It was well into the night after catastrophe hit the tree house. It seemed it had been umpteen hours since Marguerite had left her husband's side. There they sat, mother and daughter, blank, scared, and despaired, crying in each others arms. Marguerite sat upon her daughter's bed, holding her close to her, rocking her back and forth, soothing her as Jewel's tears met Marguerite's shoulder. Even in her attempt to remain calm and composed Marguerite's pain and fear found their way out, as her few tears gingerly stroked her cheeks. The thoughts of losing john constantly invaded her thoughts. She sat with a pain unimaginable and a burden of love upon her heart. After some time Jewel finally calmed as she rested herself against her mother.
"Mummy," Jewel Began, " I want daddy." she said still unable to understand what was happening. When in all actuality, Marguerite herself was quite unsure of what was happening.
"I know, I know sweetie. I want him too, darling."
"I'm scared for daddy, Mummy." she said with tears beginning to swell in her eyes again as she stared up into her mother's eyes.
"Shhh, Jewel. It's okay, love. He'll be fine." , Marguerite said continuing to rock her and rub her back wanting it to be the truth.
" Jewel?" Marguerite asked.
"Yes"
"Do you remember the other day when daddy and I left, and I gave you my locket to wear?"
"Yes."
"And so do you remember what I said?"
"Yes. You said to hold it close to my heart when I started to miss you." Jewel said barely audible looking up into her mother's face with her tear stained face.
"Well, I must have forgotten to tell you that locket gives you comfort anytime you need it. Whether it be because you miss mummy or daddy, or your scared and sad. You just hold it close to your heart and wish all your sad thoughts away and I promise you Jewel all your sad thoughts will go away." Marguerite said trying to provide her daughter with some comfort to help her daughter rest her aching heart.
"Lay down Jewel, and hold the locket as I told you to." Jewel did so obeingly. Marguerite lay next to her daughter stroking her face and rubbing her back. Minutes later Jewel asked:
"Mummy, can you tell me a story about you and daddy please?"
"Of course Jewel." Marguerite said without a hesitation of thought. And with that Marguerite began to tell a tale of her and John's everlasting love. With every word of love passed known, Marguerite's heart grew light as she remembered good times spent with the man she loved more than life it self. But with every memory came the pain of realizing that there may not be any more times to spend laughing by the banks of the river, or sharing sweet kisses, or nights of passion and tears of a pain unknown would spill from her eyes. Within minutes Jewel was sleep in her mother's arms gripping the locket as tight as her little hands could. While Marguerite lay taking in every feature of her little girl as she continued to stroke her face with her forefinger marking her every feature that resembled John's.
Little did she know that by the doorway, she was being watched by Challenger and Summerlee. They stood consuming the heartbreaking sight that lay before them.
"Marguerite." Summerlee said calling to her and signaling her to where Challenger and himself stood. Without hesitation, Marguerite hopped up, quickly blowing her daughter's candle, and walked over to the door closing it behind her.
"So? How is he? What's Wrong? Is he okay? Will he be alright? Will he --"
"Marguerite, marguerite dear ,calm down. Perhaps,…. perhaps we should go sit down and talk about this." he said hesitantly, with a great pain in his heart. Not having the strength to argue, Marguerite agreed and followed them into the kitchen as Summerlee prepared a some tea for them all. As Challenger and Summerlee took small sips of their tea Marguerite sat looking down upon the cup into the deep brew as she ran her forefinger around the rim of the cup. Finally looking up into the eyes of the man who had become a substitute she broke the silence.
"So would anyone care to tell me of my husband's well-being? Summerlee? Challenger?" she asked a little irritated by their delay of delivering their news about her husband. Summerlee unable to deliver the news to "his daughter" whom he had seen become so strong yet with in the few hours had been broken down into such a weak excuse for Marguerite, allowed challenger to deliver the news. Challenger, clearing his throat began.
"Marguerite, John is not doing well." he began.
"Apparently ..!" Marguerite said pointing out the oblivious.
"No Marguerite. The animal that gave John that scratch on his neck , had rabies. John was infected with the disease and without the proper antidote, he could…." he said pausing finding it difficult to continue.
"He could what Challenger? What?" she said hysterical not want to hear the predictable truth challenger was preparing to reveal.
"He could die Marguerite!" challenger spat out. Marguerite sat shocked, barely breathing.
"Die? John could …. Die?" Marguerite stumbled out captivated and consumed by her shock.
"Marguerite-" Challenger said attempting to call to her, only to be cut off by Marguerite's hand as her other covered mouth to smother the gasps and mutters of pain before she let out yelps of heartbreak.
"Please…. I need to be alone." she said in the barely audible voice before she ran off towards the balcony in tears. Challenger went to follow her to attempt to console her but Summerlee stopped him.
"George , don't. She needs to be alone." he said placing his hand upon his shoulder.
Marguerite stood at the balcony under the moonlight with only tears and her broken heart.
Marguerite's POV
How could this be? I can't lose John. He's become my everything. He is the only man, that I've ever loved and I can't lose him. And what about Jewel she can't go on without her father. What will I do?
Present
With these thoughts invading her mind she marched down to her room and stopped at the doorframe . She slowly walked over to the bedside where her ill husband lay.
"John how dare you promise me forever, and try to leave me now?" She said on the brink of tears as she continued.
"How dare you? John please. Please fight. I need you darling. Jewel needs. Your baby john, she's needs her father. She needs someone to teach her be a good person. Listen to me john. I know you can hear me John. I love you and I need you to stay here with me. So please fight. I'll be here, forever and always." and with that Marguerite brought a chair closer to the bed, took his hand and kissed it and there she curled up for night with her husband by her side and a new found faith and hope instilled in her.