Chapter 10

Carmelita smiled softly as Sly continued giving her his massage. So…it had been Cooper who had gave her all those roses, back when she was sick. She smiled, remembering back to when she had contracted the chicken pox. She remembered that one day when she just laid there, miserable, trying not to scratch her sores, grumbling to herself. "Chicken Pox! That's an affliction that children get. And, here I am...I somehow contract it! Me!" she groused softly. She then swore softly in Spanish, under her breath.

Carmen, nearly as lovely as her sister but for a sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks, entered her bedroom. Carmelita saw she was carrying a lovely bouquet of sweet-smelling roses. "Look, Carmelita!" Carmen announced, smiling at her sister. "Yet another bouquet of lovely roses for you today, dear one." Carmen gently removed the six blooms from their box, and put them in a vase on her sister's dresser, along with the several other ones Carmelita had already received. She then looked over to her irritable sister, and smiled fondly at her. "It seems that you have quite the admirer, Carme dear," Carmen commented. She then frowned seeing Carmelita try to sneak a hand beneath her covers to scratch. "Dear Carmelita, now what have I told you about scratching your sores, hmm?" she said sweetly and with long-suffering patience.

Carmelita grumbled at that, snatching her hand out from beneath her covers quickly. "Not to do it, Carmen. But, sister, it itches something fierce!" Without even thinking about it, she started to scratch her hand.

Carmen came over, and gently yet firmly gathered up poor Carmelita's hand and held it, her hazel eyes full of compassion, as well as irritation (hmm, must be a family thing, huh?) "Carmelita, if you don't stop this scratching, you'll leave me no other choice but to phone Mother and have her come take care of you."

Carmelita paled at the thought of that happening, and groaned. "You wouldn't!"

Carmen smiled triumphantly and fiercely down at her little sister. "Just try me, Carmelita...just try me," she suggested, her eyes locking on to her sister's.

Carmelita then sighed, closing her eyes, defeated...at least for the moment. "You would too, wouldn't you?" she grumbled. "You have no idea of what I'm going through, Carmen! I itch from the top of my head to the soles of my feet!"

Carmen was sympathetic, but commanding, responding, "I know...but, you still musn't scratch, Carmelita. You'll give yourself horrible scars, sister dear."

Carmelita grimaced at that thought, but...that didn't change the fact that it itched! Oh so very badly! "C'mon, Carmen...just one little scratch? Please?" Carmelita begged.

Carmen crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Now, Carmelita…you know the answer to that…even before you asked the question!" Carmen replied, crossing her arms. Carmen moved over to Carmelita's dresser, an idea forming in her head.

Once her sister's back was turned, Carmelita stealthily slipped her fingers down under the covers in an attempt to scratch a most irksome spot on her belly, hopefully without her apparently eagle-eyed sister noticing. Sorry…but, not a chance!

Carmen whirled about quickly, a pair of white athletic socks in her hand, her face a storm. "CARMELITA MONTOYA FOX! DO NOT MAKE ME GET MY SHOCK PISTOL! For, if that's what it takes, I'll stun you, sister dear!"

Carmelita winced at her irate sister, and quickly withdrew her hand. But, oh God, did her belly itch! "All rigth! Okay! Quit the yelling already...my head hurts enough as it is," Carmelita groaned.

Carmen sat down beside the grumpy Carmelita, and softly stroked her cheek affectionately. "I'm sorry, Carmelita. But you would try the patience of a saint sometimes, dear heart," she told her irritable little sister. "Now, here..." she added, offering her the socks, one at a time. "Put these on your hands."

Carmelita eyed her sister strangely. "Okay, and...I would do this why exactly?" she asked, a bit perplexed.

Carmen only laughed. "Why, because this is exactly what Mother did to me when I got the chicken pox, silly! Now, I know it looks goofy, but it really does stop you from scratching," Carmen told her, then her eyes hardened a moment. "It's that," Carmen then added, giving her sister a firm look, "or my shock pistol. Your choice, my little sister. Whether you like it or not, I will get you well...no matter what it takes. I love you, Carmelita, and I want you back on your feet as soon as possible."

Carmelita flumped her head back down into her pillow, then reluctantly put the socks over her hands. "Okay, okay. I know you're looking out for me, Carmen. But...do me a favor, okay? Stop calling me little sis! I'm only two year younger than you, even though most people think that I'm the older sister!"

Carmen flipped a lock of her dark straight hair back over her shoulder with a soft laugh. "I know, poor Carmelita. But, you know as well as I that it is only because of these freckles," she said, indicating the freckles on her face with one slim finger. "You know it's not my fault that you got that little cute mole, while I got stuck with these ghastly freckles, you know."

"Carlos doesn't think they're ghastly," Carmelita retorted, grinning at her sister, making mention of her husband, who loves her to distraction. "I've heard him say they're so cute!"

Carmen blushed a bit, but smiled gently at her teasing sister. "You leave Carlos out of this, Carmelita," Carmen rebuked her, though not very convincingly. She then got to her feet, leaned over and gently kissed Carmelita on the cheek, which caused even the irritable young woman to smile. Carmen moved away then, humming softly to herself. She continued to walk over to open the door and turn off the lights. "Now, dear, do try to get some sleep." Carmen grinned at her mischievously. "Perhaps you should think of the handsome young man who's so smitten with you that he continues to send you flowers each and every day, hmm?" she added, grinning. Carmen shook her head as she saw a small smile light Carmelita's face as well at that thought. "Pequeña hermana de los sueños felices, amora."

Carmelita snuggled down under her covers, thinking of some handsome fella who was sending her flowers, then closed her eyes, half asleep. "No me llame poco que soy diecinueve, hermana," she replied, sleepily.

Carmen softly laughed at that, and closed the door. "Lo que usted dice, Carmelita," she said softly.

Carmelita smiled, and came back to the here and now…still feeling Sly´s wonderful touch on her back. She closed her sleepy eyes, yawned hugely and promptly fell asleep.

AN: Okay, people…yet another chappie. Sorry I haven't written in a few days. I recently got Sly 1 on my PS2. (LOL! I got Sly 2 before I had Sly 1, and, boy! Sly kissing Carmelita is a image I will never forget!) Okay, here are the last few phrases that Carmelita and Carmen have together:

"...She grins, and sees a small smile light Carmelita's face as well. Happy dreams little sister..." Carmelita snuggled down under her covers, thinking of some handsome fella who was sending her flowers, then closed her eyes, half asleep. "Don´t call me little I am nineteen." Carmen softly laughed at that, then closed the door. "Whatever you say Carmelita…"