After Daniel’s defense lessons, Daniel and Zarbon decided to relax and watch a little TV.  Zarbon lounged in his favorite recliner while Daniel stretched out on the couch. 

            As a commercial break started, Daniel stood and stretched.  “I’m going to get something to drink.  Would you like anything?” he asked.

            “A glass of water if you don’t mind,” Zarbon replied with a smile.

            “Okay.”

            Zarbon’s attention wandered as the commercials droned on about scented feminine hygiene products, male sexual enhancement merchandise, and this year’s last models of vehicles.

             “Zarbon?”

            His gaze shifted from the wall just above the TV to Tonya, who was leaning against the doorframe and looking exhausted.  “Yes, Love?”

            “I’m not feeling well,” she said tiredly.  “I’m going to lie down.  Could you wake me for supper?”

            Zarbon frowned slightly.  “You’ve been pushing yourself to hard again,” he commented.  She sighed and nodded.  “Come sit with me for a while,” he suggested. 

            Now Tonya frowned, trying to decide if she really wanted to put forth the effort to get to the recliner.  A part of her foggy brain reminded her it was at least three times as far to Zarbon’s room and she sighed again, this time closing her eyes.

            Zarbon put down the footrest, now more concerned about her health.  He almost stood up to go to her, but she opened her eyes and shuffled towards him before he could move.  She sank onto his lap and snuggled into his warmth as he put his arms around her.

            Now he could tell she was shivering and he gently placed a hand on her forehead.  “You’re very warm, kitten.  I think you’re running a temperature.”

            “That would explain why I feel like I’m freezing,” she mumbled, her eyes closed.

            “Oh, hello, Tonya,” Daniel said coming back into the TV room.  “How are you today?”

            “Dying.  Call back later.”

            Daniel raised an eyebrow in surprise.  “I see,” he replied handing Zarbon a glass of water.

“She’s not feeling well,” Zarbon explained.  “Would you like a drink, love?” he asked after he’d taken a sip.

“No.”

Zarbon sat the glass beside the chair and shifted to a more comfortable position.  “Could you toss me that blanket, Daniel?” he asked.

“You’re cold?” Daniel asked carrying the blanket over instead of throwing it.

“She is,” Zarbon answered spreading the afghan over his now sleeping lover.

Two hours later, *M*A*S*H* was over and Poopsie had supper on the table.

Zarbon gently shook Tonya’s shoulder.  “Supper is ready, angel.  Are you hungry?”

Tonya groaned and mumbled a negative response, snuggling deeper into his arms.  Smiling softly, Zarbon sighed and shifted his hold on her.

“Do you need any help getting up?” Daniel asked.

“Thanks, but I’ve got her,” Zarbon replied, then carefully stood up.  “But you could get the door to my room for me.”

- - - - - - - -

The next morning, Tonya was up and acting like her self again.

“Feeling better?” Zarbon asked smiling sleepily as she bounced around his room getting ready for work.

“One hundred and twenty percent!” she replied grinning.  She jumped on to the bed to kneel next to him, leaning forward obediently so he could place a hand on her forehead.

“Did you check your temperature?” he asked.

“Ninety seven point seven,” she replied.

“Then I guess you can go to work, kitten,” he said.

“Oh, thank you, Dr. Chan!” she gushed, throwing her arms around his neck.  She kissed him deeply, then pulled back a little.  “Charlene will be so pleased.”  He laughed and stole another kiss before she slipped from the bed.  “As tempting as it is to call in sick, I think I’d better get to work,” she said pouting slightly.

 Zarbon shifted in the bed and gave her one of his best “I’m too sexy” looks.  She smirked and blew him a kiss as she shut the door.

- - - -- - - - -

“I haven’t seen Tonya in forever,” Sebastian said as Zarbon came out of his lab one late night/early morning.

“She goes to school full time, is a super hero, and has a job,” Zarbon replied with an edge to his voice.  He was tired, his body ached, his head was throbbing, and he just wanted to go to bed.

“Maybe she’s cheating on you,” Sebastian replied casually.  “Found herself a nice, normal earthling to shack up with.”

Techno turned to give Sebastian a look, but said nothing.  Zarbon simply rolled his eyes and walked away, heading for the stairs.  He was in no mood to argue with Sebastian tonight.  Sebastian had been saying the same thing for about a week now, but Zarbon knew the detective’s theories were unfounded.  Every time one of the girls spent a little more time outside the mansion than usual, Sebastian thought that they were sneaking off to see someone else.  All except Jessica, of course.  Thinking just made his head throb more intensely, so Zarbon stopped.

He didn’t turn on the lights when he reached his room.  Changing in the dark, he threw back the blankets, then crawled into his welcoming bed.  Shivering, he pulled the covers up to his chin and soon fell asleep.

- - - - - - -

The next afternoon, Tonya had about an hour and a half between her last class and when she had to be at the refuge.  She hadn’t really seen Zarbon in about three days so she decided to track him down and maybe drag him out of the lab for a little “catching up.”  Quickly, she checked the most likely places he would be, but she couldn’t find him and no one had seen him since the night before.

Tonya headed for his room, the only place she hadn’t checked yet.  She opened the door quietly and slipped into the room.  Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized he was still in bed, curled on his side with his back to the door.

She smirked and swiftly crossed the room.  Crawling onto the bed, she spoke in a teasing tone.  “Still in bed?  Lazy, lazy boy!  Maybe you shouldn’t stay up so late.”

He didn’t move or respond, so she touched his shoulder, then leaned over and kissed his cheek.  Her eyes widened in shock as his opened.  Sniffling, he looked at her with bleary eyes, then turned away as he began to cough violently.

He’s burning up! She rubbed his back as the coughing fit subsided.  “Zarbon?” she asked worriedly.  “How do you feel?”

“Kuso,” he replied weakly when he could speak again.

Zarbon rarely swore so Tonya knew he was really feeling bad.  “My poor angel.  Can you tell me what hurts?” she asked hopefully.  She could tell he had a stuffy nose from his voice and his sniffling, and she could hear him cough, but other symptoms were less obvious.

“My head’s all stuffed up,” he said then sniffled.  “And I’ve got this throbbing pain here.”  Zarbon touched his forehead gingerly.  “I’m nauseous and dizzy.  My throat feels like sandpaper.  My entire body aches and I’m freezing,” he finished with a weary voice.

Guilt gripped Tonya’s heart and gave it a good squeeze.  He had just described her exact symptoms from the last time she had been sick, which had only been a week earlier.

She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.  “I’m going to get some stuff, then I’ll be right back,” she said brushing some hair out of his face and tucking the blankets back around him.

After gathering her supplies, Tonya spent the next hour taking notes and making Zarbon as comfortable as she possibly could.  She had just tucked him in when the phone rang, making her jump in startled surprise.

“Hello?” she asked quietly placing the device against her ear.

“Hello, Tonya.  Did you forget you were supposed to work tonight?” Charlene asked coolly.

Tonya paled and looked at the clock; she was a good forty-five minutes late.  Zarbon sniffled and looked at her with a miserable expression.  She sighed heavily and rubbing her forehead.  “I’m sorry, Charlene.  I was going to call you, then I forgot and …” A frustrated growl escaped her throat involuntarily.  “That’s no excuse,” she muttered more to herself.  “Zarbon’s very sick and I’ve been making him comfortable.  I lost track of the time.”  She sighed again and bit her lip as she watched her incapacitated beau, trying to decide what she was going to say next.

