sliceitwithwind | (no subject)

She got the message when she got back from the courthouse. They'd had to give testimony about an arrest. Routine stuff for a Thursday? She stared blankly at the phone after the message though, trying to comprehend the fever thing.

Yes, she'd been warned.

Yes, she knew, intellectually, that other people sick.

But this was Dilan.

Speed dial was a wonderful thing. "Hey..."

"Hey." Braig again, catching calls, "This is Dilan's phone, and while he's still, like, lucid? He shouldn't be working."

"This is Aya, I approve of him staying home?" she offered, then glanced at her watch. "I said I'd come give you a hand this season? Give me a few hours to get the final paperwork signed and grab my overnight bag from the house?" her words were steady and confident! Go her!

"No hurry, babe. Could you stop and get something to eat while you're at it? I don't, like, want to leave but I can't cook for shit."

"I'll go one better. I've several meals in my freezer, and since I'll be camping out there for awhile I'll just grab them. Should be enough to feed us. You allergic to anything?"

"Nah. Whatever you've got will be fine. Thanks." he does sound truly grateful, despite the casual words.

"Hey, can't let you starve." she shrugged, despite it being a phone conversation. See you in a few." It was actually about three hours, she'd needed to wrap up a file before officially being on vacation...but she showed up with a duffel over one shoulder and a cooler full of frozen meals.

"Hey, good to see you. Come on in. I've got a hide-away bed in Dilan's room, or you can crash on mine. Whichever, I like to have someone in there all the time with him anyway." Braig says as he opens the door, looking more dishevelled than usual.

Aya passed him the cooler handle the moment the door opened with the instructions "Freezer, pick one for tonight though!" then she was trotting up the stairs to Dilan's room. Just to...see. She'd get a crash course in sick room care when she assured herself that Dilan wasn't dead?

"Right." Braig heads into the kitchen to put food away, with one stuck in the 'fridge.

Dilan, bleary eyed, smiles at Aya when she comes in.

She puttered a moment, tucking her duffel bag in a corner before she settled on the edge of the bed "Hey." yeah, that about covered it. "Braig said you've gpt a fever now. Anything I can do?"

"Good to see you." he murmurs, "Love you."

"Hey, I said I'd be here." she admitted, reaching out to stroke his cheek gently. He said he hurt when he was sick, she was being very, very careful. "I love you too." a bit scary to get the admission at the onset of illness.

Or maybe she was being melodramatic.

He smiles just a little bit and closes his eyes. "Your skin feels cool."

That of course prompted Aya laying her hands fully against his face. Yes, her hands tended be warm but...feverish Dilan. 'Warmer' was negligible. "is this a bad time to admit I've only really dealt with a sick Ben before? Him we just kinnd of dose with kiddie NyQuil and tuck into bed..."

"It's fine. Can read to me if you want." Dilan offers.

"Hmmm, I can do that." Aya tucked her knees up onto the bed and leaned against Dilan's side "What are we reading? I warn you, I stumble over words eight syllables or longer..."

"Book on the night stand." he says, softly, "Crime book. Sorry."

"Hmmm" she stretched to reach the book then eyed the cover "I forgive you. Just this once. Page one?" she couldn't tell if he'd started it yet or not.

"Yeah." he smiles at her again, eyes drifting closed.

She tucked her head against his shoulder gently and started in. She refrained from critiquing some of the procedure. It wasn't so bad, but...it wouldn't have held in court. But hey, it looked like the detective was going to get the girl! When she needed to take a break she sighed and stretched her legs, then reached up to feel Dilan's forehead.

Still hot and feverish. Braig comes in with supper for Aya and chicken broth for Dilan, and Dilan shifts until he's seated.

Hey, food! She eyed the chicken broth a bit worriedly, then reached over to poke the bowl "How does that hold you?" she asked curiously. She knew Dilan's appetite...

"It's about all I'll eat." Dilan says quietly, "It's real broth, though. Boiled the bones down into it until they're liquid."

"How much weight loss do you usually experience?!" she wasn't arguing really. If he said it was all he'd eat she trusted he had experience backing him up but...damn it. She could worry?