The Artful Dodger

1.03 He Cares

I sighed as I left the morgue. I walked through the building and went to the recovery ward. If Jack is going to be an arse, then so be it, but that won't stop me for caring for the patients that have grown dear to my heart. Especially little boy Charlie. Charlie looks worse. He shouldn't be dying like this. I pulled a chair to sit next to him. I grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. Carefully I placed my free hand on his forehead, checking his temp. Still through the rough. "Ma'am" Hetty said with a small nod. I looked at her only to see Jack behind her, a few patients away. He seemed to be minding his own business.

I gave her a light smile. "Can I ask you something?" I asked. "Of course, ma'am" she said as she brought a cloth to Charlies head. "How well do you know Jack?" I asked her quietly. Her movements staggered. She looked at me with a some what distant look. "I know him pretty well" she said. She sounds like she it trying to avoid something. With the way she looks at him on occasion, I wouldn't be shocked if she knew him personally. In a physical way even. And her reaction to the question, staggering in step like that, I can only assume I am right.

I licked my lips as I moved some hair out Charlie's face. "Does he... does he normally have complete change of character?" I asked. "What do you mean by that, ma'am" she asked me. "He was so sweet one moment, then the next he's being an arse. I just don't get it" I mumbled. "I see..." she began. I watched as she glanced at him quickly before turning back to me. It was almost as if she was checking to make sure he wasn't listening to us. "Between the two of us, he cares more for you then he has anyone else in a long time. He never shows anyone as much care as he shows you. And he never is around women like he is around you" she said softly. I just took a deep breath. "H-how do you know? I mean did you two-" I began but cut myself off.

I shook my head. "Sorry, that was rude, don't" I mumbled. "It's fine, ma'am" she said softly. She continued to wipe Charlie's head. "I have known Jack for a long time. Trust me when I tell you, he doesn't know how to show it most of the time, but he cares for you. You're the first person I have ever seen him care for like this" she said. I bit my lip lightly. I was right, she does care about him a lot. I just can't tell if it is as a friend or as someone she is in love with. "I must head home. Things to do and not enough time to do it" I told her. I leaned forward and kissed Charlie's head. Not any better, still burning hot. It feels even hotter against the skin of my lips then the skin of my hand. I'm scared that he won't make it.

I glanced at Jack while I stood -- he was already looking at me. I just shook my head lightly. Why are men so confusing? Or is it just Doctor Jack Dawkins that is? No, it is definitely all men. I left the hospital and went home. I have to figure out how to save Charlie, Jack won't do anything until I figure this out. I refuse to watch that little boy suffer and die.

The moment I got home, I got out of the carriage -- I hadn't even waited for someone to open the door. The maids were all standing outside, waiting. I don't know how they knew I was headed home, but I will not complain. "I require an assortment of meets in the kitchen -- raw. And Charlotte, can you grab my Lancet? It in on my desk in my room" I said. The group of maids gave a light curtsy.

I went inside and went to the kitchen. I gathered everything I needed as one of the maids brought in the meet. "Do you need anything else, m'lady?" she asked. "Just solitude" I told her. I watched as she nodded and left.

I spent three hours experimenting with the carbolic acid. I have been diluting it and diluting it, yet I haven't made anything work yet. I added more water, praying to god that it works. I picked up the container once more. With the intake of a breath I pored some onto the stake in front of me. "It's too strong. It's still too strong. " I sighed.

I placed the container back onto the counter and began to write my notes. I heard voices approaching the kitchen. Fanny, Belle and Smales voices sticking out. Fun. "Where is the coconut ice?" Fanny asked. She sounded like she was shocked by my experiment. I turned and looked at the group. Belle broke away from the group and stood on the opisite side of the counter from me.

I looked at my older sister as she started to make a face. I glance at the counter before looking to my baby sister. "I think it's under the pig." I told her as I pointed to the assortment of meets that covered the counter. Fanny huffed as she turned to walk away. "Could I borrow one of your arms?" I called after them, but they all just left. That puts a sting in my plans.

I guess I have to stick to the meets. The meets won't tell me if it hurts, but it will tell me if it is burning the 'skin'. The skin in this sense is the raw meet, it turns a deeper shade of it's respective colors when the acid burns it. I turned to see Belle rolling up her sleeve. "No. No, no. I'm not going to use your arm" I said, shaking my head. "You said you need an arm, so here" she said, holding it out to me.

With a sigh, I shook my head. "I will not" I defended. "Kimberley, use my arm" she snapped. "I will not! You are with child" I snapped back. I grabbed her arm and pulled her sleeve back down. Her eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Trying to save a boy's life" I told her.

She looked over the meets on the counter. Chicken, duck, pig and cow laid across the counter -- most having some amount of carbolic acid on it. "So that is the horrible smell" she mumbled. I let out a light laugh. "I think it is more so the raw meet then the carbolic acid. You are pregnant after all" I teased her.