"Pitch, where's Auréliane?" Jack was sitting up in his bed, leaning back against the incline.
Pitch ran a finger along the veins in Jack's hand, lifting it up so he could kiss the soft palm. "With your father. He's taken her for some sightseeing."
"When can I see her?"
"After I've had my time alone with you. I've waited long enough."
Jack smiled at him. "And when will that be?"
"In time." Pitch kissed up the pale wrist, lightly running his tongue along the blue veins.
He watched his husband carefully. "I love you."
"I'm devoted to you."
"As I am to you."
"Jack, would it hurt you too much if I held you?"
"I...I'm not sure." He frowned.
"Please don't say 'no.' I need to hold you in my arms again, if only for a moment."
"I don't know...but we can try."
Pitch sighed. "Thank you." He stood, carefully rubbing his hands up Jack's arms. "Tell me if, at any time, you feel pain." Jack nodded his head, giving him a reassuring smile. Pitch moved his hands around under Jack's shoulders, gently cradling the smaller body. "Any pain?"
"Not yet."
He moved his hands down, running his fingers down the spine. He stopped when his hands reached the slim waist. "And now?"
Jack winced slightly. "Only a little."
Pitch pulled back. "I-I'm sorry."
"I didn't say I wanted you to stop."
Pitch hesitantly reached out again, moving his hands back under Jack's waist. He leaned over, putting his weight on his arms. Slowly, he lowered his head to rest on the flat stomach. "Are...are you okay?"
Jack stopped himself from hissing. "Mhmm. I'm fine." His good arm moved as much as the wires and tubes would let him, stroking through Pitch's hair.
"You lie, my darling. However, I find that now I'm here, I'm loathe to move." He moved his head to lean into the caress.
"You don't have to. It's not so bad."
"What hurts, my darling?"
"Just my stomach, really."
"What doesn't hurt?"
"Nothing," he chuckled. "But my unbroken shoulder doesn't hurt too bad if you want to come up here." Pitch nodded, moving his head up to nuzzle into Jack's shoulder. He lifted his head enough to place light kisses on the underside of the man's chin. Jack gave a happy sigh. "I love you."
"I'm yours. Always."
"And I am yours."
"Jack...heal quickly. I want to be able to hold you and have you run your fingers through my hair. Auréliane misses your arms too."
"I'll try, my love. I want to hold you too."
"Tu es ma vie maintenant, Jack. Ne laissez jamais."
"I never will. I swear." He turned to bury his nose in his husband's hair.
"Good. I'll remind you of that next time you decide you want to cross a street alone...you stupid, lovely creature."
Jack frowned. "I blame Italy for being so damn hot in the summer. I just remember feeling so hot and then dizzy, and I stopped. Then the next thing I knew there were flashing lights and pain and I was waking up to your face. Stupid heat..." he grumbled.
Pitch laughed, taking Jack's full bottom lip between his teeth for a nibble. "Stupid...lovely, creature. How I love you."
"How does that make me stupid?"
"Only you would go to cross the street and then decide to get dizzy right in the middle of the road. Jack, if you weren't hurt right now, I'd make love to you."
"It's not like I chose to get dizzy. I've never been good with heat. And besides, you want to make love to me every minute I'm not hurt," he chuckled.
"That's true, but I hope you know, it isn't always sex. You accused me once of seeing our relationship as only a sexual one. Remember?"
Jack nodded, remembering that very moment. "What about it?"
"I told your father that, while the sex is fantastic, that isn't the only thing I care about. I love everything about you, Jack Black-Frost. I love you physically, but there's also who you are emotionally and mentally. There is the sex, but there's you as a person. I love you, sex, temper, blue eyes and all."
A tear escaped down his pale cheek. "S-so...you're not going to stop loving me because I'm...broken?"
"No, but you might stop loving me. You were there for me when I was broken. However, months of no sex might make you...angry. That's why I sent you away that day. It's a proven fact, dearest. No sex means a not happy Jack."
"I think I'll be better off than you. I'm not the one who got angry, and you're far more sex-crazed than I. I am content to cuddle. Are you?"
"For now. Don't be surprised though if you get a little cranky, my dearest. Besides, I have little doubt that I might join you. Like you, I can't...you know...without you. These next few months? No sex for you and me. Let's see how this plays out."
