**I do not own Labyrinth or any affiliated character**

Eleven

The Price.

Everything hurt.

The shock of moving in time and space shook her much as it did the first time. This time there was no graceful landing. Her shoulder ached where she first slammed into the ground with his full weight on her and she was sure she had a black eye where Jareth's unconscious head hit her own before the momentum of their tumble had him roll a few feet farther then her. The first thing she registered (besides the pain) was that nothing but darkness and the quiet sounds of the forest enveloped them. When he pulled them into nothing the sun had been shining now for all she could tell it was the middle of the night.

"Jareth?" She whispered.

The creek and groaning of the tree branches were the only reply in the darkness.

Pulling herself up to sitting Sarah reached for her purse that (thankfully) remained hung across her middle. After a moment she found her keys. A small pathetic key-chain light she had filled the night, illuminating the trees, the shrubs and a single form a few feet from her.

"Jareth?" she asked but he didn't respond as she crossed the small space between them. "Jareth?' she asked again, willing him to respond.

Sarah reached for his shoulder intent on rolling him over.

He was cold, so cold beneath the black t-shirt that Sarah jerked her hand back. "No, no, no, no. Jareth?" She stuttered, panic and horror washing over her.

He's dead.

Her mind wouldn't think anything else, over and over again as she moved to roll him over. "Jareth please," she begged pulling him onto his back she lay her head against his chest praying for a heartbeat.

Over the wind and the loud beating of her own heart she heard the low deep thud in his chest.

"Got to warm up." She told herself looking for any of their belongings to at least wrap around him.

A single sleeping bag was all she could find. But it was good enough.

Sarah held her knee's close as the pale light along the horizon grew. She had not dared make a fire so she shivered against the early dew of dawn. "He isn't dead." She affirmed again, for the tenth time in the last twenty minuets. "Dead people don't breath." She told herself, trying to chase away the eerie silence of the woods and her own fears. Shaking herself she checked him again. Gently pulling back the sleeping bag she had tucked around him she lay her fingers against his neck. A pulse and his chest was rising and falling in a slow pattern affirmed his aliveness. So while he looked just past death he wasn't.

Satisfied Sarah reclined into the stump at her back. In the growing light Sarah felt sure his color was returning. Or at least she hoped it was.

A part of her wanted to shrug away her concern. She would care no matter who it was that looked as close to death as he did. But faced with such a stark reaction from herself Sarah Williams had a sudden flash of deep insight within herself.

Jareth Dead would break her heart

"Unless you are playing me for a fool?" She demanded of the unconscious king.

Jareth said nothing, his breath still shallow and his face still pale.

"I am a fool." She huffed. "You know Jareth, king of the goblins," Sarah began as she rubbed the chill from her arms. "The bad part about all this is that I won't be able to tell a single person. I tried to last time you know. Dad thought I was telling him about a story I was writing. Karen honestly thought I was cracked mentally, or at least she thought I was cracking." Sarah sniffed away the tightness in her throat. "I heard them talking about therapy, and other options. So I laughed it all off, told them I was older now and those silly stories were childish. Course I still talked to my friends from the Labyrinth but I shut it all away on the outside." A small laugh escaped. "The price I payed."

Sarah closed her eyes. "That's not even the worst of it. The worst is you." A bird chirped far off, the first to greet the morning. "You were the villain and have always been that in my mind. It was easier that way." She admitted, as she opened her eyes again and looked down at him. He was no longer frightening and it wasn't just the fact that he was completely vulnerable and unconscious. "Never talked about you unless I had too and now," Sarah sighed deeply looking at him again just to make sure he wasn't awake. "I know why I did that, what I have refused to remember." Her voice shook despite her forcing away the rush of emotions that crept out of her memories.

She could still see it all. That final encounter and the things they said. The way he looked. The strange place that was nowhere and falling apart.

"Despite all you did Jareth. No matter that my brothers life was on the line. Even though you were most likely lying to me I was," she paused as a shiver skittered down her spine, "I was tempted. I wanted to take that damn crystal." Sarah laughed through the small tears that were slipping out of her eyes. "All I could think of was that ballroom and what it felt like to be in your arms."

