The usual afternoon sunset was invisible, set behind dark clouds that seemed to tear away every bit of comfort Katherine Pulitzer had left. On account of her reporting job, she had been let out early from a recent disagreement with her boss. Of course, she had proved herself worthy of having this job more than once, but because there were not enough acceptable headlines for the week, Katherine had found herself going back to reviewing 'flower shows' for the Sun. The day didn't seem to get much better than that.

On top of being demoted to her previous job, Katherine had found herself setting up a meeting with her father. It was about time he knew what was happening with her and Jack, as they were already planning on moving out and into their own place on the day Katherine turned eighteen. Maybe it was just routine stress that was setting in, but she had this pounding headache and was oblivious to the fact her entire body ached. God, whatever was wrong with her, she desperately needed it to stop.

Jack had promised to meet Katherine at The World, knowing her father continuously worked, causing Katherine to feel the need to do the same. Feeling raindrops patter against the delicacy of her gentle skin, she found herself rubbing her arms to keep herself warm, flashes of dizziness hitting her in every direction. But she hid it when Jack was within eye's reach, knowing it had to be extremely warm outside to see sweat (or was that water?) soaking his hair.

Having this natural instinct to be able to tell when something was up with Katherine, Jack embraced her lovingly before pulling away to get caught in her gorgeous, chocolate eyes. But noticing how weakly she had grabbed his hand, he brushed the hair lovingly out of her eyes, enough to put the back of his hand against her forehead. "Yous ain't lookin' so 'ot. Plumba'," he stated quietly, noticing how her eyes drifted closed when she felt his cool hand against her burning skin.

But as soon as she noticed what she was doing, she snapped her eyes back open to Jack, which were seemingly fuzzed out and dazed as she could feel herself being caught back against Jack's body. Shoving away feebly, she shook her head in denial, not wanting, or ready, to tell Jack about everything that happened in just a short day's span. "You are overreacting. I am perfectly fine."

He watched her closely, taking in every sign of discomfort she appeared to have into deep consideration. Therefore, when he watched her desperately cling onto his neck in hopes of balance, he lifted her off her feet bridal style before carrying her inside the waiting room, right outside Pulitzer's office, and laying her on a couch.

"Jack, leave me alone. Really, I'm okay," she reassured, watching him put a pillow under her head with uncanny resistance before he had left for a moment to go get some water.

As soon as he had come back, he finally got a good look of her sickly impression, her hands in a weak grasp around the couch and coughs escaping her mouth every couple of seconds. He carefully lifted her head up to get some water down her sore throat before he brushed her cheek comfortingly with his thumb, Katherine shifting under the simple touch. "Yous just need time ta-"

"I can't rest!" she interrupted quickly, internally panicking before Jack had soothingly run his fingers up her arm, causing unnecessary chills to scatter her body. "I'm in my father's office. He needs to know about us so we can get it over with."

"Easy," he whispered, kissing her neck gently over her sensitive spots, which unintentionally caused her to relax. "What time's the meetin'?"

"In an hour," she mumbled, not finding the strength to escape from such a gentle grip. He always knew how to make her feel good, and it was obvious this was one of the times she was in desperate need of it. "I'll be okay."

"I know yous will," he whispered gently in her ear, keeping a protective glance on the ill girl in front of him. "But I've neva' seen yous like this."

"That's because I don't get sick." After Katherine grabbed his hand in an attempt to unclutch the couch, Jack used his available hand to pull some blankets over her, pressing soft kisses to her face which caused her to smile.

While it was a possibility for Jack to get sick with such simple actions, his main concern was on Katherine, her limp body telling him she had finally fallen asleep.

A couple of moments later, Jack had known they had about ten minutes to get ready for the 'interview' with Katherine's father. Should they even be calling it that? Each glance he took towards her, he instantly felt soft, which was rather unusual for someone like Jack Kelly. During the fifty minutes she did have to rest, he had watched her pulse, made sure she didn't burn up and found himself smile when he heard her mumble in her sleep. Waking her up with a gentle kiss to her nose and his fingers circling the small of her back, she groaned quietly, causing Jack to let out a soft chuckle. "I was gonna let ya sleep through the meetin', but I didn't want yous ta get yelled at," he murmured, carefully lifting her up enough so she was sitting on the couch, Katherine rubbing the sleepiness from her features. "Now 'ow's yous feelin'? Don't lie. Yous know I'll find out."

"Dizzy, achy," she started, allowing herself to wrap her arm's around Jack's waist, burying her head against his shoulder for any kind of comfort she could find. "But not as exhausted," she said with a forced smile, Jack seeing through all of that as he stroked her hair in genuine affection.

"Yous just rest an' let me do the talkin', If yous start ta feelin' worse, ya need ta tell me, okay?"

Deciding to fight against her stubborn attitude, she just nodded and responded with, "Okay."

Jack found himself carefully helping her up and leading her to Pulitzer's office when they were called. Katherine tried to regain her professional manner as much as she could, despite internally feeling like hell.

"Katherine."

"Father"

"Please take a seat."

'So far, so good', Jack thought, getting Katherine situated as she bit down grunts of pain.

"So, why are you two here?" Pulitzer had asked, his eyes like darts against both of the two, but a small smirk on his face as he glared down Jack. God, he had never liked that boy.

"Well, uh, Mr. Pulitzer, sir, Katherine and I are-"

"-together. Jack and I are together," Katherine interrupted, hugging Jack's arm gently as Jack fell at a loss of words.

"I see," Pulitzer had responded, not exactly taken back by shock, but more on why they brought it to him. "Much like Romeo and Juliet, isn't? Two star-crossed lovers, allowing whatever...feeling they had for each other to get in the way of living."

Katherine, seeing where this was going, had visibly begun to tense up, Jack's hand right there massaging her back in hopes to relieve the anxiety building up in her.

"Look, Joe-" He instantly stopped with a nudge in his side from Katherine. "Mr. Pulitzer. I love yous' daughta' very much and whateva' yous say ain't gonna change a thing about us bein' togetha'."

Finding herself smile when she heard Jack's courageous words, she fluttered her eyes closed as she laid her head against his shoulder, staying silent as she fell into a light sleep.

Adjusting himself in order to make her as comfortable as possible, Jack's eyes glistened with the same admiration he had for her when they first met. It took him a minute to regain focus on Pulitzer, his eyes shot with protectiveness for the young woman he had in his arms. "An' with all due respect, she ain't feelin' too good an' I'm just tryin' ta 'elp 'er. She's stressed, I can tell, and it would mean a whole lot if yous don't fight against us." His voice was quieter, almost pleading, as those words fell out of his mouth. But watching Pulitzer stand up and grab something from his desk, Jack stared at the container shocked as he looked back up at Pulitzer.

"It's rare she gets sick, but when she does, that is the only thing that seems to help her. Do whatever it takes to get her to stay home from work for the next couple of days. Make sure she's eaten and stays hydrated. She never just passes out like that," Katherine's father had spoken, his concern for his daughter overruling any disagreement he had with Jack. Besides, she looked happy. Even when she was stressed, sick, and felt like she had been beaten constantly, she was happy.

"Thank yous-"

"Oh, and, Mr. Kelly? Take care of my daughter, will you?"

"Will do, Sir. Will do."