The stove clicked off and Clint walked out into view. He used to talk to her? He didn't remember that, but if it was elementary school then it was no wonder he forgot. That was so many years ago. He was impressed that she had managed to remember though. "Elementary school..that was such a long time ago. I'm surprised you can remember so far back. Now you're here and you're asking for my help. Last time I tried helping you I was told to back off and to stop worrying about you. Yet now I'm hearing the total opposite." His arms were crossed across his chest, a concerned look on his face. Why the sudden change? What was she hiding from? Who was she running from.

Getting close to her, Clint knelt down in front of her and looked at her face carefully. He watched as she held her head and shivered. "Cold?" He asked, reaching out and wrapping the blanket close around her. "Let's see.." Reaching out, his hand rested on her forehead for a split second before he pulled it away. "Fever.." Clint said quietly and stood then left to the kitchen and returned with a wet rag which he folded and placed on her forehead. "Lie down. You need to rest."

Clint stared at Maddie as she spoke, but he just lifted a hand and shook his head. "You can tell me anything you want once you're all better. You have a fever so let's focus on that first before we focus on anything else Maddie." He told her then left and came back with a few things. Setting them down on his coffee table, he slipped a thermometer into her mouth. "No talking." he told her then left once more and returned with a bowl of cold water. Setting it down, he took the rag from her forehead and dropped it in the bowl of water. With a small dry cloth, he dabbed some rubbing alcohol on it and carefully rubbed it on her forehead. "Weird I know, but it's a family thing and it works." Clint explained, knowing she would have questions. Removing the smaller cloth, Clint reached for the rag in the water and made sure to get rid of the excess water then gently placed the now folded rag on her forehead once more. When the thermometer beeped, Clint pulled it out and checked the temperature. "Well it's bad, but it will go down soon enough."

Clint looked at Maddie and tilted his head to the side. "You okay Maddie?" he asked and chuckled. "Still freaked out about the rubbing alcohol? I can understand, it is pretty strange isn't it?" He asked then looked to the kitchen and back at her. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?" As far as he was concerned, she was a guest in his house starting right now. He knew how to treat a guest, he wanted her to feel welcome even though she was more frightened than anything. "Don't worry, you're safe here. No one is going to find you here. And even if someone asks for you, I'm not throwing you under the bus."

Clint nodded, "Yes it is. Sometimes people rub it on the soles of their feet but we stick to the forehead method." He answered. Clint could tell she wasn't exactly relaxed right now. She seemed out of place here which wasn't exactly a good thing. "Really?" He was surprised to hear her say that she wasn't used to being treated with respect and kindness. It seemed strange that not even her own parents treated her properly. "Well I'm not your parents or anyone else. I'm Clint and I'll treat you the way you deserve to be treated." He told her honestly. He would treat her with respect like she was supposed to be treated.

"Not a picky eater?" Clint smiled, well this was good to know actually. "Alright then, just rest here and I'll make us both something to eat." Walking off to the kitchen, he resumed on making the dinner. He thought she would be very hungry, who knew when was the last time she had actually eaten food that was good for her. He made some white rice with broccoli, soy sauce, and chicken breast. Would she be able to eat it all? "You can set the rag in the bowl of water for now while you eat. You can eat there on the couch it's fine but if you prefer to eat at the table, that's fine too."

Clint busied himself and serving them each dinner in a plate and poured them each something to drink. Since she was sick, he thought some water would be fine for the time being. "You're welcome Maddie. I'm just glad I'm able to help. Here, I hope you enjoy and I'm giving you water for now. Once your fever is broken, then you can drink sweet drinks if you want." He explained while setting a tray with her food and drink down carefully in front of her. "Eat up. And if you can't finish it that's okay."

He too decided to sit on an arm chair in the living room to keep her company. If her fever wasn't broken by tomorrow morning, he'd call in sick or something. He didn't want to leave her alone. Especially not when she wasn't feeling her best.

Clint began to eat his dinner calmly while deep in thought. How much longer was she supposed to run? Now, he wasn't a big scary guy, no. He was just a mechanic but he could probably tell whoever it was that was chasing her to back off. Maybe even get the police involved. Maybe not. Glancing at Maddie, he was glad that she was eating at least. She needed some real food in her system. Nothing beat a home cooked meal. It was funny, he didn't know how to cook growing up but he knew he needed to learn eventually, so he did.

