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Tina gets home early that afternoon, clicking the door shut softly. The house is quiet but she wasn’t really expecting otherwise. Haphazardly, she dumps her bag and jacket on the couch and heads up to Quinn’s and her room.
Quinn is curled up on their bed on top of the covers, her position not much different from when Tina left her this morning. Tina closes the door slowly, even though she can hear by Quinn’s breathing that she’s awake.
“How are you feeling?” she asks, kneeling in front of Quinn and brushing her face slightly. Quinn grabs her wrist weakly and places it against her cheek. Tina almost winces at the heat of Quinn’s skin but she still brings up her other hand to feel her forehead.
“Like shit,” Quinn answers hoarsely, eyes fluttering shut. She’d gotten a fever a few days ago, and they’d hoped it would be gone by today, but it seems just as bad. Combined with the unavoidable full moon in just a few hours… Tina’s worried.
Tina presses her lips to Quinn’s alarmingly hot forehead. She tries to remind herself that Quinn naturally runs hot as a werewolf, and she has a fever, and that Tina’s own skin is unnaturally cold as a result of her supernatural side.
It doesn’t help. Quinn’s natural body temperature is something Tina is so attuned to, so used to having near her, at her side, pressed against her. Even a slight difference is something she can recognize….
“What do you need, love?” Tina whispers. She realizes there’s not much they can do for the supernatural side of Quinn’s pain right now, only wait for the full moon to come and go. Tomorrow, they’ll go to their doctor - who knows about both of their conditions and won’t freak out at seeing Quinn’s abnormally high temperature - for the fever.
“Just you,” Quinn breathes.
Tina kisses her forehead again, saying, “Scoot over.” She climbs onto the bed from the other side, behind Quinn, and lays down against her. Tina wraps her arms around Quinn from behind, presses their legs together, nuzzles her face against the back of Quinn’s neck, making sure she can feel Quinn’s warmth firmly against her body. As much contact as possible to help cool her down a little.
“I’m scared,” Quinn whispers brokenly after a moment. She rolls over to face Tina, head tucked under Tina’s chin and tears catching on Tina’s shirt, rolling down her face to the pillowcase.
Tina’s heart aches to see Quinn like this. Usually, the full moon brings some level of pain as Quinn’s body prepares to change, but she’s still happy. Quinn loves that side of herself, and Tina can always see it when she fully transforms.
“I’ve never been this scared for a change since my first few,” Quinn continues. “I feel like I don’t know what to expect.”
Tina runs her fingers through Quinn’s hair, thinking.
“Remember when you helped me hunt for the first time?” she murmurs. Quinn nods, and Tina sees the corner of her mouth quirk in a small smile.
“I was terrified,” she continues softly. “I was terrified of the fact that I was - this thing - ”
Quinn interrupts, “Not a thing.”
Tina laughs quietly. “I know. But that’s what I felt. I was so, so fucking scared of this new part of me and how to deal with it. You are the one who helped me do that for the first time. You held my hand and led me to accepting this part of me and what I needed to do to take care of it. You still do that.” She pauses to recollect her thoughts. “Anyway, my point is… I know it’s not at all the same as what you’re going through right now. But I’ll be there in every way I can, just like you were.”
Quinn looks at her, eyes shining with tears.
“Okay?” Tina says. “Forever. I will be there. You are the strongest person I know. I don’t know what to expect either, but I know you will get through it, and you’ll get through it with me right beside you.”
Quinn exhales shakily and moves her head forward to kiss Tina. They lay in silence for another moment, and Quinn smiles slightly and says, “Not a person.”
Tina smiles. “The strongest werewolf. Literally the strongest anything. Fill in the blank.”
Quinn laces their fingers together and looks at Tina again. “I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you,” Tina says. “You’ll be okay.”
Quinn nods, still teary-eyed, but more confident-looking than before.
Tina squeezes her hand. “Do you want to eat anything before?”
“No.” Quinn shakes her head slightly. “I probably won’t be able to keep it down, anyway. Just want to stay here with you.”
Tina folds Quinn into her arms again, the heat warming her perpetually cold skin. “As long as you need, love.”