For a militarily inclined, magical organization, Del thought as she hunkered down in her blankets, the Negaverse seemed to react just the same as Corporate America when it came to illness. She had not been lying when she’d literally called out of a planned patrol on the grounds that she was ******** sick. She’d gotten messages and had at least one discreet check-in from her higher ups. And, had her skull not felt like a rotting melon, she might have found the General’s reaction to her bruised and swollen hand (dismissed casually as an encounter with a knight - not even a lie!) and her puffy, bleary eyes and thickly congested voice incredibly funny. As it stood, she was simply grateful for how quickly her superior had backed off and told her to rest and feel better. And, because an officer had seen her, in her home and quite obviously ill, not doing anything remotely traitorous, her ill-timed cold had just saved her a great deal of trouble. She’d have a few days to rest and think and heal where she wouldn’t be expected to power up.

Doubtless, someone would still be keeping an eye on her, but all they’d see would be the grocery delivery boy and maybe the pharmacy delivery. No one would think anything of her slumping around her home or even being fairly invisible to anyone outside. Thank goodness…

A combined coughing and sneezing fit seized hold just then and Del spent the next several minutes in respiratory purgatory, feeling as if her throat and sinuses were being torn apart. By the time she could collapse back against her pillows, her eyes and nose were streaming and she ached. She also felt completely disgusting as she considered her sleep shorts and tank top. She knew she had a fever. She was sweating and it was ******** gross and she felt like an old piece of fruit. Considering her options carefully, she decided that a hot, steaming shower would be good for her physical woes, at least. If it would let her breathe through her damn nose for a few precious moments, she’d be delighted. Tossing the blanket aside, she forced herself up onto her feet and half stumbled into the bathroom. Shedding sweat soaked pajamas, she grabbed a eucalyptus shower steamer and dropped it in, turning on the water to as hot as she knew her skin could tolerate. Then, because she felt like babying herself a little, she dug out the fancy soaps and shampoo. Maybe she’d use them, maybe not. But at least she had the option to do so if she felt up to it. After a few minutes, she could faintly smell the eucalyptus as steam billowed and rolled up from above the shower curtain. Wonderful…

Easing herself into the shower, Del stood there for a moment, letting her body get used to the heat. Just standing under running water felt amazing. She could gradually feel her sinuses opening and the steam seemed to ease the stretching in her throat. Turning slightly, she tipped her head back, letting the water run through her hair and down her back. Okay, maybe she had the energy to use the fancy stuff after all. She had enough to wash her hair, anyway. “Oh, bliss,” she muttered under her breath as she scrubbed at her scalp before rinsing the shampoo out. The heat was wonderful, but she could feel it beginning to sap what little oomph she’d had. Spurred on by a sense of urgency, she forswore the fancyass soaps and went for the simple washcloth and dollar store bath gel to get the rest of herself clean. By the time she shut the water off, she wanted nothing more than a nap. Toweling herself dry, she did her best to unsnarl her hair with her fingers and threw a robe on. She didn’t feel up to actual tooth brushing, but she could at least use some listerine.
By the time she oozed into a clean nightshirt, she was wiped out. Dropping into the bed, she got the comforter pulled up and snuggled into it. Then, between one breath and the next, she was asleep.

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