They talked mostly about Wonderland's current situation more than anything else because Alice had little new in her life in her world. Just her work as a martial arts instructor and school and both were hardly worth mentioning in her opinion. But still Hatter inquired after her and she told him all there was to tell and then both fell silent. He sighed.
"Alice. . ." he began after minutes of silence, "We've got to talk about-"
"I know, Hatter," She interrupted him and fiddled with her fork.
"Look, we've both been avoiding it and this whole thing in Wonderland started and I've been distracted lately but. . ." he paused for a second. "I just want you to know that you are the most important thing in both worlds to me." Alice smiled wanly and didn't look at him. There we go again, not quite saying it, always dancing around the actual words.
"I know," she repeated but softly this time.
"So why haven't you said it?" He asked.
"Why haven't you?" She countered.
"I was waiting for you," he shrugged.
"Well I was waiting for you." Alice looked at him expectantly. Hatter sighed and stood, turning away from her. He ran a hand over his face and then turned back to her.
"We've been dancing around this for weeks. I thought it was obvious how I feel about you," he looked at her for an answer.
"I. . .I just need you hear you say it," Alice sighed. "So that I know in my head that you do."
"I feel like I always have to prove myself to you," he waved his hand at her. Alice stood and walked closer to him.
"And I always feel like I'm on the defensive," she shot back at him.
"Look," he rested his hand on her wrist, "We could argue till time stands still. Why don't I just go back and. . ." he thought about when he was free next, "we'll talk over lunch tomorrow."
"What you're going? Just like that?" Alice frowned. "But. . .I. . ." she didn't want him to leave with things like this. "I mean, you haven't even finished your dinner."
"No I really should go, come to think of it," Hatter looked away from her.
"Why?" Her brow knit in confusion.
"Yeah, I've got work I have to finish up back home and. . ." he trailed off and looked at her as she stood next to him. Hatter stared at her for a moment, his expression soft. Then, he leaned down slightly and kissed her. She wrapped her arms about his neck and trailed her hands down his head. He broke the kiss briefly. "Alice," he breathed, "I l-" His sentence was broken off with a moan and his eyelids fluttered strobe-like. Beneath them Alice could see his eyes rolling back into his head. Color drained from his face and he collapsed.
"Hatter!" She exclaimed, trying to catch him but really only slowed his dissent. "Hatter! Hatter!" She ran her hand on his face which was moist with sweat. He fought to keep his eyes on her but they fluttered quicker and quicker until they remained shut. And then he went limp in her arms. Alice fought back fearful tears. "Hatter."
Alice eventually managed to drag him to her room and place him on her bed. She did everything she could to care for him but she didn't know for the life of her what ailed him. She sat for hours by his side, wiping the beads of sweat from his face and dripping liquid into his mouth. But other than that she knew not what to do for him. After hours had passed and the sun was close to rising, Hatter woke.
"Alice?" He called his voice was thin and pain filled. Alice was immediately at his side, gripping his hand her face hopeful.
"I'm right here," she answered. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I-I didn't think that I. . .that this would happen," He replied gravely.
"What? What's going on? Why did you collapse?" She questioned him.
"Okay," he breathed heavily, but not erratically, "When the Queen sent her suits through the looking-glass as raiding parties to hunt oysters, once in a great while a suit would become ill after too many trips. The frequent jumps wear down on them. It's a sort of weakness or intolerance and it's extremely rare. I think a total of four suits ever came down with it." Alice could tell by his rasping voice that speaking was hard for him.
"And you have this intolerance?" Alice asked although she knew the answer. He nodded.. "Terminal?" She ventured. Hatter nodded again, but slower this time. Alice let out the breath she was holding in despair.
"But only if I go through the looking glass again," he added hastily. And she sighed in relief.
"Can it be treated?" Alice asked with hope.
"Only in Wonderland, your world's medicine wouldn't work on me." Hatter said, his voice thinning as he spoke. Alice knew she had little time before he slipped unconscious again.
"Then I'll go there and bring you back a doctor," she said and the determination in her voice told him she couldn't be dissuaded. He smiled slightly at her and she leaned forward to kiss his forehead. His eyes slowly closed again. Alice crawled onto the bed and curled up next to Hatter. A tear fell down her cheek before she slowly, and against her will, fell asleep.