"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't challenge you?" Eva Maverx said when she requested "a kiss on the chest". I will say again: A NICE ONE! …but, because you challenge me, you're a good friend. So.

But oh my gosh, I love writing Jack. The conversational style I built in ATS comes so naturally, and it's so much fun to get back to his voice! Of course, Jack in pain seems to be very easy for me…

Getting shot was not on Jack's list of favorite things.

Actually, it was pretty high on his list of least favorite things. Right up there with things like Pitch Black, Nightmare Gas, and getting stabbed. And interacting with his father-in-law. And mandatory therapy sessions with Ombric. And Brussels sprouts. Even Rapunzel's cooking could not make him like Brussels sprouts. And temperatures exceeding 80 degrees.

Yeah. The list of things he didn't like was a long one.

Jack groaned as he braced his hands on the kitchen counter, trying to breathe without expanding his lungs. Any movement in his chest would mean adjudicating the hole that went clear through his chest and shoulder.

In good news, it had missed anything vital.

In bad news… he had still been shot. And it hurt. And it was making it really hard to maintain any kind of positive attitude.

And did he mention that it hurt?

His fist clenched on the granite countertop. Knuckles white as he rode out the wave of pain in his left shoulder.

"Jack?"

"In the kitchen," he said, through gritted teeth. He could hear her footsteps coming down the stairs, and towards the kitchen.

The pain was not subsiding.

"Jack? What happened? Are you all right?"

"My memory's hazy, but you once made me promise to always be honest with you, right?" he asked, as she came up beside him.

"Yes?"

"I got shot," he admitted. (Since his vow of honesty had been brought up.)

"Are you–"

"I'll be okay," he assured, seeing the worry start in her green eyes. "I'm on my feet."

"You shouldn't be," she said. Reaching up, she wiped her thumb over his temple. Drawing his attention to the fact he was sweating.

"I'm fine," he said. "It just hurts."

"Did they give you something for the pain?"

"Sure, but I couldn't take it and drive home," he reminded.

Rapunzel sighed, hand cupping the side of his face. "Oh, Jack. What am I going to do with you?"

"I have a list," he said, trying to smirk. But it was a little hard when his shoulder was still throbbing. "But it'll have to wait until breathing doesn't hurt."

She shook her head a little, though he saw the corner of her mouth twitch in a small smile. After another moment, her hand slid down the side of his neck, until she got to the top button of his shirt.

"What are you–"

"At least let me see it," she said, her expression fixing in determination as she unbuttoned his shirt.

Jack knew it would only bother her to see the actual wound. But that it would bother her more if he didn't let her.

"What happened?" she asked, as she undid the last few buttons.

"Some punk got lucky."

"That's what my father says about the fact you married me," Rapunzel said, sliding his shirt off his shoulders. It left his torso bare, save for the bandage wrapped around his chest and over his left shoulder.

He shivered as her hand caressed his shoulder. Gentle, and careful. She paused over a few on the visible bruises. Checking their severity, without applying a painful amount of pressure. Until she found the clips on the bandage.

Jack managed to hold completely still as she unwound the bandage from around his chest. Until the stitched up bullet wound under his left collar bone was visible. He watched her bite her lower lip, pushing a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear in agitation.

"Rapunzel…"

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. Her expression was once more determined as she re-wrapped the bandage. "It looks like it missed anything vital."

"It did. I'm yours for the next six weeks, though."

That got a gentle smile as she looked up at him through her lashes, before returning her gaze to the bandage. "Well, you'll have to heal up quickly so we can get to that list of yours."

He shivered. "Why do you torture me like this?"

The smirk she gave him was, most likely, something she had learned from him.

But it faded as she clipped the bandage back in place. "You're sure you'll be all right?"

"Probably. They pumped me full of some fast healing potion before I left."

"I still don't think you should be on your feet," she said. "Go upstairs and get some rest."

"I was planning to," he said. "But I wanted to get a drink first." He nodded to the carton or orange juice on the counter, and the glass he had gotten down from the cupboard. The movement that had caused the stabbing pain.

"Please don't rub it in," he muttered, seeing her smirk as she put the pieces together.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," she said, even as she went about pouring a glass of the juice for him.

"Shut up."

But her giggle was enough to make him grin as he accepted the glass of juice. Which he downed in two gulps.

"Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for," she said. She reached around him for the shirt she had set on the counted. "Now get some rest."

"No complaints," he said. "I can't remember the last time I had a full night's sleep." He leaned down to kiss her. It wasn't the normal kiss he gave her when coming home, but just being around her satisfied the constant ache he felt while he was gone.

As he pulled back, he took as deep a breath as he could manage. Breathing in the smell of sunshine and flowers that was her. "I'll go rest."

"Wait." Leaning forward, Rapunzel pressed a kiss over the bandage that covered his wound. "Get better soon."