Chapter 3 Fevers and Friends
"Go away." Kendrix's horse voice sounded weak through the door.
"Kendrix its Leo." He said then added. "I'm not leaving until you open this door." Just by the sound of her voice he knew that she was not just saying she was sick to avoid him. It was nearly five minutes before the door slowly opened.
"What do you want?" The face that greeted him was unlike any he had ever seen. She was paler than the moon and she looked like she had lost a dozen pounds. Her usually shimmering blonde hair was pulled into a dull loose ponytail. She smelled not of sickness but of cleaning fluid.
"I'm not feeling well." She mumbled and before he knew what had happened she was running for the bathroom.
Leo didn't even think about it, he was on her heels and even as she reached the toilet he was there, bracing a cool hand against her burning forehead as she began to heave.
"Here." Leo said when she was finished. She took the tissue and in a weaker voice she managed.
"You should leave… I don't want anyone else to get this." She pushed herself to the sink and began brushing her teeth.
"It's not like I've never had the flu." Leo told her easily turning off the tap for her when she was done.
"But it's the holidays and you shouldn't get sick on them."
"Neither should you." He said and before she knew what he was about Leo picked her up and strode from the little bathroom.
"Leo I can walk." She managed but with every minute she felt her strength sagging. Why now? She'd been doing fine since she'd gotten home, being sick, cleaning and now she was falling apart?
"Then humor me will you." He asked dryly as he kicked open the door to Kendrix's bedroom.
Placing her on the bed Leo deposited her and then began the process of pulling the blankets over the woman he'd loved for years now.
Ducking into the bathroom, returning a few seconds later with a trash can.
"I'll leave this here." He said laying the can by the side of the bed.
"You really have to go." She tried to sit up but he gently pushed her back down.
"I'm not leaving until your feeling like a little sparring." He told her and she gave up with a weary sigh. The day had just been too long and everything hurt.
"Leo?" Her voice sounded sleepy.
"Yeah?" Thank you."
"No problem." He said with a little smile as eh tried to think what to do next.
***
That woman was so stubborn, Leo thought as he rummaged in the refrigerator. The woman was cleaning when she should have been resting. He knew with out a doubt that Kendrix had been cleaning, because she had missed the bathroom.
The scientist had refused any help, and it wasn't like he had never been around someone who was sick. For the last few years he and Mike had lived together and they had taken care of each other. The time Mike had nearly died had brought them closer than ever before. From that time they had been nearly inseparable.
Now, Kendrix didn't want him here? Well that was just too damn bad. She needed to be taken care of and he was going to do it.
Finally he found some orange juice. When he walked back into the bedroom Kendrix looked about ten years old, her face flushed and it hit him then, she probably had a fever. Setting the juice on the bedside table Leo sat down on the edge of the bed and pressed a hand to her forehead. He'd thought she had an elevated temperature and now he winced. She had a whopper of a fever alright.
Sitting there he thought about the juice he'd brought her and debated if she needed sleep more than liquids but he knew. Gently he shook her shoulder until her eyes slowly opened.
"I want you to drink this." Leo said and when she tried to sit up alarm filled her glazed eyes. She was so tired she just couldn't move…
"It's ok," He said softly, and with ease he moved so he could position one of his arms behind her back. When she was half sitting he then lifted the glass to her lips.
***
Heavens it burned, her throat felt as if it were on fire. That was odd before he had come she'd not felt like this. Maybe it was because with someone to help her she could relax. She didn't know but she just wanted to sleep.
***
As Leo eased the girl back down he felt as if she were a mere child, who might vanish if he didn't stay there with her.
It was silly, she was already asleep but it was the feeling he got then.
Getting up he decided that there were a few more things he could do. First he went into the bathroom, dampened a wash cloth and then brought it back out to Kendrix.
