Burning Fever

OUTER WORLD, LAVENZCO

Mr. and Mrs. Peyton stood up abruptly from their bed at the loud voice of Nicole.

"What's the matter, Nicole?"Mr.Gordon questioned his daughter in worry while standing from the bed along with his wife.

"D..da..dad, it's..its...Lea.Something is happening to her." Nicole stammered. Her whole expression spelled worry and panic.

Mr.Gordon who did not wait for another second dashed out of the room with Nicole and Mrs.Camille following right behind.

He pushed open Nicole and Lea's door open, slamming it.

He entered the room and saw Lea lying in her bed shaking vigorously with tiny rivulets of sweat all over her body. Her body was heating up abnormally and Mr. Gordon could tell that it wasn't any normal fever but something that had to do with her abilities.

He went to sit by her, touching her forehead which was burning up.

At the same time, Nicole and her mother entered the room. A look of dread was imprinted on their faces at the sight of Lea's current state.

"Fetch a towel and some cold water.Hurry."Mr.Gordon bellowed, impatient and panic-stricken by his daughter's rising temperature.

Mrs.Camille rushed out of the room to get the things her husband had asked for.

In a few seconds, she was back with a medium-sized towel and a basin of cold water. Mr.Gordon took the towel and dipped it into the water, squeezing the water it had soaked and applying it on Lea's forehead.

" Mother, What's happening to Lea? This is the second time this has occurred. What's wrong with Sister? I'm scared."Nicole who stood looking at her father questioned her mother who shook her head.

"Don't worry dear. She's going to be fine."

Mr.Gordon did what he was doing continuously till the water turned warm. Still, there was no improvement in Lea's condition.

" Change the water. It has turned warm."Mr.Gordon instructed again and the task was carried out by Nicole this time.

Mr.Gordon repeated the whole process. Soon Lea's temperature began to drop relatively. Her shaking had stopped and Mr. Gordon heaved a deep sigh of relief.

He dropped the towel in the basin and used the duvet to cover Lea up to her chest. He stood up and went to sit on Nicole's bed which was opposite Lea's bed. He was relieved that Lea's condition was getting better.

"Will she be fine?" Mrs.Camille asked her husband who now had his eyes closed.

"Let's hope for the best. Her temperature had gone down. She should be awake any moment now." Mr.Gordon answered his wife while sitting upright on Nicole's bed.

"Call the Stark company and inform your boss that Lea cannot make it to work today. Tell him she's feeling under the weather and cannot come to work. You would have to go alone."Mr.Gordon turned to his youngest daughter who nodded understandingly.

After a while, Nicole saw Lea opening her eyes.

"She's waking up," she said with gladness lacing her voice.

Relief swept over Mr. and Mrs.Peyton when they shifted their eyes to look at Lea who was indeed waking up.

Both parents rushed to Lea's side, helping her sit up on her bed slowly.

"Oh thank God you're awake Lea," Mrs.Camille circled her hands around Lea while her eyes welled up with unshed tears ready to spill from the corner of her eyes. She pulled away and looked at Lea whose face looked pale and her lips had turned dry."Don't ever scare us like that again Lea, do you hear that? You have no idea how we were shaken by your condition." she said and Lea could see the worry in her clear expressive eyes.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Mother, "Lea said and hugged her mom this time who sat by her bed. She pulled away and looked at her father who stood by her bed with her sister.

"I'm sorry dad and Nicole...for making you worry about-"

"Shhh.."Mr.Godon cut Lea."You shouldn't be saying sorry for us taking care of you. You are our precious daughter and it's our duty to worry about you. You don't have to apologize dear."Mr.Gordon said and patted Lea's head gently.

"Are you feeling fine?"Nicole was the one to ask her sister.

"Yes Nicole, I'm doing better. Thank you."Lea replied.

Nicole nodded and said,

"I think I'm running late. I need to get to work soon."

Lea heard Nicole and tried to get up from the bed.

"I'll come with you." but before she could step down from the bed, Mrs.Camille stopped her.

"You're not going to work today Lea. Your father has already told Nicole to inform your boss that you won't make it to work today, that you are feeling under the weather."

Lea pursed her lips, she wanted to protest saying she was fine now but at the same time, she didn't want to make her parents worry about her further. She decided to stay home for her parent's sake. She hesitantly brought her feet back to the bed where Nicole had left the room to get ready. Xander had told her that he had some important work to do with her today. The thought of not going to work didn't sit well with her and she wondered if she would be staying in bed all day today.