"To Depths Unknown"-19&20

by Leslie

"To Depths Unknown"

Chapter 19

Jax did need her. He woke up in severe pain, shivering with chills from his fever. His mouth was parched. He looked on the bedside table and found a glass of water Kendall had left for him. He reached for it and accidently knocked it to the floor.

The noise woke Kendall up, and she bolted from the couch into her bedroom to see Jax, half leaning out of the bed, trying to reach the glass.

When he saw her, he apologized for waking her up.

"It's okay. I wasn't asleep." She couldn't relax at all. She was so afraid she wouldn't know what to do if Jax's situation got any more serious. "Don't worry about the glass, it didn't break. Lay back." She could look at him and see he had gotten worse. His face was covered. His skin felt like fire. "Let me get you some water," she offered.

Jax just laid there, unable to even pull the covers back over him. Kendall quickly returned, and held the glass to his lips. She covered him back up. She was able to coax him into taking some more Tylenol to fight his fever.

He was still shivering. Kendall got him an extra blanket. He seemed so out of it.

She watched his face. She knew he was in pain, even though he couldn't tell her. He had fallen back asleep as abruptly as he had awaken. What can I do? she wondered. She decided that the best thing to do would be to ease as much of his discomfort as she could.

She got the calamine lotion out, put a little in the palm of her hand, and proceeded to dab just a tad on the spots covering his face. She stroked his cheek, which had a day's growth of stubble on it, giving her fingers a prickly sensation. She traced his jawline with her finger. It seemed to naturally come to rest in the indentation of his cleft.

So gorgeous. So helpless. There's nothing more I can do.

She really didn't want to leave him in there alone, so she curled up in a chair in the corner by the bed, and did her best to fall asleep. As tired as she was, it wasn't that difficult.

Several hours passed without incident. Jax went from feeling like a block of ice was in the bed next to him, to sweating profusely. He'd kicked all his covers off in his sleep in an attempt to cool off. He couldn't get any relief. The only thing left to take off was a loose fitting pair of gray Calvin Klein boxers. He sat up to take them off, and that's when he noticed Kendall - her bare legs draped over the arm of the chair, her head leaned against the back of the chair with her brown hair masking her face. Her arms were holding a throw pillow, which was clutched tightly to her breast. She had on a pale blue oversized T-shirt that had moons and stars all over it. As Jax looked at her, he thought, She looks like such a little girl.

He swung his legs off the edge of the bed to get up, a task more difficult than he expected. His joints felt stiff and his legs didn't seem to be receiving the commands his brain was sending out. He stood up, and immediately toppled over, catching himself on the arm of the chair where Kendall was curled up asleep.

Kendall started to scream but Jax quickly put his hand over her mouth, saying, "It's OK. It's me! It's me!!"

"What are you doing?? You scared me!!!"

Jax, although in excrutiating pain, couldn't help but laugh at himself. "I'm sorry! I really am! I didn't mean to startle you. I woke up and saw you sleeping there in the chair."

He stopped laughing, and his face took on a more no-nonsense appearance, "You stayed with me."

His statement was simple. Factual. But it conveyed a gratefulness that was also apparent in Jax's eyes. "That was very thoughtful of you. I know you couldn't have been very comfortable."

"I was fine. You were in pretty bad shape, and I was afraid to leave you alone."

For a moment, Jax gazed at Kendall, who didn't turn away for once. "You're a very caring woman, Kendall Madisson, and I'm not sure how I would've managed this . . . this . . . predictament so far without you. Thank you for staying with me."

Their eyes never parted each other as Kendall replied very softly, her heart feeling like it was breaking free of the confines of her chest, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

*******************

"To Depths Unknown"

Chapter 20

The moment got too heavy for Kendall, as always, so "Queen of Distraction" changed courses. "Besides, if it weren't for me and my daugher, you wouldn't be in this shape in the first place.

Jax tilted his head to one side. "Why do you always do that?"

Distraction Technique #1: BOMBED!

"Do what?"

"Change the subject when the conversation starts to make you squirm?"

I've been found out!! "Jax, you're reading more into that than you should! I'm just easily distracted, that's all. You really should get back to bed. Just because you're fever's broken doesn''t mean you are well. You need your rest."

Jax succumbed to her suggestions, but only because he felt rotten. "We're not through talking about this, you know!"

Distraction Technique #2: Sidewinder! Retreat!

"Night, Jax. Get some sleep."

Kendall slept lightly on the couch, hearing every noise in the penthouse. It was as if she were subconsciously listening for Jax, just like she did when Jensen was sick.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

The morning came sooner than she would've liked.

Kendall's days were a ritual of juicing, feeding, clothing and playing with Jensen. Jax seemed able to sleep through most of Jensen's noisy games. Kendall had checked on him several times, and he appeared to be resting comfortably. That'll do him good, she thought.

It did do Jax good. By the middle of the day, he could sit up and do a little work. And by the end of the day, he was able to get up and about, and even eat a little. Kendall had kept his fever down with Tylenol, and had kept him coated with calamine -- a job she didn't mind in the least!

Jensen and Jax had kept her hopping throughout the day getting water and juice, medicine, magazines, newspapers, toys, and on and on and on. She had been a go-between for Jax and V, and held countless other odd jobs during the day -- too many to name!

Kendall was a woman on the verge of exhaustion. If I can just hang on for a few more days!

After getting Jensen down for bed, and making sure Jax was taken care of for the moment, she retreated to the sofa in the living room for a few stolen moments of R & R! She turned on the radio and flipped the dial until she found something that would help her unwind. It was LeeAnn Rimes, one of her favorites. Her words sent Kendall's imagination soaring . . . . .