Taking his seat once more on the side of the bed Leo wiped at her hot skin. He could remember how it had shown with health that first day in the shuttle port, how her eyes had danced from time to time and how they could go wistful when she saw models. It had always amazed him how Kendrix, a dead ringer for one of the hottest stars on the colony hadn't known she was beautiful.
But then Kendrix had never thought of herself as anymore than what she was, a scientist/soldier/power ranger. It still amazed him she could be so many things and still as sweet and innocent as a freshly fallen snow.
Sighing he adjusted the covers once more, and then got to his feet, maybe he'd make some soup. , or maybe he should call Kai. He could so totally not cook.
***
Kai Chen was shifting the bundle of packages he held as he waited for Leo to open the door. It was Christmas Eve and still the young man was out, delivering food for a sick friend. He was glad that Leo had t least thought to call him. He'd had a feeling something was wrong when Kendrix had left the cafe that afternoon. Still she'd just vanished into the crowd.
Now though as Leo opened the door and ushered him inside Kai knew Kendrix was really sick, only when she was sick did her quarters usually reak of cleaning fluids.
"How is she?" Kai asked shrugging out of his jacket.
"Resting." Leo said sighing. What else could he tell the other man, he really didn't know.
"That's good." Kai nodded and silently he headed for her bedroom.
***
Leo waited for Kai in the living room. He had felt really guilty about dragging Kai out of his warm house with Maya but in the time he'd known Kai and Kendrix he'd seen the family like closeness and known that Kai would want to know what was going on.
***
Kai stood there, the door closed behind him as he took a moment to look at the figure in the bed. He'd rarely ever seen Kendrix like this. She was usually so filled with life, her eyes sparkling. Now though she looked as pale as when she'd died to save Cassie. Even so he could see she had a fever, her lips were parched and glancing around he noted the juice glass and small pitcher on the night table.
"At least he is taking good care of you." Kai said as he moved to stand at the foot of the bed. He didn't want to get any closer for Maya's sake but here he stood, looking at his oldest friend.
"Kendrix?" He asked softly and there was barely a hitch in her breathing. He wanted to go to her, to take her hand and be sure she was ok but he couldn't bring a sickness home to Maya and the baby.
It struck him then that's why Leo was there and not Karone or Mike. Kendrix wouldn't let them in. If she knew he was there… A little smile crossed Kai's face at the image of Kendrix's reaction. His friend could be a wildcat when she was being protective.
"No, don't leave me…" Came the soft cry and he found her glazed unfocused, yet staring at something beside her. He made a move but though t of the baby.
"Leo no you can't go…" the cry came just as Leo opened the door and moved to the bed, catching Kendrix's shoulders as she thrashed around violently.
***
"Hey, Kendrix, Kendrix, I'm right here." Leo said as he caught her shoulders. Gently between his hands.
"No, now he's gone, he got on the ship and…" She tried to get free and he knew she was delirious even as he felt the cloth on his shoulder. He looked back at Kai and the man motioned he'd be out in the living room. Leo just nodded and taking the cloth he managed to press it to Kendrix's forehead.
"Leo… Come back, please come back." She still cried but softer now as his energy lagged.
"I'm here baby, I'm right here."
"No, no…" She cried and heedless of anything else Leo lifted her into his arms and held her close.
***
"How is she?"
"Ok, sleeping again."
"Good, Listen I put the food in the oven. It's warming so when you want to eat it's hot."
"Thanks man." Leo said running a hand through his hair. It had hurt, seeing the vibrant girl so weak.
"Man, she loves you." Kai said as he shrugged on her coat.
"She's my friend."
"Leo, friends don't call for you when their mindless with fever, friends don't risk their jobs to save some guy they don't' even know…"
As he listened Leo realized something, Kai was right. When you loved someone you did more than friends, more than anything else. And she'd done so much, just as he'd done… As he wished Kai happy holidays and asked the blue clad man to pass it on to his wife Leo realized he was not going anywhere, not now or ever.
TBC
***
*Does happy dance*I finished another chapter with no writers block. Sorry, I'm just a little happy.