When Charlotte woke up in the morning, her throat was somewhat sore. Khan got her some water, but it didn't work. He decided that it was just the stress of her work to save him and now she was sick because of it. Both she and Khan thought that it was a cold and decided to go exploring. But, after a few hours of this, Charlotte fainted. She regained conciousness in the ship. Khan looked worried.

"This is bad." He said. "You've got a fever."

"What's my tempature?" Charlotte asked.

"One hundred and two point nine degrees." Khan said. Charlotte's eyes widened. She was a doctor and knew that wasn't good at all. She tried to sit up and Khan pushed her down. "Rest, my darling. You have need of it."

Charlotte nodded and took a long nap. Khan took her tempature while she was sleeping and saw that her fever had gone down. He wondered if maybe this was just a temporary virus that would go away. These sort of things had no affect on Khan because of his supieror engineering. When Charlotte woke up, Khan gave her some water. It wasn't too cold since he didn't want to shock her stomach. She threw it back up after five minutes of it being in her stomach. Khan knew that this was bad.

It only got worse as time went on. She wasn't able to keep anything down, the fever kept coming back, and got very weak in a short span of time. She deteriorated to the point where she couldn't even open her eyes. Khan offered a blood transfusion, since his blood could probably cure this, but Charlotte had coughed out a feeble, 'no.' Khan had to carry her everywhere since she couldn't walk. She had lost so much weight that she was light as a feather to Khan. Khan came to her bedside after trying to find out what was wrong with her.

"My darling, have you drank any of the water on this planet before consulting me?" Khan asked. Charlotte gave a small shake of her head. "Have you eaten anything?" Charlotte shook her head again. "What could it be, then?"

As the days continued, Charlotte didn't get any worse but she didn't get any better either. Khan spent every waking moment at her bedside. She could hear and sense him, but she couldn't see him. Khan was terrified. Charlotte refused his blood because she didn't know how she would deal with her new-found strength that it would give her. Khan was getting frustrated. He couldn't help Charlotte in this state. At one point, he had just sat down and had a good cry. Khan had only cried twice: Once when he was telling the story of his crew and now about Charlotte dying. He knew that she was dying. It was just the truth.

"Charlotte, please allow me to give you my blood. It will save you." Khan said.

"No. Don't you dare, Khan." Charlotte said in a whisper. "I love you, but you need to be brave. I don't want to-"

Charlotte broke off into a coughing fit. Khan rubbed her back and his heart nearly stopped when he saw that she was hacking up blood.

"Charlotte, please!" Khan said. "I don't want to watch you die."

"Khan, I don't want uncontrolable strength. I'm scared I would hurt someone." Charlotte said.

"You won't. You've said it yourself, you're too kind and gentle to hurt anyone." Khan said. "Even if you did, I could teach you how to control yourself. I learned."

"No, Khan." Charlotte said. "Now, let me sleep."

Charlotte's breathing evened out. It was shallow. Khan knew that her time was almost up. He didn't care what she wanted. He went to the med bay and grabbed a needle and flask. He didn't care about his phobia as he filled the flask with his crimson blood. He ran back to Charlotte's room and connected the flask to his wife's IV. He and Charlotte had the same blood type so there was no need for a transfusion. Khan watched Charlotte's sleeping form. Already her vital signs looked good. She would probably be awake soon. Khan pulled up a chair next to her bed and watched Charlotte. Charlotte's breathing had already grown deeper and not as shallow. He hoped she would be awake by early evening.

Charlotte woke up a few hours later, feeling well and refreshed. She then saw Khan sitting at her bedside. He looked somewhat guilty, but also relieved.

"You've pulled through." He said.

"You gave me your blood." Charlotte said. Anger flashed in her eyes. "I told you not to!"

"What was I supposed to do, watch you die?!" Khan yelled. "You're my world, Charlotte! I couldn't do it!"

"Well, forgive me for not being pleased that I now could be a homicidal maniac!" Charlotte said. "Because, if I am, it's your fault!"

"Oh, so this is my fault now?" Khan gaped.

"Yeah!" Charlotte said. "I specifically told you not to give me your blood!"

"I would have thought you'd be happy to be alive!" Khan said. He got up and went to her bedside. He kneeled down so he could be on eye level with her. He took her hands and kissed them. "I didn't want to live without you. It would have been no fun to run from StarFleet without you." Charlotte smiled weakly at Khan and laughed. She then remembered that she was mad at him and shook her head, scowling at him. Khan chuckled. "You're quite cute when angry, my darling."

"I am not cute!" Charlotte said. "I am fire! I am death!"

"You are cute." Khan said.

Khan pressed his lips to Charlotte's and ran his fingers through her hair. When they broke apart, she let her forehead rest against Khan's. They smiled softly at each other.

"Hey, Khan?" Charlotte said.

"Hm?" Khan said.

"Can we cuddle?" Charlotte asked.

"Okay." Khan sighed.

He laid down with Charlotte in his arms. Khan was holding her gently, as if she would break if he held her too tightly. Charlotte smiled tiredly and nuzzled Khan.

