)O(* Be careful that you've read yesterdays update bedore this one. Back to back updates can be confusing, I know, but the Muse is a fickle yet persistent bitch sometimes. Again, sorry for the typos and whatnot, Iris is pretty finicky. *)O(*

Sophia was snoring lightly as he laid her in her bed. Tabitha was out on the couch. He'd been so happy to see her, and so sad to see her sick. He'd missed her. More than he realized he would.

The true reason for the temporary extraction from the city was still being held from her. That was the way it had to be though. At least for now. She was a normal citizen who had been caught up in their family purely by accident. His accident, yet he couldn't beat himself up about it now. Not anymore. She was no threat, even a welcomed destraction.

She was quick witted, strong willed, kind. Well, that last part might hide behind a shell on her part, but it was there. Her determination to her niece was heart warming. The obvious pain she'd been in lately was heartbreaking for him. Now she was sick and miserable, waiting for him to get back from putting Sophia in bed.

"If you keep letting her fall asleep on you like that she'll never go back to sleeping in her bed." Tabitha teased tiredly. She'd forgone trying to sit up and was laying down, her hand over her eyes. The throw blanket from the back of the couch covered her legs and not much more. She was shivering a little bit. "Are you sure you're okay?" He asked again. It had become ever more clear the longer he'd stayed that Tabitha was feeling worse than she was letting on. Even now, she attempted kept any trace of discomfort out of her voice. "I'll be fine... Hopefully, when I wake up tomorrow."

"Yes, I hope so too." He smiled at her. She moved her hand away from her eyes. "Would you sit down?" She snapped. "You're making me wanna get up and pace around, too." She grumbled out. Leo tried to hide a grin. He chose the chair. If it could hold Raph then it would hold him. Not that he didn't know that every piece of furniture here could support him. It was just a curtiousy on his part to try not to break what he sat in. Second-hand furniture for so long had instilled a wariness in him.

He couldn't help but notice how hard Tabitha seemed to be trying to stay awake. "I should probably just go so you can get some rest." He went to stand almost as soon as he'd sat down.

"No! Stay!" Tabitha said. Simultaniously she turned and reached out a hand to him.

Without thinking he grabbed ahold of the offered appendage. "Sure," he murmurred, looking at their joined hands. Her rich brown skin melded well with his green. Her long slim fingers almost reached around two of his. Then he realized what he'd done and immediately began to panic. This obviously wasn't what she'd meant to do. He went to release her hand, the only option he had. He was even ready to apologize for invading her personal space.

As his grip loosened... hers tightened. His eyes left their joined hands to look at her. Rich brown eyes met his. They might have been blood shot and puffy, but oh, were they beautiful. She was beautiful. Her hair was pulled into a bun and little hairs that escaped were plastered against her face or sticking up in an adorable way. Her lips opened like she was going to say something.

A strong shiver ran across her body. Then he looked closer. Even though her skin typically had that rich, warm tone to it, this was different. She was flushed. She had a fever and was refusing to rest properly. He'd been there for a while and he'd yet to see her take any medicine. "When was the last time you took anything for your cold?"

"I- uh- um..." Tabitha fumbled. "I don't remember. Before Sophia got home?" Without worrying about personal space this time, Leo placed a hand against her forehead. She was hot. He took only a half second to laugh at the double meaning inside his head. "You need something before your brain melts. Where is it? I'll get it for you."

"Bathroom." Tabitha groaned. "You don't have to take care of me. I can-" He cut her off with a squeeze to her hand before letting go.

Fever reducers and a bottle of water were easily rounded up and ready for her in just a few moments. During the time it had taken him, she'd sat up and kicked the blanket off herself. He rolled his eyes. Mikey and Raph used to do that when they were younger.

While she was busy taking two pills and a gulp of water, he covered her back up. His actions granting him a frustrated whine of protest. "It's hot." She complained and started to kick it off again. "You need to stay warm to help your body." He argued, readjusting the blanket again. A frustrated groan was her reply.

He went to go sit back down in the chair when he felt a warm hand pull him backwards to the couch. Pull was a nice word. Yank would fit the description better. He nearly fell on top of Tabitha. Once he was sure he hadn't, he tried to look at her again and figure out what had happened. Instead, her arms wrapped around his arm and she laid her head just under his shoulder. "You're cool." She whispered as her forehead pressed against his bicep.

His chest pulled. His shell was tight. He instantly knew his hands had turned clammy. Was his throat always this dry? Leo tried to calm himself, to remember that she was doing this because she was sick. Nevertheless, where her skin touched his felt like sparklers going off. When her lips brushed his skin as she turned her head, something electric ran down his spine.

"Tabitha?" He finally forced out. "Are-"

"I'm tired. You're comfortable. Your skin feels good. It's so hot. Not your skin..." she trailed off. Her words were sparse. He worried now that her fever might be too high. "Nap, 'kay?" Was the last thing she said before he felt something warm and wet slide down his arm.

Drool. He shivered, grossed out more than anything for a moment. She was already asleep. She was drooling on him and he was stuck. It was endearing and so gross at the same time. He carefully used a corner of the blanket to remove the spit and took a moment to look at her again.

She looked relaxed, already deep asleep. The worry he had evaportated, knowing what a fever induce sleep looked like. This was just being tired from trying to be too strong for too long.

Even as she drooled due to the way her cheek rested against his bicep, he still thought she was beautiful. Warmth spread through his carapace. His heart squeezed and then he felt like it was being sawed in half.

These feelings that had bloomed in the time he'd spent with her, and they were wrong. She was his friend. That was all she would ever be. He'd already told himself that he could handle that. He didn't want to distance himself from her by saying anything stupid. So he'd hold this inside until it died out.

Eventually he would be able to look at her without wondering what it would be like to kiss her. Eventually he would be able to be near her without feeling like someone was playing hackysack with his heart. Eventually all she would be to him was a good friend he'd once had a crush on. Eventually...

Eventually he carefully picked her up, trying not to savor the feeling of her in his arms, and carried her to her bed. Once there he tucked her in and moved a few strands of hair from her face. He turned away right after, not letting himself get caught up in the emotions coursing through him.

He then made sure that all the doors and windows were locked except for the one he would be using. There were no unnessacry electronics left on. Then as he walked by them, before he'd almost left, he'd put the pills back to prevent Sophia from being able to reach them. He departed with a sigh that did nothing to ease the turmoil he felt.