Day 75: In Which She Cares For Him

She went to his apartment as soon as she was done with work, and Ashley greeted her at the door. As she petted the kitten, she took a look around the room, being met with a moment of disconcerting silence and darkness that did nothing to lessen the unease she felt within.

Quietly, she made her way to Jack's bedroom, finding him tangled in his sheets, chest rising and falling evenly as he slept. Kneeling beside his bed, she noticed a layer of sweat made his damp hair and shirt stick to his skin. Elsa stretched an arm to check his temperature, hand gently caressing his forehead, and his eyes immediately shot open at the contact.

"Hey, you." She smiled comfortingly.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, rolling away from her reach. "I told you not to come!"

"I couldn't leave you dying all alone," she stated, getting up just so she could sit on the mattress. Even without any lights on, she could see him glowering at her. "Besides, whatever disease you were exposed to, chances are I was as well."

"Aw, that's probably the most romantic thing you ever told me." Though his words were supposed to be humorous, she could still hear some hostility in his voice.

"Pretty sure you'll live if you're well enough to make jokes."

"Don't underestimate my ability to crack a joke, woman," he grumbled before dropping his head back onto the pillow.

She touched his cheeks with the back of her hand. "Doesn't look like you have a fever..."

Jack let out a tired moan as her palm rested on his forehead, so she took a moment to stroke his scalp, hoping that the soothing motion could make him feel at least a little bit better.

"Have you eaten?"

"I had a beer."

"You did not," she uttered in astonishment.

Jack shrugged, shifting forward so he could hold her in a clumsy embrace. "What? Beer and bread are basically the same thing."

"Your logic truly baffles me." Elsa sighed, pulling her hands back to stand up. "I'll borrow your kitchen—"

"Or, you could keep doing that," he mumbled, tugging on her wrists and trapping her there with him. "Don't people say love is the best medicine?"

Elsa chuckled, fingers tangling back in his hair. With her head hovering over his, she whispered, "You need sustenance."

"I need you."

Feeling a smile rising to her face, she pursed her lips in an attempt to keep the feeble hints of a serious semblance on. "Go back to sleep, I'll wake you up when the food is ready."

"My dreams are being crushed here, Elsa."

"That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make if it keeps you alive, Jack."