* * * * * *

Steve and Frank exchanged glances as Charlene frowned.  It was highly unusual for Tonya to be late and the look on Charlene’s face worried them.  They wished she would put the call on the speaker so they could hear both halves of the conversation.

“How sick is he?” Charlene asked, causing the men to move closer as they tried to listen in.

* * * * * *

“He’s probably just got a bad cold, but he’s got a fever of 102.8,” Tonya replied, uncertain how to classify his condition.  “He’s nose is stopped up, he has a headache and the chills.”

“Okay,” Charlene said as she nodded her head decisively.

“Okay?” Tonya echoed.

“You’re going to stay home and take care of him.  Steve and Frank can handle the vaccinations on their own.”

Tonya heard both men as they began to protest, Frank swearing loudly in his native tongue.  “Thanks, Charlene,” she said smiling.  “Tell him I love him, too,” she added hearing Frank yell another colorful explanative. 

She missed the look of pain on Zarbon’s face that followed her comment.  Feeling like a lead weight had settled in his chest where his heart used to be, he curled onto his side with his back to her.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Hopefully,” Tonya replied.

She hung up the phone with a sigh and looked at Zarbon who was trying desperately to go to sleep without thinking about what she’d said.  He failed and hot tears began to slip down his cheeks unbidden.  Tonya noticed the tears and presumed they were from pain, but she failed to guess they were from injury to the heart instead of the body.  She sighed again as the feeling of helplessness covered her like a blanket, knowing there was nothing more she could do to ease her lover’s pain at the moment.

Turning off the lamp, she laid down next to him, gently stroking his hair.  “Sleep, love,” she said softly.  “Let Morpheus help to ease the pain.”

Despite his state of mind, Zarbon felt his worry being gently wiped away as sleep came softly to him.  Tonya felt his breathing even out as sleep finally claimed and watched him sleep a few minutes before she quietly left the room.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Zarbon sat up slowly, still feeling like crap, but the growling of his stomach forced him from the bed.  With one hand on the wall to steady himself, he slowly shuffled towards the kitchen, thankful the house was silent and dark.  The throbbing headache hadn’t left him yet and he didn’t think he could handle company at the moment. 

Pausing in the shadows just outside the kitchen to catch his breath, he heard Tonya giggle.  Curious was she what doing in the dark, he took a step forward so he could see into the dimly lit kitchen without been seen.  His eyes widened in shock as a sudden pain seared through his soul.

Tonya giggled again.  “Stop it,” she chided pushing the man’s hands away though she made no move to vacant his lap.  “You’re going to wake the whole house.”

“Heh.”  He wrapped his arms around her waist.  “You mean, you’re going to wake everyone,” a familiar voice replied.  “I’m not the one who’s making so much noise.”

“But you’re the one who’s making me make the noise,” she retorted teasingly, shifting to give him a coy look.

Because of the darkness Zarbon couldn’t tell who the other man was , but somehow he knew that the man was smiling.

“I know how to keep you quiet,” the shadowy figure replied.

“Oh?” Tonya asked leaning closer.

Zarbon’s heart sank further as the man pulled Tonya closer for a deep kiss.  She didn’t protest or pull away, instead returning the affection with an equal amount of passion.  The couple continued to kiss, taking no heed of the fact anyone might see them.  He turned without a sound, his hunger long forgotten, and quickly returned to his room.  Collapsing on the bed, he pulled the covers over his head and gave into his tears.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Tonya sat the tray on the nightstand and watched him sleep.  She had hoped he would be awake and hungry, but he was still out.  Her tail flicked from side to side as she debated on whether she should wake him or not.

He really needs his rest, she thought.  But something warm in his stomach might make him feel better.  And he needs to keep up his strength.  She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.  I prefer to sleep during my illness…Makes it go faster, but it’s a pain going to sleep with a headache.

Zarbon began to cough and woke himself up, ending her internal debate as he sat up.  She rubbed his back as he coughed, holding him gently as it finally subsided.  He snuggled against her, enjoying her warmth as he pushed all thoughts to the side.

“Are you hungry?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he answered after a moment, his voice deeper than normal.

“I brought chicken noodle soup, orange juice, and jello, but I could make something else if you’d like,” she said.

“Soup,” he said with a disappointed note in his voice.

“Well, I considered steak and a baked potato, but thought soup would be better for your sore throat,” she replied with a slight smile.

“Is it canned?” he asked. 

Tonya snorted.  “Of course not.  I made it fresh while you’ve been asleep,” she answered.

He yawned and snuggled tighter against her.  “I’ll probably spill it,” he mumbled to himself.

“If you do, I just have to give you a bath,” she replied with a smile, then moved to help him sit up better.

He just watched her as she got him situated so he could eat.  She sat the tray table across his lap, then tucked a large linen napkin in his pajama collar like a bib.  Zarbon looked at the food, absently wondering how he could be hungry, but not feel like eating.

Sitting down next to him, Tonya picked up the spoon and stirred the soup.  Lifting the utensil, she blew on the soup it held, then offered it to Zarbon.  He took it, and she slowly fed him the rest of the bowl, then the jello.  When he was full, Tonya moved the tray and helped him lay back down.

Snuggling back into the pillows, Zarbon struggled to stay awake as she tucked him in.  She kissed his forehead, then turned off the light and picked up the tray to take it to the kitchen.

“Tonya,” he mumbled and she paused.  “Stay with me.”

She couldn’t tell if it was a request, an order, or a plea, but it didn’t really matter to her what it had been.  Sitting the tray back down, she climbed into the bed beside him.  Zarbon immediately rolled on to his side to snuggle against her, wrapping his arms around he possessively, and quickly fell asleep.  Tonya lay there a while, listening to him breath, and smiled ruefully as he began to snore.

When sleep began to wind its tendrils around her and slowly drag her towards dreamland, she quietly untangled herself from her sleeping beau and left the room.

- - -- - - - - -

Tonya spent the next few hours calling people and informing them that Zarbon was sick.  John Schmitt, his government lab partner, was understanding and promised not to send any work Zarbon’s way until he had heard Zarbon was better.  The University’s Chemistry department was sympathetic, but she had to talk to practically everyone on the staff before she found out who she really needing to tell.  Once that was straightened out, Tonya headed down to the cave.

“Techno?”  He didn’t turn or otherwise acknowledge her, but she really hadn’t expected him to do so.  “Would you mind giving me a wake up call in the morning?”

“Do I look like a hotel desk clerk?”  he retorted.

“Please, Techno?  Zarbon’s sick and I don’t want the alarm to wake him up,” she pleaded, desperately trying not to give him a sad puppy eyed look.

“I don’t care if…” Techno paused and finally turned to face her with a frown.  “Zarbon’s sick?”

Tonya nodded.  “He’s running a temperature of 102.8, and has the chills.  Plus, he has sinus congestion complete with wicked cough, nauseous, and headache.  Then there’s the body aches and sore throat,” she replied tiredly massaging her temple.

  “Sounds like what you had a week or so ago,” Techno said still frowning.  Tonya looked away and sighed, her tail drooping with guilt.  “What time?” he growled.

“Seven thirty?” she asked hopefully.

Techno nodded stiffly and turned back to his work, dismissing her with his silence.  She hurried back upstairs and quickly got ready for bed.  Silently, she slipped under the covers and stretched out on her back to let her muscles unwind, her toes trying to touch the foot of the bed while her fingers brushed the top of the headboard.  Still asleep, Zarbon turned towards her warmth like a heat seeking sponge, his arm snaking across her waist as he pulled her closer.  She tensed in surprise as he laid his head on her chest, and heard his contented sigh as he rubbed his cheek against her softness.

