The Best Kind of Medicine

There's that moment.

The moment when one realizes what's about to happen. It comes to the surface all at once. In a single moment, "Acho!" Chelsea sneezed. The sudden burst only faltered Clark from his thoughts momentarily as he continued speaking to the group.

"What is that? Like the eighth time today?" asked Wally lowly with concern.

Chelsea rubbed her nose, "Yeah," she admitted, "I woke up with a really bad headache too." It was a standard training day around The Watch Tower. Members had to square off and train against the other. With Chelsea there now it allowed an even number, which made pairings a lot more successful. The rounds were randomly drawn.

Chelsea sneezed again. Her eyes started to water without warning. She caught her nose as it started to run, "I'll be right back. Sorry guys." She said scurrying out of the giant training room to grab a tissue. When she found a tissue to relieve her nose, she continued to sneeze, "No way," she thought, "I refuse to get sick right now…" she returned to the group, ignoring the incessant throbbing against her skull. Her face was even paler than usual.

Upon her return Clark turned to her, "Star, you've been paired up with Hawkgirl. Are you ready?"

Shayera was quite the opponent, "Of course," Chelsea nodded.

They stood at either ends of the large ring-like area. The rest of the league was lined up on the sidelines as spectators. J'onn held up his hand and swung it down, "Begin!" he commanded.

Hawkgirl left no pause. She was already soaring toward Chelsea with such ferocity. Swinging her mace violently, Chelsea narrowly dodged and prepared a counter maneuver. She flipped backwards into the air and was ready to blast Shayera with a powerful glow when she felt that tickle in her nose. That single second of hesitation allowed for an opening. This time, Shayera made well of her time and delivered a devastating blow that not even she expected. That very instant, she regretted putting all of her might into it. She was so wrapped up in the moment, and Chelsea was so capable. What happened?

Chelsea was slammed into the wall and lay limp like a ragdoll on the ground. Everyone was shocked by this display, "Chelsea!" cried Wally racing to her side to help her. Bruce wasn't far behind.

Chelsea gripped Wally's arm, "I'm fine Wal." She insisted and then sneezed once again. Getting to her feet she dusted herself off and started to cough.

"I'm so sorry." Hawkgirl said, approaching her with the rest of the group.

"You were just doing your job… I just feel terrible." Chelsea admitted, "I think I'm getting sick. I know that's no excuse. I thought I could do it, but I can barely see straight with this headache I have. Something is going around on campus-" she was cut off from a cough, "-and I think it finally caught up to me."

Diana rested the back of her hand against Chelsea's forehead and then her cheeks, "You're burning up."

"Return to your room and get some rest." Clark instructed.

"I think I'm just going to go home." Chelsea told them with a nasally voice, "If I stick around it'll just spread through The Watch Tower and I don't want to be the reason for that." she made her way to the door and exited.

Once Chelsea had arrived at her apartment, she let herself in and kicked off her shoes. Tossing her keys into the dish near the door she flopped down on her couch and pulled a blanket on top of her. Scooting a box of tissues closer to her, she stifled a sneeze and turned on the tv. Somehow sleep seemed to come to her quite quickly.

She stirred about an hour later to the sound of her cell phone humming nearby. She answered the call, "Hello?" she asked sleepily.

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" It was Wally.

Chelsea forced herself to sit up. Her body ached, "It's fine Wal." She assured him. There was a knock at her door. Prying herself up from the couch she made her way to the door, "What's up?" she asked into the phone.

When she opened the door there Wally stood with a smile on his face. He had a small brown bag and a rose in one hand, and held his cell phone in the other, "I brought you some medicine." he told her.

She shook her head and stepped aside so he could come in, "You shouldn't be here Wally. I'll make you sick."

He set the medicine bag on the counter and held the flower out to her, "I knew you'd say that, but I wanted to check on you." He smoothed back some of her hair. She accepted the rose and managed a smile through her sickly state, "I'd stay here and take care of you, but I had already promised the ladies at the orphanage I'd help them entertain the rugrats for the day."

Chelsea started to cough as she went to retrieve a vase from the kitchen to place her single flower in, "It's probably a good thing. I don't want you catching this."

"I've got a great immune system. It's nothing to worry yourself over." He approached her. She was hesitant because of her illness, but against her wishes, he placed a sweet soft peck on her forehead, "I'll come back once I'm done. I'll bring you dinner. Anything you want."

