When John returned to the usual drama of work, he didn't quite notice the stares of the squad eying his nicely tanned skin. Going on vacation had relaxed him, but knew that Lilly wasn't fairing too well with having both bad sunburn and the flu. Even this morning; she had thrown up while in severe pain. Not even Aloe Vera was putting out the blaze that had seemed to be spreading all over her body.

After making Lilly a cup of weak tea, he tried to be a comfort but found that she simply wanted to be alone. Nevertheless, John now began to work on this case; with his worries still on her. Just then Jefferies then came in before closing the door behind.

"Took a vacation I see", promoting John to take off his glass.

"Just out fishing, getting away from the city life" avoiding any speculation about where he really went. However Lilly had very well indeed was teaching him how to love again; but to have a life away from work.

Jefferies then took a seat" Since when do you take a vacation, seeing someone John"?

"No" came his response" Haven't really been out on the dating scene for a long time"; a lie but didn't want to reveal the woman whom he was now in love with.

Upon getting up, Jefferies looked back" Should try it, good to have you back".

Just moments after he had exited, John sat there alone in his office with Lilly on his mind. Right now he wanted to go over to her place and take care of her. It wasn't fair to leave her all alone and sick, after spending a week's vacation together. However with his case, John saw now way possible to just get up and leave.

As he came out, Scotty then looked up" Anyone seen Lil"?

"Call out sick, sounds pretty bad" chimed in Kat" She just called five minutes ago".

The rest of the squad looked very intrigued to know that Lilly Rush was in fact very sick; but wondered where she had went last week. However with this case, nobody had a time to do their own little investigation into Lilly's personal life.

Around lunchtime, John came over to her place to find her lying in bed looking even worse. Upon feeling her forehead, he knew that Lilly still had a fever" You drink anything"?

"No, my skin's on fire" she moaned.

Upon putting a straw into her mouth, Lilly then took a sip before lying back" My heart's pounding" feeling each hardened beat, before getting up the strength to take some Tylenol. As her body lay back once again, John could hear just how heavy her breathing had become.

While blotting both her forehead and the back of Lilly's neck; she moaned from the sunburn "It hurts".

" I know Lil, got too much of it", wiping a tendril of hair away from her face" Just need to rest, let us solve this one"; his lips now briefly touching her cheek.

Drawing in a breath, Lilly's eyes then closed while John gently cracked open a window for some fresh air. As he then turned to see his sleeping beauty lying there, he knew in his heart that he couldn't just leave her here all alone; and sick.

While she had slept, John cleaned up a little before noticing Olivia; the cat whom he had once made a pun about her having one eye. The cat seemed very harmless as she then scattered across the room, before galloping upstairs; probably into Lilly's bedroom.

He knew now not to make fun of them, knowing how much the cats had meant to her. Perhaps in a way they were her own source of comfort; moving onward John then heated up some more hot soup while on the phone with Jefferies.

"Had to take care of something important", still not stating why but from upstairs Lilly had missed the bathroom as she threw up miserably all over her newly bought comforter. As another round hit her once again, John came into the room before holding her hair while more sickness struck Lilly.

After the last round she lay back, immersed in dizziness as he then cleaned up; before handing her a garbage bag as the last remaining ruminants in her stomach were soon in there. Sure being sick was no picnic, especially since they had just spent a week's vacation in Miami Beach.

"Try to get some rest Lil, that's an order"

With a sly smile, she managed to say" Right Boss", which then prompted him to smile. As John then gave her a small kiss; her eyes then closed while she continued to let her body fight off the flu. As the days slowly progressed she began feeling better; especially since her fever had dropped.

However Lilly still wasn't feeling up to part about heading into work, especially since she still was hurting from being sunburned. One particular day, she had awaked with a single red rose resting beside her. Inside was a small note.

Just thought this might help, Love John-

A tiny smile now played on her lips, while her eyes only caught the love part. In fact the rose did help quite a lot, as more romance poured into the depths of her own heart.

Back in headquarters; even Jefferies was trying to figure out why John was acting so differently. He even became a lot lighter and even started joking around with everyone; a change from his own personality.

"Who's the girl John" he now asked" C'mon I've never seen you act this way before".

Letting out a smile, the other man didn't answer knowing that this wasn't the proper time to let the cat out the bag; so to speak. Besides he also was respectful to Lilly's wishes; about keeping this hushed from everyone in their lives.

Since John had to watch his grandson tonight, he couldn't even stop over briefly just to kiss her. However when his daughter had come to drop off Sean; she too automatically noticed something different about him.

"Dating anyone Dad", Janie asked seeing how much lighter and happier her father had become.

John shook his head" No, why"?

She then took a glance once again, inspecting his newly changed personality and apartment" Got a woman's touch, last time I was here there were papers scattered every which way".

He laughed softly, before kissing her" Go on, we'll be fine" eying Sean whom had just turned on a game.

After she had left; the two sat there watching the game but however the next afternoon John had met Lilly down by a nearby park.

As he took her hand, her eyes turned" What no kiss, I'm fine" reassuring him before letting out a cough. Being so caring and loving; John then placed his hand onto her forehead" Still warm Lil, should be back in bed not out here".

Little did she know that John was a romantic at heart, and his love could in fact cure her sickness.