"To Depths Unknown"-8

by Leslie

"To Depths Unknown"

Chapter 8

"Oh no. Oh no. Jax . . . . oh, I'm so sorry!"

Jax turned his back to the mirror and looked over his shoulder. He was shocked to see how much of his back was covered with red splotches.

"This can't be happening! Mum said I had them already! Lady Jane is never wrong about things like that!"

"I think you'd better call her. I'm positive that's chicken pox."

Jax walked over to the phone, his shirt still dangling around his waist.

Kendall decided to give him some privacy. She went to check on Jensen, who was just waking up from a nap. She's been such a trooper.

Kendall went to change her diaper and noticed some of the earliest blisters were beginning to scab over. It looked awful, but Kendall knew it was the beginning of the end!

She heard Jax slam the phone down, and within seconds, he was in the doorway of her bedroom.

"So, what did she say?" Kendall asked timidly.

"She said I had a mild case when I was four. I caught it from Jerry. Figures! She did mention that the doctor had warned her that it may have been too mild a case to build up my immunity to it."

"Shouldn't she have told you that when you called a few days ago?"

"One would think! She said I had been exposed several other times as a child and never picked it up - so she figured I wasn't susceptible anymore."

"I guess she was wrong." Kendall regretted saying it the minute it came out of her mouth.

Jax's jaw was set and he looked so angry. "That's an understatement!"

"Jax, I'm so sorry. I would've never exposed you to Jensen if I'd known."

"I know that. This whole thing is my fault. I insisted on staying and helping you. You're not responsible." His words gave her some relief. "So, what do I do now?"

"You need to get to a doctor."

"Why? We already know what it is."

"Don't be stubborn! Just go! I've heard chicken pox are rougher on adults than children. You need to see a doctor."

Jax sighed and shook his head. "I can't believe this . . . allright, I'm heading toward's GH. I'll stop back by when I get home."

"Ok. Jax . . . . I really am sorry."

"It's not your fault. You don't have to apologize."

"Ok." she said as she watched Jax walk out the door.

..............

It was past 5:00pm before Jax returned. He looked less than happy. Kendall listened as Jax shared his prognosis. "The doctor says I'm in for it! My muscles are going to ache. My joints are going to be stiff. I'll have those unsightly blisters and scabs just like Jensen. No appetite. High fever. And - - - I'm under quarentine until all those blisters scab over! Sounds fun, eh?"

Kendall could hear the frustration and sarcasm in his voice. She was going to apologize again, but before she could, Jax spoke up, "Don't even say you're sorry! I'm just blowing off steam. But I don't mean to take it out on you."

"That's ok," Kendall said smiling. "As I recall I vented on you once before."

Jax smiled too. "I knew that fire wasn't directly solely at me!"

At that moment something caught Jax's eye. It was Jensen, playing quietly in the floor. He walked over and sat down beside her. "Well, Jensen, I guess we're in this together, huh?"

Jensen looked up at him. She's got her mother's big blue eyes, he thought. Jax looked at Kendall and asked, "What now?"

"That depends on how you feel."

"Let's see . . . I have a headache, probably from stress, and I'm beginning to feel a little achy, but other than that I feel fine."

"Well, then, I'd say off to bed!"

"Excuse me?" Jax teased. "Mine or yours?" He tossed her a playful glance and a dimpled grin that were irresistable!

"You're something else! YOURS, of course! You need to take some Tylenol and go to bed."

"But what if I need something?"

Kendall laughed and shook her head," What is it you think you're going to need?"

Jax really enjoyed toying with her. "Oh, I might need some water, an extra blanket, someone to fluff up my pillows, who knows?"

"Men are such babies when they're sick!! I can't leave Jensen to take care of you," she told him.

Jax could think of a solution, but he didn't want to voice it. I'm not sure she'd go for that, he thought to himself.

Kendall thought for a minute, and then, as if reading Jax's mind, said, "What if we unlock the door between the penthouses? That way you could just call me if you needed me. How's that?"

"Sounds like a plan." Jax smiled. He sensed that she was beginning to feel comfortable with him, and maybe even enjoy his company a little. He found himself thinking how glad he was that the circumstances had caused their paths to cross.

Kendall retrieved Jax's key from a drawer in the kitchen. Without hesitation, she place it in the palm of his outstretched hand, her fingers brushing his lightly, and said, "I really do want to help you if I can. I feel partly responsible for your being in this predictament."

"You should! . . . . I'm kidding. Thank you for your willingness to help. Hopefully it won't be that big of a deal and will pass quickly! Surely I can handle a little case of the chicken pox. It is a children's disease after all!"

Kendall didn't want to burst his bubble, but this was not something that was going to pass quickly. In fact, she knew that Jax was in for more than he anticipated!

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