It was just like him to act this way. Her smile reappeared, "Surprise me."

He mirrored her smile, "As you wish." he winked.

The image of Westley from Princess Bride was engraved in her memory. They had watched it together some time ago. She wondered if he was intentionally quoting it or if his flirtation with her was as natural to him as his speed now. She guessed the latter. With that he zipped out the door just as quickly as he had appeared. She closed the door and took a glance at the flower sitting in the small glass vase. Wally was so sweet.

She plopped down on the couch and started to read the instructions to the cold and flu medicine Wally had brought for her. As she started to take a dose with water the news caught her eye. It had Vicki Vale interviewing Bruce. Instantly Chelsea's face grew warm. She snuggled a pillow against her chest, burying her mouth against the soft fabric. There was another knock at the door. Her face scrunched with confusion as she started for the door. When she opened it, there was the real deal. Bruce offered her a hopeful smile. He had a tupperware container in his hands.

"You too, huh?" she joked.

He raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

She shook her head, "Nothing." she waved it off and let him in. He took note of what she was watching on television and gave her an almost teasing glance, "Hush. It's not like I control what they show on the news."

"I hear they make these things for televisions called remotes. You might want to look into one." He teased, setting the tupperware on her kitchen table.

She took note of his rather outwardly charming teasing. She took her place beside him and covered her mouth to sneeze, "What's the tupperware for?" she questioned.

"You," he replied simply, "Alfred always makes me soup when I'm sick and wanted me to send some your way." She smiled at him with a big toothy grin. He caught on to this and stared at her puzzled, "What's that look for?"

"How did he know I was sick?" she wondered, getting him back for the earlier jab.

His tone was very serious, "I was worried about you."

Her face melted that into a more sentimental one, "Thank you." she said, "And thank Alfred for me. I'll have to do something for him. He's such a kind, selfless man."

"How's your fever?" he asked.

She had officially been caught. Turning her attention from him slightly she grabbed the container and started to put it in the fridge, "Well… I haven't exactly been monitoring it…"

He expected this, "If you took care of yourself half as well as you took care of everyone around you-" he started to say.

She turned to him and crossed her arms, "Look who's talking." She had a way of silencing him. Bruce had an answer for everything, but when it came to her, she was so quick witted. He loved that about her. She took her place on the couch. He sat in the armchair nearby. She stretched and curled up into a ball sitting upright with her pillow snuggled tight.

Bruce glanced around, "I have to admit, I'm surprised Wally isn't here."

Chelsea shrugged, "You missed him by about five minutes." She held up the medicine, "He dropped this off. He had prior commitments he couldn't get out of. Plus, I didn't want him to stay and take a chance on catching this bug I have." She paused and locked eyes with him, "Speaking of which… I don't exactly like the idea of making you sick either." The corner of his perfect lips curled upward momentarily. He was amused by her concern. Taking a deep breath and letting it slowly slip out of his nostrils he sat back in the chair, folding his fingers together in his lap. Bruce had on a brown suit, a yellow dress shirt, and black tie. His shoes had been recently polished because they glimmered more than usual. Chelsea could see there was something else concerning him. Beneath that emotionless stare was something much more, "Are you okay?" she asked with a sweet tone.

His eyes moved to meet hers once more. They were such a sorrowful blue. So deep like one could dive in them and get lost along the cascading currents. It was like he was trying to investigate her inner thoughts.

Chelsea tilted her head, "I'm still worried too, you know?" she said quietly, "I know he's still out there. That his presence and when he will strike next is all you can think about," She had to refrain from placing her germy hand on top of his. Instead she leaned forward a bit to look him over, "but life must go on in spite of that. You'll drive yourself mad over a man who doesn't deserve a single thought in your mind."

He brought his folded knuckles to his lips and outwardly sighed, "He's going to come back. I'm not sure when, but when he finds out you're not dead, he will try to alleviate that failure." He paused, collecting his thoughts from the beige carpet below him, "Something tells me, this is the calm before the unavoidable storm. And now you're ill. I don't like the idea of you sitting here by yourself… vulnerable… weak." He shook his head slightly, "And all the while," he said with the slightest hint of a chuckle, "you're concerned with making me sick." The corner of his lip arched up again, musing over how selfless she truly was.

