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Even though the strike had been settled and it was safe for him to stay at the lodging house again, Jack found himself returning to the Jacob’s fire escape, and to Sarah. She found him there most mornings, waiting for her when she woke up. It had become something of a routine for them.
She would ask if he’d spent all night there, and he’d give her that crooked smile, suggesting that he had. Then they’d meet on the roof until both of them had to work- him with his papers, her with her lace. At first Sarah had asked why he hadn’t woken them up, asked to come inside, but he always had an answer, and eventually She had stopped asking.
He wasn’t sure why he never woke them up. It wasn’t as if the Jacob’s would have minded- Jack had dinner with them at least once a week- but It felt as if asking for anything more would upset the balance he had created and he would be alone again.
With all the cool night air, it was only a matter of time before Jack got sick.
It started mild. As always, they were on the roof, having breakfast. Jack was telling Sarah a story- something straight out of those western tales he was always reading and Sarah was listening intently, when suddenly the story was punctuated by a fit of coughing.
“Are you alright?” Sarah asked.
“Yeah,” Jack lied. “Just something in my throat, that’s all.”
But it was clear that she wasn’t convinced, especially as he tried and failed to stifle one cough and then another. She poured him a glass of water from the pitcher and studied him thoughtfully.
He took the glass graciously and drank, the water soothing his throat for the moment. Sensing Sarah’s unease he gave a reassuring smile. “I’m fine Sarah, honest. It was just a cough.”
But it wasn’t really. He was freezing despite the warmth of the summer sun and a wave of dizziness was starting to wash over him. He could tell he was coming down with something, and he dreaded it.
Sarah shook her head. “Are you really sure?”
Jack felt guilty. He knew he should tell Sarah the truth but something stopped him. He didn’t want to worry her anymore than he already had, and he’d dealt with illnesses before, alone. He could do it again. “Promise.”
But there was still worry in her eyes, so he added, “Listen, if I start feeling worse, I’ll find you, alright?”
“Alright,” Sarah nodded. “But before you go, let me at least check your temperature.”
And she kissed him on the forehead.
“You know, if you wanted to kiss me, you could’ve just said so,” Jack smiled.
Sarah’s face flushed slightly at his words, but she didn’t return the smile.”You’re running a fever Jack. I can’t let you go like this. You’ll only make it worse, selling papers.”
Jack attempted to protest, but was overcome by another coughing fit, this one longer than the first. All of a sudden he felt much worse than he had before, as if his body had stopped fighting against his symptoms as soon as Sarah had found out.
As the coughing fit subsided, he sat down against the parapet, feeling dizzier than before and slightly out of breath. “Maybe you’ve got a point.”
Sarah sat next him and he leaned his head against her shoulder. Gently, she moved it into her lap and began to stroke his hair. It was a soothing motion, and Jack could feel himself dozing off. If only he wasn’t so cold.
“You’re shivering,” Sarah frowned, and stopped. “We should get you inside.”
“ s’ nice out here,” Jack mumbled, eyes still closed. “Let’s just stay.”
“But you’ll feel better if you can actually sleep in a bed,” Sarah said. “Come on, let’s get you up.”
She wrapped an arm around him and helped him to his feet. The movement triggered another round of coughing but Sarah didn’t let go. Slowly she led him downstairs to the Jacob’s apartment, into the small room Jack knew she shared with David- though David was no where to be found.
It occurred to him that David must have already been at work, Les trailing not far behind. Jack should have been meeting them. He mentioned this to Sarah, who shushed him quietly as she helped him into her bed. “It’ll be fine. David and Les can sell papers by themselves for one day. Just focus on getting some rest.”
Jack nodded blearily, his eyes already halfway closed. The next hours passed in a blur of coughing and shivering and never being able to fall fully asleep.. He was vaguely aware his fever must have gotten worse, because he thought he saw his mother standing above him, but he blinked and then she was gone. He knew he was mumbling about something but couldn’t tell what.
And throughout all of it there was Sarah. Sarah with a damp cloth, pressing it against his forehead. Sarah propping him up with pillows as his cough got worse and it became harder to breath. Sarah giving him another blanket to try and stop the shivering.
At some point David must have come home because he could hear Sarah talking to another person.
“How’s he doing?”
“Not well,” Sarah replied. “His cough is getting worse and I can’t get his fever to stay down. He’s been delirious. I’m worried.”
“Should we get a doctor?”
“No, not yet. I want to try for a little longer. I don’t think he’ll trust a doctor.”
“I’ll go to the druggist around the corner, see if I can find something for the fever. Keep an eye on him Sarah.”
“I will.”
There was the sound of a door opening and shutting and then silence. Jack opened his eyes. Sarah was sitting at his bedside, she had a book open but didn’t appear to be actively reading. Instead; her attention was on him.
“Hello,” he said, and winced at the rough sound of his voice. “Didn’t mean to worry you.”
She frowned. “You heard that?”
Jack nodded.
“It’s alright. I’m glad you’re awake now.”
“Me too,” Jack said. There was silence between them before he continued quietly. “Sarah… thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” Sarah said. “You were talking about the refuge in your sleep… It’s been a long while since you’ve had anyone to care for you, hasn’t it?”
Jack couldn’t meet her gaze. He was embarrassed at having been so vulnerable, even though it was okay because it was Sarah. “Yeah. I guess I’m not used to it anymore.”
“You should,,” Sarah said. “You’ve got me now.”
Jack smiled. “Yeah. I’ve got you.” He looked at her book. “What’re you reading?”
Sarah looked at the book like she’d forgotten she was holding it. “Oh, it’s Little Women.”
“Read it to me?”
“Are you sure?” She asked. “It’s nothing like what you normally read. I’m afraid you might find it boring.”
“Read it to me anyway; I like hearing your voice,” he grinned.
Sarah blushed and began to read. She was partially right- it was nothing like Jack normally read and in any other circumstance he would have found it boring, but in her voice the words were a song. He could feel himself dozing off again, this time into more fitful sleep, confident that Sarah would be there when he woke up.