It was the middle of the night but I couldn't sleep the blanket wrapped around me doing little to stop my body from shaking. "It's not even a cold night so why am I so cold?" I muttered to myself, lying on my side before I pulled the blanket tighter around me. Which did nothing and with a groan I climbed off the armchair that served as my bed. A little unsteady on my feet I still managed to make my way towards the front door and after I carefully opened the door I found someone already waiting for me. Thunder stuck his head in the doorway and I grinned feeling better despite being unable to stop shivering.

"Hey, boy. What are you doing out of the stable?" I whispered, stroking his head and he snorted nuzzling my head. "I know I'm still not well but I couldn't sleep." I told him and he nodded gently pushing me towards the stable when I stumbled. "Maybe I should go and lie down." I admitted and Thunder gave me a look gently pushing me in the direction of the stable a second time.

Knowing what he wanted I draped my arm around his shoulder and after Thunder led me back to his stall I waited for him to lie down before I sat beside him. "My head feels so hot right now." I muttered resting my head on his side and he lowered his head resting it on my lap.

Later that morning Grayson walked into the living room, yawning before he froze. "Where in tarnation did she do?" He grumbled hurrying over to the door before he yanked it open. Looking around he happened to look down finding a set of hoof prints and after a second glance he noticed that they were joined by a pair of footprints.

"Gotcha." He muttered, fixing his hat as he headed for the stable though as soon as he walked inside he saw Thunder still inside his temporary stall and he frowned, quickly heading over until he saw someone with their head resting on Thunder's side and he blinked.

Shaking his head at how peaceful Mia looked he stepped over as quietly as he could until Thunder slowly lifted his head having already heard Grayson entering his stall. Once he saw Thunder's eyes on him Grayson broke into a grin. "Can't sneak up on you can I, boy?" He chuckled and Mia groaned shifting onto her side. "How did you get all the way out here?"

Thunder just leaned down, giving Mia's head a nuzzle but she didn't stir and after a few seconds of staring at them Grayson broke into a grin. "Guess if it helps she can stay in here with you. Didn't think she missed you that much only after a few hours apart. Reminds me of that Lucky girl. Just as stubborn." He whispered unable to resist getting closer though just as he reached out barely touching her hair she sighed in her sleep and he froze mentally kicking himself for getting that close.

Once Grayson was sure Mia wouldn't wake he withdrew his hand making his way out of the stable before he let out a breath unable to understand why he'd even wanted to get that close. "Must be losin' my mind." Grayson muttered as he headed back to his house. After I woke for the second time Thunder whinnied as I struggled to remember where I was.

"Thunder, am I in the barn? How did I get here?" I asked him and he snorted at me when I sat. "Hmm...maybe I wandered in here?"

"There you are. What are you doin' sleeping in my stable? You know you're not a horse right?" Grayson teased and I just rolled my eyes climbing to my feet though as soon as I managed to reach the entrance the floor shifted under me. "Whoa easy. You shouldn't be walking around 'specially with that fever." Grayson scolded after he caught me in his arms and I blinked up at him raising an eyebrow at him after several seconds passed.

"Fever? Is that why I keep shivering?" I asked Grayson who rolled his eyes, draping an arm around my shoulders to keep me steady though when he tried to lead me towards the stable entrance I didn't move. "Who are you exactly?"

"Who am I?" Grayson repeated and I nodded, slightly curious as he blinked at me. "That fever's really done a number on ya. Come on you're goin' back inside and lying down. The stable's for horses not people." He sighed trying to get both of my feet onto the floor until he noticed my feet were bare. "You came out here without any boots on?" He asked me and I just gave him a one-armed shrug tilting my head to one side then the other.

"You do look kind of familiar and I'm pretty good with faces." I muttered and he rolled his eyes finally giving up on getting me to walk back to the house. "Whoa!" I yelped as Grayson lifted me into his arms and I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck tight enough to make him cough.

"Loosen your grip, woman before you choke me!" Grayson shouted and I relaxed my grip my eyes wide as he adjusted his grip on me.

"Sorry...whoever you are." I apologized wondering why this man thought I couldn't walk by myself. He just fixed me with two slightly wide eyes and I found myself giggling as I gave his back a light pat. "Next stop the house!" I called out and he looked over at Thunder who just whinnied finding the whole thing funny. Shaking his head at the pair of us Grayson carried me out of the stable and back towards the house.

"There now you stay put." Grayson told me wrapping the blanket back around my shoulders and I just shrugged at him peering at his face until he raised his eyebrows at me. "What is it now?"

"Not sure why I can't remember your name." I said and he just shook his head rising from the chair he'd pulled close to my bed. "Did I say something wrong?"

"You're sick so I won't hold it against ya. Now just stay put until you can walk because I'm not carrying you again." Grayson answered, stretching his back and I rolled my eyes at him sticking my lip out slightly. "Pouting won't work on me so just stop that." He scolded and I just sighed leaning back against the armrest with my arms cross.

"You're no fun at all you know that, Grayson?" I grumbled and Grayson crossed his arms about to argue until he realized I'd remembered his name and he broke into a smile which I echoed after a moment. "See? Knew you were nicer than you think you are." I replied, pulling the blanket over me.

