantically.
"I'm sorry this is Tony Almeida."
"Michelle's boss?"
"Uh yea…" Tony stopped 'I forgot he doesn't know about us…this was a bad idea'
"Where is my sister?"
"She's in the other room, she's busy but I'll have her call you as soon as she returns"
"Ok thank you, I was just worried"
"Okay she'll be in touch with you soon" Tony said closing her phone. He walked into the bedroom with a glass of water and sat down on the bed next to her. Her kissed her and she began to move "Michelle" he stroked her face.
"It's ok I'm not thirsty" she said.
"Sweetheart you haven't had anything to drink since last night, please have a sip, you need to stay hydrated" she eyed him "Please Michelle, for me"
"Okay," she said accepting the glass of water
He helped her drink it "And by the way your brothers been calling, he's really worried about you"
"Okay" she said sitting up slowly "Here, I'll call him" she said opening her hand for the phone. She dialed Danny's number "Danny?" she said sounding much stronger, but he could tell by the look on her face that she was in pain and she cringed every time he talked "yea I'm fine, I've just been really busy" she squeezed her eyes closed "no, no, I'm just feeling a little under the weather I'm fine…. No, don't… I'm okay, I just need some sleep… the doctor? No, it's not serious I'm really okay, just tired from work… no don't, I'm not home… uh…my boyfriend's house, he's taking care of me… yes Tony…so what?" she said getting defensive, Tony took her hand in his "I know what I'm doing Danny… that doesn't matter… I'm in love with him… I know that… yes, now I have to go, I'll talk to you later okay? … I will, bye" she hung up the phone a closed her eyes with a sigh.
Tony slid her back down under the covers, crawled in behind her and wrapped his arms around her "I love you Michelle"
"I love you too Tony" she said as he kissed the back of her neck.
(An hour later)
The doorbell rang and Garren ran off barking, Tony's eyes shot open 'who the hell could that be' he peeked at Michelle who was still fast asleep and he slowly pulled away and tucked her in, once his arms were no longer around her keeping her warm and safe she instinctively curled up. He smiled as he watched his angel sleep
When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine
I look at you, lookin' at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
I'm gonna love you boy you are so fine
Angel of Mine
How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm different now, you helped me grow
Nothing means more to me than what we share
No one in this whole world can ever compare
Last night the way you moved is still on my mind
Angel of Mine
I never knew I could feel each moment
As if it were new,
Every breath that I take, the love that we make
I only share it with you
What you mean to me you'll never know
Deep inside I need to show
You came into my life sent from above
When I lost all hope, you showed me love
I'm checkin' for ya, boy you're right on time
Angel of Mine
…until the doorbell rang again 'Geez'
He stopped before he got to the door realizing he had no shirt on, only sweatpants, he doubled back to grab a shirt and ran to the door. He opened the door to see Danny 'wow good thing I put a shirt on' he held Garren by his collar and opened the door all the way "Hey Danny, come in"
Danny slowly walked in "I'm sorry to just show up, but I'm just worried about Michelle, she didn't sound good on the phone"
"She's been sick for a few days now, she's pretty tired" Tony rubbed his eyes.
"Cute little dog you got there" Danny said petting Garren.
Tony smiled "Yea it's Michelle's dog"
"I didn't know she had a dog... anyway speaking of Michelle, I brought her some lunch" Danny said with a smile holding up a McDonalds bag.
Tony's eyes widened in fear "Uh… she can't have that right now, she' sleeping and the smell of food makes her sick...really, really sick"
"When's the last time she ate?" Danny asked.
Tony knew he wouldn't like the answer "Dinner"
"Yesterday?!" Danny asked, "I need to see her"
"She just fell asleep" Tony lied.
"I won't be long then," Danny said.
Tony sighed, he really didn't want to wake her but he wasn't going to upset Danny "Alright" he led Danny toward the bedroom "How'd you know where I live anyway?"
"I was looking for Michelle a couple months ago when Carrie and I were together and she brought me here"
Tony raised his eyebrows "Oh...ok" as he walked up the stairs he thought 'Still creepy that Carrie's been to my house'
When they entered the room Danny looked at Michelle. She was completely surrounded by pillows and warm blankets, cozy and fast asleep like a baby. She was wrapped up in thick comforter, he hurried to Michelle "Michelle?" he said rubbing her arm to wake, she didn't respond.
A few seconds later her face turned sour and her eyes shot open, she sat up quickly, she was still swaying. She took a breath and put her hand over her mouth running to the bathroom 'oh crap the food!' Tony thought "Danny it's the food!" he said as he followed Michelle into the bathroom.
She was hanging over the toilet panting, but nothing had happened yet. She was groaning as her stomach ached. Danny came to the door of the bathroom but neither of them noticed.
"Shh, com'ere" he said kneeling behind her and wrapping his arms around her resting is chin on her shoulder "Calm down, just breathe slowly " he said softly in her ear, he heard her try to breathe at his pace, as her breathing became synchronized with his she let herself relax into him so he was holding her in his lap "good job" he whispered and kissed her head.
She nodded, "Its gone" she whispered with her eyes closed.
"Ok sweetheart, lets get you back in bed" he said lifting her with him and helping her back to the bed, he helped her get into bed "Better?"
She looked up at him "I love you," this surprised him, but he was always happy to hear it.
"I love you too baby" Tony said stroking her face.
"Hey Michelle I'm really sorry about the food" Danny said twiddling his thumbs nervously.
"It's ok you didn't mean it" she said in a weak voice.
"I'm just worried that you're not eating, you need food Michelle"
"I'll be ok," she said with a weak smile "It happens every time"
"Well I can tell you're really tired so I won't keep you too long"
She smiled warmly "thank you for coming Danny"
"Your my little sister I was worried, that's all" he said.
"Thank you" she said.
"Love you Michelle" Danny said nervously.
"Love you too Danny, I'll see you when I'm better, send Candice and the kids my love too"
"Ok I will bye," he said walking out.
"I'm gonna walk him out" Tony said following Danny. He caught up with Danny downstairs "Hey Danny"
Danny spun around "Yea?"
"Thanks for coming"
Danny nodded "You better take good care of her"
"I will" Tony said as Danny left. Tony closed and locked the door and sighed, "Better than you know"
