'Tis confusion!

'kitten' around

Q drove me back to his place. The kitten slept on my lap the entire way. When we got to his house, I stumbled in and crashed onto his couch, careful not to wake the cat. Q headed into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a giant mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. "Drink this. I just assumed you wanted marshmallows, since I've literally met one person in my entire life who doesn't like them." I laughed. "It's Murr, isn't it?"

"How did you possibly know that?" Q shook his head. "I'm starting to think you may be psychic." I smiled and took a small sip of the hot chocolate. "This is delicious. Thank-" I sneezed three times, which was more than enough to wake the sleeping ball of fur in my lap. The cat jumped up and gave me a look before darting underneath the couch. Q snickered. "You sure you're just not allergic to this guy?" I shook my head. "I don't think so. I mean, it's possible, but not too likely. I grew up with cats, been around them my whole life. And I've never had any issues with allergies. Maybe he rolled around in a bush or something that's just not agreeing with me...I dunno." I smiled at Q, then started to cough. Hard. I pushed myself up from the couch and thrust the mug into his hands. "I'm sorry, I need to use the bathroom. Gimme a minute?" 

"Take all the time you need," Q told me. "I actually need to get back to Sal. He texted me while I was on the way to pick you up." 

I nodded and went down the hall to the bathroom. Once inside, I locked the door and stared at my reflection. My entire face was red, and my eyes seemed puffy. Maybe Q was right. Maybe I was allergic to the kitten we'd found. I sighed, turned the water on, and splashed my face. Then I realized something. I walked back into the living room. Q was sitting on the couch, still holding my mug of hot chocolate. His phone was in his lap. He looked up and smiled as I entered. "You ok?"

"I'll be fine. I don't really have a choice. I just realized I have to work tomorrow morning." Q frowned. "Well, that's not gonna happen if you're sick."

I sighed. "I don't have much of a choice. I have a couple bills due this week. Plus, I kinda pride myself on not taking sick days. I've only called out once this entire year."

"Yeah, but Mara, if you're sick, you shouldn't be working," Q insisted. "Why don't you spend the night here and if you don't feel better in the morning, I will personally call your boss and let them know you won't be in." I smiled weakly. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm just not sure..."

"What's there to not be sure about? Going to work sick won't make you feel better. Seriously. Stay here with me tonight, and we'll see how you feel in the morning."

"I know when to admit defeat....ok. I'll stay."

"Damn straight you'll stay," Q said, but he was smiling. I settled back on the couch, took my boots off, and tucked my feet up underneath me. Q got up and left the room, returning with a giant black blanket. "Here. You can use this if you get cold. Whenever you're ready, we can head to my room and go to sleep."

I frowned. "You want to share a bed with me knowing good and well I could wake up looking -and feeling- ten times worse? Are you mad?"

He laughed. "I'm not trying to make you sleep on the couch, is all."

"Q, were you not here earlier when I was singing the praises of this couch? Believe me, you wouldn't be forcing me to do anything I didn't want to." He smiled. "Just know that my bed is an option."

"Noted, and appreciated." I grinned. "Do you want to throw a movie on or something?"

"Sure, what're you in the mood for?" Q jumped off the couch and started rifling through a stack of blu-ray cases. "Action, horror, comedy?" I peered over his shoulder. "Ghostbusters?" I suggested.

"Excellent choice." Q popped the disc into the player, then joined me on the couch once more. Barely ten minutes into the movie, the kitten resurfaced from underneath the couch. It jumped up into Q's lap, and my sneezing commenced. "I'm starting to think you may be right," I told Q. "I really may be allergic to this furball."

"I'll put him in the guest room, " Q promised. He stood up and carried the kitten into the other room, then shut the door.

"Thank you," I told him. "No problem. I'm not trying to make you miserable." I laughed. "I know." We continued watching the movie...well, at least Q did. I could feel my eyelids getting heavier by the second. The next thing I knew, I felt Q gently nudging my shoulder. 

"Mara? Mara...the movie's over. You want to head to the bedroom, or would you rather sleep out here?" I sat up groggily and rubbed my neck. " Oh god, I fell asleep on you? I'm sorry." Q smiled. "Not a big deal at all. At least you didn't do it in public." I snickered. "True...wait, you didn't take any incriminating pictures of me, right?...Right?" Q smirked. "I guess you'll have to wait and see." I smacked him in the arm playfully. "Jerk." I got up from the couch and stretched. "Getting back to the original question...your bed does sound like a wonderful idea. I seem to recall it being pretty comfortable." Q stood up and turned off the tv,  and we headed down the hall together. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.