Joe’s heart clenched as he looked at Skylar. She looked so fragile, curled up in the bed with her feverish red cheeks and tears that seemed to reflect the pain she was feeling. The cold, distant expression he usually wore was nowhere to be found now, replaced by a deep, unsettling sense of concern for her well-being.
Her distress, her vulnerability, made him feel an unfamiliar tug in his chest. He hadn’t expected to see her like this—so weak, so small. He had always known her as strong, composed, but now, lying in front of him, she was a completely different person. The way her body trembled under the blanket, the way her breath hitched, it all weighed on him.
He knew he needed to get her to take the medicine, to make sure she recovered quickly. But as he stood there, he realized that this wasn’t just about the fever. This was about something deeper, something tied to the trauma of her past. It wasn’t simply a matter of taking medicine. It was about making sure she didn’t feel forced or helpless again, something she had surely felt many times before.
“Skylar, you need to take your medicine,” Joe said softly, kneeling beside the bed. His voice was firm, but there was an undeniable softness to it now, a contrast to the way he usually spoke to her. He reached out to gently touch her arm, but she recoiled slightly, shaking her head.
“I can’t… I don’t want to,” she murmured hoarsely, her voice strained from the fever.
Joe hesitated. She had always been independent, but now, it was clear that something was more at play than just a simple refusal. Her discomfort wasn’t about the medicine itself; it was about the memories it might stir, the past she had endured with Christopher and Maisy. He knew she had suffered before, been forced to endure things she didn’t want to, and suddenly it all clicked for him. She wasn’t just rejecting the medicine—she was rejecting the feeling of being powerless again.
For a long moment, Joe stood still, trying to figure out what to do. He could feel the weight of the situation press down on him. Gloria’s words echoed in his mind, urging him to take care of Skylar, but this wasn’t something that could be solved with simple commands. He needed to be gentle, to show her that she wasn’t alone in this.
“I’m not going to force you,” he said after a beat, his tone low and almost tender. “But I’m here for you. I’ll stay with you until you’re better.”
Skylar didn’t respond immediately, her eyes half-closed in exhaustion. Her body was still tense, but she seemed to relax just a little at his words. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. She felt his presence beside her, steady and unwavering, and it gave her a small sense of comfort in the middle of her discomfort.
Joe watched her as she drifted in and out of sleep, her body struggling against the fever. He stood by the bed, quietly observing her, not wanting to leave her side. He felt an overwhelming desire to take care of her, to protect her from the pain and fear that seemed to haunt her. The weight of responsibility felt heavier than ever, but there was something else there, too—a growing sense of protectiveness, a pull toward her that he couldn’t ignore.
The room was silent, except for the occasional rustle of the blanket or the soft sound of Skylar’s breathing. Joe glanced at the medicine on the nightstand, then back at her. He had the power to make things easier for her, but he knew it wasn’t just about physical care. Skylar needed reassurance, comfort. She needed to feel safe, and that was something only time—and trust—could provide.
Skylar’s condition didn’t improve immediately, but Joe refused to leave her side. He stayed there, watching over her as she slept, his mind racing with thoughts of what she had been through. He couldn’t change her past, but he could at least make sure she didn’t feel alone now.
As the night wore on, Skylar’s breathing steadied. Joe remained by her side, offering silent comfort, even as his own mind grappled with the growing feelings he had for her. He wasn’t sure when it had started, but the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that she had become someone he needed to protect, someone he couldn’t just ignore or dismiss. She had become important to him, more than he was willing to admit.
And as he looked at her lying there, feverish but peaceful for the moment, Joe made a silent promise to himself. He would do whatever it took to take care of her, to help her heal, to help her feel safe again.
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