Chapter Text
It had only been a week of them living together and Jack was already messing things up. He hadn’t told any of the others that he had been living on the streets for almost the better part of two years before they all came together and how could he? They were all successful performing magicians, he was just a slight and a pickpocket. He was excited when they all decided to live together because that meant that he had a room again, he had a bed again. It was weird for him, but he was happy about it.
Jack didn’t know how he got sick especially because he wasn’t living rough anymore. He should’ve been healthier than ever but... he wasn’t. His only guess was that going from sleeping in alleyways to a clean bed is a bit of a shock for the immune system. It had started slow and he was just planning on riding it out and not telling anyone but it didn’t get better and everyone started to notice.
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In the first week that they had been living together Daniel had made it a point to try and learn everything about everyone and Merritt seemed to be the same way. They both liked to know all the secrets. Merritt because he was a mentalist and Daniel because he was... well he was a control freak. They both took notice of everyone, including each others, tendencies.
They noticed Henley never took off her gloves unless they were eating, Merritt messed with his hat whenever he was nervous, and even Daniel cracked his knuckles when he was angry which was something Merritt liked to look out for whenever having conversations with him.
But Jack’s tell was the easiest to spot out of all of them. The kid was totally ADHD. He never stopped moving. It was always his legs bouncing or cracking his knuckles or biting his lip. The only thing he fidgeted with that was physical were his cards. He was always throwing, shuffling, or flipping them in his hands. Plus he was doing it what seemed like every second of every day. It was impossible to miss.
So when Jack started becoming sloppy with his cardisty, dropping cards, missing targets, Merritt and Danny noticed. They didn’t say anything though. They knew the least about him out of all four of them so they just assumed he was going through a slump that he would get out of on his own.
Jack didn’t get out of it on his own though. After almost four days of sloppy cardistry they stopped seeing him with his cards entirely. When they walked in to see Jack wrapped up in a blanket, on the couch, biting his lip while watching TV Merritt and Daniel exchanged worried glances then went into the kitchen to make dinner.
Also in those four days they also noticed his demeanor change. Jack usually was timid in certain situations but in others he was the center of attention, a sun. He joked and flirted with everyone. Recently though his energy, like his card skills, disappeared. He was quiet all the time and he was slow to a lot of things. He changed so much so Henley even mentioned it to them.
“Guys,” she whispered and pulled them into her room, “do you know what’s going on with Jack?” She asked.
“No,” Atlas answered, “we noticed though.”
“He’s not messing with his cards anymore.” Merritt said.
“You’re right.” Henley sighed, “He’s not energetic at all. Keep an eye on him would ya?” She asked.
“Yeah.” They both replied simultaneously.
The following nights, after that conversation, Daniel heard Jack coughing. A lot. They shared a room and he was almost keeping Atlas up but Atlas was more worried then annoyed. Then after a few nights though it stopped. Atlas went to bed and fell asleep easily but his body actually woke himself up constantly because he was used to the noise. He flipped over to look at the other bed but there was no one there. Atlas immediately cursed and tried to get up quickly. He looked at the clock before he left the room. 3:55 AM.
Daniel walked out into the kitchen to see a exhausted looking Jack Wilder sitting at the breakfast bar trying to spin a deck of cards on his finger with only mild success. He was coughing a lot but it was quiet. Or at least he was trying to keep it quiet. Daniel walked up to him slowly and sat next to him.
“Jack- kid, what are you doing?” Daniel asked incredulously, “It’s almost 4 AM.”
“Sorry if I, uh, woke you up or anything.” Jack said immediately, ignoring Atlas’ other question.
“You didn’t wake me.” He promised then he noticed the kid also had a piece of paper in front of him that had all kinds of incoherent scribbling on it. “Again, what are you doing?” Daniel asked once more.
“Just going over every-“ Jack broke into another coughing fit, “everything again. Making sure the plan is fool proof and ya know practicing my cardistry.” He finished lamely as he thoughtlessly took out a card from the deck and spun it in his hands then made it disappear sloppily.
“Jack, are you ok?” He asked, Jack started coughing again.
“I’m fine.” He grumbled as he pushed up from the kitchen counter and started to walk towards their shared room only to stumble and seek a wall for support.
“Jack!” Daniel yelled as he rushed to his side and helped him stay up, “Merritt! Henley!” Daniel called.
A few moments later a disheveled looking Merritt McKinney and Henley Reeves walked out of their rooms.
“What do you want, Dan-“ Henley stopped when she saw Jack leaning against wall, coughing violently. She gasped, “Jack! Are you-“
“I’m fine guys!” Jack shoved out of Danny’s hold, “I’m good. I can still do my job!” He complained.
“Jack. You’re sick. You don’t need to do your job right now. You need to rest.” Henley said.
“Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it...” Daniel started, “Henley’s right. You need to take a break and take care of yourself. We’ll-“
“I can hold my own.” Jack insisted.
“We know you can, bud. But... you don’t have to.” Merritt said speaking for the first time that morning. Jack was still breathing heavily and leaning hard against Danny.
“Go to bed.” Daniel insisted, “You can do your part when you’re better.” Jack didn’t say anything, he just pushed away from Danny and started walking back towards their room with only Daniel following him and they both got back into their beds.
The next morning Jack woke up at around 11 AM. The team didn’t wake him up because they knew his body needed the sleep. Merritt had made pancakes that morning and Henley had gone to the store to get some medicine. Daniel had just stayed to work a little bit harder on the plans. They knew they wouldn’t have Jack for a few days so he would need to pick up the slack. Which he was happy to do for his… for his friend.
Jack walked out of his room and he still looked like death but he was stable and on his own feet. Unlike the way he was last night where Atlas was holding the bulk of his weight. He sat at the breakfast bar and Merritt gave him a plate of pancakes while Henley gave him a cup of water and some pills.
“What are these?” Jack asked groggily, Henley put her hand to his forehead.
“Something to make the fever you have go down.” She answered.
“I really am fine-“ Jack started.
“None of that.” Atlas chimed in, “Please just focus on getting better.”
“Right.” The younger boy said.