Day thirty-eight

I stared at my mother, slowly, gently stroking her hair from her face as she slept. The poor woman had been sleeping all night, and most of the day, and I couldn't have been wrenched from her side for anything. Only now, looking down upon her when she was not at her best, did I realize how much I loved her. Surely, she was a witch to the people she did not like, which unfortunately included my dearest Kim... but she was indeed a wonderful woman.

"Jack, my friend you must eat, you must sleep! You have been here for hours upon end! I will sit with your mother, you go and rest." Darius pleaded with me not for the first time since I had taken root beside mother's bed.

"Just a while longer, Darius." I sighed, he and I both knowing I had no intentions of leaving her side until she was healthy enough to leave with me.

"Dios mio! You are stubborn as mule, man! Get up and eat! Relieve yourself, we will care for your mother." Jerome, the young Spanish man who had rescued me finally shouted in frustration.

I blinked in surprise before slowly, reluctantly prying myself away, whispering to my sleeping mother that everything was going to be okay.

Kim's POV

I sighed, helping Jack's father eat a bowl of soup. Surprisingly, he was doing far better than Jack's mum. Jack had taken root next to her bed ever since she had fallen ill the night previous, and he had not moved from her side since. It made me jealous of the affection Jack held for the woman. She was cruel.

I shook myself out of the unpleasant thoughts, remembering that Jack had known the woman far longer than I had, and had the pleasure of not knowing her ugly side. Or perhaps it just was that he knew that she wasn't really the evil witch she put on to be? No... she, in all rights, is an evil witch.

I sighed again, gently closing the door behind me, determined to maneuver my mind towards more pleasant thoughts.

Let's see... Imogene's ankle is healing well. Agnes and Jacklyn are up and about, cooking and cleaning as they are so used to doing.

Darius, bless his heart was up to his ears in unwell guests, and was doing his best not to show how uncomfortable he was around all these knew, unfamiliar faces.

Jerry, the Spanish flirt was taking every opportunity to show me how available he was, a show that was quite amusing to me, and rather annoying to Darius, whom... Agnes was sure had feelings for me.

Which made me secretly wonder... did Agnes in turn have feelings for Darius? I saw the way she looked at him. He was a handsome fellow to say the least. And Jacklyn seemed rather fancied with Jerry, or Jerome as he demanded to be called, though no one really did.

Milton, the Scottish scientist that was with Jerry was quiet, and held about him a reserved sort of intelligence. He was also prone to blurt out random fractional equations at the most random of times. He too had flirted with all the girls in the cabin, including six-year-old Imogene who had simply stared at him in confusion when he had asked her what she looked for in men.

I pushed away my thoughts, sighing as I sat down to the afternoon meal Darius and the girls had prepared, my eyes wandering over to Jack who had moved away from his mother to eat, but his eyes kept shifting in her direction. My appetite was lost.

I stood up, pushing my food aside. "I'm going for some air."

"I'll go with you."

Jerry, Milton and Darius collectively stood as well, then glared at each other in turn. it left me to wonder why Jack hadn't been so quick to jump up as well.

"I'll be fine, you mangy brutes, sit down and eat your meals." I sighed, grabbing Jacklyn and pulling her with me. "We'll be fine."

Now I have four saviors... and one of them has a new damsel in distress.

A/N): Sorry Sorry SORRY that it took so long for me to update! Been extremely busy lately... please review and let me know what you think!