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Jack arrived back at his condo and walked inside. He took a seat on the sofa and propped his feet up. He looked around and remembered his evening with Elizabeth. She had only spent two hours in his house, but it already seemed empty without her there. His mind wandered back to her apartment when he had kissed her. He began to smile. The kiss was soft and gentle, but it was amazing. He would have loved to kiss her longer, but he wasn't sure if she would be ready and he just had to kiss her. He couldn't help himself. Suddenly his phone rang. He pulled his phone from his pocket and saw his mother's name flashing across the screen. "Hello mom."
"Jack," Charlotte said into the line. "Did you have a nice time on your date?"
"It was amazing." Jack sighed.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"I did," Jack replied. "I taught her to make s'mores in the fireplace like dad used to do with us. Do you remember?"
"How could I forget?" Charlotte asked, her voice somber. "Thomas loved his boys very much."
"Yes, he did," Jack agreed. "We loved him too."
"You must really like this girl," Charlotte acknowledged, "If you're already sharing our family traditions with her. When do I get to meet her?"
"I'm not sure," Jack admitted. "She only promised me one date."
"So, you're never going to see her again?" Charlotte asked.
"I didn't say that." Jack answered. "I would love to see her again, but she had her heart broken recently. I don't want to push her into anything she's not ready for."
"Of course not," Charlotte concurred, "you've always been so considerate of others."
"I learned that from you." Jack replied. "You always told me, to never let a day go by without serving someone. No better way I can think of.
"I'm so proud of you, son." Charlotte said, through a yawn. "I just called to see how your evening was. I've had a long day. I'm going to bed."
"Alright good night, mom. I love you."
"I love you too, son."
Jack glanced at his phone after disconnecting the call. He couldn't get Elizabeth and that kiss off his mind. He pulled up Elizabeth's name and began typing a text.
'Just got home, I had a really nice time tonight. Hope 2 cu again soon.' He ended the text with a wink emoji before pressing send.
Three seconds later, he was startled by the sound of a cellphone chiming, he looked in the direction of the sound. He grabbed the phone from the coffee table and saw his name with the text he'd just sent flashing across the screen.
"Elizabeth forgot her phone." He said to himself with a chuckle. He glanced at the clock. It was well after midnight. "She's probably asleep. I can't drive across town to her apartment in the middle of the night." He concluded, as much as he would have liked to.
Elizabeth still felt like she was floating on air after her kiss from Jack. She couldn't erase the smile from her face. She didn't know how she would be able to unwind long enough to get any sleep. She rushed to Rosie's room and knocked on her closed bedroom door; she just had to tell someone… anyone about her evening. When there was no answer, she knocked again and was once again answered by silence. "Rosie, are you here?" She whispered. She opened the door a crack and noticed her bed hadn't been slept in. Then it dawned on her, "How could I have forgotten that?" She chided herself.
Rosie had gone with Lee to attend his brother's wedding in Emerald Falls. She wouldn't be home until Monday.
"I'll talk to her later." Elizabeth decided. She felt slight tickle in her throat and coughed. Brushing it off as nothing she made her way to the kitchen to get a drink of water. Afterwards, she headed to her bedroom to prepare for bed. She rushed to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas. She reached down to unbutton her jeans and was momentarily surprised by her attire. She had forgotten that she was still sporting the sweats Jack had lent her and the jacket he had given her. She couldn't help smiling. "I don't think Jack would mind if I slept in his clothes," She chuckled to herself. She returned the pajamas to the drawer, pulled back her comforter, and climbed into bed. She wrapped the jacket tighter around her body. She sighed happily when Jack's enticing scent from the garments filled her nose. The aroma made her remember resting on Jack's shoulder at his condo just hours before. It felt like she had Jack's arms wrapped around her. She fell asleep with the best slumber she'd had in long time.
In the morning, Jack headed to Elizabeth's apartment to return her phone. He anxiously rode the elevator to the fourth floor. He glanced at the time; it was almost 10 o'clock. He hoped she'd be awake, since he had her phone and had no other way to get in touch with her. He approached her door and rapped lightly. When there was no answer, he knocked again, a little louder.
Elizabeth woke up to a horrible headache. The tickle in her throat from the night before had turned into a full blown sore throat. Her eyes were watery, and she felt a sneeze coming on. She rushed to the bathroom to grab a Kleenex. She then headed to the living room and sat on the sofa, resting her pounding head in her hands. She suddenly heard a light tapping on her door. She glanced toward the sound, not sure if she'd really heard anything or if it was a figment of her imagination. She then heard a second knock which was louder than the first. "Elizabeth, are you here?" It was Jack's voice, "Elizabeth?"
As bad as she felt, she couldn't help the smile the spread across her lips at the sound of Jack's voice. She slowly stood from her place on the sofa and headed to open the door. He looked handsome as always. She suddenly became embarrassed knowing she must look affright.
"Hi," He said with a smile, "I'm sorry to bother you, I would have called but it's kinda hard to do that when I have your phone." He held the device out to her.
"Thank you," She accepted the phone. "I didn't realize I'd forgotten it." She tried closing the door, but he stopped her.
