-- Disclaimer: I... Don't... Own... Anything. Sheesh people, can't you realize that after 12 chapters? lol --
-- Alright, here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for, Ennis' diagnosis. All I can say for this chapter is... Heartbreak warning! --
Tell Me How Much You Love Me
A knock on the door downstairs shook Jack from the daze he'd fallen into and he quickly ran down to open the door for the doctor who was waiting on the front porch.
"Sorry doc... I w's upstairs with Ennis..."
He apologized as he let the doctor in and took his coat from him to hang up in the closet.
"Don' worry bout it Jack, I'm sure your worried as hell bout him."
The doctor responded as he looked around slowly.
"You boys've done a lot'a work with this place... Looks real nice."
"Well thanks doc... Glad to know i's 'preciated. Ennis' right up here waitin' for ya. He's sleepin' though so I gotta wake'im up."
The doctor nodded as the proceeded up the stairs and Jack went over to sit next to his mate on the bed. The doctor knew about them already, he was one of the few who did, and he'd told the two he accepted them from the start. Now as Jack caressed Ennis' face gently in order to wake him up, the doctor couldn't help but smile seeing the two of them together. He'd never seen 'normal' relationships work so well and wondered once again why people had such a problem with a couple who obviously loved each other more then there were words in the universe.
"Ennis... Wake up cowboy.. The doc's here for ya..."
Jack whispered softly and Ennis stirred a little, coughing slightly as he rolled over to look up at his mate.
"Is'e here...?" He asked quietly and Jack nodded slightly.
"Yeah cowboy... He's here." He motioned to the doctor, who came over slowly and looked down at Ennis.
"Well Ennis, I'm thinkin' i's safe ta say ya look like shit, whaddya think?" He asked with a smile smile and Ennis nodded.
"Feels jus' like it too doc... Don' know wha' the hells wrong wi'me."
"Well I c'n tell ya blankly wha's wrong an' tha's tha' your sick. Jus' don' know with wha' yet."
Jack moved over so the doctor would have room and held Ennis' hand gently.
"Any ideas doc? Of wha' he might have?"
The doctor shook his head a little as he brought out his stethescope and thermometer.
"Won' know till I check'im out Jack bu' I promise ta tell ya soon as I think I know."
"Righ'... Sorry..."
Jack turned his gaze back down to Ennis as the doctor stuck the thermometer into his mouth and watched the mercury climb, his eyes widening slowly.
"Hundred'n two... Damn Ennis yer one sick puppy, ain't ya?"
Ennis nodded slightly then started coughing again and Jack immediatly got a tissue to hold over his mouth. The fit passed after a few minutes and Jack threw the bloody tissue out as Ennis flopped back down on the pillow with a low groan.
"He been doin' tha' a lot now?" The doctor asked and Jack nodded slowly, his free hand caressing the side of Ennis' face again.
"Since this mornin'... Barely stops 'cept when he's sleepin'. I went down ta call ya an' came back up ta find'im in the bathroom, himself an' the toilet covered in blood..." He trailed off as a shudder overtook him and the doctor nodded then put the stethescope onto Ennis' chest, listening as the man took the deepest breath he could without sending himself into another coughing fit. After a few minutes of listening to different areas, the doctor put his stethescope away and sighed softly.
"Well doc? Ya know wha' i'is?" Jack asked anxiously and the doctor nodded slowly.
"Why don' we let him rest an' you an' I c'n talk in another room?"
"A...A'right... I'll be back then Ennis. You rest here, a'right?"
Ennis nodded slowly and curled under the blankets as Jack followed the doctor out of the room, stopping to close the door before following him downstairs to the living room.
"So wha' is i' doc?"
He asked after a few seconds of silence and the doctor sighed again.
"I's pneumonia Jack..." He said softly and Jack turned his head away quickly, wishing he'd heard something else.
"You... You're sure...?" He asked and the doctor nodded, confirming Jack's fear. The other sank into a chair behind him and the doctor went to stand by him slowly.
"I c'n give'im some medicine tha'll help a little bu' I don' know if it'll be enough to..."
"Ta save'im...?" Jack finished and the doctor again nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry Jack... He... He might not make i'..."
Jack bowed his head into his hands slowly and the doctor thought for a moment he was going to cry before the other stood up and nodded a little.
"Well... Best give'im his meds then an' pray for some miracle, right...?"
"Yeah... I'll be prayin' for'im a'right." He said then started up the stairs again with the medicine, Jack following close behind.
"Here Ennis... Take some'o this medicine. It'll make ya feel better."
"Is i' gonna put me ta sleep like the other stuff?" Ennis asked as the doctor handed him the lumpy white medicine in a small cup.
"Yeah, i's gonna knock ya out cold. Be good for ya though."
Ennis nodded then took the medicine slowly, his eyes meeting Jack's as he drained the last of it and handed the cup back to the doctor.
"Ya gonna be a'right while I walk the doc to the door Ennis?" Jack asked as the other got comfortable again and the doctor collected all his things.
"Yeah, I'll be a'right rodeo. I'll try ta stay up till ya get back up here bu' I ain't promisin' much..." He said but Jack shook his head.
"No Ennis... You get yer rest. I'll come up an' stay with ya soon as the doc leaves, a'right?"
Ennis nodded barely and Jack knew he'd be fast asleep by the time they got out of the room. He let the doctor out of the room before going out himself and closing the door behind them then walked with him down the stairs and to the front door.
"Thanks for comin' out doc... Really 'preciate it."
"I's no problem Jack, you know tha'. Now you go on up an' stay with your mate. He needs ya now..."
"Yeah, I'll make sure ta stay with him every moment I c'n do so."
"A'right an' I'll be prayin' for'im every night. Ya take care now Jack."
"You too doc. Thanks again."
"Your welcome. Call me if he gets any worse."
"I'll make sure to. Bye doc."
"Bye Jack."
Jack closed the door as the doctor went down to his truck and watched from the window to make sure he got down the driveway alright. Once sure he was gone, he went back upstairs and quietly into their room again to lay back down next to Ennis. He got himself comfortable for about a minute then took a deep breath and, after making sure Ennis was fast asleep, sobbed into his chest, praying the setting sun outside was setting just on the world on not on Ennis' life as well.
-- I did say heartbreak warning... Thanks again for all who are reading and please, as always, review and tell me what you think! I might be making one or two chapters of this have a song included so also tell me your opinions on if I should or not. Thanks again! --
