Jack did not get better.

When he awoke the next morning, buried into the bed of straw, he felt worse. From where he lay beside Rose, he was close enough to wake her without disrupting Cora.

"Rose?" His voice was raw, "Rose?"

She awoke, startled, and rolled over, "what's the matter?"

He paused, trying not to panic, "I feel worse."

She frowned, and opened her arms from him to nestle in close. He crawled over and rested his head on her chest, and draped an arm over her middle.

Rose pressed her hand to his forehead which was slick with sweat. His hair was matted to it, and she wondered about how awful he must feel.

"Jack, you're burning up!"

"I'm fine-"

"We need to get some of those layers off of you," Rose helped him to sit up and removed his jacket and shirt, lying him back down in the straw. He suppressed a pained groan.

She propped his head up with his folded coat and told him to roll over onto his side. As he did, he let out a yelp.

"Oh, Jack, does your chest hurt?"

"Yes."

She paused, "I'm going into town to find a doctor."

He tried to object, but Rose simply ignored him and woke Cora, "sweetheart, can you stay here with uncle Jack? He's feeling a little poorly."

The child nodded, and went to sit beside him.

As Rose turned to leave, she heard and objection, "Rose, the money-"

She whipped her head around, "I'll go to the streets if I have to, but I'll be damned if I loose you."

•••

When Rose returned with the doctor, Jack was sitting up against a stall divider.

The doctor, who was an older man with a serious expression, knelt beside him and felt his bare chest, "so, Mr Dawson, I didn't expect to find you here, let alone with a wife and child."

Rose shot him an apologetic look, and he suppressed a laugh.

He examined Jack for a short while, and eventually got to his feet, "I'm afraid this is pneumonia. You can't sleep here, Mr Dawson, until you are well. Have you got friends you can stay with?"

Jack nodded, and asked how long it would take to recover.

"With no complications, I should imagine no more than a week- Mrs Dawson, you must keep a close eye on your husband and ensure he doesn't over exert himself- I know what he's like."

The doctor left, and Rose sat down, "what do we do now?"