|Medical Tent|

"ACHOO!"
"ACHAA!"
Both of them sneezed at the same time, wrapped in blankets in the warm tent. Dagger snickered in an amused way when he saw his brother and Star sitting on a table, shivering together. Doc on the other hand seemed very displeased, waving around Joker's prosthetic arm in a reprimanding manner.

"Good god, what possessed the two of you to jump in a freezing river like that? You'll be lucky if you don't end up having a pneumonia. And Joker, when will you stop messing up the arm I made for you? It's not easy keeping this functional."
Joker tried to wave it off but was interrupted by a sudden sneeze. Star ducked as the man covered his nose with his hand, not wanting to get caught in a mucus bombardment. Doll walked in the tent as well, holding some steaming mugs of tea in her hands. Her red-brown hair hanging in front of one eye didn't hinder the girl in the least. Star gratefully clasped the mug in her hands, letting the warmth seep in her hands.

"Thanks Doll." She said, blowing on the hot liquid to make it a bit drinkable. Joker accepted the mug, but was busy talking to Dagger, bragging about how heroic he had been. Star still felt the bruises on her ass; after the others had found Star and Joker camping in the woods, Doll and George had jumped her, knocking the older girl to the ground in a hug.

Doll nodded, and checked to make sure Star was warm enough. George was already asleep in the tent, it being already after midnight. Joker hissed when Doc attached his arm again, before he moved it experimentally.
"Thanks Doc, this should make things easier again!"
Doc pushed his glasses back on his nose, scowling at the ringleader. His disapproval at the man's behavior was only too obvious, and Joker avoided his look intentionally. Finally the older man sighed, waving them out of the tent, hoping the two wouldn't be knocked out cold when the morning came.

|The Next Day|

"Achoo! Ugh… me head…" Joker mumbled, trying to get out of bed. He stumbled to the ground, feeling as if the world was spinning around him. His head felt like it was filled with cotton balls, preventing him from thinking straight. He managed to find his pants, putting them on as he grabbed for his shirt.
Once he was fully clothed, he stuck his head out of the tent. "Hss…" he hissed when the sun hit his eyes, and realized that he was having a headache. He sneezed again, and started to feel queasy. When somebody clapped him on the back he almost hurled, though he just managed to keep it in. Barely.

"Joker! Awesome work on the whole rescue thing with Star brother! Now she'll be fallin' for ye like… hey, are ye okay?" Dagger asked, seeing how pale the ringleader was.

"I'm feeling great!" Joker lied, only now hearing how hoarse his voice really was.
He grabbed for his throat, relieved it didn't hurt much. Still, he knew he was going to be pretty sick. If he was feeling this bad, Star must've been feeling just as miserable, if not worse.
"I need to go see Star." He mumbled, trying to make way for the tent she shared with her brother and Doll.

Dagger grabbed the taller man by the shoulders, keeping him still. "Easy now, ol'timer. Ye're in no condition to go running around camp like this. Look at ye, ye buttoned yer shirt all wrong." Dagger said, tapping the buttons once.
When Joker didn't really react to that, Dagger added in a matter-of-fact tone :" Not to mention ye're wearing two different shoes. And yer bow tie's undone."
Joker looked down, seeing that Dagger was speaking the truth on both accounts. He let out a deep sigh as he tried to block out the spinning sensation in his stomach. Dagger saw how Joker was staggering, and supported the man with one arm.
"Ye are going to go back to bed. I'll handle everything today, and I'll make sure ye're under constant supervision. Do not leave yer tent. Sleep, drink and sleep some more. The sooner ye're back on yer feet the better."
Before Joker could protest, he was already alone in his tent, lying on his bead and looking up at the ceiling. He really did need to go to see Star… but he was… so … very… tired…

When he woke up again someone was keeping a cool cloth against his scorched forehead. He blinked, feeling as if his eyes were burning, making tears spring up to his eyes. When he tried to speak he couldn't quite get the words out, but the person nursing him made a shushing sound.
"Ye should rest, Joker."
He recognized Beast's voice, and somehow felt a bit disappointed. Part of him had been wishing that Star was with him in the tent. Beast brought a cup of water to his mouth, letting the liquid seep in his mouth so his throat would be moistened a bit.

"Where's Star?" he finally managed to ask.

Beast's eyes narrowed a bit when he asked that. Why did he have to bring up that name, at a moment when the two of them were finally alone together? She brought the cloth back to the bucket of water, and wrung it out. Finally she answered.
"She's in the tent, performing. Oddly enough, she's feeling fine, or so she claims. Seems like ye're the only one feelin' like this."

Joker smiled, relieved that Star was feeling okay. Still, it stung him a little that she hadn't checked up on him yet. Beast brought the cloth back to his forehead, trying to keep herself from asking the one question she knew she shouldn't. And yet, she couldn't help it. She had to know.
"Why did ye jump in after 'er like that, Joker? Ye could've died."
He laughed, or at least he tried to. His voice sounded hoarse as he imagined he could hear the crowd roar from the circus tent. Things seemed to be going well over there.

