Just a warning before you read: Throughout this chapter there is moderate disccusion of Dylan's OCD. If you wish to not continue reading that is completley okay, it is important to prioritse your own wellbeing. If you would prefer i can adapt the chapter/story and post it as a one shot, just let me know in the reviews if you would be interested in that.


Day 4

On the morning of their fourth day in isolation, Sam awoke to the sound of the shower running. Usually, she would hurry out of bed and prepare for her morning work out but not this morning, something felt strange. It felt like someone was sitting on her chest ,suffocating her; the tightness was constant. Slowly, she sat up in an attempt to allow more oxygen into her lungs - her head spun at what felt like a million miles per hour. Her body felt completely lifeless. Nonetheless, she dragged herself from the warm embrace of her duvet and got up to check on Dylan.

The young woman slowly padded through to the bathroom, where she had just heard the shower being turned off and stood outside the door momentarily before speaking.

"Dylan? You okay? How are you feeling?" she croaked her voice hoarse and tired.

Dylan furrowed his brow instantly picking up on the weary tone of his partner's voice,"yeah,I'm feeling a bit better today. How are you?" he spoke in response through the door.

"Yeah I'm okay," she lied , unaware of what was causing her to feel so horrendous.

Sam's poor attempt at reassuring him, proved to be unsuccessful very quickly as she burst into a fit of coughing. Behind the door, Dylan's mind exploded with worry; this was his worst nightmare. He cursed under his breath, simultaneously tightening his fist, " Sam… Go get the thermometer," he ordered her, not meaning to sound quite so bossy.

On the outside he was trying to stay calm for Sam's sake(well at least that's what he was telling himself); on the inside his brain was overwhelmed with concern.

"Why? Are you feeling hot?" she questioned, without even a second thought as to what could be causing her symptoms.

"Go get it… Take your own temperature," he sighed gently.

"But I'm fine…" Sam argued.

"Just to put my mind at rest then…" he pleaded, his mind desperately craving reassurance.

Sam nodded and padded through to the kitchen to retrieve the digital thermometer. A few moments later, she returned holding the machine up to her ear to check her temperature.

Dylan instantly recognised the beep of the thermometer to indicate that it was done scanning,"what does it say?" he crossed his fingers, hoping it would be within the normal range.

" Erm 38.5… I'm sure it's nothing," she mumbled in response, trying to brush it off.

Dylan's heart skipped a beat.

" No Sam. It's not nothing. You need to go book a pcr test and drink lots of fluids and take some paracetamol," he instructed, really struggling to keep calm.


Sam spent the day cuddled up on the sofa with Dervla,apart from leaving once to go for her PCR test, she hadn't moved. She felt completely exhausted, every inch of her body ached ; she didn't want to eat and couldn't think of anything worse than exercise. Never had she wanted a cuddle from Dylan more than she did at this moment.

The day soon rolled into evening, Dylan was beginning to grow impatient; he needed to know Sam's Covid test result. His mind raced with worry and possibilities. Throughout the day, he hadn't managed to do anything but worry- he had paced the room so many times he was sure there was holes in the carpet starting to form. He had searched the internet for Covid symptom relief methods, leaving no stone hadn't even had the confirmation of a positive test and Dylan was riddled with worry.


The text confirming Sam's positive Covid test popped up around 8pm and after a quick conversation with track and trace about isolation dates and close contacts, she wanted nothing more than to snuggle up in bed with Dylan. The realisation that it would now be safe for her to go and see Dylan pleased her somewhat. Four days apart felt like a century when you had no one else for company.

Slowly, she picked her aching body up off the sofa - where she had spent the last day- and padded through to the bedroom. Pulling the duvet back she slowly slipped into bed beside a sleeping Dylan, who had just about fallen asleep from the exhaustion of worrying all day.

The sense of her familar touch, caused Dylan to stir; a touch he hadn't felt in four long days. He could feel the heat radiating off her and her gentle breaths on the back of her neck; he could hear the crackle of her chest as she exhaled and her gentle groans as she shuffled around uncomfortably.

Turning to face her, he spoke gently ,"have you had your test back?"

She nodded tiredly in response, " positive…" she whispered shifting up against his chest.

A small sighed escaped Dylan's lips, although he was panicked by this revalation- he had some how managed to stay calm. Perhaps it was the comort of having Sam safely tucked in his arms or the reassurance of her chest rising and falling. He felt the need to protect her, the overwhelming urge to hold onto her and never let go.