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Kate shut off the water, replacing the soothing sound with silence. The warmth seemingly dissipating on an instant, a cold chill settling in the bathroom and leaving her with goosebumps.
She let out a soft sigh, hoping the shower would wash away the sluggish, groggy, and all around out of it feeling she'd woken up with. She just needed to push herself, she'd be okay.
Kate wrapped herself in the soft robe that hung from one of the bathroom hooks, stepping out of the shower and in front of the mirror, wiping away the steam that interfered with its sole purpose, so she could actually see her own reflection.
Examining herself, Kate didn't think she looked off. That's to say Kate didn't look like she felt. Her skin a soft pink from the hot water of her shower, but other than that she looked right as rain. Even though she felt decently far off.
"You don't feel warm," Lucy had the back of her hand pressed to kates forehead as a make shift thermometer. Relative temperature theory... or something like that.
She lowered her hand giving Kate's arm a squeeze, "that's a good thing." Lucy tried to sound resounded in reassurance. But ultimately she was a concerned girlfriend above everything else. It could be a paper cut and Lucy just might worry and nag Kate to death.
And Kate, for her part, former straight a student, that mindset didn't just go away. Kate was such a perfectionist. So hard on herself. Lucy couldn't be sure her girlfriend would drag herself home even if she were feverish and hopped up on cold medicine. And now that Lucy was thinking about it she'd have to bring some back for Kate, or maybe ask one of the guys to, since it seemed her girlfriend was adamant about working.
Kate pulled away from Lucy's touch, burying herself into the crook of her blazer. She seemed almost embarrassed by her own sneeze. The small sound that escaped.
"Bless you," Lucy said with the most earnest sympathy. "You know you don't have to work yourself to death Kate... Tennant will understand." she consoled, rubbing right between Kate's shoulder blades, muscles tense and tight.
"Lucy I'm fine" Kate sighed, trying her best to sniffle discreetly.
Lucy gave Kate an eyebrow raise, not one built out of anger or annoyance that she was clearly withholding the truth, more so one to say that she was there for her.
"I will be fine," Kate corrected, giving Lucy something reminiscent of a smile.
Lucy hummed, kissing her shoulder before Handing Kate the cup of tea, she wasn't going to let her step off base without something to try and make her feel better.
Kate dragged herself all the way down, albeit to do her job as FBI liaison, but two birds.
"This will help." Lucy urged.
"Thank you, you're the best," Kate smiled, enjoying the more than subtle warmth that came from the mug. And if all it took was a mug of tea to get that reaction Lucy knew Kate was definitely not feeling herself.
Maybe it was because Lucy had become astute in a lot of things Kate Whistler?
"Lucy. Kate is a big girl," Jane said, settling a bit at the front of her desk with her arms crossed. "I know you..." she paused before settling on, "care about her...." Just about anyone with eyes could see that Lucy loves Kate, and vice versa, but Jane knew it wasn't her place to say.
Jane continued, "Let's focus on finishing the assignment so we can get you back to Kate in one piece. Yea?"
"Kate?" Lucy questioned as she entered their apartment. Several hours filled the space between the last time they saw each other in person. Of course Lucy let some of her concern transform into the occasional check in text message. But it still managed to feel like an eternity.
Which was a sprig of the dramatics for someone who spent months away as an agent afloat.
Lucy set her backpack down on the floor. The hallway light was on, but other than that the place was cast in darkness, the half moon shining only so bright through the partially open drapes.
Lucy bit her lip, biting back a small exclamation of adoration that begged to break the silence; on the couch Kate slept soundless. Almost soundless.
"Hey love," Lucy greeted, sitting on the arm rest and running her fingers through Kate's hair. There was a touch of feverish clamminess.
"You're home early?" Kate rasped. Lucy unsure if it was raw from. Sleep or a sore throat.
"No. No, it's actually quite late," Lucy laughed, looking at her watch, combing back strands of loose hair that tickled her own face. "You really aren't feelin' well huh?"
"I can sleep on the couch," Kate insisted. Which was absolute blasphemy.
"Hey!" Lucy gave Kate a look, "I'm not going to have my sick girlfriend sleepin' on the couch in her own apartment."
"Lucy" kates voice was grating, sending her into a rough string of coughs. Whatever argument she had being put to rest.
"Hush now," she hated seeing Kate like this. Wanting to dote on her but not wanting to smother her. "I'll make some tea, honey and lemon... and we'll order in, you gotta eat something and I think my stomach is eating itself."
"How'd the rest of the case go?" Kate asked following behind Lucy. Still a but groggy but wanting to be close to her now that they were home, together.
"It went great," she spoke while filling the kettle, "our amazing and talented FBI liaison helped us build a solid case," Lucy looked over her shoulder with a smile, "even though she should've been home. In bed."
"I was just doing my job," Kate shrugged nonchalant, nibbling at her lip.
"So modest." Lucy meant every praise she said. It wasn't just meant to make her miserable girlfriend feel better. She knew how hard Kate was on herself and how much she put into her work.
There was a beat of silence, "I'm sorry." Kate finally said.
Lucy looked perplexed, "for helping solve the case?"
Kate scoffed, "no, for making you worry."
"Of course I'm going to worry about my sick girlfriend, even if she is a badass that can handle herself... I think it's in the manual or something."
"You know what I meant, for not staying in bed and for not calling off."
Lucy hummed affectionate, "all that matters is you're home now, and there's no way I'm letting you out of this apartment."