Part 8.
I love you.
Did she hear right? Was that really Roxton telling her that he loved her? Marguerite forced herself to try to stay conscious, although she hadn't yet tried to open her eyes. She' could feel someone holding her hand. The toughened skin definitely felt like Roxton. Then a wave of blackness washed over her.
Marguerite tried to fight it, tried to open her eyes to tell Roxton that she loved him too but the darkness was to thick. She felt herself slipping.
Seconds before totally succumbing to unconsciousness Marguerite gathered all her limited energy and slightly squeezed Roxton's hand.
~*~
Roxton was sure that he'd felt Marguerite squeeze his hand but she he spoke to her she gave no response. He looked into one of her eyes noticing that she was unconscious.
"I wasn't imaging it". He told himself out loud.
"Imagining what?" Challenger asked from behind starting Roxton in the process.
"Marguerite squeezed my hand. Only softly, but I'm sure of it". Roxton half expected Challenger not to believe him.
"That's a great sign". Challenger smiled. "Her fever must be pretty close to breaking soon. I brought some tea. You should make her drink some".
Roxton had become quite capable at forcing fluids down Marguerite's throat. He knew exactly where to position a second spoon near Marguerite's back teeth to prevent her from clamping her jaw shut. The rest of the process was easy.
Half a cup later Roxton was satisfied that Marguerite would not be dehydrating any time soon.
Nothing changed that afternoon. Malone was sitting in with Marguerite so Roxton would get some sleep.
"I've figured it out Marguerite. The person you were talking about earlier". Malone told the unconscious woman. "I know I never really hit it off with you, maybe because we're so different, or because you're so damn opinionated. But I won't say anything to Roxton, or to anyone. Not even to Veronica".
Malone hoped so much that Marguerite would get better fast. This was all taking its toll on Roxton. He'd put his heart out for all to see how much he loved this woman.
"Fight it Marguerite. You and Roxton really deserve to be together. He'd never hurt you, you know. Nothing like before would ever happen to you again".
Malone went quiet as he placed another cloth on Marguerites forehead.
"I won't write any of the finer details in my book, you can be sure that no one will read about it when we got back". Malone added.
Suddenly his eyes widened. He felt it too. Marguerite weakly squeezed his hand. He was sure he was not imagining it. It really happened.
"Veronica". Malone called her in to tell her.
Expertly Veronica checked Marguerite's vital signs.
"Her fever is breaking. She's going to be all right".
I love you.
Did she hear right? Was that really Roxton telling her that he loved her? Marguerite forced herself to try to stay conscious, although she hadn't yet tried to open her eyes. She' could feel someone holding her hand. The toughened skin definitely felt like Roxton. Then a wave of blackness washed over her.
Marguerite tried to fight it, tried to open her eyes to tell Roxton that she loved him too but the darkness was to thick. She felt herself slipping.
Seconds before totally succumbing to unconsciousness Marguerite gathered all her limited energy and slightly squeezed Roxton's hand.
~*~
Roxton was sure that he'd felt Marguerite squeeze his hand but she he spoke to her she gave no response. He looked into one of her eyes noticing that she was unconscious.
"I wasn't imaging it". He told himself out loud.
"Imagining what?" Challenger asked from behind starting Roxton in the process.
"Marguerite squeezed my hand. Only softly, but I'm sure of it". Roxton half expected Challenger not to believe him.
"That's a great sign". Challenger smiled. "Her fever must be pretty close to breaking soon. I brought some tea. You should make her drink some".
Roxton had become quite capable at forcing fluids down Marguerite's throat. He knew exactly where to position a second spoon near Marguerite's back teeth to prevent her from clamping her jaw shut. The rest of the process was easy.
Half a cup later Roxton was satisfied that Marguerite would not be dehydrating any time soon.
Nothing changed that afternoon. Malone was sitting in with Marguerite so Roxton would get some sleep.
"I've figured it out Marguerite. The person you were talking about earlier". Malone told the unconscious woman. "I know I never really hit it off with you, maybe because we're so different, or because you're so damn opinionated. But I won't say anything to Roxton, or to anyone. Not even to Veronica".
Malone hoped so much that Marguerite would get better fast. This was all taking its toll on Roxton. He'd put his heart out for all to see how much he loved this woman.
"Fight it Marguerite. You and Roxton really deserve to be together. He'd never hurt you, you know. Nothing like before would ever happen to you again".
Malone went quiet as he placed another cloth on Marguerites forehead.
"I won't write any of the finer details in my book, you can be sure that no one will read about it when we got back". Malone added.
Suddenly his eyes widened. He felt it too. Marguerite weakly squeezed his hand. He was sure he was not imagining it. It really happened.
"Veronica". Malone called her in to tell her.
Expertly Veronica checked Marguerite's vital signs.
"Her fever is breaking. She's going to be all right".