The Artful Dodger

1.01 An Examination

Jack lead me through the crowd and up the stairs. I directed him towards my room. The moment we were no longer in view of the masses, I picked up my pace and rushed into my room. Jack followed behind, closing the door. It is incredibly dark in here, I made my way to the center table where there is a multitude of things to use for light. I lit a candle, breathing heavily as I gripped at my chest. I began to fall back so I leaned onto the table.

Jack was quickly behind me, he placed his hands on my waist to steady me. "Are you well? Who's your doctor?" he asked me. "Prof" I answered shortly as I continued to huff and puff. God, if this pain does not go away. "And has he ever examined you?" he asked. I straitened up slightly, leaning back into Jack more. I do not trust myself enough to stand on my own. "He's too scared to get it wrong." I whispered.

Jack helped me stand properly, his hands never leaving my waist. "Take off your dress." he said. My eyes widened. He is a thief and now he wants to see me naked? I looked at him, effectively giving him a look that tells him what he is thinking. No way, he is stupid. "I need to listen to your back. Take off your dress." he said. I look deeply into his eyes. He seems sincere enough about that. I reach back to the strings, failing to actually untie them in my state. "Here." he said softly as he helped me.

"There" he mumbled as he got it undone. I took a few steps away, holding my dress up so I don't trip. My breathing remained heavy. I could feel his eyes on me every step of the way, even when I lowered the bottom of my dress. I stepped out of it and sat on the chair to my right.

I heard Jack fiddling with something on the other side of the room before he came back behind me. I carefully unbuttoned my corset. I pulled it off before leaning on the table. This has easily been the longest I have ever felt this pain. I felt my shirt raise as his fingers brushed my back. "Now, just breathe steady." he said. I felt him place the cup of the stethoscope on my back.

"Easier said then done" I mumbled. "Just breathe with me." he said softly. "In. And out." he said and I did it. Timing it with him. "Good. Again." he whispered. "In. Out." he said. I just did as he said, finally being able to calm down. Im sure he didn't mean to, but he did calm me down. He is actually the only one who has ever been able to calm me down like this.

"Okay. Gonna come around the front." he told me softly. I felt his arm wrap around me as he moved to place the stethoscope on my diaphragm. "Once again. In." he instructed.

He had moven closer to me in the process of trying to assess me. I leaned back into his chest ever so slightly, unable to resist form doing so. I have only physically known him for this day but something about him is comforting to me. I felt the side of his head rest on mine. "Good, and out. In. Out." he said quietly. I could both feel and see his face scrunch up in confusion. So I'm not delusional. There is something wrong with me.

There is more then just this thing. I am... what, attracted to him? Drawn to him and comforted by him at the least. Yet he steals jewelry from people. I pulled away slightly to look at him. "You're a common thief." I said. His eyes snapped to mine. He watched me closely. "Don't play daft. I saved your bloody ass back there. My poor health is you're fortune apparently" I said. He made no effort to respond, he just kept watching me. I leaned over and grabbed the neckless from my skirt.

I straitened up and held the neckless up. His jaw dropped. I moved away from him and made my way to the door. "Shall I call Captain Gaines now or later?" I asked him. "No. No, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." he said panicked. He ran around me, his back hitting the door as he stopped me. "You better have a good excuse Jack Dawkins" I whispered, taking in how close we are once again. "Darius cheated me at cards. He's gonna take my hand if I don't pay him a ludicrous debt." he explained.

I looked at him like he were insane. "You can't operate with one hand' I said. "I know" he hissed in response. "Then pay him with your own money!" I told him. "With what money? I get paid in pennies and thimbles." he said in a laugh. What? I heard footsteps approaching making my eyes widen. His head snapped to the side, glancing at the door at the sound.

"You've got two options. I yell 'guards' and you get hanged." I told him . He looked me in the eyes with a slight shake of his head. "Not ideal." he replied. "Or you make me the first female surgeon and I keep your secret." I told him. He looked at me as if I were crazy. "Don't look at me like that Jack. You and your friend stole a neckless, literally off of a woman." I hissed quietly.

"It's that or the noose." I told him. There was knocking at the door. "Well?" I asked him. "I'm thinking." he mumbled. There was another knock at the door. I raised my eyebrow at him. "It won't be easy, but fine" he gritted through his teeth. "Lady Kimberley?" Michael questioned through the door. "I'm fine. I wish to be left alone" I said. I then looked at Jack in the eyes. "Isn't the doctor in there with you?" he questioned. "No, he helped me here, then left. Something about patients to attend to back at the hospital. Send his friend and Charlie back in the carriage. Now leave me be" I ordered, never once taking my eyes from Jack's. "But Kimberley, Belle is-" he began but I cut him off. "My sister is worried. I know. She doesn't stop. Now, dearest brother-in-law, leave me be and go back to your post. Now" I ordered him. "Yes, m'lady" he called before his footsteps echoed away.

Looking down, I grabbed Jack's hand, placing the neckless in it and closing his fingers around it. "Do be careful while selling this, everyone knows who this belongs to" I said before looking him in his eyes. "Tell me if you need help gathering your money" I said softly. "Why?" he asked. I watched his eyes flicker from mine to my lips and back. "You have a talent unlike anything I've read before. It would be a shame for it to go to waist all because of a lousy game of cards" I whispered.

I slowly leaned closer to him. I wish I could kiss him right now. But I can't. "Go out the balcony door, there is a spiral staircase. Leave now while everyone is distracted. If you go out there, Gains will surly pat you down again" I whispered. I felt his nose brush against my cheek. I bit my lip. I cannot kiss a man I do not know. I pulled away. "Go" I ordered.