"Careful Luke!"

Claire told him, when they've reached the bedroom. Flora was still sleeping in his arms, as he gently placed her on her bed. Luke was nearly falling asleep as well, but he couldn't.

"She's sweating so much, and she has fever. What can I do?"

He undid his tie and prudently sat on the corner of the bed.

"Just let her sleep. Wait here and I'll bring you a rag to dab her dry."

Claire simply said, trying to suppress her coughs, while she walked to the dark kitchen.
Some knocks made her, to throw the rag full of water right back to the wash basin and ran to the door. The Professor was leaning against the door frame, only smiling at her. She laughed while she hugged him tightly, but the bad cough came soon back. Hershel grasped her by the shoulders:

"Please make some rest. You look terribly ill. I can sleep on the couch in the living room and you'll sleep in mine, if that's okay?"

She indeed had fever, was pale and had drops of exhaustion on her front.

"Thank you. I just wanted to drive back, after I gave Luke this."

Claire showed him the blue rag and held her other hand in front of her mouth.

"This is quite out of the question. I know it isn't what a gentleman's supposed to do, but I won't let you go…"

Hershel took the cloth and her around the waist and walked to flora's bedroom.

"But… I'll be fine. Don't care about it too much."

They stood already in her room as she said that. Luke looked up and didn't knew how to react. Why was she refusing his help?

"I do care about you a lot. You can't deny it."

He stayed stubborn as he chucked the cloth to Luke. A few splashes landed on floras purple dress, when he catched the rag.

"Sorry Luke."

Professor apologized himself for the bad litter, as Luke wiped the drops on her bare neck/shoulder away.

"It's okay. I'll stay here and take care of her, go with Claire… she needs a Tender now."

Sleepy nodding, Hershel walked away still holding his Patient next to his waist.

"It's a little modest."

He said tired; while he pushed the door open with his moist sleeve.

"No, it isn't. It looks cozy." Claire sat slowly down on the sheets and stared at him in a strange way.

"What's wrong?"

The beloved Top hat was now on his nightstand, when she shaked her hands in the direction of the dark brown door, trying to get him out.

"Oh… I'd understand. Call me if you need something. Good night, my dear."

She just laughed and turned around to take off her wet shirt, as he left.

In Flora's Room:

The light in chamber was dimmed, the atmosphere cold.

"Oh gosh… why's this exactly happening to you."

Luke was now close to her, stroking a few strands from her pale face away. Then he realized that she still wore her beautiful gown. Gently pushing her aside, he slowly opened the zip and pulled her out of the dress. A bit later she was in her pajama and slept on.

"Wish I could talk to you…look in your eyes and…hu?"

Flora started to move her fingers to his hand, which was on her cheek.

"Flora? How are you?"

She blinked a few times and glanced at his handsome profile.

"I'd feel… tired. What happened?"
It almost seemed that she couldn't remind what was going on the whole night. He was worried and told her with a smirk:

"You saw Blood, that's all."

She lost her lovely smile and asked:

"What do you mean with blood? Who was bleeding?"

The attempt to turn the subject failed. Her eyes where glowing in curiosity.

"Mr. Burwell died, or better… has been murdered. The Professor's trying to help the police with that case… so we'll know who did that to him."

Fear was in the room, especially coming from her. She nearly shivered at the thought that a murderer was standing next to her.

"Apropos 'been'. Where was Ben?"

His soft but manly voice calmed her down has he dabbed her front dry.

"No one saw him after he went. I was thinking about that too… but, Flora you urgently need rest. Please sleep now. I don't want to be responsible if you get sicker. Now…"

Luke cuddled himself right next to her and whispered in her ear:

"Somehow it sounds gay but: I'll be your nurse for the next day. If you like it or not." She
chuckled slightly, held his strong arms closer to her and told:

"It doesn't sounds gay. You and gay is like… Hershel without his top Hat."

"That's a good comparison."

Luke slightly laughed and added:

"Good night, my love."

Flora turned her head back and kissed him quickly, to return his good night wish…

In Layton's Room:

"Hershel?"

Claire tried her best to scream enough loud, but just the volume of a whisper came out of her mouth. Nevertheless he heard something, no wonder. The whole apartment was so silent that he recognized every sight he made. After that he went to check on her, if everything was alright, as suddenly a crying woman sat in his bed.

"Claire?"

With fast paces he reached the corner from the large bed, holding appropriated distance to her.

"I… I can't stand the fact that… you…"

She didn't finished her sentence, she couldn't… she was drowning in sobs.

"Can I?…"

Shyly he moved closer to her, never loosing eye contact.

"Please, hold me tight."

Many Tear drops rolled down her cheeks, as she fell around his neck. Hershel hugged her back, with closed eyes and let her cry on his shoulder. They stayed like that for the next five minutes, until she said:

"Thank you, I wouldn't know what to do without you now."

Her arms were still around his neck when he gently whispered back:

"You're welcome. I'll always be there for you."

With a peaky smile, Claire went back a little, sitting there cross-legged... enough close to touch his knees.

"May I ask why you were crying?"

He backed off shocked, when he got hard coughs in response.

"Oh its silly. Forget it."

Her face became even paler when she coughed along.

"I sure its probably not...That doesn't sounds good. You've surely got a cold on the chest."

Placing his hand on her front, he recognized that she had high fever. He looked worried at her, but Claire just smiled at him and told reassuring:

"Okay, I'll tell you the reason...I guess I was just overwhelmed what happened in such a short time: the date with you, our first kiss, then Mr. Burwell was murdered, flora lost consciousness, Luke was in angst because of her, and I'm ill now and that all in a few hours..."

Hershel's fondly smile at the beginning when she was speaking turned to a gloomy face expression.

"I Understand. Till now I didn't thought about that at all."

"I didn't knew how I should react about that all, it was like I had an emotional break down."

Slowly she laid herself back on his fluffy pillows, while he covered her with warm sheets.

"In a way it's rude to ask that , but do you have that often?"

He wondered, siting on the edge of the bed and looking down to her.

"No I don't, I'm strong woman."

She said confident and continued:

"I don't want you to leave, but please do. Otherwise I'll infect you."

A sweetish laugh came from Hershel.

"You're going to infect me either way. I'll be you're Tender, like Luke said. But I'll leave, it's very late. So...wish you good night, my dear."

"Sweet Dreams."

He glanced back at her as he attained the door and leaved.
Claire only stared at his Top Hat, which made her smile:

"Good night, my love."

Author's Note: Soo, a short Chapter, i know.. but there is still so much to come! verryy much drama and stuff with Ben. Just R&R and i'll upload another chapter. Thank you!