Wildflowers

Lean on Me

The morning light filtered softly into the bedroom, but instead of feeling its usual warmth, Kat was weighed down by an overwhelming sense of fatigue. The lupus flare had worsened overnight, and now, every muscle in her body ached with a dull, relentless pain. 

A low fever clung to her, making her head swim, and as if that weren't enough, her period had started, cramping her abdomen and adding another layer of misery to her already difficult morning.

Beside her, Severus stirred, instantly alert the moment he sensed her discomfort. His dark eyes, sharp and focused, took in the state she was in—the flushed cheeks, the way she winced at every small movement. 

His face betrayed nothing but a deep concern, though underneath, a ripple of frustration coursed through him. It wasn't anger at her, of course, but at the situation. He hated seeing her like this—pushing through pain and exhaustion, unwilling to let herself rest completely.

"Kat," he said quietly, leaning closer, his voice low and filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"

Kat tried to force a small smile, but the effort barely made it past her lips. "Worse than yesterday," she admitted, her voice thick with exhaustion. "And on top of everything, my period started."

Severus's brow furrowed in worry as he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, feeling the heat of her low fever. "You're burning up," he murmured. "You need to stay in bed. No arguments."

"I know," she whispered, too tired to argue, though the weight of the day ahead felt oppressive. "But I need to take my meds."

Severus wasted no time. With calm efficiency, he moved from the bed and retrieved her pill bottles from the wooden chest, setting them on the bedside table in perfect order. His hands were steady, quick, as he carefully shook out the right doses, organizing the pills in a small dish so she wouldn't have to fumble with them. But there was something else behind his movements—something controlled, almost too controlled, as if he were keeping something tightly restrained.

Kat noticed it, even through her fever-addled state, but she was too tired to ask. She reached for the pills, her hands shaking slightly from weakness. Seeing her struggle, Severus immediately stepped in, gently placing the water glass in her hand. She managed to swallow the pills with a few sips, though her fingers fumbled, making her frustration with herself grow.

"Thank you," she whispered, leaning back against the pillows, her eyes heavy.

Severus nodded, his face softening just a fraction. "You need to rest," he said again, his voice low but insistent. "I'll stay home with you."

Kat shook her head, her eyes half-closed as she fought the wave of pain rolling through her body. "No," she murmured, "you have to go to school. I'll call Cypress and tell him I'm not coming in. And I'll ask Miles to come sit with me. I don't want you worrying while you're gone."

Severus's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. The idea of Miles—Kat's long-time friend and someone who had always been her support when Severus couldn't be—didn't sit well with him. 

It wasn't that he didn't trust Miles; he knew that Kat saw Miles as a friend, nothing more. But the thought of leaving her here, with Miles at her side, while he went to teach... it stirred something deep and unspoken within him. A twinge of jealousy, small but undeniable.

Still, Severus didn't argue. He knew she needed someone with her, and he couldn't stay. As much as it irked him, he had his responsibilities at Ilvermorny. He remained composed, his expression giving nothing away.

"If that's what you want," he said quietly, though the words tasted bitter on his tongue. He paused, adding in a more measured tone, "But if anything changes, you call me immediately."