"She asked me just the same thing. Beast… I really do like her. Can ye understand that?" he asked, knowing all too well about Beast's feelings. He had always been so gentle turning her down, and yet she had always been hoping for him. He hoped she would give up this time, and perhaps turn to Dagger for once.

"I can't." Beast said, standing up and turning her back to him. She could feel tears burning behind her eyes. "She ain't right for ye, Joker. That girl… she ain't like us at all!"

"I know that." He replied calmly. It was something he had realized even before he had started to like Star. She hadn't been born in a life where she would have had to fight for her life, and that of her brother. Yet when it had been necessary, she had stepped up and done what was necessary. Joker understood how hard it could be to do that which was necessary.
"I made up my mind, Beast. Can ye not respect my choice?" he asked her.

Beast didn't reply at first, as if she had to think about it. When she stepped to the exit of his tent, her voice finally drifted towards him.
"I respect ye, Joker. But not the stupid things ye got on yer mind right now."

|Meanwhile, Main Tent|

Star stepped out in the spotlights, trying to keep the headache from overruling her train of thought. She smiled broadly, throwing her hands out to the public that was applauding wildly over Wendy and Peter's now finished trapeze act.
"Now then, ladies and gentlemen… might I ask your attention for an act that will make your palms sweat and your heart beat to a zooming tune. From far and exotic lands, a man with a contempt for death as he dances away… I present to you… SNAKE!"

She stepped backwards as the music started playing for Snake. When she was backstage again, she sat down on a barrel, before reaching for a cup of water. She dipped the tips of her fingers in it, running them across her face in an attempt to cool down.
Dagger let himself drop beside her, giving her a bump with his shoulder. "Ye should be gettin' to bed too." He commented.

Star shook her head, twirling her cane in between her fingers. "And leave the show without a ringleader? We both know that somebody has to do that job, or else the public won't have a clue about what's going on. How was Joker, by the way? He was asleep when I checked on him."

Dagger rolled his shoulders, working away some of the tension. "He was… sick. Well, seems like he's been sleepin' a lot, which should do him a lot of good. Speakin' of sleep, I know someone else who could use some."

Star rolled her eyes, pointing her cane at Dagger's nose. "I'm feeling fine. I'll sleep when the show is over. It's not like it's that long. An hour… or two. I can still manage that much. I've worked while being sick before."

She looked at Dagger again, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. "This is my way of repaying Joker for saving me."

Dagger smiled when she said that. "Ain't that nice? But ya know, Star… he'd be much 'appier if ye pay him a visit. When he's awake, that is."

Star nodded. "I guess… but still… why did that idiot jump in after me like that? He could've gotten himself killed out there. What was he thinking, giving me a scare like that?"
Dagger smiled, throwing an arm around Star, pulling her close. When he rubbed his knuckles over her head she protested loudly, trying to get away. "What was that for" she yelled in indignation.

"For being just as big an idiot as Joker is." Dagger answered with a grin, getting up. "The two of ye will be the death o' me. Now, get out there, Snake's almost finished. If ye're gonna be stubborn about performing while being sick, ye might as well go all the way."

Star nodded, adjusting her hat on her head. With a brisk pace she stepped back in the ring, again surrounded by the bright lights and washed over by the cheers of the crowd. The rush of adrenaline through her veins made her feel better. And yet, as she stood there on her own, she felt something missing. The reassuring presence of a certain ginger ringleader guiding her through it all.

The cheer of the crowd that got her pumped up after she had finally gotten rid of her instinctive dislike from attention was hollow now. She could see the smiles on the face of the audience, and though she derived a certain thrill from it, it missed that certain taste, the atmosphere in the air was different.
Deep inside, Star decided that she didn't want to ever have another performance without Joker.

|Joker's Tent, After The Show|

"Joker… Father sent another letter." Beast said, holding said letter in her hand. It had been a while since Father had sent one, the last one dating weeks before Star's arrival. Joker's jaw clenched a bit, but he gestured Beast to hand it over. The paper was scribbled in the well-know curly handwriting of a noble, and signed with 'Tom, the piper's son.'.

"The next target is only 'alf an hour away from 'ere." Joker said softly. He knew what would happen next… he would dispatch his brothers and sisters, and they would leave the circus grounds. They would be quiet, moving like cats, and wouldn't return until dawn, before the other troupe members woke up. In the morning, police and concerned citizens would be poking through the town, and sometimes, but very rarely, the troupe members would be questioned.

It would be too late. The kidnapped child would already be on its way to Father, most usually taken by Jumbo. By the time people would think about searching the surrounding towns, Jumbo would have a good half day head start. None of the children were ever found again.
"Go then." He commanded softly. Beast swallowed, but didn't answer.

