A/N: This chapter is rather old, too.

@all my sweet reviewers: you make me feel so happy! Thank you, every single one of you!

@T-Chan: ::hugs:: Cool to hear from you again!!!

@Evenstar: um...well, no, I had no exams but work 8hrs/day - is that enough to excuse myself? Well, it doesn't count as this chapter was actually written ages ago...-.- SORRY! But better late than never, right?

@Bethany: yeah, my beta rocks!!!! ^.^ And you know what? She offered me to beta-read my first chappies, too!!! I'm so happy to have her! ::hugs Leni-chan::

By the way I've been listening to"Without you" from Badfinger while writing it, so perhaps you want to do the same while reading ::smiles::

Please please review!

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~Geoffrey had been sitting in the tent dumbfounded for some time - he could not tell how long exactly. He had been so happily excited when Ryan first responded to the kiss. But it probably had been a mere reflex. Had he stolen the boy's first kiss? Ryan's second reaction had revealed his true feelings: shock and disgust. Geoff had spoiled everything. What should he do now? How could he ever look into Ryan's eyes again? He had to find him and tell he had been joking or drunken or something.

Eight eyes saw more than two in the complete darkness so he first went to the inn asking his friends for help. He just told them he suspected Ryan to be lost and they set out. But even with lanterns they could not see very far and as they did not know the area themselves Wat soon suggested to go back to the camp and search for him in daylight. Hesitantly Geoffrey agreed and finally laid down on the furs in their tent. But he could not find any easing sleep. As soon as he closed his eyes images of Ryan's wide gaze haunted him. The boy did not return during the whole night.

Geoffrey got up with the first ray of sunlight just in time to see Kate entering. She also seemed not to have slept and looked very concerned. Together they shook Wat and Roland awake. Wat only reluctantly followed them outside into the warm morning. Light was quickly spreading over the green fields around them. Geoffrey could see the stands around the lists gleam in the golden sunlight but it did not warm his heart as it normally would have.

His heart froze as he suddenly heard a yelp behind him. He turned to see Kate vanish down the slope that led down to the sea - the sea! Cursing Geoffrey followed her. Why had they not thought about that at night? His insides twisted at the thought of what might be awaiting him. And sure enough when the sea shore came in sight he could see Ryan's limp figure lying halfway into the water which was sardonicly sparkling in the early sunlight. Kate was bending over Ryan and started dragging him out of the pool. Geoffrey ran down the slope while Wat and Roland appeared behind him. In no time Geoffrey was next to the soaking wet figure and knelt down. He felt Ryan's cheeks and forehead - ice cold. He checked his pulse - very weak. Kate was trying to wake him up as if Ryan was just soundly asleep. Roland had dashed away, probably to inform Will. Wat stood next to them with a rather helpless expression. Geoffrey only wished he had his coat with him to give Ryan at least a bit of warmth.

+++

Ryan was disturbingly light. Geoffrey carried him on his arms to the castle. Roland had indeed informed Will so Prince Edward had learned about it, too. He had suggested to better bring the boy into the castle where he could have a real bed and peace instead of the wild noise which naturally was on the camp.

They were met by a warden who led them up to a seperated room which undoubtedly was some kind of a nursing room. Will was waiting for them inside. He had lit a fire and prepared warm blankets.

"They have sent for the physician. How is he?"

Geoffrey gently laid down the wet figure onto the winter white sheets. "Unconscious. We do not know how long he has been lying in there. He is cold as ice, Will." His voice trembled.

Kate had found her wits back in their old place. "We better get him out of that wet clothes. There is a dry shirt anywhere here, isn't it, Will?"

"Well, yes...yes, of course. Here you are."

Geoffrey took a step back. He could not do it. It was stupid he knew. He wanted to take care for him, day and night, until Ryan was well again but he could not undress him. Kate meanwhile had removed Ryan's shirt discovering the tight bandage around his chest.

"What's that?" Roland asked with a puzzled expression.

Geoffrey felt his stomach rebel angrily at the sight of his four friends stooping over Ryan's almost bare upper body. But he also was relieved that he could say something reasonable again.

"He hides a picture of his mother in it. So he always knows it near to his heart." They gave him a look. "He told me." Geoffrey tried to sound casually and shrugged.

"We have to remove that, too." Kate was rather motherly-like Geoffrey noticed. "We can put the picture on his bedside table." And she began to unwrap the wet bandage. The small leather package fell out and Geoffrey carefully put it onto the nearby table checking the picture did not get wet, too. Sighing he looked at the portrait of the beautiful woman who had been Ryan's mother as he heard a surprised gasp and a "Geoff!" behind him. He turned and hurried back to the bed - where he could see the bare breast of a young woman!

