Elphaba'sGirl – Her vision is shadowy. She can see shadows and basic shapes. Hope this clears things up… hopefully. And her illness is incurable. Sorry!

Elphaba went to sleep peacefully that night. She had Galinda and Fiyero back in her life. And she was never going to let them go again.

However, the next morning only brought pain for Elphaba. As soon as she woke up, she felt sore. Her whole body ached. Her head was throbbing. An uncomfortably painful feeling in the middle of her back caused her to jerk up into a sitting position, her muscles immediately regretting it.

"Elphaba!" Galinda exclaimed, looking over at her roommate, wondering why Elphaba had screamed.

"Galinda!" Elphaba called, clutching her sheets for dear life.

"I'm here, Elphie. I'm here," Galinda said, running to Elphaba bed. She started to rub small circles on Elphaba's back, but Elphaba pulled away.

"No," she whimpered.

"What?" Galinda asked, confused.

"T-There's a r-rash on m-my back," Elphaba managed to stutter, despite the pain she was feeling.

Galinda slowly lifted up Elphaba nightdress. She gasped when she saw an angry, red rash across the middle of Elphaba's back.

"Sweet Oz," she muttered.

"T-There's c-cream in t-t-the bathroom," Elphaba said, her breathing becoming rigid.

Galinda ran into the bathroom and found the rash cream. She ran back to Elphaba and quickly applied the cream onto her back. When Galinda was finished, Elphaba took a deep breath and slumped back against her pillows.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Galinda lifted her hand to feel Elphaba's forehead. "Elphaba, you have a fever," she said, running to open a window.

"No, please don't open the windows! It's freezing in here!" Elphaba protested, rising on her elbows.

"Fresh air is best for a cold," Galinda reported. "You need to get some rest."

"Galinda –"

"Now, I know you don't like it when people do everything for you, but this is different. You're sick, and after everything that's happened, I don't want to see you in this much pain."

Elphaba couldn't help but smile at that. "I know you mean well."

"I do."

"But you can't miss classes."

"And I can't leave you here all by yourself."

Elphaba opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. She knew that Galinda couldn't leave her alone. What if she needed something?

"Okay," Elphaba agreed.

Galinda smiled. She had won the first battle of the wills.

Galinda continued to take care of Elphaba by bringing her soup, tea, and by rubbing the cream on her back.

"Elphaba, I brought you some tea," Galinda said one morning, sitting next to Elphaba on her bed.

"I'm not thirsty," Elphaba sighed, pushing herself up into a sitting position.

"Elphaba, you really should try to get something in your stomach," she said, carefully placing the cup into Elphaba's hands.

Elphaba sighed, but obeyed the blonde. She quickly and quietly drank the tea. Galinda felt her forehead, frowning because it was still very warm.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked, taking the cup from Elphaba and placing it on the nightstand.

"I'm fine. I just feel so tired and… weak," Elphaba admitted.

"It's okay to feel weak once in a while," Galinda smiled.

Elphaba weakly nodded and went back to sleep. Galinda was worried. She had already lost her Elphie once, and she brought her back. But she didn't know how she did it, or if she could do it again. She couldn't bear to lose her again.

Elphaba grew weaker every day. Every morning, Galinda would wake up at the crack of dawn just to make sure that Elphaba was still breathing. She would constantly bring her food and water. Some days, Elphaba didn't have enough strength to move, so Galinda would just sit next to Elphaba and gently squeeze her hand. She wanted to do everything for her, but there was only so much that she could do.

"Galinda?" Elphaba asked.

"Yes?"

"What time is it?"

"Two in the morning."

Elphaba pushed herself up against the back on her bed. "You should get some sleep."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm not tired."

Elphaba grasped her best friend's hand. "I know you, Galinda. Go to sleep. I feel fine. Actually, I'm starting to feel much better."

Galinda looked down at her roommate. Elphaba was gazing up at her, a small smile playing on the ends of her lips.

"Alright, if it would make you happy. Are you sure you're okay?" Galinda asked, climbing back into her bed.

"It would. And I am," Elphaba smiled, closing her eyes and going back to sleep.

Elphaba was sitting on the edge of her bed, waiting for Galinda to wake up. She felt much better. The rash on her back was gone, but her muscles were still weak. She smiled when she heard Galinda's sheets rustle and covered her mouth to yawn.

"Elphaba, you're up," Galinda said, a sleepy smile on her face.

Elphaba laughed. "Good morning, Galinda."

"Are you feeling better?"

"Much better. Thank you."

Galinda slid out of her bed and walked over to Elphaba's bed. She gently placed her hand on Elphaba's forehead.

"Well, your fever is gone."

"And I have you to thank."

Galinda jumped onto the bed and wrapped her arms tightly around Elphaba.

"Glin…" Elphaba whispered, signaling that Galinda's grip was too tight.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Elphie," Galinda said, immediately letting go.

Elphaba gave Galinda a weak smile and looked down. "I… I'm sorry."

"No, it not your fault. You're still weak," she said. "I'll get you some breakfast."

Galinda ran out of the room. She returned a few minutes later with a bowl of hot oatmeal.

"Galinda, I'm really not hungry right now," Elphaba said, scooting away from her.

"Elphie, you need to eat something to get your strength back," Galinda insisted.

Elphaba shook her head and pushed the bowl away. "No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Elphaba."

"Galinda, I told you. I'm not –"

Galinda quickly spooned the hot cereal into Elphaba's mouth, catching her by surprise.

"Gotcha!" Galinda smirked.

Elphaba swallowed the oatmeal. It tasted wonderful. Galinda put the rest of the bowl in Elphaba's lap and went to get ready for the day.

"Come on, Elphaba! You can do it!" Galinda called from across the room.

"I can't!" Elphaba said, almost crying. "This is the third time you're asking me to do this this week."

"Yes, you can, Elphaba. You're strong enough now. Just walk towards me."

Elphaba shook her head.

Ever since Elphaba gained most of her strength back, Galinda has been making her walk around. She was never able to stand for more than a few minutes without getting tired. Today was the day Galinda dedicated to helping Elphaba walk.

"Elphaba, you're not going to fall or trip over anything. I'm right here. I'm not going to move."

Elphaba looked up at her roommate. Her expression slowly softened as she took a deep breath. Slowly, she slid her right foot forward. Throwing her hands out in front of her, her left foot slowly slid forward.

Galinda smiled, silently encouraging Elphaba to continue.

"Galinda?" Elphaba asked, fear laced in her voice.

"I'm right here. Keep going!"

Elphaba continued to make her way to Galinda. Galinda stretched out her arm towards her. When Elphaba's searching hand found Galinda's, she let out a sigh of relief.

"You did it!" Galinda exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her best friend.

Elphaba returned the hug. "Thank you!"

"I knew you could do it!"

Elphaba gently released her friend and slowly walked to her bed. She sat down with a huff. Galinda became worried. Was she pushing Elphaba too hard.

"You're not pushing me too hard," Elphaba said, as if reading Galinda's mind.

"How did you know –?"

"I know you," Elphaba smiled. "And I know that you're worrying about me."

Galinda didn't know what to say. She didn't want to make it seem like she was pitying her.

"It's just that," Elphaba started. "No one has ever pushed me to do something. They always gave in to whatever I wanted. It made me feel…"

"Helpless?" Galinda finished for her.

"Yeah."

"Elphaba, I care about you."

"I know you do. I'm just…"

"It's okay," Galinda said, gently rubbing Elphaba's arm. "Take all the time you need."