Fate || BENNIFER

Ben

Jennifer's P.O.V

I stirred in my sleep, my dreams interrupted by the sudden movements coming from the other side of the bed. I blinked my eyes open, the dim light of the room casting a soft glow. My gaze fell upon Ben, who was tossing and turning with a certain intensity.

A frown creased my forehead as I observed him, my concern growing with each passing second. I could see his face glistening with sweat, his hair matted against his forehead, insanely wet. The sight alone made my heart race with worry.

Without hesitation, I reached out to touch his face, my fingers brushing against his feverish skin. It was scorching hot, causing me to instinctively pull my hand back. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Ben was burning up with fever. Fear gripped me as I leaned closer.

"Ben, wake up." My voice filled with urgency as I shook his shoulder gently.

His eyes fluttered open, his gaze unfocused and disoriented. He mumbled incoherently, his words slurred and barely comprehensible. My heart sank as I listened, realizing that he was in no condition to provide any coherent answers. All he could manage was to express how sick he felt and how much his entire body ached.

"Jen." His voice was weak.

"You need to go to the hospital, now." I said feeling the urgency of the situation.

He couldn't wait for an ambulance, I had to take him to the hospital myself. I didn't like driving, but for Ben's sake, I would sit behind the wheel, I would do whatever it took.

With trembling hands, I reached for my phone and called my mother. I knew I needed someone to stay with the kids. While the phone rang, my mind raced with hundreds of thoughts.

"Mom." I said, my voice filled with panic. "I don't know what's wrong, but Ben has an insanely high fever. He's sweating, speaking incoherently... I need to take him to the hospital."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line as her voice filled with air.

"Calm down, sweetheart. I'll be right there. I'll take care of the kids." Her voice was filled with a mixture of concern and reassurance.

As I ended the call, my focus returned to Ben, who lay before me. With determination, I walked to his side and I gently pulled the blanket that covered his fever-ridden body. He grunted in discomfort as I struggled to remove his pajamas. His body was sore, every movement causing him pain. I winced in sympathy, my heart aching for his suffering, I couldn't bear to see him in such agony.

Working delicately, I carefully took off every piece of clothing, taking care not to worsen his pain. My hands shook slightly as I tried to block out the thoughts of what could be happening to him.

Piece by piece, I dressed him in fresh clothes, my touch gentle yet urgent. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the fever burning within him.

"Stay with me, Ben. Don't fall asleep." I whispered.

I needed to keep him awake, to ensure that he didn't slip into unconsciousness. The room seemed to close in on us, the silence broken only by the sound of his labored breathing.

Not much later, my mother made her arrival. Together, we had to get Ben out of bed, grabbing beneath his shoulders and supporting his entire weight. As we guided him downstairs, his trembling body pressed against mine, I felt the strength and velocity of his heartbeat. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, we maneuvered Ben towards the front door. Finally, we made it to the car parked in the driveway.

Once we settled him into the passenger seat, my mother turned to me, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of everything here." She said.

I took a deep breath as I settled into the driver's seat, my heart pounding in my chest. It had been years since I had last driven a car, and now, with Ben sitting beside me, his body shivering, the pressure was mounting. The clock on the dashboard blinked 3:00 am, a reminder of the unearthly hour we found ourselves in.

I glanced at Ben, his pale face glistening with sweat, his eyes glassy and unfocused. I knew I had to get to the hospital quickly, but I couldn't help but worry about the paparazzi lurking in the shadows, waiting to capture our vulnerable moments. I hoped that in the early hours of the morning, the streets would be empty, granting us a small reprieve from the prying eyes of the world.

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, fingers white-knuckled. With a swift motion, I fastened my seatbelt, the click echoing through the silence of the car. The engine roared to life, its purr a gentle reminder of the responsibility I had.

As I eased my foot onto the accelerator, my body tensed with the unfamiliarity of the situation. I pulled out of the driveway slowly, my eyes scanning the road with utmost caution. I was determined to follow every rule, every speed limit, but at the same time, I couldn't afford to waste a single second. Ben needed medical attention, and time was of the essence.

The streetlights flickered above, casting a soft glow on the empty road ahead. I navigated the turns with precision, my movements calculated and deliberate. The world outside seemed to blur as I concentrated on the task at hand, my senses heightened by the urgency of the situation.

Halfway to the hospital, the sound of Ben's teeth chattering reached my ears. I spared a quick glance at him, my heart aching.

"Hold on, baby, we're almost there." My voice laced with both reassurance and urgency.