--- Disclaimer: I don't own anything this chapter. ---

--- Another chapter of Jack's depression after losing his mare in childbirth. Will Ennis be able to bring his mate out of this sadness and how can the new born foal help make him happy once again? Enjoy! ---

Tell Me How Much You Love Me

To Jack, it seemed, the next few days passed by in a blur, if they even passed by at all. He woke up in the morning, if he'd even slept at all, went downstairs, ate if he could and went outside to work on something... Anything to get his mind off what had happened that day. He knew Ennis was worried about him but he couldn't even bring himself to say that he was alright, which would have been a lie in the first place anyway. The ranch hand who had been there at the birth had been given the responsibility of taking care of the foal for the time being, seeing as Jack couldn't even look at her yet and Ennis was too worried about his mate to care for the little creature who needed so much human care now that she didn't have a mother.

The fourth morning after the mare had died, Ennis woke up early and made a small breakfast for the two of them then took it upstairs and sat down by his mate slowly, not wanting to disturb him. Jack, however, was still awake after the second sleepless night so far and was staring blankly out the window at the slowly drifting clouds. He blinked when he noticed Ennis trying to be quiet and sighed softly.

"I ain't asleep cowboy so don' worry bout botherin' me none..." He said quietly and Ennis jumped a little.

"Morning rodeo... How you feelin'?"

Jack shrugged slightly and rolled over slowly, his eyes staring blankly at Ennis' shirt.

"I guess I'm a'right..." He said, hoping the lie in his voice wasn't as obvious as it was to himself. Ennis, of course, noticed immediatly and placed the plates on the nightstand next to the bed before laying next to Jack slowly, his head propped up on his hand and elbow.

"Listen rodeo... I know yer upset bout your horse an' I understand i's hard ta go on after losin' her but... I'm worried bout you love... Ya haven' been eatin' right or sleepin' barely a'all an'... I jus' don' wan' you hurtin' yourself so much o'er it... Know wha' I mean?" He said quietly as he caressed Jack's side gently and the other sighed softly again.

"I know cowboy, I jus'... She was my girl Ennis an' now... Jus' like tha'... She's gone... I..." He trailed off for a moment as tears started building in his eyes again. "I jus' cain't believe she's gone... She mean' so much ta me Ennis..."

"Shhh... I's a'right rodeo... I's a'right.. I know..." Ennis whispered softly and held him against him gently. "Bu' listen... Ya got yer mare's foal ou' there bein' taken care a by the ranch hand when she should be gettin' taken care a by you... She's like your child now Jack an' she needs you... Be good for you too ta be less upset bout her momma."

Jack stayed quiet for a moment as he cried into the others shirt and let the words sink in.

"Ya think tha'd help me Ennis?" He asked and Ennis nodded slowly.

"Yeah love... I think it would. Besides... She'd want you takin' care a her baby now, wouldn' she?"

Jack nodded this time and backed away from Ennis' shirt, wiping his eyes slowly.

"A'right... I guess I owe it ta my girl ta a'least take care a her baby since she cain't..." He said and Ennis kissed him softly.

"Tha's my strong cowboy..."

Jack smiled a little and kissed him back.

"Now han' me tha' breakfast Ennis so's I c'n get down there an' take care a tha' foal. I got's a long day ahead a me."

Ennis smiled back and handed him the plate of breakfast.

"Eat up rodeo an' we'll go down together ta raise 'er... Raise 'er as our own lil foal."

"Sounds good ta me cowboy." Jack replied and the two began digging into their food, Ennis relieved that his lover finally seemed to be coming out of the deep depression he'd fallen so deeply into after the death of one so close to his heart.

--- I was gonna put more in this chapter but I don't want them to be too long so... Yeah. Need I even ask all you to review? Thanks:D ---