Unlikely Allies

"Kimberly, what are you doing?" Mason asked me, turning his head to look at me.

Startled, I looked over at him. "How are you feeling?" I asked, reaching up a hand to smooth back his hair so I could feel his forehead.

The skin beneath my hand still radiated and I cringed that the Advil I had shoved down him hadn't done a whole lot of good.

"Don't worry, beach bu

He let out a shuddering shiver and I realized the fever had given him the chills. I shrugged out of my jacket, ignoring his protests and draped it over him.

"Look, if I get cold, all I have to do is lie next to you. Your body heat is enough to warm up the whole cave."

"Are you saying I'm steaming hot?" he teased, chuckling slightly as I raised my eyebrows. "I'm kidding, but you should put your jacket back on, I'm fine," he repeated.

"Right, and I'm a graceful ballerina," I said sarcastically.

"You didn't answer my question," he said weakly.

"I'm getting things ready so I can save your sorry ass," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"With a wad of raincoat?" he asked puzzled.

"No, Mr. Negative, with these," I said, holding up several of the strips of raincoat I had torn.

"You're going to try to fly away with those," he guessed.

"No," I said, smiling at him this time. "I'm going to use them to mark the path I take," I added triumphantly.

"I don't think so," he said, all joking gone.

"Um, last time I checked, you weren't the boss of me. You're burning up with fever, can't move and your leg looks like it belongs in some horror movie."

"Yeah, well, you sound like a frog, you have a cough that would rival a sixty-year-old chain-smoker, and you just happened to destroy your only means of keeping yourself dry," he said with more energy than he had shown in the last twenty-four hours.

"Well, the rain is obviously not going to stop, and some stupid cold isn't going to dictate your health," I said, fighting sudden tears. "I'm sick of this whole situation. I miss sleeping in a bed, having cooked meals, hell, I even miss having a bathroom, but most of all, I'm scared you're going to die of some stupid infection. I just want to go home," I added, all fight going out of me as I laid my head on his chest.

"I know, beach bu

"I have to go," I said in a muffled voice.

"I know," he said.

"I'll leave in the morning and I'll bring help back to you," I promise.

He didn't answer as he continued to rub my back. Eventually, he fell back to sleep, but I continued to lie on his chest. His heartbeat beneath my ear was reassuring. I was scared to death to leave him, but I knew it was our only chance. It had only been two days since our accident, but it felt like a lifetime.

I must have dozed for a while since Mason's touch startled me. Glancing out the mouth of the cave, I could see by the faint light that it was late afternoon. My throat felt like razor blades were playing a sick game with my tonsils. I took a small sip of water that only intensified the pain.

"Here," I said, helping Mason to take a drink before I handed him the last dose of Advil we had left, but he refused to take them.

"You should take those in the morning," he argued. "They're not doing me any good. It's like using a teaspoon to bail out a flooded boat, but they can make a world of difference tomorrow morning for you."

I wanted to argue with him, but I knew his logic was sound. Even if they took the edge off my aches and pains for a little while, it would be better than nothing. I slid the pills back into the torn package so they wouldn't get lost and picked up the empty backpack. I placed the bundle of raincoat strips into the pack.

"You should fill up the two good water bottles tonight so you can take them with you."

"I'm not taking all the water with me," I chided.

"What if you run out?"

"Then I'll open my mouth. I'm pretty sure the rain won't let me run out," I said, touched at his concern.

"You'll need to be careful on your trek down. It'll get steep in some places, so you'll have to skirt around until you find a shallower route."

I started to tell him he wasn't telling me anything I didn't know, but I could tell it was stuff he needed to say. He needed to know that he was helping. I patiently listened to his tips as he droned on. Eventually, he ran out of steam and I snuggled up against him.

The cave had once again become pitch black as another night settled on us.

"You awake?" I whispered, not wanting to wake him if he was sleeping.

"Yeah," he answered.

"What's your favorite memory?" I asked, needing to hear his voice.

He was silent for several minutes after I asked the question. I was begi

"The time my parents took me to the Grand Canyon."

"Yeah? Did you ride a donkey?" I joked.

"Actually, yes," he laughed.

"Ha, I was just kidding, but you really did?"

"Yep, I remember being like six or seven and my parents and I taking donkey rides down the canyon. My mom freaked because she was afraid of heights, but she still went anyway."

"I think I would have been like your mom. Heights scare the bejesus out of me," I admitted.

"I didn't know that, but you went with me on the hardest trail on the mountain. Why?"

"Because, I was worried about Alyssa," I said, only answering half truthfully.

"Was that the only reason?" he asked, sounding disappointed.

"No," I said, smiling in the dark. "You might've had something to do with it."

He laughed softly next to me. "Does Rick know you're afraid of heights?"

"Hell no, I wasn't about to admit that. I'm sure poor Rick freaked out when he picked me up at the airport only to realize I didn't have a lick of his outdoorsiness in me."

"You might be surprised. Believe me, if I was the jealous type, I'd be green with envy at how much he raves about you."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, really. Do you always doubt yourself?"

"Ha, my doubts stemmed from you, Greeky," I said, snorting on a laugh.

"Greeky?" he asked, puzzled.

"Oops, I guess the cat's out of the bag. That's what Amy and I started calling you," I said.

"Is it some kind of weird slang for geek?" he asked, puzzled.

"If I tell you, we'd have to deflate your ego before we could get you out of here in order for you to fit," I teased.

"Ha-ha, you're a laugh a minute. You should start your own comedy club."

"Okay, okay, keep your panties on," I said as he growled beside me, making me giggle. "I call you Greeky because I thought you looked like some kind of Greek god when I first saw you," I said, thankful for the darkness of the cave to hide my blushing face.

"Hmmm, Greek god, I like that," he said, tightening his hold on me.

"Ha, I bet."

"Well, if I look like a god than you're a goddess," he said seriously.

"Right, maybe a paint-smudged one," I joked.

"Come on, it’s nice that you’re not stuck-up or anything, but you’ve got to know you’re hot."

“Well, thanks,” I answered, not knowing what else to say. We both went silent after that and eventually I began to get drowsy.