Note: This one is long. Sorry... or you're welcome. Whichever. :)

Chapter 6:

Tim laid on his stomach on Julie's bed. He wasn't sure that he was happy with how he left things. He wasn't propositioning her and he felt like he made that clear at least but now he was wondering how he even felt about Julie.

He sighed.

He didn't want to think about feelings. He tried that with Lyla but she was so damn frustrating he was just trying to keep himself away from her now. And then before her the only gal he'd had feelings for really had been Tyra. And that… that was just a mess of lust and loneliness and good sex. But Julie… this was different and potentially difficult. He never let himself think of her as anything but Coach's daughter. Before he came to stay with the Taylor's he'd only even talked to her twice. But when she kissed him in the grocery store… he didn't even want to admit it to himself but he felt a kind of spark and then she laughed at him and he liked it. He honestly just liked it. She had really pretty hazel eyes and all that blonde hair… oh crap.

Tim sighed again. He looked at the clock. It was now 9:15. He didn't think he fell asleep but he must have zoned out or something.

He heard a thud and a scream from the living room.

He ran into the room and found Julie on the floor between the couch and the coffee table.

"Are you alright?" He offered her his hand to help her on the couch.

"I'm not sure." She let him help her up.

"What happened?"

"I woke up on the floor. I guess I had another nightmare. This is getting annoying real fast."

"Do you want to talk about them? It might help."

Julie looked into Tim's eyes and bit her lip.

"Um… no… they are just about the tornado. I feel so stupid having them."

Tim held her hand.

"Don't feel stupid. You're trying to process something bad that happened. It's normal… I think."

Julie smiled.

"Yeah? How come you don't have them then?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"I dunno. I mean mostly I feel exhausted and sore so maybe I can only focus on that."

"I'm sorry Tim, I keep waking you up too. I should have realized…"

She tried to pull away but he interlaced their fingers.

"It's okay. I want to make sure you are okay."

She looked at him closely. His eyes had small circles under them because of lack of sleep. But he looked sincere.

She sighed.

"I keep dreaming about worst case scenarios. It's like my brain wants me to relive the tornado but with an added torturous bonus it keeps having you bleed out or the shelf shift and cause us to be trapped for days or I don't even know but it scares me and then I wake up and I'm fine, you're fine, everything is fine."

Tim is overwhelmed. That was a lot to feel at once.

"Jeez Julie, that is really scary. I'm sorry you keep going through that. Come on."

He pulled her up and walked to her bedroom. He carefully sat her down on the side closest to her alarm clock and walked around the other side and slid under the covers laying on his right side facing her.

"Tim…"

"Just lay down Julie. If you have a nightmare I'll be here. If I roll… you'll be here. We can help each other and maybe get some damn sleep."

Julie chewed her bottom lip and thought about it. He made very good points.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"I'm sure." He smiled as she laid down on her back and pulled the covers around her.

"Julie?"

She turned her head towards him.

"Yeah?"

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"I like keeping you safe. Relax."

She smiled and kissed his cheek super softly.

"Sleep well superman."

Julie settled down and actually drifted to sleep.

Tim closed his eyes long enough to hear her breathing even out then opened his eyes and watched her. He felt like a creep but he couldn't resist.

About 10 minutes later she was twitching.

Tim carefully rolled her and pulled her into his body and wrapped his arms around her.

She sighed contently. He smiled. Maybe this could work was his last thought before he buried his face in her hair and fell into a restful sleep cuddled with Julie.

A little over 3 hours later Julie woke up and couldn't believe the clock said 12:24. She felt Tim all around her. His left arm was draped over her hip and his hand was resting on the bed. Gah, he has long arms. She thought. His legs were all tangled with hers. And his right hand was resting against the back of her neck.

I have to pee. She thought.

If I move he will wake up… I wonder how long he's been sleeping. I hope he is sleeping. Ohhh I have to pee. Damn. Damn. Double damn.

Julie tried to move her legs first and was able to get them free but now his arm was the issue.

"Tim?" She whispered.

Nothing.

She rolled onto her back. This was a bad move. Suddenly Tim's face was burrowed into Julie's neck and his arm had moved blocking her in and cuddling her closer all at the same time.

Ohhh… he's so warm. And strong and muscular. Oh. I'm in trouble.

"Tim!" She whispered a little louder.

"mmmm" he mumbled directly into her collar bone.

"Tim!"

He didn't move but she could feel him kind of waking up.

"hmm Jules?" He whispered into her neck.

"I am thoroughly enjoying this cuddling but… um… I have to pee. Seriously."

He chuckled and placed a kiss to her neck.

"TIM!"

He released her and backed up.

She sat up quickly and went to the bathroom.

While she was gone Tim closed his eyes.

5 minutes later Julie set her alarm for 1:00 and was sliding back in the bed on her back.

He kept his hands to himself until she pulled his arm to her.

"Now you want to cuddle?" He asked sleepily.

Julie smiled.

"I liked it. You don't have to though if you don't want."

"I like you."

"What?" She shouted.

"Cuddling…" he mumbled.

She relaxed. I must have heard that wrong. He's sleepy…He said he likes cuddling… uh… didn't he?

Tim pulled her closer.

She turned and looked at him but he was falling asleep.

She nudged him.

"Tim?"

"Yep?"

"Nevermind. Let's sleep some more and I'll make lunch at 1:00."

She rolled back on her right side and Tim pulled her closer again.

She smiled.

He smiled.

At 1:00 the alarm went off and they both sighed and stretched. Julie shut it off and went to make lunch. Tim slowly followed her after using the bathroom.

"Jules?"

"Hmm?"

