Where two fronts meet

Chapter three. Deal.

'You can put your jacket back on.'

I stand up and take my jacket off of the examination bed. The nurse gives me a soft smile. 'I'd say take a shower, get some food and drink a lot of water. All the tests came out fine.' Her words only half reach me. 'Have you heard anything about the Evac case?' I ask. Her smile saddens. 'Still in operation I'm afraid. They'll inform you the second anything changes, so get some rest and some food.'

I head out of the medical bay and walk over to the cafeteria. I get some looks from people before Smith walks up. 'Hey.' He says as he joins me on my way to the queue. 'Hey.' He pats my back. 'Was waiting on you. Heard what happened, good to see you're okay.' I glance at him before looking down at my hands. The nurse did her best at cleaning them off, but dried blood still sits in the creases of my skin. Smith seems to notice. 'It's chicken pasta night tonight.' He says to take my attention away. I nod, falling in line and grabbing a tray, handing another one to him.

We pass the food and someone scoops some pasta onto a plate before setting it down on my tray. It's been more than eleven hours now. Why isn't he out of surgery yet. I head on down the line and get some cucumber. 'Harris.' I turn at my name to see my luitenant walk up. He stops a bit away from me, giving me a nod.

Running through base, nearly smacking into people as I turn around the last corner, I reach medical. I go in, my eyes going to the woman waiting for me in the hall. 'This way.' She says. I enter a room with six beds. In the far corner Aiden lays. He's intubated and has all sorts of cables and tubes attached to him. I want to head over, but the nurse stops me. 'I can't let you. But I at least wanted you to see. The pressure on the wound gave him a bit more time. He's put back together, we'll have to see how he'll pull out of it.' She says. The pressure on the wound. The feeling of hot blood through my fingers makes me want to vomit. 'You did him good.'

I get out, and slowly make my way back to the cafeteria. He's there. I don't know if alive is the right word, but he's there. And it's not in a mortuary, so it's more than enough for now.

Before I reach the cafeteria someone comes to pick me back up. He brings me to some sort of office room, where Brooks, Morrison, Jansen and Williams sit at a big table. Clean glasses of water stand ready, but no one has touched anything. 'Take a seat, the luitenant will be right with you.' I sit down and stare at the clear water in the crystal glass. 'You saw him?' Jansen asks. I nod, not raising my gaze. 'How is he?' I look up. I don't really know how to answer. 'In the ICU. Alive, I guess, but doesn't really look like it.' I answer honestly. Brooks wants to say something but the door opens to show the luitenant and the general.

They sit at the head of the table.

'Its good to see you all in one piece.' The general starts. I hear a scoff to my left, probably Morrison, as Jansen turns his head away, arms falling off the table as he leans back. 'Let me start by saying I'm glad we got you all out when we did.' The Captain says, taking over. Jansen turns back to look their way. 'You all handled the situation with outmost professionalism, and I can't thank you enough for your service.'

The words are good, but I don't think any of us could care less. The general steps forward, closer to the table. 'I understand that what happened made impact on all of you. But if you can, I ask you to resume your duties until further notice. I can't have any slack on this base.' He says. Disgust falls over my face. 'Jesus.' Brooks says leaning back too, and a hateful laugh comes from Williams. 'Are you actually serious?' Brooks asks. The general nods his head, 'yes corporal, I am.'. Brooks stands up, getting right in his face. 'Were You there, sir?' The hatred that coats his words is unbelievable. 'I was not, but you have been trained for these situations, and I think I can ask for you to continue performing professionally.'

That snaps something in Brooks. 'Fucking hell! Trained for it? Huh? Do you honestly think I've been trained to see someone get basically executed in front of me? Or trained to find her gut wrenching screams and begs okay?' He points to me, and the general briefly meets my eyes. 'The fuck's wrong with you.' Brooks spits out.

The Captain steps in, raising his hand at brooks. 'I understand, Corporal, please take your seat.' Brooks backs off, sinking back in his seat while glaring at the general. 'Sir you can't honestly to expect us to sweep this under the rug. I know I need a second to wrap my head around everything that happened. And I think that especially counts for them.' Williams says as he nods towards us. The luitenant nods 'that's very understandable. I agree with you.' Brooks shoulders seem to ease with that. 'The only term I have for that,' the Captain starts. It makes the guys frown. 'Is that you all go meet with our humane resourcer. Talk about what happened and work through it right.' It's a good request that I think no one will argue, I nod my head. 'Then we have a deal.'