Where two fronts meet

Chapter four. Alive.

'Then we have a deal.'

The next two days is walking around base aimlessly. The guys asked me to join them to the ICU, but I don't want to see Carter like that again. Pale, stuck to machines. His warm laugh at a comment I made on his card shuffling skills fills my mind. And the walk to and back from lunch or dinner. How he'd wait standing against the railing of the stairs leading up to my building, always greeting me with a smile no matter how hard the day had been. Checking on me during mission prep, and always making sure I'm as save as I can get. So no, I don't want to see him on life support again.

So on day five the luitenant comes sit at the table I'm at. It's early in the evening and dinner just finished up. Some guys are playing baseball while I sit at the table and read to keep my mind busy. 'Harris.' I look up. 'He's out.'

I follow him back to medical and head in with him. The tubes are gone. The only thing left is the cord for the heart monitor and his IV. He's asleep though. 'He woke up about an hour ago now. We took the tubes out and most IV's were taken out too.' The nurse says. Relief washes over me. He still looks like shit, but at least not shit that's on life support. 'You can stay with him for a while if you want.'

I accept. And sit down in the chair and keep reading there. The first hour passes and then the second. Brooks and Jansen come in. 'That looks better.' I nod in agreement. 'You're okay to stay with him or do you need one of us to take over?' Jansen offers. 'I'm okay, thank you though.'

Nurses do their routinely checks, and time passes. After seeing some movement I glance up. He gives a little wave while his eyes are half open. I shoot out of the chair and move to the one right next to the bed. 'Hey.' I say softly. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out. The tubes must've hurt his throat. He wants to try again but I stop him 'it's okay, it's okay your throat must be sore.' He gives a nod. I lay my hand over his and give a soft squeeze. 'I'm so glad to see you awake and breathing.' He pulls his hand away from mine and gently brushes the back of his fingers past my cheek. Tears well up in my eyes. 'Really glad.' I repeat softly. He gives a weak smile and lays his hand back down, palm up for me to take. I take it, turning his hand and leaning down to rest my forehead on the back of his hand. A tear slips from my eye. 'Hey.' His voice is rough and sounds painful as he gives my hand a squeeze. I look up and give him a smile, another tear escaping.

'You're awake.' The nurse says. She grab a cup and comes over with it, putting a straw in. His attention shifts as she holds the water out for him. He's eager to take it, but she slows him down. 'Easy there. Small sips.' He sips the water. Tiny sip, little break and another small sip. 'Thank you.' His voice sounds a bit better now. 'Of course' the nurse says. She sets the water down on the little bedside table.

She leaves the room and he closes his eyes again, hold on my hand loose. 'How long has it been?' He asks. 'About a week now.' Suddenly exhaustion falls over me. It's been a week of constant repeating of what happened in my head. Little to no sleep until they put me on heavy sleep medication. Haven't been able to eat. 'A week?' I nod, my other hand coming up to lay on his arm, thumb tracing the bandaid they used to stick the IV to him. 'Yeah.' He hums, shifting a little. 'Any news?' I shake my head in response, 'no, we just Waited for you to wake up really. The luitenant put us in therapy for the time being.' He looks at me but doesn't say anything.

His attention shifts to the doorway, and I follow it. The luitenant stands there giving a smile. 'Good to see you awake Sargeant.' He says as he steps into the room, taking his seat on the empty bed next to Carter's. 'I need to borrow the Corporal from you for a bit.' He continues. He meets my eyes before looking at Carter. 'Why? Something happening?' Carter asks. 'We're sending you all back home once you're stable enough to get transported.' I look between the two of them. 'What?'