Chapter Text
Jamie jumped in surprise. She realised what had woken her up from her unexpected slumber was that she felt a hand tapping her on the shoulder. Instantly, she was in protective mode, her arm gripping Dani tighter.
“Relax,” Hannah soothed. “It’s only me.”
“H’nnah. Blimey. Did I... fall asleep?”
Hannah chuckled. “You did. Good nap?”
“No, I- shit. I wasn’t meant to fall asleep. Dani needs to be awake.”
Jamie looked down at Dani, who was dozing next to her. She nudged her gently.
“Dani? I’m so sorry, darlin’, I fell asleep. Are you awake?”
Dani moaned softly. “Mm? Yeah, m’awake.”
Jamie sighed in relief. “Just checking.”
“You told me not to sleep,” Dani muttered, nuzzling into Jamie’s shoulder and moaning again, this time in discomfort.
Jamie put her hand on Dani’s neck in concern- she was still running a fever. Then she looked up at Hannah, who was trying to hide a smile.
“What is it?” she asked, confused, and a little embarrassed.
“Just letting you know the doctor is here.” She leaned past Jamie to look at Dani, who was looking up at them, slightly dazed. “Hello, Dani love. How are you feeling?”
Dani blinked slowly, moving so she could look at Hannah. “Hannah- I’m sorry I couldn’t look after the kids.”
Hannah’s face fell. “Dani- oh darling, don’t be worrying about that right now.”
Dani nodded slowly. "Okay. Sorry."
“Are you feeling any better?” Jamie asked, worried. Dani paused before she answered.
“Not… really. You’re comfy, though.”
“I shoulda’ stayed awake,” Jamie muttered, and Dani sighed softly.
“No. You’re comfy.”
Hannah laughed, then.
“Alright, well, shall we give Dani some privacy while she gets checked by the doctor? I’ve told him everything that happened.”
Jamie nodded slowly. She would much rather stay here with Dani, but she didn’t want to make Dani uncomfortable, especially since she was already embarrassed, given everything.
She moved to stand up, but then Dani was clinging to her, looking up at her with fearful, glassy eyes.
“Where- where are you…?”
“I’m just going to give you some space,” Jamie told her reluctantly, “while the doctor sees you.”
“N-no, please stay,” Dani begged. “I need you.”
Jamie felt herself blush slightly, glancing at Hannah, who suddenly seemed very busy adjusting the curtains.
“Okay,” she whispered, swallowing. “I’ll stay here.”
Dani sighed happily, and Jamie looked up at Hannah, who gave her a friendly nod. The look in her eye was very knowing, and Jamie felt very seen.
“I’ll go get the doctor," Hannah said simply. "He’s waiting outside.”
“Alright,” Jamie replied, grateful. Hannah just smiled.
***
“It looks like she’s got a bad fever. Delirious.”
The doctor came out with blunt sentences as he examined Dani, who was sat on the edge of the bed and looking very small and vulnerable. Jamie was stood next to her with her arms crossed, watching the doctor like a hawk.
“She hit her head,” Jamie told him. “When she fainted.”
“There are signs of concussion,” the doctor continued. “She’ll need paracetamol. That’ll help with the fever as well.”
“I could have told you that myself,” Jamie said under her breath, but if the doctor heard her, he chose to ignore it.
Jamie watched as he looked into Dani’s mouth and, finally, her eyes. Jamie felt on edge, like he would somehow hurt Dani. But no, this was a doctor. She needed to calm down.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor stood and looked at Jamie, adjusting his tie.
“She needs rest,” he told her. “Regular fluids, food, and sleep.”
“So she can sleep now? Even with the concussion?”
The doctor nodded. “Just wake her up every few hours.”
Jamie nodded to herself. She’d make sure Dani got sleep.
“Any medicine?” Jamie asked, regretting how rude she sounded. The doctor nodded.
“I’ll give you some flu medicine.” Then he looked down at Dani, who was staring past him and at the wall. He looked back up at Jamie. “Keep an eye on her- if her symptoms get worse, she should go to a hospital.”
“A hospital… that’s miles from Bly,” Jamie shot back, an edge to her voice. “Do you think it will get worse?”
“I like to think not,” the doctor replied. “But if you see her symptoms worsen, I’d take her there.”
Jamie looked down at Dani, who seemed miles away. Then she looked back at the doctor.
“How come she’s so bad, when the kids bounced back so quickly?”
The doctor shrugged. “Children are resilient. Adults can be hit much harder.”
Jamie had to hold back a snort. If only he knew how strong Dani was.
***
The doctor left, and Jamie could hear him outside the door talking to Hannah, but she was too focused on Dani. She crouched in front of her, cupping her face, and finally, Dani looked at her.
She still had that glassy look in her eye, like she wasn’t quite there.
After a second, she shuddered violently and, like clockwork, Jamie grabbed the sick bucket. She put it in front of Dani. Dani didn’t throw up, just gagged pitifully, before groaning. She looked up at Jamie, who looked at her questioningly, and Dani shook her head. She wasn't going to be sick.
Jamie put the bucket down and looked at her, analysing her face.
“Hiya Poppins,” Jamie murmured gently. “Are you with me?”
Dani smiled slightly. “Hi Jamie.”
Jamie sighed in relief, before handing Dani her water. Dani drank deeply. “You’re going through it today, aren’t you?”
Dani chuckled. “I’ve always been susceptible to colds.” She laughed drily. “You should have seen the way Eddie would run away from me.”
