Chapter Ten: Sick, part three

After the image vanished, Jack had an idea. "I'm going to turn off my comm, too…"

"Good thinking," Gwen replied. She returned immediately to that state of sweet gentleness, keeping Jack's hair from his face.

Without the team around and listening, Jack allowed himself to let down the mask of strength. He felt so weak and he only felt safe revealing it to Gwen. Tears began to build in his eyes again as he allowed himself to feel the terrible burning pain that wracked his entire person.

"Jack, what is it?" Gwen's eyes clouded with concern.

"It hurts, Gwen, oh, God, it hurts," he whispered, scared of his own weakness.

"Where? Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere-I-feel like-I'm-on fire-" Jack could barely get the words out with the horrific pain coursing through every inch of his body.

"Shhhh, don't talk," Gwen murmured. "Stay here. I'm going to the medicine cabinet, okay? I'll be right back, I promise." She brushed a bit of sweaty hair from his face and left the room.

"Gwen-" he tried to say, not wanting her to leave even for this, but she was already gone.

Gwen went into the medicine cabinet and, amongst the insanely huge amounts of God-knows-what, found some Tylenol. She ran back to the bedroom to see Jack, in the midst of some sort of nightmare, as he was tossing and turning in his sleep and muttering. She tried to make out his words. And soon they became clear. Just two words: "no" and her name.

"Jack, wake up," Gwen called, shaking his shoulder.

Jack woke with a start. "Gwen!" he practically shouted.

"Shhh," she cooed. "Shhh, Jack, I'm here. Just a nightmare."

"The - the same - same one - like - like I - like I - always have - but so - much - so much - so much worse," he stammered. And Gwen knew exactly what he meant: the nightmare of her, in the clutches of a weevil, unable to escape, his feet glued to the ground.

"Shhhh," she repeated. "It's okay now. I'm here." She sat down again next to Jack and began stroking his hair softly. "Here, I got you Tylenol. Take it. It'll help."

Jack reached out to take the pills in Gwen's hand. "Thanks," he muttered. "Oh, God, Gwen, it hurts so much…"

"Sleep," Gwen said gently, still running fingers through his hair. "Go back to sleep."

"But… the nightmares…" Jack protested.

"You're such a baby," Gwen teased, but her eyes were still full of that concern and care that told Jack that she didn't mean it. She somehow managed to understand the awful pain and fear that tore through him without feeling it and he loved that about her, her ability to care.

It was Gwen's turn to put up a front, as a matter of fact. The fact that Jack was in this state frightened her a bit. She was so used to his undying strength, his independence, his ability to take on out-of-this-world challenges, and now a small case of the flu or something had reduced him to this state of weakness and total dependence on her. He had never needed her this much before, and while it flattered Gwen that he did need her this much, it also scared her.

"Gwen… I'm… I'm scared… to go to sleep…" Jack's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She met his eyes, and the pain, the fear, the weakness, while no longer a complete shock, broke her heart. A rush of affection soared through her body.

"I'm here," Gwen replied gently, a hand resting against his fever-flushed cheek. "I won't leave you, Jack, I promise." And she meant it. She wouldn't, couldn't leave her poor Jack like this. "Just try to sleep, Jack. Just try." She brushed another bit of sweaty hair from his face. "Go on… close your eyes," she murmured.

Jack couldn't help but close his eyes. Her voice was just so incredibly soothing, or maybe it was her hand on his cheek, or maybe… maybe… maybe…

In an instant he was sound asleep again. Gwen couldn't help but laugh at this. Her Jack, she thought. Even when ill, he was her very stubborn Jack. And they'd get through this little sickness together, no questions asked.

Hey everyone! I just want to give a shout-out to Rachel, Kizzy, and Seraphina, my three biggest TFTH supporters. So thankful for you three! Everyone, checkout the profiles of everyone who reviews my work! There is so much awesome there!

Who noticed the little puns in this chapter?

Kate xx