Disclaimer, The Show Victorious, it's characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else but not me.
You promised me forever.
Chapter 8 – Fever
This chapter takes place about a month after the previous chapter. It is Christmas Eve in the girl's sophomore year of college.
It was 7:24 in the evening and Tori was sitting on the couch watching the Movie "A Christmas Story" when her cell rang.
"Hello" Tori answered.
"Hey Tor, It's Mandy, how is my sis feeling?"
Tori sighed. "This case of the flu has really knocked her on her ass. I took her temperature about an hour ago, it was 103. I'm a bit worried, her fever hasn't broken yet. It's been almost 2 days."
"My god. Is she sleeping now?"
"Her fever's been so high, she's been sleeping fitfully here and there. I finally got her to fall asleep a short while ago. I put a cool washcloth on her head and it seemed to help her fall asleep. She really needs to, she barely slept last night. I have a fan going in the bedroom too."
"How are you holding up? You won't be able to take care of her if you're sick."
"I'm fine, I had the flu last year but not nearly as bad as Jade. I guess somehow that helped me, or maybe I'm just lucky."
"I'm glad you're feeling ok, Just keep me posted, and if you need anything just let me know."
Tori smiled. "I will, actually Cat should be arriving soon with some medicine. She's been a great help. She babysat Jade yesterday, while I had to work."
Mandy laughed. "Jade would hate the thought of having a babysitter."
"I'm not giving her a choice in the matter. She wants to work on her script but she needs a rest, so I hid her laptop. I let her watch movies. She's on this Hitchcock kick, studying his films. So I watched Rear Window with her earlier, and before that we saw Rope. Though she only half watched the movies, because she is so tired and sick."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Sorry to run Mandy, but Cat is here." Tori said quickly.
"Fine Tori, just keep me posted."
Tori hung up the phone, went to the door and opened it.
"Got the stuff Tori." Cat said as she walked into the room holding some bags.
Cat walked in the kitchen and put down several bags.
"Here is the cold and flu medicine you wanted." Cat said pointing to a brown bag.
"I also got you some chinese food from Imperial Gardens. It was the only place around here open. I know you haven't had much time to cook, so I took the liberty. I got you shrimp fried rice and sweet and sour chicken. I remember you liking those. I also got some sesame chicken if Jade feels better."
Tori took the container of chicken and smelled it. "Smells good. How much do I owe you?"
"Just 10 bucks for the medicine, the food is on me." Cat said with a smile.
Tori went to her purse and pulled out a 10, which she handed to the red haired girl.
"Thank you ever so much Cat, for going out for me on Christmas Eve. I can't leave Jade, at least until her fever breaks."
Cat smiled and gave Tori a hug, as she moved towards the door. "No problem. I have to go. Robbie is waiting for me in the car downstairs. We're going to my parents tonight"
"Thanks again Cat. Have fun tonight." Tori said as she shut the door.
Jade had gotten the flu just after exams. She had been studying hard and working on a film, leaving almost not time to rest. Tori suspected that Jade wore herself out too much, making her susceptible to the flu. She had been getting sick but kept working on one of her scripts for film class. About 2 and half days ago she literally crashed. Almost overnight she developed a high fever, chills and all the other fun flu symptoms.
Tori managed to ditch her shifts at The Coffee bean, save one, so she could watch over the now very sick Jade. All their Christmas plans were swiftly cancelled.
Deep down Tori liked playing nursemaid to Jade. For reasons she knew were entirely selfish, she liked having had Jade all to herself and helpless. Not running off to shoot footage or her nose glued to her laptop working on a script. Of course, she couldn't help but feeling just a bit guilty and somewhat torn about it all. But it didn't stop her from enjoying having Jade totally dependant on her. At least at first.
She truly wanted Jade to feel better, and it distressed Tori to see Jade so sick. But as it got worse Tori began to worry a bit more and felt guiltier about her liking playing nursemaid.
So she focused herself on making Jade as comfortable as possible, and did all she could to make the very sick Goth feel better.
Tori put some of the Chinese food on plate and went back to watching her movie. As she ate and watched the move, Tori glanced over at their own small Christmas tree. It hardly seemed like Christmas really, Tori thought to herself.
