Boundless Love

A Long Week

Charlotte's POV...

I sat in the recliner next to Levi's bed while I held his hand and read a book, waiting for him to fully wake from the anesthesia. He woke briefly after the procedure was over, but he was groggy, so I told him to sleep it off. Dr. Lee told me the procedure went well and Levi should start physical therapy in the morning.

He slept for another three hours. It was half past one in the morning when he finally squeezed my hand and looked over at me. I had dozed off, so when he grabbed my hand, it startled me, and my book went flying off my lap.

"Sorry I woke you," he mumbled.

"It's ok, how are you feeling?" I ask him.

"Tired. Thirsty. Hot," he sighs.

I lean over and plant a kiss on his lips. His lips feel much warmer than usual, so I kiss his forehead too. He is really warm and he's sweating.

"I'm going to get you some ice water, I'll be right back," I quickly spout.

Moments later I return with water and a thermometer.

"What's that for?" He asks, pointing to the thermometer.

"You feel warm, I just want to check your temperature."

I scan the thermometer over his forehead and sure enough, it reads 103.2 degrees.

"Crap!" I unintentionally blurt out.

"What is it?" He looks at me with concern.

I kiss him again then head out of the room to call and inform Dr. Lee.

"Where did you go? Don't just leave me like that with no explanation!" Levi vents out with an angry tone when I return to his room.

I give him a couple Tylenols to take then start rambling off.

"I'm sorry I walked out of the room like that! I just got nervous when I saw your high temp and went to call Dr. Lee. I know that getting a fever or infection is a possible side effect, but seeing it happen to you just caused me to panic...I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

He starts to struggle, trying to move his body closer to the side of the bed. My body feels tenuous and shaky because of the anxiety taking over me. I've never felt this much worry for someone before, a strange sensation is surging through my body by just watching him struggle in this way. I need him to be alright.

"I'm having a hard time moving, please come lay with me," he softly says while patting the mattress.

I climb in to lay next to him, rest my head in the crook of his arm and place my hand on his chest.

"No more panicking and no more running off, I'll be fine," he whispers before leaning over to kiss my head.

I don't try to carry on any type of conversation, I just let him sleep and pray that the fever will be gone by the time the sun rises.

I didn't get any sleep all night. I was so worried that I checked his temperature without waking him every half hour. The Tylenol helped some, only bringing his temp down to 101 degrees by the time he woke up.

I was already up, showered, and changed when Levi opened his eyes searching for me.

"Morning! I'm right here," I lean over the bed and run my fingers through his messy hair causing him to smile.

"Here, please take these meds, you still have a fever," I tell him.

"We need to get you up for breakfast then to therapy," I inform him.