Leia slept most of the day, coming out of her death-like slumber only to have a coughing fit or to choke down the reconstituted soup that Han brought. She had no concept of the time and the numbers on the chrono kept blurring and scrambling. She assumed when Han came into the cabin and put his sleep pants on that the nightcycle was beginning. Leia sat up and leaned into the pillows and watched as Han moved around the cabin. Her eyes fell to the tangled mess of hair that was draped over her shoulder. She half-heartedly ran her fingers through the ends of it, but she couldn't keep her eyes focused on it long enough to do much good.
"Do you want me to do that?" Han asked, sitting down beside Leia on the bunk.
"If you think you can do much good," she acquiesced. He pulled her, once again, to lay on his chest and worked his fingers into her hair as she slept quietly, her arms slung loosely around his hips.
"Sweetheart," he murmured to her when he could run his fingers through without getting tangled, "you alright?" Leia stirred and looked hazily up at him.
"My head hurts," she muttered, snuggling back into his chest. "You're warm." Han chuckled. The princess sighed and sat up, raking her fingers through her hair and twisting it into a braid.
"Look at this, Leia," Han said, holding up a ball of hair that he pulled off the blanket.
"It happens. It's just hair. Don't be a sissy." Han laughed. "You're really warm," she repeated, settling against him.
"You think I'm warm…" he trailed off, feeling her burning skin.
"Can I sleep with you again?" Leia asked, her coherency fading quickly.
"I was kinda plannin' on that," Han replied. "Can I lay down before you drift off for the night?" Leia nodded and sat up while Han stretched out. He tucked her in beside him and snapped off the light above his head.
00
Han woke up one night with all the covers down around his knees and Leia thrashing beside him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, trying to still her movements.
"It's so warm in here," she informed him. His eyes were finally adjusted to the dark and he realized that she'd gotten stuck trying to peel off a few of her thick sweaters.
"Sit up," he instructed, chuckling. He ran his hands up her sides and pulled the shirts over her head for her. "I think your fever finally broke," he informed her. He put his lips to her forehead and felt cool skin. She didn't pull out of his arms. "Lay down, sweetheart. You'll feel much better in the morning," Han promised.
00
On the fourth day into their journey, Leia woke up, finally able to breathe. Her head wasn't pounding, either, and that was a good sign. She carefully moved Han's arm off her stomach to the bed between them and sat up. The room remained stationary and she didn't feel lightheaded. She went to the 'fresher and showered properly for the first time in days. Feeling clean and renewed, Leia pulled on one of Han's shirts and went to the galley to start kaf and breakfast.
A body pressed itself up behind her and large hands slipped around her hips. She turned and met Han's offered kiss.
"Someone looks like they're feeling better," he noted.
"Mhm. Here." Leia pressed a mug of steaming kaf into his hands.
00
Leia's side of the bed—should he be worried that they'd been sharing a bed for five days and he was already referring to it as her side?—was empty when he woke up. He hoped she wasn't having a coughing fit somewhere that he couldn't hear. He found her in the galley wearing one of his shirts that just barely covered everything. Her hair was wet and loose down her back. He couldn't think of a single thing sexier.
He hugged her from behind and she took the kiss he offered.
00
"You coming to bed?"
"Well, I don't need to sleep with you anymore because I'm feeling better," she replied hesitantly.
"We could sleep together anyways," he offered, "just because."
"I suppose we could," she whispered. He held out his hand and she took it. He led her back to his cabin.