Curled up in a tiny ball, Cairo buried her head in her hands. The pain was really starting to get to her, and the asprins she had downed early were doing nothing for her. She had the lights off in her study, and she was trying to concentrate on anything other than the severe headache that she was suffering from. She had tried reading, but she couldn't focus her eyes on the text, it was too small.

A slight knock on the door, which was barely audible, had her wincing. Someone tentatively opened the door, and entered the room.

"Carrie, are you sure you're alright?" Brian asked softly. The considerate question had her eyes welling up with tears of self-pity, confusion and pain. Brian sat down next to her, and pulled her into a hug.

"He didn't even ask if I was okay!" Cairo whined pitifully.

"I know. I don't know what's up with that. And this whole jealousy thing blows my mind. Has he ever done anything like this before?" Brian asked.

"No, not really. Oh, there was a few times when we'd be at a club or something, and a guy would hit on me, and he'd become all possessive and stuff, kinda marking his territory, but that was cute. This is just crazy!" Cairo said, sniffing a little. Her head was pounding, and the tears were just making it worse.

"I just don't understand it. Of course, Nick hasn't really been himself lately, but to pull that is just ridiculous," Brian commented. Cairo closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness overwhelmed her, and she waited for it to subside.

"It's rather dark in here," Brian said, as he reached over to turn on the antique-style lamp on the coffee table. Cairo covered her eyes to block the intense pain that flooded her senses, as light filled her dark sanctuary. Brian noticed the movement.

"Carrie, look at me," he commanded. She looked up at him with glassy, bloodshot eyes. He noticed that a dark red welt had begun to form on the side of her head where she had landed.

"My head hurts," she said simply. Brian could have kicked himself for not realising that she probably had suffered a concussion from her fall.

"Are you dizzy a lot?" he asked. She nodded weakly.

"Shit. Okay, Carrie, you need to see a doctor. I think you hit your head harder than we both thought," Brian said calmly. He stood up, and helped Cairo to her feet and led her out of the study. They had just reached the foyer when Meagan and Nick walked in the door.

"What's going on, guys?" Nick asked carefully.

"I'm gonna take Cairo to see a doctor. I think she has a concussion," Brian informed him stiffly. He was feeling awkward after that morning's display of jealously. A pointed look was exchanged between Nick and Meagan.

"No need to burden yourself with my girlfriend, Brian, I will take her," Nick said, obviously angry. Brian rolled his eyes, disbelief that Nick was picking such a stupid time to become over-possessive.

"I was afraid to ask you. Heaven forbid you might tear yourself away from one of your stimulating discussions with Meagan to actually care about her," Brian said.

"Don't you think I can't see what's going on here?" Nick said.

"And what exactly is going on here?" Brian said, getting in his face.

"Stop trying to steal Cairo from me! You keep pushing me away from her, and I don't like it," Nick said, his voice rising.

"She is hurt. I'm taking her to a doctor. Where is the problem? You didn't seem to care earlier," Brian said, his voice matching Nick's.

"I'm her boyfriend, and I'm going to take care of her, so just stay out of it!" Nick yelled.

"Stop yelling," Cairo pleaded weakly.

"Maybe once you start giving a damn about her I will back off, but right now we're here arguing, when she should-"

"Uh, guys, I really don't feel so good," Cairo said shakily.

"Are you saying that I don't care? What the hell gives you the right to pretend to be my best friend and then go and stab me in the back and say that I don't care?" Nick hollered. Eager to dispel the disagreement before it became too heated, Cairo reached out towards Nick and placed her hand on his arm.

"Don't touch me," he said coldly, as he pushed her hand away. She was so weak that the slight brush of his hand had her head spinning.

"Look, stop wasting time, okay? I don't want to fight about this anymore," Brian said, reaching the end of his rope. Nick glared at him. Brian was watching Cairo, as she suddenly stepped back, holding her head, reaching out to gain some balance. It didn't work, and she collapsed.

* * * *

"Are you feeling any better?" a meek voice asked carefully. Cairo carefully turned her head and glared at Nick. She then turned her head back to the focus of her attention. The television. The past few days, after being diagnosed with a concussion, she had become a veritable couch-potato, never feeling well enough to move much.