"Just stay there alright? I have work I need to do and I can't have you wandering off." Grayson complained noting the smile on my face. "Now what's so funny?"

"Thanks for taking care of me." I mumbled, sighing as I turned over onto my side. Once Grayson was sure that I was actually asleep this time he adjusted my blanket walking towards the front door so he missed me opening one eye with a smile on my lips.

Grayson came to check on me hours later only to find me wandering around the kitchen and he shook his head walking over and I jumped when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I whirled around heart beating wildly to find Grayson staring at me.

"Easy it's just me." Grayson said when he saw how wide my eyes were. "You shouldn't be up." He told me as he raised a hand and I flinched when he pressed a palm to my forehead. "Just relax would ya? Just trying to see how bad your fever is." Grayson explained barely touching my forehead when I stumbled back into the sink.

"W...what do you want with me?" I stammered and Grayson blinked at me before his lips curled into a smile. "What's so funny?" I asked with a frown on my face.

"Just tryin' to help but if you don't want it that's fine." Grayson commented turning around until I reached out grasping his shoulder and he turned his head to find me staring at him. "Changed your mind? Look I promise I ain't gonna hurt you."

"I know that I just..." I trailed off with a grimace and he nodded, lightly touching my forehead with his palm.

"That fever's gone down a bit but you should still be resting. What were you doin' wandering around here anyway?" Grayson asked and I pointed to a glass sitting on the sink. "You wanted a drink of water?" I nodded and he sighed. "You should have told me."

"You already let me stay here and taught me some new skills. Plus you were busy and I didn't want to bother you." I explained in a small voice and he rubbed at his eyes reaching past me to turn the water on. Once he filled a glass he pushed it into my hands and after I finished it I set it back on the sink before he put a hand on my back pushing me back to the bed.

"New rule. If you need something just ask me. You're still sick and not capable of taking care of yourself." Grayson commented once I was sitting on my blanket and I sniffed, pulling the blanket over my head after a few attempts. "Come on now."

"It's this fever. I try to do something easy and it makes my head feel funny and then I can't think clearly." I answered and Grayson just shook his head pulling the blanket down enough to uncover my face.

"That's why I want you to ask me for anything you need." Grayson said trying not to laugh when I tilted my head at him. "It's really not a bother."

"I know it is but you're too nice to point that out." I replied wrapping the blanket around my shoulders this time. When he chuckled I frowned at his face. "What?"

"Never thought anyone would say that about me. Well maybe Blondie." Grayson chuckled and I blinked until I figured it out and he saw a tiny smile on mu lips. "Yeah she's a pain all right."

"The PALS told me about the watch and the window and how Abigail tried to be friends with you." I explained and Grayson ran a hand through his hair with a grimace. "It couldn't have been that bad." Seeing the blank look on Grayson's face I giggled. "Okay maybe it was but at least Xerxes can back up now."

"How do you know about that?" Grayson asked and I grinned at him until he blinked leaning back with a slight smile on his lips. "Should have known that girl had something to do with it."

"Hey don't be so negative. Lucky wanted to help Xerxes learn to back up and it didn't hurt you either did it?" I told him and he just stared at me when I patted his shoulder. "Plus Abigail was trying to be nice to you. Like I'm trying to."

"Yeah but you're not constantly getting in my face with songs and flowers." Grayson answered and I just shrugged trying to think of something else to talk about.

"Hey we didn't exactly start out as friends did we? But now we are...aren't we?" I asked him though when he didn't answer he saw my lower lip quivering. "I thought we were."

"Hey no waterworks. I didn't take Thunder while you were sick did I?" Grayson protested getting the tiniest of nods for his trouble. "Plus I did teach you a few things and I could have just left you by that stream but I brought you back to my ranch instead." Another nod and he nodded back.

"Sorry, Grayson. I was just thinking about what my dad said to me before he left town and I know you said not to worry about it but..." I trailed off with a slight wince. "It still kind of hurts."

"You know you don't need to get your daddy's approval on how to live your life right?" Grayson commented and I chewed my lip until I finally nodded at him. "That's better. I have to go into town so do you think you'll be fine for a few hours? No running off especially while you're sick?"

"I promise I won't leave this ranch. You can trust me." I told him and Grayson straightened giving me a slight nod. After he opened the front door he turned back to see me staring at the ceiling with a blank look on my face and he just snorted, walking out.

Grayson returned hours later and after he walked Xerxes into the stable he headed for the house only to find the door slightly ajar. Already dreading what he'd find Grayson rushed into the room finding my bed empty and he groaned, searching the house. "I told her to say put but did she listen to me? Of course not." He grumbled until he heard someone whistling and he paused trying to work out where it was coming from. Until the door to the bathroom opened and I walked out closing the door behind me.

I turned around when someone cleared their throat and I cringed as Grayson stared at me tapping his foot on the floor. "What did I say about stayin' put?" He asked me and I sighed, rubbing at my eyes.

"You told me not to leave the house and I didn't. Anyway I drank a lot of water while you were gone." I explained and he quickly cleared his throat pointing to the front room. With Grayson watching me I had no choice so I walked back to the front room and he followed, his arms crossed against his chest.