She pursed her lips in a diagonal fashion, "Sweetheart, I don't know how you get through the day assuming the worst is yet to come. You're right. He's going to come back. It will probably be far worse than it was before…" she nodded, "but when he does, we'll be ready. He's a coward Bruce. He hides in his own diluted dimensions because he knows he is vulnerable here in the real world. It gives him time to plan yes… but it also gives us time to prepare." She controlled a cough and took a drink, "I guess I've just spent so much time thinking about it that I started to realize I was spending too much time on it. There are better things for me to put my energy into."

He was silent for a time, then raised his eyebrow.

"What?" she asked.

"I guess I'm just surprised… you actually called me Bruce." he was half joking, but also half serious. She had before, but the way she said it this time. So naturally in conversation. It was humorous to him.

She shook her head, resisting throwing her pillow at him, "Keep it up and I'll go back to Mr. Wayne as my default." She was caught off guard by his expression. He was smiling at her. It made her instantly blush. She didn't see him do this too often. She covered her cough and unfolded into a lying position on the couch, "Ugh…" she groaned.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.

"Please don't take this the wrong way… but…" she looked up at him, "Do you know how to use a microwave?"

Her question made his shoulders raise and lower with a chuckle, "What kind of question is that?"

She shrugged, "I don't know." she covered her face with the pillow out of embarrassment.

"Do you want some soup?" he deciphered the message.

She nodded slowly beneath the pillow of pity.

"I'm wealthy… but I'm not a moron." he joked, standing to his feet.

"I wasn't implying-!" she started to say, sitting up abruptly to watch him walk by. He turned back to look at her and she instantly coward down, "I'm sorry…" she said.

Her face was redder than Flash's suit. He tilted his head at her, "Red is a good color on you." he jabbed, before turning back to the kitchen.

Chelsea couldn't get enough of the soup that filled her bowl. Alfred was a genius. That man could do anything. Bruce idly watched her television while she ate. All the while, Chelsea was watching him. He caught on rather quickly, "Why are you staring again?" he asked, not averting his eyes from the tv.

Chelsea swallowed her spoonful and wondered if she should say what she was thinking out loud, "I guess… I just have never seen you so… peaceful before." this statement pulled his attention from the tv and back to her, "You just… I feel for you. You're always so sad, but right now… it's almost like you're content… and the best part, is you don't even realize it. It's just a natural feeling. Maybe that's just me though."

He smiled a little, "I think there's some truth to that." he agreed. His eyes turned back to the headlines, "You make me happy. You always do."

She was surprised by this. She made him happy? Of all the things in this world? She didn't even do anything special. That's when it occurred to her how strange this scenario might look to someone on the outside. She was in an ordinary apartment, sitting on ordinary furniture, watching television on an average sized tv, with an extraordinary billionaire. Still somehow she made him happy. And he in turn did the same for her.

He pulled back his sleeve to reveal a watch on his wrist. He immediately looked displeased. Standing to his feet slowly, as if gravity was trying to weld him down the chair, he smoothed back his ravenous hair and looked down at Chelsea, "I have a meeting to attend to."

"The one with CEOs?" she wondered.

He leaned down and with great caution kissed her on the temple, "Yes. I have a dry couple of hours ahead of me." He stood up straight and jammed his hands in his pockets, "Do you know when Wally will be back?"

Chelsea shook her head, "No, he just said sometime tonight."

Instead of feeling jealous, there was a bit of relief that flooded his face. He was glad someone would be here with her to check up on her, "Try to get some rest in the meantime. If you need anything… anything at all, you know how to reach me." he squeezed her shoulder and let his hand glide gently across her back, sending chills down her spine. Making his way to the door he paused when he heard the couch creak from her movements.

"I hope you have a good time just the same." She said to him with genuine tenderness.

He felt the unused muscles in his face contort into a smile, "Thank you." he murmured, and disappeared out of the door.

Chelsea laid around for the next few hours falling in and out of consciousness. It was hard to stay asleep with one's nose stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey. She attempted to sit up and sleep, but that only made the phlegm slide down her throat which started to ache and throb every time she swallowed. She seemed to swallow even more than usual. Going through this sort of agonizing experience without any form of distraction made for some long hours.

