Valentines Day 1978, Switzerland

Rescued

Before she even opens her eyes she can smell smoke.

She is confused for a moment.

Unsure of where she is.

The brush of cotton against her leg as she moves confirms what she thought, but just as she has established that she is lying in her bed, almost simultaneously she is hurled back through time to the moment she ran into Joe's arms outside the hotel several hours ago.

That glorious, fabulous moment when she finally, finally laid eyes on him.

A smile crosses her lips as she relishes the feelings the moment evoked.

Trepidation gave way to unbridled joy.

Fear gave way to confidence that he was ok.

Hope, finally, was about to give way to reality.

And the knot in the pit of her stomach unfurled in a wave of lust such as she had never felt.

All of these things, these emotions washed over her in an instant and she was almost delirious, near hysterical when her eyes could finally confirm what they had already told her; those rescued before him.

But words were sometimes so limiting, so confining, so underwhelming.

So many had told her he was fine, alive, on his way back to her but that meant nothing until she could see him with her own eyes, could touch him, speak to him, confirm for herself that he was, truly, fine.

And, as it turned out, he was far from it.

A cough brought her spinning back to the present.

She waited for the next moment. Would it develop further? Would the rattle in his chest wake him. Would his breathing calm or would he struggle again as he had a few hours ago when she was pulled from a deep post-coital sleep by the urgent bark of a cough, by the gasp for air. He had sat up so suddenly he pulled all of the bedclothes with him and the cold air tumbling across her completely naked body sent shiver after shiver rippling through her from top to toe.

When he had enough breath to speak his first thought was for her.

'Hey. I'm sorry I woke you', he managed before another coughing fit overtook him.

She slipped from the bed and retrieved the inhaler from where she'd left it just a while ago and sat beside him. Removing the cap she primed it for him, rested her hand on his shoulder as he took it from her hands. She watched his lips settle around the mouthpiece.

Counting the seconds aloud for him she made sure that he inhaled deeply enough, encouraging him to try again when he coughed halfway through. His hands fell to his lap, indicating the effort it had taken but she gently ran her fingers along his back and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

He was assailed by another spasm of coughing and his hand fell to his side and his face twisted in pain. 'Fuck, it hurts', he muttered and her heart squeezed for him.

'I'm so sorry, Joe, but I think you need another puff, honey. You didn't get the full benefit of the first', she said and he blinked slowly, his energy sapping quickly from an exhausted body.

'Take your time but it would be best if you can manage it', she said.

He nodded weakly and she could practically see him setting his resolve in preparation for the wave of pain to come.

'If it's too much we can get a nebuliser later, that'll be easier on you', she said and he managed a weak smile and set his hand atop hers.

'I'll manage it in a minute', he promised. He looked down at their clasped hands, ran his eyes along her body. Still naked after their reunion earlier the goosebumps were clearly visible on her skin.