08 - flu

Takes place in season 4, soon after A New Life.

The house was uncharacteristically quiet and it wasn't something that he was used to. On one hand, it was probably a good sign because it meant Jules was doing what he had been telling her to do - rest. On the other hand, if she's taking his advice, which wouldn't have been voluntarily he's willing to bet, it meant she wasn't feeling any better than yesterday. Or the meds probably knocked her out, Sam mused as he quietly made his way upstairs, socks clad feet softly padding through the hallway.

During his quick inspection of the kitchen earlier, he found a half eaten chicken soup in the sink and nothing else. The fact that she hadn't eaten everything bothered him as much as the fact that she just left the dirty dishes there. Even exhausted, Jules usually would still make sure everything was washed and dried properly or it would've made her restless. It was one of her knacks that he loved, being a former military.

He stopped in front of Jules' bedroom, which now he had considered as his as well after Natalie pretty much overstayed her welcome and moved in to his apartment. After having a twelve hour shift, it didn't do anything for his sour mood to go home and see a bright pink yoga mat in his living room and the TV turned on to Desperate Housewives.

Sam pushed the door open and was soon greeted by the silhouette of his sleeping girlfriend. At least he thought she was sleeping. The room was almost dark, save for the sunset starting to filter in through the gap in the curtain. He dropped his bag on the floor by the dresser and turned on his bedside lamp so he could get a better look at her before gently lowering himself on the bed.

Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was semi labored. He flinched when he felt her forehead - she was burning up. Apparently Jules wasn't sleeping as deeply as he'd thought because she stirred almost immediately. Sam stilled his hand, mentally chiding himself for waking her up from her much needed rest. When her eyes finally opened to reveal bloodshot eyes, she blinked a couple of times as if to bring him to focus. She licked her chapped lips, frowning. "Sam?"

"Were you expecting someone else?" he teased, moving a strand of stray bangs out of her eyes and caressing her cheekbone. Her skin felt like hot silk beneath his fingertips. "How are you feeling?" Sam kept his voice low, recalling the monster headache she was complaining about just this morning before he left for work.

"Didn't I tell you to go back to your apartment?" Jules sounded legitimately upset. It was hard to look angry when all she wanted was to go back to sleep until next week. Her head was pounding like there was no tomorrow and the medication she had taken was making her very drowsy and groggy. It was an effort to even remember what day today was. She shrugged dejectedly. "Or maybe I was dreaming about that part."

"I probably should tell you that it was only a dream," they had had a similar argument last night when she was trying to send him back to his place. If only the flu didn't make her feel so tired and physically incapable of throwing him out -he would never use the word weak- he would certainly have lost that argument. "Before you freak out, I cycled here and the bike is now safely hidden from sight just in case Sarge or Ed decided to pay you a visit. Though I think it's a bit unlikely they want to risk dragging you out of bed. Unless you also gave them a key, that is."

Jules shifted, trying to get into a more comfortable position, and failed. Frustrated, she blindly groped for the tissue on the nightstand. Her voice wasn't completely gone, but it was hoarse like sandpaper. "You should leave-" Sam swiftly reached over her and fetched a glass of ginger tea from the nightstand when she began to cough; dry, raspy cough that hurt his throat just by listening to it. She smiled gratefully at him and took a careful sip. "-it would look suspicious if you show up at work with snotty nose."

Sam lifted an eyebrow. Give it to Jules to still worry about an entry plan in a moment like this. As if she could sense where his thoughts were leading him to, she turned her head to look at him. "We don't need a rocket scientist to know I'm a bit contagious nowadays. I wouldn't even wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you," she chewed at her dry lip, her expression thoughtful. She took another sip of her tea before putting it down. "Well no, all the bad guys are free to catch my flu if that means no hot calls for a solid month."

Sam grinned, propping his head on his hand. While he knew Jules didn't need a babysitter, he was glad that he got to be there to take care of her. Though given the situation, Steve probably would've been more useful to have around now. Thinking of the time he'd lost Jules to the paramedic made his chest tighten, but before he could give it another thought, Jules yawned. "Sweetheart, go back to sleep. I'm pretty sure I'll still be here when you wake up." To his credit, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, knowing she would push him away if he went anywhere close to her face, especially her lips.

Jules rolled her eyes, a wan, resigned smile hovering over her lips. "You're a hopeless case, Braddock."

Sam chuckled and contented himself by stroking her arm, watching her chest rise up and down as she once again slowly succumbed to sleep. Was it only last week that she asked him about the hypothetical honeymoon? Dropping a bombshell in his head so casually like she was only asking what dinner was going to be? They hadn't really talked much about it yet, but it warmed him to know that he was in her big picture. God knew she had been in his since day one. Somewhere along the way, the petite brunette had become the center of his universe so much it both scared and thrilled him. It was perhaps the most reckless thing he could ever do, but Sam wasn't worried. He was certain this time would be different, would personally make sure they got their happy endings even if it meant he had to switch teams. Heck, he wouldn't even mind changing jobs or moving overseas altogether.

Right now Jules was laying under the covers in his old faded t-shirt, her brown hair sleep tousled and her nose red, but it was easy to picture her in a white dress walking down the aisle with a beautiful smile on her face, probably a bit teary eyed, wondering where he would take her for the (no longer hypothetical) honeymoon.

He wasn't sure if she would remember the whole conversation when she was awake and well later, and frankly he felt a bit guilty for getting into this when she was feeling slightly disoriented, but it was hard to stop himself now. "You know what they say, Jules, the whole 'for richer for poorer, for better for worse, in sickness and in health'… maybe I'm just getting a head start."

Jules didn't reply, her breath already evening out. Sam, mildly disappointed, thought that sleep had completely overtaken her when she murmured, so softly that he had to strain to hear her, "-should 'rite...your...own...vow,"

The hand caressing her arm paused momentarily as her words sank in and buried deep in his mind.

When Sam Braddock continued his ministration, a smile grew on his face.

This chapter had a bit of everything that I loved, like when Sam was considering the overseas position from his father in Slow Burn (ugh, the things Sam does for Jules!), the honeymoon talk and Sam's oh-so-perfect wedding vow. Thanks for the reviews :) Lemme know what you think?