Love and Leave

2. Banter and Bandages

I saw the face that had been ruling my dreams for the last weeks. My first instinct was to run and hide in the nearest closet, but my feet moved in his direction of their own accord. I didn't even know why my heart was beating so fast. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush that made me want to kill the man right in front of me. My brain played through a hundred scenarios of how I could end this bastard's life. But my profession wouldn't allow it, and it certainly wouldn't look good on my resume. Plus, his face was so beautiful; it would be a shame to strangle or poison him and lose that perfect tan. As I stood there, frozen in a moment that seemed to defy reality, his deep brown eyes locked onto mine. They were the same eyes that had once held warmth and mischief, now shadowed by pain and confusion. The rain outside continued its relentless drumming, matching the chaotic rhythm of my thoughts. His broad, muscular frame, his messy hair still damp from the rain, all of it was too real, too immediate.
"Isa?" he said, his voice tinged with disbelief and something else—hope, maybe. The sound of my name on his lips pulled me back from the edge of my high school days . The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of unresolved past and unexpected present. In that instant, I realized that whatever had happened between us, whatever reasons I had to hate him, I couldn't deny the part of me that had never stopped longing for him.
"Yes, it's me," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. "And it looks like fate has brought us together again, in the most unexpected of places." He sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Seems like it," he said, a faint smile curving his lips. "Life has a strange way of bringing people back, doesn't it?"
I nodded, unable to look away from his face. There were so many questions, so many things left unsaid. But for now, I had a job to do, and I couldn't let my personal feelings get in the way. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the task at hand, knowing that this encounter was just the beginning of a complicated journey we were about to embark on together.  As I approached him, my professional manners kicked in, masking the tumult of emotions swirling within me. "Alright, Captain....?" I trailed off, realizing I didn't even know his name anymore.
"Dominic ," he supplied, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Dominic Thompson. But you can call me Captain Dom, if you want."
I nodded, acknowledging his response. "Alright, Captain,I'm going to need you to lie back on the bed so I can dress your wounds." He complied, settling back against the pillows with a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, you're gonna have to be gentle with me. I'm fragile," he teased, wincing exaggeratedly as if in pain. I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a small smile. "Don't worry, Captain. I'm a trained professional. I'll try not to hurt you too much," I retorted, my tone laced with sarcasm. He chuckled, a low, melodious sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "I'll hold you to that." Despite the tension that still lingered between us, there was a sense of ease in our interaction, a familiarity that transcended the years apart. In that moment, as we traded barbs and shared smiles, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps fate had a twisted sense of humor after all, bringing us together in the most surprising circumstances.

As I stood by the door, Captain Dom's words lingered on the tip of his tongue, a silent promise of what could have been. But before he could utter a single word , our moment was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the head Doctor and Captain Reynolds.Doctor Rose ,an old lady doctor, with her gray hairs and deeply lined face, exuded an air of authority tempered by wisdom. Her skin, though weathered by time, retained a subtle glow that spoke of inner strength and resilience. And beside her stood Captain Reynolds, his presence commanding respect and attention, just as it had when he sent me to nurse Captain.  With a polite but firm request, they asked me to give them some privacy, leaving me feeling both confused and curious about the nature of their conversation. As I stepped out of the room, I couldn't help but steal a glance back at Captain. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to linger on me, silently pleading for more time together. Lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, I made my way through the bustling corridors of the medical camp, my mind racing with unanswered questions. What could they possibly need to discuss with him that required such secrecy? Were they addressing issues related to the ongoing war, or perhaps political matters that were beyond my understanding?
Despite the nagging curiosity tugging at my thoughts, I knew I had to focus on my duties. With countless patients still in need of care and attention, there was no time to dwell on the mysteries unfolding behind closed doors. Pushing aside my own concerns, I buried myself in the task at hand, tending to the needs of those who depended on me for their wellbeing. But even as I tended to my patients, the memory of Dom's gaze lingered in the back of my mind, a silent reminder of the unfinished conversation that had been interrupted by forces beyond our control.