Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 77- Chill

Ava shivered under the covers of the bed, burying her face deeper into her pillow. Ava did not freeze to death by standing outside in her nightdress, but a sniffle had developed into a cold, leaving her shivering in bed.
"Hey, hey" Connor put a hand on her shoulder, gently turning her onto her back.
"I got you some Tylenol and water but you have to sit up"
Connor eased her up against the headboard, he placed the small pill in Ava's palm and let her place it in her mouth before bringing the glass to her lips. Ava took a few sips and fought against her gag reflex to swallow the lump.

Connor wiped a stray drop of water from Ava's chin and placed the glass on the bedside table.
"Can you get me another blanket, I'm cold" Ava said with her eyes closed.
Connor brought the back of his hand on Ava's forehead, feeling a burn through his skin.
"Ava's you're burning up, love" he exhaled.
Connor got up and went to the kitchen to get his first aid kit, coming back with his thermometer in hand. Ava took the thermometer, holding it in her mouth while trying to see the number. Connor took it and shook his head.
"102"
"English please, Dr. Rhodes" Ava teased him through her feverish state.
"39°C" Connor told her.
Ava stayed silent for a moment before turning her head away.
"Doesn't feel like it"
"I'm going to get you some more water and turn off the heating" he pushed off their bed. Thinking about what Ava could have caught, was it just a cold or could it have been Somthing the hospital missed, was she sicker then she seemed?

Connor was drawn away from his thoughts as he heard a coughing fit from their room. Connor ran, spilling water as he went to find Ava red in the face, hunched over and coughing.
"Hey, hey, breathe" he rubbed her back as her coughs subsided. Connor held out the water and Ava took it with shakes hands, taking a few sips.
"Here, stay sitting up, I'll get you some more pillows" he rubbed her shoulder before leaving to collect the pillows from the living room and his side of the bed. Connor had successfully prodded Ava up into a not sitting, not laying down position to help her breathing. Connor brushed away the loose strands of hair that had stuck to her face with a thin layer of sweat.

Ava lay there for serval hours resting her eyes and head until the pain subsided. She rolled onto her side, laying back onto the mattress and cuddling into a pillow. Ava heard someone approach, entering the room with caution.
"Aves" Connor warm palm came onto her arm.
"Come here" he lay back on the bed, prodding himself up with some pillows he moved Ava to rest on his chest, elevating her head.
"Connor, no I'll get you sick" she whined, weakly put a hand on his chest.
"Rest Avery" he told her, putting his hand over hers.

*

As Ava had predicted Connor developed a sniffle and a cough over the next few days, fighting through it to make sure Ava got her meds and ate enough through the days. In between that he'd collapse into bed with her, cuddling close or holding hands when she was too warm.
With some rest, painkillers and a lot of orange juice Connor made a quick recovery, his immune system being much stronger then Ava's.

As Connor's cold got better Ava's grew worse, developing a heavier fever.
Connor took a pair of compression socks from Ava's draw, moving to the kitchen he soaked them in ice water, squeezing out the excess. He brought them in an empty bowl to Ava's side.
"Hey Ava, I'm just going to pull the blanket back" he told her, her eyelids heavy on her eyes.
Connor pulled back the duvet to expose Ava's legs, taking her ankle he placed an ice sock over her foot, covering it with a full length dry sock. He repeated the process and placed a dry towel under her heels.
"That should help Aves" he pulled the covers back over her, tucking them in under her.
Ava made no response, lost in a deep sleep.

Connor cleaned up, preparing several ice packs for Ava to cool her skin. He often looked in on her, checking her breathing or just taking her in. He came back after thirty minutes or so with a thermometer. "Aves"
"Ava" he placed a hand on her cheek.
"I need to take your temperature, I need you to open up"
Ava half opened her eyes cringing away as the metal touched her lips.
"I'm sorry, aves" he apologised as she held the thermometer in her mouth. Connor brushed his thumb across her temple, soothing her.