The next morning, Jack groaned as his alarm went off. He was warm and comfortable in his bed. He didn't want to get up. More than that though, his head was killing him. Reaching out from under his blanket, he slammed his hand down on the alarm and let his arm fall limply to the bedside table. After a few coughs, he closed his eyes just to rest them for a few more seconds. Only to have Mark bang on his door and call out. "Jack? Did you forget that lessons start today? Or did you die?" Forcing his eyes open, he glanced at the clock. He now had less than a minute to get ready. Rushing up off the bed, he started toward his closet, until a wave of dizziness made him stagger up against the closet door. Within seconds, his stomach lurched, and he bolted from the room. Clipping Mark's shoulder as he fled from the room and into the bathroom. He barely made it to the toilet before last night's dinner came back. Shifting away from the toilet, Jack pressed his head to the side of the tub and coughed.

Groaning to himself, he whined out quietly. "Oh no... Not now..." From the open bathroom door, Mark tsked his tongue and lightly teased out. "Should have been wearing something warmer than a nice suit. You caught yourself a cold... and right at the start of school. Lucky." Lifting his head weakly off the tub, Jack glared back at him as he weakly snapped out. "Go away. I feel bad enough as it is..." Chuckling, Mark stepped closer, causing Jack to rest his head back on the tub as he grumbled out. "Please, go away... I'm not in the mood." Reaching his side, Jack didn't even have the energy to react when Mark placed a hand to his forehead. All he could do was listen as Mark uttered out quietly. "Ya... You're burning up." Lazily, Jack responded snarkily. "Obviously... I'm dying." Snorting, Mark told him. "No. You don't heat up before you die. Besides, a guy like you can't die without a doctors note to excuse yourself from the living." Jack couldn't help chuckling at that. In a strange way, it made him feel better. Or maybe he was just too tired and loopy to care.

Mark left the room for a minute, before coming back and telling him comfortingly. "Come on. Let's get you in bed. Sitting here isn't going to help you." Jack protested being pulled away from the cold side of the tub, but Mark seemed superhuman in his sickly state. Pulling him up to his feet, Mark walked him out into the living room and laid him out across what was their couch. He had no idea that the couch folded out into a bed. Shortly after laying across it, Jack jerked his head up and told him. "Hey! I have a bedroom!" Draping a warm blanket over him, Mark stated bluntly. "Ya. A room I can't get into to check on you. Just stay here." Jack hugged the icepack that rested on pillow, mumbling out. "Like you care what happens to me... Or are you trying to keep me alive for the sake of your score?" Jack felt him lean over him to whisper into his ear playfully. "The thought did cross my mind. After all, I'd get a reputation as the guy who killed his roommate on the first day of school. Wouldn't be very promising for my later pairings."

Jack smirked to himself but mumbled sleepily. "Asshole." Mark patted his back, chuckling out. "Just try and get some rest. I'm gonna talk with Mrs. Georgia Wilson." Jack could only hum because he was barely listening now. His mind was drifting away by the second now that he was comfortable and warm again. On occasion, he could hear Mark on the phone, but he caught nothing of the conversation. His brain was just a foggy cloud with the simple desire to sleep. He hadn't even realized that Mark had left and came back, until he heard bags rustling in the kitchen. Even then, he couldn't bring himself to lift his head or move. He could only whine when Mark's hand touched his forehead again. His hand pulled away and after a minute or two, Mark was pushing his bangs away and applying something to his forehead that felt cold and amazing. When he heard Mark walk away, Jack reached up to touch his forehead. Mark had gotten him a cold compress. The cold gel felt so nice, and he liked that it was sticky enough to stay in place. Unlike the icepack that wasn't cold anymore and never stayed where he needed it on his head.

For a little while he listened to Mark working in the kitchen, before he suddenly came over and asked him hopefully. "Jack? Put this under your tongue for me." Forcing his eyes open, Jack looked at the thermometer before asking curiously. "Why do you need that?" Rolling his eyes, Mark told him casually. "The school wants to know. If you are over a certain number, they'll have to bring in the school doctor. Now. In your mouth, or up your ass? Your choice." Taking the thermometer, Jack put it under his tongue as he groggily muffled out. "Fuck off." Chuckling, Mark told him sweetly. "Glad to see you are feeling well enough to curse at me." Mark waited by his side until the thermometer beeped. Taking it out, Mark looked it over and got up to tell Cortana the number. Jack didn't much care, until his stomach started to growl. Whatever Mark was cooking smelled good. Forcing himself to sit up, Jack bundled himself up in the warm blanket and asked a little eagerly. "What are you making?"

