Chloe watched as Beca worked. Knee shaking, hair twirling, and pen tapping. All to help her concentrate, but no work had been done in the last twenty minutes.

It was mundane college work that she was required to do and Beca had always struggled with completion and deadlines. It didn't interest her so she simply didn't care.

"Beca," Chloe started, "what are you stuck on?"

"Nothing." Beca mumbled. Even though she needed help more often than not, she was never prepared to ask first nor accept the help on the first try.

Chloe stood up from where she was sitting, Beca's bed, and approached her friend. She rested her hands on Beca's shoulders and read over the paperwork.

"Aubrey could help you with this." Chloe stated.

Beca mumbled something resembling a 'no'. Chloe started stroking her hair, to try and calm her down from whatever state she'd got herself into, when she felt the brunette's forehead.

"Bec, you're really hot." Chloe said.

When Beca didn't answer her, Chloe spun her chair around to reveal a Beca she'd never seen before. A sick Beca. Pale, sweaty, and hardly awake.

"Aw, baby." She pouted as she brushed the girl's hair from her forehead.

Beca leaned into the action. Chloe always had cold hands and that's just what her forehead needed.

Chloe left to get a wet flannel to try and cool her down, so Beca would be more comfortable. When she returned, Beca was curled up at the end of her bed. Chloe stood in the doorway, pondering how to approach the situation.

She'd taken care of sick people, but they were younger than ten and they weren't Beca. Putting on a movie is enough to take care of a child but there was no way that would work here.

Chloe knocked on the door to announce her presence before walking to Beca to put the flannel on her forehead. She brushed the girl's hair out of the way and watched as she flinched at the cold material.

"This is just to cool you down a bit. We don't have a thermometer, so I'm not taking a risk." Chloe stated.

She laid down at the other end of the girl's bed, waiting for Beca to cool down enough to regain the ability to communicate, and made a mental checklist of all the things they had to help someone when they're sick. The house was full of things to soothe a sore throat, so that wasn't a problem, but that's where their supplies ended.

Chloe was pulled out of her thoughts when she felt the bed move and a Beca appeared at her side. She pulled the smaller girl closer and tucked her head under her chin, so Beca's head was on Chloe's chest. The girl had brought the wet flannel with her, so she would be sporting a wet t-shirt soon, but she didn't mind.

"What hurts, honey?" Chloe whispered, stroking Beca's hair again.

"Head, throat, nose, face, brain, little toe." Beca mumbled and laughed, finding herself funny.

"Do you think you have a cold?" Chloe asked. Beca nodded.

The action made the girl's breath catch in her throat, and she bolted upright in order to violently cough against her hand. She had a handful of Chloe's t-shirt, holding on with a deathgrip, as Chloe rubbed circles on her back.

She could feel the vibrations in Beca's coughs but it didn't clear her airways. After a few minutes, her coughing died down to heavy breathing as Beca tried to get some oxygen back.

"That sounded rough." Chloe thought aloud, "What can I get you? I have a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an air filter, Vicks, throat lozenges, a little rice pouch that goes in the microwave, maybe some tea? No, you don't like tea. You probably won't like lemon and honey water either…"

Chloe rattled on until she noticed Beca wasn't even listening.

"Are you ignoring me?!" Chloe asked, feigning offense.

"No." Beca said with a smile, "I don't need to listen, I'm in good hands."

Her voice was hoarse and it was already clear that she had a head cold. A healthy Beca wouldn't trust anyone's hands.

"I want a hug." Beca stated.

Chloe looked at their position. Beca's head was back on her chest, except now one of Beca's legs rested on top of Chloe's. Their arms were wrapped around each other's waist. Usually, the closest they got was sitting next to each other, with possibly a head on the other's shoulder, but Chloe wasn't complaining. She loved it.

"We are hugging, Becs." Chloe said, not sure what to do.

Beca whined, surprising Chloe with a sound she'd never heard before, and pushed and pulled her body until she was on top of Chloe.

"You're warm and I like it." Beca smiled, though Chloe couldn't see it.

Chloe just wrapped her arms around the smaller girl. To keep her in place, she told herself. Not because she didn't want this to end.

She felt Beca get increasingly heavier until she heard soft snores. She was asleep. On top of Chloe. While sick.

Chloe stroked the girl's hair and thought, rubbing Beca's nose every now and then to keep her snores quiet.

-

Chloe woke up cold and confused, not being in her bed and missing her hot water bottle, until she heard the sounds of vomit hitting the toilet bowl. She cringed and screwed up her nose as she got up to go and help her friend.

When she reached the bathroom, Beca was making a pathetic attempt to appear healthy.

"Hey, Chlo!" She said excitedly, stumbling backwards as she did so. Her voice was strained and she was clearly losing it, as well as her sanity. A healthy Beca would tell Chloe to "get the fuck out!"

Not this Beca. This Beca fell forwards into Chloe's arms and lazily looked up as she smiled.

"Hey, beautiful." Chloe murmured. She looked into Beca's unfocused eyes, almost certain that the brunette was moments away from passing out. "Shall we get you back to bed?"

Beca nodded and tried to regain her footing. Chloe practically carried Beca to bed anyway, but let Beca feel better about herself and didn't say anything.

Chloe lifted Beca bridal style and laid her down. Beca shivered as she pulled away so she covered the girl with a blanket from under her bed. Chloe laid down next to her and watched as she fought to keep her eyes open.

"You can sleep, y'know." Chloe said softly.

"But then I'm not with you," Beca replied, "and I like being with you."

Chloe tried to savor the moment as she watched Beca sit up to cough and clear her airways. Or, attempt to.

"Aw, baby." Chloe said as Beca's chesty coughs shook the bed, not surprised that Beca had vomited.

She laid back down when the coughs were less disruptive, laying her head on Chloe's arm. Her breathing was ragged as she tried to clear her chest of the uncomfortable feeling of mucus. She smiled as she felt Chloe stroking her hair again.

True love, she thought, stroking your best friend's sweaty hair.