Bingley and Lizzie managed to get Darcy back in bed, he wasn't breathing but nonetheless had a faint pulse; he was still holding on. Lizzie took her husband's limp hand and held onto it, Charles worked to revive him; he gave him a few pats on the cheek...it didn't work. He called out to him...it didn't work. Then he did the unthinkable...he slapped him clear across the face; it was a gentle slap. Darcy didn't even flinch. From the corner of his eye, he could see Catherine by Fitz's head and crying; not crying, sobbing. Charles and Lizzie hadn't even heard her come in, she did not want to disturb him. This was the first time she had seen him since their arrival, she hated this.
'Papa, you said he was doing better...This isn't better, if anything it's beyond worse!!' Catherine stormed out of the room and down the stairs.
'Keep the best watch on him! I need to stop her!' Bingley ordered
Charles charged down the stairs and into the early morning sun, Catherine was heading for the manor's pasture and climbing over the fence, he dashed over to her and grabbed her before she could mount her stallion. He got her to look into his eyes, both of her gems were sparkling with fresh water
'Darling, this is not the way to handle it! You cannot runaway from him! Cause when he recovers-' Bingley's words were thrown off balance when Catherine jerked away
'He's not going to live, Papa! He's going to die and it's all my fault...I put to much pressure on him to buy me presents, to take me on outings-' Charles hugged his distraught daughter close to his chest.
'You were nothing but his niece, the one little girl that brought him happiness' Bingley explained with a smile
'Is he going to die right now?' Catherine asked with a few light sniffles
'The doctor is going to be sent for and he'll see to him try to make him better' Bingley said a very sure tone
'What if he can't make him better?' Catherine asked nervously, Bingley didn't answer his daughter's question...only gave her another warm embrace.
The doctor was able to save Fitz's life, but unforunately it came with a fatal price...He was so ill, and so weak that he sank into a comatose sleep. Until the fever broke, Fitz's life was going to be in darkness. Charles was just thankful he was alive and not beyond saving. He sat in the parlor one night as Lizzie took care of Darcy, and pondered what life would've been without Fitz by his side. Jane entered the room and sat on the arm of his chair.
'Fitzwilliam Darcy...stubborn, prideful, arrogant at points...generous, thoughtful, noble...a friend. Jane, it may seem childish; I can't live unless I have someone to put me in my place. We all need Darcy, to remember how to be prideful' Charles said in between desperate sighs
'What's that trinket you're fiddling with?' Jane asked as she took notice of a small, golden ring.
'Oh...Fitz gave this to me one evening. It says it brought him luck, thought it could do the same for me' Bingley said with a smile, Jane knew the memories were helping her husband cope with his friend's impending death.
'It gets harder each day, each moment I'm hoping that I stepped into a nightmare...If I'm feeling like this then I'm surprised that Lizzie hasn't thrown herself off a cliff' Bingley remarked as he wiped away a few tears
'Cause she is strong and holding onto faith...Which is what I would expect from you, darling' Jane said softly as she caressed Charles cheek
'I can't...Every time I see his face, he's either unconcious or sweating or...sleeping. It's been so triful that I am beginning to wonder if we came this far with him...only to see him die' Charles said in a very distracting, sadden tone
'Do you regret helping him?' Jane asked
'Not for a moment' Bingley said with a gentle smile
'Then that's all that can get him through this...knowing you are with him' Jane stated as she kissed Charles on the lips, she got up and left the parlor
Charles visited Fitz when everyone was asleep, including Georgiana who was keeping the watch. Bingley laughed silently and touched the young woman's shoulder, she woke up.
'Mr.Bingley' Georgiana yawned
'Go to your chamber...you're exhausted' Bingley whispered
'Suppose he wakes up...I need to be here' Georgiana said drowsily
'I'll be right here, you need a bed, Georgiana' Charles insisted, Georgiana nodded and left the room quietly
Bingley took a good look at the lifeless Darcy, his whole body was absolutely motionless; his eyes were closed shut and his breathing was only a once or twice gasp of air. He touched his shoulder and massaged it as softly as he could.
'Come on, Fitz...You're in there. Just show them you're alive! Do something...flinch, twitch...But I am begging you...don't stop breathing' Charles pleaded tearfully
He stayed by Fitz's bed in hopes of seeing a slight fit of movement or maybe a finger spasm; he got neither. Where was Fitz's mind? In darkness or all ready dead?