"Did any of the doctors or nurses mention how I'm supposed to change all these bandages on my own after I shower?"

"Um… yeah… the instructions are with the medicine log my mom made. She said to use the Band-Aids we have if you shower today but she's going to the store tonight or tomorrow so she's gonna get you some more. She said for me to help you since you won't be able to reach them. The only one to really worry about is the one with stitches. It should be covered with plastic wrap and you shouldn't spray the water directly on it."

"Well okay…"

"Did you want to take a shower after lunch?"

He smiled. From any other gal that would be a major proposition but not Jules.

"Uh… Yeah… I thought it might help me. Maybe at least loosen my muscles."

"Okay. I checked the instructions, it's been 6 hours so you can take a pain pill whenever you want."

"I'm thinking, Lunch, pain pill, another nap. You?"

She smiled. Definitely need another nap. She thought.

"Sounds good. I made us some Turkey sandwiches. I'm going to have an apple with mine. Do you want any fruit?"

He laughed.

"Nope. I'll get the chips off the fridge."

"Okay… Hey wait… be careful."

He was tall enough he didn't even stretch.

"I'm good."

The rest of the afternoon followed Tim's plan. Julie called and checked in with her mother who was glad Tim was resting and that she'd slept. Julie obviously left out the sleeping with each other part.

After Tim's shower he put on underwear and the same shorts then went to find Julie.

She sucked in a breath when she saw his back without the bandages. Some of them were turning into bruises. And the one with stitches had a huge bruise going around to the front of his body.

He noticed her looking.

"It's okay… Any hits to the ribs tend to cause that. I'm okay."

She furrowed her brows.

"I know. It's just hard to look at."

He scoffed. "I'm hard to look at? I don't think anyone has said that to me before…"

"That's obviously not what I meant. It just looks painful."

"Well…. It is. But I took the pill before the shower so that when you torture me it won't hurt so much. Now… Where do you want me Nurse Julie?"

She smiled but shook her head.

"Never. Call. Me. That. Again." She said.

He let out a breath and raised his eyebrows.

"Just kneel on the couch and I'll start at the top and go down."

Julie carefully made sure each scratch was dry with a towel then started at the top and put a little cream and then a Band-Aid on each wound except the big one.

"Okay… Sit down." He sat on the coffee table.

She pulled the plastic wrap off and got the bigger bandage to put on this one.

Tim winced when Julie touched his rib.

"I'm sorry! I just want the bandage to stick."

He swallowed. "It's okay."

She frowned. She felt like that's all he said about all of this.

She finished and stood in front of him. Her legs on the outside of his legs. She put her hands on his shoulders and waited.

The way he was seated he had to look up at her. When he did he saw a few different emotions on her face but overwhelming was the care and concern.

"Tim. It's not okay… you're hurt and I'm sorry."

"Well… what am I supposed to say?"

"I dunno… but I don't want to make it any worse."

Tim pulled her right down into his lap. She giggled.

"You. You are not making anything worse."

Her hands slid up and around the back of his neck.

She bit her lip.

Tim stared at her. His hands were on her hips.

He wrapped them around her and put his head on her shoulder.

"Am I making things up between us or…?"

Julie didn't let him finish his question.

She backed up a little and melted her lips to his.

He immediately kissed her back. Sweet innocent kissing.

Oh fuck yes! He thought.

I'M KISSING TIM! She thought.

He pulled back.

"Julie… I like you."

She smiled.

"Tim. I can tell. I like you too."

He smiled.

They kissed again.

She pulled back.

"Um…"

"What?" He asked.

"I just… um… you know that… well. Oh jeez…"

"What Julie?" He rubbed her back to encourage her.

"I just want to be clear here…"

"Stop. Relax Julie. I want to go slow."

That doesn't clear things up for me. She thought.

"Slow…" She repeated.

He licked his lips. And then lifted her onto the couch then sat back on the table.

"Okay… say it. Whatever it is. Just tell me."

"How did you know?"

He smiled. "I'm figuring you out… just go ahead what has you stressing?"

"I'm not stressing exactly. I just want to be clear and not have any problems."

"Okay here is me being clear. This is probably as clear as I ever get so are you ready?" Julie nodded. "I like kissing you. I'd like to do that some more. I liked cuddling with you and I'd like to do that some more, although no one must know about that." Tim winked. Julie smiled. "I like talking to you. I like holding hands, which is so not me… um…I guess I'd like to get to know you better and spend time with you and see where we go. Slow. Much slower than I'm uh… used to."

Julie nodded taking in everything he just said. It was much clearer.

She bit her lip.

"What?" He asked.

"I'm a virgin." oh jeez... i just scared him off. She thought.

Tim's eyebrows rose and he nodded.

"Okay." I thought she slept with seven. He thought.

"I'm gonna stay that way till I'm ready."

"Okay. I'm not gonna pressure you Julie."

She smiled.

"I know. I just wanted it clear. And all those things you said… me too."

She leaned forward and kissed him again.

"Okay… um… Julie?"

"Yep?"

"Can we take that nap now? I'm tired."

"Are you really tired or just want to cuddle?" She winked.

"Can it be both? I'm tired… and sore."

"Let's go."

Julie looked at the clock and was amazed it was only 2:10. She set the alarm for 3:45. She knew her dad would be later than that since he had practice, but she had a sneaky suspicion that her mom was gonna come home right after school to check on them.

At 3:45, she turned the alarm off, kissed Tim's cheek and went to the living room. Tim never moved. Julie turned on her favorite movie and fast forwarded it to half way and sunk into the couch.

Her suspicion was correct and her mom arrived just after 4 and said her dad was bring pizza for dinner and she'd make a salad.

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