After finishing her dinner, Tori put the rest of it way in the fridge. She then grabbed a beer and quietly walked into the bedroom. Jade was lying there in the dark, only a few moonbeams sneaking in through the blinds illuminating her. She looked almost ghostly there in the dim light. Jade was on top of the covers, lying on her side facing the large fan that was blowing on her from other side of the bed.
Silently Tori moved around the bed and sat on the floor with her back against the wall so she was facing Jade. Tori took a long drink of her beer and gazed intently at her sleeping girlfriend. Jade even in the dim light looked sick. What little color she normally had was gone, and her face was gaunt and very pale.
Her facial expression was not her normal one of contentment. She almost looked like she was in pain. As Tori took a second drink, Jade stirred slightly and moaned. Putting the beer down Tori put her hand on Jades forehead.
"Poor baby" Said Tori softly.
It felt even warmer that it did when she was in there the last time. Tori wondered if she should take Jade to the hospital. She was now full blown worried.
Tori decided that she would just stay there and keep watch over Jade.
"I should have been here watching over you instead of watching TV. I'm sorry." Tori whispered, as she ran her hand through Jade's hair.
Just to pass the time Tori ran and quickly grabbed her phone, pearpod and headphones. She then to returned to her place near the bed. Tori put on some music and in the dark just kept watch over Jade, as she continued to fitfully sleep making an occasional moan.
For more than 2 hours sitting in the dark, Tori kept watch over Jade. From time to time Tori would wet the washcloth with cool water and hold it on Jade's forehead in an attempt to ease her discomfort. Jade tossed and turned making an occasional moan.
As the clock passed 10 Tori noticed that Jade had become much more restless. Tori put a hand on Jade's forehead, Jade was burning up. A little later 10:27, Jade suddenly sat up in bed and screamed. Her eyes were wide open but she didn't seem coherent. Tori quickly realized that Jade had become delirious due to her high fever. Jade grunted, screamed and acted as if she was being attacked, wildly swinging in the air.
Trying her best not to panic, Tori jumped up onto the bed. As she moved near, Jade suddenly threw a punch at her. Tori quickly tried to dodge the punch but Jades fist connected with her right shoulder.
Tori winced in pain as she quickly wrapped her arms around Jade, to try and calm her down. Jade struggled a bit and screamed again. Tori guessed her fever had probably gone up to 104, she had to do something and fast.
Letting go of Jade, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed Beck.
"Hello" He answered.
"Beck, Jade's delirious from her fever; I really need your help." Tori pleaded.
Becks voice took on a tone of urgency. "Mandy and I will be there in 10 minutes." He said as she hung up.
Tori pulled Jade off the bed and dragged the screaming Goth towards the bathroom. When she got her in the bathroom, Tori pulled Jade into the shower and turned on the water to cold.
Even dressed, the ice cold water felt like stinging needles all over Tori's skin. Jade simply screamed as the cold water drenched her. She tried to struggle but Tori managed to restrain her, barely.
A few moments later, Jade still delirious bit Tori's arm.
"Hijo de Puta" Tori yelled out in Spanish. "Para Eso"
With all her might Tori pinned Jade to the wall. She then directed the water right towards Jade, ignoring the droplets of blood dripping down her arm.
"Come on Beck, hurry up." Tori said to herself.
Jade awoke to see it was daytime. She felt weak, tired, her head was throbbing and her mind felt like it was scrambled. But she no longer felt like she was burning up. Looking around she saw Tori was not there.
"Tori" she said weakly feeling slightly panicked
A few moments later Tori came into the room, she had a glass of water and what appeared to be a small plastic cup with medicine. She had her hair back and was dressed in sweats. She also had a black eye.
Jade pointed at the black eye with horror. "What? Who did that?"
Tori smiled and put the glass of water on the nightstand.
"You did sweetie, belated Merry Christmas by the way."
Jade shook her head in confusion. "I did?" She then spotted the bandage on Tori's left arm.
"Did I do that? I don't remember anything." Jade said as she suddenly felt terrible.
Tori looked at the bandage on her arm. "You bit me."
Jade's jaw dropped. "I bit you."
"Your fever spiked Christmas Eve, it hit 104.5 causing you to become delirious. I called Beck. He and Mandy came over. I had put you in the shower to cool you down but it wasn't doing the trick. So we filled the tub with cold water and ice to bring your temperature down. Your fever finally broke around 3 am Christmas morning."
