Jackie's p.o.v

When we got home I could finally breathe normally. I didn't waste anytime to find out about the case. We pulled dad on the side and waited for answers. To be short he told us how they managed to get the information then they captured the girl we saw and they managed to find out something more about the criminals. How ever the last part I heard was like a slap in the face.

"Now we have direct contact to your organization Ethan and they want you to go with them and investigate. We have location for contact."

Ethan and dad looked at each other for a moment.

"Can I have time to think?"

"Of course."

As I got to my room I hopped in the shower and started thinking.

The unspoken words were like a poison to me. They meant Ethan could leave and investigate now safely. And if he went undercover with his organization that means he couldn't communicate with me until the case was over. Which could take weeks, months and even longer... Not seeing him or contacting him that long made me aware of how much I didn't want him to go. How much I would miss him. How much it would hurt to see him go and yet I had no power to make him stay. I had no right to ask.

Ethan's p.o.v

I could have answered immediately that that's what I am supposed to do. My organization was my home and place where I fit in. But I couldn't say anything. I thought it through before. I knew this day would come but I didn't expect it this soon. I even hoped I could solve this problem before It became bigger than It is. But going with my organization now and vanishing under the radar I would lose all contact with my family. My friends. And Jackie.

Right now.

After I just told her I liked her. It had to happen right after things started going better.

Was my luck really that bad?

Without an answer I fell asleep.

***

I heavily opened my eyes. I found it hard to breathe, my throat was sore and my body felt like it weighted a ton. Even while lifting my self up my head was spinning and I felt dizzy.

I couldn't tell how long I stayed in that position until there was a knock on the door and it opened.

"Ethan sweetie, I was wondering what took you so long..." Jackie's mom entered the room and she came closer to the bed.

"Oh-oh." She leaned over and looked into my eyes. Right after that she put her hand on my forehead and sighed worried.

"You are burning up Ethan, where did you get such a cold?"

A cold? I haven't had that since...Kindergarten.

"I guess I will have to stay at home today. You need serious care."

"There isn't any need..." As I opened my mouth to speak I noticed how hoarse my voice was. It hurt on every word.

"Shhh. I don't care if you are my child or not I am not letting you get out of bed until you are better. Now lay down I'll be back."

I felt a twist in the stomach as I never had anyone to take care of me.

"Ugh, there better not be any germs left when you leave this room." Erika passed by and saw me. She turned around and yelled.

"Jackie you better clean any vomit later cause this is your fault." With that she left.

Few seconds later Jackie showed up at the door and looked at me.

I could already recall every time she yelled at me. "You'll get a cold you idiot." or "Ethan I swear you'll get a cold..."

I was waiting for the "I told you so".

She was still glaring. Come on, I know you want to say it.

But she just threw her bag in my room and went downstairs.

I was trying to think what that could mean but even thinking was hard right now. I lowered my head back into the pillow and closed my eyes. Just for a second.

I woke up again when I felt a moist towel being put on my forehead. I opened my eyes and noticed Jackie sitting next to me on the bed.

This fever must be causing hallucinations.

"Don't try to get up, you're burning." She said calmly and got up walking towards the desk chair pushing it closer to the bed.

"Your mom said..."

"She went to work. I told her I'll take care of you."

"So sweet." I smiled and I could see she was holding in her comment.

"Are you hungry?" She asked me and I nodded my head.

She got up and I tried to stand up.

"Wait don't leave..."

"I told you to lie back down idiot." She pushed me back down and I held her hand.

"Stay please."

"I won't be long. I'm just going to make soup. You said you were hungry."

"I am but don't go."

"Do you hear yourself?" She asked but I couldn't care less.

"Please Plushy."

She sighed but then stood up walking towards my bag. She poked around it and then found her Plush panda. She brought it back to the bed.

"Here, hold on to this until I get back."

As she left the room I heard her mumbling something about me being worse than a child. I hugged the panda not so happy about the replacement and waited.

