A/N: end of Season 1 Episode 6 ("Countrycide").
"I'll tell you something if you let me whisper."
She needed to know, to understand. "Okay."
He leaned over the table, and whispered in her ear. "Because it made me happy."
Gwen's stomach churned, even as Jack snapped, "Come on." He dragged Evan out of the chair and marched him towards the door. "Out."
She was vaguely aware of Jack giving curt orders to the others - she couldn't tell what or who, given the ringing in her ears that told her she was close to passing out. Then he returned, a gentle hand on her back. "Gwen."
"I don't understand," she whispered, tears falling down her face, but at least the feeling of faintness had eased with Jack's comforting presence.
"I know. He didn't want you to understand. He wanted to screw with your mind even more. Don't let him succeed."
"I think I'm gonna be sick."
To her surprise, he simply picked her up and carried her to the toilets, lifting the seat of one and holding her hair back as she retched over and over again.
"God, I'm sorry," she said weakly, shakily, as she finally sat back on her heels.
"Don't be," he said quietly. "There's bottled water out there, want some to wash your mouth out?"
"Yes please." She waited, kneeling on the cold tiles, until he returned, the sensation somehow keeping her grounded.
When he came back, he had a couple of bottles of water and a bar cloth. Opening one of the bottles, he handed it to her. "Rinse your mouth out first, then sip some of it slowly." As she rinsed and spat into the toilet, he opened the other bottle and soaked the bar cloth. She closed her eyes and let him wipe her clammy hands, then her face. She sipped slowly at the water, finally beginning to feel less wobbly. "Better?" he asked.
She nodded. "A bit. Thanks."
He sat down beside her, arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, letting her lean on him. She had no idea how long they sat there, but heard the sirens of assorted ambulances and police cars as they arrived. He turned his head to kiss her lightly on the forehead. "Stay here for a bit if you need to. I'm going out there to make sure not a single one of them escapes arrest. Don't worry, we won't leave without you."
She nodded. "Help me up, first? This… my side…"
He helped her up and back out into the bar, setting her bottle of water on the table. "Drink a few more sips before you come out."
She nodded, still shaking, and sipped slowly at the water until she felt her legs weren't going to buckle, the mask firmly in place to hide the vulnerability she'd let Jack see, but wanted to hide from the others.
Then she followed him out.