Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the movie Labyrinth. You know the rest of the drill.
Your Eyes
Story by Jessica Arbuckle (Jessi, Princess of Impatience)
June to , 2005
Chapter Fourteen, A Final Request …
Jareth re-entered the room after appearing outside the hospital and making his way up to the ward. He still worried briefly over Toby. Although the dwarf had disobeyed him to save Sarah once, he was trustworthy and would take care of Toby, even without the threats Jareth had voiced. He still wanted the boy here, in this world and in the room with them, but it had been enough work, even aided by his weakened magic, to convince the staff to allow him and Sarah to stay in the room. Jareth was sure he would be safe with Hoggle, who knew the Labyrinth as well as he did, but he would still sentence the dwarf to a torturous punishment if any harm befell Toby. At the thought, he once again pondered the fierce feelings of protectiveness that were growing where the boy was concerned.
Jareth glanced at Sarah, realizing she was finally asleep. Although it would most likely not prove restful, he was glad she would have some respite from the appalling things happening to her. Walking to the window, he saw how bright the sky was already, the sun of this world high in the sky. He realized with a start how long he had been gone. He hoped she had been sleeping most of the time he was gone. He hadn't intended to be gone so long, but a short check-up on the goblins had reminded him why he did not leave them unattended for long periods. It had taken several hours to get them back under control and then he banished the majority of them from the castle until his return to avert more disaster. The only positive to being there so long was that his magic, weakened by this world, had been recharged to the strongest it could be here.
He had also changed his clothes to a plain black shirt and black pants that would pass as 'normal' in this world. He did not want to take the chance of his clothing illusion slipping while in a place with so many people. For Sarah, he had been able to conjure her own clothes, so he did not have to worry about his magic in that case.
He stared at the man in the bed and gently read out to touch the hand not held by Sarah. A warmth spread from his hand to her father and Jareth hoped it, along with the medications he was most likely being given, would help the pain. He watched Sarah as she slept, her hand protectively over her father's as her head rested against the frame of the guard bars on the bed. He walked around the bed and sat down next to her, gently taking her hand into his as he silently watched the man in the bed.
He could not believe the man was dying, and there was nothing he could do to save him. There were rules in his world; rules that had been created by his own ancestors that he usually obeyed. He was not to interfere in a mortal's life unless they requested and really, the only wishes he should fulfill were taking what was wished away to the goblins or himself, which happened very rarely. He followed them without objection, except when it came to Sarah.
'The rules on interference be damned' he thought angrily. He would gladly throw the rules out the bloody window, but his magic was not strong here, as it was in his own lands. There he might be able to help the man's injuries, either with his own powers or another's. However, he could not transport her father there, for he would die from the stress of the travel. Normal, healthy individuals did not recognize the effects of travel as anything more than slight disorientation, but someone near to death would be killed from the time shift.
It ate at Jareth that he was powerless to stop what could be hours or days away. He had reordered time for Sarah in his world, but the dying of magic in this world left him with little power. He could not even stop the man's pain as he lay dying; only lessen it in a small way. Occasionally, his thoughts were interrupted by a woman who came to check on Sarah's father, quietly opening the glassed door to the room and going about her business without words, but when she left he would brood again.
A small sound drew him from his contemplation as he realized her father was awake and moaning softly. He saw the man's eyes slowly travel to Sarah's hand on his own and his head turned as he took in Sarah's head resting on his bed. Each movement seemed to cause the man severe pain and Jareth removed Sarah's hand from her father's for a short moment so he could have access to the man. He laid his hand gently on the man's hand, attempting to again relieve what pain he could. Her father looked up Jareth as he replaced Sarah's hand.
"Thank you," he said in a faint whisper, not even questioning the small relief he felt at the touch of the wild haired blonde man before him. "Who are you?"
"I'm a friend of Sarah's," Jareth said quietly, rising to stand close to the bed.
The badly injured man's pain filled eyes looked searchingly into his own. Jareth saw a look of understanding flare there as his gaze questioned Jareth.
"I love her," he said simply, returning her father's gaze. "As she loves me."
The man in the bed nodded his head in approval, wincing at the pain.
"Take care of her," he said, his voice cracking. "And Toby - please take care of them both."
