Lin opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. He could feel a warm body pressed up beside him, and for a few moments he thought it was Gene. His heart ached as he breathed in John's sweet scent. That's right...he's...Lin felt conflicted as he turned on his side to regard John's sleeping form. His feelings were a mess, still half asleep and filled with Gene's presence. His heart was full of warmth and adoration for the gentle omega at his side, but there was a patch of empty black where Gene used to be, and right now that space was filled with pain and yearning. His throat ached a little with the strain of holding back the lingering grief that never left.

"Koujo..." John was sleepy as he shuffled closer. Intense feelings had roused him. Sharp chilli teased his senses, pulling him from a restful slumber. Lin felt guilty, instantly trying to push down his own feelings so that he could focus on the here and now. Gene's gone, and he's been gone a long time...It was a somewhat bitter thought. John's blue eyes fluttered open in the semi-darkness, slightly unfocused as he turned his head to look up at Lin. "Is something wrong?" He could sense a confused bundle of emotions from his mate, but he couldn't sort through them in his feverish state.

"No...You shouldn't think about such things. You're not well," Lin replied softly as he pushed himself up and touched John's heated forehead, smiling softly as he hummed and leaned into the cool touch. It was true. He felt terrible. He wasn't shivering as much now, but his sinuses ached, his eyes were tired, and he felt very drained. He was probably going to be stuck in bed for another two to three days. He didn't relish the thought. I've already been so much of a burden to Koujo already..."Don't think such things," Lin chided, easily picking up on John's sour mood.

"I can't help it. I feel like such a pest." John winced as Lin teasingly prodded his nose.

"Not even a little...I like taking care of you," Lin confessed as he got up. He left him to rest while he prepared some tea and toast in the kitchen. It was time for John to eat something. If he wanted to prepare him for his next heat and overcome his current fever, he needed to keep to a stricter mealtime schedule. John was even more reluctant to eat than he had been during his heat. The fever had sapped him of his appetite completely. "You don't want to end up in the hospital during your next heat." John's cheeks flushed at the gentle reminder. He forced the toast down, chewing painfully slowly and swallowing with difficulty. It felt thick and dry and clung to his throat when he swallowed.

The next few days continued in a similar fashion. Lin dutifully watched over his omega. He bathed his forehead, fed him, helped him drink, and took him for showers. After three days, he also coaxed him into taking a walk through the park. John was still physically weak, and didn't manage to walk very far, but he did feel a little better after the fresh air. They also managed to leave the bedroom. John huddled in his window seat wrapped in blankets, watching the world outside while nursing a hot drink and occasionally picking up his book.

During John's illness, Naru had also returned, but so far he'd avoided them. He'd barely called up to let them know he'd returned before disappearing into his room, and as far as Lin could tell, he hadn't come out. He was thinking of venturing down to check on his young charge, but his overprotective alpha didn't want to leave John's side. As John improved, Lin finally checked in with the Naru. He kissed John's temple and made sure he had everything he needed before heading downstairs.

"Naru?" he called, tapping on his door. He could sense Naru's reluctance to open the door. His scent was more bitter than usual. "Noll." The old name finally brought him to the dimly lit doorway. It was early afternoon, but he'd kept his curtains tightly pulled. The room was dim, and the scent of distress and stale bedding hung heavy in the air. Lin was worried to see him looking so pale and drawn, though it wasn't unusual for an omega to suffer during its heat. It was even more difficult for Naru because he had to take care of his own needs.

"What is it?" Naru asked stiffly, unable to meet his eye.

"Did something happen?" Naru's scent told him it was a definite yes, despite the shake of his head. Lin raised an eyebrow. They both knew he was a terrible liar when he was stressed. Naru sighed in frustration as he backed away from the door, leaving it open for Lin to follow. Lin stepped inside and was quickly surrounded by Naru's familiar lemon tart scent. It was strangely comforting, despite his heightened distress. It was familiar. Homely. "So, what is it?" he asked as Naru turned his back. He said nothing, but tugged the neck of his turtleneck down enough to reveal the red mark on his shoulder. He didn't move as Lin's heavier steps hurried across to join him.

