Chapter 1: Battle Plan

Christian grabbed his belly and moaned, "I don't feel so good," he winced simulating being in more pain than he was actually in. If these were normal circumstances he would've ran to the bathroom half a minute ago to be sick there. But then it would've been less dramatic. When he was finished he looked at her panting, "sorry. I'll go get something to clean up with," he stood and took a few steps, then doubled over, leaning onto his thighs with his palms.

She rushed to help him stand, "just sit," she directed him back to the bed. But he didn't sit. He lay down slowly.

Kimber sat next to him, "better?" She asked a few seconds after he settled. He shook his head. "Just lie still. I'll get this cleaned up," she came back with a wet towel in no time and leaned down to wipe floor with it.

Christian held his arm out, "no."

"I got it," Kimber said surprised.

"No. I mean give it to me. I need it," he took the towel, crumpled it up and applied it on his by now perfectly fine stomach, as a compress, sighing and slumping back onto the pillows.

"Do you want some water to drink?" She asked softly, taking him more seriously now. She wanted to prioritise getting rid of the foul-smelling mess on the floor, but she maybe needed to change her mind. Christian nodded with his eyes closed, so she pulled the covers up on him and fetched a glass.

Christian took it and drank a few sips, "thanks...mixing drinks is usually not a good idea, huh?"

"You'll be better after you get some sleep," she said smiling sympathetically. She watched him lean back and close his eyes wordlessly, looking miserable, but adorable as well, "tormented looks good on you." "I've had a lot of practice at it lately." "What do you mean? Me?" Kimber took it personally, having already felt guilty for leaving him like that just after her reconstruction and the annoyed tone of her voice now made Christian open his eyes. He didn't answer the question straightforward though, "I've been drinking a lot. I think it's got to the stage my stomach doesn't like it very much." "Because of me?" Kimber pressed. Christian shrugged and closed his eyes again, "could we speak about this after I had a rest please?"

"I'll be back," she thought of finally getting on with the cleaning. When she came back he seemed half asleep. He would have to stay at her house tonight, she thought while getting rid of the sticky towel, even if he would've wanted to go she wouldn't let him, she wanted to be sure he was ok. She wanted to take care of him, not just now, but for the rest of their lives and now that she had the wisdom provided by her religion she was sure she could really help him with everything that caused his troubles in life. Climbing back onto the bed herself she hugged him from the back, resting her head on his back and closed her eyes smiling. Him coming to her, exepting her with her new religion and all. It was so sudden, but it put her in a sense a bliss. She fell asleep well before Christian.

He lay awake still having to make up the whole battle plan.

Tbc