The Artful Dodger

1.02 Second Sleepover

We are walking back to the hospital from the pub. Jack had his arm around me still. I tried to check out his hand, but he brushed it off. I know it is not good, there was some blood, but I will give him until we are at the hospital before I check it over. "Yes, I seen it in your eyes. The old Dodger, none of that toff talk." Fagin bragged.

I looked up at Jack confused. I have heard him get called that by his friend numerous of times, but I am not sure what it means. I can assume the thing he saw has something to do with his past from London -- beyond that, I have no idea. "No, you saw nothing." Jack argued. Whatever Fagin is talking about, the idea of it frustrates Jack. I raised my right hand and interlocked our fingers -- trying to give some form of comfort.

"Yes, I did. It was there. The thrill, the danger, you live for it. It's like a craving with you. It was there from the very first day I unwrapped you from that swaddling cloth and took you under me wing." Fagin said to him. I tilted my head both shocked an confused. So Fagin saved him literally? "You told me I was naked and shivering." Jack said, looking to the man. I looked up at Jack, squeezing his hand to gain his attention.

Jack looked down at me. He seemed grateful for the interruption. Or perhaps for the distraction from the memories he is no doubt reliving. "I'm going to check on our patients. I'll see you in there" I said softly. "Alright" he whispered. He kissed my forehead lightly before letting me go. I gave him and Fagin a smile before walking into the hospital. That weird feeling filled my stomach again as I keep thinking about how he keeps kissing my forehead. This man is going to be the death of me.

I made my way into the recovery ward. The room is relatively empty, three patients and two nurses. Charlie and Tinkler are on beds right next to one another, the other patient is across the room. I placed my hand on Charlie's head. "He's still running a fever" Hetty said softly. I bit my lip. "Yeah, he is" I whispered. With a sigh I moved over to Tinkler. He hasn't shown any signs of improvement. In fact, he has gotten an infection far worse then before. I sat down on the chair that is next to me.

I felt his head and he too has had a fever. His is far worse then Charlie's, that is certain. Jack walked in and looked over Charlie. He then came over to check on Tinkler. I looked up and he raised his hands in defense. I rolled my eyes at him lightly, turning my attention back to Tinkler. His breath began to get more rapid. "He's dying, isn't he?" I asked quietly.

Jack moved to stand somewhat behind me. I sent a quick glance to Charlie. "What can we do?" I asked him. "Hold his hand" Jack said. I looked up at him "-and see him into the next life." he added. There has to be something more. Jack shook his head, he must have seen my thoughts written on my face. I bit my lip and looked back to Tinkler.

Hearing Jack walk away, I took Tinkler's hand and leaned onto his bed. I sat there and held his hand for three hours before he passed. I bit past my tears and laid his hand on the bed. I pulled the white sheet over his head.

Silently, I made my way up to Jack's room. When I opened the door, I saw he was laying on his bed -- still fully dressed. He was playing with his coin that he almost always seems to have. The moment I walked in, he turned his attention to me. "He's gone" I whispered. Jack slowly moved to stand up. "He died, and there was nothing we could do" I said as tears began to fall. "You're a surgeon with so mush training and knowledge, but there was nothing we could do" I rambled.

A sob flew out. I brought my hand to my mouth as I could no longer keep the tears at bay. Jack wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I gripped onto his shirt as I continued to cry. Jack slowly and respectfully began to undress me. He started with my skirt. Then he pulled away from the hug so he could take my dress jacket off -- he placed it over his desk chair. He took off his shirt before taking mine off -- sliding his shirt right over my head. He stripped to be in just his undergarments before sliding my under trousers down. "Step out, darling" he whispered.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and did as he said. Had I of not used him as support, then I would have fallen -- my vision is too blurred with tears and I am far too weak to stand on my own. Once I was out Jack slowly stood, his hands running along my body as he did so. He grabbed onto my thighs and lifted me up. I buried my face into his shoulder as he took me to his bed.

Jack laid us down, covering us with his sheets. It took ten more minutes for me to calm down. He just laid there and ran his fingers though my hair. "Is it always hard? Losing patients I mean" I asked in a mumble. "We can talk about that tomorrow" he said softly. He wants to change the subject. With a sigh I rolled to face the wall. Jack moved his left arm up more to run under my neck and wrapped it around my shoulder. I scooted back into his chest. He placed his other hand on my hip, dragging me closer -- if that were even possible.

I repositioned my head while licking my lips. "Why does he call you Dodger?" I asked softly. "Kim-" he began but I cut him off. "You wanted to change the subject, Jack. I just... I want to hear you speak. So, why does he call you Dodger?" I said. Jack sighed, his breath fanning my ear. "I grew up in London, as you heard earlier Fagin... he took me in. He was a chump who was more or less on the street, so it wasn't the best -- but he made sure I was fed and clothed. More then my parents ever did. I was smaller then him, able to do things he couldn't, get into places he couldn't" he said softly. He slowly ran his hand up and down my side and occasionally going over my stomach.

"I was really good at it, the thieving. And I could always get out of trouble. I never failed... until the last time I saw Fagin in London." he said. I bit my lip lightly. "So... instead of getting hung... you were sent into the navy?" I asked quietly. I don't know how that worked out. He should have been hung for a lifetime of thieving, but he became a decorated war officer and surgeon instead. "I snagged something off of one of the guards one day. Went a whole day before anyone even noticed that I took it. The man who figured it out... he saw potential with my skill. He was leaving for the Navy the next week. He had sent that whole week working to get me out. Then, he took me with him and trained me in the navy to be a surgeon" he told me.

I hummed lightly as I turned my head to look at him. "It sounds like you have a lot of stories to tell" I teased. He let out a soft chuckle. "Something like that" he mumbled. He kissed my templed before readjusting. He let his hand slide to rest on my upper abdomen. I faced the wall once more. I bit my lip lightly. "Why where you expecting the money rolls to be fake?" I asked softly.

Jack began to trace shapes into my stomach slowly. "Back in London, we did this trick, when we needed money to get out of a situation but we had none. We'd make rolls to look the amount necessary. They'd be made of literally anything that could pass as money, then created a distraction to leave before they noticed" he told me. "You used to get into a lot of trouble, didn't you" I said teasingly. I rolled fully to face him, burying my face in his bare chest. "Get some sleep" he whispered in my ear. I nodded ever so slightly, closing my eyes.