Fever

I had drifted off into a fitful sleep as the fever set in. It wasn't long before I felt a cool hand on my forehead and it soothed me. I opened my eyes and it took a second before they focused on Geo's concerned face. He brought a thermometer up to my temple and sucked in when he saw the results.

"What is it this time?" I asked hoarsely, shifting on my bed to get a better look at him.

He just sat on the edge of my bed and stared at the thermometer. "38.4," he said quietly. I let out a tired sigh, frustrated at being sick again. "I shouldn't have let you take off your mask," he said to himself bitterly.

"It's only been a day, I doubt I could have picked up anything that fast," I said in order to take away any guilt he might have.

"I still should have known better. Your immune system is still too vulnerable and the fact that you haven't been sleeping has only made it worse!" His shoulders tensed in frustration, but when he looked at me he slowly relaxed. "What do you feel right now?"

I closed my eyes and took stock of all the sensations coursing through my body. "I feel...fatigued, and I have this headache that won't seem to go away."

"Any nausea or vomiting?" he asked.

"No," I replied while absentmindedly scratching my chest.

"Hmm," Geo hummed in thought. "Maybe you have simply relapsed due to being tired," he said while fumbling around in his work bag. I watched as he measured a dark looking liquid into a small cup. The familiar bitter smell made me scrunch up my nose with disgust, but when he handed the glass to me I didn't protest. "Here, drink this. It should help with both the fever and headache."

I took a deep breath and downed the cup, trying my best keep the foul medicine from touching my tongue. Despite my best effort the thick liquid coated my mouth causing me to cough. Geo rushed over to the small kitchenette and returned with a glass of water. I gratefully took it from him and downed its contents. I placed a hand on my chest and sighed with relief as the bitter taste washed away. I handed the glass back to him with a smile, but I noticed he was staring at something. I followed his gaze to my hand on my chest and realized I was scratching it again.

His eyebrows furrowed as he gently pushed my hand away from my chest. "May I?" he asked. My breath stilled as I looked into his pale blue eyes, searching for his intent. They were filled with concern and worry. I nodded to him with my permission, and as he turned his attention to my chest I couldn't help the blush rising on my cheeks.

Geo slowly pulled down the collar of my shirt revealing several quarter sized blotches on my skin just above my left breast. I gasped in surprise while Geo's lips rolled into a straight line. "What is it?" I croaked.

He didn't answer for a minute but eventually said, "red macula."

I looked at the fiery red marks with confusion and fear. "Macula meaning spot, right?" I thought aloud.

"Yes," Geo said softly. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

I quickly looked up at him trying to gauge his meaning. My eyes grew wide as a mild panic began to set in. "Am I- am I going to die?" I asked.

He quickly reached out and took my hand in his. "No! You are not going to die. It is a serious disease and is lethal without treatment, but I will take care of you," he said earnestly. My eyes began to water with fear, but knowing he would do whatever it takes to treat me made me nod.

I tried to put on a brave face with a weak smile. "Why are you sorry then?" I asked.

Geo glanced away from me as his shoulders cave slightly with guilt. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let you go to the docks from the very beginning. I should have kept you with me at my lab and given you the proper medications. This could have been prevented, and for that I am sorry."

He kept staring down at the ground, unwilling to look at me. I squeezed his hand and waited for his eyes to meet mine. "Don't be sorry," I said gently. "It isn't your fault." I smiled up at him as my eyelids became heavy. The shock of my diagnosis had sapped what little energy I had, and I was fighting to stay awake.

Geo's thumb lightly rubbed the back of my hand in soothing circles, and for a moment it helped lull me to sleep. Just before I succumbed my eyes snapped open and I snatched my hand away. Geo looked at me with surprise and confusion. "I don't want you to catch it," I whispered loudly.

He gave a small smile, but his eyes were sad. "Don't worry, I won't catch it. I was inoculated a long time ago. I just wish I was able to give it to you before you became ill." I didn't know how to feel about that. On the one hand I knew he couldn't have predicted this and didn't wish me harm, but on the other this disease could have been prevented. In the end I was too tired to decide how to feel and closed my eyes.

"We should go back to my lab and keep you there for treatment and observation until you are well."

I shook my head with my eyes still shut. "They won't like it if I stay with you," I sleepily mumbled.

"I don't care," Geo said harshly. "I'd rather deal with them than have you die when I could have treated you," he declared, his tone daring me to argue, but I was far too fatigued.

"Fine, fine," I nearly whispered. "Please, just let me rest for a minute before I get up to leave." I drifted off to sleep for a few minutes before I felt Geo lift me off the bed and into his arms. He gently placed me into his car and took me to his lab where I instanly fell into a deep sleep knowing he was there for me.