Xander to the Rescue

Mandy was forcing her eye open as she watched the road going home. Xander was driving and she doesn't want to fall asleep or worse, faint.

She looked at Xander from the corner of her eye. He was quietly driving, but he was going fast.

"Hey, careful, there. No need to rush," Mandy said as she tried to sit straight, pretending she was feeling better.

"I just want to get you home fast. Or do you want to throw up in your car?" Xander joked. He was trying to lighten up the mood.

"I'm okay. Just let me get home in one piece," Mandy joked back. Xander was right, though, she did feel like throwing up.

"Don't worry, I will." Xander shot a glance at Mandy then looked back at the road. Traffic was starting to build up for some reason.

Mandy closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She quietly prayed that she doesn't do anything embarrassing in front of Xander — like throwing up on him.

They stopped at a traffic light. Xander looked at Mandy and saw that her eyes were closed. He thought she had fallen asleep. Mandy felt Xander was staring at her.

"Keep your eyes on the road, Sir."

Xander smiled. "The red light is on."

Mandy nodded. "Then quit staring at me." Mandy half-opened her eyes and looked at Xander. For a brief moment, she saw concern in his eyes. She smiled.

Xander looked down when Mandy's eyes met his. He was quiet for a few seconds.

"I think we should go to the hospital instead." Xander finally said what he had been thinking ever since they got in the car.

"No. No hospitals. I hate hospitals." Mandy had never stepped foot in a hospital ever since her mother had died.

"But…" Xander began to protest.

"No 'buts'. No hospitals. Just take me home," Mandy said firmly.

Xander was tempted to take her to the hospital anyway. But he didn't want to break her trust so he continued heading home to their apartment building.

After what seemed like forever, Xander was finally parking Mandy's car to her slot in the building.

Mandy didn't wait for Xander to open her door. She tried to get out of her car but when Xander saw she was already getting out, he put Mandy's car keys in his pocket and rushed to the other side to help Mandy get out. She looked so fragile. He held her by the waist as they walked to the elevator. Mandy didn't protest. She was starting to feel weak.

The ride on the elevator seemed like hours. Mandy felt nauseous again. She stepped out of the elevator as soon as it had stopped on their floor. She walked as fast as she could to her apartment, without waiting for Xander.

She fumbled through her bag for her keycard. When she had found it, she tapped it on the sensor and pushed the knob down. She entered her apartment and dropped her open bag on the floor, scattering her stuff. She made a run for the bathroom. She opened the toilet cover and vomited.

Xander picked up her stuff from the floor, put them back inside her bag, except for the keycard which he put in his pocket, and placed them on the table. He followed Mandy to the bathroom but decided to just wait for her outside.

"Are you okay?" Xander said as he knocked on the door.

"Don't come in! I'm okay." Mandy threw up again.

Xander waited for her. He heard her flush the toilet and opened the faucet.

When Mandy came out, she was pale.

"It's okay. You can go now," she said as she made her way to the bedroom, "I can manage."

"I'm sorry but I don't think I can leave you like this. You look terrible!"

"I feel terrible," Mandy said.

"Let me stay and look after you. At least until I'm convinced you're okay."

"No."

"Come on! Look at you. You can't even stand straight."

Xander was right and Mandy knew it. She just didn't want to admit it. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Mandy spoke again.

"You don't need to do this, Xander."

"I want to."

"Okay, whatever." Mandy finally agreed. She just didn't have the energy to argue. She went in her bedroom and closed the door.

Xander sighed. He walked back to the table where he had put Mandy's bag. He closed it and carried it to Mandy. He knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" Mandy answered from inside. She had quickly changed her clothes and laid down.

"I'll just give you your bag," Xander said softly, hoping Mandy heard him.

"Okay."

Xander opened the door slowly. Mandy was lying, her blanket covering her body all the way to her chin, her back towards the door.

"Just put it anywhere, please."

"How are you feeling?" Xander asked after he put down her bag on her dresser.

Mandy didn't answer so he walked to her bed.

"Mandy?" He peered at her face, she looked asleep.

Xander gently felt her forehead. She was running a fever.

He went to the kitchen to get ice cubes. He went to his own apartment to get an ice bag. He then went back to Mandy's and put the ice cubes in the bag. He then put the bag on Mandy's head, hoping it will lower her temperature.

He noticed a small picture frame by her bedside. It was a family photo. He picked it up and studied it. There was still a little girl in the picture. She sat on her mother's lap while her dad's arm was around her mother's shoulders. He looked closer at her dad's face.

"Is this Donald Enriquez?" He thought to himself. "I wonder…" He looked at Mandy and then at the photo again. "…could this be Mandy?" He wasn't sure. The bedroom light was dim. Mandy tossed to the other side so Xander quickly put the photo back to its place.

Xander went to the kitchen and looked for something to cook. He found some vegetables and a pack of chicken fillet. He began to cook soup for Mandy.

After he finished cooking, he went inside her room to check her. She was still asleep. He touched her forehead. Her fever had gone down. He debated in his mind if he would wake her to have soup or just wait for her to wake on her own. He chose the latter.

He went back to his apartment and changed his clothes. Then he remembered he left his car at work to drive Mandy's. He thought of going back to get it but since he had changed to his house clothes, he decided to just leave it there overnight and get it tomorrow.

He went back to Mandy's apartment to check if she had awakened. He had borrowed Mandy's keycard, the one that fell from her bag when she dropped her things on the floor to get to the bathroom.

He peaked in her room again to check if she was awake already. To his surprise, she wasn't on her bed.

"Mandy?" He called out. No response.

"Mandy? Are you in there?" He called again, this time at her bathroom.

The door opened and out came Mandy. She looked tired even after her sleep.

"How are you feeling?" Xander asked her as she passed him going back to her bed.

"Why are you still here? Or I should say HOW are you still here? Did you take my keycard?" Mandy asked when she noticed he had changed his clothes.

"Yeah, you dropped it on the floor and I just hung on to it so I can check on you. Don't worry I didn't touch anything — except I cooked soup in your kitchen. You know, soup — for you."

Mandy didn't know what to say. On one side she felt grateful, touched by Xander's gesture and care. On the other side, she felt like he was invading her privacy.

"Thank you for cooking and for taking care of me. I really appreciate it. But you can go now. I'm okay now. I feel better." Mandy smiled to soften the message.

"I'm gonna leave — as soon as I am sure you've eaten something."

"Okay. And then please go home."

Xander agreed and went to the kitchen to heat the soup he cooked. He then gave a bowl to Mandy who was already seated at the table.

Mandy ate silently. The soup was good, she thought. She finished her bowl of soup slowly. Xander watched her.

"That was good soup. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Okay, you've eaten, I'm gonna do the dishes and then I'll go. No 'buts'."

Xander stood up, took Mandy's spoon and empty bowl and washed them. He placed them in the dish dryer.

"Are you sure you don't need anything before I go?"

"I'm sure. Please go home. I'm just gonna sleep again."

"And are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I am," Mandy said when she saw concern in his eyes.

"Okay. Here is your keycard. I'm going now. You take care and call me if ever you need anything. I'm just across the hall." Xander winked, which Mandy thought was cute.

Xander walked himself out the door.

Mandy brushed her teeth and washed her face before she went back to bed. She still felt some pain in her stomach but it was much better. She thought how Xander had gone out of his way to take care of her. Maybe she was wrong about him after all.