Standing on the border

Looking out into the great unknown

I can feel my heart beating faster

As I step out on my own

There's a new horizon

And the promise of a favorable wind

I'm heading out tonight

Travelling light

I'm gonna start all over again

And buy a one way ticket on a west bound train

See how far I can go (because I can)

I'm gonna go out dancing in the pouring rain

And talk to someone I don't know (because I can)

I will face the world around me

Knowing that I'm strong enough to let you go

And I will fall in love again

Because I can

Gonna climb the mountain

And look the eagle in the eye

I won't let fear clip my wings and tell me how high I can fly

How could I have ever believed

That love had to be so blind

When freedom was waiting down at the station

All I had to do was make up my mind

Well, I have walked through the fire,

And crawled my knees

Through the valley of the shadow of doubt

Then the truth came shining like a light on me

And now I can see my way out

I'm gonna buy a one way ticket on a west bound train

See how far I can go (because I can)

I'm gonna go out dancing in the pouring rain

And talked to someone I don't know

Gonna buy a one way ticket on a west bound train

Gonna have my breakfast with pink champagne

I'm gonna sail the ocean

Gonna spread my wings

I'm gonna climb that mountain

Gonna do everything*

Her body began to slowly relax, at long last letting go of the day's details. She drew in a deep breath, held it -- then released it s l o w l y. Worked during childbirth! she remembered.

She recalled her favorite memory -- lying on a float in the ocean, just off the coast of St. John. It was the most carefree she'd ever felt in her life . . . . mmmm, the warm sun . . . the gentle rocking of the ocean . . . .

"Kendall," Jax's voice broke her train of thought.

I didn't hear that! she told herself.

A few seconds later, "Kendall?", a little louder this time.

Ignore it and it will go away!! she tried to convince herself. She was sooooo tired. She just didn't have the energy to do one more thing.

"Kendall? Where are you?" Jax had been spoiled, as Kendall normally came on his first request.

Kendall made it to the doorway and stood there, looking into her bedroom, which had become "Jax Central". His work covered her bed and his clothes were strewn all over her floor. "You beckoned?" she said flatly.

Jax looked surprised at her unexcited demeanor. "What's the matter with you?"

Again, Kendall saw him as an overgrown little boy rather than the powerful man she'd met in the lobby of the Port Charles Hotel. Her countenance softened and she apologized, "I'm sorry. I'm just feeling the effects of the last few days."

She casually walked around to the other side of the bed, and plopped down, heaving a big sigh of release.

Jax was amused. "So, Nurse Ratchett has had enough, huh? You've worked hard. As I recall, you didn't sit down all day."

"You're right! "You called, and recalled and recalled!" she teased.

"I haven't been that bad, have I?"

"Naaah! Just -- 'Kendall, can I have some water?' 'Kendall, can I have some more water??' 'Kendall, would you mind bringing me my mail -- my Wall Street Journal -- my messages -- my laptop??' Not to mention Jensen wanting to play the never-ending game of hide and seek! I think I let her sit in her closet for an hour before I started looking for her while I was waiting on you hand and foot!"

"Are you quite through?"

"Are you?" she shot Jax a look of unadulterated frustration. He looked hurt. "I'm sorry, Jax. Forgive me. I'm just tired. It will pass."

"Kendall -- I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't realize . . . . "

"Just ignore me! I'm ranting. I'll be OK. You and Jensen need someone to take care of you."

Jax started to talk again, but Kendall wouldn't let him. "Nope! Not another word!" she said, putting her hand up.

Jax knew better than to ignore her wishes. He leaned over and took a tissue off the nightstand and began moving it back and forth in the air.

Kendall was confused. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"I'm waving the proverbial white flag." Jax smiled at his own wit.

"So, I guess that means you surrender?"

"If I have to to keep the peace," he played along.

"Does that make you my prisoner?" she raised her eyebrows mischievously.

Jax was enjoying this game, and he exaggeratedly stretched out his arms and laid his head back and exclaimed, "Do with me as you will!"

Kendall laughed out loud, "My first thought would be to hose you down! You have two days' worth of calamine built up on you!"

Jax looked himself over. "I guess I am a little ripe!"

"Like a bad tomato!" Kendall snapped.

"I'm going to take a shower and then we can get back to that 'Do with me as you will' thing!" Jax was a hopeless flirt -- and she loved it!!

"Oh, that's easy. I'll just withhold the calamine and watch you itch yourself into a frenzy!"

"Ooooo, that's just cruel!" he said as he closed the bathroom door behind him.

^^^^^^^^^^

By the time he emerged, Kendall had crashed. She hadn't moved an inch since he left.

He was wrapped in a towel and he was still dripping wet.

He walked over and stood beside the bed. His eyes roved over her. He loved how her eyelashes fanned down against her face and how her lips were slightly parted, just as they had been that night he'd found her asleep on the couch with Jensen, and the graceful curve of her neck that only showed when she wore her hair up. It was too inviting! It was too exciting!! He had to provide his own distraction this time.

He leaned over her -- slowly -- quietly -- so as not to wake her. And then, when he had positioned his head directly above hers -- he shook his head with all his might -- dousing her with sprinkles from his shower.

Kendall brought her arms up to shield herself from this sudden onset of dampness, while at the same time attempting to spring to her feet.

Jax pinned her back down and continued to shake the water out of his hair.

"Stop! Ok -- ok -- stop! Enough already!"

"Now who's surrendering?" Jax teased, stading back up and appearing to be quite proud of himself for "getting" Kendall.

Kendall wiped the spray off her face and gave Jax a look that fully displayed her intention. She looked from his eyes, down to his towel, and back to his eyes as a familiar grin begain to spread across her face.

"You wouldn't!" he said.

"Wanna bet? . . . . . . "

******************

* "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)" by LeeAnn Rimes