Startled by his actions, Tonya didn’t relax, wondering what he was going to do next.  After a moment, it was apparent he wasn’t going to do anything else and she let herself relax.  She wrapped her arms around him loosely with a tired sigh, and closed her eyes.  If he wasn’t so sick, she would have definitely have dislodged him by now because she didn’t sleep well on her back.  At least he’s not snoring in this position, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

- - - - - - - -- - - - - -

Techno took a deep breath as he put his hand on the doorknob, then opened the door.  He still didn’t know why he hadn’t just delegated this job to someone else or just refused in the first place, but it was too late to back out now.  Pausing to let his vision adjust, he slowly made his way to the bed.

Hesitating a moment, he reached out and shook Tonya’s arm.  Her eyes blinked open and focused on him with a sleepy/confusion look.  “7:30,” he said gruffly.  He turned on his heel and left the room.

“Oh.  Thanks.”  She yawned, then carefully extracted herself from Zarbon’s grasp.  Dressing quickly, she walked out of the room while braiding her hair, shutting the door with her tail as she left.

And almost ran straight into Techno who had stopped just outside the door to wait for her.  Tonya jumped back in startled surprise, tripping over her feet in the process, and falling backwards with no chance of catching herself in the short distance to the door.  Techno grabbed her by the shirt, preventing her from slamming into the door.

She blinked in surprise, then quickly corrected her position.  “Thanks,” she said with a sheepish smile.

“The whole point was to Not wake him,” Techno growled walking off. 

She fell into step next to him.  “Can you check on him later for me?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks.”

Techno watched her head for the front door instead of the kitchen.  She grabbed her coat and bag, then ran out the door.  Yawning, Techno paused in the kitchen just long enough to refill his mug before returning to the cave.

- - - -- - -  - - - - - -

 Early afternoon found Techno back in Zarbon's room, carefully reading the medical chart Tonya had started.  Occasionally his eye flicked from the chart to the nightstand, double checking the medications written with those present.  Zarbon groaned, drawing Techno's   attention from his reading to his sick friend. 

Golden eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on the figure standing next to the bed.  "Techno?" Zarbon asked sounding a little confused.  "Where's Tonya?"

"She's at class.  Tonya asked that I keep an eye on you," Techno replied. 

"Oh."

"Hungry?"

"Yes."

"There's still some of the soup Tonya's made left."

"That'll work."

Techno brought the soup and some OJ for him, and stood by quietly while Zarbon ate.  When he was done, Techno gave him some more medicine and then left the room as Zarbon drifted off to sleep.

- - - --  - -- - - - - 

Tonya slipped into the room and shut the door behind her, then stole towards the bed.  She paused to read the updated chart, then gently put a hand on Zarbon's forehead.  Sighing softly, she adjusted the blanket, then kissed his temple before she turned to get ready for work. 

She was just wrapping the hair band around the end of her braid when Zarbon suddenly cried out in his sleep.  In the blink of an eye, she was on the bed, wrapping her arms around him, and cradling his head against her chest. "Shhh, angel.  It's okay.  I'm here," she said soothingly. 

He whimpered and snuggled against her.  "Tonya," he whimpered pleadingly, "don't leave me."

Tonya closed her eyes against the guilt that gnawed on her heart. 

"Zarbon...Honey...wake up," she said gently shaking him.  The blue lids fluttered open and he looked up at her with sleepy, fearful eyes.  "You were having a nightmare," she explained softly.

Sniffling, he snuggling against her.  "We were walking through a fog, and suddenly you were gone," he said tearfully.  "I couldn't find you." 

She kissed his forehead.  "You couldn't lose me that easily," she replied with a soft smile.  Glancing at her watch, she frowned slightly.  "Do you want me to call in and stay home with you?"

Biting his tongue, he looked down and away, closing his eyes with a soft sigh.  His heart was screaming yes, but his mind countered that the Refuge needed her just as much as he did.  "No, you should go to work," he said softly.

"Are you sure?" she asked worriedly.

"Yes," he answered trying to keep his voice even.

"Okay," she replied.  "Can I get you anything before I leave?"

"No, I’m fine," he answered softly.

-- --- - - -- - - - -

Zarbon restlessly drifted and dozed through the rest of the afternoon.  Nightmares and hallucinations plagued him, but they couldn’t compete with the latest symptoms of his illness.  His sinuses were draining, increasing his already frequent coughing bouts, but his nose was still blocked.  His chest was tight and he felt like he was trying to breathe through a wet blanket.  Instead of not being able to get warm, he now felt like he was slowly boiling from the inside out.  He weakly kicked at the blankets that had already been shoved to the foot of the bed, and rolled on to his side trying to get comfortable.

He heard the door open, but kept his eyes closed and tried to keep his breathing even because he didn’t feel like talking to anyone at the moment.  Something was placed on the nightstand, then he felt a cool hand on his forehead.  The hand lingered for a moment before withdrawing, and he heard the bathroom faucet turn on.  It ran for a few minutes, the sound strangely soothing.  It stopped abruptly and he felt the bed dip as someone sat down next to him. 

Jumping slightly as the cool cloth kissed his forehead, he blinked up at Tonya in surprise.  “Tonya?” he asked, not truly believing his eyes.

She smiled apologetically.  “Sorry, love.  I didn’t mean to wake you.”  She gently wiped his face and neck, rinsed the washrag in the basin she had brought with her, then laid it on his forehead.  “How are you feeling?”

He just stared at her for a moment as though he was still surprised to see her.  “Hot,” he answered simply.

“I see that,” she replied with a smirk, glancing down at the displaced bedclothes.  She rinsed the cloth again and placed it on his forehead, then stood and walked to the closet, and started moving things.

Zarbon sat up slightly to keep her in sight, fighting his vertigo, and watched her tail swish as she dug determinedly in the closet.  “Why aren’t you at work?” he asked suddenly.

Tonya paused, only the tip of her tail twitching for a second, then resumed her task.  “I…uh…Charlene sent me home,” she said, her voice muffled by the clothes.  “It…wasn’t busy and I didn’t have anything to do.”  She pulled back, bringing a stand fan with her.  “There we are!”  Setting it up so it would circulate the air around the bed, but wouldn’t blow on him constantly, she turned it to low.  “Better?”

Zarbon sighed and relaxed back onto his pillow, letting the cool air wash over him.  “Much.”  He closed his eyes as he enjoyed the breeze, starting to drift off again as he finally began to feel comfortable. 

His eyes snapped open again as he felt the buttons of his pajama top being undone.  He stared up at her in shock, trying to find his voice to ask the questions racing through his mind, but it had deserted him.  The last button left its hole and she parted the halves of the shirt to expose more of his chest.  A small smirk graced her face as she wet her lips and her eyes roamed over his sculpted muscles. 

She turned to pick up a jar from the nightstand as Zarbon finally found his tongue. “Tonya, what…”  He trailed off as he recognized the label and frowned.  Making no effort to hide his unhappiness, he groaned low in his throat and closed his eyes. 

“What?” she asked surprised by his actions 

“No,” he grumbled and rolled onto his side, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Zarbon,” she chided gently as though scolding a stubborn child.  “It’ll make you feel better.  It’s surprising what a little Vicks can do.”

“No.”

