R&R por fa vor

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The next few days went by slowly, for Lilian at least. The stinging pain in her throat seemed to never end. Dwayne made sure to take special care of her and to see if she needed or wanted anything. She always declined, knowing that if she ever really did need something, he'd be there.

On her fourth day home from the hospital, she walked into the living room where he was watching some of her old wrestling tapes and DVDs.

"D, I don't know what to do," she croaked out in a raspy voice.

His deep, chocolate eyes snapped up to her face. "What are you doing out of bed?"

Sighing, she sat down next to him. "I don't want to be in bed anymore."

"Shh," he hushed, reaching for a piece of paper and a pen.

"No! I'm sick of writing," she managed to rasp out.

"Lily, you're only making your throat hurt more," Dwayne chastised gently but firmly. "How about I get you some tea with honey? That seemed to help last night."

Lilian nodded, bringing her feet up on the couch and curling up into the soft cushions. She grabbed the remote, blushing slightly when she saw what Dwayne was watching. "Must you watch this scene?" she asked softly, finding that she didn't sound as horrible when she whispered.

"What? I like the song you sing to Viscera," Dwayne called back from the kitchen, knowing it was useless to chastise her for talking.

"Please… Vince didn't pay me enough to sing to him!" Lilian replied.

"Baby I've been thinking…" Dwayne sang loudly.

Lilian giggled hoarsely and leaned back into her couch. He walked back with in with a coffee mug in hand. He sat down next to her, handing over the tea.

"It's hot," he said softly.

Lilian nodded and took a sip, letting the warm liquid soothe her throat. "We should watch your Just Bring It DVD so we can see that interview I did before Unforgiven, the one about your strudel."

Dwayne grinned and threw his head back, laughing. "Oh, yeah Mama, don't think I've forgotten." He gently touched her knee, still grinning. "Where's the DVD at?"

"Pft… you think I actually have your DVD?" Lilian asked.

"Geez. Garcia, I'm wounded," Dwayne said, placing a hand on his heart and pretending to fall backwards.

"I'm just kidding, you big baby," Lilian whispered. "It's on that rack over there."

Dwayne grabbed the DVD, putting it in. After getting through the credits, he found the chapter that had the interview.

Lilian started giggling as soon as she started talking on the tape. "Listen to me! I sound so nervous. I said later on instead of earlier today!"

"Nah! You? Nervous? Why, I would never think such things, Lil," he said. "Clearly you were mesmerized by my incredibly perfect body."

Lilian snorted into her drink. "Yes, D, that was exactly it."

They watched for a bit longer and then he pointed at the screen. "Look at you! You can't keep your eyes off it."

Lilian turned a bright pink and looked down. "I was just acting!"

Dwayne nodded. "Sure you were." With his finger, he lifted her face up. "You turned this same color when I said you worked at the sperm bank."

"That's only cause Marc started laughing hysterically," Lilian said, referring to her timekeeper friend. She turned her attention back to the screen just in time to hear the Rock state a now infamous line. "I still can't believe you said I get wet when I stand close to you," she said, shaking her head.

"No, no, no," Dwayne said, shaking his finger at her. "Wet… WITH PERSPIRATION!"

"Yeah, yeah, perspiration," Lilian repeated softly, shaking her head. "You still surprised me."

"I think I surprised the crowd, too," Dwayne added with a laugh. "Aw, you look like a chastised school girl here!"

Lilian frowned. "I was still fairly new though."

He sympathized and rested his hand on her now blanket covered leg. "I know, but that was a great segment. You did really well."

She smiled faintly. "Well, at that time, I will admit I was attracted to you."

"At that time?" he questioned. "What about now?"

Her green eyes gave him a once over and then she cringed. "No, then was better."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dwayne asked softly, though his voice held no traces of hurt.

Lilian remained quiet, shaking her head slightly before softly replying, "I was kidding, D. I still think you're attractive." They sat in a slightly uncomfortable silence, watching as the segment faded back to the main menu. With a small sigh, Lilian placed her cup on the table in front of her, leaning back against the couch.

