The Artful Dodger

1.03 Awake

I checked over the patients for a third time to keep myself busy. I couldn't keep my mind from worrying about Jack. Maybe even a little bit about Fagin and Flashbang. It almost makes me seem crazy to worry about those two given how little of time I have spent with them. But grave robbery, it is a very serious crime. If found guilty, the punishment is death by hanging. And with Captain Gaines and the level of disrespect shown to those who are in an eternal rest, you'd get hung two or three times -- just to be sure I guess.

Jack has told me about why he does this; although I'm curtain it was only part of why. He has shown to be good at this. Yet my worries only grow as time moves on. He is doing things that are more risky as the time passes. Fagin himself says that he can see Jack enjoys it. He can do what he pleases, I am not his keeper, but it worries me that he may get caught.

I took a deep breathe as I wiped Aputi's head. He seems to be doing good. He has no signs of shock or infection. I don't want to spray more on his head since he is missing part of his skull. I pray that it will work. Jack said that he trusts me and that it will; yet I do not share that same faith in myself. It doesn't burn them but it holds no promise to curing infection while it is diluted like this. Besides, he didn't believe in me when I started, when it was pure. The fact that it is now diluted, I'm not sure how he can be so faithful in me that I did this right. It is different then where it started at.

I began to walk out of the room, planning to head to Jack's room; however, I was stopped by a miracle. "Excuse me, nurse." I heard. I froze. That is a young boy's voice. Not just that, it is Charlie's voice. I quickly turned around and went to him.  "Can I get something to eat?" he asked, voice horse from being out the past couple of weeks.

I sighed in relief, a smile coming to my face. I quickly pulled the sheets off of his leg. The infection, it is gone. Completely gone. "Thank God. It worked!" I mumbled excitedly. And the fact that he has an appetite is even better. "Just a pie or something, Miss." he pleaded. I let out a soft laugh.

I placed my hand on his head. No fever. I moved his hair from his face. "It's "Milady"." I told him. His eyebrows furrowed but I didn't give him time to respond. He doesn't need to be worrying about formalities right now. "And, yes, I'm sure I can find you something." I whispered to him. I gave him a smile before leaving. I immediately went to the kitchen. If there is nothing already made, I will make him something... I am not sure how that will go, but I will try.

Thankfully there is bread on the table, and in the ice box is soup. I got a decent sized helping for the boy, grabbing a spoon and taking it to him. "Ok hunny, I got you some soup" I said softly. Charlie pushed himself to sit up. "Thank you m'lady" he said softly. I gave him a small nod as a smile made it's way to my face.

I moved to stand in the door way. I watched over the young boy closely. Movement beside me took my attention. It is Hetty, she moved to stand next to me. "He is awake, and hungry" I said softly. "That he is. He shows great signs of improvement in just the past few hours" she replied. Hetty looked at me and smiled. "You outdid yourself" she complemented. I laughed lightly. "It was much more Jack then me. If he hadn't encouraged me to do it... we would be having a very different conversation" I said softly. The woman shook her head lightly. "Never let a man take credit for what you have done. This will forever change the face of medicine" she said. I gave her a smile. She is right after all, this will forever change medicine. Yet no one will trust it if a woman's name is on it. I may have to write the papers and put Jacks name on it. That is the only way this bloody world would believe it.

With one last glance at the newly awake boy, I turned and made my way to Jack's room. It has been a good night thus far, yet part of me feels that it won't stay that way.

I made it to his room and untied my skirt. I need to get this retched dress off. More so the corset then the dress itself, but the details don't matter all that much. I let the skirt pool at my feet, instantly going to take off the dress jacket. I tossed it over Jack's chair and began to unclasp the corset. Relief filled me as I was no longer prisoner to the tight clothing. I took a moment to breathe. That bloody corset gets tighter as the days come. Mother keeps instructing for it to be tighter. Soon breathing will not be an option.

After a minute, I gathered my skirt and corset, placing them on the table. I moved to Jack's wardrobe. He is so unorganized things are a mess in here, it doesn't fully add up. And some of the items in here make no sense. I picked up a chalice from the shelf on the right hand side of the wardrobe. Why would he even have one of these in here? Whatever the reason didn't matter right now. I'll ask about it later, but for now I need one of his shirts.

Carefully I placed the chalice back down on the shelf. I pulled out one of his shirts, not caring to look to closely at it. If it's hanging up then it's clean, I know Jack enough to know that is a fact. I moved to his bed, placing his shirt down. Stripping myself bare, I placed all of my clothes neatly on his table.

A shiver made its way down my spine at how cold it is now. Quickly I pulled Jack's shirt over my head. The fabric ended a few inches above my knees. I never realized how much taller he is then me until now. He doesn't ever seem much taller, but I am always wearing heals or healed boots. But now, as the fabric drowns me, I can't help but be forced to realize how much taller he must be. A head almost -- I would think at least.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I crawled into his bed; pulling his sheets over me. I laid on my right side so I could lay comfortably and watch for the door. They should be back any minute now. Hopefully. And hopefully they will be unharmed and uncaught. I don't know how long I stared at the door, but soon enough, time slipped away from me and I succumbed to the darkness and fell asleep.