Diplomacy

where they were going to put us, just to relay ‘her’
    Ambassador’s precise needs. Too bad we’ll hardly be here.” Jack obviously regretted that this was going to be a working weekend.
    Lucas noticed Jack looked tired and worn out. After he hung up his spare suit and shirts, he walked over to Jack’s room in time to catch him popping two little white pills in his mouth and swallowing them dry.
    “You should really drink something with those, Jack,” he offered as he walked over to the mini bar and grabbed a bottle of Evian. “You’re not feeling well?”
    Jack shrugged. “Just tired, I guess. Might be coming down with a cold or something. I have the mother of all headaches.” D i p l o m a c y | 115

    Lucas moved a little closer and wrapped his arms around his lover.
    “You could call and ask them to start the informal talks tomorrow morning?”
    “Naah, the sooner we get our cards on the table, the easier it will be to talk to the powers-that-be tomorrow afternoon. These talks always take longer than you think and if they do go smoothly, well, we can sleep in tomorrow.” Jack gave his young lover a teasing look, but it didn’t keep Lucas’s worries at bay. There was definitely something wrong and this was certainly not the weekend to get sick.
    Within minutes, they were in their work suits and out the door to a car waiting to take them to the U.S. Embassy.
    As Jack had predicted, the talks were difficult. Each Ambassador had his own reasons for preferring one tactic over the other to persuade their respective governments to change their minds. At one point, Lucas suggested that maybe they should try talking to their own host countries separately, but this was met by a very clear ‘you are too young and inexperienced to understand this’ look from four of the people around the table.
    When Lucas looked at Jack for support, he saw the American clearly struggling. He was sweaty and pale and his eyes were red and dull.
    At one a.m., it was decided that they should all get some rest and resume their talks at nine in the morning. As Jack got up from his chair, Lucas noticed him swaying a bit and he grabbed his arm to keep him steady.
    “You okay?” he whispered, a concerned look on his face.
    Jack quickly recovered and pulled his arm free as soon as he noticed some of the other ambassadors looking their way. “I’m fine,” he croaked, his voice a little thick and unsteady.
    Lucas worried all the way back to the hotel and then some more as they walked into Jack’s room and the American wouldn’t let him stay.
    “Go to your own room, Lucas. It’s a short night and I’ll only keep you awake.”
    Lucas didn’t know how he was going to persuade Jack to let him stay. “I want to take care of you, Jack. Please don’t push me away? I’m worried, you’re obviously sick.”

    116 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    Lucas’s plea was met by a stern gaze from Jack. “Lucas, I’m fine, I just need to sleep, because I feel like my brain is fighting its way out of my skull right now.”
    Lucas sighed and admitted defeat, but he was not about to give up completely.
    He got into his own bed and lay there listening to the sounds in the next room.
    Some time later he woke up hearing a low thump and a muffled curse. Lucas didn’t want to get up right away but when he heard Jack cough and then the sound of glass breaking, he decided he’d better have a look. He knew better than to turn on any lights, fearing this would aggravate Jack’s headache, but he made his way over to the bathroom where he could just discern the American leaning against the side of the door.
    “Don’t come any closer. There’s glass everywhere.” Jack’s voice sounded low and hoarse.
    Lucas stopped in his tracks, realizing he was barefoot. “Is it okay if I turn on some lights then?
    A grunt was all he got for an answer, but he backed up anyway and turned on the light in his own room, hoping that it would provide enough visibility without making Jack’s headache any worse. He also slipped his shoes on so that he wouldn’t cut his feet.
    When he looked up he saw Jack still leaning against the doorpost, his eyes pinched shut and his face turned away. He heard the glass shards crackle underneath his shoes as he walked over them.
    “Stay there, Jack, I’ll get you your shoes.” The American pushed him away. “Just go, Lucas. Just…” he was making pushing gestures with his hands, “…leave me alone.” Lucas, not easily put