She chuckled softly.  “If you be a good boy and let me put this on you, I’ll let you rub some on my chest next time I’ve got a cold,” she said in a low seductive tone.

He rewarded her with a disbelieving, yet thoughtful stare, and then relaxed slightly.  “Promise?” he asked in a small voice.

A slight blush colored her cheeks as she gave him a warm smile and nodded.  “I promise.”

Zarbon rolled onto his back and yawned, then started to cough again.  “Ow,” he whispered weakly when he could breath again.

Tonya shifted to straddle his waist and uncapped the jar of Vicks.  She laughed at the look on his face when she smeared a bit on his upper lip, then began rubbing it on his chest.  He sighed as he felt it begin to work its magic and breathing seemed easier as she buttoned his shirt again.  Beginning to drift off, he vaguely noted that she had moved and was now folding the displaced blankets.  His sighed again and drifted away on a cloud of menthol vapors.

 - - -- - - - - -

  A light knock drew Tonya’s attention from her book as the door opened.  “Phone,” Daniel said softly.

She nodded and quickly followed him to the kitchen.  “Hello?” she asked picking up the phone.

“Sorry to bother you,” Charlene said quickly.  “But we need you out here ASAP.”

“On my way,” Tonya answered.  She hung up and glanced at Daniel.  “Could you tell Techno that I have to go out to the Refuge and that I might be starting rounds a little late?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.”

- - - - - - -

Techno flipped on the light as he entered the kitchen to refill his coffee mug and paused as he noticed Tonya sitting there with her head on her folding arms.  She groaned and raised her head to look at him with her good eye, still holding the ice pack to the right side of her face.

He smirked and raised an eyebrow.  “Dare I ask?”

“Hit by a deer,” she muttered.

“How bad’s your truck?”

Tonya sighed heavily and shook her head slightly.  “Two bucks got their horns entangled at the Refuge.  Frank and Charlene noticed it on their last sweep of the park before they left.  Everyone else was already gone, so they called me figuring I could just cut them apart with my claws,” she said, then yawned.

“Couldn’t they just tranquilize them and saw them apart?” Techno asked.

She shook her head.  “Drug might work faster on one than the other, and then one could end up with a broken neck.”

He pulled the ice pack away from her face and winced at the already obvious black eye that was forming.  “Nice,” he said dryly.

 “One of the deer reared just as I got him free, and hit me in the face with his head ‘cause I wasn’t expecting it,” she explained replacing the cold pack.  “Then the …jerk, gave me a solid kick in the ribs before he ran off.”

Techno studied her while he filled his mug.  “Abra’s out on rounds already, so you can just go to bed,” he said.  “I’ll leave the elf a note to find you in the morning.”

“Thanks.”

 - - -- - - - - - - -

Zarbon yawned and nuzzled his pillow, content to drift along the edge of being fully awake.  Slowly, he realized he could clearly hear breathing and his pillow was rising and falling in time with it.  A heartbeat that wasn’t his own also thumped lightly in his ears and he turned his head as he half opened his eyes.  They snapped fully open as he realized he was using Tonya’s chest for his pillow and froze.  Intending to move before she awoke and discovered him doing so, he moved his hand to give himself some leverage.  Unfortunately, he bumped her bruised ribs and felt her tense, then relax again.

“Zarbon, I don’t mind if you use me as a pillow,” she said sleepily.  “But please stop trying to fluff me up.”

“Sorry,” he whispered meekly.  He shifted off of her and glanced up to meet her gaze.  His eyes widened and he stared, then reached up to touch her cheek.  She flinched and turned her face away, and he let his hand drop.  “What happened?” he asked softly, still staring at the purple/black bruise that covered her cheekbone and extending up underneath her eye.

“Nothing important,” she replied smiled ruefully.  His face fell slightly and he looked away.  She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand.  “It was just an accident.  Don’t worry about it.”

He met her eyes again and opened his mouth, then shut it.  Gold searched emerald for a moment, and he swallowed hard.  “Tonya?”

“Mmhmm?”  Sleep was clouding her eyes again and he could tell she was struggling to stay awake.

“Never mind,” he replied softly and laid down beside her.

Her eyes closed as she snuggled against him and she wrapped her arms around him.  He hesitated a second, then wrapped his arms around her tight and closed his eyes, silently praying as he fell asleep again.

 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^  

Zarbon awoke abruptly as the door to his room shut with a fair amount of force.  He groggily blinked his bed’s canopy a moment, then turned his head to look toward the door as he heard the gasp someone made as they were pushed roughly against the door.  In the semidarkness, he could make out the form of two people passionately kissing, the smaller one pinned against the door by her larger lover.  Before he could find his voice to protest against the couple’s poor choice of a rendezvous location, the situation got worse. 

The man began kissing a path down the moaning girl’s throat.  Finding his way blocked by fabric, he ripped open her blouse, sending the buttons flying everywhere.  She buried her fingers in her lover’s hair as he hungrily feasted on the soft mounds and moaned in pleasure.  After a few moments, her lover continued down her body, kissing and caressing her flesh as he went.  He pulled back to look up at her as his knees touched the carpet, his hands still on her hips, and Zarbon found his own eyes drawn to her flushed face.

His heart skipped a beat as he realized it was Tonya who leaned panting and trembling against the door, waiting for the man to continue.  Whimpering, she opened her eyes to discover why he’d stopped and gave the kneeling man a lustful, pleading look.  As though that was the signal he’d been waiting for, the man dipped his head as his fingers flipped up her short skirt and dove beneath it.  Tonya’s back arched as Zarbon heard more fabric tearing and a low moan escaped her throat.  Her hips began to buck involuntarily as she whimpered and moaned in pleasure, her palms pressed almost desperately against the wood behind her as head tossed from side to side. 

Tonya’s back arched again and she cried out in pure pleasure, sharing her passion with whom ever cared to hear.  The man rose quickly and Zarbon heard the teeth of a zipper part, then the man grabbed the girl’s hips and buried himself to the hilt with one smooth motion.  She wrapped her legs around his waist as he began to thrust into her and twined her arms around his neck.  The couple each murmured the other’s name like a mantra, their voices mingling together like the sound of raindrops on a summer’s evening.

Zarbon struggled to focus and move his limbs in some semblance of order, but they were too heavy and his movements were slow and weak.  He opened his mouth to yell, but no sound issued from his throat.  He desperately wanted to rise and kill the man, but he couldn’t seem to get his body to cooperate.  The best he could do was to bury his head in his pillow and try to block out the sounds of the couple. 

After a few movements, they finished loudly and he heard them leave.  Hot tears began to course down his cheeks, and he cried for a long time before the sweet oblivion of sleep claimed him again.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Tonya finished the second braid and wrapped the end with a hair band, then sighed and rubbed her eyes.  It was late and she was tired, but she wasn’t sleepy.  Her emotion and stress levels were running so high that she wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry or run screaming from room to room.  She sighed again and walked towards the bed in defeat.  If she had the energy or the patience, she would have gone to the workout room downstairs for a few hours to burn off some of her stress.  But she was stuck with a bone deep exhaustion; one that makes you want to crawl into bed and hide until the world starts going your way again.

Silently, she stood there a few moments, watching her lover sleep.  Hot tears pricked her eyes as the guilt welled up again and she scrubbed at them in frustrated anger.  Ruthlessly crushing the guilt back, she carefully slipped into bed and closed her eyes.  Clearing her mind, she evened out her breathing, trying to fall asleep quickly before the restless thoughts started darting through her mind again.

