She looked at Carmen with a big grin and lovingly stroked her cheeks.

Carmen finished sipping the water and Shane helped her place the glass down. Seeing that Carmen was feeling much better, Shane brought her face down for a kiss.

Carmen stopped Shane by placing a finger onto Shane’s lips. And Shane gave a confused and amused look.

“I just hurled”

“I know.”

“It’s disgusting, Shane.”

“I don’t care.”

Shane lifted Carmen’s hand from her lips and placed it on her heart. She closed in for a kiss and slowly ran her lips across Carmen’s gently, knowing that her mouth sores would probably be bothering her.

Shane felt Carmen melting into her arms as she lifted her other arm to embrace her. After they tore their lips apart, Shane held Carmen in her arms securely for a moment longer before breaking the embrace slowly.

Satisfied, Shane grinned widely at Carmen. “Besides, I helped you rinsed your mouth, so I know that ya clean as a whistle.”

Carmen lifted the corner of her lips in an attempt to smile, but fatigue had set in once again, and she didn’t have the energy to response. She leaned forward and buried her head into the nape of Shane’s shoulders, relishing in the comfort and warmth that Shane gave.

Shane frowned slightly, but the doctor advised her to keep Carmen happy and distract her from the pain. She forced herself to smile and said lightly.

“Hey, I cajoled Jenny into baking cookies for us. It’s your favorite macadamia and choc chips.”

Carmen wanted to lift her head to look into Shane’s eyes, but she didn’t have the strength, so she stayed put where she was.

“Really, that is nice, but where are the cookies?”

“*****. Yeah where are they?” Shane laughed as she tried to look around for the cookies.

“Right here.”

Shane lifted her head and her gaze met the guy that was with Charmaine. He placed the bag onto the side table of the bed.

“Hi, I am Rich, Charmaine’s erm boyfriend.” Rich said glancing nervously at Charmaine. Shane turned a little to see a beaming Charmaine. She smiled at Charmaine and then back at Rich. She must have dropped the bag in her haste to get to Carmen.

“Thank you Rich.” Shane said appreciatively.

Carmen twisted her head slightly so that she could peer at this Rich, and smiled as best as she could while mouthing “Ditto” slurrishly.

Shane knew that the effects of the drugs had wore off and the pain had somewhat subsided, and Carmen was now ready for sleep. She lifted Carmen gently off her shoulder and placed her head back onto the pillow. Then she restored the bed to its original position. As she gazed lovingly into Carmen’s half shut eyes, she brushed a stray lock of hair away from her girlfriend’s face, and placed a tender kiss onto Carmen’s lips.

Carmen smiled as she drifted to sleep, and once Shane was sure that Carmen was comfortable, she settled into the armchair beside the bed and started reading the novel that she brought along with her.