He flinched as Lin touched the pink indents, dark eyes examining the bonding bite intently. Naru's cheeks flushed under the scrutiny, unsure how he felt about it. He was still a little overwhelmed. Despite having spent three days with Mai, enjoying her body in every way possible, he still felt dirty and conflicted. Lin drew back, sensing his discomfort. He let him cover up again, though he noticed his hand remained over the mark once he was done.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He wasn't completely certain who it was, but he had his suspicions. There were only two people who were meant to go up to the office during Naru's heat, and one of those was an omega. An omega with interests that clearly lie elsewhere. It was hard to miss the intimate glances and gentle touches he lavished on Ayako at any opportunity. Naru's lips thinned as he dropped his gaze to the floor, almost glaring at the dark carpet.

"I didn't mean to...but she..." He looked vulnerable, standing stiffly as he kept one hand over the bonding mark and hugged his waist with the other. Lin was hesitant to lay a hand on him. Naru often hated physical contact when he was feeling exposed and vulnerable like this. He settled for walking around him and leaning down to his level. It let him know that he wasn't alone, and the contact was there if he needed it. He almost smiled at the warm feelings that flooded across from him, though they were accompanied by bitterness and fear.

"Would it make you happy? Being with Mai?" Lin already knew that the answer was yes. Only an idiot could look at the two and not think so. Mai had always been utterly infatuated with Naru, and in his own way, Naru had shown his own fondness for her. "Then that's all that matters for now. Don't overthink things, Noll...Things like this don't always last..." He smiled bitterly as they both shared a moment of pain. Life's too short. Naru nodded his agreement.

"But I feel so..." Naru trailed off, bitterness seeping from every pore as his blue eyes glittered. "She just came in, and..." His cheeks flushed as he recalled the moment he'd realised she was real. He'd been shocked,. Horrified even. She'd seen him at his most vulnerable, watched him doing such dirty, unspeakable things to himself, heard him say such embarrassing things. Even under the influence of his heat, he'd wanted the floor to open up and swallow him.

"That was wrong of her...but would you have made a move if she hadn't?" They both knew it was in Naru's nature to shy away from both physical and emotional contact. The only reason he was close to him was that he'd practically raised him. It was hard to be distant from someone who'd bandaged your knees, dried your tears, and grew up as a mentor for most things. "Sometimes you need a push, Noll." With that said, Lin decided it was time for some tea. John would expect a cup soon, too. He quietly ushered Naru upstairs, watching him pad up resentfully before heading to the kitchen.

After making tea for three, he walked up to find Naru right where he'd expected, huddled on the right side of the sofa. That had always been his seat. The thing that surprised him was that John had moved to settle on the left side. He tried to push down the sharp jab of pain as he looked at the pair. The left had always been Gene's favourite spot. The black sofa Lin had now was smaller than the one in England, so only two would comfortably fit. Lin remembered many fond nights in England though. Naru quietly reading a book on one side while Gene leaned against his shoulder on the other, sometimes reading and sometimes watching TV.

The two omegas weren't talking, but they didn't need words. Naru was sitting quietly while John read his book, but it said a lot that John had sensed his stressed mood and moved to join him on the sofa. He was also quietly releasing his sweet candyfloss scent to soothe him. It was working. Naru was leaning back in his seat with an almost peaceful air. They both accepted their mugs quietly, and Lin took his own space in the armchair.

There was something peaceful about the room with the three of them in it. John's cotton candy scent blended well with Naru's lemon tart, and Lin's hit of spice added a nice sharpness. Lin looked up after a while, noting the way John was nodding in his seat, the half-empty cup tilting as he did so. Naru had already nodded off, his part full cup resting between his knees. Lin quietly removed the cups and placed them on his side table. He then closed John's book and set/ it aside.

"Koujo?" John murmured tiredly, leaning into his hand.

"Shh, rest awhile." Lin was pleased as John yielded to his advice. He sighed fondly as he stepped back and looked at the sleeping pair. His mate and his young charge. It was strange to think that his whole world was sitting in one room. Almost my whole world...It wouldn't be complete until they finally found Gene and laid him to rest.