"I think you're going to crack first."
"Am I? Your challenge has been issued, and I accept it. Let's see which one of us gets sex-deprived angry first."
"Still think it'll be you..."
"You're on...minx." Pitch chuckled, leaning forward to kiss his husband, one hand sliding down to cup Jack through the blanket.
Jack moaned softly at the touch, but when he automatically shifted his hips he gasped, face paling. "N-no..."
Pitch pulled his hand away. "Jack? Are you alright? Did that hurt you?"
"I...I shouldn't have moved." He grimaced.
"I-I'm sorry, my darling."
"It's okay. I'm fine."
"Obviously not, my dearest. You look like you just got hit by that truck again."
"Just a little pain. No big deal."
"It is, my dearest. I don't want to cause you any pain...unless you're naked under me and you're begging for me."
"I'm fine, Pitch. Just...hold me again?"
"I can't, dearest. That hurts you. I can put my head on your shoulder and nibble on your neck."
"Sounds heavenly." Jack smiled. "Come back to me, mon coeur."
"What's the magic word?"
"I love you?"
"'Please' was the correct response, but I'll take that one too." Pitch chuckled, nuzzling back into place on Jack's shoulder. He tried not to notice the blooming bruises on most of Jack's body as he licked, kissed and nuzzled what skin was still pale and untouched.
Jack let his eyes close with a happy sigh. "My response will always be 'I love you.' Those are the real magic words."
"I certainly think so. I always love hearing you say those words, and Lord knows they can work magic on me." Pitch smiled against Jack's neck, working on giving him a small mouth-sized bruise on his neck.
"They do the same to me." He chuckled, lifting his arm as much as he could and stroking Pitch's arm.
"Jack, keep your eyes closed. Don't open them."
"Mmmm...why?" He opened one eye, looking over at Pitch.
Pitch chuckled, holding his hand over Jack's eyes. "Eyes closed, you delightful creature. No peeking!"
"What are you doing?" He laughed but kept his eyes closed this time.
"Loving you." Pitch stood, leaning down to place gentle kisses all over Jack's face, being especially gentle over the cuts and bruises. Jack let out a happy sigh. Pitch moved down, kissing Jack's neck with his tongue slipping out to lick lines up and down the skin. "Jack, I'm missing your sounds."
"Pitch..." He moaned softly.
He moved down, running a hand lightly over the pale chest, kissing over the exposed skin then moving over to where the skin was covered in bandages. "Any more, my dearest?"
"I love you," Jack gasped out.
Pitch moved down, his lips and hands everywhere on the small body, both bandaged and not. "Let me hear you, dearest. Let me know you're alive." Jack's breath hitched. Pitch ended by kissing Jack's feet, holding them gently. He pulled away, chuckling. "Yes, dearest, I think you'll be the one to crack first."
Jack shook his head. "I doubt it."
"Jack, I heard your voice, your noises...I think the moment I walk out that door, you're going to yearn for me, dearest. You're going to yearn...as will I."
"Except I have pain to distract me. You have nothing but thoughts of what we could be doing." He smirked up at his husband.
"What makes you think you won't have thoughts? What makes you think you won't dream of being taken face down on our bed? What makes you think you won't dream of having me in you, filling you up? No, dearest. I won't be alone in such thoughts, I'm sure."
"No. You won't. But like I said, I at least have pain to distract me from them."
"And I will too. The pain of loneliness. The pain of having my arms and my bed empty. The pain of holding our daughter and not having you smile at us. The pain of walking around and not smelling your scent or hearing your voice. Don't worry, dearest. There will be pain on my end to serve as a distraction."
Jack smiled, beckoning Pitch back to his shoulder. "Only time will tell, mon coeur."
Pitch shook his head, smiling sadly. "No, dearest, it's time I left. We must face our loneliness eventually."
The younger man frowned. "Must you go back to the hotel?"
"Can I stay here? Will they let me?"
"Can you ask?"
"Would you like me to stay?" Jack nodded his head. "Very well. I will stay. Move over, you selfish creature. I need room in that bed."
"Can you help me?"
"Of course. I'll be as gentle as I can."