Jamie didn’t know if Eddie would actually run away, or if that was the fever talking. Regardless, she leaned over and kissed Dani softly on the lips. Dani responded eagerly, kissing her with a sense of desperation. Jamie put her hands in Dani’s hair, pulling her closer.
When they finally pulled apart, Jamie looked at Dani.
“Poppins. I’m never going to run away. You hear me?”
Dani smiled widely. “I hear you, Jamie.”
“Alright. Now, are you gonna sleep?”
Dani nodded tiredly, and Jamie smiled inwardly. She helped Dani get back under the covers, then watched her as she drank the rest of her water.
“I’m gonna fill this up,” she told her. “Don’t get out of bed, alright?”
Dani chuckled. “I won’t. I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll be back.”
In the hallway, she was relieved to see Hannah walking back down the corridor with a jug of water and some sandwiches.
“Oh Hannah,” Jamie said to her. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Hannah grinned. “I know the drill.”
Jamie smiled appreciatively, accepting the water. “Thanks.”
Hannah hesitated. “Are you going to stay in with her? You don’t want a break?”
Jamie shook her head. “I think I’m here for the long run, now. That okay?”
Hannah laughed. “Of course.”
“Thanks, Hannah.”
“No problem, dear.”
Jamie returned to the bedroom. Dani looked at her, surprised.
“That was fast!”
“Hannah brought it.”
Dani blushed. “Oh god. I feel really bad.”
“Why?” Jamie asked. “We’ve been over this, Poppins. Let us help you.”
Dani nodded. “Sorry. Yeah.”
“And no saying sorry.”
“Sorry.”
Jamie laughed, before getting in the bed beside her. She loved how Dani nestled into her, and Jamie pulled her close.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Not right now, thank you."
"Alright. Let me know if you do."
There was a short silence.
“Don’t you need a break?” Dani asked quietly.
“You’re the second person to ask me that,” Jamie told her. “I’m here with you, Poppins. No questions asked.”
Dani mumbled something, but Jamie couldn’t hear what she said. She looked down to see Dani already asleep, and smiled.
***
Jamie was woken by violent movement beside her. She looked down, in a panic, to see Dani thrashing around, still in the grips of sleep. Sweat was pouring down her face, and Jamie felt her heart break just looking at her. She shook her shoulder gently.
“Poppins. Hey, hey, it's alright. Hey- Dani. Dani!”
Dani’s eyes shot open, and she instantly burst into tears. Jamie responded by pulling her in and squeezing her tightly.
“Hey, now. Shh.”
“I’m- I’m sorry!”
“No! No saying sorry, remember?”
Dani made a sound that Jamie couldn’t tell if it was a laugh or a sob, so she squeezed her tightly. When Dani finally pulled back, Jamie felt her forehead, then looked at her with a smile.
“Your fever’s going down. That’s great!”
Dani just sniffed, and Jamie sighed softly.
“Hey, baby, come on now.” She wiped Dani’s tears away gently, before giving her some water and more paracetamol. “Did you have a nightmare?”
Dani nodded. “I… It was Eddie. He left me alone, but… all I wanted was you. I was by- by myself…”
Jamie nodded slowly, before making a sympathetic noise and squeezing Dani’s hand.
“I’m here,” she whispered. Dani nodded.
“I know. You’re nothing like him.”
Jamie wouldn’t lie to herself- she hadn’t spoken to Dani about Eddie this much in one day. It felt strange. But, Dani seemed comfortable talking about it, and she would be damned if she made Dani repress her feelings. She had enough of that in her own life.
“I think I’m okay now,” Dani whispered when Jamie took the water away. “I do feel a bit better.” Then she smiled. “It must be because you’re here.”
Jamie felt her heart leap around her chest. She honestly felt like she was a schoolgirl with a crush.
“Well,” she said slowly. “I’m glad to hear that, Poppins.”
“I’m serious,” Dani told her. “I…” She swallowed. “Jamie. I love you.”
Jamie blinked at her, and Dani rushed to continue. “That isn’t the fever talking. I really am starting to feel better, and I think it’s because you’re here with me. I- Jamie, you’ve done so much for me, and I… I love you.” She swallowed. “Is that okay?”
Jamie’s face split into a grin. “Dani Clayton. I love you too.”
Dani sighed in relief, and leaned in to give Jamie a kiss. Jamie responded eagerly, and the two of them felt like they were in their own little world. When Dani pulled back, Jamie studied her face.
“You actually do look better.”
Dani grinned a cheeky grin. “It’s because of you! You and your magic lips.”
Jamie snorted. “You must be feeling better. You’re adorable, Poppins.”
“I’m serious!”
“So am I!”
The two giggled softly. Then Jamie pulled her in for a hug, and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m glad to see you on the mend.”
“It’s all because of you,” Dani repeated. “Thank you, Jamie.”
Jamie wanted to reply with “No, thank YOU,” but instead she just kissed Dani on the lips again.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
Dani considered. "Yes please."
Jamie handed her one of Hannah's sandwiches, before eating one herself. She noted that there was both cheese and jam sandwiches there- Dani's and Jamie's favourites. She reminded herself to buy Hannah a well deserved bottle of wine.
When Dani was finished eating, Jamie instructed her to lie back down.
“Not too much excitement now,” Jamie told her sternly. “I know we’re in love and that, but that doesn’t mean we can go crazy.”
Dani sighed happily. “It doesn’t?”
“Not yet, anyway.”
"But we can?"
"When you're better, of course we can. As crazy as you want."
"Oh, good."
The two of them lay there, and Dani’s hand found Jamie’s.
“I really do love you,” Dani whispered. "I love you so much, Jamie."
“Aw, Poppins. I love you too.”