Author's note: Part 2 of 2. I warned you….no point…..just fluff! Thanks for reading.

Fever (Part 2)

Andy couldn't get comfortable no matter how hard he tried; the congestion in his head made the simple act of breathing a nightmare and he finally gave up trying to go back to sleep. After slipping on his pajamas, he moped down into the den with his glass of water, a couple of pillows, and a blanket, and bunkered down on the sofa. He finally got settled and realized that he'd neglected to bring a box of tissues with him so he got back up - despite the aching protests of his weary body. He plodded into the bathroom to grab the box of tissues along with the small wastepaper basket to deposit the used ones. His throat felt scratchy and swollen while every muscle in his body seemed to ache. Truly, he couldn't remember the last time that he had felt so completely miserable.

He finally fell asleep around ten o' clock but Rusty, who was heading to his part time summer job at the bank, didn't realize that Andy was home sick. Andy heard the door shut as Rusty left for work and it was just enough noise to jostle him out of his tenuous sleep. The chills had started up again, Andy realized, burrowing further under his blanket. He remembered Sharon having told him to take more Tylenol at ten but he couldn't bring himself to leave the warmth of the sofa. Eventually, he fell into a fever-tossed sleep and didn't wake up for another two and a half hours.

It was after noon by then and Andy still felt weak and achy. It was difficult to pull himself out of sleep but he knew he really did need to get upstairs to take another round of Tylenol. He rose slowly and made his way up to their bedroom, glancing at the TV clock as he passed by. It was after noon time. He was surprised that he hadn't heard from Sharon.

After taking the Tylenol, Andy puttered back downstairs, cell phone in hand, and speed dialed his wife.

She picked up on the first ring. He swore he could hear Provenza talking loudly and rapidly in the background.

"Hi, Andy," said Sharon. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay," rasped Andy.

"Awwww, honey, you don't sound like you feel very good."

"Not, really," admitted Andy.

"I would have called earlier but I was afraid I'd wake you. I'm just finishing up here. I'm going to stop at the store on the way home. I'll bring you some lunch and pick up a few things, okay?"

"Okay."

"Did you take your Tylenol?"

"Yeah."

"Besides the Popsicles, did you think of anything else that you'd like to have?"

He sneezed.. "Nah." The shrill voice of a woman called out in the background for Captain Raydor. Andy knew that voice.

"Rios at it again?" he asked sympathetically.

"You could say that," said Sharon as she eyed the dark haired woman warily. "Listen, Andy, I'm going to let you go," said Sharon, her voice uncharacteristically rushed. "The sooner I finish up here, the sooner I can get home."

"Okay."

It was quarter to two when Sharon finally came in, arms full of bundles. She darted around quickly, putting things away and lining up the medicines that she'd picked up for Andy.

"Andy?" she called.

"In the den."

She found her husband lying on the couch propped up with half the pillows in the house and enmeshed in a cocoon of blankets. He was watching Sponge Bob. Sharon glanced at the TV and then at him. She smiled. "In the mood for some nautical merriment?"

"Something like that. It cheers me up." He offered a weak smile.

Sharon leaned over and pressed her mouth to his forehead, her lips lingering there for a few seconds. "Still a little warm," she frowned.

"I slept through the ten o' clock dose of Tylenol," he confessed. She could hear the stuffiness in his voice. "I took it when you called."

Sharon nodded. "I brought you chicken soup for lunch, unless you want something else. I'll make you anything you want."

"Soup is good."

"You feel up to eating in the kitchen or shall I bring everything in here?" asked Sharon solicitously as she ran her fingers through his hair. Andy closed his eyes.

"I'll come in there."

"Okay….I'll just be a couple of minutes." Sharon smoothed his blanket before disappearing into the kitchen.

After the soup, Sharon gave Andy some Mucinex to help with the congestion, some Riccola throat syrup for his sore throat, and a Popsicle. She straightened his pillows, made his blanket neater as she covered him up, and managed to get him feeling much more comfortable than he had felt earlier.

She looked lovely in her white linen jacket and skirt with the mint colored blouse underneath. Sharon was always so elegant and impeccably put together, a feat Andy sometimes wondered how she managed - considering the long hours that Major Crimes often demanded. But as she bent down to pick up his Popsicle stick and empty paper wrapping, Andy could see that she looked tired. He reached for her wrist.

