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It was after midnight when they finished stitching the corpse. It was so late and they were in the morgue and Belle really didn't want to sneak back to her house.
“You can sleep in my bed,” Jack offered and Belle looked at him horrified.
“What?”
“I would sleep on the floor of course, or outside of the room if you prefer, everything would be respectable,” Jack explained quickly.
Belle considered it and she was hesitating. She didn’t mind doing things that society would judge but this was almost too much even for her.
“But if you don’t want to, I'll gladly accompany you to your home,” Jack offered. The idea of walking home again seemed unbearable.
“No, I’ll sleep in your bed and you can stay in the room, if you want,” Belle said quickly and it was settled.
So, that’s how they found themselves in Jack’s room. They were just standing there for a moment, looking at the bed and Jack was really glad that Fagin was sleeping somewhere else that night. He wasn’t really in the mood to explain this.
“I can lend you something more comfortable to sleep in, if you want,” Jack said when the moment seemed too long.
“Hmm?” Belle turned to him and she was completely distracted. He repeated it.
“Yes, yes, that would be nice,” she nodded and he quickly found a good long shirt for Belle and one for himself. He gave it to her and their fingers touched for a moment and it felt like an eternity. Suddenly Jack wanted to hold Belle’s hand for the rest of his life.
“I’ll let you change,” he said and left the room. Jack also changed and then waited outside. He knocked on the door lightly.
“You can come in,” Belle exclaimed and so he did.
“Hi,” he said, suddenly unsure of what the hell he was even doing there.
Belle was sitting in his bed, covered by his blanket and she smiled at him sweetly.
“Hi, thank you for letting me stay here.”
“Of course,” Jack nodded and sat down on the floor. He took Fagin’s blanket and pillow and lay down.
“I am sorry for occupying your bed,” she said.
“I offered you my bed, you aren’t occupying it.”
“Okay,” she whispered and a comfortable silence surrounded them.
“Can you sleep?” Belle asked and Jack smiled.
“No, you?”
“Not at all, everything is so…so exciting,” she whispered.
“Yes, it is.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked confused.
“For training me, I’ve never believed that any doctor would actually train me. And after our bumpy beginning, I think that you value and respect my opinions. Thank you,” she said sincerely and Jack was speechless for a bit.
“You don’t have to be thankful for that. I respect and value all opinions that make sense. And some of yours are quite brilliant,” Jack said earnestly and Belle smiled.
He was her friend and it was nice to have a friend.