Situtaion Nine: The NyQuil

"Hey." Aaron poked his head into Emily's office and gave her a long look. She gave him a long blink, sniffing back the constant threat of snot that seemed to be ever present at the bridge of her nose. He made a face. "You look worse."

"If you are here to try and get me to go home you can just keep walking." She coughed into her sleeve before wagging her finger at him. "Seth already tried and failed."

"No." He shook his head. "I just brought you some tea."

"Tea?" She stilled for a minute looking at the little tea kettle in his hand, he lifted the other one up and dangled a cup. "You brought me tea?"

Aaron flashed her a wide grin.

"Special blend. My mom swore by it when anyone was sick." He made his way to the desk and poured her a cup.

"That sounds nice. I don't know if I have-."

"Allison says you don't have anything left on the schedule today and the West Wing is almost empty. Drink the tea. I'll come back and check on you in a bit." He ordered, Emily went to protest, but instead took a reluctant sip. It was good. It had a faint bitter cherry flavor that was familiar. She nodded at him and he watched her take another sip. "Drink it all."

He gave Allison a wink.

"Remember don't let her go anywhere or talk to anyone."

"You got it Mr. Shore." She sighed in relief.

…

Emily Rhodes felt like she was stuck in a dream. Someone was carrying her. Someone who smelled suspiciously like Aaron Shore. She liked the smell of Aaron Shore. She liked smelling, she hadn't been able to do that for like a week now. That was one of the reasons she knew she was dreaming.

The other reason was that Aaron shore didn't' get close enough for her to smell anymore. She didn't like that. Her world tilted again and she felt herself pressed between the wall and the sturdy mass that smelled like Aaron. Oo she knew this dream, she liked it. She brought her arms up and ran her grasp over his biceps.

"Hang on let me get the door." He whispered. "Don't fall."

"Mmmm." She muttered, dropping her head onto his chest. He cupped the back of her head with his giant hand, holding her there. "No promises."

"It's okay. I still have you." He whispered.

"You can still have me." She mumbled and he snickered.

"Good to know." His arms came around her again and she settled her face in the crook of his neck. "You have a fever. I told you to get a damn flu shot."

"That was forever ago." She mumbled to dream Aaron. "You don't tell me things anymore." She felt his shoulder sag beneath her head.

"Yeah well." She listened to the sound of him dropping things before feeling him boost her higher on his chest. "Let's' get you to bed."

She ghosted her fingers across his throat.

"Finally the good part." She sighed, he laughed again.

"Not tonight. " He pressed a kiss against her temple and she felt him grin. "Although I did get a flu shot. Because I'm not an idiot." He laid her carefully on the bed and started working her arms out of her jacket. She giggled as her body flopped unceremoniously around.

"Did you just call me an idiot?" She tried to sound stern, but she only sounded drunk, but she didn't remember drinking.

"Emily, there is a shot you can get to prevent the illness you currently have. There were very kind nurses who came to our offices to give it to us." He was using that tone, the one that made it seem like she was the unreasonable one, like he knew better. She shouldn't like that tone, but she did.

"When did I get drunk?" She mumbled, letting her arm trail down his pecks.

"You're not drunk." He wiped the wisps of hair away from her face. "Do you have a tank top on?" He slid his finger between the buttons of her blouse and she felt the tickle of his caress on her silk cami. "Fabulous."

He undid a few of the buttons, pressing his lips together with a snicker when she did the same to him.

"Okay come here." He pulled her limp body towards him, unwrapping her from her blouse. "I've got you."

"I want you to have me." She told him, her hands moving forward and landing lazily on his abdomen. "Why don't you want to have me anymore?"

He gave her a sad smile, appraising her carefully.

"Em." He sighed.

"I kissed Seth." She told him, her eyes filling with tears, he winced.

"When?"

"After the thing with my Dad." She sniffed, her nails applying pressure on his upper arms as he laid her back against the pillows. "And now he thinks we're dating or something. He keeps following me around and I-. He works for me." Her lower lip trembled.

"I'll take care of it." He whispered. "After I take care of you."

"I don't remember getting drunk. I just remember-." Her face brightened for a second and she looked at him. He smirked. "You drugged me."

"Yes." He admitted with a sheepish look that held just enough pride she knew she wasn't dreaming.

"You can't do that. That's a federal crime."

"Probably right." He snorted. "It was just NyQuil."

"What if I tell the president?!" Her voice was astounded.

"Who do you think gave me the NyQuil?" He cupped her cheek for a second, giving her a pointed look. "I'm going unbutton your pants now. It's probably best if you leave mine buttoned tonight okay?"

She nodded at him, trying to ignore the feeling of his fingers at her waist. He tossed a soft blanket over her middle before tugging them down her legs. She smiled a little at his effort.

"I'm tired." She whimpered.

"I know." He said softly. "Close your eyes." He touched her face again.

"Is this your bed?" She asked again her voice barely audible. He chuckled again and adjusted the blanket around her. "I've thought a lot about your bed."

