"What happened to her?" Mary asked, a note of uneasiness in her voice as Col. Tavington brought a limp, unconscious Jae into their room and laid her on their four-poster; quickly, he unbuttoned Jae's dress and removed her corset, handing it to his wife before re-buttoning her dress.

"She passed out at the top of the stairs." replied the colonel shortly. Where is Jula?"

"Bathing, though she should be finished and in here any minute now." Replied Mary. "Do you want me to get a doctor for Jae?"

Col. Tavington felt Jae's forehead.

"Well, she is warmer than usual. But no, not yet. Let's just see how she fairs with some rest and proper nutrition first. However, if she does grow worse and her temperature increases, then yes, we'll get a doctor."

"Very well." Mary replied, setting Jae's corset down next to the four-poster. "In the meantime, I'll get a damp cloth for her forehead."

Just as Mary left, Jula entered the room, her eyes rounding with consternation upon seeing her sister.

"What's wrong with Jae?"

"She just passed out, that's all." replied Col. Tavington curtly. "She should be fine after she gets some rest and a decent meal.''

"Here we are.." Mary had re-entered the room with a damp cloth and gently placed it on Jae's forehead.

"What's going on?" Jula asked. "Is Jae sick?"

"Well, Jula, she does have a temperature, however, we believe that her illness is due to the fact that she hasn't been eating or sleeping very well. So, it shouldn't be anything too serious, unless her immune system has weakened enough for something else to take hold." Mary replied carefully.

"Is there anything I can do to help out?" Jula asked, glancing over at her sister on the four-poster.

"No, I'm afraid not." answered the colonel with a slight edge.

"Oh," replied Jula looking downcast. "alright then... I guess I'll go to my room. Good night."

Mary, seeing the look on Jula's face, asked suddenly, "May I come with you?"

"Sure..."

Mary gave Jula a quick nod and then proceeded to follow her out of the room.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ten minutes passed. Col. Tavington was sitting in one of the two large armchairs in his quarters, holding Braden in one one arm, and attempting to read reports with the other while his wife was still with Jula.

"Little tyke." murmured the colonel softly, smiling to himself as Braden wriggled around in his arm, letting out a high pitched scream of excitement. "Come now Braden, do be quiet.." he said to his son, knowing full well that Braden didn't understand a word he was saying.

Braden looked up at his father, smiled sweetly and then let out a scream that was so shrill and loud that Col. Tavington dropped the reports he was holding and made and attempt to cover his ears. Glancing out of the corner of his eye at the four-poster, the colonel noticed that Jae had begun to stir, whimpering softly, but her eyes remained shut.

"Has she come to yet?"

Col. Tavingon turned to see that his wife had re-entered the room.

"I'm not sure. She stirred and whimpered, but didn't open her eyes. Then again, Braden was screaming like a banshee, and that's enough to wake even the dead from their sleep."

Mary smiled and shook her head, walking over and taking her son from the colonel, smiling down at him as he wriggled around in her arms.

"Are you irritating your papa?" she asked him playfully, tickling his stomach.

Braden giggled and let out a screech of delight, to which Col. Tavington covered his ears yet again and scowled.

"Oh William, don't be such a grump."

"I'm not being a grump!" the colonel replied huffily. "You cannot tell me that that scream of his is not the least bit piercing."

"William, he's just a baby. Besides, he's happy."

"Yes well can't he be happy without making me go deaf?"

Mary rolled her eyes.

"Now, you are most certainly being a grump. Stop it William."

Col. Tavington opened his mouth to retort, but then closed it again, rolling his eyes. Mary smirked.

"Darling, why don't you go to bed at a decent hour tonight? You don't have raids."

"But what about Jae?"

"I can watch her."

"And Braden?"

"William, do you really expect Braden to need much watching when he's asleep? He's able to make it through the night, and has been for months. Now stop being paranoid."

"Mary-"

Col. Tavington cut himself off upon seeing Jae stir yet again. Slowly, she opened her eyes, squinting around at her surroundings.

"Jae?" the colonel asked, walking over to the bedside.

Jae looked over at him, her gaze somewhat blank, and moaned in response.

"Where am I?"

"You're in our room." Mary replied gently, walking up to stand next to her husband.

A puzzled look crossed Jae's face and she tried to sit up, but collapsed back on the pillows. Col. Tavington glanced over at Mary, who glanced back as if to reassure him that Jae would be fine and to make sure that he wouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly.

Taking the hint from his wife, Col. Tavington's featured softened slightly, and he knelt down next to the bed so as to get eye level with Jae.

"Jae, I believe you will stay here tonight; I'll sleep in your room and Mary will be here with you in case you need anything. Is that all right?"

"Mmm.." Jae replied somewhat incoherently before closing her eyes again with a soft moan.

Col. Tavington stood up and walked over to a large chest of drawers, pulling out a fresh pair of nightclothes and then walked over to Mary, who was now sitting with Braden in one of the armchairs.

"Let me know if she gets worse." he whispered.

"I will. Now to bed with you." she replied.

Col. Tavington gave her a small smile and kissed her softly on the lips.

"I love you." he said softly.

Then, turning to Braden, who had finally begun to calm down, the colonel planted a soft kiss on the top of his head.

"I love you too, little one."

Mary smiled.

"We'll see you in the morning."

Col. Tavington nodded.

"Good night."