"I said go." He repeated, trying to sound secure of all of this. Being sick didn't quite help in that.

"We don't 'ave to do this, Joker! We can…"

"Hey, Joker, mind if I come in?"Star asked, pushing aside the cloth covering the tent's entrance. She froze up when she nearly bumped into Beast, who gave her a poisonous glare.

"Star!" Joker said, but composed himself when he noticed how enthusiastic he sounded. "Sure, come on in." he added, in what he hoped was a more cool tone of voice.

Star nodded, stepping around Beast, trying not to somehow anger the woman. There was a rather uncomfortable silence for a moment, before Joker broke it.
"Beast… ye have a job to do. Don't delay it any further." He admonished her, hoping she would leave on her mission soon.

Beast nodded once, stepping out of the tent in a way that suggested someone was going to pay for whatever had happened in the tent. Star frowned, before she let out a sigh. "I'm sorry if I was interrupting something, Joker. I just thought I should come and see if you're awake."

Joker smiled when she said that, and patted his bed, indicating she could take a seat if she wanted. When she obliged he felt himself relax a little bit. Somehow having her sit there felt like a huge personal victory.
"We were done talkin'." He assured her. "How was the show? Dagger said ye were takin' over my job for the evenin'." He said it with a smile, knowing how nervous she usually got before a show started. And once it had started, how she would start to light up like a real star.

"It was okay." Star said, thinking about how lonely she had felt out there on stage. 'Though I think it would've been far better if you had been there, Joker. Somehow you really know how to say it so that everybody in that tent feels the excitement of it all. Are you feeling any better?"she asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

Joker shrugged. His head still pounded like crazy, and his fever was still up, but at least he was thinking straight again. Given the situation that was about the best he could hope for at the moment. "I'm doin' fine, really. Another night of rest an' I'll be on me feet again."

Star smiled at him, relieved to hear that. Joker felt his heart skip a beat for a second. Her smile was such a rare thing, almost like a jewel hidden away. When she showed it, he felt like he could go on and conquer the world if it would make her smile again.
"Star… how are ye feelin'? Dagger said ye were as hyper as ever." Joker asked, wanting to know if it was true. Star seemed to be fine enough, even though she didn't seem to be in the conversation for the full one hundred percent.

"Me? Ah, I'm a bit feverish, but…" she was cut off by Joker's hand on her forehead.

"A bit? Ye're having a pretty bad fever! How are ye still standin' up?" he asked, furious that she would be running around like that, without having the common sense to lie in her bed and rest for a few goddamn hours!

"I'm feeling fine, really!" she protested. "I… wanted to repay you for saving me yesterday, and I thought pitching in while you were sick was a great way to-"

"-To get me angry?" Joker interrupted. "Good 'eavens, Star! What if ye were to faint then, eh? 'Ow is that repayin' me? Ye would be better off lying in bed an' having some rest!"

"Well, I can't help it if you were the one jumping in behind me! If you had just stayed where you were, than you wouldn't have been sick and I wouldn't have to –"

"Not been sick?" Joker asked, and suddenly pulled Star to his chest. Star blinked, not believing what was happening at the moment. "I would've been worried sick if I 'adn't jumped! Ye stupid girl…"

The last part was said in an almost affectionate way, so much that Star was even further confused. Joker's heart was beating loudly against her ear. His arms enclosed her, and suddenly she felt so very safe in that dark tent.
"I did what I did, and ye don't have to repay anything for that." He said, resting his chin on top of her head. "My actions are me own choice. Ye don't 'ave any say in it if I want to jump of a hundred bridges after ye."

Star sighed, lifting her head so she could look in Joker's green eyes. She shook her head, not believing what the man was saying. "Joker… you're silly when you're sick, you know that?"
She pressed her lips against his cheek, still very aware of his arms around her. The situation made her heart jump up in excitement.

'If you're going on saying that kind of thing… you might make me fall for you.' She thought, before blushing.
She, fall for Joker? The thought was… not that absurd. Joker… always kind, sweet, funny and yet infuriating Joker. The idea took a hold of her heart and head, and suddenly she could see herself pressing a kiss on his lips, instead of on his cheek. Her heart beat faster, and the idea seemed to wedge itself deep in her mind.

Fall for Joker… or had she fallen a long time ago for this crazy ringleader?

"I have to be going now…" she said, pulling back from the stare between them. Before she had even gotten away from the bed, Joker's warm hand closed around her wrist.
"Can ye stay? For a little longer?" he asked her sincerely. Joker didn't believe what he was doing. Did he want to make it that obvious that he wanted her? Star blinked and paused her movements. She seemed to think it over for a second, before she gave him her reply.

"Maybe for a little while then."

|Moon's Note : you guys have no idea how tempted I was not to write that last sentence XD Be grateful I didn't make this in a huuuuuuge cliffhanger.|