I considered Ike's question briefly. Very briefly. "Not possible," it came out a groan, because my throat was on fire.

"How are you so sure, Liz?" His hand was cradling my stomach, his thumb rubbing soothingly.

I tried opening my eyes, but the light felt like it was stabbing me. "Because, Ike," I sighed, letting my hand cover his. "I take a pill for that." Ugh, this bug was terrible.

"The pill?" I nodded the best I could. "I still think you should see a doctor." Another nod. "Let me get one." Wait, what?

"Ike," he was already on his feet, and I squinted up at him. "I can make an appointment when I get home." I was terrified he'd make a bigger scene than the one that he probably caused pulling my limp body into this room.

"I'd feel better if you just lay there and let me go get one." What? He was at the door and I heard him say, "Mercy?"

"I definitely need mercy," I groaned from the bed. I could hear him chuckle. "Ike, honestly, I'll be-"

"Look after her, please," I glanced at the door to see a young woman in a maid's uniform come into the room. "She's got jokes, but she's sick." His smile was sweet, and when he saw me start to argue, he stopped me. "Stay right there, Liz, I'll be back with a doctor soon."

He was gone before I could say a word to stop him. "Is there a clinic here that I haven't seen? Down some corridor I missed during my tour?" It was meant to be internal, but when the maid gave a husky laugh I realized my mistake.

"He's right, you got jokes." She perched on the chair beside the bed. "You look like you feel terrible." I gave a weak nod and blinked against the blinding sunlight coming through the window. "Light hurting your eyes?" Another nod and she got up and closed the curtains. "Better?"

"Thank you." She grinned and sat back down. "You're Mercy, I presume?"

"That's me." She was studying me, I could tell, even if I'd rolled onto my back and was staring at the ceiling. "I've never seen him look so concerned about a guest before." Ah, curiosity. "You must be pretty important."

"I'm Ben Diamond's daughter." I could hear her slight gasp. "Important enough for you?"

We waited for Ike in almost complete silence. I was too tired to make small talk, and she seemed disinclined to bring up a new subject. I felt empty, so I hoped like hell that meant I wouldn't have a repeat performance for a mad dash to the bathroom. I doubted I could hold my own weight up.

Ike was back before I could fall asleep, which was a pity because I could feel the pull of rest coming on strongly. He thanked and dismissed Mercy, and then hovered as the doctor examined me.

"Would you please tell Mr. Evans that I've simply come down with a virus of some sort?" I asked, as the doctor checked me over. "He seems certain that it's a little more delicate of a matter."

The doctor chuckled and glanced at Ike. "I would, Miss Diamond, but you have no fever, your heartbeat is strong and steady, and there isn't a sign of illness I can find." I sighed. "Can you give me a-"

"You want to murder a poor rabbit for nothing?" I asked, mouth dry from lack of water or food. "Why bother? I told Ike," I stopped and corrected myself, "Mr. Evans, I take a pill for that."

"Humor me." The doctor handed me something to collect the sample he wanted, and Ike helped me to my feet. I swayed, head dizzy, so he guided me to the bathroom with his hand on my lower back. The rumors this doctor would have to spread, I thought with a groan.

"Liz?" I rolled my eyes at his concern. "Can you-"

"I think I can manage from here, Ike." And I went into the small washroom and shut the door. Once I'd gathered what the doctor required, I washed my hands, and opened the door to find Ike hovering just outside. "You're ridiculous." I handed the specimen to the good doctor and asked if I should take anything for the nausea.

"If Mr. Evans' suspicions are correct, nothing aside from letting it pass or waiting it out will help." I rolled my eyes at the absurdity. "Here," he wrote something down on his pad and handed me the sheet. "They'll fill that for you at any pharmacy, it may help if you're correct." I shook my head, suddenly overcome with exhaustion. "You need to get back to bed." He took my other arm, mirroring Ike and they got me tucked back in. "Rest. I'll do the test immediately," I sighed at the thought of a poor animal dying on a hunch. "You'll get the results soon." He left with that promise and I felt Ike crawl back into bed with me.

"Shouldn't you be working?" I asked, not fighting the urge to shut my eyes.

