He Called Her Tessa
by
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Roswell and all associations do not belong to me!
Author's Note: This is my first try at Roswell fanfic, so if you criticize, please be polite. All feedback can be sent to teneljade@netzero.net, and thank you!
Also, this is my own little twisted story, so even though it is otherwise up to date, Valenti is still sheriff.
Rating: R
Chapter Three
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When Isabel showed up, she had hurriedly unpacked a backpack full of stuff, and showed Kyle how each piece of it worked. When she came to the I.V., she made him put it together, under her instruction, and then checked it over to make sure it was together properly.
"Looks pretty good, Kyle. Let's go hook it up."
Kyle led Isabel into what used to be his room, where an unconscious Tess was lying in the bed, her golden hair splayed around her face. Isabel put the pole that the I.V. was on down next to the bed, and again walked Kyle through the procedure for hooking it up.
Handing him a small foil package, she sat back to watch. "Okay. Open that up and wipe the back of her hand with it firmly. We need to make sure it's good and clean." Kyle complied, throwing the wipe out when he was done, and looking at Isabel with a 'what's next' look on his face.
Isabel pointed to the smallest object she had brought with her, a tiny plastic tube. "Open that up. There's a needle inside of it, hook it up to the I.V. like this." She picked up the I.V. tube, and attached the needle, showing Kyle her every move. When she was done, she handed the line back to him.
"Okay, now you want to find a prominent vein in the back of her hand." Isabel turned Tess's limp hand from side to side, looking at it from all angles. "Okay. Here's one."
She took the line from Kyle's hand, and pushed the needle into Tess's pale skin. She saw Kyle wince from the side of her vision, and smiled a little. "Don't worry, she can't feel it."
Pulling a piece of tape from the roll, she taped the line above the needle securely onto the back of Tess's hand. Finding a small switch on the line about halfway to the bag of yellowish liquid, she flipped it back and forth a few times until she was satisfied. "There."
Kyle listened attentively as she showed him how to change the bags on the I.V. stand, and then piled several bags of the oily looking yellow liquid into his closet. "Don't worry about it too much, it won't hurt anything if the bag goes empty every once in a while."
Isabel looked around the room, and then turned back to Kyle. "All right, now, onto the hard stuff."
She pulled several things from her backpack, which lay on the floor. Three long, white nightgowns. They looked like they were made of cotton, and probably soft, all with pink and yellow trim. She placed them on the bedside table. Next came the hairbrush, a bunch of washcloths, and a bottle of skin care lotion stuff. She laid them all out on the table.
"Now," she continued. "The basics here are that she needs to be turned every six or eight hours, excluding the night, and have that I.V. working properly. She should also be changed every day, more often if she starts to sweat. But there are some things you can do for her that I'm sure she'll appreciate, even if they're not as essential."
Isabel picked up the bottle of skin care lotion and a washcloth. "This stuff, you just put a little on a washcloth, get the whole thing wet, and rub her face with it. No rinse necessary. Whenever you feel like it, though twice a day is what I recommend from experience."
She turned to put the things in her hand back, and picked up the hairbrush. "You can also brush her hair, if you feel like it. I'm sure she'll appreciate not waking up to a rat's nest." She eyed Tess's hair critically. "Especially with those curls, they'll tangle fast."
She returned the hairbrush to the table, and pulled a pair of Tess's underwear out of the drawer. She grabbed one of the nightgowns she had brought with her, and started towards the bed. Kyle lingered on the other side of the small room.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Well, c'mon. If you're going to be doing this every day for the next three weeks, you'd better learn how." Kyle reluctantly went to the side of the bed.
The first thing Isabel did was pull the covers all the way down to the bottom of the bed. "It's a whole lot easier if you don't have to deal with the covers getting in the mess, too."
She carefully raised Tess's arms above her head, and pulled off her shirt. Leaving Tess in her bra, and Kyle to attempt not to salivate too hard, she moved her hands to the buckle on Tess's jeans, which she also pulled off, this time taking her underwear with them.
Kyle tried very hard to look at this whole situation as scientific, but it wasn't working very well. He was getting hotter than he'd ever been looking at Liz or one of this other girlfriends. But then he reminded himself that Tess was ill, and this was no time to be gazing at her almost-naked body with anything other than pure intent.
Attempting to stifle his desire, he turned his mind back to what Isabel was doing. Now the panties were back on, and the bra was off. His thoughts immediately drifted to those perfect breasts, and he wondered what they would feel like, were he to suckle them...
Shaking his head to clear himself out of his fantasy, which was rapidly becoming X-rated, he quickly helped Isabel by supporting Tess's limp body while she pulled the nightgown over it. Laying her back on the bed, Isabel snapped her fingers, as if just remembering something.
"Kyle, do you have more pillows?" She asked.
A little puzzled by her request, he nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think there are some in the closet."
