Facing It Alone: Chapter Three
Matt gathered up all his things and made his way out of the room that he'd been kept "prisoner" in for the last 48 hours.
"Matt?"
Matt spun around when he heard someone calling his name.
"He… hey, what are you doing here?" Matt stuttered, not quite believing who was standing in front of him.
"I could ask you the same question."
"I asked you first though." Matt answered stubbornly.
"I donate money to the hospital."
"Oh, well that's nice of you… I'm here visiting a friend." Matt said, though he was sure they knew he was lying.
Just then, Emma came running towards them.
"Oh good, you're still here. You forgot to sign your discharge form." Emma said, slightly out of breath.
"Uh, sorry." Apologised Matt as he signed the papers hastily.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Matt." Emma said as she walked off.
Once Emma had gone, Jack gave Matt a knowing look. "So you're just 'visiting a friend huh?'"
"I…" Stuttered Matt.
Jack held up his hand, signalling that Matt needn't explain.
"Come on, I'll drive you home."
Jack awkwardly placed his hand on Matt's shoulder to help guide him to the car.
"I'll be fine." Matt said uncomfortably.
Just then, Matt's knees buckled beneath him and he had to rely on Jack to help him.
XxXxX
The majority of the drive up to Matt's home in the Hollywood Hills was spent in silence. Neither Jack nor Matt knew what to say to each other. It didn't help that Matt felt particularly queasy every time the car made any sudden movements.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked, looking over at Matt nervously.
"Eh, I think so. I'm not going to puke in your car, if that's what you're thinking." Matt reassured Jack, smiling slightly.
"I know you all think I'm a complete jackass most of the time, but there is a nice guy in me… somewhere." Jack joked, trying to ease the tension.
XxXxX
"Are you sure you don't need me to do anything else for you?" Jack asked, while helping Matt get settled in front of the T.V.
"Honestly Jack, I'm fine."
"Okay, well I'll go." Jack said, clearing his throat as he stood up.
"Kay!"
"You know what, I'll just stay and make sure you're okay for a little while." Jack told him, as he loosened his tie and made himself comfortable.
Matt looked over at him in surprise. This was not the Jack Rudolph that he was familiar with. Although; he hated to admit it, he was somewhat relieved that he wasn't alone. He closed his eyes and let the sound from the T.V slowly lull him to sleep, the past couple of days catching up with him.
XxXxX
Matt woke up the next morning, his back aching from sleeping on the couch all night. He opened his eyes a little, only to be blinded by the bright sunlight shining through the open curtains.
As he got used to the light, his eyes fell on a black corduroy jacket that was neatly slung over the side of the chair next to him. Jack must have left it here last night when he dropped me off, thought Matt.
"Morning."
Matt jumped when he heard Jack's voice coming from the other couch.
"Shit, I didn't see you there! Have you been here all night?" Matt asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah, I fell asleep." Jack replied, his voice groggy.
"Oh, okay."
"Well, I'll get going then." Jack said, tying his shoes and standing.
"Thanks for, you know… everything." Matt said, slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it." Jack said with a nod.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Matt said. He started to get up and shake Jack's hand, but decided against it; as a wave of nausea hit him.
"I don't think so." Jack told him firmly.
"What do you mean you don't think so? It's Monday tomorrow." Matt shot Jack a confused look.
"Yeah, you're taking the week off, Matt. I don't care if you don't want anyone to know. Tell them you have the flu or something, but don't come to work."
"But…"
"Call me if you need me." Jack said, ignoring Matt as he left.
XxXxX
Jordan entered Danny's office on Monday morning, a worried look on her face as she noticed how miserable Danny looked.
"What's wrong?" Jordan asked, moving behind Danny and rubbing his shoulders.
"Matt's not coming to work."
"Oh my God, is he ok?" Jordan asked worriedly, moving around to sit on Danny's lap.
"He has the flu." Sulked Danny.
"The flu? You made it sound like you'd never see him again." Jordan said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Well, it's just going to be weird, don't you think? God knows what Jack will say. Matt reckons he'll be off the entire week."
