Chapter 4

They kept her in the hospital for another week. By the time she got home, Leslie was quite sure that she never wanted to sleep again. The problem was that six years of not using her muscles had left her weak, meaning that she was no longer able to go on the long walks to which she had been accustomed. In the Underground, she had been able to walk, but she supposed her strength had been enhanced by the labyrinths magic.

Leslie exercised as much as she could every day, trying to build her muscles back up. She knew she might not ever get them back to their former strength, but at least she could get back to where she was functioning normally.

What truly bothered her, however, was that none of her friends had come to see her since shed gotten out of the hospital. Noelle had gotten married and moved away. Sasha was in graduate school. Caleb had moved off somewhere and nobody had heard from him since.

So it was just her family that had surrounded her, except for Sean, who had come to visit. He was sitting on her bed right now, trying to make idle conversation.

Leslie sighed. "Lets cut to the chase. Why did you come to visit me? Its not like were together anymore. You broke up with me six years ago. We didnt even remain friends."

Sean shrugged. "I feel a little guilty, I guess. If I hadnt broke up with you, you might not have been so depressed that you werent watching, and you wouldnt have gotten hit by that semi."

"Depressed? Is that what you think? That I was so depressed that I just wandered through traffic without paying attention to anything or anyone? Try angry, boy-o. After three years and after asking me to marry you, you decided to head off with some slut, and then you broke up with me. You didnt even have the courtesy to break up with me before you started sleeping with her! Oh, I wish..." She was out of breath at that point, unable to maintain the momentum that she had built up so quickly. She wished she was back in the Underground where she didnt have to worry about being weak because the magic would sustain her until she could get her full strength back.

Suddenly, her stomach turned. She pulled herself out of bed and into the bathroom adjoining it, emptying her stomach of its contents. When she returned, she sipped long and hard at her ginger ale, just wanting her stomach to settle. The doctor had recently prescribed steroids to help the muscles build up faster, and shed been sick since the first dose.

Sean didnt say another word. He just left. Not that Leslie minded much. Shed seen what could have happened if the break-up hadnt happened, and she was glad he was out of her life, now. It just wasnt fair.

With her parents at work and Sarah due over any time to take her turn babysitting, Leslie decided now was the best time to do what she needed to. Opening up her closet to the full length mirror, she looked into it. God, she looked so thin and pale, still. Now was her chance to find out if mirrors really worked as portals, like in fairy tales. "Jareth, I need to talk to you, please. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you. I noticed that he was there. Planning to wish him away again?"

"No, I just need to know if you know of anything that might help with my nausea. The doctors wont prescribe anything for it. They just keep telling me to give it a couple of weeks and my body will get used to the steroids."

"Well, I probably have something, but first..." He looked up. "Somebodys coming."

Leslie tilted her head, then heard her door opening and Sarah calling out a greeting. I"ts okay. Its just my cousin. She knows everything."

"And she believes you?"

Leslie nodded, and then giggled. Sarah must have been standing behind her, because Jareth looked as if he were seeing a ghost.

"Leslie? Why is there a Goblin King in your mirror?" Sarah stopped short, staring at Jareths image.

"Hello, Sarah." Jareth developed an absolutely feral smile. "I was just telling Leslie that I would need to bring her here and have my healer look at her to deal with the nausea that the steroids are inflicting upon her. Would you honor me by coming with her?"

Leslie grinned at the idea and grabbed Sarahs hand before any protests could be made. "Oh, definitely a good idea. Bring us through, Jareth!"

A/N: Oh, poor Sarah, just being dragged into this without any consideration for her feelings! Dont worry, J/S fans. She and Jareth will get their chance to bond!