Twenty- Must be out of his mind

Chloe's head was banging like she had downed thirty pints of alcohol the previous night. Groaning lightly as she sat up, Chloe wondered what could be the cause of her discomfort.

Something on her bed buzzed before she could figure that out.

As she reached for the satchel tucked within her sheets, a loud sneeze came causing her even more distress. Sniffling, she took out her smart watch and with the quick decision of taking a risk that moment, she didn't bother to get off her bed.

She was feeling too weak anyway.

"Agent Pepper here," she said when she connected her headset.

"What on freaking bollocks earth do you think you are doing, Pepper?"

"Agent Markings?" She recognized that angry voice anywhere. She hated that angry voice and the man who yielded it, he just always got on her nerves.

"No Chloe, this is your mother." Chloe just had to manage a sigh and an eye roll at his sarcasm. "Why on earth are you helping a suspect?"

"So, you guys do watch me. No, let me put it better- you guys stalk me."

"Do I sound like I am in a mood for chit chat Pepper?"

Chloe shrugged. "You are never in the mood for anything sir."

"Don't get..." She heard him take a deep sigh, she could see his brows almost knitting into each other as he pinched his forehead. "Explain to me why you are helping Mr. Cook."

"Because he isn't guilty of the crime he is solely being accused of."

"So, we are the wrong ones now, eh?"

"No, I am just saying... Listen sir, at first it did seem like he did it, but as of yesterday, we found out that he is being framed," she said with a slight frown, her hand running through her hair as her headache worsened.

"Pepper..." A heavy pause followed. "I am trying to keep my cool here Pepper, so I will keep this simple. Face what you are there to do, only that."

"So, I should sit back and watch an innocent man go to jail for a crime he didn't commit?"

"Chloe, do you still want those answers or not?" He really got her there. She instantly fell quiet. Markings continued, "If you don't need them, do as you wish over there and never come back here."

"Sir..."

"It is your choice Pepper." She could see the victorious look on his not so likeable face that wore a really big mole, a creepy mole.

Not even willing to continue arguing, she nodded and said, "I will take your words into consideration sir. I will make sure to face the mission squarely henceforth."

"You had better." He did not even give her the chance to ask of Agent Connor when he disconnected.

She threw the headset off her head and slid back into the comforts of her sheets. Then, she thought about the state of her mission. Things were changing course. The guilty was being proven innocent. She had become part of Amir's little party of finding out who was framing him.

Contrary to what the Agency says, she couldn't afford to just face her mission when infact, there will be signs here and there that could change things for the mission.

Chloe groaned, her hands slamming over her face. She was not making sense to herself. She was not even meant to be thinking at that moment, it just worsened her state.

As she checked the time, she realized how late she was to start her work for the day but she did not bother herself with jumping out of the bed dramatically, the job wasn't even a real one.

So, she took her time, which was about two hours before she finally left her room.

~

"Hey, Chl...oe," Amir's voice dragged as he saw her face. "What's wrong? You look like someone flogged the heck out of you."

Chloe who had cast aside her work to take a break on a closeby couch in their conversation room, opened her eyes and looked his way. "That doesn't even make any sense."

His lips scrunched. "Are you fine? You look sick."

"Just some crazy headache and..."

"Why are you up then?" He rushed to her side. "You should be in bed. Come on," he gently lifted her arm. ",let's get you in bed, have you drink soup, take some drugs."

"Ughh." Chloe stuck her tongue out. "I hate drugs." Amir left her arm, walked to her front and bent. With curious eyes, he leaned in closer, his face only inches from hers. Chloe could strongly smell him. "Uh... Amir?"

"Chloe, we need to get you to the hospital." He did not even move a step back, his worried gaze held her heavy ones. "You are burning up. I can feel your high temperature without touching you."

Chloe chuckled dismissively, "I don't... I am not hot."

"Well, you are actually hot." Chloe's brows had to go up. "I am serious." Her eyes diverted. He continued, "But to be really serious, we really need to go to the hospital."

"Who needs to go to the hospital?" Gabriel voice came in.

"Not me," Chloe immediately refuted.

"Yeah," he eyed her. ",you need to be in a hospital."

"We should carry her if she refuses."

"Maybe we should sedate her first. I feel she will be very fiesty if we attempt to move her," Gabriel suggested.

"Good idea. I think I still have those medications Dr. Hallow gave me..."

"I am right here guys." Chloe broke their delibrations. "And, I don't need a hospital, all I need is my bed and a very, very long sleep." Another sneeze followed destabilizing her even further. She just hated feeling sick.

"You do look sleepy," Amir commented.

"Exactly." Her eyes fell heavy again and she just had to close her eyes again.

"What is going on here?" Nathaniel joined the gathering.

"Chloe is sick. She needs to go to the hospital," Amir replied.

Her eyes snapped open. "Please, no hospitals. I hate them."

She sensed Nathaniel moving away from them and further into the room. "Well, if you had not spent a great deal of time outside, you wouldn't have to go to one."

"This guy..." Amir complained.

"Have you always been a dick or did you just become one?"

Nathaniel turned to face Gabriel. "Excuse me?"

"What is it with you today?"

"How do you mean?"

"You are acting like a douche and you normally don't. That's Amir's thing to do."

Amir butted in, "I should be angry at that, but you are right." Then, he took few steps back as though creating an area for the duo who were kind of glaring at each other.

Nathaniel gave a short laugh. "You are calling me a douche."

"Well, I won't if you act a bit sensitive when it comes to Chloe's actions. And, when did this start? I thought you liked her."

"Me liking her doesn't mean I would shut up when I see her doing something stupid."

Gabriel's face instantly wore disbelief. "So, helping Amir was something stupid?" Chloe wanted to interrupt them, but she actually found the scene in front of her cinema worthy, so she just sat back with her banging head and watched.

"That's not..." Nathaniel sighed as he shook his head. "Why are you even acting this way?"

"What way?"

"You are acting like you like her or something."

"Well, maybe I do like her." Chloe's eyes darted left to right, then left again with her eyes narrowed. "No. You know what, I like her." Chloe's jaw dropped, Amir's head tilted as he wondered if he heard right. "I like Chloe."

Chloe's eyes widened. He was actually serious.

Nathaniel huffed. "You are just talking shit. Is that what you do now?"

"Nathaniel," Gabriel doubled his steps till he was eye to eye with the man whose blue eyes glared dangerously. "From this moment onward, neglecting the fact that you have interest in Chloe, I will be working towards making her the woman in my life. And trust me, I will make sure she becomes the woman in my life."

"Wow. This guy must be out of his mind," Amir said from where he stood.

"No Amir, I am very serious. So Nathaniel, watch out, I am out to steal your girl."

"Uh..." A quite taken back Chloe jumped into the heated exchange. "Just putting it out there, I am no one's girl..." The duo snapped their head in her direction. "Yet." She felt she had to add that.

"Don't worry, " Gabriel looked at Nathaniel, a smug look on his cute face. ",that is about to change."

"Uh... Chloe," Amir moved closer to her. "We should get you to your room." She quickly nodded her head in agreement and got up with a reserve strength. Anything to leave the unexpected drama she just witnessed.

"Did I just imagine that? she asked Amir as soon as they left the room.

"Everything was real Chloe."

"Huh..." She was not sure what to make of the recent development.

"Chloe, darling, forget about that for now and focus on resting. We have a lot to do, remember?" She nodded, shut out all thoughts and let him carefully lead her to her room.