"Aw, you'll have no one to play with." Teased Jordan.
"Aren't you scared of what Jack will say?" Danny asked.
"Why would I be scared? You're the one telling him." Bantered Jordan.
XxXxX
Danny nervously knocked on Jack's office door as Jordan waited patiently outside.
"Come in." Called Jack.
"Hi, it's about Matt." Danny begun.
"Okay, I don't have long. What is it?" Jack asked impatiently.
"Matt has the flu, so he doesn't think he'll be in to work this week." Danny said, picking up the model car from Jack's desk and playing with it as he nervously waited for a response.
"Okay…" Jack said, glancing up at Danny, who immediately put the car down.
"Just okay…? You do realise the only writers we'll have are Darius, Lucy and Andy." Informed Danny.
"Do you not think I have more important things to worry about than Matt Albie sitting at home with the flu?" Snapped Jack.
"Okay…" Danny said, cracking his knuckles as he turned to leave.
"And Danny… Just because Matt's off this week, this doesn't mean you have an excuse for the show to do badly on Friday. I want the audience retention to remain in the upper 90's." Ordered Jack.
XxXxX
Jack walked over to Matt's door and knocked lightly.
"Hi." Matt greeted him groggily.
"Hey. The nurse said you'll be finished in an hour, so I'll wait around to take you home." Jack said, as he took a seat beside Matt.
"Thanks." Matt replied quietly, knowing that if he spoke any more, he'd throw up.
"No problem…" Jack looked around the room as he tried to think of something else to say.
"Why are you doing this?" Matt asked. "We're not exactly friends."
"No, we're not… But you shouldn't have to do this alone - no one should have to do this alone." Jack explained.
Matt opened his eyes and looked at Jack.
"My mom bravely battled cancer for five years; before passing away last year. She died on her own while I was at work." Jack said, swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat.
"I don't know why I'm telling you this…" Apologised Jack.
Matt smiled weakly at him. "Well, I appreciate you being here."
XxXxX
"So, how do you feel?" Jack asked, sitting down on the couch next to Matt.
"Like shit." Matt let out a small laugh.
"Well, I've seen you look worse. Remember that night at the wrap party, where you got really drunk and threw up all over Wilson White?" Jack laughed at the memory of that night.
"The night you fired us you mean? Yeah, I don't really remember much from that evening."
"Well, you were quite drunk."
"And you were quite the jackass."
They were both silent for a few minutes, neither sure what to say.
"You know, if we were friends, this would be have been our first fight." Matt said, leaning his head back on the couch.
"We're not friends though…" Jack said as he picked up the remote and switched on the T.V.
"Yeah, no, we're not." Replied Matt, grabbing the remote control off of Jack and switching over to "30 Rock"
Matt and Jack watched the screen as the rats ran loose, wreaking havoc as they hid beneath the stage.
"I can't believe you watch this crap. That would never happen" Jack said, pointing to the screen. "No decent producer in their right mind would allow wild animals to roam around the studio like that."
"Uhm, yeah, that is ridiculous."
XxXxX
"Urgh." Groaned Matt, as he stumbled to the bathroom, clutching his stomach to be sick, again.
"Are you okay?" someone asked from outside the bathroom.
"Who the fuck?" He thought, as the last couple of hours slowly came back to him.
"I'm fine Jack." Matt replied as he opened the bathroom door slowly, sounding as unconvincing as he felt.
"Here, eat this." Jack said, holding a plate of food out to him.
"Urgh." Was all Matt could utter, before returning to the bathroom to be sick again.
"Hey, I happen to be famous for my breakfasts, my wife never complained…"
"Yeah, and look how that turned out." Groaned Matt.
"You have to eat something."
"Why? Whatever I eat, I'll just throw up anyway" he said, as he felt his stomach muscles contract for what felt like the 100th time that morning.
Jack sighed as he threw the then cold food into the trash. He knew he wouldn't be able to get him to eat anything, but at least he tried.
TBC