Behind the Scenes – Chapter 7
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The clock from the living room chimed in the seven o'clock hour. Colin had laid with Jen and dozed off with her, only stirring again at the music that played at the clock ticked around that first full minute. He slowly removed his arm from over Jen and rubbed his eyes awake. He looked at the time and then looked over to Jen. She was peacefully sleeping, holding his other hand in hers, their fingers intertwined, his arm under her and her head resting on it and the pillow. He smiled at his reality and thought, I could stay here forever, but the thought went fleeting almost as quickly as it had arrived. Their call time was in an hour, and it took some time to get to the lot without having to deal with traffic. He leaned back over her and began to trail kisses from her forearm up to her neck, across her jawline, and to the edge of her lips. She wiggled some in response, scooting even closer than she already was to him. She brought their intertwined hands up to her mouth and kissed his hand gently before resting them both against her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered into her ear.
"Better than before, not great still." Her response came back. She slowly blinked open her eyes and noted that it was significantly darker in his house than it had been before she fell asleep the second time. "What time is it?"
"Seven. Are you sure you don't want to just rest tonight, and we can pick up our scenes tomorrow?" Colin worried for her health, knowing she'd push too far before giving in and taking the break her body was trying to force on her.
Jen rolled back some to look over her shoulder at him, "I promise, I can make it." She offered a small smile to seal the deal on her words, but Colin wasn't buying it. He did, however, know that there would be no convincing her otherwise, so he smiled back, placed a gentle kiss on her kiss, and sat halfway up, starting to pull his arm from beneath her.
"No!" Jen laughed, holding tightly to him, somewhat pulling him back down against the mattress. His laughter joined hers. He was happy knowing she felt well enough to be playful. He took his free hand and rested it against her forehead, still feeling a great deal of warmth radiating from her skin.
"I think you still have a fever, love."
"Probably, but I don't feel as nauseous." She moved her own free hand up to her forehead, half on his hand, half on her skin, and felt the warmth he was feeling. She shrugged and rolled over to face him, nuzzling her face into his chest. She released his hand and wrapped her arm around his torso, rubbing her nails under his shirt, up and down his back.
"Listen," Colin wrapped his arm over her and played with the ends of her hair, "As much as I love this, we have to leave soon and if I don't get out of this bed now, I never will." He placed a small kiss on top of her head.
"You're right," she leaned her head back, tipping her chin up towards his face, "I need to brush my teeth and hair before we go anyways."
"I mean, it wouldn't hurt," Colin raised an eyebrow, smirking at her.
"Hey!" Jen smacked his arm playfully, rolling over and dropping her feet to the floor. She looked back at him over her shoulder before walking to the bathroom, "so rude!" She chuckled as she left.
Colin flopped back on his back for a moment, chuckling back and taking in the moment, realizing that even when Jen was feeling her worst, she was still radiating with beauty, and he couldn't get enough of her. He watched her until the door clicked shut and then rolled out of bed himself, straightening the covers, re-fluffing the pillows, and then walked out into the living room.
He heard the water beginning running from the sink bathroom and couldn't help but smile once more at the presence of her in there. It was everything he never knew he needed. She was his best friend, and this wasn't the first time she had ever done this in this exact house, but it all felt so different now, and he would happily ride the wave that is Jen as far as she would allow.
Jen bent over the sink in the bathroom and scooped water into her hands and splashed it onto her face. She repeated the process a few more times, letting the cold water run down over her eyes. It felt soothing against the heat coming off of her. She stood and reached for the hand towel that was hanging on the wall, dabbing her face dry. She looked at her reflection, noting how pale she still looked, how flushed her cheeks were, and the exhaustion pouring from her eyes. She understood now why Colin felt she should take the night off. She knew in her hear that it would be for the best, but she didn't want to mess up the timeline scheduled for this episode, so she would push through and rest when it was over.
She opened the drawer where she knew the spare toothbrushes were kept and grabbed out a yellow handled toothbrush, her current favorite color. Her favorite color changed with her mood, but as of yet, yellow remained the current top contender.