"Good to know you enjoyed it and it's okay, you're full and that's good." Clint said then drank some water and looked at her, still pretty worried. "How are you feeling? A little better since you woke up?"

Clint was happy to know she stopped shivering, but looking at her it was easy to see she was still anything but healthy. Finishing up his food and drink, he took his dishes to the sink and washed his hands then walked back and placed the cool wet rag on Maddie's forehead. "Don't worry, you won't have to sleep on the couch. It isn't the most comfortable. I have an extra room you can stay at for now. Don't worry about anything, just focus on getting better. I won't be going to work tomorrow I'm sure, so I'll be here to look after you and then we can talk if you want to. If you don't want to talk though, that's fine too." While Clint was curious to know what the hell happened, he didn't want to force her to talk either. He was more concerned with her health at the moment.

Maddie was out like a light, and Clint didn't want to disturb her. Hopefully she'd feel better the next day. To keep himself busy, Clint put away her leftovers then washed the dishes and then went back to finishing up folding the laundry. Anything really to kill time since he wasn't exactly tired. Every so often, he'd go check on Maddie to make sure she was fine. She still felt warm but at least she wasn't shivering anymore. So many questions, she was a mysterious girl but she had told him that he used to talk to her back when they were much younger. Had they been friends before? Was that why he was helping her subconsciously? Because he knew who she was?

As it got later, the laundry was folded and put away. Doors were locked, lights were turned off and Maddie was carried off to the guest bedroom where she was laid in bed and tucked in. The wet rag was placed on her forehead after more rubbing alcohol had been rubbed on her forehead. "Sleep well Maddie." Clint closed her door behind him and headed to his own room then to get some needed sleep.

That morning, Clint snuck into Maddie's room and replaced the rag with a fresh one then left to let her continue sleeping. He busied himself with making breakfast and called his work to inform the boss that he wouldn't be able to make it today. "Something came up. It's personal but I'll be there tomorrow for sure." Clint didn't like missing a work day, that was one less pay day. Money was important, needed to pay for bills and other things. He wasn't rich like other people around.

He had enjoyed his breakfast and around lunch time, went to check in on Maddie again. "Oh, you're awake now. How'd you sleep?" Clint asked her. Approaching her, he rested his hand on her forehead and sighed. "Well it's gone down quite a bit but it's still lingering there. This is quite a serious fever but you'll be better in no time. "How are you feeling, have any pain anywhere?" He asked her quietly. Friends or strangers, he was going to look out for her. "I don't have work today, so I'm all ears if you want to talk."

"Yes, well I can imagine that a bed is much comfier than the streets." She had a migraine, he had pills for that which he'd gladly bring to her. Before he could get up to leave however, she started to tell him her story. Clint sat on the edge of the bed and listened to her the way any good friend would. She had such a troubled past and never once did she get any form of help it seemed. Instead she ran away and this is where she was now because of that choice. "Oh Maddie.." Clint sighed and shook his head. "I'm very sorry you had to live through that. I can't imagine why any parent would do such a thing. I'm not sure I would have run away, but that does sound like it was your only way out." He explained and politely smiled at her. "Hey now, it's not their fault they were better at kicking the ball than I was." He commented. "Now, now Maddie, don't cry. It's okay. It's in the past, and none of that makes you a bad person for doing what you did. You ran away because that was your only option. Maybe you had no one else to turn to that would understand you. Shame really...had I known I would have asked my parents to take you in. You would have been safe at home with us. But...well you're here now and that's what matters right?" He asked, running his fingers through his hair.

"Acting tough is never easy, but there is nothing wrong with trying to be strong in your weakest moments. It shows great character, I think so anyway. Being strong is the reason you're still here. You're alive, you've survived so much because of it. You've gone through something that I don't think any child should ever have to go through. You were tough from the very beginning though." He said and left only to come back with some warm tea and some pills. "Here, these are for your migraine. They should help. Are you hungry?" He asked. She needed to eat something eventually. Especially after taking any sort of medicine.