A/N: Thanks so much to the folks who left reviews on the first chapter - much appreciated :) If you haven't guessed by now, I'm not so much a fan of the way the writers seemed to set Zade up to fail in canon, so I'm looking to fix some of the mess in this story. Hope y'all are going to go the distance with me ;)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 2
"Of course, I want to come see your band," Zoe insisted, the moment Wade said she shouldn't feel she had to. "Come on, you're my boyfriend, and I am a supportive girlfriend. So, when and where is this reunion concert?"
"It's tonight," Wade told her, the look on his face suggesting she ought to have known that already, "in Daphne."
"Tonight?" she echoed, trying not to squirm. "Oh, I didn't-,"
"It's okay, doc." Wade smiled indulgently. "I know, you got your doctorin' duties and all, that's why I said you don't have to be there if you don't want or you can't or whatever."
"No, I do want," she insisted, "and I absolutely can. I mean, yes, Brick is away, so I'm on-call, but Daphne is only twenty minutes away, right? So long as I have my phone set to vibrate, I'll know if I'm getting a call. I may have to rush out mid-set if there happens to be an emergency, but there's also every chance nothing will happen and I'll get to see the whole show," she said, smiling widely at him. "I wanna be there, Wade. I wanna be with the band!"
She hoped when he laughed it was because he was happy and out of a fond kind of amusement, not because she actually sounded as crazy as she feared she might. When his arm went around her shoulders and he almost pulled her off the bar stool in his attempts to bring her close enough to kiss, she knew everything was fine.
"You are somethin' else, Zoe Hart," he told her, kissing her once. "Your name's already on the list, so if you can be there, I'll be more than happy to see you. I just don't want you feelin' you have to-"
"I want to," she repeated firmly. "God, it's like you don't listen at all," she faked exasperation, kissing him this time. "So, tell me again, which band is this? I know you've been in a few."
"Mattress Police," Wade told her as he sat straight again on his own stool, all focus on his half-empty breakfast plate. "You know, the one that, uh, me and Lily-Anne were in together?"
Zoe felt her eyes get really wide when she heard that, the eggs she just put into her mouth sticking terribly in the back of her throat when she tried to swallow.
"Lily-Anne Lonergan?" she choked out. "Your wackadoo ex who used to be in love with you and probably still is?"
Wade sort of glanced at her sideways as he nodded, shoving more food into his mouth, presumably so he didn't have to talk. He knew how she felt about his ex. Not that he had all that favourable opinion of Lily-Anne himself, at least, Zoe was pretty sure that was true.
It wasn't as if he was going to cheat on her with his ex or anything, that would never happen. Zoe just needed to stop choking on her breakfast and take a couple of deep, cleansing breaths, that was all. She concentrated all her energy on doing that, so by the time Wade asked her if she was okay, she could honestly answer that, yes, she was fine.
"I guess we can't deny the world, or at least the population of Daphne and its surrounding area, from the greatness of Mattress Police just because Lily-Anne is... well, Lily-Anne," she said with a look. "Besides, I'm going to be right there at your side, making it very clear to Ms Looney-Tunes Lonergan that you are off the market."
"And real happy about it too, doc," Wade promised her with a grin.
Zoe smiled back, quite ready to lean in and meet his kiss when suddenly her cell sprang to life, taking her attention. She was a little bemused to find the health board were calling.
Of course, it only got worse when she found out what they wanted. Of all things, now she had to deal with a potential flu epidemic? That could not be good!
"So, I'm guessing this means you won't be at my concert tonight, after all?" said Wade with a look, the moment she was done explaining about her call.
"You guess right, cowboy." Zoe huffed out a sigh. "I'm so sorry, but with Brick away, I'm the captain of the SS Bluebell. If a crisis is brewing..."
"Then you gotta steer this town to safe harbour" Wade concluded her analogy with a sad smile. "I'll miss you, baby, but you do know I still have to go, right? Even though that means my being where Lily-Anne is..."
"Wade, it's fine," Zoe assured him fast, dropping down from her stool and preparing to head over to the practice. "Come on, your ex may be crazy, and attractive, and I may not be thrilled at the idea of her getting the opportunity to try her chances with you but," she quickly emphasised, before Wade could interrupt her, "I trust you," she told him definitely. "You are my boyfriend and you are committed to our relationship. So, I know I have nothing to worry about, right?"
