4. Chapter 4 (1/1)

jack stubbornly refused to let anyone but himself carry sue into the hospital. he held her in the waiting room, rubbing her back and ignoring everyone else, even levi, who had his head on jack's knee. before too long he could carry her into an examination room where they waited for the doctor. when the kindly man arrived and asked what had happened, they all began to talk at once.

"one at a time, please," he said calmly, his eyes settling on the man standing beside his patient.

"she fainted a while ago, maybe an hour, and she was out for a minute or two. she been lethargic ever since," jack explained, running his hand through his hair. "i thought she just stood up to fast, but..."

"it's not like sue to faint," lucy finished for him. "and she's been sick and tired for a few weeks now."

"i see." the doctor looked at his pale patient with concern. "if there is nothing else i need to know, i must ask you to return to the waiting room while i examine her."

"she deaf," jack answered promptly. "she can read lips. that is to say, usually she can, but i'm not sure how well she'll be able to right now."

for a moment the doctor thought that the dark-haired man was going to add something else, but he only glanced at the other people in the room. nodding in understanding, he motioned for the group to leave. lucy had a hard time getting levi to leave sue's side, but jack was the last one out, taking his time to assure the groggy patient, both spoken and in sign, that he would be back. sue gave him a small smile, closing her eyes as soon as he was out of sight.

the team reluctantly returned to the waiting room, where jack proceeded to pace back and forth with levi always one step behind him. they all told him to sit down and rest, but he wouldn't listen. finally lucy could no longer contain her own anxiety and planted herself if front of the stubborn man.

"jack, what's going on?"

"it's been an hour!" he evaded her question. "what is taking so long?"

lucy shrugged warily and sank back down in her seat. so much for getting answers, she thought, as man and dog continued to pace.