"I don't think you gave me a good enough answer for me to say," she said grinning.
"Don't be like that, we had a deal,"
"…and you gave me a very convenient loop hole, thank you," she smiled.
"Alright, I'll just have to start guessing," he said "Jane?" she shook her head, no "Alice?" no "Sophie?" no.
"Don't bother Jack or we'll be here all night," she said.
"Norbert!"
"No," she yawned and closed her eyes, she was exhausted.
"Come on, Hannah, let's get us to bed," Jack said scooping her up into his strong arms and carrying her to the spare room.
"That's not it either," she mumbled quietly.
"Damn," he grinned. He set her on the bed and ruffled her short hair. "Don't sleep in those clothes, Steph,"
"Not my name," she said sleepily.
He disappeared for a second then popped his head round the door "Goodnight Bob," he handed her a t-shirt of his that was way too large for her. "Sleep in that,"
"Thanks Jack,"
OoOoOoOoO
When Jack woke up it was still dark outside, wondering why he was up so early (or late) he reached for his clock and looked at it. 3:34. What would wake him up so early? He found his answer as his bedroom door made a peculiar sound, scratching? Jack hit his head with the palm of his hand urgently trying wake himself up. He got up and walked to the door, where he heard whining and scratching getting louder.
"Achilles?" he said as opened the door. He was met by a loud bark that made him jump out of his skin. Achilles had never barked near him before, it was loud and rather frightening. "What's wrong?"
Achilles started pawing the ground and whining loudly, he turned around and bolted down the hall into the spare room then out again, then in again, desperately wanting Jack to follow him. Then Jack heard it. A stifled sob and a small, but deadly sounding cough. He raced down the hall and into the room.
Bob was sitting upright on the bed, beads of sweat were trickling down her face and Jack's t-shirt clung to her fevered body. Then the coughing began, long raspy coughs that came one after another, never stopping. Jack jumped to her side and grabbed two or three tissues off the bedside table and held them to her mouth.
"Keep those there," he ordered. She couldn't argue even if she wanted to, she couldn't get a single word out. The coughs became louder and mor painful. He ran to the kitchen and soaked a towel in cold water and brought it back to her. The coughs haddied down enough for there to be spaces in between thembut they were no less terrifying andthey were still coming long and strong. Jack dabbed the cold towel over her forehead and neck.
"I'm…Sorry," She tried to say.
"Shhh don't speak, nod if you want a bath to cool you down," She gave no answer to his question, instead she sat on his lap and hung onto his t-shirt, until her knuckles turned white, as if it was the only thing keeping her alive. Jack put his arm around her protectively and continued to cool her down with the towel.
After a little while the coughing stopped but she still hung onto him. They stayed like that for a long time until Jack felt the fingers trapping his t-shirt relax and a change in her breathing told him she had fallen asleep. He lay her down over the covers and removed the sweat soaked t-shirt and replaced it with a clean one, he folded the towel and placed it on her forehead and started to make his way out of the door.
"Jack?"
"Mmmm?" he said turning back into the room.
"Don't leave…please?" He came closer to her bed as he noticed something in the dim light that he hadn't before. Her eyes were closed and she was very pale but the thing that stood out was the dribble of blood on the corner of her mouth.
"Where's that tissue I gave you earlier?"
She reluctantly handed the tissue out to him, he took it and inspected it. There was more blood on that, much more. He took another clean tissue from the box and wiped the side of her mouth and disposed of the tissues in the bin. Then he sat down in the chair opposite her bed.
"You're going to call a doctor aren't you?"
"Yes,"
"I'm sor-"
"Don't be, it's not your fault," There was silence for a few minutes.
"Can I still watch Wizard of Oz?" she croaked.
"Yes," Jack chuckled. She hesitated.
"Are you going to call Sam?" It was Jack's turn to hesitate, remembering the conversation he had earlier with Bob.
"Do you want me to?"
"Yes,"
"Alright," Jack sighed "Go to sleep now, honey,"