Chapter Six

It was a long, cold winter, colder than usual and seemed to last much longer as well. It was April before the sun began to warm the town of Cabot Cove. With a lot of hard work on both their parts, they were almost comfortable with each other again. They were still reserved about invading each other's space but they were laughing again, real laughter, and when walking around town, he was able to clutch her arm in his.

Seth locked up his office and the rest of the downstairs before retiring upstairs. He wasn't having dinner with Jessica tonight. She had a meeting at the library and would be late. He grabbed a light jacket and decided to go for a walk, have a meal at the diner, anything to keep busy.

The diner was busy so Seth sat at the counter and had a bowl of clam chowder and a turkey club sandwich. He only ate half and Mara wrapped the other half up to go. A light drizzle was falling as he left the diner and he was grateful for the cap on his head. He wished he had driven now.

Seth stopped at the park and walked around the newly built fountain. He didn't care that he was getting wet. As usual his thoughts went to Jessica. He was happy she was trying to be friends with him but oh how he wished she would fall in love with him. They didn't discuss it but he still loved her. The rain was coming down harder now and a chill was setting in so he walked around the fountain and whistled the rest of the way home.

He was awakened at two AM to a sore throat, fever, and chills. He popped some ibuprofen and a throat soother and tried to fall asleep. By morning he was feeling worse and he decided to call Beverly to cancel his patients for the day. The cough started on the morning of the second day and he knew he was in for it now. Each cough was like someone squeezing his chest. Beverly canceled his patients again. At least it was Friday. He would probably feel better by Monday.

He was feeling weak and it was too much effort to get up and get water so he continued to sleep and his fever increased.

He was having a nightmare. His lovely Jess was shouting at him, telling him how repulsive it would be to let him near her again. He was sobbing her name, pleading with her but she was determined to hurt him.

He didn't feel the cool cloth bathing his forehead. He didn't remember swallowing water along with pills. He cried out for her but she was gone and in his misery he just wanted it over. He struggled to get up but he was trapped. He wrestled with the bedcovers but they held him down firmly.

He didn't even flinch when the IV was started and liquid antibiotics began flowing into his veins. He was sleeping better now but so exhausted he didn't have the energy to pay attention to his surroundings.

He felt cool lips kiss his forehead and he opened his eyes. Jessica was staring at him, relief in her eyes. "Seth?"

He blinked. "Jess? What are you doing here? Are you okay?" His voice was raspy and he needed a drink.

A drink she was already picking up to help him take a sip.

"You're ill, Seth," she placed the cup of water back on his bedside table.

"I'm tired," he admitted.

"Go to sleep, Seth. I'll be here when you wake again," she reassured him.

Seth closed his eyes and slept.

He woke again during the night and she was there to give him water and more pills. He wanted to ask her to stay again but he feared rejection so he was silent. She told him good night and left the room. Rising later with a full bladder he stood on weak legs to walk to the bathroom. She came back into the room fussing about not asking for help.

"You stayed?" he asked as she assisted him down the hallway.

"Of course, Seth. I'm staying in the guest room." They reached the bathroom door. "Can you manage from here?"

He assured her he would be fine but when he exited she was waiting to help him back to bed.

"Pneumonia?" he asked.

"Lower left lung, oh Seth!" She helped him into bed and tucked him in. "Beverly called me Saturday and asked me to check on you, she told me you had been ill for the past two days."

"I just caught a chill, Jess."

"Seth, you were delirious. I called Doc Taylor and he came right over and decided it would be best to leave you here in bed. He gave you antibiotics and sent a nurse over."

"Jess, all that fuss? It wasn't necessary," grumbled Seth.

"Seth, you've been in bed for a week!" Seth's eyes widened. "The nurse just stopped coming by yesterday."

Seth felt her fingers stroking his cheek and he couldn't stop the tears that fell. He closed his eyes trying to will them to stop but in his weakened state, he couldn't control them.

"Seth? What is it?"

