Pixie cabin, Aeryn's alcove, Monday afternoon

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Aeryn shouldn't have stayed at the film festival nearly as long as she did. She can blame distraction if she wants. She's not too bad off, but takes a long, cool shower as soon as she gets back to the cabin, then closing herself off in her alcove where it's nice and air conditioned.

Stupid planet.

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Sometime later, John wandered in, stepped inside Aeryn's alcove and looked at her in concern.

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"Hi," she says before she even looks over at him.

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"How sick are you?"

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She shakes her head. "I'm fine," she assures him. "I left as soon as I realized."

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"Have you had any water?" he asks.

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"A little," she says. "I'm okay."

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"How long were you out there?"

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"Until that really stupid movie started," she says. "A while."

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He frowns at her and stomps out of the alcove to grab several cold rags. He stomps back and puts one on her head and two on her arms.

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"I'm okay," she protests, rolling her eyes. "I'm taking care of myself, nothing to worry about." Not that she's stopped him.

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"I don't see you fighting me," he says sternly. "Just let me do this. I know how heat affects you."

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She sighs in irritation, pulling one of the cloths off her arm. "John, I'm serious. It's under control. If it wasn't, believe me, I would tell you." Because that would be the one time she actually asked for help with no provocation.

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"Aeryn, please," he says quietly. "Just put the rag back on your arm. Call it a precaution."

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With another sigh, Aeryn puts the rag back on. "This is unnecessary."

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"Precaution," he says and sits on the edge of the bed. "I just wanna make sure."

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"Thanks," she says after a moment.

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"You tired at all?"

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"Nothing bad. Like I just ran a mile tired, really."

Which is not bad when you're Aeryn.

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"Why didn't you go in sooner?"

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"Because I got distracted, and it wasn't bad at the time and I took care of it, all right?" she says. Not that she's kicking herself or anything.

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"Stop being mad at me," he says. "I'm just concerned."

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"I'm not mad."

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"Stop snapping then," he says. "I'm just concerned."

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"I'm not snapping," she says with another sigh. She is, she just doesn't mean to.

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"You do this when you're hot," John tells her. "I can take it but you do do it."

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She closes her eyes for a moment, mostly trying to keep herself from snapping again. "I'm fine," she says quietly. "I promise."

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"Think you could sleep?"

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"Maybe," she says. She doesn't think she's tired yet, but she also doesn't want to make things weird if she keeps having to talk.

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"Do you need me to leave?"

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"Only if you want to," Aeryn answers.

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"I just want you to rest comfortably," he says quietly.

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"I'm okay," she repeats. She wouldn't mind him staying, since she won't have to talk, but she's leaving it up to him.

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"Should I take the floor?" he asks. "So it's not too hot?"

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"There's not much room there," she says, moving over a little.

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"Not too hot?"

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"How many times do I have to say I'm fine before you believe me?" she asks, not snapping. Which takes some effort, actually.

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"I'm only asking because of the body heat thing," he says. "I've got a higher temperature than you do and I don't want to cause you to get hot."

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She plucks the compress off her forehead and says, "My temperature won't go up anymore unless the air conditioning breaks. It's controlled in here. If you don't want to, fine, but..." She might be sounding a little tired.

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"I didn't say I didn't want to," he says. "I just didn't know."

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She opens her mouth to say something, but isn't sure there's anything she can say that won't send him away. "I'm going to sleep," she says, turning onto her side, and there's enough room for him if he wants.

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He hesitates but finally lays down beside her, barely touching.

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She's actually glad he did that, and gives him a tiny smile before closing her eyes.

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He doesn't go to sleep. He subtly watches her, just in case. He can't help it.

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After a moment, Aeryn manages to fall asleep, apparently more tired than she thought.

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And, after making sure she did go to sleep, John let himself fall asleep as well.