Jade ran her hand through her hair as a feeling of despair descended on her. 'I…I…don't remember any of that." Jade then looked at the clock, it was 10:46 in the morning. All that last night? You must be tired. I'm so sorry."
Tori handed the small cup with purple liquid to Jade and a glass of water. "Drink your medicine Jade. I'm not tired actually because that was 2 night ago.
Jade quickly drank the medicine followed by some water. "What? It's not.."
"It's December 26th. You had hardly slept because your fever was so high, so when it broke you simply slept all the way through Christmas." Tori said as she sat down on the bed next to Jade.
Jade put the glass and the little cup down on the nightstand. "The last few days are kind of a blur."
Tori put out her arms and Jade slipped into them. "I'm sorry hit you." Jade said as a tear rolled down her eye.
"You didn't know what you were doing. You punched Beck too, but only in the stomach. Mandy was able to duck the blow you aimed at her. You didn't like being in the ice cold water. I think, you thought we were trying to attack you. Even sick you pack a mean punch."
Jade buried her head in Tori's shoulder and cried. "I'm so sorry Tori."
"Stop apologizing, you had fever delirium. You couldn't help it." Tori said reassuringly as she rubbed circles on Jade's back.
After a few moments of sobbing, Jade composed herself and announced "I have to pee"
Tori smiled. "Come on, pee and we can open presents. If you're up to it." Before she left the room.
Jade got out of bed, slowly standing up. She felt like her whole body ached. She grabbed her black bathrobe off the hook on the back off the door and ever so slowly walked into the bathroom.
A few minutes later she emerged into the living room, having put her bathrobe on. Tori was sitting on the couch taking a sip from a cup of coffee.
Jade slowly made her way to the couch and collapsed on it.
"I've had my exercise for the day." She joked.
Tori handed her a cup of coffee. "I made some coffee for you."
"Thanks" Jade said as she slowly took a drink. She felt immeasurably better as the warm liquid poured down her throat.
"Hungry?" Tori said as she put her coffee down on the coffee table.
"Not at the moment, maybe later." Jade said as she shook her head.
"We can do this later if you want to rest, Jade."
"No" Jade said as she he slipped her fingers into Tori's hand. "I want to open presents."
Tori smiled, pulled out a small box with red wrapping paper and handed it to Jade. I stuck to the rules. 1 gift, no more than $75 dollars. Merry Christmas Jade."
Jade slowly unwrapped the package and opened the box. Inside was a DVD for the 1979 movie Alien. Jade just looked at it for a second with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Look at the cover closely." Tori said with a smile.
It was then Jade's eyes opened wide. "This is autographed by John Hurt, who played Kane." Jade said with amazement.
"I know it's not something horribly romantic but I still thought you would like it. I got it from collector online. I hope you like it."
Jade examined the autographed cover closely. "No, I love this. Obviously "The Scissoring" is my favorite, but Alien is one of the best horror films of all time."
Tori smiled. "I'm really glad you like it."
Jade handed Tori a small box with red wrapping paper. "Merry Christmas Baby"
Tori unwrapped it and opened the box.
"This is Symphony 7.0. I love using this music composition program. This version is not even out for another month, how did you get this?" Tori said genuinely amazed.
Jade smiled. "That would be telling."
"Thank you so much Jade." Tori said before giving Jade a hug.
"I know you've been using version 2.0 for the last 4 years, I thought you needed an upgrade."
"I love it; I can't wait until I get it put on my laptop."
Jade got quiet for a moment. "Thanks for watching over me Tori, You've been so good to me."
Tori motioned for Jade to lie down on the couch with her head sitting in Tori's lap. "I love you Jade.
Jade smiled and looked up at Tori. "You help me, and you get a punched and bitten in return. How fair is that?"
"It's not, and for the record, it was two punches and one bite. You tossed one at me which I partially dodged but you hit my shoulder."
Jade winced at the thought of hitting Tori. "I love you so much, I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'll make it up to you I promise."
"Just get better and don't overwork yourself so much. That's why you got so sick."
"I promise not to overdo it so much." Jade said still weak from being sick.
Tori smiled and ran her hand through Jade's hair. She certainly hoped Jade would keep her promise, but wasn't sure if she would.
Translations. Hijo de puta = Son of a bitch
Para Eso = Stop that.