“I don’t need you to fix things.”
“That is clearly wrong, since there’s something wrong with you right now and you’re not doing anything about it.”
“I can’t, because you’ve got me locked away. Let me out and then I’ll go deal with this.”
“How?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Uh-uh, you just want me to reveal what’s wrong. Promise that you’re going to let me go and I’ll tell you.”
“No deal. Tell me what is wrong with you and I’ll consider whether I need to let you go.”
“Urgh, how has no one smothered you in your sleep?”
“I wouldn’t allow anyone close enough to smother me in my sleep.”
She sighed and reached up to rub at her temples. Her head was pounding and despite the fact she’d spent most of the last few days in bed, she was exhausted.
“You need to eat. And bathe. You smell terrible.”
“Thanks,” she said dryly. “Any other comments? Maybe about the way I look? The fact I haven’t shaved any of my body in a week?”
“I wasn’t sure if that was a normal thing for you or not.” He shrugged. “And you would look better if you weren’t pale, drawn, and slightly sweaty. That must be from the fever. I take it you don’t have a sweating problem?”
“No, I don’t have a sweating problem,” she countered.
Patience. She desperately needed some. Or maybe a tranquilizer gun. Yeah, that might work. She’d need one that they used on elephants due to his sheer size, though.
“You’re hard on a person’s ego, you know.”
“I am?” He appeared startled.
She shuffled over to the side of the bed.
“You appear to be moving more freely. How are your ribs?”
“Fine.”
Everything was fine in comparison to the pain in her mouth and head.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“I gotta pee. That okay with you?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” She stood and swayed for a moment as all the blood rushed from her head. Urgh. Nausea bubbled in her stomach.
She was so sick of feeling weak and ill.
Where was that tough bitch now?
Come on, buttercup. You can do this.
“Do you need some help?” he called out.
“No!” she yelled back.
Sheesh, the guy helps you to pee one time, and he thinks you’re incapable of peeing on your own.
* * *