She grabbed Colin's toothpaste from the counter top and squeezed a small amount onto the bristles after wetting them under the cold water. She began brushing, going for the back molars first, top then bottom, switched and repeated the process on the other side, and then did her front teeth, top and bottom. After about 3 minutes of brushing and spitting, she grabbed a small cup, rinsed her toothpaste down the drain, grabbed the mouthwash and poured it into the cup, and put it into her mouth, swishing it around for thirty seconds. This was her least favorite part, as her mouth never got used to the slight burn the mouthwash provided, but she always felt so fresh and clean after. She grabbed a flosser from the ceramic jar Colin, although more likely Helen, kept on the sink, and flossed through all of her teeth. Once she finished her teeth brushing routine, she moved on to her hair.
Colin only had a comb, so Jen did the best she could to brush through the knots that had entangled at the base of her skull and towards the end of her hair. She placed the comb back in its spot when finished and checked her reflection one last time in the mirror. Still not great, but better, she convinced herself. She opened the door and flipped the light switch off, making her way towards the living room to find Colin.
"There she is," he smiled, standing at the island in his kitchen. He had just finished cutting up some watermelon and bagged them and some grapes. "Come here, I have these for you."
Jen tilted her head, squinting her eyes and smiling at his gesture. She walked over and noticed he had cut watermelon, grapes, carrots, celery, and had put some peanut butter and crackers in to two small containers.
"I know you might not be hungry, but I figured this stuff was easy on the stomach, so maybe you could regain some of your energy back."
"It's perfect," Jen leaned in and kissed his cheek, "Thank you!"
"Anything for you," he reciprocated the smile and finished stacking everything together into a small lunch bag. He handed it to her and grabbed his cheek from the other side of the island, "Ready to go?"
Jen nodded and intertwined her fingers with his again. They walked towards the door where Jen slipped her feet into her shoes, and they left for the lot.
(Later on set…)
Jen laid down on a blanket near her chair, covering herself with another blanket. It was almost one in the morning now and the crew were filming another scene, so she got to rest. She tucked her arms under her head and closed her eyes momentarily before being surprised by a voice close to her. She opened her eyes to see Ginny crouched in front of her.
"You ok, Jen?" concern washed over Ginny's face as she noted how pale her coworker looked.
"Not the greatest, but surviving," Jen's teeth began to clatter, her body being overtook by shivers that likely meant her fever was returning once more.
"What's wrong?" Ginny sat down and lifted Jen's head, scooting under it so Jen could use her legs as a pillow.
"Fever, chills, body aches, vomited a few times earlier but now just feeling queasy."
"Oh, honey, why didn't you just take the night off?" Ginny began stroking Jen's hair, a sort of motherly comfort that came naturally between the two. Ginny and Josh were known to comfort and love Jen as if she were truly their own daughter, and in this moment specifically, Jen was so thankful for it.
Jen shrugged, "The show must go on!" She pulled the blanket up over her shoulders more just as Colin came around the corner. He looked down at her and a frown appeared across his face.
"Jen…" his voice was as concerned as Ginny's.
"I'm…f-f-fine, Colin…re-really…" Jen spat out through more shivers that took hold of her entire body, "We only have a f-f-few more hours, th-th-then I can sleep i-it off."
Colin crouched down as Ginny had done and felt her forehead. Her fever had definitely returned, Colin noting to himself that she had actually felt warmer now than she had earlier at his house. "I'm going to go get you some tea and Motrin. I'll be right back!" With that, he stood and left, heading in the direction of the medical aid area.
Ginny smiled warmly at her, "he's so good to you." She winked at Jen as Jen couldn't contain the smile that grew across her face, "Anything you want to share with mommy?" She laughed as she stroked through her hair again.
"N-n-not yet…t-t-too soon," Jen curled her arms into her chest further, hoping these chills would pass soon. She felt a little relieved that Ginny seemed to be delighted with the idea of them dating. Word had gotten around relatively quicker than Colin would've liked that things went south with his wife and he was getting divorced.