"Are you alright?" He acknowledged her puffy eyes. "Have you been crying."
"No," She admitted, before sneezing uncontrollably.
"Gesundheit," Jack announced then glanced at her sympathetically, "Oh no are you sick?"
"My head is killing me," She groaned, "And my throat is sore."
"I'm sorry," Jack said apologetically. "I'll let you get some rest. I just wanted to deliver you phone to you personally." He turned to leave, "I hope you feel better. Make sure Rosie takes care of you."
"Rosie isn't here." Elizabeth replied.
Jack whirled back around to face her. "Oh, she isn't?"
"No, she's in Emerald Falls with Lee," Elizabeth explained, "For Lee's brother's wedding. She won't be back until Monday."
"Well in that case," Jack lifted Elizabeth in his arms, taking her by surprise, and stepped into her apartment, kicking the door closed with his foot.
"Jack, what are you doing?" Elizabeth asked.
"Stop asking questions." Jack replied as he carried her to her bedroom and gently laid her on her bed. He pulled the blankets up around her. "Where do you keep your aspirin?"
"In the medicine cabinet in the bathroom," She answered, "but I can get it myself."
Jack ignored Elizabeth's opposition and headed to the bathroom to retrieve the aspirin. He returned the with pills and a glass of water from the kitchen. "Here take this." He commanded.
Elizabeth sat up long enough to swallow the pills then returned her head to the pillow.
"Now you rest." He urged. "I'll be back to check on you in about an hour."
"Jack, you don't have to do that," Elizabeth objected, "I'll be fine."
"Shh," Jack countered, "I want to."
Elizabeth wanted to protest further but was just too tired, and if she were honest with herself she felt flattered that Jack made the decision to change his plans in order to take care of her.
Jack left Elizabeth's apartment and headed straight to the café. "Abigail," he greeted when he walked inside.
"Jack," Abigail acknowledged, "How did it go last night."
"Wonderful." Jack smiled, "Thanks for your help; Elizabeth really seemed to enjoy the evening."
"And?" Abigail asked.
"And what?" Jack questioned.
"Are you going to see her again?"
"That's why I'm here, actually" Jack explained. "She forgot her phone at my place last night. I went to her apartment to return it to her and she's sick."
"Oh no!" Abigail exclaimed.
"I gave her aspirin for her headache and told her to rest and that I'd be back to check on her in an hour." Jack continued. I came by to see if you whip up some soup for her or something.
"I'll be glad to, Jack." Abigail enthused. "I'm glad she has someone to stay with her and take care of her. I know Rosie is at a wedding with Lee this weekend."
"That's what she said." Jack confirmed. "Don't worry, Abigail; I'll make sure she gets the rest she needs."
"Well give me a few minutes to fix the soup and you can take it to her." Abigail disappeared into the kitchen.
Forty-five minutes later, Jack was in the elevator at the Crescent Apartment Complex with a thermos of Abigail's homemade chicken soup and a bag full of a variety of medicine and cold remedies, from the nearby supermarket, in his hand. He stepped out on the fourth floor and walked the two yards to Elizabeth's apartment. He opened the door and walked inside as if he lived there and set the soup on the kitchen table. He headed to Elizabeth's room to check on her. She was sound asleep. He couldn't help staring. She was so beautiful even in her sleep with her hair spread across her pillow.
Elizabeth suddenly stirred. She opened her eyes and observed Jack staring at her. "Jack, what are you doing here?"
"I told you I'd be back to check on you." He remarked. "How are you feeling?"
"My head is feeling a little better," She answered weakly, "But my throat is still sore."
"I'll be right back." He left the room and headed to the kitchen. He returned to the bedroom with a tray of containing a bowl of Abigail's chicken soup and a glass of water. "Can you sit up?"
"Jack, what did you do?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled herself into a sitting position.
"I went to Abigail's while you were asleep." Jack admitted. "You need to eat to keep your strength up."
Suddenly, Elizabeth's stomach grumbled, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. "Apparently my stomach agrees with you." She chuckled.
Jack placed the tray in front of her. And offered her some pills. "Take these too."
"Why detective, are you trying to drug me?" She asked.
"Absolutely not." He replied. "The aspirin I gave you earlier was for your headache. These pills are for you sore throat."
"Thank you." Elizabeth accepted the pills and popped them in her mouth.
"Now eat up," Jack urged, "I'll be in the living room if you need me."
"Jack, you really don't have to stay." Elizabeth tried protesting once more. "I promise I'll be fine. I wouldn't want to impose on your kindness."
"I told you Elizabeth," Jack countered, "I'm not going anywhere. You're not imposing. I have nothing else planned for today." He clapped his hands together. "Now eat!" Without another word he spun on his heels and headed to the living room, sat on the sofa, and flipped on the tv.
A half hour later, Jack heard shuffling coming from Elizabeth's room. He then saw Elizabeth emerge from her bedroom carrying the tray he'd just taken to her. "What are you doing out of bed?" He asked.
"I'm finished with my soup," Elizabeth answered in a whisper, "And I couldn't call for you to come get the tray, with my sore throat."
