## Chapter 4: A Coughing Conundrum

The next morning, Phryne woke up feeling a bit worse for wear. Her throat was sore, and her chest felt tight. She coughed, a deep, hacking sound that made her wince. She was not fine. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, Phryne's head spun, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, and slowly got out of bed. Phryne shuffled to the bathroom, her eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep. She splashed some water on her face, trying to wake herself up, and then made her way to the kitchen to make some tea. As she waited for the kettle to boil, she couldn't help but think about the case and how much she wanted to get back to work. Just as she was pouring herself a cup of tea, Phryne's phone rang. It was Jack. "Phryne, how are you feeling today?" he asked, his voice a bit gruff. Phryne took a deep breath, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I'm fine, Jack. Just a bit...rested. I'm ready to get back to work." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Phryne could almost hear Jack's skepticism. "Phryne, are you sure? You sounded a bit...congested yesterday. Maybe you should take it easy today?" Phryne bristled at the suggestion, but a part of her knew that Jack was right. She was not fine. But she was determined to prove him wrong. "I'm fine, Jack. I promise. I'll meet you at the station in an hour." As she hung up the phone, Phryne let out a coughing fit, her chest heaving with the effort. She wasn't fine. She was a mess. But she was determined to push through, no matter what. With a newfound sense of resolve, Phryne finished her tea, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door. She would show Jack that she was still a force to be reckoned with, even with a cold. As she walked to the station, Phryne's coughing fits became more frequent, and she found herself gasping for breath. She rummaged through her bag for a handkerchief, only to find that she had used them all the day before. When she arrived at the station, Jack looked at her with a mixture of concern and exasperation. "Phryne, I think you should go home," he said firmly. "You're not well, and I won't have you collapsing on me in the middle of the case." Phryne opened her mouth to protest, but a loud coughing fit interrupted her. She covered her mouth with her hand, feeling a sense of defeat wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as fine as she thought. "Phryne, listen to me," Jack said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're not going to solve this case if you're stuck in bed with pneumonia. Let me and the team handle it for now, and you can take care of yourself." Phryne nodded, feeling a bit deflated. She knew Jack was right, but it was hard to admit it. She turned and walked out of the station, her coughing fits echoing through the hallway. As she walked home, Phryne couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. She had been so sure she could push through her cold and still solve the case. But now, it seemed like her body had other plans. She trudged up the stairs to her front door, feeling defeated and exhausted. But even as she let herself in and collapsed onto the couch, Phryne couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing out on something important. She had a feeling that the case was on the verge of breaking, and she was stuck on the sidelines, sipping tea and blowing her nose. With a sigh, Phryne reached for the phone and dialed Jack's number. "I'm sorry, Jack," she said, her voice weak but sincere. "You were right. I'm not fine. Take care of the case without me, and I'll see you when I'm feeling better." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Jack said, "Don't worry, Phryne. We'll take care of it. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Phryne nodded, even though Jack couldn't see her. "Okay, Jack. Thanks." As she hung up the phone, Phryne let out a deep sigh and settled back into the couch, surrounded by tissues and handkerchiefs. She was not fine, but she would be soon. And when she was, she would be back to her old self, sniffles and all.