Mark didn't answer. He was busy putting something together in the kitchen. Walking over with a tray a few minutes later, Mark set the tray on the coffee table and informed him. "Here. See if you can keep this down." Jack raised an eyebrow as he looked over the food. Mark had made bread into a bowl and inside it was a thick yellow liquid with green spots. It smelled amazing, but he couldn't help giving Mark a suspicious look. Rolling his eyes, Mark stuck a spoon into it, telling him a bit anxiously. It's broccoli soup. Has cheddar, leeks, some cream, a bit of dill, and the broth is good for your fever." Taking the time to pour him something hot to drink, Mark informed him just a little teasingly. "And to top it off. hot lemonade for your cough. And... you can even eat the bread bowl." Jack shook his head, asking curiously. "Why are you doing this?" Getting to his feet, Mark's teasing nature faded to one of serious sincerity, when he answered. "I just don't like seeing people sick. It... it bothers me. You should be grateful. I would have loved this as a kid."

Feeling like he stepped on a nerve, he told Mark honestly. "I am grateful. But... you don't have to go through all this trouble. And if it bothers you. You don't have to be around me." Mark didn't look at him or answer. He seemed to get lost in his work in the kitchen. Jack watched him bustle around for a bit. It was pretty clear now that Mark was bothered by his condition. The guy couldn't seem to stop moving around. He cleaned. He organized things. He kept checking on him and asking if he needed anything. It was odd behavior from what he was used to. By the time he finished the broccoli soup and was nibbling on the bowl, he was growing concerned. Mark began refilling his hot lemonade for the fourth time and Jack couldn't stop himself from asking curiously. "You took care of someone... didn't you?" Mark finished pouring, but his face seemed rather pale when he straightened up and uttered out defensively. "I don't wanna talk about it." Mark began moving away again, prompting Jack to plead out. "Mark, please. Sit down and eat or something. You're making me anxious."

Mark compromised by eating at the table, but Jack could see his heel rapidly tapping the floor. He wanted to keep prying and dig out the issue Mark was having, but something told him not to. Mark was... distressed. Fragile, even? Finishing off his bread bowl, Jack reached for the tv remote. He needed to break up this silence before they both went insane. Noticing that he was reaching for it, Mark abandoned his food and rushed to get it, telling him. "Don't. I got it. You need to rest." Jack let Mark get the remote, then grabbed his wrist firmly when he offered the remote to him. Locking eyes with him, Jack stared into those brown eyes that seemed to tremble with fear. It practically tore Jack's heart out. He could feel Mark's heart racing through the grip he had on his wrist. Could sense the pain he was in, but just couldn't bring himself to ask about it. So, instead, he told him with a small smile. "Thank you, Mark." Mark's expression was unreadable. Then seemingly out of nowhere, he leaned in and kissed him.

Jack's whole body tensed. He had not been prepared for it. Every part of him wanted to shove Mark away, but his body was in too much shock. Mark's warm lips lingered on his own, his free hand raising to press his palm to Jack's cheek. Tilting his head back enough that he could brush his lips over his own with more affection. Jack's fingers dug into Mark's wrist, barely noticing that Mark's heartbeat was no longer racing. The kiss appeared to have sapped all of Mark's fear and anxiousness, because when he pulled away, Mark exhaled a long breath. Mark apologized but Jack barely heard it. His own blood was rushing loudly in his ears. After Mark moved away to finish eating, Jack lifted a shaky hand to his lips. Mark had stolen his first kiss. He couldn't believe it. He'd thought his first would be with a woman or at the very least with someone who loved him. The kiss had been neither. He wanted to be disgusted and angry... but all he felt was numb and heartbroken. Managing to find his voice, he turned his head hoping to scold Mark, but instead, he found himself breathlessly telling Mark. "You'll get yourself sick."

Mark's chuckle was distant, when he replied softly over his food. "Getting sick is the least of my problems." Shifting to face him, Jack gasped out just as softly. "Why did you do that? I... You..." Jack couldn't find the words to phrase what he wanted to say. Allowing Mark to say without looking at him. "I said I was sorry. I... I didn't mean to do that. I'm just used to... I'm used to turning to sex when I'm... in need of a distraction." Jack furrowed his brows, asking almost in a whisper. "A distraction from what?" Finishing off his food, Mark answered as he got up. "From reality." Taking all the dishes into the kitchen, Mark told him in a sudden weary tone of voice. "If that's all you need for now. I'd like to take a long hot bath." Jack nodded to him, then watched him retreat to his bedroom. Gathering up something wrapped in fresh clothes and a towel, Mark went into the bathroom. Turning the tv on, Jack tried to distract himself from the kiss. However, his lips kept curling over his teeth, savoring the memory of the taste and feeling of his lips.

It didn't help that he could hear strange noises in the bathroom, that he could guess was Mark working out his issues. So, he turned the volume on the tv up. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what Mark was trying to escape in reality, but he could understand wanting to feel good over feeling bad... but was that healthy? Coughing loudly, Jack groaned and laid backdown. His first day of school had gone all wrong, but as he peeked a look at the score board, he blushed. They sat at an even thirty. He was almost giddy about it for a few seconds, until the weight of reality crushed down on him. Had Mark forced himself to take care of him just to make up points? Burying himself under his blanket, he tried not to feel bad about it, but it made him tear up to think that he lost his first kiss for nothing. He didn't understand why he cared so much about that, but he couldn't help it. Being sick had made him feel vulnerable and it was hard not to show it.  To Be Continued...