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Jack was nervously sitting in a chair next to the bed where Willow carelessly slept. It's been a few hours since he brought her there and she hasn't woke up since then. He was thinking about everything that happened that day and the thought about what would've happened if Mike and Danny havn't reached him in time. He couldn't understand why did he storm out of the tavern so abruptly when Mike said that Blue Johnny was chasing after some girl that was dressed like a man, nor how did he knew where to go.
Willow stirred in the bed but didn't wake up.
Strange feeling of rage flew through him once a image of unconscious Willow in Johnny's hands replayed in front of his eyes. Jack thought that it would be impossible for him to stop unmercifully hitting him after toppling him to the ground. But the words that came out of Johnny's mouth were still ringing in Jack's ears like a confirmation of what he already suspected.
He stared at Willow's sleeping and carefree form for a little while, then, leaning on his elbow, he fell asleep in that wooden, uncomfortable chair.
******
Willow stirred again and stretching in warm, soft bed her eyes fluttered open. Feeling a bed underneath her she thought about weird dream she had. Sighing deeply she stared into the ceiling she frown seeing it blank.
The ceiling in my room was covered in stickers of stars and planets that glow in the dark, not blank.
Than it hit her like a brick in her face.
Willow's hands roamed all over her body on instinct and finding herself dressed in her own clothes eased her worries a little. Her relief was short-lived for the memories from the alley replayed in her mind like a bad, horror movie: Blue Johnny's hands all over her, knife and that cowardly way she lost her conscious that destroyed every possibility of saving herself.
She straightened up a little and leaning her head on the headboard her eyes scanned her surroundings. It was rather plain room, modestly furnished with a one bed, few chairs around it and small dresses in the corner. Dust sparkled all around her and skillfully knitted spider's web was the only decoration on empty, white walls. Willow's gaze stopped on one of the chairs on her right and faint shriek escaped her lips as she jumped up on her feet. Grabbing the first thing that was on her way she stared at the person in front of her.
-''Don't move! I know how to hurt you severely with this...candlestick,'' - she shouted in her best intimidating voice but once she saw five inch long candlestick in her hands she inwardly groaned.
There just couldn't be some sort of stick around, could it?
Jack needed few minutes to recover from sudden disruption of sleep but once she saw the image in front of him he had to stifle laughter that threatened to burst out.
-''I sincerely doubt it,'' - he said shortly, soft smile hovered on hips lips.
-'Don't tempt me,'' - Willow pushed, narrowing her eyes in warning. Jack finally raised his hands in mock surrender and then briefly explained what happened and how she ended up here. Willow was furious at herself for loosing her conscious for she was always the first to cuss at the girls that tend to faint over anything on TV. However, when she was in similar situation she did the same which triggered a sense of shame in her gut.
Willow stood motionless and stared at him, find his face familiar. He was an unusual guy - well, at least unusually looking guy for sight was only sense she was able to use at the moment. Her face and skin were pale like death and the whiteness of his shirt that was peaking from underneath black vest and tailcoat made it look like without a drop of blood. Unlike his face, his hair was black as coal and his full mouth red.
Everything on his face was pale, white and he looked like earthly angel of death. However, his eyes were the only thing that brought life to lifeless face - two large black onyx set underneath thick, round eyebrows were full of that recognizable flame or youth. Coldness and void found their place in those eyes - small, yet significant.
-''Wait, I know you,'' - Willow said, searching her brain for his name, -''Jack, right?''
He refrained from saying anything and nodded in response, allowing uncomfortable silence to reign over them. Jack couln't predict her next move and that irritated him for her was used to knowing what and when people would do, allowing him to achieve anything he wanted. That was crucial in his business. Willow, on the other hand, was the most unpredictable and unusual girl he ever met and even though small part of him was enchanted, he was mostly annoyed because of it.
Willow was still standing beside the bed that was separating them, replaying everything that happened - from her mysterious arrival in 19th century, through Johnny's attack to this moment where she stood in front of a stranger that saved her. She felt huge burden in the root of her nose and torrent of tear that was about to burst out. Rushing to his side him, she urged Jack towards the door.
-''Can you give me a minute?'' - she asked softly.