"I know I don't seem grateful right now, but I probably will soon." Charlotte said.

"Good." Khan nodded. "I was just so scared to lose you."

"I know." Charlotte nodded. "I understand why you did it, but it doesn't mean I'm happy."

"I can understand that." Khan nodded. "But I've been thinking. I want to leave this planet. If it made you that sick, I don't want to take any risks."

"Are we going to be on the run forever, Khan?" Charlotte asked.

"It seems that way." Khan sighed. "I'm sorry, my darling."

"It isn't your fault." Charlotte said. "I love you, Khan."

"I love you too." Khan said.

Charlotte and Khan just laid together, talking quietly about what to do and where to go. Khan suggested they go around Earth and see if they could find anything around that province. Charlotte said no. There was a huge chance StarFleet would find them that way and then they would both be killed. Khan brought the conversation to a halt so he could rest. He hadn't slept at all during the time that Charlotte had been sick. He smiled as he kissed her on the lips. Charlotte nuzzled Khan and kissed him back. He broke the kiss and then rested his head on Charlotte's neck and breathed in her scent. Charlotte ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his head.

"I'm sorry I gave you such a fright." She said.

"I was so scared to lose you." Khan said. "But, the important thing is that you're here."

"I'm scared, Khan." Charlotte said.

"Why?" Khan asked.

"I don't know how to control my strength now." Charlotte said.

"I'll teach you." Khan said. "And don't you dare worry that beautiful mind of yours. There's nothing to hurt within miles."

"That's good to know." Charlotte sighed.

"My darling, what's your biggest fear?" Khan asked.

"Either losing you or StarFleet finding us." Charlotte said. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just trying to keep the conversation going." Khan said. (And I'm trying to make the word count have more words.)

Charlotte chuckled. "Well, what's your biggest fear? Besides needles and losing me."

"I don't really now. I suppose Marcus, but he's gone now. I'm not really afraid of anything besides that." Khan said.

"I envy you, Khan." Charlotte sighed. "But, I'm not going to bore you by talking about them. Get your rest, love."

Khan took Charlotte's hand in one of his own and held it around his body. Charlotte continued to run her free hand through his hair. Neither of them moved or said a word. Charlotte smiled. She finally felt...safe. She also felt perfectly healthy again, thanks to Khan.

When Khan woke up, it was early evening. Charlotte was still with him. She smiled affectionatetly down at him.

"Well, look who's back in the land of the living." She said. "Welcome back."

"Hey." Khan smiled. "Have you thought at all about where we should go?"

"I think we should just stay here. We can stay on the ship." Charlotte said. "I'm tired of running, Khan."

"But-" Khan started.

"We're both immune to it now. Thanks to your blood, I think I'm even immune to the most deadly diseases." Charlotte knocked on the wood of her nightstand.

"You do that?" Khan raised his eyebrows. Charlotte nodded and gave him a look that told him not to say more. "What do you think it even was?"

"I think there might have been something in the air that was deadly to someone like me- a normal person I mean -but it was nothing for you." Charlotte said. "If things don't work out, we'll leave."

"All right." Khan nodded. "We'll stay here for the time being, but if anything goes wrong, we leave."

"Agreed." Charlotte nodded.

"I'm gonna go get something to eat." Khan said. "Would you care to join me?"

"Sure." Charlotte said.

"Let me help you up." Khan said.

"No, no, I can do this myself." Charlotte said. She stood up and the room seemed to sway around her. Khan tried to come over to her and help, but Charlotte gently pushed him back. "You have to let me do this."

"Okay." Khan sighed.

Charlotte took a few shakey steps towards him. She paused for a minute, trying to get her bearings. Khan walked toward her. Charlotte gave him a look. She managed, after several minutes, to make it to him. She let Khan help her after that. He wanted to pick her up and carry her to the kitchen, but she wouldn't have it. It took them at least fifteen minutes to get there when it should have only taken five. Khan gave her some saltine crackers since that would be light on her stomach while he had some soup. When they both finished, Khan looked to Charlotte.

"Do you think you're up to walking further, my darling?" He asked.

"Maybe." Charlotte said.

"Come on." Khan said.

Charlotte stood up. Khan also stood up and then went over to her. He placed a gentle hand on her back.

"Would you like to walk by yourself, or have me walk you?" Khan asked.

"I want to walk by myself." Charlotte said.

"Very well." Khan nodded.

Charlotte strarted to walk to the bay with Khan. She was able to walk better now that she had some food in her, but she was still a little shakey. She made it, though.

"Good job." Khan smiled and kissed her on the lips. "Would you be able to go exploring today?"

"I suppose so." Charlotte nodded.

"Can you go now?"

"Probably." Charlotte said.

"Then let's go." Khan said.

They walked outside of the ship. Charlotte was glad to feel the cool breeze on her face. They walked around, holding hands, and tried to find anything that might be a threat to them. Charlotte seemed to have her strength back. They both suddenly heard a whirring noise and looked up. They were both horrified to see a StarFleet ship decending.

"How?" Charlotte breathed.

"RUN!" Khan shouted.