When she came back she placed the bowl on the table and changed the towel on my head.

"Give it few minutes to cool off."

"Didn't you care about going to school? I know you rarely miss a class."

"You're sick."

"Is that your way of saying you don't want to leave me alone?"

"It's my fault you're sick. You gave me that hoodie and..."

I smiled and cleared my throat before speaking.

"If I didn't give it to you then you would have been sick and I would have stayed to take care of you. And my doctor patient fantasy with you goes further than just feeding you soup."

Her face went red and then she leaned closer.

"I will make notes of every punch I am going to have to give you once you get better."

I coughed and she got up for the soup.

I had to say she was good at this. Blowing air on every spoon, careful while feeding me. Not yelling once. I liked this nice quiet Jackie.

"I like your hair today." I told her as she stood up to put away the bowl.

"It's the same as always."

I smiled. "I know. That's why that compliment applies for every day I didn't tell you."

"This fever it's getting worse. You're starting to sound weird." She added and I frowned when she sat on the chair and not next to me on the bed.

"Why are you always..."

"Shhhhh." She shushed me. "You can barely speak, just rest. Don't use your strength."

"Hm..I'm sure you don't enjoy this at all Plush. Not even a bit." I was pushed back down.

"Oh-oh! Sarcasm? This is serious. That's my thing.." She smirked and got up.

"I'll be back. You just rest."

I closed my eyes but I wasn't happy at all. But my body didn't care at all and I lost conscience.

"Ethan..."

I opened my eyes to see Jackie looking at me, her face few inches of mine.

"Mm?"

"Can you get up?"

I nodded my head but as I lifted my self up I couldn't do it without her help.

"Drink this." She helped me drink something horrible and then offered me a sandwich which I refused. I felt like I was going to puke.

"I tried every possible thing I could think off. I don't know what to do anymore."

"About?"

"You're fever."

"You're doing great, I promise." I rubbed my throat while trying not to sound hoarse.

She frowned.

"Call your mom." I suggested.

"No way. She has some weird healing techniques. And she's the reason why me, my sister or father avoid getting sick."

"Google?"

"Yes. You're right." She pulled out her phone and I moved a little so she can sit on the bed. Without hesitation she sat back next to me.

"Do you still have hard time breathing?"

"Well..."

"What about the throat..."

"It's not so..."

"Are you dizzy..."

"Not even..."

"Check, check, check. Okay, I found something but we need to get you out of bed."

She helped me up and headed towards the bathroom. She closed the door and leaned me on the sink.

"Take off your clothes."

"um...what." I said loosing my balance so I held onto the sink.

"You are worse than usual." She blushed but tried to stay serious. "You're sweaty because of the temperature so you have to change anyways."

I just looked at her suspiciously as she went towards the shower and turned on the hot water.

When she turned back to me she got angry.

"I told you to take them off. Damn it, you probably can't even do that." She walked towards me and pulled the shirt off me.

"Don't look at me like that." She said and put the shirt away.

Then she aimed for the pants.

"No need for that." I stopped her and she pulled away.

I didn't know what was worse. The fact I was standing half naked in front of her awkwardly or the fact that I wasn't able to tease her about it.

"The hot water will create steam and that's going to help with your breathing. You can stand right?"

"I think so." I stayed like that for some time in quite and then I started to feel dizzy and lost my balance for a second.

Jackie caught me the same moment.

"Here." She pulled me closer to the shower and sat me on the bathtub.

She whipped the hair of my face and put my hair back.

"You're temperature is going down." She sighed in relief. "That's good, you got me worried there."

I looked at her and surprisingly she didn't look away. I leaned my head to kiss her and just when I got close the most absurd thing happened. I pulled away and sneezed.

I looked at Jackie who smiled and then grinned and then burst into laughter.

I can now die of embarrassment.

"Let's get you into dry clothes."

She didn't mention anything about my failure in the last hour so I didn't even try to remind her of it.

