As soon as his meet and greet ended, Levi headed back into the Cast Member only area, descending into the utilidor. Whatever Nora thought, it wasn't good. He should have told her a long time ago, who he was. Day one. He'd been so worried about what she'd think, thought she'd be out of his life as fast as a breath, and kept going deeper and deeper.

He should tell her now. Even if it killed him, he should tell her now.

So he went straight to his manager's office, surprisingly finding her there instead of doting on the rest of the cast, working on a mound of paperwork.

"I'm sick." He felt sick, at least.

His manager, Sally, looked up, clearly not buying it. "What?"

"I mean my brother's sick," Levi changed his lie. Because if he was found roaming around the park, he clearly wasn't sick enough to go home and he would totally get reprimanded, if not fired on the spot. "I just found out. My other brother is in the park right now and I need to go find him because he doesn't know."

Sally didn't look like she bought it at all. "Look, Levi. We don't have another actor to fill in for you for your last meet and greet today. I can't just call someone in."

He really didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Sally, but this is really important. Put it on my record if you have to."

And he walked out. Levi stripped off his costume with less care than he normally would, scrubbing his face and making sure every trace of Sparrow was removed from sight, changing into regular guest clothes and bolting towards the stairs leading up to Adventureland.

It didn't take him long to find Sam and Thomas, who hadn't gotten very far.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Sam asked as soon as Levi came into sight, clearly confused as to why Levi was at the hub dressed in his guest clothes and not back in Adventureland with his fake accent and wig.

Levi was really not in the mood. "I got off early."

"So was that really you, Levi?" Thomas asked.

"Yes it was, but don't tell anyone because it really is a secret and now you are a spy," Levi said.

"What's wrong?" Sam murmured.

"That girl you were talking to. Did you tell her my name?"

Sam's eyes crinkled. "No, but I did tell her you're my brother."

Ariel's big toe. "Why?"

"Sorry, I didn't think it was a big deal. She seemed like a big fan."

Levi pulled Sam aside, trying to keep from hissing. "She's my friend in real life, but she doesn't know I'm Jack Sparrow."

"Oh. Why?"

"I hadn't gotten around to telling her yet."

"How long have you two been friends?"

Levi looked away. "A while."

"Are you... uh, more than friends?"

"Do you think I could ever get someone like that?" Levi muttered.

"Not if you're lying to her."

His eyes darted back to his brother. "She's obsessed with Jack Sparrow. I already knew her before we were friends because she visits me all the time. I didn't mean to become friends with her, and now I don't know what to do."

Sam shifted. "You can't just go on lying to her."

"I know. I'm going to find her now and tell her. But I'm worried she won't want to be friends with me anymore."

"I can't really blame her. No offense."

He sighed. "Have you seen her?"

"No. Did you want me to maybe talk to her for you?"

Levi tried not to roll his eyes. He actually would have kind of loved that, but he couldn't hide behind his big brother forever. "It's okay. I can do it."

Hopefully.

"Good luck."
"Are we getting ice cream now?" Thomas asked.

"Maybe later, kiddo. First I think we should go on Space Mountain."
Thomas, who was a tall kid for his age, already hit the height requirement. "Oooh. Cool."

Levi pulled out his phone, texting Nora, "Where are you?"

Nora had gone to sit in Gaston's Tavern. She'd wanted a cinnamon roll, but she wasn't hungry. Not after that whole encounter. Her pirate ears were stowed back in her bag, much to her annoyance that she'd bought them to please him when she didn't even know who he was.

Which was partially her fault for getting so worked up over a character. A character.

Her phone vibrated. Nora pulled it out, finding a text from Levi. "Where are you?"

She frowned. During his breaks she normally got texts from him, but it was oddly suspicious that his current break was during Jack's.

Nora almost put her phone down to ignore him, but she texted back, "None of your business, cinnamon roll."

Which was a dead giveaway, but at least he knew she was mad at him, whether that was a surprise or not.

It wasn't exactly the place she wanted to fight with him, but it would do. She almost hoped Gaston would show up. He'd totally defend her honor, but she would make do with defending it by herself.

Within minutes, Levi was on the threshold, out of breath and grim, as if he already knew his fate. Nora had her hands clasped in front of her on the table, attempting the role of authoritative punisher. Things weren't looking up for him.

Levi sat down across from her, ashen and not saying a word.

"You're off early," she said.

"I wanted to see you. I didn't care if it gives me a point or reprimand."

"Why so suddenly?"

"I needed to talk to you."

"How did you even know I was here?" Nora asked.

"You told me."
"I know, but you knew I was at this park. How?"

