Because getting sick sucks! Specially when I still have to go to work.

Integra pulls the comforter tighter around her as her body shivers violently. It was a thick down comforter, but it may as well have been as thin as paper for the good it was doing her. Not for the first time that morning she curses, through chattering teeth, the asshole of a vampire that decided to go a rampage during a blizzard.

A knock on the bedroom door draws out a groan from the shivering teen, "G-go away!"

Walter sighs as he pushes the door open, "I had a feeling this was going to happen." He nudges the door closed with his elbow then fills the small plastic cup he had been holding in one hand with a thick vile smelling liquid as he walks over to the bed, "Come on now, need to get this down you or it'll be a trip to the ER for sure."

Integra whines in protest but untangles herself from the mass of cover to sit up, then reaches out for the cup. She flashes Walter a grateful look when his warm hand closes around her shaking one to steady the cup and help guide it to her mouth. She cringes as the liquid burns a path down her throat then hurries to burrow back into the cover.

"I can't get warm."

Walter frowns slightly then glances toward the fireplace before standing up. He jerks the comforter off the bed and tosses it in the floor near the fireplace.

"What are you doing?!"

"Getting you warmed up."

Integra lets out a startled gasp when she's picked up, "I'm too heavy for you to be carting around!"

Walter chuckles quietly as he walks over to sit down in front of the fire, "Hardly." He settles her in his lap and pulls the comforter up around them both then wraps his arms around her.

Any other protest she may have had is forgotten as she presses closer to him and lays her head against his shoulder. He's so very warm, "Thank you, but you can't keep doing this. I'm not a child anymore."

Walter smiles slightly, "If I'm still around when your forty I would still do this."

Integra smiles faintly as the shivering slowly subsides and her eyes drift closed.

Walter looks over when he hears the faint squeak of door hinges, not the least bit surprised to see a pair of ruby eyes staring back at him. He nods slightly and the massive black wolf trots over to curl up around his master's feet.

"You may be a Knight, but you're still ours to love and protect." Walter whispers to a sleeping Integra.