"I wish you hadn't gone through all this trouble." Phyllis sat down on the couch her eyes roaming the spread of food in front of her. "I'm really not all that hungry."

"Nonsense." Jack leaned in placing the soft, cloth napkin on her lap and brushing his lips across her forehead. "You have to eat so you can get your strength back. You don't want to have to be Billy's charge forever do you?"

He laughed softly and she forced a smile in return allowing her mind to drift back to being with Billy just hours before.

"So you just tell me what I need to do to keep that smile on your beautiful face?"

"You don't have to do anything," she whispered. "It's just gonna take a little bit of time that's all."

Time? That's what Billy had promised-give it time and then they could be together, but time was such an open concept. How much time? A week? A month? Six months? A year? Years? When will it ever be time to drop a bomb like this?

"Red?" Jack called out to her, his hand reaching for hers.

Phyllis blinked, Jack's familiar voice jolting her back into her reality. "Yeah," she whispered.

"You look like you're a million miles away." He reached over, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer to him.

She sighed and allowed her head to drop to his shoulder. She didn't want to think tonight.

"You don't need to walk me inside. I'm not an invalid." She closed her eyes, the guilt already settling over her. Jack wanted to help and she didn't question his motives, but her frustration with him, with the entire situation was becoming harder and harder to hide.

She sat on the couch and turned towards him, her tone intentionally softer. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you..."

"It's alright...I understand. I know how much you hate feeling dependent. I know being doted on isn't your idea of romance." He smiled down at her, his eyes shining. "Soon enough you'll be back to your independent, fiery self."

He lips on her cheek felt more like a slap on the face as she forced a smile and heard him walk out the door. From the couch she could see him, his face more serious now as he stood talking to Billy.

"If you could just try to bolster his spirits a bit today." Jack his head before continuing. He wasn't sure when, but at some point he had stopped being the person Phyllis came to with her problems. They say tragedy brings people together, but in their case it seemed to just shine light on the weak spots in their relationship-weak spots that until now, he didn't even realize existed.

Billy stood, watching his brother. Thought he was certain Jack had no suspicions about him, it was clear he knew something was bothering Phyllis. "Maybe she's just tired, Jack? I mean, she's been through a lot and she's on a lot of medication. Maybe she's just sluggish."

"Maybe-I just can't shake the feeling that it's something more than that. Phyllis seems...I don't know-depressed."

"Maybe she's depressed," Billy huffed, his exasperation becoming more obvious. "Look Jack, you think maybe you're expecting a little too much? She just got out of the hospital. She's got people hovering over all the time. She can't go to the office. She can't drive herself...just think about it"

Jack closed his eyes and ran his hand down his face. "You know you're right. I'm being selfish. I'm just so happy to have her back and I want everything to go back to normal. I guess I'm just rushing things."

"You know what," Billy glanced through the window, his eyes falling on Phyllis' concerned face, "why don't you just go on to the office and try not to worry about this. I'll talk to her and see if I can get some idea of what might be going on."

"What was all that about?" The words left her lips in a rush. Part of her felt certain Bilky would never say anything without her knowledge and approval, but the other part, the part that gets more paranoid with each and every lie couldn't ever be sure.

"He thinks you're depressed. He wants me to try and lift your spirits." Billy smiled slyly and he sat on the couch beside her and slid to wrap her arms around her. Gently he tucked the hair behind her ears before leaning in for a kiss. Though he knew there were limits, he couldn't bring himself to pull away yet. The feel of her in his arms was every bit as addictive as any drug. He knew she was happiest when she was with him and in these moments, the logic of waiting for a better time seemed so very far away.

He felt her hands as they trailed down his shirt, her fingers taking their familiar route to the buttons. He placed his hands on hers, drawing in a deep breath before speaking, "Wait...wait..we can't"

"Daddy?" Johnny stood on the stairs.

Billy jerked back, sitting up and standing quickly. "Johnny-I thought you were sleeping." He glanced back down at Phyllis, her eyes wide.

"It's time for cartoon," the little boy said softly, rubbing his eyes and smiling sweetly at them.

Phyllis took a breath. "Sure it is." She patted the couch beside her, "Why don't you come sit down here next to me and we'll see what we can find?"

Johnny nodded happily, climbing up on the couch and quickly becoming distracted by the remote and the tv screen it controlled.

Phyllis looked at Billy, his face still taut with concern. She shrugged slightly. "Maybe your Daddy can go get us some breakfast while we pick a show."

Johnny nodded, barely looking away from the screen.

Phyllis shrugged her eyes meeting Billy's as he headed into the kitchen. Perhaps they had nothing to worry about after all.