"Kay, you're going to have to speak to me sooner or later," Nick protested. The cold silence she was forcing him to endure was a new definition of torture for him. Whenever she had been mad at him before, she would at least vent her anger (a lot) in his direction, involving endless tirades. But now she was just silent.

"Nick, I am so mad at you right now, I don't think it's wise for me to talk to you," she said calmly.

"Kay, I already said I'm sorry. I realise I was being an ass," he said.

"Nick, please, just let it go for awhile. I'll yell at you later," she promised. Frustrated, Nick threw up his hands and stalked out of the room.

"When do you think you'll stop tormenting him?" Brian asked, entering the room moments after Nick made his exit.

"Don't you start on me," Cairo growled.

"I mean, come on, it's been three days. You won't even look at him."

"No one understands, and now, even you're starting to bug me about it. Just let me handle it my way, okay? God, why can't anyone understand why this is bugging me so much? He's a friend as well as my boyfriend, and I can't understand the fact that he can't trust me! I mean, what do we have if we don't have trust, and if he can't trust me then why are we together? And why is he being such a hypocrite when I have every right to pull the jealous crap with him and MEAGAN! He was so concerned about her and could care less about me, until someone else did! I am so pissed off right now, and I am very jealous because he's probably saying the same things right now to her and I can't stand the thought that we aren't talking to each other and I miss him, but I am so mad at him I don't think I could speak to him with a level head!" Cairo began to rant. Brian realised that now that he started it, it wouldn't stop for awhile.

"So you speak through the best friend," Nick said. Cairo's eyes widened and she stood up, ready to let him have it.

"I cannot believe that you would eavesdrop on me! It's bad enough that you become suspicious about my trying to be friends with your best friend, and now you are listening to our conversations? Nick I-"

"It's the only way I can find out what is going on in your mind!" Nick fired back.

"I wouldn't have to not talk to you if you would make yourself worth talking to!" Cairo said.

"Cairo, listen, okay?"

"No!"

"Now you're just being childish!"

"Am not!"

"Cairo Williams, sit down, shut up and listen," Nick ordered. Using her full name, something Nick never did, realised that he was never going to go away unless she gave in. Secretly happy that he was so determined to work things out, she sat down obediently.

"I don't know what happened, but when I saw you with Brian, it was like, shit. What the hell is happening that makes me worry over MEAGEN, when the girl I love is being looked after by my best friend? Something just kinda snapped, and instead of admitting that I was an idiot, I got all freaky on you. It was weird, and I can't explain it," he said.

"If you think that what you just said is going to work, you're wrong," Cairo said, lying as she felt her resolve to remain angry breaking.

"Kay, I was wrong. I am sorry. It was all my fault. Will you forgive me?" Nick said slowly. Cairo smiled slightly.

"I saw that. We're cool now, right?" he asked.

"We're lukewarm," she said, grinning.

* * * *

Dear Diary,

To pray for strength these past few weeks seems to have been fruitless, as I have none. Our greatest fears have come true, and the illness that was quickly spreading through the village came to Brickwoode. As of today, seventeen people have died, including my parents.

I have been unable to grieve. How could reality be so cruel? I am not nearly old enough to survive in this world without the wisdom of my parents. I have never been so alone before, and my Andrew is so far away, it seems that I shall never see him again.

Many of our kinsmen have suffered from this illness, and many of the servants. I have always been honest accepting the truth of my life. It was very sheltered. I never had to lift a finger as a child. And now, as my life swiftly falls apart, I have to face the veritable truth. I have no skills to offer.

I am useless. I try to help those well enough to care for those still ailing, but they just smile and send me away. I am the lady of the house, the mistress of Brickwoode now. I cannot be seen seeing to the duties of a servant.

Andrew, please hurry home to me. Please return, I need you so much. I do not know what to do anymore. I have no knowledge of how to run my estate, for Brickwoode is truly mine now. I am the only heiress. I am the only…I am so alone. Oh, please Lord, you took away my family, my life-stem, please bring back my only love. I do not think that I can survive without him. Please Andrew, come home to me.

Hopelessly,

Katherine