"Emily. As much as I'm enjoying this little look inside your head, you would probably appreciate it if I told you to stop talking now."

"Probably." He sat down beside her pressing his hand to her forehead with a tisk. "I'm sorry.. about Seth." She mumbled. He pressed his lips together. "I didn't mean to."

"Then why?"

"I was sad." Her lip trembled again and he ran his fingers over her face.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there." He probably meant to help her feel better, but Emily thought maybe also for the kiss.

"I'd have rather it been you." Her eyes slipped shut.

"Me too." He whispered, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"I messed up." She moaned.

"I'll fix it." He told her.

"I miss you."

"I'm here." He said softly, brushing her hair from her face again. "I'm right here."

…..

Reality hit Emily Rhodes like lightning.

Her eyes opened with a pop as she glanced quickly around Aaron Shores bedroom.

"Oh no." She murmured, moving her arm around the bed in a wide motion looking for her phone. "No No No."

"Morning Sunshine." His voice rumbled from the doorway. She glanced up at him with a mixture of anger and adoration.

"You drugged me."

"You needed it."

"You can't just drug people Aaron!"

"You're right." He raised a hand, before extending a mug in the other. She looked at him like he was crazy. "Just coffee. No drugs."

She gave it a sniff before taking a drink her eyes never leaving his twinkling gaze.

"In my defense. You left me no choice. It was NyQuil tonight or ER today and you know it." He brought his hand up and laid it on her cheek. "No more fever." She did feel better, she shot him an annoyed look because of it. He just kept smiling.

"Omg We're going to be late." She knew it had to be past six.

"I'm going to be late. You are not going." She opened her mouth to protest. "Executive Order."

"Your co conspirator.." She shook her head.

"The secret service can drive you home whenever you're feeling up to it." He grinned at her. "Or you can stay here, think about my bed some more." She sneered at him, but she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. He snickered at her.

"Okay. It's your choice." He raised his hands. "Since I got my flu shot, I have to work." He pressed his lips to her forehead, breaking away with a pop. "I left you medication, drowsy and non drowsy, on the sink and there are eggs in the pan on the stove that are still relatively warm." He pulled her phone out of the pocket of his trousers holding it out of her reach. "Allison is under orders not to accept your calls. The President or I will contact you directly if we need you." He handed it to her, she yanked it from his hands.

He pulled his jacket on and fiddled with his briefcase before pulling out an orange. He tossed it onto the bed.

"My mother's actual home remedy. She'd bring them home to us when we were sick." He gave her a short smile. "Vitamin C." He shrugged. She palmed the orange in her hand before shooting him a grateful look. "I'll call and check in on you later."

"Aaron?" He turned at the door and waited. "Thanks for taking care of me."

He nodded, turning back around.

"I like taking care of you." His voice echoed throughout the apartment as the door shut behind him. Emily smiled at the orange.

…...

He did like taking care of her. Aaron Shore was a fixer, it was part of every job he'd had in Washington, different degrees of fixing things. He liked fixing things for Emily Rhodes.

"Hey you wanted to see me?" Seth appeared in the doorway.

"Yeah." He gestured to the chair. "Sit."

"I was looking for Em but Allison says she's out?"

"Yeah. I hope you got your flu shot." Aaron raised an eyebrow. Seth didn't notice.

"She's still sick? She told me it was allergies." Seth looked at him innocently. "Something about peat moss?"

"She's sick. " Aaron tipped his head towards him. "Despite her best attempts not to be, well.. her best attempt would have been to get a flu shot."

"I should call her-." He pulled out his phone.

"Seth, I just left her, she's hopefully passed out." He raised his hand towards Wright's cell phone.

"You just left her?" The pieces were starting to fall into place.

"Yeah." Aaron looked right at him.

"I tried to call her last night." He continued.

"I had her phone off." Aaron nodded. "She needed sleep. Look Seth, I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"For being there for Em lately. I've been so crazy getting everything adjusted at NSA. I haven't been there for her. She told me how you were, after the whole thing with her Dad went down the way it did. I really appreciate it." Aaron looked at his desk. "You're a good friend." He didn't accent the word friend, but when he looked up he could tell the message was received.

"Yeah." Seth nodded, his lips coming together in a tight line. "No, I mean you're welcome."

"It's been a tough year, but I think we're finally working it out you know?" Aaron sighed. "Professionally and personally."

"I'm glad to hear that." Seth gave him a lopsided grin. "Anyway I'm supposed to meet with Lyor in 15."

"Yeah I'll leave you too it." He smiled. "If you need anything from me today, with Em out just give me a shout."

"Absolutely." Seth rose and made his way to the door. "Let her know I hope she feels better."

"I will. We should all go out when she's better, maybe even take Kendra and Lyor. It's been a while."

"It has." Seth agreed, holding up his file. "Later."

"Later." Aaron watched him go, feeling just a twinge of guilt.

His phone buzzed and he glanced down.

Decided to stay here. Bring me lunch?.

Yes Ma'am. He texted back with a grin.