Endearment

Chapter Seventeen

"Katherine Pulitzer, I-"

His sentence was cut short by a loud knock on the door. The hand Jack had in Katherine's hair loosened and his eyes dropped from hers, the moment completely ruined. Katherine quickly put her own hands back to her sides pulling down her skirt as Jack took a step away from her.

"Jack? It's Medda, can I come in?" Meddas happy voice called through the wooden door. Katherine looked down at herself again and fixed her dress and proceeded to pull her hair over the sore spot on her neck Jack had given her only moments ago. She desperately didn't want to look like she just had sex, and Jack must have been in the same boat because he checked himself in the mirror before opening the door to Medda who looked more worn than Katherine had seen her.

She had heavy bags under her eyes and her hands shook slightly as she greeted Jack, she was still as happy as ever and Katherine wondered how on earth she stayed so positive.

As Jack closed the door behind her Katherine noticed his stance in front of her was not his usually welcoming smile, Katherine would almost touch the Cold Shoulder he was giving Medda.

So that must of been why he was upset...

"I came to talk to you." Medda said folding her hands across her sparkly blue dress.

"I'm listening." Jack said stiffly.

Meddas eyes shifted around to find Katherine still waiting patently.

"I was hoping we could speak alone."

Katherine got the hint and stood up from the bed but before she could even make a move toward the door Jack put his hand up and she froze.

"No, she stays." Jack said firmly and Katherine could hear a change in his voice, almost like he was trying to speak with more authority to prove something.

Katherine obeyed her husband and sat back down on the edge of the bed grateful that she could at least get to hear what was going on. Her head was spinning a bit from their recent activities but she felt better than she had all week which was a good thing.

"Okay." Medda said taking in a deep breath. "I am sorry."

Jack put his hands on his pockets and shook his head.

"I should of never said thoes things to you son, I'm sorry." Medda assured putting a weak hand on his shoulder.

"I just don't understand, why can't I run my own country? That is the reason I became king, isn't it?" Jack asked his once relaxed jaw tensing up tighter than a wire. All the things she'd given him only minutes before was thrown down the trash by the presence of Medda.

"Yes." Medda assured. "I just don't know if your ready yet. Your only 18, and I still have a few months left on this earth, why give you the burden so soon?" She asked and Katherine felt her heart break for her.

The cancer must of been getting worse.

Jack gritted his teeth. "Please don't remind me." He all but pleaded and it made Katherine want to hug him until he felt better. Now she could see why he had needed her so bad... she must of been the only one who could take his sorrows and worries away.

She wasn't sure why but the thought made her feel proud.

"I'm sorry." Medda said again her bubbly smile vacant from her features.

Jack's only response was a solemn nod, he looked to distressed and angry to manage anything else.

Medda relized that must of been her cue to leave, she turned to Katherine and gave her a slight bow before leaving the chambers. The door clicked closed and Katherine turned her body to Jack who had scrambled around to find another piece of paper and a pencil. He looked more distressed then when she'd found him here earlier and didn't know what to do.

"Jack..." Katherine said tentatively getting up off the bed to come around behind him.

"Yea?" He asked his voice shaking ever so slightly.

"Is there anything I can do to help? I can lay back down on the bed again and open-"

"No Kath," Jack said setting his pencil down. "I shouldn't of made you do that." He said turning to face her. His blue eyes seemed to spark with electricity as he looked at her. Was he really apologizing?

"It's okay, I understand." She said dropping her head a bit so the power of his eyes wouldn't kill her.

"Katherine." Jack said softly his voice making her look up.

"Yea?"

He looked like he was going to say something but changed his mind half way. "Never mind... it dosent matter. Your free to go."

Katherine frowned but turned away from him deciding it would be best not to question him. She still needed to tell him she was pregnant though...

But that could wait. What's the rush anyway?