Chasing Starlight

Chapter 9 - After The Storm

Samia's lips felt hot against his, and Elliot felt a desire to keep her against him. He threaded his fingers through her soft curls, and felt her lean into him. His heart felt like it was going to explode. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her close to him, till she was practically in his lap. Suddenly he felt her go stiff, and then she pushed him away roughly.

"N-no! Stop..Ro.." she cried out falling back away from him. Her face was flushed and her eyes seemed glazed.

Elliot felt confused, and alarmed. She was kissing him back, did he go too far? She lay on her back, arms up defensively over her face.

"Samia.. Samia.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.." Elliot practically whispered, feeling like an asshole, and an idiot for rushing things.

She lay prone in that position, breathing hard. She didn't respond, and he felt like something was off.

"Samia..?" He gently touched her arm, and she let both arms fall roughly away. Her face was still flushed and she didn't seem to see him. He pressed his hand to her forehead and felt her skin burning like an oven against his palm.

Shit.. she's got a fever.. No wonder her lips felt so hot against mine. The kitten woke up and crawled out from it's towel, mewling at her and Elliot. He sighed and scratched it's head.

"You're probably hungry, huh, little guy?"

He looked at Samia, who seemed to have fallen into a feverish sleep. She probably wouldn't have gotten sick if she hadn't rescued this guy. She was always thinking about others, even protecting herself from getting in trouble just for the sake of being there for her students. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted more than that actually. He wanted her for himself. The more time he spent with her, the greedier he got. He brushed her hair away from her forehead, still burning with a fever.

"..I think I love you..Mia."

She stirred a bit, and he flushed, standing up suddenly. His heart beat strongly, but she didn't seem to wake up fully. He set about finding something to cool her down with, and take care of her and the kitten she rescued.

Samia woke up in a daze. She smelled something savory in the air that made her feel comforted. She sat up, and felt something slide off her forehead. It was a wet rag, and the warm spot beside her was the little kitten curled up. She had her blankets pulled over her and her head felt foggy. Her throat felt dry and she struggled to get out of bed to find something to drink.

"Mia? You're up?"

She glanced around, her head feeling like it was full of cotton. Elliot was standing in the kitchen, over a pot of something on the stove.

"Umm... Yea. What.. happened? How long have I been sleeping?"

She rubbed her head, trying to think straight. She didn't feel very great, her body ached and she just wanted to lay back down.

"You fell asleep with a fever after you got back.. I..um, patched you up and you must have gotten dizzy cause you passed out soon after.."

Elliot felt a bit guilty for omitting their kiss, but he resolved not to let his emotions take over like that again. He didn't want her to lose trust in him ,and he still couldn't really figure out her reaction. He walked over to her, carrying a bowl of stew and some hot tea. She gratefully accepted, guzzling the tea down in relief, and then starting in on the stew. Elliot sat at the end of the bed, watching her with a small smile on his face. Even ill and feverish, her appetite was unmatched.

"This is so good!" She exclaimed, already close to finishing the bowl. She looked up, and smiled openly at him.

He felt his heart pull and looked away quickly to hide his embarrassment.

"Yea.. aha.. I've been cooking for myself since college. You should take that medicine after that, and get back to sleep.. I'll head out after I clean up."

"El.." Samia paused, she was having a hard time keeping her thoughts straight. She couldn't tell if his proximity made her dizzy or the fever. She set down the empty bowl, and briefly remembered to toss down the medicine. The movement made her woozy, and she fell back on the bed.

"Careful, Mia! You still have a fever.. just rest, I'll take care of everything."

She felt sleep crowding her vision, and saw dreamy images start to flash in front of her. A hazy outline of someone.. her mother, leaning over her. She knew that soon this person would leave, why was she saying goodbye?

"No! Don't go!" She cried out, pleading for the figure to stay. She was scared of being alone.. Papa was gone for work so much and she knew once this person was gone, no one would answer her cries. The figure reached out and cradled her, she cried, in relief and overwhelming feelings of weakness. Fear slowly floated away, replaced by a gentle, soothing, warmth. She drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Elliot lay prone on the bed, his face flushed as Samia's. His arms were wrapped around her slight frame, she was fast asleep against his chest. He had leaned over to check her fever as he prepared to leave, when she suddenly reached out, opening her eyes with tears dripping down them, begging him to stay. He instinctually wrapped his arms around her, and after a few racking sobs, she quieted down and fell asleep like that. He tried to detangle himself but she gripped him so tightly in her sleep, he worried she would wake up in tears again if he pulled her away. He laid down, staying carefully on top of the blankets she was under, and told himself he'd get up once she let go.

He felt her chest rise and fall against him as she breathed, and he could smell her shampoo. His heart beating in his ears, he leaned into her a bit, inhaling the sweet scent. His fingers seemed to move of their own accord and wrap into her hair. He felt dizzy, but not from a fever. Having her so close, he knew it was useless to fight his feelings at this point. He wouldn't rush things again, but he was sure that he wouldn't be able to give up on her. Even if it meant waiting a year for her to finish her student teaching, he would tell her when she was facing him properly, that he loved her. I can't let her go... The last thought to cross his mind, before he also succumbed to sleep, still holding Samia tightly in his arms.