Hey all! The reviews mean a lot so thanks again.

Dru

PS. This chapter is for all the Mimi/Roger fluff fans out there (cough-me-cough)

Enjoy ;-)

Chapter 4

Roger was awoken to the sound of Mimi's breathing quickening against his neck. He opened his eyes, giving them a couple of seconds to adjust to the dark.

"Mimi?" he whispered softly. "You awake?" She didn't answer. But when he rolled over to face her, her eyes were open. She gave him a weak smile, lifting her hand up to stroke his head.

"Bad dream?" she whispered.

"No. You," he answered bringing her hand down and planting a kiss on the back of it. "You're breathing pretty hard."

"I'm alright," Mimi shrugged it off even though it was obvious she was working pretty hard in order for her chest to rise and fall. Roger was quiet, absentmindedly finding ways to comfort Mimi. Running his hand through her hair, whispering softly into her ear, drawing gentle patterns into her back, anything he could think of to lull her back to sleep. Soon she was asleep again and he let out a sigh of relief. Her body would need a lot of rest to get better. She was still hot.

Roger didn't release Mimi but instead rested his chin on top of her head and closed his eyes again. He wondered how Mark was fairing with Freeway.

9:00 AM

"So…what were you saying? You brought home a puppy or something?"

Mark rolled his eyes.

"No. A girl."

"Hmmmm," Collin's tipped his chair back a bit, giving Mark a somewhat quizzical look. "And she's sick?"

"Yes! Damn why is it so hard for you to grasp this concept!" Mark was pacing across the floor of Angel and Collins' house. It was a small place like Joanne's and Maureen's. Just perfect for the two of them. After a lot of debating Mark decided to leave the girl from the freeway alone while he went to get Collins. He had a level head on his shoulders. Mark figured he'd know what to do. But he wasn't proving to be a lot of help. Collins laughed a bit.

"Mark, what possessed you to bring her home in the first place?" he asked him, leaning forward and giving him his full attention now.

"She didn't really leave me with much of a choice!" he grumbled.

"What, she follow you?" Collins asked, trying to understand.

"No," Mark sighed. "She collapsed into me. I wasn't about to leave her there to die."

"And now you think she'll probably end up dieing at the loft anyway?"

"That's what Roger says. I don't know what's going to happen. She hasn't woken up since last night. I should probably be getting back," Mark looked down at his watch then stood up, tightening his striped scarf around his neck.

"I'll come," Collins stood up. "Get a look at this 'Freeway' character."

"And Angel?" Mark asked.

"She actually went down to see Mimi."

"Yeah that's where Roger's at," Mark sighed. "I hope she'll be okay."

"She will," Collins clapped Mark on the back and followed him out onto the snowy sidewalk. "She's Mimi Marquez. She's braved death already. And she's got enough will in her to do it again if necessary."

Mimi stretched and yawned dramatically. She reminded Roger of a cat lounging in the sun. After sleeping for a couple of more hours, Mimi was feeling a little bit better. Everyone was seated in the living room. Joanne was leafing through the newspaper and Maureen had convinced Angel to play some sort of dice game on the coffee table. Roger cuddled with Mimi on the couch, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Hey, you think Mark needs help with that girl?" Mimi whispered. "You were saying she was in pretty bad shape." Roger shrugged gently.

"He seemed to have things under control. She pretty much just fainted. I'm sure she just slept the night and went home already." Mimi looked up at him skeptically.

"I'm so sure!" she giggled. She patted his leg. "We should go see him."

"Nope. I'm not letting you leave this house until your fevers gone," Joanne said sternly, not even looking up from her paper.

"Joaaaaane!" Mimi whined.

"Meeeeeeemi!" Joanne mimicked. "I'm sorry girly. That's the way it's gotta be."

"You'll be thanking her later," Angel said, resting her chin on her fist as Maureen rolled the dice and they rolled off the coffee table.

"Oo! I win!" she squealed.

"Does that game even have any actual rules?" Roger smiled at the flustered look on Angel's face as she picked up the dice and tossed them back at Maureen.

"Yeah. Maureen wins no matter what," she sighed.

"So…are we like going to be stuck here til Mimi gets better or what?" Maureen tugged on Joanne.

"Maureen!" Joanne kicked her gently. Mimi sighed heavily.

"Plllllease can I go with Roger?" Mimi begged.

"No," Joanne stated. "I'm not changing my mind Mimi. And honey, why don't you go take a walk with Angel?" Angel groaned. Maureen hopped up.

"OK!" she grabbed hold of Angel's arm and tugged her towards the door. Once Mimi, Roger, and Joanne were alone, Joanne finally looked up from the newspaper. Mimi was nuzzling Roger's cheek lovingly and he had his hand rested on her waist.

"I'm guessing you're not going to go see if Mark needs any help?" Joanne asked. Roger lifted his head from Mimi for a second.

"I'm not leaving her again," he said. "Mimi stays I stay." Joanne opened her mouth to say something but could only reside on a smile as Mimi poked Roger affectionately in the ribs and he jumped a little. She laughed and tossed Roger the phone. "At least call him?" Roger rolled his eyes playfully as he caught it.

"Fiiiine."

9:32 AM

Maureen was spinning around on the sidewalk, catching snowflakes in her open mouth.

"Snowflakes are pretty," Angel sighed as one landed on her nose. "Each one is so intricately designed." Maureen turned her attention to Angel, slightly annoyed.

"Hey you know what we should do?" she linked her arm through Angel's.

"I'm afraid to ask."

"Go meet that girl Marky found."

"Hon, I think that….,"

"You think too much!" Maureen exclaimed. "Let's just go please?" Angel sighed.

"Alright but if…,"

"Ya!" Maureen tugged her along the slippery sidewalk, wet flakes still falling on their heads. Angel wasn't quite sure why she had agreed but halfway to the loft, Maureen still babbling up a storm, she figured it out.

When Joanne was absent, Maureen needed a partner in crime.