"You look tired, Lil," Dwayne pointed out.

"I am."

"Then go to bed, Lil. You're allowed."

She shook her head, smiling at Dwayne. "I've spent the last four days on my back… and if you weren't here with me the last four days to know what that means that would sound so wrong."

He looked at her, and then burst into laughter. "Lil, you set yourself up way too easily to get joked on."

She pushed out her lower lip into a pout. "You are so mean to me."

He wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her in for a hug. "But you know I love you!" he said, half joking.

Lilian stayed silent at his words, and then quickly spluttered out, "Of course you do."

He let her go and cleared his throat. "Why don't you get some rest and I'll go call Dr. Andrews to ask why your throat is still hurting."

He stood up, but Lilian remained seated, laying down on the couch. "I'm not moving," she told him, her voice holding somewhat of a whine as she curled up, grabbing the throw pillow and placing it under her head.

Dwayne rolled his eyes. "Oh, now who's the big baby?" he teased, grabbing her cordless phone before walking back to the couch. Her response was to close her eyes and flip him the bird, snuggling further underneath the warm blanket.

He laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Sit up for a minute, okay?"

"Don't wanna!" Lilian whined hoarsely, though Dwayne could tell she was playing.

"Please… so I can sit down to?"

Lilian pretended to be huffy at this, sitting up briefly so he could settle down, putting his injured foot on her coffee table. Once he was settled, he guided her head back down so it was resting on his lap.

Lilian closed her eyes as his fingers began to glide softly over her forehead and through her hair.

With his other hand, Dwayne dialed the doctor's phone number and waited for him to answer.

"Make sure you don't get nasty foot funk all over my coffee table," she said, not bothering to open her eyes.

"Yes ma'am," he said, smiling.

"Dr. Andrews' office," came the light voice on the other end of the phone.

"Hi, this is Dwayne Johnson, I've been taking care of one of his patients for the past couple of days after her surgery and I just needed to ask a few questions," he explained.

"Alright, please hold."

After a few moments of horrible doctor's office music, Dr. Andrews picked up. "Mr. Johnson? This is Dr. Andrews. How is Lilian?"

"She's doing better, but her throat is still hurting her," Dwayne replied, still running his hand across Lilian's forehead.

"Hmm… usually after the second day after the surgery, that pain goes away," Dr. Andrews said slowly. "Does her voice sound hoarse when she talks?"

Dwayne hesitated, then said, "She isn't really supposed to talk."

"Yeah, she isn't… but it's Lilian we're talking about here," Dr. Andrew's said with a small laugh.

Dwayne laughed too before replying, "Yeah. She does."

"Hmm… can you bring her to my office tomorrow? I want to check up on her to make sure we didn't hit a vocal chord or something," Dr. Andrews told her.

Dwayne immediately froze at the thought and took a moment to get his goodbyes out.

"What'd he say?" Lilian asked, growing even drowsier.

"Uh, he wants to see you tomorrow."

"Why?"

He put the telephone on one of the end tables, next to a lamp. "He wants to make sure that he didn't hit a vocal chord during the surgery," he said slowly.

"What!" Lilian shot up off his lap, turning to stare at him. She immediately regretted yelling. "He said what?" she asked, softer this time.

"Lil, calm down," Dwayne said soothingly, attempting to guide her back down.

"No, I will not calm down," Lilian said hoarsely, her hand going to her throat as she stood up. "What does he mean by that?"

"I… I don't know, Lil," he said, standing up as she started pacing. "Just calm down. I'm sure you're-"

"What?" Lilian asked, her breath coming in short bursts, meeting Dwayne in the center of the room. "You're sure I'll be okay? That's what you said when you made me go for this stupid surgery in the first place!"

"Lil-"

"Damn it, D. I knew this was a mistake. I knew I should have just fought through the pain. I should have never listened to you or Vince or Maria or Trish!" she cried hoarsely, dropping to her knees.

"Shh, it's going to be okay," Dwayne said softly, dropping down as well, pulling her into his arms.

