Chapter 79: Late Afternoon Plunge (Get your mind out of the gutter!)

"Like swift water an active mind never stagnates." – Author Unknown

"I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." – Marcus, Babylon 5

"Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand-in-hand." – Unknown


Sydney woke slowly, yawning, and found her body completely relaxed. Vaughn was still inside her and she made no attempt to move; in fact she'd have been content to stay there forever. She knew he wouldn't have any complaints.

She smiled as she thought about him, taking a risk, moving her head so she could look up at him. He was still napping peacefully, but he reacted to her movement by tightening the grip his arm held on her.

She watched him sleep, breathing deeply and heavily.

He'd been through do much; it was a wonder he slept at all…she thought.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, maneuvering slightly to see the clock around all of the food that was still lying there.

It was almost 4:00. Hmm…they had slept longer than she thought. She hated to rouse him, but if she didn't soon, Will and Francie would be home and they would find them in yet another compromising position. They teased them enough without an actual show.

She moved her hand up to stroke his cheek. She smiled when his mouth jerked slightly, but he didn't wake.

"Vaughn…" she said quietly.

"Mmmmmm…"

"Baby…we gotta get up…Will and Francie are gonna be home soon," she said trying to keep her voice low so she didn't startle him awake.

"Mmm hmm…"

She smiled, "Vaughn…come on…"

She moved slightly, about to get off of him, but his hand gripped her even tighter. His eyes shot open, "What? Where are we going?"

She chuckled, "Hey sleepy…I gotta get off you…we gotta move…Will, Fran…home soon."

He whined, "Aww come on…just a little longer…"

"Sorry honey, we gotta get cleaned up…you still smell like a mixture of fruit and honey…and the smell of sex looms in the air as well."

He laughed, "Well…at least they all go together…"

She smiled, moving off of him, "Come on…"

"Where are we going?"

"Oh…yeah…hmm…can't bring the bath to you…" she looked at him questioning.

"What?"

"Do you think we can get you to the bathroom?"

"Uh…"

"If you don't think so, I'll bring in a cloth and stuff…"

"We can try…"

"Only if you think you can – I know I made a big deal out of the sitting up, which was…but I don't want you to push yourself too much…"

"We can try Syd…that's about all I can say…"

"Ok," she said moving to help him sit up.

"How come I didn't get to sit up that time by myself?" he asked.

She smiled, "I still supported you the first time – it was just your own power…"

"I see…"

She helped him swing his legs over the edge of the bed and then moved to stand in front of him.

"We're gonna take this REALLY slow, ok?" she asked looking him in the eyes seriously.

"Yeah…I got it…"

"You don't have your sling on, so I'm gonna grab you around the waist, ok? Just do the same thing you would if you had it on."

"Ok."

She gripped him around the waist and pulled him gently as he pushed off with his feet. He stood in front of her, her arms still holding his waist.

"You ok?"

"I think so…so far so good…"

"Ok…if you get dizzy or sick or anything, tell me…and we'll get you back here…"

"Ok."

She took a step backwards, taking him with her. He looked down and that was a mistake.

She saw him do it though and moved one of her hands to his face, "Look at me…don't look at the floor…k?"

He nodded.

The only time she took her eyes off of his was when they had to maneuver through doors or around objects; otherwise, she made sure that he kept eye contact. As long as he didn't look at the passing scenery, he seemed to be ok. They moved slowly, deliberately and carefully to the bathroom.

Sydney sighed a huge sigh of relief when the actually reached the bathroom, "Ok…good…that was really good," she said as she deposited him in the chair next to the tub, "I was really worried that we'd wind up in a heap on the floor and Will and Francie would come in to find our naked forms struggling there."

He smiled softly, "Does it scare you to be alone with me?"

"What? What do you mean? I'm not scared of you," she said squatting in front of him.

"No, that's not what I asked…I know you're not scared OF me…I want to you know if it scares you to be with me ALONE…like moving me and stuff…does that scare you?"

She thought a moment, looking up at him, "No…I'm not scared to be alone with you…I get scared if we do something like this…when I don't know if you're ready…but I'm not scared to be left alone with you…"

She touched his face, "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I just wondered sometimes if you get scared when we're alone…if something happened to me or something."

"Of course I worry that something might happen to you, but it doesn't like constantly torment me or anything. I'm perfectly fine with being alone with you – I guess I'm just apprehensive when we do new stuff. Is this because I made that joke about Will and Francie coming home to find us on the floor?"

"Kind of…but I've been wondering for awhile."

"How long?"

He shrugged again, but she knew.

"Since the night you had the fever?"

He met her gaze, but he didn't answer.

She nodded, "I'm sorry Vaughn…listen…let me get the bath water started, then we'll talk, ok?"

He nodded.

She moved to the tub and turned the water on, then came back to him, and took off the ankle wrap and the rib wrap, and then proceeded to start to take the bandages off. She started on his back and got all the small ones off, and left the large, infected one for the moment. She moved to the front and took off all of the ones save the one that had the tape marks.

She moved back to the tub then, leaving him somewhat confused as to why she hadn't taken the other two off.

Once she was satisfied that the water was the correct temperature, she came back and offered Vaughn a hand. He took it and then she moved to help him stand again.

"Uh, Syd…"

"Yeah?" she said as she started to move him towards the tub.

"Don't these two have to come off?"

She smiled, "They will…" She sat him on the edge of the tub and ran off suddenly, coming back with the Cavilon Film. She moved to the closet and got out a bunch of towels and a washcloth. Then she moved behind him, dipped the cloth in the water and gently prodded the edge of the bandage with the infection. Once she had it up, she removed it gently and then examined the wound. Sydney couldn't notice any change, but it didn't seem any worse. She brought the cloth up to the wound and placed it gently on a section of the wound, waiting for Vaughn's reaction.

