'cause I got issues and
you got them too
so give them all to me and
I'll give mine to you'

_(┐「ε:)_

weeks later

I've been home for a couple of months now, had to attend college for a week in order to finish my exams and I've officially graduated along with Ace which came as a surprise when he announced it last week. He got tired of college and with me at home, he wanted to not worry about any school material.

I didn't even know a person can just finish all their credits in such a short period of time but never underestimate Ace King.

"Ray?" Ace yells into the home like he usually does when he comes back from work.

"Kitchen," I yell back. Not a minute later, I feel familiar arms around my waist. "You're home early," I point out.

He's been overworking himself since I came back home, while I decided to take a break from the outside world and took less shifts at the clinic even though they insisted I take a recovery leave. My wounds have been slowly recovering, however the images from that night have never left my nightmares.

"Blake spread a rumor that I'm ill," he says breathlessly. With that statement, I look back at his face that looks flushed.

"Goodness sweetheart, you look awful," I say reaching my hand to his forehead to find it burning.

"Well, thank you," he scowls playfully.

"That's not what I meant," I smile apologetically. "How about you go change to your pajamas while I make you some soup?"

"Why make me soup? I'm not sick," he looks at me weirdly while I give him a knowing look. Knowing he won't win this argument, he sighs and heads upstairs.

I sigh as I start preparing the soup I promised letting my thoughts drift to two weeks ago.

"He fled the country?" Ace yells in his office.

"Yes sir, no signs of him anywhere in particular though," another person says in a hushed tone, they think I'm sleeping but the truth is I can't sleep alone anymore.

"Contact every base we have outside then, make sure someone flies to them and not by telephone. I need to make sure everyone knows what is expected," Ace says in an angry voice while the other man says a quick yes sir and leaves in a hurried manner. I recognize the face as one of his trusted comrades but not a second later, I hear the desk crashing onto the floor and heavy breathing.

Did he literally flip the table?

I give him a few minutes to calm down until I slowly enter the room seeing him standing looking at the mess he made. His eyes connect with mine and guilt flashes through them. "You heard," not needing an answer.

"Ray, where's my work laptop?" A newly showered Ace comes in wearing sweat pants and a black hoodie for the cold weather.

"Hidden," I tease smiling. He looks at me pleading, "you have become a workaholic, you know that?" I say concerned.

"No I haven't, but it is still my working hours before I can truly feel like I'm home," he whines, his face looks pained.

"Open the second cabinet," I nod towards the cabinet in front of him. He does so without asking, probably thinking his laptop will be there.

"Nope, it isn't here," he closes it back.

"I know, get the thermometer inside," I order and glare at him before he could start arguing.

"You can be really bossy sometimes," he complains but pulls it out anyway. "In my defense, I just took a hot shower and I'm wearing layers of clothing."

"Give me that," I walk towards him once i secured the pan with the hot soup. I put it in his ear and wait for it to beep. When it does, I see he has a temperature of a hundred and panic. "You should've taken it easy," I slap his shoulder.

"Ouch, is this how you treat all your patients?" He laughs which sends a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Only ones that lie about them being sick," I say as I drag him to our room.

"I kinda like it when you get mad and bossy, it's like you're asking to be jumped by me," I gape at his statement before slapping his shoulder once more as he laughs more at me. I shake my head but can't help the smile that makes its way to my face.

"Careful there, your mood swings might cause your private doctor to quit on you," I tease him but his smirk only gets bigger.

"So now we're playing doctor-patient?" My entire face flushes and I groan, tasting my own medicine.

"Just get under the covers," I simply look at him with a done expression before he could make another sexual joke. The fever makes him weird.

"You know, we could just go out to Disney land or something now that I think about it," he thinks aloud.

"The fact you would just blurt that out makes me sure you aren't thinking," I give him the remote for the TV so I could get the soup from downstairs. As I walk out the room, I hear a whistle coming out of Ace.

"Never congratulated you for not limping anymore, great job gorgeous," he looks at me with proud eyes while I just mirror his smile.

"Physical therapy? It's not going to help anyone!" I yell for the millionth time.

"Really? If it can let you get out bed, then I would say it'll help many people," Ace says in a dangerously low voice, trying to remain calm.

"I do get out of bed, how do you think I can get to the bathroom?" I shoot back.

"With the help of five nurses!" He stands up from the chair next to the bed I'm in causing the chair to fall with a thud. "You have been acting better but you just sit on the same bed with the same fake smile for everyone to leave you alone."

"Is this about physical therapy or just therapy?" I narrow my eyes. "I am fine, I've been through worse without the help of any other person telling me what I'm feeling," I spit out.

"That's not what they do," he argues and I scoff.

"It is not for me," I say slowly. He breathes out and runs his hand through is already messy hair.

"Just think about physical therapy then?" He pleads.

"Yeah, thank you," I smile.

*

This story is getting more attention than ever and it is freaking me out in the best way. We're up to 12k reads which alone is wild. Thank you to everyone that reads this story and enjoys it, it means so much! :)