Ok here's the next chap. Thanks for reading but please review. Hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 12

Before Mel could do anything, someone was wrapping her, she quickly turned around and let herself go in Jim's arms. He hold her tightly, feeling her pain. When Mel started to calm down a little, he made her sit on the couch, still holding her closely, Mel won't let him pull away anyway. She wasn't crying anymore but Jim could feel her sadness. As she stood quiet, he kept holding her against his chest, one hand behind her head and the other running over her back, to try and comfort her.

-Baby, you want to talk about what happened?, finally asked Jim.

Mel slowly looked up at him. Jim dried the remaining tears on her cheeks.

-I heard that you were talking to Timothy but I didn't get what went wrong, he added.

-He left... to go see... Gabriel, she said with a sad tone.

-What? Why would he go to him? How does he even know him?

Jim couldn't believe either that Timothy could go with Gabriel, he was such an innocent little boy.

-He met him the same day he met me, on the square. Gabriel saw that Timothy was looking at kids playing so he took this chance to make him say that he missed playing with his friends. That's probably when Gabriel told him that by staying with him he would be able to play with his friends again, talk with his family, and the usual things...

-But I don't get it, what Gabriel want from him?, asked Jim frowning his eyebrows, Timothy's just a kid!

They always thought that Gabriel only wanted young adults 'cause they were stronger than anyone else. Why a 7 years old boy would interest him?

-That's what I asked myself too... I couldn't find an explanation so far. And I bet Gabriel didn't tell him, it would be too easy... Anyway he's gone now so...

-But he was there, pointed Jim.

-I'm sorry?

-It's just... I don't understand, why was he there? Why did he asked for your help? If he met Gabriel the first day you saw him, then why did he came back to you?

Melinda smiled.

-What?, asked Jim, surprised.

-Nothing, it's just that I asked him almost exactly the same thing, we really think alike, she explains still smiling.

Jim smiled back at her, first from the idea of them thinking alike, and then 'cause he was happy to see Mel smiling after being so sad. Unfortunately her smile didn't last long, soon she had a serious face again as she was about to tell him why Timothy did what he did.

-So, Timothy asked for my help because he wanted to know what I would do to help him, first he thought it was ok to stay with me, since I said I will help him but then I told him I couldn't 'cause it was too far away, so he went back to Gabriel. But apparently Gabriel only proposed him to go somewhere and not to help him talk to his family, so Timothy left him and went here, which seemed a good thing, he didn't trusted him and was wise enough to leave.

-Why are you speaking at the past tense?

-Because, now that he has seen that he can't talk to his dad through me, he said that if he couldn't speak to the people he loves he will at least stay with them and so 'do what Gabriel said'..., finished Mel sadly, looking down.

-Hey, Honey it's not your fault, you can't force his dad to talk to you. You've done everything you could. Now we have to wait for Timothy to realize who Gabriel really is and hope that he'll realize it soon enough...

Jim saw that Mel had tears coming in her eyes again, he took her face in his hand, removing a few hair to look at her eyes, he saw that she was really touched by what was happening. Mel confirmed it:

-Jim, he can't go with Gabriel... I'd be devastated...

-I know my love, I know. But there's nothing you can do about it now... hey... come here.

Jim slowly took Mel against his chest, whispering to her ear the words he knew would make her feel better.

-I love you too, she said back to him.

Jim kissed her hand and kept it in his, he looked at her more closely.

-I didn't even asked you how you were feeling? Physically I mean, are you any better?

Now that he was talking about it, Mel realized that the nausea was back, she tried to took it in a funny way, so she said with a little smile:

-Well, I think I don't have the 'morning' part in 'morning sickness'.

-Ah, but it was around 5 when I got up, so we're in the morning, answered Jim smiling too.

He was glad that Mel was thinking about something else than Timothy for a few minutes. Even if for that he had to make her see that she was feeling sick, at least she was thinking about her.

-I think we should go back to bed, try to finish our night, said Jim.

-It would be great, answered Mel, I'm sorry I woke you up by the way.

Jim shook his head, Mel hadn't to apologize. He had already told her that he even wanted her to wake him up, if a ghost had woke her up. Jim was about to say something when...

-Yeah, I know, I don't have to apologize, started Mel, but I do feel sorry and-

She couldn't finish her sentence 'cause she just got up, maybe too fast, and suddenly felt very sick. She rushed to the bathroom, Jim got up and ran after her. He went near her but he didn't know what to do, maybe Mel didn't wanted him to be here in moments like this. But after a few seconds Mel simply took his hand, showing that she appreciated that he was there.

After a minute or so Mel finally sat down, she put her head on her knees a few seconds. Then Jim gently made her get up, as she wasn't very steady, he carried her to the bedroom and slowly lied her down on the bed.

-Thanks, Jim. Thank you for being here and everything...

Jim noticed that Mel's voice was getting weaker. He sat on the bed and saw that she was very pale.

-It's ok, he said with a worried smile, you really should sleep now, Mel, you're exhausted.

Mel nodded.

-Maybe you should try to eat or just drink something before sleeping, Jim added.

-No, I really don't want anything, I feel like I can't keep anything inside...

-I know Mel, but you know nausea comes with hunger so you won't be better until you eat something, plus you have to rehydrate yourself after throwing up. Please, just some water would be good, insisted Jim.

-Ok, I think I can drink water, replied Mel who knew that he was right.

Jim got up to take a glass and quickly came back. Mel slowly sipped some water and put the glass on the nightstand.

-Good. If you wake up just try to drink some more before going back to sleep, it's really important.

-Promise. And yeah I won't think about Timothy, only about me and I won't get up, till I'm feeling much better.

Jim was obviously surprised.

-I didn't say-

-We think alike, remember?, explained Mel with a smile. You should come to bed too, you look very tired too.

Yes Jim was very tired but he was even more worried. He didn't wanted Mel to see it, though so he just nodded and climbed up in bed. They kiss each other and Mel laid her head on his chest. Jim kissed her head and kept caressing her hair till she felt asleep. He felt asleep not long after her.

When he got up the sun was already hight in the sky, he looked at the clock, it was a while after noon. He looked at Mel, she was sleeping peacefully, breathing slowly and regularly. He felt relieved when he saw that the glass was empty, at least she had drink a full big glass of water. Jim got up carefully trying not to wake Mel, he left the bedroom and slowly closed the door. He had nothing to do so he went outside, sat down on the steps under the porch to just enjoy the mountain air and the birds singing in the forest.

About half an hour later, he went back inside and a few minutes later he heard noise coming from the bedroom, Mel must be awake, so he began to prepare something to eat. He figured that Mel would rather start the day with a breakfast than with lunch, so he made her a hot chocolate milk and took some pancakes that were there from yesterday's breakfast, and a glass of orange juice. He put everything on a tray and carried it into the bedroom.

When he opened the door, he threw the tray away and rushed on his knees to reach Mel, who was stretched out on the floor.

-Oh my god!! MEL!! Can you hear me, please Mel say something! Hold my hand! Mel!!

He tapped her cheeks, gently squeezed her but Mel didn't react...