Zarbon opened his eyes and studied the face of the girl sharing his bed.  He had been awake since she’d come out of the bathroom, but he couldn’t bring himself to talk to her, and so he feinted sleep.  Most of his day had been spent trying to work up the courage to confront her about the other man, but he had failed.  His heart ached and he closed eyes against the pain.

Opening them again, he took a deep breath, then asked softly, “Are you cheating on me?”

Tonya’s eyes snapped open and they stared at each other for a long moment.

“What?” Tonya asked, not believing she had just heard what he asked correctly.

“…..”

She sat up and turned on the lamp, blinked in the sudden brightness, and then turned back to him.  “What did you ask me?” she asked again fear lacing through her chest.

Zarbon’s mouth worked silently for a minute.  He took a deep breath, then looked her straight in the eye, and asked her again in a stronger voice.  “Are you cheating on me?”

Tonya’s eyes were huge and she stared at him with open mouth surprise.  Then confusion and pain filled her eyes as she realized he was serious, but she didn’t look away.  “What?” she asked again, her voice shaky.  Struggling to find her words, she opened and closed her mouth several times.  “Why?”  Her breathing was starting to speed up and she fought back the tears.  “Why would you think that?” she asked, voice breaking slightly.

Zarbon felt horrible that he’d so obviously upset her, but was surprised that she seemed to be taking the thought harder than he was.  “You’ve been spending so much time away from the house,” he started.  “And Sebastian thought…”

Her eyes went dark as a growl rose in her throat and she started to rise, but he grabbed her arm.  She froze in that half risen position for a moment or two, then the fight left her, and she slumped back onto the bed.  Zarbon pulled her into his arms and held her as she trembled.

“What else?” she asked in a soft voice.

“The first day I was sick, you didn’t come back to check on me.  So that night I went to the kitchen, and…” Zarbon told her everything that had happened over the past week that had made him more and more suspicious.  Taking a deep breath, he concluded the tale with a brief description of the tryst he had witnessed right here in his own room.

Tonya stared at him with wide eyes, and turned to look at the indicated door curiously.  “How many days have you been sick?” she asked cautiously, almost to herself. 

“Seven,” he replied after a moment.

She met his gaze again and gently placed a hand on his forehead, smiling sympathetically.  “Only three, my love,” she replied gently.  “You’ve been hallucinating because of the fever and I didn’t realized it until now.”

He now stared at her, desperately wanting to believe her, but still uncertain.  “Really?”

Tonya gently pushed his onto his back and lay close to his side, all without breaking eye contact.  “Tell me, my angel, why would I risk freezing to death and possibly being blown to bits or vaporized to save you only a month ago, then turn around and dump you now?”

Zarbon blinked and slowly smiled.  “You wouldn’t,” he answered softly.

“Damn right!” she agreed and nodding sharply.  “And I’ve put way too much effort into training you to dump you just because you’re sick,” she grumbled, glaring at him.

She shifted to lay partly on top of him and gently cupped his face.  “Zarbon no baka.”  The insult was softened by the look in her eyes and the gentle way she said it.    “I love you, now and forever.  No stupid flu or common cold is going to change that.”  Tonya kissed him and felt his arms encircle her as the kiss deepened.

Pulling back, she smirked.  “Oh, and just to be clear on this.  You,” she tapped his nose to accent to whom she was referring, “are the only man who will ever be allowed to push me up against anything and have your wicked way with me.  Are we clear on that?”

Zarbon grinned and pulled her back down for other kiss.  After a moment, it was he who broke it though.  “Maybe you shouldn’t be kissing me,” he said worriedly.

“Why not?” she asked.

“I’m sick, and I don’t want you to catch it,” he replied.

“Mmm, that would only be fair,” she answered.  “Considering I gave it to you in the first place.”

“But…”

She kissed him and he surrendered to her affections.  Then he felt his chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with his emotions and abruptly broke the kiss.  He covered his mouth as the cough fit started and allowed Tonya to pull him up into a sitting position. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled weakly after he could breath again.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.  “It’s okay.”

“I love you,” he said after a moment of silence.

She raised her head to meet his gaze, smiling softly.  “I love you, too.” 

His tired smile widened slightly, then he yawned and rubbed his eyes.  “Suddenly I’m really tired,” he said and yawned again.

Tonya chuckled and turned out the light, then laid down on her back.  Zarbon snuggled close to her side and slid an arm across her waist to hold her closer.  They lay there for a few minutes, then Zarbon nervously cleared his throat.

“Tonya?  Would you mind…?”

“Being your pillow again?”

“If you’d rather not…”

“Actually, I rather if you did,” she replied drily.  “Keeps you from snoring.”

Zarbon chuckled as he laid his head on her chest once again, nuzzling her softness as she put her arms around him.  With minds and hearts free of worry once more, sleep quickly claimed them.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

When Zarbon woke again, it was still dark and he was alone.  He sat up slowly, still feeling like crap, but the growling of his stomach forced him from the bed.  With one hand on the wall to steady himself, he slowly shuffled towards the kitchen, thankful the house was silent and dark.  The throbbing headache was still with him and he didn’t want company at the moment. 

Pausing in the shadows just outside the kitchen to catch his breath, he heard Tonya giggle. 

Wait a minute…  I think I’ve done this before, he thought.  Curious what she was doing in the dark, he took a step forward so he could see into the dimly lit kitchen without been seen.  His eyes widened in surprise and he cocked his head as the strong feeling of deju vu nagged at him.

Tonya giggled again.  “Stop it,” she chided pushing the man’s hands away though she made no move to vacant his lap.  “You’re going to wake the whole house.”

“Heh.”  He wrapped his arms around her waist.  “You mean, you’re going to wake everyone,” a familiar voice replied.  “I’m not the one who’s making so much noise.”

“But you’re the one who’s making me make the noise,” she retorted teasingly, shifting to give him a coy look.

Zarbon couldn’t tell who the other man was, but somehow he knew that the man was smiling.

“I know how to keep you quiet,” the shadowy figure replied.

“Oh?” Tonya asked leaning closer.

Zarbon stepped into the kitchen and flipped on the light as he cleared his throat.  The two in the chair grinned at him while he stood there in stunned silence for several seconds.  “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” he asked the smiling couple.

“Of course,” the man replied pleasantly as Tonya gracefully rose from his lap to stand by his side. 

He looked as though he could have been Zarbon’s twin brother or a reflection from a mirror.  Tossing his braid over his shoulder, he stood and pushed in his chair.  Instantly the kitchen vanished and the three of them were standing in a flower dotted meadow.

“If you haven’t guessed my identity yet, I tell you,” the doppleganger said.  “I am your Subconscious.”

“Okay,” Zarbon said.  “I’ll buy that.  And she is…?”

His twin smiled warmly.  “She is the embodiment of your fantasies and desires,” he answered.  “I thought that would be obvious,” he added as the girl’s clothing melting into a more revealing outfit and she glided toward Zarbon. 

Zarbon swallowed hard, his eyes following the girl’s movements even as he tried to focus on the other man.  She pressed herself up against him and put her arms around his neck to pull him down for a deep kiss.  When she let him up for air, Zarbon sighed in contentment, then blushed and looked at his subconscious.

“So…ahmmm…” Zarbon groaned softly as Tonya nibbled and licked a spot on his neck that always made his knees go weak with pleasure.  He pulled away and held up his hand to tell her to wait a moment.  “Why couldn’t I tell that…” he paused trying to figure out how to phrase his question.