What could he say? He was so starved for her touch that he was crying? He appeared weak enough so he remained silent and kept his eyes closed. She was wiping his tears now. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't going to make them stop, if anything they would increase now.

He drifted off to sleep feeling her fingers soothing his brow.

The next two days passed slowly for Seth. He was weak and wanted nothing more than to lie in bed, alone, and nurse himself but Jessica stayed. She prepared food for him, changed his bedding, and gave him his pills but she stepped back and didn't hover over him. She stood outside the bathroom door while he showered for the first time. That activity wiped him out for the rest of the day but he was feeling better, coughing less, and eating more.

It was fifteen days after he first fell ill that she allowed him to sit in his small den while she gave his room a thorough clean. She told him she was going home but would check in on him tomorrow. He thanked her for all her care. He missed her before the door shut. He appreciated all she had done for him. He knew he wasn't an easy patient but she took everything in her stride now that she knew he would get better.

It didn't take him long to get back into the groove of work, hospital, and back home again once he was well. He was thankful it wasn't winter. Today, he and Jessica were going antiquing for the first time in a long while. He was looking forward to spending time with her.

He didn't know if he was grateful for feeling like himself again or the wonderful sunshine smiling down on them but he enjoyed his afternoon walking around with Jessica. She was quieter than normal and twice he asked her if she was feeling well and she claimed she felt fine. They had dinner at the diner and she invited him back to her place for coffee and dessert.

He held the door open for her to enter first and while she puttered around making coffee and heating up the dessert, he went into the dining room and set up the chess board, just in case.

The apple turnovers were just the way he liked it with a scoop of ice cream on the side. The coffee was strong and hot and the silence was relaxed.

Cleanup only took a few minutes and he invited Jessica to a game of chess before he left for home.

Jessica settled across from Seth at the table and stared at the chess board. "Seth, I want to speak with you about something." She made her opening move and looked at him.

"Sure Jess, what is it?" He replied and made a counter move.

"Something happened while you were ill." She took a deep breath. "The nurse came morning and evening, she did the usual, switched out your IV bag, emptied your drainage bag, bathed you. I mostly just sat with you while you slept, wiped your brow, etc.

Seth stopped concentrating and looked at her.

"But when I first found you, when you were out of your mind, you were calling for me." She took a quick glance at him then focused on the board. " You were begging me to stay with you and not to leave you again." She paused, then said, "You were very upset and I tried to calm you but it wasn't working."

"I'm sorry, Jess. I know you aren't trained to handle a patient like me." He squeezed her hand. "I'm grateful you found me."

"You were so upset, Seth. I had never seen you in such a state. You were looking for your grandfather's rifle. You told me how to rig it so it would shoot you while lying in bed." She gave a sniff and Seth realized she was upset. "Then you mentioned where to stab yourself so critical organs would be lacerated and you'd bleed to death internally. Seth, it really upset me."

"Jess, I don't recall any of that. I was delirious."

"You would tell me if I asked, right?"

Seth picked up her hand. "I'm not suicidal. I promise you."

"I…I know I've hurt you."

Seth was gracious now that he and Jessica were trying to re-establish their friendship. "Jess, I know you're trying hard, so am I."

"When you started talking about dying, I felt awful. I would miss you so much if you weren't here." She picked up his hand and kissed it. He saw the tears gathering and he swallowed hard. "I think we can move past last year and put it behind us forever."

"I'd like that, Jess."

She made another move on the chess board. "I do love you so much, Seth. Even though I was embarrassed beyond anything I've ever done before, I'm grateful it was wth you and not some acquaintance I know. We've been friends for years and this past year was probably the worst of it but I'm not going to let Dr. Stephens ruin things for us. I'm not a vengeful person but they say the best revenge is living well."

Seth made a defensive move then studied the board. Jessica stood and walked behind Seth. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she spoke softly in his ear. "I'm making no promises but I think we should try to move forward and see what happens. We already know how miserable we are apart."

Seth grabbed her arms and squeezed them. "What about what happened before?"

"I'm not bothered much about you seeing me anymore. This doesn't mean you'll get me in bed right away."