Maybe the addition of that last word proved she was just a little nervous. Zoe hated that, but she couldn't help herself. After all, Wade did have a reputation with the ladies, and more than that, Lily-Anne really was just this side of certifiable!
"Sweetheart, you have absolutely nothing to worry about," Wade assured her, pulling her close so quickly she nearly tipped off her high heels. "And thank you, for bein' so understandin' and all. You know, for trustin' me like that."
Zoe smiled widely and planted a big kiss on his lips. "No problem, rockstar. Now, I will go stave off a flu-related crisis, you go blow the socks of every person in Daphne, and I will see you tomorrow, when we're both done making the world a slightly better place."
It really had not gone according to the plan. Wade wasn't sure why he was surprised. After all, just when things seemed like they were going right for him, a huge wrench usually came flying in from someplace to screw everything up.
He thought it was bad enough when Zoe couldn't come to the Mattress Police reunion concert, but at least she had given him a real sincere speech about how much she trusted him, even around his crazy ex. Wade was sure she could have no idea how good that made him feel. So much so he very nearly told her he loved her for saying what she did. Truth be told, he loved her for a whole lot more than that, but finding a way of saying as much didn't come easy. Trusting that she wouldn't lose her mind if he said it too soon, it was a lot.
So, Wade had gone to his concert, all buoyed up by Zoe's trust and encouragement, and of course, things went downhill from there. First, he wasn't allowed to go back to Bluebell, thanks to some dumbass quarantine that Lavon decided to impose. Then, Lily-Anne had offered Wade her couch, and a whole lot more than that besides. He figured he was better off sneaking back home than trying to do anything else, even if he had started sneezing long before he crossed the border.
The flu. Wade had never had it before, not once in his whole life. Some pretty nasty colds and bugs or such a few times, but never the actual flu. He knew he had it now, no question, because he felt like hell on earth, and how.
He managed to get back to the gatehouse, though it had been quite the ordeal. More than once he had to stop walking, staggering around as if he were drunker than old Earl had ever been, sure he was going to pass out. It had been a real relief when he was finally within easy distance of his own bed, and that was where he had all-but collapsed and not got up for quite a while.
There was no concept of time. He heard his cell buzzing a couple of times, but for the most part he dipped in and out of consciousness, managing to literally crawl to the bathroom once when he absolutely had to.
It was light out when he realised maybe he should check who had been calling him. Most likely it was Zoe and she would be worried. He hoped not on the subject of him and Lily-Anne, not after what she said about trusting him, but either way, he didn't want her fretting.
Holding the phone in both his hands, he fought hard to focus on the numbers that swam before his eyes. Too bad he didn't have any painkillers in the place, he could probably use them. Some decent food might be good, if he could convince his throat to swallow it, and certainly some water. Everything was just so much effort. Wade closed his eyes a minute and concentrated on breathing, something else that didn't come quite as easy as it should.
Finally, he found a small burst of energy, or maybe it was just determination in disguise, he wasn't sure. Either way, he speed-dialled Zoe and hoped she managed to pick up before he lost his grip on both his cell and consciousness again. The ringing sounded strange, almost as if it was as much outside as it was in his ear. Wade was struggling to figure out what that meant when suddenly he saw movement by his door.
"Zoe?" he said groggily, realising too late that his butt was sliding off the end of the bed.
He vaguely heard her yelling back at him, just as he hit the floor with a thump, the phone flying from his hand with the impact. He wasn't sure what happened next exactly, except there was another crashing, smashing sound, and then there was Zoe, crouched down next to him, asking what happened and if he was okay.
"I called you," he told her, frowning hard right after. "Didn't I?"
"You did, but I was already on my way over and... Oh God, look at you."
Wade wasn't sure how he was supposed to do that. He really wasn't sure of anything much at all, except a sudden pulling at his arm that wasn't really helping, and the vague scent of Zoe's perfume as she got real close. He was just so tired and everything ached. If he wasn't a grown-ass man he was pretty sure he could quite happily just sit on the floor and cry. Funny, because he had an idea he was already on the floor, and he wouldn't be all that shocked if he were actually crying too.
"Come on, Wade, help me out a little," Zoe urged him. "Please, I can't do this by myself."