Eventually she pried herself from the couch and started to run a bath. She decided to treat herself by adding in some liquid bubble bath and lit a couple of eucalyptus candles to open up her head. Once submerged in the sudsy tub, she felt instantly at ease. She could breathe through her nose again somewhat, which after hours of struggling was the best feeling. Her body aches were now in a controlled climate. She could stay in here for hours.

Though after about forty minutes she felt her skin pruning and decided it was time to get out. As she dried herself off with the towel she sneezed. Duty called for a tissue. Scrambling to get one from the living room her towel slipped and hit the floor. She blew her nose and that's when it happened.

The door opened.

"Honey, I'm home!" beamed Wally as he came through the door with a bag in his hand. When he laid eyes on Chelsea however he was awestruck. Her face was a cross between flush and horrified. Quickly she grabbed the towel off the floor and wrapped it around her body as if she was shielding him from something hideous. She darted into her bedroom and leaned against her door. Sliding down to the floor she covered her face with embarrassment.

For the first time in Wally's life it took him a moment to catch up to what had just conspired. The mental image was burning inside his head. Her body was so beautiful. So flawless. This was certainly not how he pictured his first time seeing it would be.

Her bedroom door opened a bit. When she emerged from the room, she had a tank top and pajama pants on. There was an awkward silence suffocating them. She approached Wally carefully. He tensed. Half expecting to be slapped or something of that notion. He held his breath when she opened her mouth to speak, "I'm sorry Wally." She looked down to see the bag he was holding, "You went to the sub place we tried a couple weeks ago. I love that place." She couldn't kiss him, so she hugged him gingerly, "Thank you."

"Don't… mention it…" he replied, watching her walk over to the cabinets to pull down some plates. What could he say to make this better? And why had she apologized? Shouldn't it have been him who needed to do the apologizing?

She paused and turned toward him, "I've got to admit… I was pretty embarrassed…" she approached him again, taking the bag from his grasp and preparing their plates, "but then I got to thinking… it's Wally. It's my best friend. We walk in on each other all of the time and though that's never happened, we trust each other…" she bawled up the bag to toss in the trash, "So really… of all people that could have walked in just now… I'm glad it was you…" she walked over to the trash can, "because you won't tease me for how I look or any imperfections you might have seen." she flashed him a smile, "Though I'm sorry you had to see that."

She felt a force collide with her body. In a single blink, he was there, cradling her in his arms. His chin was rested on her shoulder strap, and then his lips traveled to the base of her neck. Her mouth trembled by this sudden outward expression of affection. His eyes slowly opened as he focused on her skin flexing into goose pimples, "Chelsea… you don't ever have to apologize for something like that. Imperfections? I didn't see a single one…" he pulled away from her. From what she could see of his face, his cheeks were a bright rosy color, "Not that I was looking for them or anything-" he started to sputter, "I mean I-"

She pulled the cowl back from his face. He was nervously sweating. For being such a lady lover he seemed very overwhelmed by what had just conspired, "You're alright. You don't have to explain. I understand." she told him.

He was in fact embarrassed, "I'm sorry…" he apologized, "I shouldn't have come right in like that, but we do it at The Watch Tower all of the time and it never even crossed my mind you… ugh…" he covered his face, "Why am I so bad at this?"

She pulled his hands from his face, "Wally… we're okay. Really. Alright?" She handed him his plate of five sub sandwiches and grabbed for her own, "Come on… let's go sit down and you can tell me about your day."

They sat and talked like they always did. Laughing through gulps of food and trying not to choke from all of the giggling they exchanged. Chelsea had almost forgotten she was sick for a time. It was almost like what started as a very embarrassing situation only brought them closer together. Anyone watching from the sidelines would have noticed that Wally never stopped staring at her with dreamy eyes. It amazed him just how much one person changed his life. Tonight's incident made it more apparent to him: he wanted to be with her. On another level. On a level they had not allowed themselves to experience. The kind of level that allowed him to hold her, to kiss her, and to make her feel beautiful. He wanted that so much.

Author's Notes: From the reviews it seems like the popular vote is Bruce, but I wanted to give Wally a moment of closeness with her since they haven't had one in a while. I want to keep you guys guessing. ;) Thanks for reading! Leave me a review and I'll see ya at the next chapter.