Waiting For Sunrise - The Books Of Beginning AU

22. Friends Again

Emma tossed and turned uncomfortably in her cot. No matter what position she lay in, her muscles ached. No matter where she moved, sweat dripped from her body. It was overall a very uncomfortable situation, and only served to remind her why she so detested being ill.

Kate's cool, gentle hand smoothed the hair back from Emma's sweat dampened forehead. Despite her sister's feverish tossing and increasingly frequent complaints, Kate was all patience and sympathy and motherly love. She knew that Emma was only a terrible patient because she was so miserable, and Kate hated seeing her that way.

"Do you want me to get you some water?" Kate asked softly. 

Emma coughed into her pillow. "No, I just want this to be over."

"I know, honey, I know."

A small group had gathered around the sisters - Jake and Beetles, armed with an abundance of jokes and a determination to take Emma's mind off of things, and Violet, rarely speaking but nevertheless tucked firmly by Kate's side, close as a shadow. Emma definitely felt like shit, but seeing them all there, she also felt loved. She just hoped that Abigail would get back soon; she missed her best friend, and she definitely missed being able to use her limbs without feeling like one giant bruise.

(And, in addition to all of that, Emma missed her brother. Not that she would ever admit it, of course. Still, this week of Michael refusing to talk to her, refusing to argue with her and lecture her in that annoying voice of his, it stung more than she ever thought it would. She needed the silence between them to end, even more than she needed her stomach to stop lurching uncomfortably.)

Soon, Emma began drifting in and out of consciousness. In her moments of lucidity, she caught snippets of conversation - the usual gossip coming from Jake and Beetles, as well as talk of the fact that Rafe had been sent to 'deal with' the vendor who had sold Emma the Nerii juice in the first place. She didn't quite know what 'deal with' meant in this case, but she hoped it involved swords. Everything was better, in Emma's opinion, when swords were involved.

At some point, Kate had placed a cool, damp rag against Emma's forehead. It felt real nice against her clammy skin. Emma opened her mouth to tell Kate so, and to thank her older sister for taking such good care of her - really, it wasn't an easy task, considering how nonsensically irate Emma had been earlier - but her throat was raw and her voice was hoarse, so only a squeak came out. Kate seemed to understand without words, however, and she immediately offered Emma a loving smile. Emma, despite the wave of nausea rushing over her once more, managed a tiny smile in response. It was good to know that no matter how ill she was, no matter how bad things became, Kate would always be there for her. In a world of chaos, Kate's love was a constant, and Emma clung to it now as she had for a decade, through a ridiculous number of orphanages and a tragic number of heartbreaks.

(Michael had been a constant too, except now he wasn't talking to her. And the worst part was, Emma knew that as much as she raged at him and blamed him, it was still her own fault.)

"Kate..." Emma slurred out, desperately grabbing at her sister's hand. 

"I'm here," Kate said immediately. "What do you need?"

"Do you..." Emma struggled to get the words out, having to swallow around a large quantity of mucus. "Do you think I'm a good person?"

Kate frowned and rubbed the back of Emma's hand with her thumb. "Of course I do."

"Really? Because I don't know... Because I think..."

"Emma?" Kate's voice was full of concern.

"I ruined everything and now Michael hates me," Emma said in a garbled rush. "I was so stupid and mean and I think I might be bad, Kate!"