"Take a hot shower and get into bed," Rebecca instructed when they reached his hotel room.

Ted did feel like that's exactly what he needed, but he was also painfully aware that he was standing in his tiny little cheap hotel room with Rebecca, who seemed very out of place. "And what're you gonna do?" he asked. Part of him wanted her to leave just so he wouldn't have the pressure of her being around. Another part of him wanted to beg her to stay just so he wouldn't be trapped here alone.

Rebecca didn't seem to notice his internal conflict. She just looked at him with the now-familiar arch of her brow as she gave him a direct, confident response. "I am going to be here to look after you. In case you need anything. You shouldn't be alone. And I don't really want to go home by myself."

Her words had a couple different meanings there, and Ted wasn't sure how to take that. She wanted to take care of him, which was nice. But she kinda insisted on it, but it was a little weird. They'd only met yesterday. He couldn't understand why she felt any kind of responsibility or loyalty or whatever toward him. Although, in the back of his mind, he sorta knew that if the situations were reversed and she was upset or hurting in any way, he would want to help take care of her. Even if they had just met yesterday.

And then, of course, there was the matter of her saying she didn't want to go home by herself. Did that mean she wanted to go home with Ted? Or was that wishful thinking on his part? No, not wishful thinking. He wasn't thinking about that. He'd just met Rebecca yesterday. Michelle just broke up with him this morning. He wasn't in any shape to be thinking about any kinda intimacy with anyone at all. It was just that…well…

Ted allowed his eyes to glance down at how her legs looked in those jeans, how her pale blue sweater hugged the curves of her body, how her bright blonde hair fell into her face, how her green eyes seemed to pierce his soul. She really was so beautiful. And kind. And gentle. She was so gentle when he'd been in trouble. Having her hold him like that had been a lifesaver. He had felt so at home when she touched him. Made him want to touch her, too. Maybe he did want to go home with her.

He blinked and looked down at his own shoes. Jeez, man, get a grip! "I'll go take a shower," he mumbled, heading into the bathroom without another look at her.

The shower did help. The hot water eased the tension he didn't even realize he still held in his muscles. His chest loosened and he could finally breathe again. He felt clean. Renewed. And exhausted. He even swayed a little bit, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Not wanting to slip and crack his head open, Ted quickly turned off the shower and got himself dried off. It was then that he realized he didn't bring any clothes into the bathroom with him. His suitcase was in the bedroom. Where Rebecca was. Or at least, where he assumed she was. He didn't think she left.

Since he didn't really have any other option, Ted tied the towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door. Rebecca looked up from where she was sitting in the chair by the window, reading a book. Her eyes went a little wider when she saw how he was dressed. Or really, how he wasn't dressed.

"Sorry, forgot my clothes," he muttered uncomfortably.

"Oh yes, you'll probably need those. But you may just want to get into bed. Not to be rude, Ted, but you look absolutely knackered," she said bluntly.

"Knackered?"

"Exhausted," Rebecca translated.

"Yeah, I guess I am," he admitted. "I might just get a couple things and get to bed, yeah."

Rebecca stared at him for a moment, eyes flicking across his inappropriately exposed body. Then she blinked and stood up a little abruptly. "Right, sorry, I'll let you…um…"

"You don't have to go if you don't want to. I just…I mean, I'm not great company right now…"

"I don't mind," she answered quickly. "I…" Rebecca shut her eyes tight and gave a little growl of frustration. "God, this is so stupid!"

Ted took two steps closer to her. "What's stupid?" he asked, suddenly worried about her and forgetting both his state of undress and his own feelings for a moment.

Her eyes opened again and she stared pointedly at his face. "Can you please put on a fucking shirt? I can't think straight."

"Yes, ma'am," Ted answered, going over to his suitcase to grab a t-shirt and a pair of boxers to change into. His cheeks felt a little hot and he couldn't seem to keep from smiling. Him being shirtless was distracting Rebecca. That was a mighty boost to his ego. He probably wouldn't have been able to think straight if Rebecca was shirtless, but also he certainly didn't look nearly as good as Rebecca, shirt or no shirt.

It only took a second for Ted to go back into the bathroom and get dressed and come back out. Rebecca seemed to have relaxed a little bit. "You look like you're about to pass out where you stand. Please get some rest, Ted."

She wasn't wrong. "What about you?"

"I've got about two hours before I need to get to work," she answered.

Ted hesitated for just a second before he foolishly blurted, "Will you stay?"

Her face went all soft. "I'll stay."

With that, Ted got into bed.

Rebecca returned to her seat by the window. "You rest. I'll read."

"What book you got there?"

"Yours, actually," she said, holding up Tuesdays with Morrie. "I found it on the dresser and figured it would give me something to do. I made sure not to lose your place."

Ted smiled at that. "Thanks. You enjoy. And if you finish it before you have to leave, don't spoil the ending."

She arched her brow in amusement at him again. Probably because everyone knew how that book ended at this point. But she just told him, "Go to bed, Ted."

"Cute rhyme," he said. His words were already slurring as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was out like a light.