“You’re not,” I say quietly, meeting her eyes. Not arguing. Not coaxing. Just stating a fact.
She stills.
Pete hesitates, torn between staffing and sense. I don’t give him time to waffle.
“I’ll cover the shifts,” I add. “If I can’t, I’ll pay for cover. Whatever it costs.”
“That’s not—” Pete starts.
“I insist.”
Something in my tone lands, because Pete sighs and nods. “Alright. Alright. Two days. Minimum. I’ll mark it as sick leave.”
Lani’s mouth opens. “You don’t have to?—”
“I do,” I say, low enough only she can hear. “And you’re not arguing this one.”
She slumps back in the chair like the fight’s finally gone out of her, colour draining from her face now the adrenaline’s worn off.
I grab her jacket, shrug it around her shoulders, and guide her carefully toward the door.
Outside, the air’s cool and damp. She shivers immediately.
“Easy,” I murmur, tightening my grip when she stumbles again. “I’ve got you.”
She doesn’t protest this time.
The walk up the hill is slow. Measured. I keep my pace deliberately even, adjusting without comment when she drags. She leans into me more than she probably realises, and I let her.
At her door, she fumbles for her keys with numb fingers. I take them gently from her hand and unlock the door myself, getting a feeling of Déjà vu once more.
Inside, the house smells faintly of herbs and clean linen. Quiet. Safe.
I steer her to the sofa and help her sit, then kneel in front of her without thinking, scanning her face.
“You dizzy?” I ask.
She nods. “A bit.”
“Nauseous?”
“…yeah.”
“Cold?”
She hesitates. “And hot. Both.”
That prickling feeling in my chest sharpens. I don’t like this. I don’t like how specific it is.
“Okay,” I say calmly. “You’re lying down. Blanket. Fluids. No arguing.”
She huffs weakly. “Bossy.”
“Only when necessary.”
I settle her on the sofa, tuck the blanket around her shoulders, then head for the kitchen. Water. Electrolytes. Something easy to eat. I move like I’ve done this before, because I have. Because when people I care about fall apart, I handle the logistics so they don’t have to.
When I come back, she’s watching me with heavy-lidded eyes.