The shame hung over her, like it had before. "What kind of sister." She paused, hugging herself she looked at the rising sun "What kind of Person would even consider doing that?" Sarah closed her eyes against the rising dawn as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I love Toby. I guard him fiercely, worse than his own mother and its because I almost failed him. A price I couldn't pay."

Looking again at the King of her dreams and nightmares Sarah stood abruptly wanting to be away from him. "For that small moment in your arms I almost traded away my brother. For a dream that wasn't even real."

The warmth of the newly risen sun washed over the land and Sarah lifted her chin. "You are not what you seem. You wear a cloak of lies and illusions." Sarah sniffed glancing back down at him.

Jareth seemed more still now, like someone truly asleep. Perhaps the worst had passed and he would soon be waking up? Sarah hoped that was true. But for now she had no choice but to wait for him to come too. She had no idea where they were going and she sure as hell couldn't carry him.

"Guess we will just stay here?" she said taking stock of what they had.

Jareth had managed to grab his bag and she still had her purse, mostly because she wore it slung across her chest and it stayed on her during the fight.

They had one sleeping bag, half their food, a first aid kit, the kettle and a hatchet.

As much as she wanted some warm food Sarah didn't dare light a fire. "If he doesn't wake till dark I'll light a fire." she assured herself as she sat down to wait.

o0o

Just as sunset gave way to the shadows of night Jareth sat bolt upright so fast and sudden that Sarah nearly jumped out of her skin. Her hot coco sloshing dangerously as she back away from his sudden movement.

"Jareth?" She asked her voice soft with concern as she set the cup down.

He turned to her his face blank. "Sarah?"

She nodded scooting closer "Are you okay?" reaching out she touched his face.

A shiver shook him and his eyes closed. Sarah pulled her hand back guiltily as he rubbed at his neck. "How did you get a black eye?" He asked.

"Oh," she began as she reached to touch the tender spot. "I think we hit heads when we landed."

Jareth slowly stood. "At least we landed," he said scanning the small glen they were nestled in.

Sarah didn't want to think about what he meant by that so she distracted herself by starting a second cup of coco for him. "I'm just glad you woke up." she admitted handing him the small tin mug.

Jareth sipped at the hot drink "How long?" he wondered.

Sarah shrugged she didn't really have anyway to keep the time. Half their belongings were gone, abandoned in their fight and sudden flight from the creepy birds. "It was full dark when we, um landed." He just looked down at her as though he expected more information. "I watched the sun rise and now set so more than twelve hours."

He nodded.

"I didn't start a fire until about an hour ago maybe?" she offered. He was being so quiet.

He sat still, breathing deep three times when he turned to her his face looked so pale.

"Jareth are you okay?" she wondered.

A whisper of a smile touched his lips for a moment but his face fell again into a blank stare.

"What happened?" She asked.

"We couldn't win," he shrugged.

Sarah guessed what he didn't say. He fled for their safety. "Why," she stopped the question that hung on the tip of her tongue.

"What?" his voice quiet.

She swallowed down the worry, "Why did you pass out?" she asked instead.

Jareth shook himself and slowly stood as though he was unsure of his own strength. "There is little magic in your world." He said.

Sarah nodded, "You said something like that before,"

"My world is full of magic. I never want for it, I can pull it from everywhere around me."

Sarah considered this, their first conversation made more sense now. "But, you use magic here." she pointed out.

Jareth ran his hands through his hair and smiled without any mirth, "I do have my own magic, but it's not without a limit. Pushed to the brink and..." He stopped with a shake of his head.

"Jareth," Sarah breathed out softly. Guilt flooded her, "Every time you used magic," She stopped too, letting the unspoken words hang. Every time he did that weird tree trick, for two days!

Sarah suddenly wanted to cry, no wonder he passed out! That final desperate act to get them away from the birds cast him over the edge.

"I made a gamble Sarah. I payed the price and came out the looser." he said scanning the camp.

"What?" Sarah scanned the forest looking for any threat but Jareth just seemed to be taking stock of their belongings.

"I got us away but the time I hoped to gain was lost as I recovered." he admitted. "They will have been searching for us."