Jareth felt panic rise up in his throat, the foreign emotion threatening to choke him, as he realized what was happening. Her father was slipping away as he spoke. Jareth anxiously turned to Sarah, shaking her away.
"Mmmm, whh… at…" she mumbled sleepily.
"Wake up now, Sarah!"
At the sound of the panicked voice issuing the command, her eyes snapped open, hazily taking in Jareth's face. She saw the panic written across his face and she immediately turned to her father, seeing he was awake with his faced turned towards her as his eyes slowly opened and shut. She leaned forward, gripping his hand, which she had held while she slept, even tighter than before.
Sarah's father opened his eyes again. Seeing Sarah looking at him with a happy smile on her face, he tried to smile for her but the pain was too much.
"Sarah," he said, his voice still cracking, "I love you."
'Oh God,' her mind cried as the smile slipped. 'Not this, I can't lose him too.' She leaned in close to him, her face inches from his, holding his hand to her face, still clenched tightly in hers.
"I love you too Daddy, you're going to be ok, everything is going to be ok," she whispered back brokenly.
"Toby," her father said, his eyes drifting shut. "Tell him I love him."
"You can tell him yourself. I'll have Jareth go get him. It's going to be ok," she said, her voice becoming louder as tears began. She could feel him slipping away, even as she told him he would be fine.
"Jareth… Sarah, he loves you… he'll take care of you both," he said, his voice so soft she could not have heard it if she had not been so close. The last word had barely past his lips when all movement from him stilled and the machines he was hooked to began to emit loud tones.
Sarah threw herself against his body, crying desperately, as hospital staff flung wide the door to the room.
"Get her out of here," a doctor ordered.
Shocked at what had just occurred, Jareth placed a hand on Sarah's shoulder at the order. She moved violent beneath him, loosening herself from his gentle grip. "I'm not leaving," she cried hysterically to the room.
Jareth leaned down, wrapping his arms around her body, prying her from the bed and man to which she clung. Instead of leaving, he skirted the chairs they had been sitting in and stepped back several paces to the wall, Sarah struggling and crying the whole way.
"No, dammit, I want to be with him. Let. Me. Go!" she cried, blindly fighting him. All thought was for the man in the bed and she was oblivious to the soft words coming from the one who restrained her.
The doctor and staff desperately worked to revive the man, Sarah crying and fighting as Jareth watched in horror. He had never witnessed death like this before. They stared at the scene for what felt like an eternity until the doctor stopped, saying quietly, "Call it."
The doctor looked up, seeing both Jareth and Sarah were still in the room. His eyes met Sarah's and she stilled. "I'm sorry," the doctor said, his tone soft with sympathy, "he's gone."
Sarah stared back at the doctor, the look on her face almost apathetic. She turned, blindly seeking Jareth. He held her close, and looked at the doctor.
"I'll have a nurse show you to one of the private sitting rooms instead of staying in here. I'd have you take her home now, but we need her to sign a few things and make a few arrangements. After that, you should take her straight there," the doctor said.
Jareth nodded and lowered his head to Sarah's ear. "Let's go Sarah."
She looked at him, as thought she did not see him. She started to walk towards the door with him and stumbled, as though she could not control her legs. He gathered her up in his arms, carrying her out the door.
a/n: No tears! I have another chapter… or two or three :)
So very much love to my exquisite reviewers, all of you are incredible- Lady Saffron of the Daggers, The Great Susinko, an-angel-in-hell, LadyAniviel, GlisteningAbyss, Jibiathon, Zhang Wu the Lotus Blossom, irishelf, Kenta Divina, Brenda
Saffy, you are hilarious! Susinko, thank you so much! I wholeheartedly agree with your take on Laby fic and I am so pleased you feel mine is going to go the distance. Thank you! an-angel-in-hell, not over! LadyAniviel, you little mind reader! GlisteningAbyss, I am so glad you were pleased, that was my favorite chapter so far, I just love them. irishelf, I completely I agree, when I have children, I will need to find them a trio like that ;). Kenta Divina, I am the evil, I know it. Blame Jareth, it was all his idea ;) Brenda, your favorite? That made my month! Jibiathon, Zhang Wu the Lotus Blossom, updates as requested!
As always, please R/R, I would just adore it!