“Doubt casts shadows over even the simplest things.  Deep down, subconsciously if you will, you knew that Tonya would never cheat on you.  But the repeated suggestion and your illness lead your conscious mind to entertain such doubts.  And thus, otherwise pleasant fantasies turned into your worst nightmares.”

Zarbon was silent for a long moment.  “How many people get psychoanalysis of their dreams performed by their subconscious?” he wondered aloud.

“Not many I’d wager,” Tonya replied once again pressing herself against him.

Zarbon grinned at the girl and started lean down to kiss her.  “Well, we’d better go,” his subconscious called.

Tonya made only a small sound of protest then pulled away and began walking back towards the other man.

“But!  Ahh, Why?” Zarbon said.  He didn’t feel that bad anymore and a little harmless fantasy dream would be fun after all the nightmares.

“You’re sick and you need to rest,” came the reply.  “And besides, you know the real Tonya wouldn’t be pleased to be woken up by you humping her leg.”

Zarbon knew he was right.  How could he not be?  It was his subconscious after all.  Taking a deep breath, Zarbon let himself relax and fall deeper asleep, pass the realm of dreams and into the first restful sleep he’d had in several days.

- - - - - - --

Zarbon woke up as the door opened and opened his eyes just a crack to see who his visitor was.  He watched Tonya cross the room to the bathroom, then yawned and stretched, trying to wake up a bit more.

Tonya changed clothes quickly, still trying to figure out how to wear her hair.  Her mane was too long for a conventional bun, so she tried a French twist instead.  Still not all her hair would fit, so she braided the foot or so that was hanging out and wrapped it around the twist.  After securing her new hairdo with her chopsticks, she perched the starch stiffened white hat on her head and pinned it in place with bobby pins.  Checking her appearance in the mirror, she straightened her skirt and adjusted her blouse, then picked up her bag.

She started to open the door, then paused as she thought of something and smiled.  Making sure to stay behind the door, she called out softly, “Zarbon, are you awake?”

“Yes,” he answered, then yawned.  “Mostly.”

“Close your eyes, please angel,” Tonya said.  Zarbon could have asked why, but instead just did as she asked.  “Are they closed?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, don’t open them until I tell you,” she cautioned coming out of the bathroom.  Tonya walked over to him, set her bag on the nightstand, opened it, and pulled out the thermometer.  “Time to check your temperature.”

Zarbon obediently opened his mouth and lifted his tongue so that she put the thermometer in his mouth properly.  He could feel her gently holding his hand as she checked his pulse and he wondered why he’d had to shut his eyes.  The thermometer beeped and Zarbon yawned as she read the display.

“One hundred even,” she said. 

Zarbon sighed in disappointment.  Just laying and sitting around was getting boring and he felt bad that Tonya was waiting on him hand and foot.  But he still displayed all of the symptoms he’d originally had, albeit they were milder, though thankfully he wasn’t hallucinating anymore.

“You can open your eyes now, luv.”

He did and stared at her for a long moment.  Then he closed his eyes and rubbed at them before looking at her again.  “Are you wearing an old nurse uniform?” he asked slightly worried that his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Tonya laughed lightly.  “No,” she replied sitting down on the edge of the bed.  Leaning closer she continued.  “It’s a new nurse uniform that’s cut in the older style.  I did borrow my mother’s old hat, but my butt’s too big for her old uniform.”

“Good,” Zarbon said with a sigh.  “I thought that maybe I was seeing things again.”  He tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear and wet his lips as his eyes studied her features.  “Are you wearing lipstick?” he asked.

Tonya blushed and dropped her eyes.  “Maybe,” she answered coyly looking at him threw her lashes.

He pulled her down for a light kiss, but didn’t protest when she opted for a more passionate exchange.  After several heated minutes, it was time for his medications, and he couldn’t help but laugh as his “nurse” did her best to show off just have well her outfit looked. 

“Have I forgotten anything?” she asked as she studied his chart.

“I don’t think so,” Zarbon replied with a yawn.  Shyly he asked, “Would you mind telling me a story?”

“Not at all, my love,” she answered smiling warmly.  “Anything in particular you want to hear, or do you want a new one?”

“A new one,” he said moving over so she could sit beside him comfortably.  She sat down and he put his head in her lap so she could stroke his hair while she spoke.  Absently, he ran a hand down her smooth bare leg, noting just how short the skirt was when she was seated.  “You know, you really shouldn’t be wearing this,” he started and Tonya raised an eyebrow in surprise.  “It’s cruel to tease a sick, old man like this.”

“You are not old,” she replied gently.

“I’m older than you,” he answered turning his head to look up at her.

Tonya smirked ruefully.  “Everyone in the house, except Bowie, is older than me,” she retorted.  “You’re only 27 years old.  And that’s not all that old.”  She blushed for a reason she couldn’t quite place, but still held his gaze.

He smiled slightly.  “Not that old?” he asked, admiring the way she looked when she blushed like that.  “I’m a sick, dirty old man,” he muttered just to egg her on.

She missed the fact he was teasing her and frowned slightly.  “You’re not old!” she repeated.  “Both Techno and Sebastian are older than you are.  And…”  Tonya paused as she realized he was grinning and glared at him as she caught on.  Then she smirked.  “And you’re not dirty,” she added.

“Of course I am,” he answered playfully.  “I haven’t had a bath or shower for at least a week now.”

“You had a bath two days ago,” she replied still smirking.

Zarbon blinked up at her.  “I did?”

“Mmmhmm.  A sponge bath,” she answered.  “Washed everything but your hair.”

“Everything?” he echoed, his cheeks darkening with embarrassment.  Tonya shrugged.   “You’re joking, right?”

Tonya shrugged.  “You didn’t notice that the sheets were changed.  Or your pajamas?”  The blush darkened as he realized that he had noticed.  “Have I told about “The Ugly Duckling” yet?” she asked abruptly changing the subject. 

“Umm, no,” he answered softly.  “Did you really…”

“Once upon a time…”

- - - - - -  --

Tonya cast one last look around the room before she headed for the door satisfied she hadn't forgotten anything.  Just as she touched the doorknob, she heard a voice from the darkness. 

"I thought you said I could go with you today."

With a sigh, she turned toward the bed.  "I said you could go if you were better," she replied gently.  She walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.  It was a good bet that he was pouting and giving her puppy dog eyes, but she couldn't tell in the dark and wasn't about to turn on the light to find out.  "You should give yourself a couple of extra days to recuperate or you'll have a relapse."   

"You weren't even going to check to see if I was better," he said sounding hurt.

"No, I wasn't," she admitted.  "I was going to come home on my lunch break and see how you were doing.  And then, if you were feeling okay, I was going to take you back out with me."  Zarbon was silent and she couldn't tell what he was thinking.  "Then you could sleep in and not have to be stuck at the refuge with me all day, bored out of your skull," she added.

"But I want to be with you," Zarbon said, trying to keep the whine out of his voice.  She felt the bed shift, then felt his arms wrap around her.  He rested his chin on her shoulder and tried to stifle a yawn.  "I promise I won't get in the way."

Tonya chuckled softly.  "I'm not worried about you being in my way," she responded.  "I'm just worried about your health."  He was silent again.  "If you really want to come out with me now, you have 45 minutes to get dressed and eat breakfast," she added.

"45 minutes?" he asked in surprise.  "Why did you get up so early?"