Colin walked back over to Jen and Ginny and helped Jen sit up. He held out the tea and let her take a sip of that first before offering his other hand with the Motrin. She grabbed them, gave a small smile of thanks, and downed the pills.
"Ginny, we need you!" Josh's voice came out of nowhere.
"That's my cue! Here Colin, be her pillow," she patted the ground where she was sitting as she stood to leave, "I'm sure she'll appreciate it." She winked at him and squeezed his arm as she passed him, chuckling lightly.
Colin turned and watched her walk away then looked back at Jen, slightly chuckling himself, "What was that about?" He sat down, taking the cup of tea from Jen and placing it on the ground next to him as he sat. He patted his leg and pulled the blanket up around her shoulders again as she laid down on his leg.
"N-n-no idea!" Jen smirked.
(A little while later…)
Jen's chills had finally subsided, and the medicine began to kick in just in time for her and Colin's scene together.
"Colin, Jen, we want you to start here on the sidewalk," Eddie motioned where they needed to stand.
Colin and Jen walked over to where he wanted them and automatically intertwined their fingers. Jen looked down at their hands, feeling his warmth and comfort. She needed it right now for as awful as she was feeling physically. When she looked up at the crew around her, she caught Colin staring at her out of the corner of her eye. She looked over at him, "What?" she couldn't help but smile at him.
"Just making sure you're ok," he responded, rubbing his thumb along her hand.
"I am, I've got you," she winked at him quickly.
"Alright, everybody quiet. And….action."
Jen and Colin began walking slowly as they started their lines.
"When we get to Granny's," she looked over to him, "I think it's best if you wait outside."
He glanced at her, past her, and down at the ground, and up towards Granny's as they approached. "Aye. Regina…Robin's death, it can't be easy for her.
Jen watched him deliver his lines, and eyed Granny's as they neared it as well. "And seeing you back when that's not possible for him?" She moved her gaze back on him and he met her eyes.
He stopped and faced in to her, "Fate is cruel."
Jen made her voice more stern for the moment, "It could push her over the edge." She kept her eyes locked on his and continued speaking, "She cursed an entire kingdom when she lost her first love.
Colin looked away in fake disbelief and annoyance, then locked eyes with Jen again, "Yeah, but she's changed much since then."
"I know," Jen looked down past Colin, "But I still," he eyes found his, "need to break the news about you carefully. It's the right thing to do."
Jen tugged against Colin's hand and without a thought, he leaned in and kissed her. She started to respond before remembering where they were at.
"And, cut!" Adam's voice could be heard in the line of crew members. "Colin, Jen, I love what you did, I do love the kiss at the end too, but I think it might be a bit too much for the scene if we're having Emma consider Regina's feelings. Great job, though, let's roll back and do it exactly how you did, just cut the kiss. Thanks!"
"I'm sorry," Colin whispered as they walked back to their starting point, "I couldn't help myself."
"Don't be sorry," Jen whispered back, smiling to show him she was ok with it, "I needed it."
Colin smiled back and stopped in their starting spot, spinning around and intertwining hands with her once more.
They ran through the scene again, tweaking camera angles, panning up from their hands to their faces, and ensuring all lines could be heard. This lasted until about four in the morning before Colin was dismissed for the next scene that took place in the diner.
"You going to be ok?" Colin noted that Jen wasn't looking so good again, her paleness more prominent, even through the make-up.
Jen nodded as she covered her yawn, "Only a few more hours, I've got this."
"Sure…" Colin dipped his chin, a mixture of concern and disbelief washing over his features.
"Really, I can make it." Jen leaned in and kissed his cheek, "Go get some rest!"
Colin pulled her in and hugged her, kissing the side of her head before releasing her, "Call me if you need anything."
Jen nodded and turned to head into the diner set to continue on with shooting the next scene. She looked back over her shoulder as she opened the door, giving Colin one last grin before walking in and letting the door close behind her.