Chapter 87

Cilla stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked up. This was going to take a few minutes. Jon had brought her to her place to pick up her things and to talk to Sid before heading over to his place and, looking at the mountain she had to climb to get to her door, she had no doubt she would be doing nothing but lying on his couch for the rest of the day.

She had barely taken the first step and Jon was right behind her.

“Take it slow.”

“I am.” She turned and kissed his cheek. “Don’t hover.”

He stood back and let her get about halfway before starting up after her. “How’re you doing?”

She looked down at him. “I’m fine.”

By the time Jon unlocked her door and they made it to her room she was ready for a nap. She sat on the edge of her bed. “I need a minute.”

He went to the closet and pulled out her bag, “just tell me where things are and I can pack for you.”

She shook her head. She could do this. “I can pack my own bag. Just give me a minute to catch my breath.”

He sat down next to her, “you just had major surgery Sweets. You’re supposed to be resting, so sit here and rest and let me take care of this for you.”

She sat and told him where things were and what she wanted to bring. Every time she tried to get up to help he scowled at her and made her stay seated. “Can I at least get up and go to the bathroom?” she asked petulantly.

He looked up from the drawer he had just pushed shut. “Yes you can.”

When she tried to move by him he stopped her. “I’m not trying to be a pain in the ass.” Concern colored his voice. “I just don’t want you to over do.”

“How can I over do when you won’t let me do anything to begin with?” She was feeling more irritable by the minute. She wasn’t used to having someone do things for her. She wasn’t sure she liked it very much.

“I let you climb the stairs, didn’t I? I could have carried you up.”

She started to turn away and then stopped and looked back at him. “If this is how you’re going to be for the next month, you can go to the Hamptons by yourself. I’m pretty set in my ways Jon. I don’t like having people telling me what I can and can’t do.”

He set the clothes in his hand down on the dresser. Didn’t she get it? Didn’t she understand? She wasn’t superwoman. She needed to take it easy and get her strength back so she could kick this disease in the ass. He was only trying to make sure that she took care of herself. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to realize that you have limitations right now. You can’t just jump right back in to everything. The doctor said four weeks at the least until you’re fully healed. You need to remember that.”

She stalked to the bathroom. “I know what she said and I won’t over do, but you have to trust me that I know when that point comes. You can’t know how I’m feeling.” She paused, “unless you’ve suddenly developed some sort of sixth sense about me or something.”

He could see on her face and read in her eyes exactly how she was feeling. Right now she was tired and irritated. He wouldn’t press this right now; he didn't want to fight with her. “All right. I’m going to go down and see Sid. Will you be all right for a few minutes?”

She closed the bathroom door in answer. Hearing the outer door shut she glanced in the mirror and winced. No wonder he was on her to sit and rest. She looked like shit. Leaning on the sink she dropped her head forward. She’d have to apologize to him when he came back. She shouldn’t have crabbed at him like that. He was just trying to help her.

Looking around she gathered a few toiletries she would need and stared longingly at the shower. She should wait for Jon to come back. She started to walk back toward the bed and changed her mind. She wanted a shower. She hadn’t been able to wash her hair or herself properly in four days. Stripping off her clothes she headed back and turned the water on. She was sure she could manage a quick shower by herself.

Jon and Sid chatted easily as they climbed the stairs. Sid could sympathize with Jon. Cilla was not an easy patient. He could recall many a day when he would have to just about sit on her to get her to realize that while she said she was fine, she obviously wasn’t. She didn’t like to be catered to, and asking for help, she’d rather cut out her tongue with a dull, rusty knife. She was the original do it herself girl. Even a bout of pneumonia the year before hadn’t kept her down for more than a day.

Jon stared at Sid as they stood in front of her door. “So, you’re telling me I’m going to have to tie her to the couch to get her to rest and recuperate?”

Sid nodded, “she’s a stubborn one our Cil. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I ever did. You can kiss her into submission; that never worked for me.”

Jon laughed and opened the door. “I’ll have to try that.” They heard the water running. Jon shook his head, “Is that the shower?”

Sid nodded, “yep. I told you she was stubborn.”

They crossed the room and Sid sat on the couch while Jon tried the bathroom door. Finding it unlocked he stepped into the steamy room. “Sweets?”

She was sitting on the edge of the tub, her energy sapped. Once she got in the shower she’d barely been able to get her hair washed before she nearly fell. Hot tears of frustration blurred her vision and she heard Jon call out to her. “Jonny?”

He barely heard the whisper of his name over the roar of the shower. Peeking around the curtain he found her resting against the edge of the tub. “Don’t move.” He stripped off his clothes and stepped into the tub. “What did you think you were doing?” he asked, keeping his voice even and low as he found her puff and worked up a lather with her soap.

She watched his face as he ran the soap over her. “I needed a shower. I thought I could manage.” A tear fell down her cheek. She hated feeling so helpless. “I’m sorry.”

He dropped the soapy puff and crouched in front of her, wiping away her tears with his fingertips. God he hated to see her like this. “It’s okay.”

She rested her forehead against his, “I’m a terrible patient. I’m sorry I was so bitchy before.”

He kissed her lightly. Compromise he thought, find some middle ground. “I’ll try to be a little less strict if you promise not to push too hard for the next few weeks.”

“Okay” she agreed. “I’ll try.”

Smiling, Jon took her hands and stood, “think you can stand up? We need to get the soap rinsed off.”

When Jon turned to shut the water off she stroked her hands down his strong, smooth back, wrapping her arms around him from behind, her hands splayed over his stomach. Pressing a kiss to middle of his back she rested her cheek against him.

Her soft touch had his blood heating. He tried to tamp it down, but her breath, her lips against his skin felt too good. Swallowing a groan, he craned his head around, “you okay?”

She nodded her head, “here we are in the shower again and I still didn’t get to wash your back.”

Covering her hands with his he turned to face her, “when you’re healed baby.” They couldn’t get into this now. It was too soon.