Title: This is Gonna Hurt Like Hell
Author: Mindy
Rating: M
Disclaimers: Characters are property of Tina Fey et al. Title and lyrics are from Sarah McLachlan's 'Hold On'.
Spoilers: "Ludachristmas".
Pairing: Jack/Liz.
Summary: Some things are temporary.
II.
"My Love, you know that you're my best friend,
You know I'd do anything for you.
My Love, let nothing come between us,
My love for you is strong and true…"
Jack is there the day she collapses. He's always kept a close eye on TGS. More because of his affection for it's head writer than for his commitment to comedy. His interest has increased with Lemon's illness, although he blames it on poor ratings, to save her pride. Normally, he wouldn't attend rehearsal, but it's the season finale. Somehow he senses that Liz has been waiting for it, holding on for it. He suspects she's been keeping the end of season in mind, as a personal milestone for herself to reach.
She almost makes it too.
She's laughing as she steps down from the stage after giving the actors new pages. Pete holds her elbow as she does. And from further back, Jack notices her smile falter, her knees buckle ever so slightly. Pete scans her face, asks if she's okay, to which she nods. So he lets her go, returns his attention to the sketch. The atmosphere on stage is lively and high energy. The season is near its end, the skit is one of Lemon's best and everyone is focused on Jenna's increasingly funny readings of her lines. So much so that no one notices Liz sway on her feet or her body suddenly plummet.
Jack notices. He catches her before she hits the floor. Mid-quip, Jenna vaults out of her seat, crying her friend's name. And a hush floods the room as everyone turns.
She barely even feels like Liz. She's as light as a child as he carries her. She's not a woman, she's not human. She's mere breath and bones in his arms. There's next to nothing left of the woman he knows, the friend he loves. He's never handled anything so delicate, never been more careful with any one thing as he is with what remains of the frame that still houses the life force of Liz Lemon.
She's out cold as he lays her down on Jenna's couch. Jenna covers her with a blanket then immediately goes to call her doctor. Kenneth gets a juice box from the fridge and hovers behind Jack expectantly. Pete ushers everyone else away from the entrance and gives Jack one last look as he shuts the door.
He's never felt so helpless, so hopeless, as he stands over her unconscious body. Kenneth asks him if he's all right and he sees his own panic mirrored in the page's earnest face. Jenna re-enters, laying a wet washcloth over Liz's forehead, and Jack wonders if he should leave. Women are generally better in this sort of situation. Even Jenna appears to know what to do. But within a minute, Liz's eyes drift open, so he stays. Jenna smiles and helps her sit up, then helps her take off her cardigan when she says she's too hot. Jack tries not to notice the way the bones of her collar and shoulders stick out in sharp contrast against her skin.
Stepping forward, he asks her if there's anything he can do. She doesn't look up as she tells him to get her a bucket or something because she's going to blorch. He does. And she does. Her head is still bent over, her body retching as he indicates to Kenneth that they should go. Kenneth hands the juice box to Jenna who stays with her, one hand on her back as she murmurs soothing words.
When he visits her in the hospital, she is sitting up in bed, her brown eyes bright and a smile on her face. Pete and Paula are there, Paula arranging flowers. Josh and Cerie sit on the end of the bed, Lutz and Frank slouch nearby and Liz wears an oversized baseball cap, presumably a gift from Frank. It's bright pink and reads in big black letters: 'No Pity Party'.
After a fair amount of slightly forced but mostly genuine banter, the others have to leave to tape the show. As they go, Liz accepts a hug or kiss from each of them, even Lutz, all of them giving their version of cheerful encouragement. When they are left alone, Liz smiles at Jack and thanks him for the flowers he sent. The massive arrangement he contributed takes up an entire corner of the private room he also organised for her. She asks if he'll stay and watch the show with her. Jack, of course, stays.
He has already arranged for Jonathan to bring by dinner for them, from Plunder, no less. Liz is amazed when she sees the bags of expensive cuisine arrive, all fragrant and exciting. He doesn't know how she can still be amazed that he can pull these things off. Because there's no one he enjoys doing these things for more than her. No one he does them for more frequently, or more freely.
They chat and eat as they wait for TGS to come on. At least, Jack eats. And tries not to note how little passes Lemon's lips. She seems fairly cheerful though, if tired. She keeps nodding off during the show. And he has to wake her up for the close – a song sung by Jenna and Tracy and Josh and dedicated especially to her. At the end of which, the whole cast waves at the screen, jumping up and down and cheering. Jenna shouts: 'See you next season!' as the credits roll.
At this, Liz turns to him. "We are coming back next season. Right, Jack?"
Jack smiles at her and nods. "Absolutely."
TBC...