"And miss seeing you fall asleep?" He kissed my cheek. "Not a chance, Liz."

When I woke up, a feeling of confusion rolled over me, his arm was still around me and I was trying to figure out where I was. Then I remembered the hotel, the doctor, the test. I groaned and felt Ike shift in his sleep. Rolling carefully over so I was facing him, his arm still tight around me, I studied his face as he rested. Even without his eyes open and flashing, even with his mouth shut and his breathing soft and even, he was gorgeous to me. I didn't fight the need to touch his face, letting my fingertips trace his closed eyes, the bump of his nose, his full lips.

"Memorizing my face?" His voice was rough, and I smiled when he kissed my fingers where they'd touched his lips. His eyes opened, and his smile grew. "I want to get used to waking up like this."

"I'm not opposed," I whispered against his lips as he kissed me for the first time that day. "I thought the tests took longer?" He chuckled as the thought came to me and popped unexpectedly out of my lips. "What?"

"They don't use rabbits anymore, Liz." He'd pulled back to study me in the dimness of the room. "Frogs, I think, and they don't kill them." Ah. How would I know? "He'll let us know, and then we'll make some plans."

"You seem quite certain you're right, Ike Evans." I was squinting at him trying to decide what kind of plans he was considering. "What if you aren't?"

"I'm pretty damn sure I AM right, BUT," he kissed my nose. "We still have to make some plans."

"We do?" I'd thought, after confessing he'd be tossing me out.

He nodded. "Yeah, we do." His thumb brushed the skin underneath my eye. "Seeing you sick, on your knees, and too weak to get up scared the hell out of me." I realized I was breathing easier knowing that he cared. Still. "I can't live without you, Liz. I can't. Your dad-" He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "He twists everything. He planted the seed that he'd fixed the match, Liz, that's why I lost the bet." I waited. "He's trying to teach me a lesson, and damn it if he isn't going to find out that I'm not willing to learn it."

"Ike," I was terrified. "Don't pick a fight with him, please?" His eyes opened and I knew he could see how scared I felt. "You can't live without me? I can't stand the thought of you not surviving this."

"I'll be fine, sweetheart." I shut my eyes, feeling like he was patronizing me. "Liz, look at me." I did. "I'm not taking this lightly, I'm not. But I won't cower or beg." I nodded. "And I don't give a flying-" He was interrupted by the phone ringing. "I don't care that he set us up, Liz, I don't." And then he picked up the handset and I only heard his side of the conversation. Which told me nothing.

When he hung up the phone, he rolled back over and took me into his arms. "Do I want to know?" Wondering if a test could be that fast. He chuckled. "Ike?"

"The test takes up to two weeks, Liz." Ah, I felt him kiss the top of my head. "That was the office." I thought it was a reminder that he actually ran the hotel, but he kept his arms around me. "Just telling me that everything is running smoothly." I smiled, liking the feel of his arms holding me. "Do you want to try to eat?" I considered it. "I can send someone out with your prescription and you and I could have a bite."

"Fine." I agreed, thinking if nothing else the medication might be able to stem the tide of nausea that was sure to accompany eating. "What do you have in mind?"

We ate in the room. Soup and crackers for me, since Ike assured me that Molly could usually hold the more bland fare down easier than real food. He ate a full meal, but I didn't envy him, I knew I'd only get to eat it and then revisit it sooner rather than later.

"Two weeks?" I asked, getting back to the topic at hand. "Two weeks to find out the entire endeavor was pointless." I shook my head at the silliness.

"Or," he countered, taking a sip from his glass, "two weeks until we start thinking up names." My breath left me and my eyes met his. "You look like you're not so sure anymore, Liz."

"Of course I'm certain," I shook off the image of Ike holding a bundle of blankets. "It's impossible." Wasn't it?

I convinced Ike, once my medicine arrived, to let me go back to my father's house. While having a full night with him beside me was beyond temptation, we couldn't, not until we knew how it was going to work. He wanted me to stay, I wanted to stay, but it wasn't a good idea and we both knew it. So after a long, lingering kiss, and a promise that I'd come back very soon, I walked out through the lobby and into the car I knew would be waiting.