She sat in the chair moving uncomfortably as she was reading her book. And she shifted.

And again.

And again.

"Come here, is more comfortable."

She looked at me and I moved away. Heisting she got up and sat at the edge of the bed.

"You are going to fall."

"For a sick person you talk too much. Shush." She shushed me but I pulled her closer.

"Will you read to me?" I asked her and she peeked at me annoyed. I looked at her and my eyes started watering from the fever. Fortunately for me that seemed to work.

"I am never going to let you get sick again." She sighed and started reading to me. Slowly and slowly I started feeling myself falling asleep once again.

Jackie's p.o.v

I felt his head drop on my chest and I flinched not knowing how to react. He seemed comfortable and something inside me didn't let me push his head away as much as I was blushing. I lifted my hand and pushed my hair back. What was I going to do once he leaves? I put my hand down trying to avoid nudging him but I settled it on his head running it down stroking his hair.

I shook my negative feelings away. If I had to...if I had to give him up at least I should enjoy these last moments with him.

I closed the book and pulled out my phone. I went through the pictures the twins took. At the time I found it annoying but now I had these pictures to treasure. As much as I knew a picture is a lie that we all choose to keep as a reminded of what has passed but maybe for once in my life I can just not care about what was right or wrong and do as my gut was telling me.

The image of him kissing me never left my mind. And when I would replay that scene my stomach didn't act normally. Yap, I was definitely developing some feelings. Why did he have to tell me he likes me? What am I supposed to do now? Even if I..if I like him back what can he do...He has to leave anyways. And if he stays I have no idea how to act in a relationship or what to do. I mean he did give me a presentation when he first got here but that was play and this was the real world.

"Why do you make me feel this way?" I whispered and he murmured for a moment giving me a heart attack thinking he was going to reply.

I decided I needed advice.

My sister arrived home and I went to my room finding her on the bed listening to music.

"Erika?"

But she didn't reply. I waved in front of her face and when she noticed me she pulled out the headphones. When I noticed she smiled I was thankful she was in a good mood.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing and ask for your help."

"My help?" She asked confused.

"Im doing a research in human social behavior with the topic relationships. Do you mind answering few questions? It will be anonymous."

"Oh well since you need it for research. You might as well learn something."

Oh trust me I was going to do that.

"Well first question, how do you feel about distance relationships?"

"They don't work out; it's not worth even trying."

Okay, that's what I get from a seventh grader.

"Have you ever been in a conflict with your own emotions?"

"Huh?"

"Have you had difficulties deciding between what your heart and head wants."

"Of course. But everyone deals with that. It's good though because it keeps balance."

"I see."

"There is always going to be things that doesn't match what you expected or wanted, neither what you thought you needed but It will make you happy and everyone strives for happiness."

Wow, my sister gave me a mature answer.

"I mean for example you hate pink but because that ninth grader said it's cool now everyone wears pink so you have to wear pink and that makes you realize pink looks good on you."

And we are back to normal.

"Thank you. That was helpful."

"That's it?"

"Yes I don't want to take a lot of your time."

I hurried downstairs and found my mother in the kitchen.

"Hey darling...I just took the cookies out of the oven, put some in different plates and take one to your father, one for your sister and one for you and Ethan.

"What makes you think I'm staying there?"

"Because you don't leave the room not unless you need to eat or bring him something."

I decided I was to ignore her comment.

"How is Ethan?" She asked.

I summed up how his temperature went down and then up again and then down. About his mood swings and complaints. My complaints and things that annoyed me but I skipped the part when he tried to kiss me in the bathroom , falling asleep on me or the perverted things he didn't shut up about after waking up on my chest. What an idiot. If he wasn't sick I was going to smack him.

"I am so glad you take care for him."

"Well I couldn't leave him to your creepy healing techniques now could I ?"

"Pshh because of that no one ever got sick again."

"That's not the reason why." I murmured and took the plates putting cookies on it.

I decided to get out an advice from my mother. But I needed a different approach with her.

