Jack's legs, arm, and part of his chest had been replaced with silver tin. He picked up a ball with his mechanical arm before dropping it back onto a work table.

"Jane, look at this! It's working. I'm working-" he started when his gray eyes landed on me.

My heart stopped beating then and I felt all the air go out of my lungs. He looked just as shocked as I was, even more perhaps. But there was another emotion there - shame. His cheeks went red with embarrassment and he cast his eyes down to the floor. But-but he was alive!

"Jack!" I choked out and ran over to him.

I flung myself into his arms, my own wrapping around his neck. Burying my head in his bare shoulder, I breathed in the sweet scent of strawberries and musk as his sandy brown curls tickled my skin. Jack. Before I knew what was happening, I was being shoved away roughly as Jack limped his way over to Jane. I stumbled backwards, my mouth hung open in shock. Why did he do that?! Jack just pushed me!

All I did was hug him because I was happy he's alive!

"Why did you bring her here?" he whispered angrily to Jane.

Her eyes hardened at his tone as she glanced up at him.

"I saw that girl crying over you as you lay there in the street. She obviously cares very much for you and I thought you'd like to have her here. To know you're alright!" she hissed back.

"But I'm not alright, am I?! I'm half-machine!" he whisper-shouted to her.

I could feel the tears forming behind my brown eyes but I squeezed them shut briefly, forcing the teardrops not to spill out. Crying was a form of weakness and I had done it too much lately. Maybe even over the wrong people... I crossed my arms over my chest as Jane handed Jack a pair of clothes.

"I brought you some clothes," she told him, "We're going on an outing,"

Jack's gray eyes flicked to mine but I avoided his gaze, instead choosing to stalk over to the door.

"You're moving well. Fresh air will do you good," Jane went on.

"Are you sure she has to go with us?" he asked lowly.

I felt a pang of hurt in my chest at that. Had these changes he'd endured changed him so much that he hated me now? Jane nodded slightly at his question.

"Everything is as I've come to expect it, Jack... Full circle." she said, not unkindly.

She passed the clothes over to him.

"Your new world awaits..."

As Jane walked off, Jack turned to me. I finally met his eyes but said nothing and then exited the shop to wait for them outside.