The next morning, Col. Tavington awoke early at around two in the morning and went to go check on Mary and Jae in his quarters.
Padding softly down the hall to his room, the colonel opened the door and smiled to himself as he saw Jae curled up in a snug little ball on her side on the bed and Mary asleep in one of the armchairs, a book hanging in her hand. Walking up to the armchair, Col. Tavington bent down and kissed his sleeping wife on the lips. She stirred, her eyes opening slowly and sleepily, and the colonel stifled a groan as Mary moved stretched out her arm, accidently catching the side of his head with her book.
"Sorry, love." she mumbled.
Col. Tavington smiled, taking the book from her and kissed her tenderly.
"How has Jae been?"
"Better. Much better. But we still need to get food into her that will be kept down."
"Indeed. And the little one?"
"Asleep in Jula's room as he should be. However, if Jae continues to improve, we might be able to move him back in here. In the meantime, I am thankful that Jula volunteered to watch him."
Col. Tavington nodded in agreement and then said, "Why don't you go lie down in Jae's room? I can stay here with her."
"William, you were with her all day; I can handle it. Besides, don't you have patrol later today?"
The colonel nodded and replied, "Yes, but I-"
"Will be more than a grump if you don't go back to sleep. Darling, though I am grateful for the offer, you need to sleep more than I do as you have a long day ahead of you."
Col. Tavington sighed.
"Alright."
The colonel walked over to the four-poster and carefully sat down on the bed next to Jae's sleeping form and gently placed a hand on her considerably cooler forehead.
Still a bit warm, but much cooler than before..
He glanced over at Jae's right arm, and took it in his hands, lightly running his fingers over the cut that had been made by Dr. O'Brien when she pulled it away from him in her sleep, bringing it close to her. With a small smile, Col. Tavington bent down and kissed Jae's forehead, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face.
Then, getting up from the bed, the colonel gave Mary one last kiss before heading off to Jae's room and back to sleep.