Chapter 3: Going Deep
Kimber was hoping he was better the next day, but since she'd been uneasy thinking about it the whole time the first thing she asked when he opened the door for her and even before he became visible in the doorframe was, "how you doing?" But she didn't need to ask. There were dark shadows under his eyes, his hair seemed unwashed and unkempt and she had the impression she had never seen him that pale before, not even when he came to see her at the hospital after she was carved.
"Sorry, I don't think I can make it with you today either. Still crap," he walked to the living room with her, not really straightening up as he headed for his armchair, closest to him. He lowered his eyes and pressed a hand to his upper abdomen, hoping he was looking just as miserable as he was intending to look like and that all the trouble wound pay off that he went through last night not sleeping, not eating anything the whole time and hardly drinking and taking a small, safe overdose of sodium phosphate to make himself a little dehydrated as he used to when younger to deceive teachers and try to make himself undesirable for his foster father.
"You've not been at work today either?" She watched him carefully as he nodded mutely in response, than sat on the arm of the chair facing him and putting her palm on his shoulder, "has Sean seen you?" She asked knowing that the two partners consulted each other if there was something physically wrong with them.
Christian had to smile at the amount of concern in her voice despite all his efforts to try to look worn and weak. It felt very nice to have somebody caring that much about him, "are you worried about me?"
"Of course," Kimber replied indignantly.
"I'm a surgeon Kimber, there's no emergency. It's simply one of those silly tummy sicknesses."
"Earlier you said it was to do with drinking."
"Sure as hell that didn't help either. Look, I'll be fine in a day or two. Just don't talk to me about food...but if it makes you happy Sean should be here by now. Could you let him in when he comes?" He stood, "I gonna lie down. Less nauseating than talking here to you...no offence," he dragged himself over to the bed.
"Do you need anything?" Kimber followed him.
"Uhm, no...yes, come here...get that pot close in case I need it..."
Kimber watched as his breathing slowed down and he seemed to ignore the rest of the world for just now. She sat down next to the bed and reached out for him instinctively. He shifted to tuck his fingers into hers and her gaze remained on his other hand and at how tightly and rgidly he was still holding his stomach protectively. She sighed slowly, hoping Sean would come soon.
Tbc