Tina set her briefcase down as soon as she opened the front door. She then walked quietly into their bedroom, in case Bette was sleeping. Bette turned to look at her as soon as she walked in, but reached a tissue up to her nose and made a great show of blowing it just as Tina approached the bed. Her eyes were watery and red. The garbage can beside the bed overflowed with used tissues, and the floor was littered with those that missed the mark.

"Not feeling any better?" Tina asked.

"I feel like absolute shit," Bette said. She rubbed at her eyes simultaneously with the pads of both index fingers.

"What hurts?"

"Everything."

Tina reached forward and placed the palm of her hand on Bette's forehead to see if she was running a fever. Oh how the mighty do fall.

"Your hand feels nice and cool," Bette said as she closed her eyes, appreciating the attention.

"You are a bit warm," Tina observed, her eyebrows knit with concern. "Have you been drinking plenty of clear fluids over the course of the day?"

"I was too tired to get up," Bette's voice was meek as she admitted not having followed Tina's explicit instruction, delivered only that morning before she left for work.

Tina stood upright again.

"Well, I'm here to take care of you now," she said authoritatively. She picked up Bette's mug from the bedside stand before leaving the room.

She returned within 10 minutes, carrying a tray on which three items rested. The mug was now full of steaming hot lemonade mixed with the slightest trace of honey. A tall glass of water had beads of condensation running down its side. A pristine white washcloth, dampened and folded, rested between the two beverages. Tina placed the cool cloth on Bette's forehead after setting the tray down.

"Don't drink that until it has cooled off. Start with the water," Tina advised, pointing to the remaining items on the tray. "I'm going to get changed out of my work clothes. I'll be right back."

She brushed the backs of her fingers over Bette's cheek, and with her thumb, gently wiped some of the moisture from underneath her right eye.

"Aren't you worried you're going to get whatever I have?" Bette asked, somewhat reticent to voice her concern for fear that Tina might become more cautious in touching her. What she really needed right now was to be touched. To be reminded that she was cared for.

"No babe," Tina smiled. "I'm not worried, because if I haven't already got it, chances are, I'll be fine. We just have to concentrate on getting you healthy." She rested her hand on Bette's sternum briefly before standing.

"Tee"

"Yeah babe?"

"Thanks for taking care of me," Bette said. "I feel better just having you home."

Tina took Bette's hand and squeezed it gently before letting it rest back down on the bed. She then entered their walk-in closet and quickly changed into something more casual. She had noted the slight whine in Bette's voice, but thought better of pointing it out to her. She was, after all, sick, and therefore could be expected to act in a fashion that might garner a bit more attention.

Tina exited the closet and walked back over to the bed.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Tina asked.

Bette paused for a moment, and then spoke as if an epiphany had struck.

"I might feel better if I got a foot rub," she suggested.

Tina smiled.

"You've been thinking of a way to ask for a foot rub all day haven't you?"

Bette had the appearance of a deer caught in the headlights. Busted.

"Maybe," Bette admitted, crawling deeper under the covers.

"It's okay babe, I'll get some of your favourite lotion, and give you a nice long foot massage," Tina said. "Whatever you think is going to help."

"I know it will make me feel better," Bette said, nodding as if to affirm her assertion of the healing powers of touch.

Tina retrieved some lotion from the bathroom and returned to flip the covers back from the bottom of the bed.

"Could you just uncover one foot at a time?" Bette asked. "The other one might get cold."

'I think I might be getting some insight into what having a sick child might be like,' Tina thought to herself.

"Of course, babe," she responded to Bette's request in the only way she could under the circumstances.

She covered up one foot before she sat to start working on the other. Tina squeezed a scant amount of lotion into the palm of her hand, and firmly massaged it into Bette's foot, taking special care not to caress too gently, to avoid the possibility of tickling her. It was a fine line. Too firm and she risked hurting her. Too light and she risked startling her. Too much lotion would leave her feeling cold. Too little lotion and the friction would create discomfort.

"That feels so good," Bette said. "You can go a little deeper though."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," she replied.

Tina's thumbs were starting to tire from the pressure she was placing on them. She covered up the one foot and started on the other. Bette thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Tina finished up and wiped the excess lotion from Bette's feet as well as her own hands before getting up.

"What can I make you for dinner?" Tina asked.

"I don't want you to go to any trouble," Bette replied. "But I'd really love some chicken soupwith the matzah balls in it?"

"Coming right up," Tina said. "Drink your lemonade now so the soup doesn't taste odd when you have it." She turned to go to the kitchen to start on dinner.

"Are you leaving?"

"Just to make dinner babe," Tina replied.

"Could you sit with me for a few minutes and run your fingers through my hair while I try to fall asleep?" Bette asked quietly.

"That would help you relax, wouldn't it?"

Bette's eyes were wide as she simply nodded in response.

Tina sat down beside Bette and covered her with the down duvet to just under her chin.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes, thanks," Bette replied.

Tina took the cloth from Bette's forehead and set it on the tray.

"You feel cooler," she said.

"Maybe my fever broke," Bette said.

"You don't look quite so flushed."

"I told you the foot rub would help," Bette said seriously.