"How was your day, Shar? You were up late last night and I could hear Rios screeching at you in the background when you called earlier. Tough day?"

"Long day," sighed Sharon, "Even though it was technically a half day."

"Come here," said Andy, and he pulled Sharon down onto the sofa beside him. She slipped her shoes off and settled in next to him, resting her head against his shoulder. "So," he said, in a voice still gravelly from his cold, "you want to tell me what super-hero power of yours makes you immune to sickness or is that a trade secret?"

Sharon laughed, despite herself. "Promise not to tell my evil nemesis? I'm not immune. I had a lot of sinus infections and colds in my early twenties and I think I just built up my immune system over time. I do get sick but, luckily, it's rare. And aside from that, we were all over one another before you came down with…what was it…malaria?" Andy smirked and Sharon continued. "So there's no real practical reason for me to quarantine myself."

Andy was quiet for a moment. "You have to go back to work?"

Sharon shook her head no and he felt the motion against his shoulder. He gave her a gentle squeeze and rested his chin lightly on the top of her head. "Good," he said softly into her fragrant hair. "You know what I really want?"

Sharon tipped her head up to face him; they were nearly nose to nose. "What?"

Andy gazed at her earnestly. "A nap. With you. How 'bout it? You and me. Upstairs. When do we ever get a chance to do that? I have it on good authority that some bed rest with you will hasten my recovery." He stroked her arm, looking into her face. "You look tired, baby."

"I am," she admitted softly. She hesitated for a moment. A myriad of things that she needed to get done fluttered through her head and then melted away. She stifled a yawn. "All right…. I'll take you up on that nap."

They spent their afternoon in bed, cozy and comfortable – cell phones off, happily wrapped up and cuddling under the blankets. Sharon woke up first; she was a light sleeper by nature and she thought she heard Rusty coming in. She slipped on a pair of jeans and a cotton button down top and headed downstairs, careful not to wake Andy.

"Hey, Sharon," said Rusty. His expression brightened when he saw her. "You're home early."

"I took the afternoon off," she explained. "Andy's under the weather. How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine."

Sharon smiled. "Good."

"I'm getting together with a couple of friends to see a movie but I shouldn't be too late." Rusty slipped on a light jacket. It looked like it might rain. "What are your plans tonight, Sharon?"

Sharon looked up toward the stairs and then back down at Rusty. "Taking care of my patient."

"Sounds like a full time job," laughed Rusty.

Sharon smiled. "It is. You have fun, honey."

"I made you a sandwich," Rusty added as he headed toward the door. "In the fridge…bye!"

Sharon did a couple of loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, and looked through some paperwork that she had brought home from work. By that time it was a little after eight. She straightened the living room and rearranged the items in her brief case, putting everything away neatly. She glanced at her watch and decided that it was time to head upstairs to check on Andy. She grabbed his medicines and poured a glass of Nantucket Nectar plum juice – Andy's favorite – into one of his sports glasses.

When she arrived upstairs, he was laying on his side, breathing quietly. He still sounded a little congested but she was glad to see that he had finally gotten some rest. She put the glass on the nightstand next to him.

"Andy," she said softly. She waited a moment. "Andy," she said again.

"Mmmmm." He gave a quiet groan and slowly opened his eyes.

"I hate to wake you," she apologized, "but we should stay ahead of your cold." She handed him his pills and gave him the glass of juice. Andy sat up halfway and downed the beverage and the medicine. Sharon took the glass and placed it back on the nightstand. She touched his forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"I think you're just looking for an excuse to feel me again." said Andy roguishly with that little sideways smile of his.

Sharon's eyes sparkled. "Oh, now I know you're feeling better."

"A little better. But I think I still need extra attention."

"Mmmm, we'll see."

"Thanks for all the TLC, Shar. I mean it. And as soon as I'm back to normal I'll show my appreciation," he flirted.

"Really? That sounds promising."

Andy loved the fact that he could still make her blush. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

Maybe being sick, Andy reflected, wasn't so terrible after all.