Seth beamed at her. His heart lifted and a tear splashed on his hand. "Is that you or me?" He asked. He stood and turned around. "Are you sure?"

"I'd like to see what we can make of ourselves. If it fails, at least we'll know. And we're committed to being friends, always."

Seth's heart was full. They took their seats again. Jessica made a move. "Jess, I do have one thing I feel badly about."

Jessica looked up with a question in her eyes.

"This should be a night of joy for you but…checkmate."

"Oh you!" she knocked her pawn over and laughed.

Somehow they were able to work things out, they became more comfortable and the awkwardness disappeared over a few weeks. Their first kiss, since Virginia, happened after the Fourth of July fireworks show and it felt natural. Seth had never been happier and judging by the smoking hot makeout session from last night, they were on track for a fully committed intimate relationship but neither was pushing it.

Thomas Stephens, former physician, stood as the judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison. He was not allowed parole or a reduced sentence for good behavior. He couldn't contain the surge of anger as he realized he would likely die in prison. The deputies came to shackle him and cart him away. As they turned him around to cuff him, he noticed Seth Hazlitt and Jessica Fletcher sitting in the spectator seats. He could see they were holding hands. She made a comment and he laughed before pulling her closer and kissing her cheek. He thought Jessica Fletcher was the obvious choice as she was famous and word in Cabot Cove had them as an inseparable pair. He had wanted to ruin Hazlitt's practice in revenge but it was personal, not professional. As he was pulled away, he saw her cheekily pat his behind while his enemy laughed as they walked out the courtroom.

Seth gasped and sat up in bed breathing heavily. When would the nightmares stop? He stared at the clock. One o'clock in the morning. He had only been asleep an hour and a half. Rubbing his face he stood up to go to the bathroom. His nightmares always revolved around Jessica leaving him.

"What is it, darling?" asked a bleary eyed Jessica. Yawning, she sat up in bed before getting out and walking over to Seth. "Another nightmare?"

"They're not happening as often as they used to occur," admitted Seth. He stepped around her and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

Jessica straightened the covers and went to stand by the window. She didn't often stay over at Seth's, they preferred to spend the night at her place but he had early morning patients to see at the hospital and she insisted on staying here so Seth wouldn't have to leave her place so early. It was Saturday and there were no office visits today so she could leave whenever she wished.

She was concerned about his continued nightmares however. They were happening at least weekly and she wasn't sure it wasn't more often. She thought seeing Thomas Stephens sentenced would provide closure. It had done that for her but Seth was still plagued with her leaving him.

Seth returned and looked at her sheepishly. He was embarrassed about the nightmares. Jessica believed talking about it helped but he wasn't so sure. He just hoped they faded away soon so his sleep would improve, not to mention hers.

Jessica pulled him into a hug.

"I'm still not going anywhere, Seth." She pulled back slightly. "I realize it will take more than words."

"It's just my own insecurity, Jess." He grumped.

"I have a solution," began Jessica. "It will involve a lot of faith, love, and belief in each other."

Seth looked at her questionably. She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "If I have to ask you, Seth, you'll never live it down."

He stared at her uncomprehendingly. She sighed and shook her head before kneeling down.

"Oh no! Wait! Stop!" He dragged her up and dropped to one knee. She looked down on him, eyes full of love.

"My darling! My lovely Jess, please do me the honor of becoming my wife, my cherished friend," intoned Seth sincerely. "I love you with all my heart."

Jessica smiled at him and helped him up. "Yes, Seth, I'll marry you and you'll be mine and I'll be yours forever."

They kissed then hugged and climbed back into bed. "Thank you, Jess."

*Three months later*

Thomas Stephens opened the envelope. He didn't receive much mail so he was curious. A newspaper clipping fell out and he picked it up. A picture of a bride and groom with the caption, "Famous Writer marries Distinguished Physician" a note was attached. "Thanks for your help. We never would have managed without you. You've made us the happiest couple on earth."

He let out a cry of rage and crushed the paper in his hand.