Title: Whispers of Magic
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Jareth/Sarah
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Time will tarnish your memory but some things will never go away even if they are only whispers.
AN: Set at least 10 years after the movie with a very grown up Sarah and a Jareth that hasn't changed one bit.
Disclaimer: This story was written for my entertainment, if by some miracle you were also entertained then I am honored. I obviously make no money from this artistic venture.
Reviews: Anon: Here is more. Morrigana: I'm glad you enjoy it. Lady of the Labyrinth: To clear things up, Sarah is NOT pregnant. I always love your reviews. Thanks so much. WickedGame: Done! Nimiriel: Thank you for such positive comments. Moonjava: I'm glad you like it.
Chapter 8: In Audentia Veritas
Getting a doctor's appointment on such a short notice required no small amount of begging. To be honest though, Sarah wasn't exactly truthful when describing her present condition. After all, who would believe if she said that she thought a formless entity had messed with her uterus while vacationing in a mythical land. Sarah's spontaneous chuckle in the middle of a quiet doctor's waiting room brought several strange stares her way. Burying her head into the magazine in her lap, Sarah giggled to herself.
Her name was finally called when she was halfway through her fourth magazine. Relieved, Sarah rose quickly from her seat and followed the nurse into an exam room. The table was cold under her and the paper gown she wore offered no protection. She waited again, interminably it seemed, until two polite taps on the door announced the presence of the doctor.
"Good afternoon, Sarah." Dr. Everett said in a soft voice. "How can I help you today?"
"Doctor, I think that there has been a change…in my condition." Sarah replied not quite sure how to answer her.
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, the other day, I just started feeling strange after I had really bad cramps. I haven't had cramps since I was a teen."
"That's really interesting. Had you eaten anything strange or overexerted yourself?" The doctor asked confused.
"No and that's the thing. It wasn't my stomach that was cramping. It felt like period cramps, even my back hurt like it use to. Can you…what can you do?"
"Well, I am concerned that there might be infection or a blockage of some kind. We can do a biopsy and MRI to confirm things." Dr. Everett replied noting things down on a clipboard. Sarah reached over to touch her hand.
"Doctor, I'm not crazy. I feel different. I feel like I did before I had cancer. I don't know why and frankly I'm not going to question it." Sarah said in a determined voice.
"Oh, Sarah, I don't think you are crazy but even doctors don't always understand why the human body does what it does. I will do everything in my power to figure out what is going on. I just don't want you to…"
"Get my hopes up?" Sarah finished the sentence for her. "Don't worry, even if nothing is wrong I'm no further along than I was before."
"As it happens, I have an opening later today and we can get your MRI and biopsy done. We'll have results in three days."
Sarah spent the three days she had to wait furiously cleaning her apartment. It still amazed her how much stuff one person could accumulate. When she had organized her bedroom closet for the fourth time, Sarah forced herself to sit down. Of course that meant she was watching the clock like a hawk. She jumped every time the phone rang and checked her email so frequently that the site locked her out.
At two o'clock in the afternoon of the third day, Sarah sat anxiously on the couch. A cup of tea had grown cold beside her and a book lay open on her lap. Only the first three pages had been read. The phone rested on the arm of the couch within easy reach. The silence of the house enveloped her as the clocked ticked away on her kitchen counter. When the phone beside her began to ring shrilly Sarah fumbled for the on button.
"Hello?" Sarah answered hurridly.
"Sarah Williams?"
"Yes."
"This is Dr. Everett's nurse practitioner, Elaine. I have the results of your biopsy and MRI."
"Yes." Sarah said very softly.
"The biopsy results show that your uterus seems to be regenerating itself. Dr. Everett said that she had never seen anything like it. The MRI confirmed the results of the biopsy."
"So this means I'm not infertile?"
"Well, it means that you should take precautions before you are sexually active again. We don't know if a fetus would be able to survive but there is a very distinct possibility. Dr. Everett wants you to come in for a follow up in two months."
"Okay, thank you." Sarah replied before blindly turning the phone off. It dropped from her hand to bounce on the couch. The doctor's words rang in her ears on an endless repeat. Silent tears streamed down her face as Sarah sat silently on the couch in her quiet apartment. She ran light fingers over stomach amazed at what she knew was going on inside of her. Somehow, Sarah thought, the Labyrinth must have found a way to heal me. It had to be the Labyrinth. It just had to be, Sarah thought as she quietly slipped into sleep.
Sarah jerked awake at 12:13 a.m. or at least that's what time the clock said. The room was dark and clouds hid the moon trying to shine through her window. She rubbed at the painful crick in her neck and levered herself off the couch. There's a point, she decided, when you are too old to sleep upright on a couch. Sarah drifted through her apartment until she reached her room. Moonlight shimmered across her bed while her mirror was shrouded in shadows. She watched herself, long, dark hair, pale skin, slim figure and wondered how it was possible for her life to change to drastically in only moments.
The clouds shifted then and there was another figure behind her in the mirror, watching her with mismatched eyes. Sarah shrieked and spun around to face the intruder.
"Jareth! What on earth? How did you? You scared me half to death." Sarah accused. With a negligent smile Jareth leaned casually against the door frame. The faint light caught the white of his hair and made it shine.
"I do apologize for startling you." Jareth said without one hint of regret in his voice.
"I'll bet. I don't recall calling for you." Sarah said scowling at the king.
"No, indeed you didn't but I never said that you needed to call me."
"That's not fa…" Sarah caught herself before she could complete the dreadful phrase. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such august company?"
"I just happened to be in the area and was concerned when I saw you sleeping on the couch." Jareth said smugly.
"Which translates to you've been watching me all afternoon and figured that this was the best time to barge on in."
"Well if you must put it that way." Jareth said crossing his arms imperiously.
"Jareth it's late. I'm exhausted. If I tell you what the doctor said will you go away for a while?"
"If that's the best deal you have to offer." Jareth replied knowing that Sarah wouldn't catch her mistake until it was too late. Sarah nodded her head slowly, a sinking feeling said that she had somehow made a misstep but was currently too tired to care.
"Well, much to my doctor's chagrin it seems that my womb is healing itself. She doesn't know how or why but it definitely is. She even went so far as to tell me to be careful in any sexual activities." Sarah said blushing at the last part. Jareth crossed the intervening space in two steps to gather a very surprised Sarah into his arms. Gloved hands smoothed over her hair and brushed down her arms. Sarah stilled in his arms unaccustomed to having a man so close to her and not expecting such a reaction from Jareth of all people.
Sarah leaned back, not quite out of his embrace but enough to see his face in the shadows. His normal hard and chiseled visage was softened and his eyes were misted over. "Jareth I really don't think…" Sarah began but was cut off by Jareth's lips on hers. It wasn't harsh or demanding, just the barest of touches. He pulled away before Sarah could process all she was feeling.
"I hope you will accept my invitation to dinner tomorrow evening. I will be here at 7 in the evening." Jareth said and watched amused as Sarah nodded mutely. With a quick kiss to her forehead Jareth disappeared in a flurry of glitter and smoke. Sarah dropped down onto her bed muttering to herself knowing she would never sleep now. What was she thinking, having dinner with the Goblin King? This was a recipe for disaster.
AN: Okay, to be honest, this was just a filler chapter to get me to the next big point in the story. I had to throw in some fluff. I hope everyone enjoyed it. I hop I can have the next chapter out by Monday. So keep an eye out for it. BTW, the title is Latin for; in courage, truth. I thought it was appropriate because dealing with cancer (and men) takes a lot of courage. It can also show you who you really are, the truth about yourself. I know, it's a stretch.