Here's the first chapter to my next multi chapter fic. Thank you to lurkingwhump for listening to me ramble about what project I wanted to attack next!
Kurt woke up to an empty bed. The sheets where his wife usually lay were still warm, indicating she hadn't been gone for long.
"Jane?" he called, though he received no response. Wearily, he heaved himself out of bed to try and search for his wife. "Jane?" he called again to the empty apartment.
He walked into the kitchen, noticing her jogging shoes weren't on the shoe rack. Seeing a yellow piece of paper sitting on the counter, he strode over, picking it up.
'Be back soon x' was all it said.
"Jane!" he grumbled, reaching for his cell phone. He hit the speed dial, balancing his phone under his ear while he put his own shoes on. Maybe he could catch up to her…
He grumbled again when her phone connected to voicemail.
Jane had only been released from the hospital a fortnight ago after receiving the cure for her ZIP poisoning. Her sight was still blurry and she still suffered migraines and breathlessness. She had been told to take it easy - which she had for the first week. But her agitation and cabin fever had been setting in the last few days. He had also been meticulously following the doctor's orders, which had only grown her frustration further.
Now she had snuck out in the early hours of the morning to go for a run?
He felt a pang of guilt as he realised he probably should have listened to her more. Maybe then she wouldn't have felt to need to sneak around behind his back. He knew she just wanted some normality back in her life.
He grabbed his keys, locking the apartment behind him and took off down the street. He decided he would try her usual route first, heading in the direction of the park down the street of their house.
Five minutes into the park, he found her sitting on the grass, her head in her hands.
He slowed to a walk, not wanting to startle her.
"Jane?" he asked softly.
He watched as her shoulders started to shake and sat down beside her on the still damp grass.
"I thought I could do it." she sobbed, frustrated. "I only made it five minutes before I collapsed."
Kurt eyes her worriedly at that confession.
"Are you hurt?" he asked directly.
She shook her head miserably.
"Only my pride." she murmured as a fresh lot of tears escaped from her eyes.
"Oh Jane." he said, pulling her into his arms. She buried her face in his shirt. "It's gonna take some time." he said gently.
She nodded into his shoulder.
"It's so unfair." she cried.
Kurt kissed her head softly.
"Why don't we start with something smaller." he suggested softly. "Do you feel up to walking around the park with me a little?"
She looked up at him with tear stricken eyes.
"But the doctor said-"
"It doesn't matter." he said cutting her off. "The doctor also said you need to listen to your body. Even if that means listening to your head." he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "If you feel you are up to getting some more exercise than walking around the apartment, then we will do it."
Jane's chin wobbled.
"Thank you." she said, trying to smile up at him. He reached out, brushing the last of her tears away.
"But Jane, you have to promise me one thing."
She looked up at him expectantly.
"You don't do this alone. You let me help you."
She nodded.
"Ok." she whispered softly.
"Come on." he said standing up. "Let's get you off this cold ground." He extended his hand to her and pulled her to her feet slowly, balancing her as she swayed slightly.
He offered her his arm.
"Shall we?"
She smiled, taking his arm in her own.
They took off slowly, making their around the park and back to their apartment.
By the time they arrived back, Jane was exhausted.
Kurt lead her to the couch, helping her sink back into the pillows with a sigh. He reached down and removed her running shoes and socks, before replacing them with a pair of fuzzy bed socks.
Jane sighed in relief. She was still having trouble controlling her temperature, mostly unable to get warm. She closed her eyes, and had nearly drifted off when she felt the couch dip beside her. She opened her eyes to see a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of her.
She eyed him wearily.
"Can I even drink coffee yet?" she asked, but the expression on her face was hopeful.
"I don't see why not." he replied, smiling at her hopeful innocence. He handed her the cup and watched her nurse the beverage, warming her hands, before she took her first sip.
"Mmm." she murmured, her eyes closing in pure bliss.
Kurt grinned.
There hadn't been too many moments since leaving the hospital, where he had seen her genuinely smile. She had been too unwell in the beginning, needing to sleep a lot, and then the agitation had started. He was yet to return to work himself, opting to stay by her side during the recovery process.
They sat in a companionable silence while they drank the rest of their coffee.
"I think I might go and have a lie down." Jane said once she had drained the contents of her mug.
"Headache?" Kurt asked knowingly.
Jane nodded, pushing herself up off the couch slowly. She had learned the hard way to take things slow.
"Do you want one of your pills?" Kurt asked, following her to the bedroom.
She shook her head.
"No it's not that bad." she said sincerely, knowing he would be able to see right through her. "I think I'll just feel better if I have a bit of a sleep."
She changed into some fresh sweats and one of Kurt's hoodies, before climbing under the bundle of blankets that she had piled on her side of the bed.
Kurt moved forward, sitting beside her. He leant forward, kissing her temple softly.
"Sweet dreams, baby." he whispered, in what had become their daily mantra.
Jane smiled softly, before her face reverted back into the frown that had become her natural expression as of late.
He delicately stroked the side of her head, pushing her hair off of her face.
"I'll wake you in a couple of hours." he murmured softly, before getting up and shutting the door softly behind him.
He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried about her. While today had ended up being a triumph, it was still upsetting to know that she would rather push herself over the edge, than ask him for help. It was beginning to feel like she was pushing him away. It didn't feel like she was doing it maliciously, or even consciously, but Kurt had been noticing more and more than she was more reluctant to accept his help.
He sighed.
He knew this was hard on her. She had gone from being so physically fit and able, to getting puffed walking around their apartment. He knew she was so grateful to be alive at all, but he also knew how important it was for her to build herself up as quickly as possible.
The doctor, as had Patterson, had warned him to keep an eye on her mental state, saying that not being able to express herself physically like she normally would be able to, could possibly cause a downward spiral mentally.
Kurt had dismissed both of them. Jane had been so happy in the hospital, so relieved she hadn't died. He had kind of figured that she would continue to feel that way. But after weeks of being cooped up in their apartment, too weak to move, he was beginning to see a darkness setting in behind her eyes.
It was a darkness he recognized, one he had seen in his father's eyes one too many times.
He sat on the couch, burying his face in his hands.
He needed to be careful, otherwise he was going to lose her. Not to the ZIP poisoning. But to her own demons.
Kurt sighed, making up his mind the moment the idea came into his head.
Tomorrow they were both going to go to work. She technically wasn't cleared to come back medically, but even just to visit the team - to get out of this godforsaken house.
Kurt relaxed back into the couch wearily. It had been over a month since he had managed a decent night's sleep, and it was beginning to take its toll. He looked at his watch.
It was a few hours before he needed to wake Jane. He set an alarm on his phone, before closing his eyes himself, hoping to get some much needed rest.