Healing Over Time

Chapter Thirty-One

Thirty weeks after Lee's death.

Alex shivered under the blankets in bed. She had woken up, sick as a dog, earlier and only made it to the bathroom before puking her guts into the toilet. She had a fever and chills so she crawled back to bed and stayed there.

Kayce was still staying on the Reservation. However, today he was coming home having wrapped up the incident that started on Monday. Some welcome home and happy weekend Alex was giving him with this.

It had been pretty quiet with Kayce gone. Alex had mostly kept to herself, tending to anyone needing help while also assisting the wranglers if she could. Her mornings and nights consisted of talking to Kayce, usually before Tate woke up and after he went to bed. It had been four days since she'd seen him.

She missed him.

Time passed and it got to be after lunchtime that Alex started to feel somewhat better. After a warm shower, she felt almost presentable as she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. The house seemed to be empty as she pulled out a slice of quiche Gator had made earlier and popped it into the microwave. She was dressed in a pair of sweats and one of Kayce's t-shirts. With her dark hair up, Alex looked younger than she was. The back door opened and shut, making her look over her shoulder at Beth.

"What's wrong with you?" Beth asked, looking Alex up and down.

"Just have a virus or something," Alex shrugged, grabbing her plate.

"Go to bed," Beth walked up to the island as Alex ate her meal.

"I will, but I needed to eat something," Alex said.

"Does Kayce get home today?" Beth asked.

"Yeah," Alex nodded. "Thank God."

"Missed him?" Beth smirked.

"I did," Alex swallowed. "Feels stupid to say, but it's been a while since I was by myself for this long."

"It's not stupid," Beth said softly. "I am surprised you've been okay with him being at Monica's."

"I wouldn't say I've been okay," Alex frowned. "But it is what it is and it was the most logical answer."

"Still..." Beth shrugged. "I don't think I could let Rip do that."

"Like I said, it hasn't been the easiest," Alex finished her quiche. "But it's over with so it's fine."

Beth watched her as Alex walked around the room.

"I'm going back to bed," Alex said over her shoulder.

She got upstairs and crawled back under the covers, sighing as her face hit her pillow. A buzzing sound made her look over at her nightstand and see Kayce calling her.

"Hello?" Alex answered the phone.

"Hey," Kayce's voice rang through her ears.

"Hey..." Alex smiled. "Are you on your way home?"

"I will be as soon as I get Tate here from school," Kayce said. "I'm bringing him back with us for the weekend."

"Good," Alex sighed.

"You okay?" Kayce asked.

"I'm not feeling that great, but I'll be better here after some rest," Alex said. "I've got a virus or something...it's not a big deal."

"You need me to pick you up anything?" Kayce asked.

Alex felt her chest warm with his offer. No one had ever offered to help her when she'd been sick before. The few times she was sick with Lee, he would just leave her alone.