After a semi-short rest, Mark recovered from his exhaustion and climbed to his feet.  Pulling up his pants, Mark nudged Jack's bare foot with his sneaker carefully, asking curiously.  "Jack? Shouldn't we be getting back now"?  Jack didn't move, he just groaned sleepily.  Mark smirked to himself.  When he finished with his pants, he kneeled down to playfully boop Jack's nose.  Jack sleepily swatted his hand away, but didn't get up.  Mark brushed Jack's bangs off his face, telling him hopefully.  "They might have more pineapple pizza"?  Jack let out another soft groan, but didn't even appear to be even a little awake.  Mark had to admit that Jack looked adorable when he was tired.  He had a childlike innocence to him.  Mark gathered up Jack's shoes and told him a little louder.  "Come on, Jack. I can't carry you out of the treehouse. If you want, I can do it when you're on the ground"? 

Jack slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.  Mark bent down to help Jack slip on his shoes, when Jack asked him tentatively.  "Mark? Does your dick ache"?  Mark looked up at him a little worried, asking.  "Just a bit. Why"?  Jack's hand discreetly slipped between his legs to hold his cock like he was trying to protect it from something.  Mark reached out to touch his arm, drawing Jack's sleepy gaze up from the floor as he asked him.  "Jack? Are you in pain"?  Jack shrugged, mumbling back.  "It burns a bit".  Mark stood up to help Jack up, telling him simply.  "That might be my fault. Without lube, I could have jerked you raw. I'm sorry".  Jack pulled his pants up, nodding sleepily.  Mark picked up Jack's shirt feeling a bit uneasy.  Jack was still half-asleep... was it really safe for him to climb out of a treehouse?  The moment Jack was dressed, Mark lead him to the trap door.  Climbing down a little bit himself, he told Jack seriously.  "Be careful. Go down slow". 

Jack rolled his eyes, but Mark didn't trust him.  Jack's moments were stiff.  Mark stayed rather close to Jack as they climbed down.  Mark was even thankful he went first, when Jack slipped with only four planks left.  Falling back and into Mark's arms.  Jack giggled and snuggled into Mark's warm arms.  So, Mark just lifted him up into his arms and carried him out.  Was Jack really that tired?  It was a little possible that he was still jet-lagged.  Mark stepped out into Rosemary's backyard to see the young man from earlier.  He was still dressed like a slutty male cat and his voice was even a bit smug when he asked.  "Did you guys have fun"?  Mark simply nodded.  He didn't feel like telling this strange man anything more.  Was he related to Rosemary?  Mark walked around the house, heading for his car.  Mark wanted to lay Jack down in the backseat. 

He had just got Jack to lay down in the backseat, when Rosemary approached him.  She gave him a warm smile, telling him sweetly.  "Is Jack alright"?  Mark glanced at Jack, telling her.  "He's just tired. We... He's a bit of a light-weight and he's still jet-lagged. I hate to leave early... but I think I better get him home".  Rosemary nodded in understanding as she said.  "I see. I'm just glad you two could make it at all. I'm sorry I haven't had time to chat with you guys more. It's hard to host a party for so many people... Especially, when I have to do it all alone and monitor the drinking".  Mark shrugged, leaning against his car as he said.  "I can understand the struggle, but why monitor the drinks? Are you afraid of people driving home drunk"?  Rosemary shrugged herself, answering.  "Yes and no. I want to make sure that they aren't driving home drunk, sure. But also to make sure that those that donated only got one shot of the 'Double Trouble Brew' and that guys like you didn't get it". 

Mark raised an eyebrow, uncertain with how he should feel about that.  However, Rosemary quickly raised her hands to stop his thoughts as she stammered out.  "I'm sorry. Thank came out wrong. I just meant that the drink was meant for women and not men".  Mark stayed silent, feeling a little amused as Rosemary dejectedly added.  "That didn't come out right either... The drink is a potion that I designed to help women conceive. I honestly have no idea what the drink would do to a guy.  Which is why I made such a scene back there. I just wanted to be safe".  Mark gestured to the women chatting all around the house, asking nervously.  "Do they know that their drinking a potion you made"?  Rosemary glanced around, before nodding as she said.  "Well, ya. That is why they are here. They all agreed to try it. I even tell told them before they donated". 

Rosemary's eyes narrowed on him sharply, when she added in a bit sourly.  "You don't think very much of me, do you"?  Mark felt a bit guilty, telling her honestly.  "I'm sorry. I'm just new to all this".  Rosemary brushed lint off her long skirt, answering casually.  "Ya... I know you mean well. It's just a hard stereotype to brake from".  Mark stepped in to hug her, trying to lighten the moment as he said.  "I'll try harder not to judge. Thanks for inviting us though. I hope we'll see you again some time".  Rosemary hugged him back, then released him.  A bright smile forming on her face, when she told him.  "I hope so too".  Mark walked away to climb into his car, waving to Rosemary as he left.  He hoped to get back to the Pax hotel before dawn, but it would be a few hours.  The sun had just started to rise when they arrived back at the hotel. 

Despite the YouTube parties that were going on.  Mark didn't care about going to any of them.  He only had so much time to see Jack and then he'd be going home.  He didn't want to waste it.  Pulling Jack from his car, Mark hefted him into his arms and took him back to his room.  Even with the smell of fresh coffee flooding the hotel halls... Jack didn't stir.  Mark carefully laid him across his bed and placed the back of his hand to Jack's forehead.  He felt really warm.  Mark took a washcloth and soaked it in cold water.  Sitting down on the edge of the bed as he pressed it to Jack's forehead.  Jack groaned loudly, weakly trying to stop him.  Mark held it to his head, asking anxiously.  "Jack? Are you feeling alright"?  Jack let out a soft sigh, which made Mark want to playfully probe him for a better response.  "I'll bet it was that pineapple pizza. It's just not right". 

Normally, Jack would come to the defense of his favorite pizza... but not this time.  Jack simply reached out to touch Mark's leg, groaning softly in discomfort.  Mark placed two fingers to Jack's throat to time his heart rate.  Jack's heart was beating a bit too fast to be normal.  Mark started to stroke Jack's arm, telling him comfortingly.  "Jack, you got to talk to me. How do you feel? What's wrong"?  Jack laid a hand over his stomach, grumbling out weakly.  "I don't know.  I feel sick. I'm light-headed... While my stomach is threatening to-".  Jack stopped mid-sentence.  Quickly rolling away from Mark and straight off the bed to hurl into the small trash can beside the bed.  Mark moved around the bed to kneel behind him, stating curiously.  "Sounds like food poisoning. You just need to rest this off. I'll get you some hot liquids and we'll see if that will help it pass". 

Jack slowly rose to his feet with a short nod.  Mark kept a hand on his back, watching him closely.  He was sure that this was just food poisoning.  It would pass eventually.  Jack slipped back into bed under the covers, curling into a tight ball.  While Mark rubbed his side comfortingly.  He'd watch Jack closely tonight.  Just to see if his systems changed.  He hated seeing Jack in pain.  It tore at his heart to feel so helpless, when Jack was hurting.  To Be Continued...