When Terry Gets Sick

Chapter Three: Confessions

"K-Kids?" Rachel spluttered. "We don't have any kids."

Terry looked up at her like she was insane. "Yes, we do. You know, Robin, Bruce, and Terrance. Those kids."

He continued staring at her, icy blue-gray eyes searching her face for signs of a joke.

Rachel smiled. "Oh, those kids. They went to play with Max's children."

So Mommy and Daddy have some alone time," Terry grinned, his tone flirtatious.

"And what exactly does that mean?" Rachel squeaked as Terry enveloped her tiny ivory hand in his own, large, square one and tugged it. She went sailing on top of him, her head landing on his chest.

"That's better, Rach," he murmured, slipping his arm around her naturally slender frame. "Maybe we should talk to Max about taking the kids more often," Terry slurred, pulling Rachel so that she was pressed against him with no space whatsoever between their bodies.

"Terry…" she gasped softly. "Um…I left cookies in the oven?"

"OK, baby. Bring me some when they're ready, alright?"

"Sure," she concurred hastily.

He released her, though reluctantly, she noted.

"Make sure you get some rest," Rachel ordered as an afterthought.

"You're no fun," Terry muttered. He rolled over dutifully and fluffed up his pillow. "Rach? I love you."

Rachel's heart skipped a beat. She paused, her tiny, delicate hand frozen on the knob. "I love you too, Terry," she uttered softly.

Rachel squealed once in the hallway. "He loves me."

'He's got a fever,' she chided herself. 'Terry doesn't even know what he's saying.'

Rachel took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "I should call his mom to let her know what's going on."

She found the number of the hotel in Metropolis stuck to the refrigerator.

"Hello, how may I help you?" Rachel was greeted by a frosty female voice.

"Mary McGinnis, please," Rachel said politely.

"One moment."

"Hello?" Mary asked.

"Hi, Mrs. McGinnis, this is Rachel."

"Oh hi dear. Is something wrong?" Mary inquired.

"Nothing I can't handle, Mrs. McGinnis. Terry seems to have the flu," Rachel replied. "He's doing fine; I have him wrapped up in bed with a cool cloth on his head. I just wanted you to know."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Rachel. Your grandfather knows Terry won't be in to work?"

"He was there when Terry got sick," Rachel answered. "It's not a really big deal; I don't mind looking after him until you get home."

"I think you're rather enjoying it," Mary said slyly. "Anyway, I'll be home Sunday afternoon, dear. If you need anything, you have the phone number."

"OK. Thanks, Mrs. McGinnis," Rachel responded. "I'll see you Sunday."

"Mary, dear. Call me Mary."

"OK. Erm, bye Mary."

Rachel hung the phone up and stared at the floor of the kitchen. "He said he loves me," she whispered. "I wonder if he really means it."

Max would have an opinion, Rachel knew.

"Hello," Max answered on the first ring.

"It's Rachel," she said shortly.

"Hey Rach," Max replied casually. "What's going on? Terry wants to spend the night?"

"Shut up, Gibson. I have to tell you something."

"OK, OK, don't get your mask in a bunch," Max retorted. "What?"

"Terry is sick," Rachel began. "And since no one else is here…"

"You're taking care of him," Max finished for her. "And you're loving it completely."

"Yes," Rachel continued. "He has a high fever and he's hallucinating. He seems to think we're married and have kids."

"And?" Max probed.

"Terry said he loves me."

"Aww," Max cooed. "What did you tell him?" she demanded.

"I said I love him too," Rachel admitted faintly. "I mean, if he's so delusional that he thinks we're married, why can't I just tell him how I feel? Terry won't even remember this tomorrow."

"Yes he will," Max insisted. "Because it's true. How do you know he's not faking it?"

"Terry isn't like that," Rachel scoffed. "He's sick."

"Whatever," Max replied. "The point is, you're all alone with a very good-looking guy who you happen to have loved oh, I dunno, for a year and a half."

"You're insane. We're friends."

"Go have some fun," Max said lightly. "You deserve it."

And she hung up.

Batman Beyond Batman Beyond Batman Beyond

Terry was asleep when Rachel checked on him again. She repositioned the cloth on his head and tucked the blankets around him more tightly.

"Poor baby," she murmured, sweeping his sweaty bangs away from his face. "I promise it'll be alright, Terry. Rachel's here to take care of you."

She glanced at the clock on its side beside his bed. It read 12:03.

"Time for me to get some sleep," Rachel commanded herself harshly.

She ambled into the hall and opened the linen cabinet. There was an extra blanket patterned with duckies, leftover from the days when Terry and Matt had been young enough to enjoy such things as duckies.

Rachel smirked at the fabric in her hands. This was too good.

A bit of humor for you, I hope…

Anyway, in case I forgot to mention it, this story is completely separate from the Something to Be series…just the kids' names are the same…

Love,

Queenie