+++

Of course - it all made sense! The story of the ominous twin sister - it had been her. SHE had attacked her father in defense during that quarrel about marrying this rich guy. Then she had gone into hiding - in London, as a boy. Geoffrey was torn between relief that his liking for the youngster would be considered as normal now and concern about her. He was sitting next to her bed. The physician had been there to see her. He said the nasty cut on her temple would probably soon heal but the fever which had set in meanwhile could be fatal for the weak girl.

Poor one! What she must have went through he could barely imagine. Beaten up by her father all the time, then playing the boy, this Pete, watching the suicide of the first person who ever had been friendly to her. Geoffrey, too, had rejected her by sending her away after just one month and later not wanting her on the tour. How selfish Geoff had been! All he had been caring about was the reaction of the people around him to the fact that he suddenly seemed to prefer boys. He looked at the face sticking out between the fur blankets and the head bandage. Her cheeks were rosy and sweaty from the fever. Carefully Geoffrey wiped the sweat away with a cloth. He could feel the heat under his hands and sighed. He dearly hoped she would sweat out the fever. He desperately wished he could take over the illness for her.

But one thing he indeed could do: hush away all those foolish women and care for her himself. He knew he had to change her clothes and wash away the fever sweat at least three times a day (he blushed deeply in that process and knew it was not right that he as a man was doing it but insisted on fulfilling that task). He knew he had to keep her warm and to wrap cold cloths around her calfs to force down the heat. He knew he had to stay with her all the time.

+++

And still where was a mean little voice nagging at the back of his head. A voice which constantly was telling him that he didn't know her at all. Not even her real name! He thought he knew some things, and understood some others now, but what was really true? Had everything been a lie, just as her being a boy had been? Had she ever been honest to him? His heart told him that yes but the little voice was in his head...

However he felt his love had not faltered - yet.

+++

The fever was burning her. She had been lying idle like this for so long now without any sign of recovery. The physician looked more and more hopeless as did the faces of the others around Geoffrey. His friends turned up now and then but Geoff seldom left the bedside. Kate sometimes spent the long night watches together with him but he never told her anything about his feelings. It was his secret and nobody but the girl should know.

It was night now and they were alone - just him and the girl he had spent so much time with and yet not realising who she really was. Her state had been bad since the last morning. She had been moving a lot with a troubled and painful expression on her face. Kate had intended to stay with them but Geoffrey sent her away. He had a feeling this would be the worst night of the girl's illness and he wanted to be alone with her.

It was around midnight when she suddenly went still - and opened her eyes. Geoffrey bent over her bearing a long missed smile which quickly froze as the girl began to speak weakly.

"Daddy?" her voice was very quiet and hoarse but the word had been unmistakably. She had to be imagining out of fever. But he did not want to trouble her and managed a sad nod. If that was possible her ill features brightened up a bit.

"You...found me." She obviously had problems to speak but seemed eager to. "You know...Geoff?" Again he nodded not able to say anything. "Tell him..." she gulped "I love him..." Geoffrey was taken aback. She loved him? And he had not noticed! He had been too involved in his own feelings... His breath went heavier, there didn't seem to be enough air in the chamber. She took a deep breath which was almost a sigh and spoke on "not Cole...will you...tell Geoff?"

He could feel a huge lump in his throat but he managed a hoarse "Promised." and gave her a kiss on the gleaming forehead.

Her face muscles tried a smile but failed - they seemed to have forgotten how to work properly. Her voice was so hushed now that Geoffrey had to lean in closer. "Can you...forgive...me?"

It was slowly killing Geoffrey that he had to lie to the girl he cared so much about but he knew it was the best for her. He did not dare troubling her even more but nodded slowly.

She stared at him and for a short moment Geoffrey thought she recognised him. But obviously not: "What...month?"

"June." Geoffrey answered puzzled but truly.

"Then I...won't...fulfil my...twentieth...year before..." her whisper trailed off and her view went out of focus. Geoffrey wrapped his arms around her.

"NO, don't even think about that. You won't die. Not as long as I'm with you. I love you and I won't let that happen! Do you hear me?" he exclaimed despaired.

But she was already asleep again.

+++

Geoffrey did not know when he had fallen asleep but when he woke up the room was already brightly lit. He was half lying on the girl whose name he still did not know, her cold hand in his. Cold hand? He looked into her face. The feverish shine was away. She was pale again and her face was almost peaceful. He smiled - she was out of the wood. He could whistle again while he prepared the hot water to wash away the sweat of the night as he had been doing for so many days now. It was not until he began the washing that he noticed she was not breathing anymore.~






















~*~ THE END ~*~