He nodded again, bracing himself for the pain. "Go."
Pitch moved his hands under the small body, quickly lifting and moving him over. He did it as quickly as he could, kissing away Jack's tears once they were both in bed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."
"I-it's okay." He slowly managed to unclench his jaw, taking a deep breath.
Pitch sensed Jack's physical pain, so he lifted his head and kissed under Jack's chin, nibbling the soft skin. "Relax, dearest. Gentle..."
"Trying..."
"Kiss me, dearest. Give me your mouth." Jack turned his head towards his husband, leaning forward. "Good boy." Pitch moved his lips over Jack's, trying to breathe comfort and peace into his lover's body through their connection. "Feel me, love. Feel everything I have to give."
"I love you." Jack sighed against his lips.
"Again, my dearest."
"I love you."
"Has my love made the pain go away, at least for now? Keep in mind, a 'no' will devastate me."
"A little..."
"Only a little? Still devastating!"
"C-can you get the doctor to give me more pain killers? I think it's starting to wear off..."
"Of course. I suppose even my medicine has its limits."
"Thank you."
Pitch went to fetch the doctor, returning quickly. "He's here, sweetling. Feel peace." He kissed Jack's forehead as the doctor gave the medicine. Jack let out a sigh of relief as the pain killers started to ease into his system. "Sleep, sweetling. I'll come back tomorrow, bright and early. Sleep..."
"No...You said you'd...stay..."
"Sleep. Sleep and dream of me."
"Pitch...no..."
"Sleep..." Jack tried to convince him again, but he couldn't fight the droopiness in his eyes any longer. Pitch looked down at his lover, a thumb wiping away a stray tear on the pale cheek. "I'll be back, my love. Bright and early."
"Good morning, dearest." Jack opened his eyes groggily, giving a tired smile when they fell on his husband. "Are you still upset that I didn't stay last night?" The younger man nodded his head but held his hand out for the man to take. "What can I do to earn your forgiveness?" Pitch took the hand, bringing it to his lips.
"Stay tonight."
"Of course. Last night was too lonely to possibly repeat. My arms and lips missed you."
"Good. Don't leave anymore."
"Not at all? But what if I have to visit the loo or there's good food in the cafeteria?"
"Not unless you're only gone no more than five minutes."
"Jack...I'm going to do something you'll probably hate me for."
Jack groaned. "What?" Pitch moved the sheet away from the smaller man's body. Moving down and lifting the hospital gown, he took Jack in his mouth. "A-ah!" Jack's entire body tensed. "Pitch!"
Pitch bobbed his head, swallowing his husband down his throat. One hand softly ran up Jack's body to rub the uninjured side of his chest. His eyes were closed, all of his senses focused on this one moment. Jack lay there, trying his damnedest not to move. He knew that if he moved at all, anything pleasurable would be replaced with pain shooting through his body. "Feel me, dearest. Lie there, and feel me. Drown in pleasure." Pitch moved his hand to tangle his fingers in Jack's, squeezing the thin, uninjured appendages.
"Pitch...hurry...I can't stop from moving much longer." He gritted his teeth, moaning.
"Very well, my love. Come for me." Pitch sucked hard, swallowing his lover. Jack groaned, finally spilling himself into his husband's mouth. "Delicious." Pitch licked his lips, smiling. "Tell me...are you angry I did that?"
"Yes and no."
"And what has angered you, my sweetling?"
"The fact that I'm sore now from clenching my muscles so I wouldn't move. Pitch...I love you. I love doing sexual things with you. I really do. But I don't think my body is up for it yet." He frowned, looking down into his lap and covering himself up.
"I know, dearest. Forgive me. I am...a selfish human being that loves you desperately. I just wanted something to remember...something to hold onto while we wait."
Jack gave a him a small smile, reaching his hand out for Pitch's. "I'm sorry that I can't satisfy you sexually, but I promise that I will let you cuddle with me every moment of every day."
"I will take that. I'd rather have your cuddles than nothing at all. It's just...doesn't it hurt to be held?"
"Not so much. I can deal with it if it means having you next to me."
"No. I won't have you feel anymore pain. I'll hold your hand, but I'll stay out of the bed. You must heal, my sweetling."
