When Jack awoke he stretched out, then got redressed and went back out to the living area. Before he would leave, he awaited for Pumpkin to wake up, as he wanted to thank her one last time before he left.
She came out looking very sick. She coughed hoarsely, in a way that sounded very painful, Jack cringed because just yesterday, she was a vision of health.
"Good morning" she said very quietly, her voice no louder than a whisper.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.
"I'm fine" she replied...and then sneezed. Several times.
Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and helped her sit down.
"I am not going to leave until you are well again." Jack said simply, but adamantly.
"No, you really don't have to." she frowned, she didn't want to put him through more trouble than is necessary.
"No, I must help you. You gave me food and shelter, and I must repay you." he replied, even more adamantly. He made it clear that he was not going anywhere.
"You really don't have to. It's okay."
"No, it is what is right." he said, gently stroking her hair.
She blushed. She coughed again.
Jack stood up, and went to the kitchen, so that he could make her soup. Pumpkin just stared at the archway to the kitchen, as Jack put water to boil. He came back into the room shortly after.
"Why are you doing this? You really don't have to repay me." she frowned.
He sat down next to her. "I could not leave, knowing you're sick, after how you helped me."
She looked down. She coughed again, her throat feeling absolutely raw, from all of the roughness coughing was on it. She appeared delirious, her head pounded, and she could barely breathe through her nose. She sniffled a little, and felt extremely dizzy as a result. Jack invited her to lean on him, for comfort. She scooted closer to him, and gently set her head on his shoulder. She nuzzled a little bit, feeling more relaxed, now that she had something to lean on-she felt the weight her head put on her shoulders instantly vanish. Jack gently stroked her hair. She was so delirious she was in an almost sleep like state, but she was also in a cold sweat.
Jack felt her forehead with the back of his palm, and it confirmed what he'd thought-that she had a fever. She sneezed, and Jack wiped her nose with the sleeve of his robe. Her cat walked over and nuzzled his hip, so he picked up the cat and put it in Pumpkin's lap, hoping that might cheer her up. He stroked her hair more.
The water in the kitchen came to a boil, so Jack stood up and went to check on it. He made the soup, then let it cool a little bit, so he wouldn't burn Pumpkin. Minutes later, he came back, sat down again, and fed the soup to her-blowing on each spoonful, just to make sure he didn't burn her.
She slowly ate each spoonful, her throat burning from being sore. After she finished, she was practically asleep. Jack picked her up and took her to her room and tucked her in. He stayed close by in case she needed anything.
As would be expected from someone who is sick-her sleep didn't look peaceful or comfortable in the slightest. She looked in pain every time she gulped, he breathing was either sniffles or through her mouth-he felt pity for her sick state. He stroked her forehead-it was clammy as she was still in a cold sweat.
She woke up slightly and coughed.
"Do you need anything?" he frowned.
"Water." she said hoarsely.
He handed her a cup of water. She gulped it down, but still seemed uncomfortable-most likely from her sore throat.
She immediately laid back down, and tried to sleep again.
Jack still stayed close by.
At times, she would murmur weird phrases-likely from her delirious sick dreams. Jack wished there was more he could do for her.
When it was finally morning, Pumpkin still looked exhausted, from a restless night of sleep-if what she experienced could even be called sleep. Jack felt her forehead.
"Your fever is going down" he said with a smile, gently stroking her forehead afterwards.
Pumpkin coughed a bit. "I still feel like hell." She frowned, sniffling, and wiping her nose a bit. She sniffled immediately afterwards, and sat up.
"I will make you some tea." Jack said, touching her cheek, and then heading back to the kitchen.
She sighed, as she watched him leave the room. She touched her cheek where he had touched, and sighed again. Maybe it was her fever, but she felt a warmth burning inside her, possibly directed at him. She sniffled, her nose sore from her sickness. She looked down at her blanket, her eyelids feeling heavy. She was determined, however, to stay awake until he was to come back in.
Minutes, that felt like eons, passed, and Jack came back and poured Pumpkin a cup of tea, and gently blew on it, so that she would not burn herself, like he had done earlier with the soup. After 3 good blows, he handed her the cup, his hands on hers, to make sure she didn't drop or spill it on herself. Jack noticed she was flushed, and making eye contact with him. Of course, he innocently just assumed that she was red because she was sick, after all, last he'd checked, she still had a high fever. But nonetheless, he smiled at her, reassuringly, as he helped guide her hands for her to take a sip.
She slightly smiled back after swallowing a gulp of tea.
"Do you think you are getting better, small Pumpkin?" he smiled.
"Yes..." she looked down, but she didn't really want him to leave.
"That is good." he smiled and stroked her hair gently.
"I'm going to miss you when I get better." she sighed a little, and looked at him tiredly.
Jack looked down a bit, and felt bad. He wanted to tell her he'd come visit, but he knew that wouldn't be the case once he defeated Aku...
"Do not worry about that yet, small Pumpkin." he stroked her hair more, and then gently kissed her forehead.
She yawned and went back to sleep.
He stood up and went out the door of her room, but then took one last glance at her sleeping, before going to the living area. He sat down to meditate, but Rick got in his lap and started purring and nuzzling him. He chuckled a bit. "I will miss you too, neko-chan"
Rick rolled onto his back and Jack rubbed the kitty's tum, chuckling a small amount. He eventually retired to bed, himself.
A couple days went by, as Pumpkin slowly recovered from her illness, enough that she could actually get out of bed without stumbling onto the ground. Jack made her soup, and they ate dinner together.
"Thank you again for helping me through my illness." she smiled at him.
"It was no problem. It was what was right. I could not leave knowing you were ill." he said politely, reaching out to stroke her hair.
She blushed more. He smiled.
"I'm going to miss you a lot...do you ever think we'll meet again?" she frowned.
He sighed. "I...I cannot be sure of that. Eventually I will have to defeat Aku and go back to the past where I belong. I would most enjoy if I were be able to see you again." he touched her cheek, and looked her in the eyes.
She hugged him. He was surprised by the action, but hugged back.
She pulled back. "I-I'm sorry...I just..." she blushed even more.
"It is alright." he slightly blushed as well. Soon enough, dinner was finished, and it was time for Jack to leave.
Pumpkin and Jack said their final goodbyes to one another, and Jack was about to leave, when Pumpkin stopped him.
"Jack, before you go..." she handed him a folded up blanket. "I want to give you this, so you can remember me." she smiled.
"Thank you." he smiled.
"A-and...another thing..." she kissed him on the cheek. "Be careful. I hope you will be fortunate in your quest." she smiled.
He touched his cheek, smiling and blushing, before heading out of the village.
But, of course...he was barely a mile from the village when he heard screams of terror and pain. His blood went cold, as his emotions went straight to pure panic. He turned around, and ran back to the village as quickly as he could.
But what he found was horrifying...but not surprising to him.