Author's Note: Sorry! I know I haven't been as consistent as I normally am, but I found a seriously good book, so I haven't been getting much sleep. When I'm not writing, I'm reading and vice-versa. Please tell me what you think of this chapter and thank you for your other reviews! I appreciate it ;)

Thick, warm sweat sluiced down Jack's back, causing his hair and clothes to become sticky with the perspiration, but he didn't care. Jack jogged harder, his calves steadily burning. Elsa hadn't shut him out completely, but she'd been uncharacteristically shy. Occasionally, when she'd caught Jack staring, her lips would curve into a small, timid smile. They hardly ever talked and when they did, she always had curt, monosyllabic responses. Jack figured she needed some time to work out… whatever she needed to work out. To Jack, the situation was as crystal clear as her pretty forget-me-not eyes, but obviously the feeling wasn't mutual. His breaths were coming in ragged pants and he slowed his pace slightly. He hoped Elsa would come around. And soon. But he'd wait for her. It was the least he could do.

Something caught Jack's attention. He looked to the side. There was someone sitting on the bleachers, a pile of books and paper in her lap and a pencil in her dainty hand. Elsa. He blinked once. Twice. She'd stopped coming to his practices several weeks ago. His lips unconsciously curved into a smile at the sight. Elsa had come to his practice. His chest seemed to swell. He heard someone shout, but couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Suddenly, something rammed into hi side, knocking the air out of him as he crashed to the ground. Jack's head hit the ground and he heard a sickening crunch. Jack laid there, paralyzed, his mind trying to catch up with what had happened. He felt strangely numb. His heart started thumping against his chest as he felt a warm trickle run down the side of his head. He casually brushed his fingers through his hair. His fingertips were coated in red. Jack observed the foreign substance, not believing it was from him.

"Jack!"

He turned his head, wincing at the pain. Elsa stumbled down beside him and gently touched his head, her hands trembling and icy-cold. A cry was torn from her throat as she knelt next to him and buried her head into his chest. Jack didn't mean to make her cry. His hand pressed the small of her back. He followed the curve of her spine with his fingertips, hoping to soothe her. Her tears began to soak his shirt. Jack gently cupped her cheek. Her skin was so cold. Jack began to feel a throb of distant pain, as if giving him a sample of what he would soon feel. He wrapped his arms around Elsa, hoping she'd warm up. He was slowly coming out of his dazed state. Everything still seemed slightly surreal. How badly was he injured? Could he die? Jack clenched his jaw tightly at the thought. He was surrounded by his teammates, each peering down at him. Elsa didn't seem to notice the other boys. It was quiet except for the distant sound of the coach's one-sided conversation—presumably he was calling someone—his teammates' hushed whispers, and Elsa's sobs, muffled by his chest. He winced as another wave of pain crashed against him. The pain was slowly coming, becoming sharper and, well, more painful. His grip on Elsa tightened, but the excruciating pain in his left arm made him stop. His left arm looked… odd to say the least. And it hurt. Jack felt his eyes smart, needles of pain shooting up his arm. His breaths came in irregular pants. He became aware of a wailing sound in the distant, which he recognized as a siren. He winced as the noise became louder, throbbing in beat with the pain in his head. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw red lights flashing. Then there were three new people, each clad in plain black. They slid him onto a long yellow board and lifted. Elsa still clung to him tightly. He heard one of the people explain in a monotone to her she couldn't come. Elsa latched onto his left wrist, squeezing tightly. Jack let out a short yelp before he could stop himself. Elsa paled and immediately let go of his arm as the ambulance personnel repeated that she couldn't go. Her lips quivered and a tear raced down her cheek.

"Wait," he groaned. It wasn't very loud, but the woman stopped lecturing Elsa. "Can she come, please? I'd like—need her with me." He grimaced, trying to ignore his pulsing temples. Talking wasn't helping his migraine.

The woman responded with a curt nod. Elsa cautiously draped her hand over his, following him as he was loaded into the ambulance. The inside was like a small room with a bed in the middle. The walls were line with gadgets, cabinets, and tubes. Jack offered Elsa a wan smile as the ambulance lurched forward.