His eyes widened. "It's Tuesday. You're usually here on Tuesday."

That was true. Still. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

Levi swallowed hard.

Nora watched as his face got so ghost-like he should be in the Haunted Mansion. "Levi, are you okay?"

"Yeah." He started blinking a lot, his body rocking back and forth.

She was halfway through saying his name again when he collapsed.

Levi woke up on a gurney. His eyes were blurry, his mind was groggy, and his skin felt like Davy Jones' face.

Nora was over him, her eyes wide with concern.

"Where are we?" he asked, voice tight.

"First Aid."

He knew where that was, right between the Crystal Palace and Casey's Corner, but he'd never been there himself. "What happened?"

"You passed out, which freaked me out, so I told a Cast Member and they wheeled you over here as inconspicuously as possible. They figured it was dehydration after checking your blood pressure."

Now that he thought about it, he'd been so worried about everything he really hadn't been drinking water, which wasn't the best decision with as much as he had sweated today. Not to mention the stress. "That's probably it."

Her hand came on top of his. "Are you okay?"

Levi swallowed, finding his mouth dry. "I just need some water."

"Here." She handed him a cup.

He was glad for the excuse to move his hand from hers. He downed the whole cup. She refilled it.

"The nurse had someone else just come in, so I'm sure she'll be back after that to check on you. She's really nice."

Levi shut his eyes. "This is really embarrassing."

"It happens to everyone."

"Right."

"Maybe not here, but it happens to everyone."

He almost asked if his brother knew, but that would be the worst thing to say. "Do they know I'm a Cast Member?"

"Yeah, I gave them your name and told them that. Not sure if that's important or not."

"I didn't exactly go over the benefits and I was off the clock, but it's not like they charge you for something like this if you're a guest."

"Go Disney," she said very half-heartedly.

"Are you okay?" he asked, going back to sipping his water.

"Yeah. You just scared me to death. I was all mad at you before and now... it just doesn't matter. I'm just glad you're okay."

Levi looked at her sadly. She deserved to be mad. "I don't want you to leave me."

"I wouldn't."

But she would, if she knew. And he needed to tell her. But his eyes were heavy and he really didn't want another reason to feel queasy right now. He closed his eyes, drifting off again.

Nora listened to the nurse talk her through what sort of steps Levi needed to take to rehydrate, which was basically drink fluids. He probably needed a meal too. A few snacks were brought in, as well as some waters, which she would force him to have as soon as he woke up. She didn't have the heart to wake him up.

"You're a really sweet girlfriend," the nurse said.

"Oh." Nora wasn't sure what to say. They were just friends, after all. But she was holding Levi's hand as he slept and had played the part of girlfriend very, very well. She figured it wasn't worth telling her the truth. "Thank you."

"He's kind of a baby, isn't he?"

Nora grinned. "A little bit."

"And he does amazing work as a Cast Member too."

Nora paused, wondering how she knew that. Or maybe she just said that about every Cast Member, regardless of their position. "Yeah, he does."

She could have asked about his position, but she didn't. She partly blamed herself for his collapsing at their table, like being mad at him had somehow upset his delicate balance. It didn't seem worth it to speculate. She trusted Levi. He was a good guy. They got along well. It's not like he would lie to her about something like that.

She wasn't exactly thrilled with Jack right now, not that he owed her anything, but that could be dealt with at another time. The thing that mattered most was that Levi was okay.

So Nora stayed with him until he woke up and had his snacks. He started regaining his color and, after about another hour, they left.

"You sure you don't need me to drive you home or to your car or anything?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry."

"If you need anything, call me."

He stared at her for an uncomfortable amount of time, which she tried to chalk up to dehydration, but it was too personal. "Thanks."

Levi headed back to Fantasyland. Nora passed Casey's Corner and turned down Main Street, ignoring the ice cream shop. It was after Jack's shift, which meant she'd probably see all three of them, including Jack, except without his costume. And as much as she wanted to know, she couldn't do it. She couldn't force him to share who he was with her. He clearly wasn't interested in her knowing him.

Jack Sparrow broke rules, but whoever Jack was either didn't at all or didn't find her worth breaking them for.

Maybe it was pretentious, but she would love a romance with someone who loved her enough to break some rules. That loved her more than a job. But who was she to act like she deserved that with Jack? And, was he really worth swooning over anyway?

Nora marched down Main Street, thoughts on Levi and Jack, wishing life was so much easier than it actually was.

He tried. He tried.

Guys, I really want a cinnamon roll from Gaston's Tavern. Please. I need one.

Question of the Chapter: Have you ever passed out in an embarrassing way? This is your time to shine.

-Flips