The next morning, Mimi awoke with a slight fever.
"I'm fine," she protested, as Roger retrieved the thermometer from her mouth.
"Meems, it reads one oh one. And you're shivering. You need to lay down."
"It's just a cold," she grumbled through chattered teeth, pulling the blankets over her.
Roger sat on the edge of the bed. "Do you want anything?"
"I don't know. You could turn up the heat."
"It's eighty degrees outside, Mimi."
Mimi shrugged.
Roger sighed and got two more quilts from the bathroom closet and wrapped them around Mimi's shoulders. "Better?"
Mimi made a face. "A little. My mouth tastes really sour."
"Do you want a drink? Like tea or something?"
"Sure."
"What do you want?"
"What do we have?"
Roger got up and cluttered around the kitchen to find the teabags. "There's green tea and Earl Grey," he called.
Mimi closed her eyes. "I'll have green tea." She waited for a few moments, listened for the sound of the tea kettle screeching, and saw Roger come in carrying a cup of tea for her."
"Thanks, baby," she smiled, taking the mug from him.
"No problem," he assured her. She had put her hair back in a messy bun, and Roger assumed it was because she was sweating. "Maybe you should see a doctor."
"I'm fine," she insisted. "It's probably just a 24-hour thing."
"Are you nauseous?"
"No."
Roger sighed. "Alright. Just stay in bed for the next day or two. But if this gets any worse, we're going to the doctor, alright?"
Mimi nodded.
"I'm sorry about last night," Roger said, pushing a strand of curly hair behind her ear.
"That's okay," Mimi said hoarsely, as she sipped her tea. "Damn, this is hot."
"You want an ice cube or something?"
"Nah, I'll just wait for it to cool down," Mimi said, placing it on the bedside table. She spotted his guitar half out of its case, in the corner. "Play something."
"Huh?" Roger said, trying to follow her gaze.
"On the guitar. You've hardly played at all since I found out I was pregnant."
"That's because we've been so busy getting ready for the babies."
Mimi shrugged. "We have time now." She paused. "Play something."
Roger picked up the guitar and slid the strap over his head. "Anything?"
"Uh huh. Just something that you like."
"Okay." Roger plucked the pick from the strings. "You can't complain about the song though, okay?"
"I promise."
"Alright. Here goes," Roger said, and began playing. He could feel Mimi's eyes on him.
Just a small town girlLiving in a lonely worldShe took the midnight train going anywhere Just a city boyPulling range in south DetroitHe took the midnight train going anywhere A singer in a smoky roomSmell of wine and cheap perfumeFor a smile they can share the nightIt goes on and on and on and on Strangers, waitingUp and down the boulevardTheir shadows searching in the nightStreetlight peopleLiving just to find emotionHiding somewhere in the night Working hard to get my fillEverybody wants a thrillPaying anything to roll the diceJust one more time Some will win, some will loseSome were born to sing the bluesOh the movie never endsIt goes on and on and on and on Strangers, waitingUp and down the boulevardTheir shadows searching in the nightStreetlight peopleLiving just to find emotionHiding somewhere in the night Don't stop believingHold on to that feelingDon't stop believing "I like that song," Mimi said, once he'd finished. "Me too," Roger said, putting the guitar aside. "My daddy used to sing that. Along with the radio." "Your 'daddy'?" Roger repeated, grinning. Mimi giggled, and her face flushed. "I mean, my dad. Before he died. When I was little he used to sing along to that song." "Oh," Roger said. His father was a Beatles lover. "When did he die?" "I was five," Mimi said. "A car crash. He died in the hospital." "I'm sorry," Roger said, softly. Mimi shrugged. "I barely remember him. Just that he liked that song. It's funny, that you chose to play that one." "Yeah, it is. You still feeling shitty?" "Just a little tired. I think I'm gonna go back to sleep." "Do you mind if I run out to the store to get some things? Collins might join me. He's picking up some stuff for Frankie. I'll only be a few minutes." "Okay," Mimi said. "I'll be asleep anyway." "You sure?" Mimi smiled. "Go ahead." "Alright. Twenty minutes at the most, I promise," he reassured her, kissing her hot forehead. "Bye," Mimi said. After Roger left, she tried to go back to sleep, but then suddenly had the urge to go to the bathroom. Weakly, she crawled out of the bed, shivering, and tried to make her way to the bathroom. A sudden wave of dizziness and nausea overcame her, and she sat back down quickly on the floor, her head spinning. She tried to wait for the feeling to surpass, but it didn't. Rolling over onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling uncomfortably. Another spill overcame her, and she closed her eyes, tightly. Within moments, everything began to fade. When she came to, she found Roger and Collins hovering over her, looking startled. "Mimi? Can you hear me?" Roger exclaimed, crouching down by her head. "Did you hit your head?" Mimi groaned. "No…I just got really dizzy all of a sudden." Roger helped her sit up, and carried her back to the bed, placing her down gently. "This is exactly what Frankie has," Collins said to Roger. "She must have gotten it from her. She woke up this morning, and her symptoms were similar. I think it's just a 24-hour virus or something." Mimi groaned. "It better be 24-hours." Roger smiled and squeezed her hand, sympathetically. "Heard you and Mark got in a fight," Collins said. "Did Mark tell you?" Roger asked, rubbing Mimi's shoulders. "No, I mean literally, we heard you. I would've come up, but Frankie was a little upset." "Oh." Roger blushed. "What was wrong?" Collins hesitated. "Girl stuff. What happened with you and Mark?" "Guy stuff." Collins laughed. "I won't ask, then. You two were really going at it, though." Roger shrugged. "Yeah well." Mimi had curled up onto her side, and was resting her head now in his lap, her eyes closed. Collins glanced at her. "Maybe I should go?" he suggested. "Frankie's not as bad off, but she's feeling pretty shitty." "I don't know. I'll probably be in here with Mimi the rest of the day." "Okay." Collins paused. "You want me to tell Mark something for you if I bump into him?" "I have nothing to say to him," Roger said, coldly, then felt Mimi elbowing him. "Tell him Roger will speak to him later," she said, firmly. Collins looked at Roger. Roger sighed. "Sure." "Alright," said Collins. "Feel better, Meems. I'll probably come by with some herbal crap later to make your stomach feel better. Knowing Frankie, she's probably got a lot of that stuff somewhere." "Thanks, Collins," Roger said. "See you later." Collins left, and Roger slowly slid out from under Mimi's head, and helped her get comfortably back under the covers. Then he grabbed his guitar, and played some more songs for her, until she fell asleep.