A laugh bubbled out of her and she turned to give him a kiss.  "Because I half expected you to wake up and want to come with me."

Fifty minutes later, Tonya finished bundling him up in the many layers she deemed necessary for him to handle the bitter predawn chill.  "I feel like a marshmallow," Zarbon muttered.  His golden eyes were the only part of him that wasn't hidden under the ton of fabric.  Tonya smirked and he followed her out to the truck.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"What are you doing?" Zarbon asked curiously.

Tonya smirked.  "Getting stuff together so we can go see my new boyfriend," she replied teasingly.

"This requires a clipboard and a scale?" he asked.

"Mmmhmm."

He followed her back out to the golf cart and they drove over to the other side of the park.  Zarbon recognized the enclosure as the large leopard habitat and wondered why she had stopped there.  She signaled for him to be silent and follow her, and lead him in the Employee Only entrance.  She shed her coat, scarf, and her sweatshirt, then pulled on a lab coat.

"I'll just leave mine on," Zarbon whispered.  "It would be easier."

She shook her head and he let her help him take off some of his layers, then slipped on the lab coat she offered him.  "You have to wear this," she said softly and handed him a medical mask.  "So you won't get him sick.  If you wash your hands, I won't make you wear gloves."

He put on the mask and thoroughly washed his hands, then followed her into the leopards' habitat.  She once again signaled him to be quiet, then opened a door that lead to the sleeping area.  There, nestled together in the straw, lay Houdini and Shadow.  Both raised their heads to look at their visitors, but only Houdini rose to inspect them.  He sniffed them carefully, and let Tonya scratch his ears before returning to his mate's side.

Zarbon stayed by the door as Tonya approached the lounging leopards, uncertain if he was to follow.  "How are you today, Shadow?" Tonya asked as she knelt and gently petted the leopard's side.  She didn't take her eyes off the animal before her, or change her tone, but directed her next comment to Zarbon.  "I need you and that stuff over here, luv." 

He joined her and Shadow looked at him again before laying back down.  "Is she sick?" he asked quietly.

Tonya smiled softly and shook her head.  "She's just still adjusting.  Aren't you, honey?" she asked patting a spotted shoulder.  "Can you hand me the blanket, luv?"  Zarbon dug into the bag, pulled it out, and handed it to her.  "I'll let you hold him while I give Shadow a check up," she said.  "Just keep him warm and don't drop him."

"Hold him?" Zarbon asked looking at Houdini who was watching them. 

A loud cry of protest tore his attention from the leopard, and his head cocked in curiosity as he realized the noise was coming from the blanket Tonya was holding.  She murmured soothingly as she adjusted the blanket, then carefully handed it to Zarbon.  He cradled it gently, lifting the blanket to peek at what was inside.  His eyes widened in surprise and he smiled, a look of wonder on his face.  The tiny cub mewled again and he let it suck on his finger for comfort.

"When?"  he asked softly.

"Two days before you got sick," Tonya replied.  "He's name is Saber."

"Saber?  Like that black panther plushie you used to sleep with?" he asked looking at her.  Focused on Shadow, Tonya didn't answer, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.  "Most people named their stuffed animals after live ones they know, not vice versa."

"Hn."  Tonya glanced at him, then wrote something on her clipboard.  "I think it's a perfect name for a black leopard," she said after a moment.  "Though truthfully, I probably would have named him Shadow if that name wasn't already taken."

Zarbon smiled and watched her use a flashlight to peer down Shadow's throat noticing she did not have to hold the cat's jaws open.  "It's amazing that she let's you do that," he said.  "How did you train her to do that?"

Tonya shrugged.  "I don't really remember," she replied putting the flashlight away. 

Shadow nuzzled her hand and butted her head against Tonya like a cub would do to it mother when demanding affection.  She laughed and ruffled the leopard's fur, growling playfully.  Houdini yawned and scratched an ear, then started to wash his fore paws.  Feeling frisky and knowing Tonya wasn't going to wrestling with her while in a lab coat, Shadow suddenly pounced on her mate.  It was obvious to those watching that Houdini wasn't really into the idea, but he played along.

Tonya began to examine the now sleeping cub, checking for any problems or issues that could become problems.  Satisfied he was healthy and happy, she wrapped him back up in the blanket.  Houdini had managed to pin his mate by this time and was washing her throat.  Zarbon moved closer and laid his head on Tonya's shoulder while one arm slipped around her waist.  He reached over with the other hand and gently stroked the cub's soft fur.

"He's very handsome," he said.  "I can see why you'd chose him for your new boyfriend."

"But my heart will always belong to you," she replied giving him a gentle squeeze.

Little Saber woke up, yawned, and then let them all know he was hungry with a loud cry.  Houdini was toppled as Shadow jumped up to come check on her cub.  She sniffed him and gave him a reassuring lick as he squalled again.  Tonya pulled back the blanket so Shadow could take her cub, and Shadow gently picked him up by the scruff of his neck.  Carefully sitting him on the den's bedding, Shadow laid down next to him to allow him to nurse.  After a couple of licks and a nudge in the right direction, she laid her head in Tonya's lap.

"My poor little Shadow," Tonya said softly scratching the leopard's ears.  "Being a mom's tough, isn't it?"  Shadow made a soft noise that sounded like agreement and Tonya chuckled.

"Your Shadow?" Zarbon asked sleepily. 

"Mmmhmm," she answered.  "I told you that I raised her, didn't I?"

"Not that I recall."

"Oh."  Tonya frowned slightly.  "Her mother didn't know how to care for her and the zoo she was at born at didn't really have the staff to take care of her.  Frank went and picked her up, and Charlene gave her to me to raise.  She told me she was my Birthday present."  She smiled softly.  "After she figured out how to work her legs, she tried to follow me everywhere, like a little spotted shadow."

"I see," he mumbled.  Zarbon sighed softly and Tonya smiled as she felt his breathing even out.  Glancing at her watch, she yawned and gave Houdini a smile as he came over to check on his family.  He laid down next to Shadow, sandwiching the cub between them to keep him warm.

As much as she hated to wake either of the two using her as a pillow, Tonya knew she had many more things to do before the Refuge opened to the public.  She waited another five minutes, then gently slid Shadow's head from her lap.  "Zarbon," she said gently shaking his shoulder.  "It's time to go, luv."

He gave a slight groan of protest, but allowed her to pull him to his feet and he followed her back into the other room.  After fumbling with the buttons on the lab coat a moment, he gave up and let Tonya free him.  His sleepy eyes watched her as she bundled him back up and he followed her to the golf cart.  Tonya drove over to the employee bunkhouse and he didn't protest as she tucked him into the bunk she normally claimed for herself, instead falling immediately asleep.  After leaving him a short note and a walkie-talkie, she left to continue her morning chores.

- -- - - -

It was close to ten o'clock before Zarbon decided to get back out of bed.  He stretched and yawned wondering where Tonya was, then spotted her note and the radio.  After reading it twice to make sure he understood, he turned on the walkie-talkie and tuned it to the proper frequency.  Immediately, he could hear the refuge workers talking to each other, but he couldn't follow the conversation.  Feeling a little foolish, he took a deep breath and spoke as clearly as he could into the device.  "Kit-kat, come back."

There was silence for a second, then came the reply.  "Kit-kat here.  Go ahead."

Zarbon just stared at the device in his hand unsure of what he was supposed to say.

"Kit-kat here, go ahead," the walkie-talkie repeated.  The speaker paused, then said.  "Zarbon?  Is that you?"