-''Of course,'' - she responded nodding and turning on his heel walked towards the door. Williow's eyes followed him wanting to reassure herself he would get out as soon as possible.
-''Jack?'' - her voice stopped him on the threshold of the open door and her turned his head towards her, raising his eyebrows. -''Did he...did he..,'' - Willow tried but couldn't utter those horrible words.
-''No, he was stopped before he managed to do anything,'' - understanding her question he responded spurring a wave of relief to spread through Willow.
-''Thank you,'' - she muttered and Jack nodded, despairing through the door.
As soon as the door closed she toppled to the ground next to them as tears of pain, relief and who-knows-what rushed from her eyes like water through broken dam. She finally gave vent to her soul that was so burdened Willow though she would become immune to pain and convert into bitter creature careless to everything.
Of course that was the last thing she wanted, but could she allow herself to cry in front of her sister that needed sun after the oceans of tears that were made by their parent? Could she allow herself to cry in front of disgusting Johnny that would only gloat over them? Could she allow herself to feel pain with her own hands?
In Willow's eyes, by her principles the answer on those questions was negative, but the time has come for her to burst out like balloon filled with water and she knew she couldn't stop until she ran out of tears.
But let it come, she deserved at least that much.
**************
-"I was right, you were named after Weeping Willow," - Jack announced his arrival with snide remark Willow choose to ignore. She didn't have strength to lead verbal battle of insults with him at the moment.
By the time Jack reentered the house Willow has calmed down and was curled up on the bed, her eyes puffy and red from all the shaded tears.
-"You know," - she said, her voice surprisingly strong, -"with every word you speak my gratitude lessens."
-"Good," - Jack said, sighing in relief, -"I wouldn't want you to confuse my actions with brave act of a knight in a shining armour. Saving a lady in distress is not really my style. Too much bother."
His words spurred pinch of fear in her heart, making her whole body on alert. But there was something about him that made her so angry that out-weighted that fear and reigned over her mind, piling it up with courage.
-''Then why did you bring me here exactly?'' - Willow questioned, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Jack took his tailcoat off and carelessly threw it over one of the chairs, his hand shooting up to loosen his necktie.
-''I did attempt to ask you for the directions but you were busy snoozing,'' - he shrugged his shoulder and went searching for some alcohol and gauze.
Willow was fuming by now, all fear disappeared, lost in her frustration towards Jack. He was so irritating that she reconsidered actually using the candlestick for more than threatening. She could think of a way or two to make it useful.
-''Thanks for your help,'' - she gritted through her teeth, her eyes fixated on his figure that was roaming through drawers of the dresser, -''but I thing I'll get going now.''
-''Nonsense,'' - he exclaimed shutting off the drawer with a thud, and with smile plastered on his face approached her. -''We were just getting acquainted.''
He sat on the bed beside her and Willow jumped back, pulling her body away from him on the bed using her hands and feet. She cursed at herself inwardly for her actions contradicted her decisions of staying calm and calculated but his sudden nearness frightened her. Jack sighed and shook his head like he was dealing with a child and that angered her more.
-''That should be cleaned,'' - he said in bored tone, pointing at the cut just below Willow's right eye and her hand shot up to touch it. Dull pain she felt couldn't grab her attention for she was too busy focusing of scarlet liquid on her fingers.
I'm bleeding! That means this whole ordeal is not just a sick dream!
Horror-strucked, she haven't noticed gauze in Jack's hand approaching her face until she felt stinging pain when alcohol made contact with her opened wound.
-''Ouch!'' - she shouted, wincing back. -''How 'bout a heads up!?''
Jack could barely stifle laugh that was peaking on his lips and his eyes sparkled in amusement which made Willow want to claw them out. He raised his hands in mock surrender, hos mouth still adorned a smile and motioned for her to get closer. Begrudgingly, she obliged but only because she didin't want her cut to get infected.
Not at all because he ordered it!
-''You don't have any right to keep me here,'' - she informed him defiantly. Her eyes were fixated on the floor as her poor try of showing rebellion.
Jack's eyes flickered to her eyes and he was amused to see small crinkle in between her eyebrows and her lips clamped into a tight line. He scolded himself to chase that feeling of relaxation and entertainment she seemed to encourage in him, for it was wrong. This unknown girl might have overheard their plans with Blue Johnny and he needed to know how much she knew.