He frowned again. "You won't even rest on my shoulder?"
"You must earn that, sweetling. Heal...and I'll rest my head there forever."
Jack let out a sigh, settling his head back into the pillows again. "You sure do know how to torture your husband."
"I learned from the best." Pitch chuckled, leaning down for a quick kiss.
"Indeed." He winced slightly when he moved a little. Jack reached for a little button the doctor had given him the night before and pressed it, relaxing as more pain killers entered his system.
"I want you to sleep now, dearest."
"But I just woke up."
"Yes, but you also just masturbated. You must be exhausted."
"Not that tired. I don't want you to go."
"I won't. This time, I promise."
"Fine." He mumbled, letting his eyes shut. "But only because these damn pain killers make me drowsy anyway..."
"Good boy. I'll be here, holding your hand. The whole time."
"Good..." Jack felt himself drift off to sleep.
"Sleep...and dream of me."
"Pitch, I want to see her. It's been almost two weeks since I've been in here, and you haven't let me see our daughter."
"You mean your father hasn't. He's about as obsessed with her as I am with you."
"I want to see her, mon coeur. I need to see her." Jack winced as he moved slightly, pain building in his stomach. He immediately went to press the pain killers button.
"I knew you'd get bored of having only me. My ugly face can't satisfy you anymore." Pitch sighed sadly, cupping his cheek with his hand.
"You know that's not true. She's...she's my baby. I have to see her."
"I know. I just...it might be too much for you. Any small movement causes you pain. She's only a baby, dearest. She won't understand this."
"I don't care. I haven't been away from her for more than a day since we got her. I need to see her, Pitch."
"If you kiss me, I'll get her."
"Then come here so I can reach you."
Pitch walked over, bending down close to his husband's face. "Kiss now?"
Jack nodded, leaning forward as much as he could, cringing slightly when pain shot through his stomach. He pressed their lips together. "Bring her to me, mon coeur. I miss ma petite étoile."
"As you command, sweetling. Stay here, and I'll get her." Jack fell back with a happy sigh, finger pressing the button again to try and rid himself of the pain. "Stop that. You're going to become addicted to that stuff, I swear."
"I can't help it...I-it hurts. Today more so than usual."
"What hurts, my dearest? What's happened that it hurts now more than usual?"
"My stomach. I don't know what happened. It just started last night and it's been getting worse. I can't move at all without it hurting."
"I'm getting the doctor. This sounds...worrisome, dearest."
"N-no! Give me Auréliane first. Please, Pitch."
"No. I'm putting my foot down. I will not obey if you're in pain like this."
"Pitch, please! I need her in my arms! Give her to-" Jack tried to sit up, but halfway there he collapsed back onto the bed, his face paling. His hand moved over again, an expression of sheer pain on his face as he desperately pressed that button repeatedly.
"Jack, stop it!" Pitch grabbed the button from him, moving it to the table. "Stop it, dearest. You need a doctor, not these bloody meds." He stood, rushing to the door. "I'm getting him. Don't touch that button again unless he tells you to."
Jack lay there on the bed with tears streaming down his face, completely helpless. He wanted nothing more than to just curl into a ball and make the excruciating pain go away. Pitch came back a minute later, the doctor right behind him.
"What seems to be the trouble, Mr. Black-Frost?"
"I-it hurts!" His good arm lay clutching across his stomach.
The doctor pressed down on certain areas. "I think there might be some bleeding. We're going to need to stop it."
"How?" Jack gritted his teeth, trying not to cry out in pain as the man pressed on his stomach.
"There's going to be a lot of medication and surgery in your future, Mr. Black-Frost."
Pitch looked up, horrified. "W-what? I thought..."
"Complications are common when it comes to situations like your husband's."
"Just make it go away..." he gasped, turning to bury his head in the pillow. Jack bit down on the fabric to mute any other painful noises he might make.
Pitch clutched at his stomach, tears coming to his eyes at his husband's reaction. "Do it. Whatever it takes, do it."
French translation:
Tu es ma vie maintenant, Jack. Ne laissez jamais. - You are my life now, Jack. Never leave.
ma petite étoile - my little star
Poor Jack :( If you review, maybe we'll make him all better?