He hesitated then answered simply, "Yes."

"Be there in a moment.  Just hang on," Tonya said.  Only a minute or so later, she walked through the door, and he greeted her with a big hug.  "I was just coming to check on you," she said returning the hug.  "We've got some doughnuts and juice if you’re hungry.  Then you can watch me and Frank try to round up the piglets for their shots."

"That sounds good."

- -- - - -- -

Zarbon yawned again and closed his eyes as he leaned back in his chair.  He opened them again when he heard the lab's door open and realized he had actually fallen asleep again.  Rubbing his eyes, he stood and looked through the window out into the lab looking for Tonya.  She was nowhere in sight, but it was possible she was standing behind some equipment or something.  There was a knock on the open door and he looked toward the door to the lounge in surprise.

"Glad to see you've rejoined the land of the living," Steve said stepping into the room.

Zarbon smiled and nodded.  "I'm not a hundred percent yet, but I feel a hell of a lot better."

"Good.  We were getting worried," Steve replied.

Zarbon raised an eyebrow and started to ask why when Tonya appeared.  "What is that smell?!?" she asked with a look of disgust on her face.  She spotted Steve and frowned.  "Oh, now I know.  It's you," she accused.

"Here you are.  A fresh sample of sick bison calf crap," Steve handed her the paper sack he'd been carrying.  "Doc said to run a full set of tests."

Tonya peeked into the bag, and wrinkled her nose at the increase in odor.  "Now I know what you've been rolling in before you come to work," she said.

Steve glared at her and she left to go start the tests.  He looked back at Zarbon with a small smile.  "She really likes my new cologne.  She just won't admit it," he informed the other man.

Zarbon just smiled and nodded.  "You mentioned you were worried just before she came in.  Why?" he asked.

Steve just looked at him for a long moment and then shut the door.  "She was spreading herself too thin," he answered.

Zarbon blinked.  "What?"

"I’m sure you’ve noticed the balancing act she does between going to college and working here,” Steve said. 

And crime fighting, Zarbon added mentally.

“Tonya usually adapts well to change, but she was more than a little overwhelmed this time,” Steve continued.  “We think she was feel pretty bad for at least a few days before she “got sick” and Shadow was expecting her cub at any time.  Then, since it’s so cold she’s had to keep a close eye on the cub to make sure it will survive.  On top of that, the new semester had started.”

“And then I got sick,” Zarbon added.

Steve nodded.  “And she had some crazy idea that it was completely her fault,” he said shaking his head.  “That made her feel guilty that she was going to classes and coming to work instead of staying home with you.”  Steve glanced behind him.  “It was rather painful to watch as she became more and more stressed out."

Zarbon looked through window at Tonya whose full attention was on running the tests.  "I had no idea," he said softly.  "She didn't act like that when she was around me."

"You can only tell when you catch her unaware while she's alone.  She's very good at hiding it," Steve agreed.  "We didn't realize how serious it was until she..." he paused and looked at Tonya in the laboratory with a slight frown.

Zarbon looked at him in concern.  "Until what?" he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.

Steve looked at him again.  "Understand that I'm only telling you this because you're her beau," he said quietly and Zarbon nodded.  "A couple of the young idiots we call volunteers had tried to drive one of the golf carts across the lake over on the east side of the park.  It broke through the ice near the shore and got stuck in the mud, but the kids escaped unhurt."  Steve paused to check what Tonya was doing before he continue.  "Tonya and I got stuck with the chore of dragging the silly thing out of the pond, so we drove one of the trucks over to do just that.  We hooked a cable to the golf cart, hooked the other end to the truck, and then I got in the truck to do the pulling.  It started off well, but then..." 

Steve shuddered as he remembered.  "She screamed.  I don't know what she said, she screamed.  It was frightening to hear.  I took my foot off the gas and glanced in the mirror, then ducked."  He met Zarbon's eyes.  "The cable had snapped.  It whipped back and slammed into the passenger side of the truck even as the truck jumped forward.  I jammed my foot down on the brake and put the truck in park, then lay there trembling and in shock.  Then I remember Tonya had been standing on that side of the truck.  I jumped out and ran around to that to the side.  I saw her laying there in the snow and I think my heart stopped for a moment."

Steve turned his gaze to Tonya, watching her as she worked.  He was silent so long, Zarbon began to wonder if he was done with his story.  "I just stared at her for a moment, almost positive she was dead.  I slowly walked over to her and realized she was sobbing softly.  I started to pick her up and she just kind of latched on to me.  She wasn't hurt, but apparently the snapping cable was the last straw.  I couldn't understand half of what she said, but it become clear she thought you were dying and it was all her fault."  Steve paused again.  "Once she managed to calm down, I called Charlene and she helped her get cleaned up and sent her home with orders not to come back until you were well."   

Zarbon looked down, then at Tonya.  "Thanks for looking out for her, Steve," he said.

"That's what big brother's are for," Steve replied softly.  "Just don't tell her I told you."

By this point, Tonya had realized she was being watched and turned to look at the lounge window.  Both men had this sad, sympathetic look on their faces and she raised an eyebrow at them.  Steve waved and said something to Zarbon then left and Zarbon smiled at her.

- - - - - - - - - - 

Zarbon waited a few moments after he heard the shower stop, then knocked on the bathroom door.  "May I come in, Luv?" he asked. 

"Uh, okay." 

He opened the door and smiled shyly as he met her gaze.  All she was wearing was a large, fluffy purple towel, but she didn't seem to be bothered by his presence or her state of undress.  She cocked her head and looked at him curiously as he shut the door behind him.     

"Something wrong?" she asked.

He just shook his head and leaned against the door watching her.  Tonya shrugged, and then continued her nightly routine, casting the occasional glance his way.  She had just started to brush her teeth when he moved to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her, and resting his chin on her shoulder.  He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.  He sighed softly, and she tilted her head towards him. 

"I'm sorry."

Tonya paused and meet his gaze in the mirror, her eyes clearly saying, "What?"

"I'm sorry," he repeated.  "For doubting your faithfulness. For putting you through this whole ordeal."

She inelegantly spit into the sink and rinsed her toothbrush.  "It's not your fault you got sick," she pointed out.  "If anything it's mine." 

"Thank you for taking care of me," he murmured.  "You didn't have to."

"You were too sick to take care of yourself," she replied. 

"Why do you put up with me?" he asked softly.  "I've caused you so much trouble..."

She twisted in his arms to face him and covered his mouth with her hand.  He looked surprised and she smiled slightly.  "I put up with you because I love you, and I honestly can't imagine my life without you," she confessed.  "You told me that we're married according to you laws, and I know that some women on your planet discard their men like I would discard an apple core.  But that's not how things work on this planet.  Do you remember the vows at Jessica's wedding?" she asked moving her hand.

He blinked, then blushed.  "Vaguely," he admitted.  "The ceremony was so long that my attention had started wandering."

“And it had nothing to do with the dress I was wearing,” she added teasingly.

The blush on his cheeks darkened, but he didn’t reply.

She laughed and leaned back against the counter, pulling him with her.  "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" she asked looking deep into his eyes as she put her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer.  "To have and to hold?  To love, honor, and cherish?  For richer or for poorer?  For better or for worse?  In sickness and in health?  And forsaking all others, keep only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

Zarbon felt his breath catch in his throat and she could feel him tremble while he waited for her answer.  His eyes searched hers and she smiled.

"I do."