(Thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing! I hope you're all enjoying the story...I could literally keep going forever! Please continue to leave your views.)

Chapter 10

Hanssen had been drifting in and out of sleep, keeping an ear-out for Serena, when he felt her cough violently. He opened his eyes and looked down at her, noticing her eyes were streaming and she was sniffing loudly. He leant across her to the near-empty glass of water on the bedside table and helped her to sit up, bringing it to her lips. The fever had well and truly broken now, which was a good thing as it was on the way out of her system. He looked at his watch and noticed they'd been dozing for the past 3 hours. She finished the water and he put the glass back on the table, leaning back with her following and snuggling into him.

"Sorry." she whispered as he stroked her hair.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You're ill, that's not your fault." He hadn't know he had it in him to be so caring towards somebody, especially Serena Campbell, but they had been getting closer lately. "Do you think you could eat something?" he asked her gently and she thought about it.

"Maybe some soup." she reasoned, keeping her arm around him tightly. "But not just yet." As she continued to lie on him, he raised his hand to her forehead, checking her temperature. "How am I doing, doctor?" she asked him lightly as he chuckled.

"Your fever has broken, thankfully. You looked worryingly pale earlier. We just need to keep your fluids up." he told her, even though he knew she already knew this.

"I didn't realise you did home visits." she said innocently, him smiling.

"That depends entirely on whose home I am to visit." he answered her and she smiled. "I'll go and get you some more water." he said, patting her arm so she'd move off him. Climbing off the side of the bed, he picked up the glass and left the room. Downstairs in the kitchen, he thought he may as well look for any potential food. Searching through the cupboards, he came across a couple of carrots, onions and tomatoes. He knew these were the basics needed for tomato soup, and went to the fridge searching for tomato puree. He was pleasantly surprised when he found some stuffed at the back of the fridge, behind a few bars of chocolate. Lining up his ingredients, he filled her glass of water and headed back upstairs. He found she was drifting off to sleep again as he perched on the edge of the bed, reaching for her shoulder.

"Serena, you need more water." he said softly as she sighed and leant up on her elbow, reaching for the glass. She drank thirstily until the glass was almost empty. Smiling, he took the glass from her and re-checked her temperature. "I'll make us some food...don't worry, it's soup." he reassured her as she nodded sleepily and drifted off. He made his way back down to the kitchen and set to work. After 30 minutes or so, Hanssen returned upstairs and woke her gently. "Would you like the soup up here or do you think you could make it downstairs? I wasn't sure whether you allowed food upstairs." he blabbed nervously as she smiled and sat herself up slowly.

"It's fine, downstairs will be fine." she said pushing back the covers.

"Do you have a dressing gown?" he asked her, not wanting her to get cold.

"Mhmm, on the back of the door." she nodded with her head and he went over to fetch it, helping her into it. "Thank you." she said kindly as he once again wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her.

As she tried the soup, she couldn't help but be surprised. "You made this? From scratch?" she asked dubiously as he nodded. "It's better than I thought it would be." she said, taking another spoonful. Hanssen looked at her in mock-outrage.

"I take offence at the inference my cooking is anything less than perfect." She laughed as he stared at her, open-mouthed.

"Fine, I apologise most sincerely. This has to be the best homemade tomato soup I have ever had the pleasure of tasting." she said lightly, smiling at him. They ate in silence, Hanssen keeping an eye on her, making sure she was eating enough. As he finished his bowl, he looked across and saw she'd only left a couple of spoonfuls and was leaning back in her chair.

"Feeling okay? I do hope my food hasn't poisoned you." he joked as she looked at him in mock-sincerity.

"Maybe that's what this is...those sandwiches you made..." He rolled his eyes as she laughed and stood up, reaching for their bowls.

"No! I'll do the dishes, you need to rest." he said, coming around the table and taking her by the shoulders, guiding her away. "How about you watch some TV for a while and I'll clean up quickly? Would you like a drink? A soft drink." he said as she looked at him in hope.

"I suppose another glass of water. Look at me hitting the hard stuff." she said grumpily as she dropped onto the sofa and he handed her the remote. He moved off to the kitchen to clean up and she flicked on the TV, leaning back and closing her eyes. She didn't think she'd be able to focus on the TV, but she couldn't bear the silence. After a few minutes, Hanssen reappeared and saw she was leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed. He had a sudden thought and quietly left the house, heading to his car. Retrieving his briefcase and a CD from the glove-compartment, he returned to the house, entering the living room. She looked up as she heard him enter and frowned in suspicion at the pleased look on his face.

"What?" She narrowed her eyes as he headed towards her music system on the far wall. She watched him as he turned it on and inserted a CD, fiddling with the machine until music began to drift from the speakers. She smiled, recognising the music from the first time she'd been in his car on the way to their meeting. He fidgeted nervously by the music player, looking at her expectantly. "Ludvig Norman..." she breathed and he smiled at her, happy she'd remembered. He stood where he was until she turned her head towards him and patted the sofa next to her expectantly. Making his way towards her, he placed his briefcase by the coffee table and sat down. She leant back and closed her eyes again, simply listening. When she hadn't moved for several minutes, Hanssen deduced she'd fallen asleep. He reached across for the blanket, pulling it over her as he leant back relaxing next to her.