Her pleading triggered something in Wade's brain and he fought to concentrate, fought to push with his legs and get himself up a little bit. Not too long after, he seemed to be lying on his bed again, though he wasn't a hundred percent sure how he got there. Zoe was talking to him a lot, but he only caught snatches of what she said. She was fluttering around the gatehouse like a butterfly, all bright colours and busy movements. It was exhausting just watching her, but he didn't hate knowing she was there.
Since he was ten years old, Wade Kinsella had been taking care of himself. He didn't really have a choice, all these years. He supposed he didn't have much of a choice now either, except it was in the other way around. Now, Zoe was helping him whether he liked it or not, and honestly, he didn't hate it. Not that he was a fan of her insistence that he drank water and swallowed pills and promised to try and eat the chicken soup she was absolutely going to bring over just as soon as she could, but still. She cared, she was evidently worried for him, and not just because she was a doctor and he was a patient either.
"Thank you, Zoe," he told her hoarsely, trying for a smile, but not at all sure he managed it.
"Don't try to talk," she advised, her hand gentle on his cheek, before she adjusted the cool washcloth she had applied to his forehead. "Try to get some sleep. It's the best thing you can do right now."
Wade thought maybe he nodded in agreement, then he let his eyes fall closed and drifted off, like she told him to. He really wasn't in a position to do more, even if he had wanted to.
It was dark the next time Wade opened his eyes, and the second he tried to sit up, even a little, a fit of coughing completely overtook him. He hadn't realised Zoe was still there until suddenly she was on her feet and at his side, rubbing his back, handing him tissues, and offering a glass of water too.
"Ugh, I thought sleep was meant to help," he said, collapsing back against the pillows the moment the worst was over.
"I promise it will, eventually," Zoe said softly, smoothing his hair back and the laying the back of her hand on his forehead. "At least you're not burning up anymore."
"But I'll always be hot stuff, right, doc?" he joked, glad to see her smiling when he looked up at her then.
"Wow, you must be feeling better if you're cracking jokes."
"Not as much better as I'd like to be," he admitted, pulling the covers up around him a little more.
Zoe helped with that, laying down alongside him, on top of the blankets. "So, I should be mad at you," she told him then. "Sneaking back into town, breaking the quarantine, and pretty much infecting the whole of Bluebell with your Daphne-flu? Not smart, Wade. Not cool."
Wade tried hard to breathe in and found it tough, snuffling and snorting until he could finally find breath enough to speak some more.
"You like better I'd stayed over at Lily-Anne's place? 'Cause that's what she had in mind, let me tell you. Not that I encouraged her any."
"I know that you didn't, that you wouldn't," Zoe assured him. "You know, I thought the only reason I had not to be mad at you for bringing Bluebell to its knees with this flu is because you're already suffering enough, but now, I have two reasons. You did all this just to come home to me, didn't you?"
"I did." Wade nodded awkwardly. "I'm sorry all you're gettin' outta my romantic gesture is a whole bunch of people that need doctorin'."
"Come on, Wade." Zoe rolled her eyes at him. "You know me well enough by now to know that I am at my happiest when I'm 'doctoring'," she said with a smile. "Well, maybe second happiest," she considered, "but I don't think you're going to be making me the other kind of happy for quite a while."
That thought didn't thrill Wade any either, though he would accept that she was right. He doubted he looked any more attractive than he felt in that moment, and besides, he barely had the energy to blow his nose, never mind blow her mind with his talents in bed.
"You know, I have been taking care o' myself since I was ten years old. Never once thought there'd ever be anybody else to do it for me," he said then, wondering seconds later if he was stupid to share such things.
When Zoe curled up closer, he figured maybe it wasn't so bad.
"I'm sorry about that," she said softly, "but now you have me, and I am going to take the very best care of you, because that's what people do when they... when they're together, like we are."
He hadn't the brain power to figure out what he was missing, though he was vaguely aware she had stumbled over her words, maybe changed what she was originally going to say. There was also a very strange look on her face when he looked down at her then, though it was gone in a blink, leaving Wade to wonder if he just imagined the whole thing.
"And hey, some day, when I need someone to take care of me, you'll be there to do that, right?"
Wade didn't mean to yawn into his response, but he couldn't seem to help it. "Sure thing, doc," he managed to say, just as his eyes felt shut and sleep overtook him one more time.
To Be Continued...