The next few hours were torture for him. While doctors did what they could to save her, Jack was sitting and waiting. He remembered her smile, glowing eyes and cloud of a French perfume which always followed her and left its mark to every place she has been. He couldn't bare a thought that all of that could be lost. Because of him, because he asked her to assist him on this murder case and because he didn't save her. Jack knew that Phryne trusted him as she has never trusted another man before and he let her down.
There was nothing left to do for him only pray to God that he saves her. Dot was sitting next to him silently crying in her prayer book and Collins came as soon as he could. Murderer was behind the bars, but knowing that did nothing for Jack – he felt almost like he was the one, who pushed her off the roof, and in a way, he was shure, he did.
Others were also there – Mister B., Cec and Burt and Aunt P. And Mac – every half an hour she went to check up on situation and every time she came back Jack hold his breath. Not knowing how she was doing was torture, but Jack was sure that knowledge of her death would make him loose his mind.
Hours went by and finally doctor came out. He looked tired, his face blank.
Jack jumped up, but he couldn't speak. His mouth stayed closed, it was too much for him to ask the question. He's hands were shaking once again, or maybe they were shaking all the time but he hadn't noticed.
„She will live," doctor finally spoke.
Jack closed his eyes and let the news flush over him. „She is alive. She is alive. She is alive." - Was the only thought in his head and he felt his body relaxing a bit.
„Miss Fisher will need a lot of rest and caring, she had serious internal injuries and broken bones but we fixed it all. She is is strong and healthy woman – it's a miracle she survived a fall like that, but she will be fine again." With that doctor left and nurse told them in which room they can find her.
After checking her Cec and Burt took home Aunt P. Dot didn't wanted to go, but Hugh persuaded her to go home and rest as Jack promised to stay by her side and call if anything happens.
Only when everyone were gone he dared to look at her properly. She was as pale as sheet she was laying on, her left hand casted, stitches on her forehead. Phryne looked almost surreal, no makeup, no smile, no perfume, no nothing. And he loved her like that even more – just as she was, he loved her because she was.
Jack put a chair next to her bad and sat on it. The horror of the moment she fell was still in his mind, he could swear the world stopped at that moment and if not whole world than his world most definitely.
He knew he will never forgive this to himself. Jack always thought that her adventurous spirit will bring her death, but it turned out to be him instead. The thoughts kept torturing him. To keep himself sane he took her right palm in his to feel her warmth, her blood rushing through her veins, her soft skin. Jack couldn't let it go, but now he knew that in order to save her he must go himself. But not now, he still had some hours before she wakes up, before he must go and with her delicate palm in his, he fell into sleep full of nightmares of Phryne lying in open casket, on very uncomfortable hospital's chair.