Sam pulled the car up outside Juliana's townhouse and began to unbuckle his seat belt. The ride had been silent for the few blocks that they drove. Sam hadn't known where to start and was still running all his questions and comments through his head when he pulled the car over. The click of Sam's seat belt caught Juliana's attention.

"You don't need to." Jules said quietly. Her eyes had been closed for the last few minutes, and now she looked at him wearily. "I can go in by myself."

"Jules…" Sam started, his voice indicating that he didn't believe her.

"Sam, you made sure I got here safely. Leave it at that." Juliana opened the door and exhaled deeply. She paused at the open car door and looking back at Sam, she could tell that there was so much that he wanted to talk about. "If you want to talk about me having dinner with Josh or me freaking out about going to the hospital or, I don't know, whatever…call me tomorrow. Please. I can't do it now."

"How did you…?"

"Sam, your face tells me everything. Thanks for the ride."

Jules closed the car door and walked up the stairs into her building. Sam waited and watched until the door latched behind her and he knew she was inside. Seeing how tired and pale Jules was, Sam knew Jules was right. Today wasn't the day for him to ask all the questions he had, but they were still whizzing around in his mind.

Upon entering her home, Jules had walked into her bathroom, grabbed four Advil and washed them down with a diet coke before collapsing on her couch. She knew that the Advil would take away the aches and pains she was experiencing throughout her chest and rib cage and that the diet coke and couch would help her relax. Jules was simply hoping that it all happened sooner rather than later.

Jules had tossed and turned on the couch, unsuccessful at relaxing and napping. About the time that she felt her body loosening up and unwinding, Jules was jerked back into consciousness by her doorbell.

The idea of company didn't thrill her. Jules released a huge sigh as she opened the door.

"Hey." Josh said, staring through the mediocre sized crack that Jules had made in between the door and the frame.

"Hi."

"I brought soup." Josh said, holding up a large brown bag. Josh waited a few seconds, trying to gauge Juliana's reaction. He finally said, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah. Come on in." Jules opened the door wider and let Josh in. Josh walked over to the table and set the soup down as Jules closed the door and locked it. "You'll have to excuse me if I don't eat right away. I'm not quite up to it yet." Juliana admitted.

"Not a problem." Josh said, with a grin. "How you feeling?"

As Josh talked, he waked over and put the back of his hand on Juliana's forehead. While he waited for an answer he looked her over from head to toe and picked up her wrist as if he were going to take her pulse. Juliana narrowed her eyes and yanked her wrist out of Josh's hand.

"What are you doing?" Juliana asked skeptically.

"Seeing how you were doing?" Josh answered honestly.

"I'm fine. I just left your place two hours ago. Give me a few hours and I'll be as good as new."

"Yeah, those bruises you've got and all that color you don't have in your face tell a different story." Josh said. He was concerned, and he was growing more concerned that Jules wasn't concerned.

"Thank you Florence Nightingale for your stunning performance." Josh was a little taken aback by Juliana's snippy tone. Juliana caught the look on Josh's face and almost regretted what she had said. "I guess you're learning something about me. I'm a little grumpy when I don't feel well."

"Obviously."

Juliana sighed and shook her head. She did appreciate Josh coming over to check on her. She really appreciated the soup, or at least she would in an hour or two. Jules just really wanted Josh to leave.

"Josh, really, thanks for the soup. But, I've got some work that I really should get to. Maybe I could take a rain check?" Juliana tried to make her voice sound lighter; hoping that the change in tone would let Josh know it was okay to leave.

Josh looked at Jules, drew in a small breath and slowly nodded his head up and down.

"No. I don't think so."

"Josh."

"Why do you want to get rid of me?" Josh asked.

"I told you. I have work to do."

"Yeah, I don't buy that either. You've been massively sick in the past twelve hours. You should be recuperating in bed, or seeing a doctor, or letting me spoon-feed you soup. Why aren't you more worried about this?"

"I'm just not. Really, Josh, thank you. How about I call you tomorrow?"

Josh walked away from Jules and sat down on her couch, grabbing a pillow and showing no signs of going anywhere. He glanced over his shoulder at Jules and shook his head.

"See, I don't know what you said to get rid of Sam so quickly, but I assure you, I'm no push over like he is. You can't get rid of me that easily." Josh rubbed the back of his neck and began musing to himself. "See, what I can't figure out is why you're so calm about all this. It's frustrating. I'm trying to do the chivalrous thing, and you're blowing me off, as if you almost dying last night isn't a big deal."

"I didn't almost die." Juliana tried to correct.

"This has happened before." Josh stated, quietly and more seriously. "It has, hasn't it? That's why you're not worried." Josh stood up so he was looking at Jules. She stared defiantly back at him. When Jules saw that Josh wasn't backing down, she spoke.

"Three or four times in the past year. I've always been okay afterwards, this time is no different."

"Do you always throw up so intensely that you're bruised?" Josh asked, genuinely curious and concerned.

"Yes." Juliana replied. She had spoken so softly that it was almost inaudible.

Josh was momentarily stunned into silence.

"Are you pregnant?" Josh suddenly asked.

"God, no." Juliana said, amazed that Josh would even think that. Then she started chuckling, "If that's what morning sickness is like, then I never want to be pregnant."

Josh had to smile at her comment. With Josh's smile, Juliana accepted the fact that she wasn't going to succeed in getting Josh to go anywhere anytime soon. Slowly, Jules made her way around the couch, and sank down in the spot where Josh had been sitting. She leaned forward to rub the back of her neck with the heel of her hand.

"Are you feeling worse?" Josh asked, sitting down beside her.

"No. Just not better. My whole body hurts."

"See? That wasn't so hard, now, was it?" Josh asked. When Jules looked confusedly at him, he explained. "It didn't kill you to admit that you're human. Look, I can help." Josh put his hands tenderly on Juliana's neck and back and rubbed in small, gentle circles. "And you've never considered going to the doctor?" Josh said, finally broaching the subject.

"I've always been fine. Would you go see a doctor if you're convinced that you're fine and can handle it?" Juliana asked, the pillow that she had let her head slide down onto was distorting her words.

"You have me there. I wouldn't go. I haven't gone. I haven't gotten help when I needed it. And it's because I convinced myself I was fine. But I paid the price in the end. I put my hand through a window." Juliana looked up at Josh. He was being completely honest and open.

Juliana sat quietly as Josh told her his story. Based on the way he stopped to think and phrase things, Juliana got the impression that Josh didn't tell this story often. When he finished, Josh paused for a moment and then let his eyes wander up to Juliana's in order to gauge her reaction.

Josh didn't have to wait long. Juliana looked at him briefly. Josh didn't see the pity or concern that he expected, he saw something completely unexpected. He saw Juliana's body barreling towards him.

Juliana propelled herself towards Josh, grasping the back of his neck and pulling him into a kiss. As Josh realized that Jules was kissing him, his hands snaked around to her back and he deepened the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, Jules whispered, "Thank you."

"For which one of my services?" Josh asked, a grin spreading over his face.

"All of them." Juliana replied. "Do your services include turn down service? I'm exhausted. I could use a nap."

"No. But I do a great job tucking people in." Josh grabbed Juliana's hand and pulled her up off the couch. Jules dropped Josh's to crawl underneath the covers.

As Josh tucked the covers around Jules, whispered in her ear. "Get some rest. Your soup will be waiting for you when you get up."

Josh leaned in. Juliana could feel the warmth from his skin touch hers. He gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll check on you later." Josh said.

Juliana smiled and rolled over to curl up around a pillow, drifting off to sleep. Josh sighed and let himself out, content with knowing that Juliana was safe for the time being.