Dashing off, Isabel returned a moment later with three more pillows. She motioned for Kyle to lift Tess's upper body from the bed, and she carefully arranged the pillows, which now numbered five, to hold her in a semi-upright position.
Kyle laid Tess back on the bed, and turned to Isabel. Isabel explained hurriedly. "Unconscious people sometimes choke on their own saliva when they're on their backs. If she's on her side, don't worry about it, but she needs to be sitting up at least a little if she's on her back."
Kyle nodded in understanding, and took a long look at the limp body in his bed. He smoothed the covers over her and tucked them around her chin, planting a soft kiss on her forehead as he did so. Tess was normally so alive, and brash, and confident, it was almost shocking to see her in such a vulnerable state. Even when she had wept in his arms in this very same bed, she had never looked so... helpless.
Remembering the other presence in the room with them, Kyle turned to Isabel with genuine gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Iz. I promise, I'll be the best nursemaid I possibly can."
Isabel smiled a little. "I know, Kyle. Thank you. I felt so guilty when I realized I couldn't keep her at our house, that I couldn't help her."
Kyle cautiously enfolded Isabel into his arms in a hug. Isabel was obviously surprised, and took a moment to respond, but for a few second, the Ice Queen melted, and Isabel Evans reigned. When realized what she was doing, though, she pulled away, and stood there, looking uncomfortable.
Kyle tried to cover the awkward moment. "Do I know everything I should?" He asked. "I want to do this right."
Isabel looked around, and nodded. "I think so." She fished a strip of paper from her pocket, and handed it Kyle. "These are the numbers to both mine and Maria's cell phone numbers. Somebody who knows what's going on, one of us six, will have a hold of at least one of them at any time."
Kyle nodded. "Thanks. I'll call if I need any help. But I think we'll be okay."
Isabel started to leave, then turned back. "Oh, one more thing. I'll give it to you today, though I doubt you'll need it before next week, if you ever do." She pulled a small, loaded syringe from her pocket.
"If she starts to wake up, immediately put this in one of her arms or legs, anywhere on either of her arms or legs, and inject this. Then call us. But first, you've got to keep her unconscious."
Kyle nodded, and caught the capped syringe as Isabel tossed it at him. "I'll make sure she stays unconscious. We'll be fine, Isabel," He reassured an obviously nervous Izzy. "Go. I'll see you tomorrow. With my schoolwork."
Isabel gave an unsure smile, and tossed her blond hair as she headed out the door. Kyle let himself fall backwards onto the beanbag chair, and grabbed his English book. But he didn't actually open the thick blue tome, instead, his eyes were firmly attached to the limp form of Tess Harding.
*****
It was Maria's turn to visit, and she practically skipped up the steps. Everyone had been asking questions about Kyle, but nobody had stopped her, because she didn't really know him that well, and besides, anyone who would have talked to her already knew where Kyle was.
She knocked on the door, and was surprised when it opened to reveal a haggard Sheriff Valenti. "Uh...hi, Sheriff."
The sheriff managed a tired smile, and moved to the side, opening the door wider. "Hello, Maria. Come on in. Kyle's in the bedroom with Tess."
Maria nodded, and scurried into the room he had indicated. Kyle was rapidly counting off push-ups, and appeared to have either skipped a lot of numbers, or been doing this for a long time. She cleared her throat, keeping her eyes slightly averted from the bare-chested Kyle.
Kyle threw in a couple more rapid push-ups, and then stood up, his chest heaving a little. He reached over and pulled on a shirt, but he didn't seem particularly concerned with his state of un-dress. "Hey, Maria."
"Hey," She responded. She looked him up and down. He still looked antsy, even after all that exercise. "Hey," She suggested. "Why don't you go out for a while? Do something. I'll keep an eye on Tess, and you can get some real exercise."
Kyle looked uncertainly between the bed and Maria and back again. "Thanks, Maria, but I think I should stay here. It's only been six days."
Maria wasn't going to take no for an answer. She reached out and grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. "Listen to me, Kyle. You are going out, and you are going for a run, or playing football, or something, and I don't want to see you back here until you're sweaty and breathing so hard you can barely stand. Do we understand each other?"
Kyle's face was straight, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. "Yes, Maria." He responded, giving her a sharp salute. He grabbed a pair of running shoes, and headed out the door, eager to be outside. Maria smiled.
The sheriff wandered in a minute later, a puzzled look on his face. "Isn't Kyle supposed to be looking after Tess?" He asked.
Maria smiled. "I told him to go out. He was up to fifty-six push-ups and I'm willing to bet he was up to sixty or sixty-five everything else you guys do when you work out too, and I told him he had to get out of here."
The sheriff smiled, a little less tiredly. "So that's what was going on in here, with all the counting and stuff."
Maria smiled, and nodded. "I guess so."
Sheriff Valenti stood there awkwardly, watching Tess for a moment or two, and then, with a nod to Maria, exited the room. Maria shook her head, a wry smile on her face. These Valenti men, they really don't know what to do with emotions!
