Disclaimer: Let me reinstate that Jareth belongs to Jim Henson and everyone else belongs to me. Kinsellan flits are the creation of Jessica Dragontamer, who can be contacted via her Elfwood gallery (http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/j/t/jth/jth.html) if you would like one of your own.

Lisa moved aside to allow Medicus access to Jareth's room. He entered, unhitching his cart and leaving it outside (the room wasn't big enough for two unicorns and the cart). He gasped aloud at the sight he saw: A light was coming from Jareth's chest, a light the color of blood.

The unicorn stepped close to the Goblin King and put his horn against his forehead, his throat, and finally the glowing mark on his chest.

"Virus," said Medicus. "Who is he?"

"Remember the owl we brought to you? That's him. Jareth, the King of the Goblins."

Medicus' eyes went round. All unicorns knew the story of the Goblin King. Most magical creatures did, in fact. He said, "The virus probably entered through the open wound on his chest."

"Why didn't you pick up this virus when you checked him before?" Lisa demanded.

"Because it took time to set in and was nearly invisible when I checked him." Medicus went to his cart, rummaging around, his back to Lisa so she couldn't see what he was doing.

A dish of teal cream levitated to Lisa. Medicus instructed, "Rub the cream into the wound."

What is it? Jamie asked.

Medicus turned his eyes on the flit, who was bathed in the blood-red light from Jareth. "The cream is the cure for the virus. I developed it when I first discovered it. It will also close the wound, reduce the fever, and prevent further infection."

Lisa wasted no time in doing what Medicus instructed.

~Close it?~ Goldy asked. ~It was closed before.~

Medicus shook his head, his red forelock wisping down in front of his black eyes. "The infection opened it, and that's where the glow is coming from. Give him until morning."

When Lisa pulled her hand away, the light turned the color of the cream rubbed into the wound, then slowly started to fade. Everyone breathed a sigh of utter relief. Medicus levitated the cream back to his cart.

Jareth started to breathe easier and his heartbeat grew stronger. Lisa took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Medicus made a unicorn smile. "He will sleep until the morning, maybe the afternoon. The infection will be gone by then." He sounded so sure of himself, they were inclined to believe him.

Lisa, overcome with emotion, stood and threw her arms around Medicus' neck. He snorted softly, stunned, but nuzzled her back.

Goldy spoke for her. ~Thank you, Medicus. You just might have saved more than His Highness's life.~

"It's my job," he said as Lisa pulled away. "I promise I won't go anywhere until I receive word that he's fully recovered." With that, he turned, hitched his cart, and walked away. The wall closed behind him.

Lisa pulled a chair to Jareth's bedside and took his hand, intent on watching him until he woke.

***

Unfortunately, Lisa's willpower wasn't that strong, and she ended up falling asleep, as did Goldy and Jamie.

Jareth's eyelids fluttered open, very slowly. His vision was blurred, but it gradually came into focus. He saw the flit, asleep at his left side, and Lisa holding his hand and sleeping at his right. The golden unicorn was also asleep, lying in a corner of the room.

He looked down at his chest and saw that the wound that had been inflicted on him had all but disappeared. He no longer felt dizzy or in pain. Even his arm felt better.

Very gently, he shook the hand Lisa was holding in order to wake her up. When she didn't, he called her name.

She muttered and he shook his hand again. Her eyes opened and she focused on him.

"You're okay!" she said, moving to sit at his side. "I was…I was terrified you'd die."

"To be honest," he said, his voice a little weak but gaining strength with each passing minute, "so was I. What happened?"

As Jamie and Goldy woke themselves, Lisa explained what had happened. She removed the bandage on Jareth's arm and he flexed it, finding it in perfect working order. Lisa tossed the bandage in a hamper in the corner.

"This has been a…most interesting experience, Lisa." Jareth said, eyeing her a little oddly.

She chuckled. "Yes, well, life's never dull around here. We'll send word to Medicus when we're sure you're fully recovered, and then I guess you can go once you feel up to it."

His eyebrows rose suggestively. "What's the hurry?" He squeezed her hand.

Lisa looked at him curiously, his words settling in her brain, then she laughed. "Really, Jareth! Just came back from Death's Door and it didn't change you one bit."

"Well," he said. "You did save my life. I feel I am in your debt."

She shrugged. "Let's make a deal. Allow me to visit whenever I want, you can do the same provided you can find me, and we'll call it even."

Jareth sat up in bed, considering. "I have a better idea. I guarantee it will be worth your while."

Lisa leaned forward, interested, as Jareth whispered in her ear.

Finis.

Author's Note: You didn't really think I'd kill him off, did you? For shame! Remember the words of Sallie Drazzi!! "It may be easy to get a kiss from the Goblin King, but he gets pissed off if you kill him off or make him gay." Now all you gotta do is wait for the sequel. *grin*