The quiet forest seemed suddenly malevolent again and Sarah shivered as she stood up. "How much time do you think we have?"

"I suppose that will depend on how good a tracker they send after us." He admitted as he moved to get up. "We should keep going, I tried to put us closer but..."

Sarah shook her head. "Sit down Jareth." she said holding out the small cup.

"Sarah we," he began but didn't finish whatever he was going to say he took the cup instead.

Sarah returned to her spot across from him and leaned against the log. "Can it really get any worse?" she asked, mostly joking. She did not doubt that it could get much worse.

"I really don't know," He sighed. "But it doesn't matter. I will get back and when I do." he stopped his face going still.

"What?" Sarah wondered.

"I just," he stopped and looked up, staring at her for a long moment he shrugged. "I have no idea what I'm going to do." he admitted.

"Something magical." She offered, a smile on her face as she tried to lighten the mood he looked so defeated. "The cleaners?" she asked.

Jareth laughed, a small chuckle and sipped at the drink. "I only use that on the most annoying runners."

Sarah laughed too, "You mean the good ones who win?" she mocked back.

To her surprise he nodded, "I don't need it often."

Jareth didn't answer the question just sipped at his cup he pulled the sleeping bag close. "Sarah, aren't you cold?"

Sarah rubbed at her arms, "I'm fine," she lied.

He moved to stand. "What is it?" she wondered.

"You are cold I'm getting you one of these, um sleeping tubes." He said

"It's fine!" she insisted but Jareth now stood scanning around them.

"You are clearly cold, it is not fine and,"

"We only have one!" She huffed, "And as you were the one who almost died you get to use it!" She insisted.

Jareth froze at her words, his head tilting slightly to the side.

Sarah sniffed and shrugged, "I'm not that cold and you clearly need it more so," Jareth stood and began unzipping the bag, "What are you?" She began but as he moved closer to her Sarah shook her head. "No it's fine really."

"You are the worst at lying Sarah." He said as he sat right next to her spreading out the fabric over them both.

He was so close. All she could think about was the fact that they were touching all along one side. Arm against arm, leg to leg Sarah was so grateful that it was dark. Her face felt hot, which meant she was most likely blushing like a fool.

Beside her Jareth sighed and relaxed into the log they leaned against sipping at the cup like nothing was happening. Sarah found that both nice and annoying. Of course he didn't notice the change in her. Or worse he knew and didn't care.

That thought made her irrationally unhappy.

Stupid brain... do you really want That kind of attention from him? She demanded of herself as she stole a glance up at him. His eyes were closed and so she watched him pondering the question.

Sarah shook her head. A stupid flight of fancy, he thought she was annoying and in the way!

Satisfied with her reasoning Sarah pushed away the notion and tried to get some sleep. She snuggled down as best she could under their small sleeping bag laying her head on her small purse Sarah tried to relax but the silence was too much.

Sarah rolled over, looking up at him, "Will you, um, refill your magic over time?" She wondered.

Jareth smiled, an oddly pure smile it was different than any other she had seen before now. There was no teasing, or mockery behind it just a small genuine smile. But he shook it away. "In a manner of speaking yes, but it will take time."

Sarah let out a sigh of relief. If he stopped pushing himself maybe he would stop almost passing out on her.

Their fire cracked, sparking before them as neither spoke for some time. Sarah was starting to feel sleep creeping up on her when Jareth coughed.

"Sarah." He said, not looking up from his cup.

"hmm?" she managed despite the sleepiness that threatened to overcome her.

"Thank you." Jareth said.

Sarah snorted, snuggling deeper into the fabric, "for what?" she wondered. She felt more than useless, she felt like a burden, like she was a glass of water given to a drowning man.

Her eyes were closed and she was sure he wasn't going to say anything else when his hand brushed the hair from her face, stealing the breath from her lungs.

"For being here." he said quietly.

The silence stretched between them so Sarah said the only thing she could think of, "That's what friends do." She whispered back, hoping she sounded tired and not lost in this wild new emotion that coursed through her.

He didn't reply and Sarah didn't dare open her eyes to see his response.

**End**

**Up next Jareth gives Sarah a lesson in magic and danger draws closer.**