*****
Kyle had followed Maria's instructions, and was covered in sweat and almost doubled over when he made it back to his house. He entered the house, his chest heaving and his breath coming in sharp bursts, and went straight to check on Tess.
When he came into the room, Maria looked up from the book that she was reading, English or Algebra, or something school-related. She took a sniff, and her face contorted. "Whew! Next stop shower for you!" She exclaimed. Then her face relaxed, and she grinned. "I guess I asked for it, though. At least you follow instructions well."
Kyle smiled back at her, and grabbed his clothes from the rumpled heap they were in on the floor. He looked at Maria. "Can you stay long enough for me to take a quick shower?" He asked.
Maria nodded. "Sure. But Kyle... can I ask you a question?"
Kyle nodded. "Anything."
"Why... doesn't your father help watch Tess? He's obviously not too busy, what with running around the house being his only activity, so why isn't he here?"
Kyle gave a little smirk. "His excuse is that he could get called away at any moment, and then he wouldn't be able to watch her. But in reality, I think he's worried that he's too attached to her, and that it will be too hard if he loses her on his watch."
Maria's face sobered, and slowly, so did Kyle's as he realized what he had just said. There was a moment of respectful silence, and then Kyle left the room. Maria returned to her book.
*****
From that day on, whoever was visiting in the afternoon stayed for a couple of hours, and Kyle would go out and exercise until he could hardly walk. Every day, he would argue, and every day, whoever it was would insist. Until it got to be Maria's turn. Then he would start to open his mouth, and she would simply say, "Go," And he would be gone.
As the days went by, Kyle dutifully stuck to his schedule. In the morning, check on Tess, check on her I.V. bag, change her. Wash her face with the cream Isabel had left, sit her up until her limp body slumped against his strong chest and then brush her thick, curly golden hair. He liked this part best, her body slumped helplessly against him, giving him a kind of control that he hadn't even known he craved.
After this was done, it was time for him to get dressed, and then he would return to Tess's side, and turn her. Then he would settle in with yesterday's schoolwork, if there was any left, and finish it. Then he would exercise, doing push-ups and sit-ups and stretching and running in place. After that, he usually had an hour or so to read, but more often, he just spent this time watching Tess. She looked so peaceful, as if she were sleeping, but Kyle knew that were not so.
Then came lunch, and it was usually time to change the bag of nutrient fluid on the I.V., and turn her. It made his heart ache as he flipped her, and she flopped around in his grip, as if her body were boneless. But he hardened his heart, and did it for her.
Lunch for him usually consisted of a sandwich and potato chips or out-of-the-box macaroni and cheese, and then it was time for him to take a nap. Sleeping passed his time, and more importantly, caught him up on the sleep he missed in the middle of the night.
Though Isabel hadn't said it was necessary, he had set his alarm to awaken him every night at two in the morning, for the first few days, and about six days in, when Tess was having trouble with bed sores, he had started to get up to check on her and to turn her. He almost always ended up just sitting there, watching her for at least a little while, and this mid-afternoon nap helped him catch up.
After this nap, he would sometimes exercise again, or sometimes he would read his book. Sometimes he would watch her sleep, but by now, he had usually had enough of that, beautiful as she was. Later, around 3:30, somebody would come by and force him out of the house while they watched Tess. He would usually go running.
Afterwards, when they had left, and he had fed himself dinner, Kyle would usually want to watch TV. But he didn't feel like leaving her alone, even though he knew it was silly, because he was only in the other room, and he wasn't any more use to her when he was asleep than when he was ten feet away. But that was how he felt, and so he often took her with him.
He would gather the her limp form in his strong arms, and grab the I.V. pole with his teeth, and slowly make his way into the living room. Once there, he would make sure that Tess was cradled on his lap comfortably, with several pillows to keep her from choking, and that the remote was in his hand, and he and the unconscious Tess would watch TV for many hours, sometimes until eleven or later. Then it was back to bed for Tess, and time to wash her face and brush her hair again.
After she was settled, Kyle completed his own bedtime routine, and then collapsed on the two beanbag chairs he had pulled together on the other side of the room to sleep in. His father would usually come in right about now, and tuck Kyle in as if he were a small child. He hated to admit it, but he loved this small action of love, and made no move to resist. Then Sheriff Valenti would make his way to Tess's side, and it was time to make sure that her blankets were tight and that she had a kiss on her forehead. Afterwards, he would leave, whispering a soft "Good-night," and turning out the light on his way. It didn't take Kyle very long to fall asleep, usually. Then, in the morning, this routine started all over again.
*****
This morning, though, Kyle worried the entire time he went through this ritual. Nothing had changed, and it had been, what seemed to him like forever. As he swabbed her face, and then sat her up to brush her hair, he whispered in her ear, desperation evident.
"Come on, Tess! Wake up! It's been nineteen days..."
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