"No!" she shouted, jerking herself away from him. She stood up and turned her back on him.

He stood as well, walking to her and placing his hands on her arms. "Lil, I'm-"

She spun around, with angry tears gleaming in her eyes. "You're what? Sorry!" Balling her fists up, she began to pound on his chest, over and over.

Dwayne stood there, unsure of what to do. He decided to stand there and allow Lilian to get her frustrations out.

"Huh, D, you're sorry? Is that it!" she shouted, her blows beginning to weaken. "Sorry?" she said, almost in a whisper. Her arms dropped and she rested her head against his chest that she was just beating on, letting the tears fall.

Dwayne nearly fell back, hesitantly wrapping his long arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him when he regained his balance.

Lilian wrapped her arms around his waist, clasping her hands tightly as she sobbed loudly, gasping for breath, the action bringing severe pain to her throat. He merely held her, holding them both up as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry, Lilian," he murmured, a tear rolling down his own cheek and dropping into her hair. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

She quieted down, listening to him murmur apologies over and over.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Lilian detangled her arms from around his waist, pulling back slightly and was met by his confused look. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Lilian raised her hand and covered his lips with two fingers. Shaking her head softly, she leaned up on her tiptoes and replaced her fingers with her lips.

Dwayne simply stood, there, shocked as she kissed him. Before he knew it, her lips were gone. Seeing the shocked look on his face, Lilian shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said hoarsely. "I crossed the line. I shouldn't have-"

It was Dwayne this time who cut her off. He didn't even speak, though; rather, his lips crashed down on hers, his hand finding the base of her neck as he pulled Lilian closer to him.

Lilian kissed him back, pushing him down on the couch, pushing his back against the couch, her knees moving to straddle his hips. "Lil," he murmured against her lips, whimpering softly when her hands found their way to his hair.

"Please, Dwayne," she whispered. "Don't talk."

"Lil, wait," he breathed against her neck.

"What?" She pulled back, a look of hurt apparent in her eyes.

"Are you sure about this?" His eyes lingered down to where her hands were reaching under his shirt.

Lilian swallowed and nodded. "Unless you don't want to..."

"I do, but is this the right thing to do at this time?"

She bit her lip and moved to sit on the couch, diverting her eyes from his as her cheeks flushed red. "Sorry."

"Lily, you have nothing to be sorry about… it's just that we're both hurt and emotional right now… besides, I don't think… um… moaning will be good for you throat," he said quickly, blushing deeply.

"I guess you're right," Lilian replied, flushing as well, settling back against the couch. "Would you…"

"Would I what?"

"Would you mind laying with me tonight? I mean, I know we've slept in the same bed the last four nights, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable… especially considering what just happened."

"Lil… it's no big deal. When the time is right…"

"Yeah," she said, knowing what he was trying to say.

The pair left the couch, entering Lilian's bedroom. Self-consciously, she grabbed a pair of cotton pajama pants from Old Navy and a matching tank top, and headed for the bathroom to change.

Dwayne sighed and undressed to his boxer shorts. He jumped a little when Lilian reappeared.

"D...I...uhm..."

He shook his head, smiling softly. His hands found hers and he lead her to the bed. "Listen to me," he said, helping her into bed and joining her himself. "I don't want you to fret over this, okay?"

She nodded and rested her head on the pillow.

"If you still feel weird tomorrow, we'll talk about it. But I want you to know that I liked it, and if you were completely yourself right now, I wouldn't have stopped, or been able to stop for that matter."

"I liked it too," Lilian said softly, burrowing deeply under the covers. Dwayne did the same, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her. When she didn't flinch, he pulled her closer, draping one leg over her legs.

"Dwayne… thank you so much," Lilian whispered into his bare chest.

"For what?"

"For understanding… for accepting me."

"It's no big deal, Lily," he whispered back, placing his chin on top of her forehead once his head hit the pillow as well. "Good night, Lil."

"Night, D."

And with that, the two fell into a peaceful sleep; a sleep that neither had had in awhile.

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End Part 5