He pulled away slightly.

"You ok?"

"Yeah…it just pulled a little bit…"

"Sorry honey," she said covering the area around the wound with kisses.

He sighed, "S'alright…"

"I think it's ok…Tom said the stuff lasts for 72 hours, so you should be good for the tub…"

She grabbed him under the arms for support as he swung his legs into the water. Then she gently eased him down.

"Syd…the other one…"

"S'ok…" she said smiling and settling in behind him in the tub.

He leaned back into her waiting embrace and she reached under his arms so she could reach the other bandage.

She easily pulled the bandage and the tape off, "There," she said happily.

She could see the smile from behind him as she discarded the wet bandage.

"I figured that would be easier – and more effective…less painful…"

"You're a genius," he said.

"So I'm told…" she teased.

They spent a while just sitting, soaking in the tub.

Sydney picked up the washcloth and rung it out so the water ran over his chest. He sighed contentedly and his head lowered down onto her shoulder. She placed a gentle kiss on his temple.

"You wanna talk now?" she asked quietly.

He didn't say anything, so she decided just to continue, speaking softly, just above a whisper, right next to his ear, "That night…was a mistake…I was scared because you were sick…I wasn't scared to be with you…or really even because you were sick. I was scared because I didn't want to screw up…I didn't want to do something wrong. That's why I get scared, it really has nothing to do with you at all…I'm never scared to be alone with you – I love you…the thought of being alone isn't what worries me…it's what could happen to you…and that I might be powerless to stop it. What grates my cheese even more, is that I was already powerless to stop this from happening in the beginning, and that I might be the reason you get hurt now…does that make sense?"

"Yeah…it makes sense…Sydney, I know I sound like a broken record, but I don't want to be a problem…I don't want to make your life harder than it already is…"

"You're not…believe me…I love just being home with you…and I love taking care of you…and I love what we do…"

He smiled.

"Ok?"

"Yeah…"

"Is that all that's bothering you, or is there something else," she asked, running a hand through his hair.

He smiled again, "I'm kinda leery…"

"Of Barnett?" she asked knowingly.

"Yup."

"Don't be honey, she told me…she has no intention of taking you from the house…those were her exact words."

"Well that doesn't mean she won't…"

"Well, no, but really…I trust her Vaughn…I really just thinks she wants to help…try not to let it bother you…"

She pushed him up slightly, "Let's wash your hair, k?"

He nodded and hummed while she moved in gentle circles over his head. She rinsed the soap out and then grabbed the bar of soap, lathering her hands and massaging her way over his neck and shoulders, down his back and then around his chest and abdomen. She moved out from behind him and settled him back against the tub gently, and then sat in front of him to wash his legs and other areas that had gotten a work out today.

She smiled as she came into contact with his cock, which was semi-erect from all her touching.

He smiled back, "You're so beautiful Sydney…I love you so much…"

She smiled and moved between his legs to kiss him, "I love you too…and you're equally as beautiful."

He smiled and went back to watching her lather him up before washing herself too. She did her arms and legs and her hair, all with his watchful eye on her. She noticed that his cock had gotten harder too.

"C'mere…" he said.

She turned around so her back was facing him and he held out his hand. She lathered up her own hands and then deposited the soap in his hand. He smiled because he didn't have to tell her what he was thinking. He washed her back for her and then surprised her by pulling her back against him. She didn't want to hurt him and turned her head, but the look he gave her told her that he was fine. She settled back into his arms as he washed her stomach and neck and then moved down to wash her breasts. She moaned as his soapy hands played over her nipples, pulling them slightly, as the slipped through the sudsy fingers. His head dropped to her neck, kissing and nipping until he reached her ear, darting his tongue out into the crevices and sucking the lobe into his mouth.

She had to admit, her center sure liked the idea of having hot bath sex, but she knew that Will and Francie would be home any minute.

She groaned out in a whisper, "Vaughn…we have to stop…Will…Francie…"

"So?"

"Home soon," she said.

"Don't care," he replied.

She smiled, "I know…but I didn't shut the door…"

"Well…go shut it…" he offered.

"No, honey, we have to get out of the tub…"

"Why…" he whined.

"Because…"

"That's not an adequate answer…" he said nipping her neck until she moaned.

"Really…honey…later…we can finish later…"

"Finish now," he said.

"How about I help you finish…" she asked.

"Inside you…" he breathed.

She couldn't stop thinking about his damn mouth on her neck, so she caved, "Ok."

She turned around in his embrace with lightening speed and mounted him before he had a chance to say another word. She was full of surprises today, he thought, and he arched his hips so hard that she had to catch him before he slipped under water.

She smiled after she grabbed him, bringing him closer to her.

"You're just one big surprise today, aren't you?" he asked, echoing his thought from a moment ago.

"That's me…" she said pushing on him quickly.

She knew that it wouldn't take long if she kept up this pace, plus they really needed to get out of the tub, so as much as she hated to admit it, the sooner the better.

She ground her hips into him, and squeezed her muscles around his throbbing cock, sending him deeper inside. She leaned over slightly and reached her hand behind her, taking his balls in her hand and massaging them. His eyes shot over to meet hers, as he groaned and lost himself, coming hard inside her. She followed after feeling his balls tense and his cock lurch inside her.

His let his head fall back to the edge of the tub, "Jesus Sydney…"

She smiled, "Well I had to get you to come quickly some how…"

"That was a great way," he admitted.

She smiled and got off of him, washing them both once again and then moved out of the tub and threw on her robe.

She started letting the water out of the tub when she heard the door open and she gave Vaughn an 'I told you so,' look.