-''Perhaps,'' - he nodded in agreement, -''but I'm sure nobody knows you are here, am I right?''
Her narrowed eyes flew to meet his and she wanted to punch smugness away from his face. His full lips were pulled into a pompous smile, as if daring her to contradict him.
-''Are you aware that if you push me too far I might end up being a psychopath and kill you in your sleep?'' - she dead-penned with cold look in her eyes. It was best acting she has ever demonstrated but Jack wouldn't buy it judging by the laugh that burst out of his mouth and reverberated from walls.
-''You are entertaining,'' - he managed to say in between laughs and that was all that Willow needed to get to action. In one swift moment she grabbed the candlestick that was lying on the bed beside her and hit him on his head.
That sure silenced him!
Jack stopped in mid laugh, his hand retreated from Willow's cheek as he stared at her in incredulity. Flame captured his eyes, one of anger that matched the one in Willow's. He could spot a pinch of surprise in hazel storm her eyes were, but he was too busy grasping what has just happened.
-''Did you just hit me with a candlestick?'' - words escaped him, bewilderment and shock guiding them. It was Willow's turn to be smug, and she nodded smirking.
-''Damn right I did!'' - she exclaimed self-satisfied and then narrowed her eyes in warning, -''there's more where that came from, buddy!''
Jack needed few minutes to recover himself, but when he did bottle and white cloth he was holding were discarded, than he grabbed Willow's hands and pushed her on the bed to hover over her. He was satisfied when he saw fear flash through her once furious eyes and the way she shivered under his arms.
-''You granted yourself too much freedom and forgot in what situation you are,'' - he gritted through his teeth glaring in her eyes. -''I wouldn't do that again if I was you.''
Willow couldn't move, let alone conjure any kind of dangerous remark to defend herself. Her vigorous heartbeat were pulsing in her ears as Jack hovered over her like vampire over its victim ready to - with just one bite - turn her into his own kind. She was out of her mind with fear, and cursed at herself for lowering her guard down, relying on his alluring, fake promise of safety. Being the one that saved her, Willow has foolishly thought that he wouldn't harm her but was proved wrong when anger from his eyes burned her skin like inferno of hell.
The amount of fear that was evident in Willow's eyes deflated Jack's anger a little. He has reacted on instinct and probably exaggerated her actions in his mind. There was something about that girl that he couldn't understood, couldn't define and that drove him crazy. He liked knowing everything, his profession forced him to that and Willow was a puzzle he needed to solve.
But the problem was, Jack wasn't so sure that that need arose only from his professionalism.
He glanced at her full, half opened mouth and a curtain fell on his eyes, his actions guided only by uncontrolled desire he couldn't understand. He was always able to control and channel his feelings, knowing when to suppress and when to kindle them but at that moment everything crumbled like bread.
He slowly embraced her lips with his own, enjoying sweet taste of her mouth and he felt her shudder under his touch. No more than a second later Willow started kicking and trashing under his body and sanity reigned over Jack's mind again making him pull out from her abruptly.
-''You idiot!'' - Willow shouted, her hand flying to wipe her mouth. -''Pull something like that again and you will regret it!'' She forced her words to come out as decisive and confident, praying that it would be enough to cover the bewilderment and panic she was feeling. One thing was for sure, she needed to get out of there asap!
-''You rest assure that would never happen again,'' - Jack announced, recovering himself from the aftermath of the kiss. He stood up and, picking up a bottle of alcohol that was lying on the floor, took a good sip of it. He walked towards the chair and without turning away added, -''Well, until you wish for the opposite.''
The tension between them was growing with every moment they spent together in that house. Night was slowly lowering its curtains and wrapped in them that small house set on a remote clearing where Jack and Willow shared uncomfortable silence. Although it was summer, the night was chilly, filled with fear, anger and spite. Jack was sitting in the chair and Willow, curled up on the bed, watched his every move. And even she wasn't sure anymore what to feel or how to react when next words left Jack's mouth,
-''For the time being, you must stay here.''
ns 15.158.61.20da2