Elsa raked her fingers through her hair, which was already a mess, but she couldn't care less. They'd confined her to a tiny waiting room as they inspected Jack. One of the hospital workers—she didn't remember if it was a nurse, doctor, or someone else entirely—informed her they were going to run him through the x-ray and check for internal damage. Elsa pressed her fingers into her temples. Hard. She hoped it would alleviate some of her stress. Elsa forced herself to sit rigidly. The waiting room was small and plain. The walls were beige, the chairs green. It was as big as a storage closet. Elsa swiped a magazine from the stand beside her. She opened the first page, revealing a stunning super-model blonde with a sun-kissed tan, clothed in a brilliant pink dress, but Elsa didn't see the picture. Her eyes remained unfocused as she imagined possible scenarios. Elsa knew from experience how bad head injuries could be. She'd caused one. She heard a crinkling sound and realized her hands were clutching the magazine a little too tightly. She threw the magazine across the room in disgust. Elsa was certain she would combust if confined much longer. She had to see him. The door creaked open and Elsa swerved in her seat.

"He is ready for visitors' ma'm."

Elsa bolted up from her chair and followed the nurse, clothed in green scrubs. The nurse opened a door, revealing a small room with a counter off to the side, carious electronic equipment, and finally a bed. She heard the door swing shut behind her, the nurse leaving them alone. Elsa did a quick once-over of Jack. His arm was stiffly covered in a cast. She couldn't see any bandages or stitches on his head. She rushed to his side, parting his hair. Elsa found the cut that had bled so profusely. It was fairly small. She frowned. How could such a small cut bleed so much?

"I need to look at your head," she murmured.

"My head?" Elsa heard a faint trace of amusement in his tone, which made her angry. He obviously didn't understand the severity of the situation.

"Yes," she growled.

Elsa sat on the bed, but found she couldn't thoroughly examine his hair that way. She let out a little huff and knelt on his bed. She still had to twist and lean over him. Elsa finally swung her leg around the other side of his body, straddling his waist. Jack cheeks turned a bright pink, Elsa ran her fingers through his hair, searching thoroughly. There wasn't anything else besides that cut. She sighed and sat back on his stomach.

"I feel like a chimpanzee," Jack chuckled, still blushing brightly, but he didn't voice his embarrassment.

"A… chimpanzee?"

"Yeah. How you were grooming my hair and stuff. Find any fleas?"

Elsa smiled. "Just a few."

Jack laughed. Elsa felt him shake underneath her and suddenly remembered the position she was in.

"Sorry, am I hurting you?"

She made a move to get off, but Jack lightly touched her hip. "You can stay on me as long as you want." He gave her a cheeky smile.

Elsa started blushing too. "Jack!" she hissed. She couldn't seem to get off of him fast enough. Elsa seated herself beside the bed, still feeling slightly flustered. Obviously his head injury didn't hinder his flirting abilities. Wonderful, she thought sarcastically. "This isn't something to joke about."

"Elsa, it's no big deal."

"Yes, it is! Head injuries are serious."

Jack rolled his eyes.

"Jackson Frost Overland, don't you roll your eyes at me."

He laughed. "I thought our relationship went deeper than a mother-son thing."

Elsa felt cheeks heat again. "It coud've been worse!" she continued.

"But it wasn't."

"But it could've been!" She felt tears of frustration prick her eyes. She turned before Jack could see them.

"Elsa, it's okay. Come here. Look."

She hastily dried her eyes and turned towards Jack. He motioned for her to come closer. Elsa seated herself on his bed. Jack tucked a wisp of stray hair behind her ear with his good arm.

"It's alright," he murmured softly.

Elsa leaned into his hand, savoring how his warm skin felt against hers.

"My head is fine. And my arm's just broken."

Elsa sniffed. "Jackson Overland, your head has never been fine," she retorted.

Jack laughed. "That's my girl!"

He urged her closer and barely managed to brush their lips before Elsa jerked back with surprise. She touched her lips, feeling the pleasant, tingling warmth left in the wake of their kiss. After her cheeks lost some of its pink tinge, she turned towards him, pinning him with an icy glare.

"What?! I needed a kiss to make my boo-boos feel better."

Elsa bit her lip against an oncoming smile.

"I'll get better sooner if you give me another kiss."

Elsa laughed, though her cheeks were blushing again. "I doubt that."

Jack decided he'd better not push his luck and refrained from talking about kisses.