Jack leapt from his seat on the sofa. "Let me take that from you." He reached for the tray and took it to the kitchen. When he returned, Elizabeth was seated on the sofa. "You should be in bed." Jack reprimanded.
"I'm feeling a little better." Elizabeth admitted. "Could I stay out here with you?" She begged, "For a little while?" She stuck out her bottom lip.
"Alright," Jack conceded with a chuckle. He joined her on the sofa.
Elizabeth glanced at the tv. An old "Tom and Jerry" cartoon was playing. "Were you watching this?"
"No," Jack chuckled. "I just turned it on for the background noise.
Elizabeth took the remote from the coffee and began surfing through the channels. She stopped when she saw "Sleepless in Seattle" was starting. "I love this movie." She sat back against the sofa.
Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth realized she had inadvertently leaned up against Jack, and he had placed his arm around her.
Before the end of the movie, Elizabeth felt her headache returning and a slight chill. She shivered and scooted lower on the sofa and was resting her head on Jack's lap.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked.
"My headache is back," She admitted, "And I'm a little cold."
Jack reached behind them and grabbed the blanket draped on the back of the couch, and covered her with it. "Maybe you should go back to bed." He suggested.
"But they haven't met on top of the empire state building yet." Elizabeth complained referring to the movie. "I want to stay with you."
"Alright if you're sure." Jack replied. "I just want to make sure you get better, since I'm responsible for getting you sick."
"What?" Elizabeth lifted her head from Jack's lap and looked at him. "How are you responsible."
"Because I had you outside in the cold rain last night," Jack explained.
"Jack," Elizabeth protested. "You are not to blame. I'm the one who didn't want to get your car interior wet and refused to get in the car. You're the one who took me to your place, gave me dry clothes, and built a fire to keep me warm." She returned her head to his lap. "There is no way you're responsible for this. You even said you didn't want me to get sick."
"I still feel bad." Jack admitted.
"Well don't." Elizabeth commanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Jack chuckled.
By the end of the movie, Elizabeth had fallen asleep. Jack felt his leg falling asleep as well, but he didn't want to move for fear of waking Elizabeth; he knew she needed her rest.
An hour later, Elizabeth woke up, next to Jack, who was sound asleep on the sofa with his arm wrapped around her, as if he were protecting her. She didn't remember how they'd gotten that way. She slowly stood so she wouldn't wake him. "He has to be exhausted," she chuckled to herself, "He's taken care of me all day." She picked up the blanket that had fallen from the floor and covered him with it. She leaned over him and placed a kiss on his cheek. The soft kiss caused him to stir, but didn't wake him. She then slowly tiptoed to her room.
Ninety minutes later, Jack awoke to find Elizabeth no longer next to him. He glanced around to see if she was still in the room. He heard what sounded like a loud cough coming from the direction of Elizabeth's room. He rushed to the bedroom to find her sitting on the edge of her bed doubled over. She was coughing uncontrollably, sounding like a barking dog. He hurried to her bedside. "Elizabeth?"
"I don't feel so good, Jack." She complained.
Jack took her face in her hands. "You're burning up." He took her hands and helped her to her feet. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" She asked. "I'm sick."
"I know," He acknowledged. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"Don't be ridiculous." Elizabeth protested. "It's just a cold. I just need to rest. That's all."
"Elizabeth, you have a fever," Jack countered. "Are you going to come on or do I have to carry you? You know I will!"
"I don't want you to go to any trouble." Elizabeth returned to her spot on the edge of the bed. "I'll be fine in a day or two." She suddenly closed her eyes and began massaging her temples, before another coughing fit ensued.
"That does it." Jack knelt and placed his arm beneath the bend of her knees and his other arm around her back. He lifted her into his arms with ease.
At that point, Elizabeth was too weak and tired from the headache and endless coughing to protest. She allowed him to carry him to the elevator, but insisted on walking to his car, with Jack's assistance.
Once at the hospital, Jack helped Elizabeth inside and get signed in. Fifteen minutes later, they were called into the exam room. "Well this is Déjà vu." Dr. Lindsay acknowledged. "Weren't you in here a couple of weeks ago?"
"Yes," Elizabeth confirmed, "but I shouldn't be here now. It's just a cold."
"She has a fever." Jack told Dr. Lindsay. "I just wanted to make sure it isn't something more serious."
Dr. Lindsay performed the necessary examinations and returned with the results. "Ms. Thatcher, your test came back positive for bronchitis."
"Bronchitis?" Elizabeth asked. "Are you sure."
"Yes." Dr. Lindsay confirmed. "Good thing your boyfriend here is a detective. He was right to bring you to see me."
"He's not my boyfriend." Elizabeth countered. Yet. She caught herself thinking. Where did that come from? She wondered.
"My mistake," Dr. Lindsay stated. "I'm going to write you a prescription for antibiotics. You should feel better in a few days. Be sure to stay hydrated and get some rest."
"Thank you, Dr. Lindsay." Elizabeth took Jack's hand as they stood to leave.
Dr. Lindsay watched Jack and Elizabeth leave and shook her head. "He isn't her boyfriend." She chuckled. "I would have thought for sure. They seem good together."
To be continued…