"So can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"This weekend I forgot that you were alone and I wanted to ask you how you deal with it when dad leaves and you don't see him for a long time."

"Well the same as you girls."

"But now we have each other what about when you still didn't have us?"

"Hmmm, it was a long time ago but...I think that I always knew I was important to him and he would come back to me. The worrying didn't stop but I think we understood each other on a level that I knew no matter where he was we would get through it."

"Okay, thanks mom."

"Why are you bringing this up now?"

Damn it you sneaky mother.

"I just don't want to see you sad when dad leaves on missions and no one is in the house but you."

"Are you kidding? I loved this weekend. I kicked your sister out of the house and I was lazy all day. Never had a better vacation in years."

"Only you can give me an answer like that."

I smiled and took the cookies to dad.

"Ohh are they still warm?" He asked.

"Mhm..i can't wait to try them. Mom told me she made them from the recipe Ethan gave her.

"That boy has a gift for food. Maybe he should take on a career as a chef instead of a detective."

"I would like that. Than I can become the number one detective in the world...Damn it I sound like him now."

Dad laughed and took a cookie. I decided to try my luck here.

"So dad can I ask you something?"

"Mhm..." He chewed on a cookie.

"Do you think Ethan should go with his organization? I mean what if they aren't really his organization what if it's all a set up?"

"We looked in that option, there isn't..."

"What if they are bribed, what if he is heading into trouble?"

Dad swallowed the cookie and then looked at me.

"Is this because you suspect because he could be in danger for real or because you are attached to him?"

"I am ..how can you say that..i put my job first." I told him angry.

"I'm just saying you didn't worry this much before. I'm guessing it got too personal now..."

"You know what..." I got up angry and took the cookie plates.

"I think we should be more careful. Too much sugar is bad for your health."

With that I left to Ethan's room and ignored dad's complaints.

 I entered the room and walked over to Ethan who was watching TV.. I sat next to him and offered him cookies.

"Oh yes, hard food."

"This is the only treat you are getting so better chew it good and eat it slowly."

He took the other plate too and placed it before him eating.

"Oh your phone ringed and I noticed it was Tazia. She's probably wondering about us."

"Give me a minute." I took the phone and walked in the hallway calling her.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I couldn't come today Ethan was sick."

"Sooo?"

"So I stayed home to take care of him, it was my fault anyways."

"How?"

"Nevermind. What was happening today at school?"

"Nothing much. Reading poetry, doing some algorithms and so on,..I missed you today. Dom and the twins too."

"Well I can't say I missed you too since I was dealing with Ethan and his fever."

"Did he make you dress up in a sexy nurse costume?"

"I rejected him for the fifteenth time today."

"There is always tomorrow."

"And you are going to get it if you don't stop putting that thought in my head."

"Hmm,  I don't think he'll give up."

"He better, oh-oh I have to go back I left him with too many cookies."

"Yeah yeah, go take care of your man. Love you."

"He isn't..." But the line went dead.

And of course all the cookies were gone.

"Did you really have to eat all of them?"

"What are you talking about? I didn't"

"Well no one came in your room because I was in front of it outside."

"I know that. I gave them to Pebble. Through the window."

"It's like you are you in the worse version. This is a nightmare."

"A beautiful one."

"Shut up." I scolded him and took the plates.

"Give me a hug so I can go to bed now."

"I'll give you a kiss too."

He looked at me confused and then I came closer and leaned on the bed. Then I took the panda plush toy and touched his face with it making smooching sounds.

"Did you just...make a joke?" He took the toy and ginned. "You teased me. That's the first cough-cough time you ever cough-cough teased me."

I bit my lip and then tucked him into bed.

"That was a sweet kiss, thank you." He chuckled and turned his head to sleep.

Of course he would make my joke into his teasing material. It was just his way of doings.

I know I'm a bit late with this chapter so I'll post one more right after this one. Vote here and move on the next chapter darlings. ♥