Hello again! Thanks reviewers! Today I really have no clue what to write so I am going to get to it! Here's the update:

Chapter 38: Making Acquaintance

Jack sat by Jem's bed staring at Jeremiah worriedly as the doctor examined him. He couldn't help but review how the afternoon had gone; one minute, Jem was winning the poker game, the next minute, Jem had thrown up and passed out on the floor.

Jem moaned and tried to sit up. The doctor eased him back into his relaxed, horizontal position and gave a couple soft assurances. Jack just stared on with concern.

The doctor stood up from his crouched position and glanced at Jem before turning to Jack. "Seems there's something going around the jail… your friends got it. I am not going to gloss over the truth… he's got a bad case of it." Jack sighed at the doctor's words. "Do you know if he has anyone who is to be notified? Any friends? Relatives?"

"There is one… 'is sister, Adelaide Fields. He's always talking about 'er - she lives in Windsor." Jack sighed.

The doctor nodded and scribbled the information in a small notebook. He exited the cell and gave his orders to one of the guards about Jem's medication and other needs. Jack listened carefully just to make sure that the guard did everything correctly - as the doctor ordered.

A sigh escaped Jem, causing Jack to turn his attention back to his friend. Jem smiled when he noticed that he had the Dodger's full attention.

"Don't stare at me like that!" Jem said, still smiling. He lifted his right hand up to his forehead and rubbed his right temple. "I just wish that you and the room would quite spinning around so!"

"Jem…," Jack squatted down so that he was at eye-level with Jem, "I wish I was in your place… I-"

"Oh, no you don't!" Jem said with a light laugh. "It isn't quite as much fun as it looks!"

"Well… what I mean is…," Jack struggled to find the right words.

Jem rested his right hand on Jack's left arm. "I know what you mean… you don't have to say it."

"But…," Jack interjected.

"I know that I'm your friend! Practically family, right? Like we're brothers." Jem closed his eyes as a small spasm of pain shot through him. All the talking he was doing was losing him more energy than he expected; beads of sweat were again forming on his forehead.

Jack took Jem's hand and squeezed it before resting it back next to Jem. "Don't exhaust yourself," he reprimanded. "You need your strength."

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Over the week, Jem's illness seemed to remain the same as when it had first struck its blow; temperature 103 degrees Fahrenheit, heart rate normal and steady, and sense of humor as in tact as ever.

Jack did his best to entertain Jem without exhausting him, and Jem did his best to keep his germs "on the insides so that it wouldn't spread."

On the third day of Jem's illness, the guards entered their cell and attempted to move Jack to another cell. Of course, the Dodger would have none of it; he kicked, protested, and clung to the cell bars. The guards quickly gave it up as a "lost cause" and decided that the Dodger's horrible temper must be caused by a fever already rising within his own body.

It was exactly seven days later that a long-awaited guest arrived.

There was a clang and the Dodger opened his eyes. The cell door was being opened and someone holding a candle was entering. Jack stood up slowly causing the newcomer to breathe in sharply.

"Hello," came a slightly uneasy voice out of the darkness.

"'Ello," Jack responded calmly.

There was a moment in which both of them hesitated, and then the newcomer spoke. "I'm Adelaide… Adelaide Fields… Jem's sister."

Jack nodded and stepped closer to her so that they could get a good look at each other. Jack noted all the similarities he saw between Adelaide and her brother. Same hair color, only 'er's is curly… same smile…

His thoughts were interrupted by a look of surprise that had crossed Adelaide's face.

"What?" Jack asked quizzically.

"Oh, nothing!" she smiled and her cheeks seemed to grow crimson in the candlelight.

"No, really, what?" Jack asked again.

"Well, it's just… oh, I don't know… umm…," she bit her lip nervously, "I just realized that I didn't give you any warning or time for you to put on some of your clothes. I mean, you in your night things… I'm sorry, very inappropriate of me… completely my fault…" She turned around and redirected her attention to the sleeping Jem.

Jack laughed to himself and turned to go make himself presentable. He continued to watch Adelaide as she bent over her brother. The candle she was holding cast a good bit of light, and Jack found himself staring at her dress; it was simple in style, but nonetheless tastefully so – not a bit like what he was used to. All the ladies he knew wore low-cut, showy, and (usually) slightly dirty dresses. She carried herself with the air of someone who knew how to act properly, but in a non-stuffy way much unlike the higher-class citizens that the Dodger had stolen from before his imprisonment.

She turned to face the now fully dressed Jack.

"How has he been? Has he improved at all? Worsened?" she stared worriedly at Jack.

"He's been practic'lly th' same all week; no improvement or turns for th' worse," Jack replied honestly. He paused and then continued. "I didn't introduce m'self before, did I? I'm… Jack," he said; something inside him had urged him to use the name he usually hated.

"Jack," she repeated, staring at him for a moment. "Very nice to meet you." She gave him a steady look and then turned back to Jem and brushed some stray hair off his forehead.

Jack stared mesmerized. He didn't know if it was the glow of the candle or the way Adelaide acted that amazed him so. He shook his head and turned to look back into the darkness that shrouded his bed.

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