A Terrible War

An Unexpected Moment

Joe made his way to the door, ready to call the team back in.

'Joe!' Jill called; he turned.

'Ask Anthony to bring my change of clothes first, will you please', she says.

A moment later he returned with a bag. 'You want me to take these out?' he asked, gesturing to the bag as she continued making the coffee.

'Yeah, please', she replied.

He removed her blue jeans and comfy sneakers with socks tucked inside, a white tee shirt and a blazer. He also found a sweater. 'Sweater or blazer?' he called to her.

'Sweater. I just want to feel comfortable right now', she declared. 'Unzip my dress?' she asked coming to stand in front of him and holding her hair out of his way.

He smiled and gladly did as she asked.

Cocking an ear towards the door he decided to be a little cheeky. The day had been an emotional one; traveling into the unknown, meeting the docs, hearing the grim analysis, understanding the complexity of the situation, seeing Louis so ill, seeing Jill so upset.

A frown flickered across his brow.

He hated to see her upset. Detested it in fact. She deserved so much better. He wanted to protect her from every ounce of darkness in this world, every hint of sadness. He knew that was folly; it was impossible. Life is made of darkness and light. Of joy and sorrow. But she was his joy. His light. His sunshine. She had been from the moment she opened the door of her apartment so many, many years ago.

He smiled now as the memory of their first date flooded his mind.

He recalled the perplexed look that crossed her face as he stood on her doorstep. He'd caught the way she had been almost reluctant to leave when she'd seen him. He'd noticed her take in his clothing. His suit and loafers were not what she was expecting, what she was used to. He wasn't what she was expecting. What she was used to. But he detected a curiosity too. A willingness to at least give him a chance. Give their date a chance.

He remembered her faltering as he reached around her to open the car door. She'd seemed a little bemused that he'd do that. He'd been stunned that she hadn't expected it of him. What kind of guys had she been out with? he remembers thinking. Don't they know how to treat a woman?

He'd been a little smug as he walked around the car to sit in. Knew from her reaction she wasn't used to a gentleman. Well, he considered, one thing his parents taught him was how to behave. Maybe just being himself, treating her as she should be treated would make her pay attention to him. See past his clothing choices to the person inside.

His hands reach out to touch her.

Here in the hospital in Paris.

But in his mind he was back at her apartment again, as he dropped her home that first night. He'd held her hand as they walked towards her door. The nearer they got the more he felt her uncertainty grow.

After five hours in her company he was in tune with every nuanced breath, every twitch and movement, every tiny tick. He understood subliminally that she was unsure what was going to happen. Unsure what she wanted to happen.

For his part he knew she was special. Knew she was the one. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. If getting that meant taking things slowly, then so be it. He reached out his hand, watched her brow flicker, saw a little relief cross and lighten the blue eyes that he'd fallen in love with four hours and fifty nine minutes ago. He watched her relief turn into a smile and knew he'd made the right decision.