The Note in a Bottle

Would You Lie With me. . .

Beware: This is an extremely short chapter. I have to have my computer to type up the next one.

"Katie, hon, wake up." Leo gently woke Katie up with a small, loving kiss to her lips. When he backed up, Katie noticed a dark bandage around his stomach.
"What happened?" Katie gestured to the bandage, setting a gentle hand to his chest.
"Nothing big. I just got a razor cut, that's all."
"Are you sure...?" Katie slowly regained her memories from before she passed out, and she closed her eyes. "I could have sworn something worse happened."
"Did you have a nightmare, love?"
"No. I'm pretty sure it was real. I mean I hope it wasn't, but I could have sworn."
"Well guess what?" Leo gave her a kiss and set her hand to his rib cage, "You feel that? That's my heart beat. You know what that means? I'm still here. I'm alive. All and well."
Katie let out a small, relieved breath. She sat up and slid her arms around him. "I love you so much, Leo. You have no idea how happy that makes me..."
Leo smiled. "Always and Forever, Babe. I'll be here." Then he laid her down, laying down next to her. "It was quite a bit of blood, though. So maybe that's what made you pass out this morning."
"Think so?"
"Yeah. Probably."
As the old door to the bedroom creaked open, the sweet smell of Tilapia and the sour scent of pickles reached Katie's nose. Her eyes opened wide, and they targeted the figure standing at the door. "Alex!" She laughed and stood up quickly, running over to him. Immediately, she started to feel light-headed from standing up too fast, and she had to stop for a little while. "Alex, what are you doing here?" She picked up one of Alex's famous fish-pickle soufflé bowls and took a spoon. She went back to the bed and began to eat, sliding down slowly and carefully between Leo's legs as he sat up-right on the bed.
"I just decided to drop by and say hey for a later birthday." Alex smiled and added, "Leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow. I'll miss you."
"But I'll see you soon," Katie added with a smile. "Thank you, Alex."

===

Katie rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Her small hands were curled into fists as a tear fell down her cheek. "Leo?"
"Yeah, babe, what's up?" Leo turned to her, from his resting position. Showing he hadn't been sleeping. He frowned and kissed her cheek, holding her hand in his.
"Why am I still here? I'm just a burden to you all. I'm supposed to be helping you sleep. But I'm not. I can't. I'm not good enough." Katie turned to him and curled up against his chest.
Leo hugged her closely. "No, no. Katie, you do help. You always help. Please don't say that.."
Katie looked up at Leo with frustration in her eyes, "If I'm still helping, then why are you still holding a gun to your head? If I'm still helping you, then why aren't you sleeping? I'm obviously helping enough!"
"Katie. . .-"
"I don't care anymore! I'm not helping you. That's my purpose in life! So why must I still stay here accomplishing nothing? I'm just a burdon to this entire world!" Katie sat up and hugged her knees.
Leo whispered, "You know I'm following if you kill yourself."
"Well you're going to kill yourself anyways, why wait and cause me pain worrying every second of every day?!" Katie then stopped immediately as she got a sudden chill. She shook her head and just hugged him. "I'm sorry, Leo. I'm sorry. I dint mean it that way... Please don't go."
Leo kissed her head. "I'm not leaving you, Katie. It's fine." He closed his eyes, a tear falling. Which, by the way, honestly does not happen a lot. He only cries for rare occasions. "I love you."
"I love you too, Leo.. So much." Katie calmed down slowly and wiped away his tears, then just hid her face into his neck.
Leo relaxed down and closed his eyes. Once he felt her breathing even out, he began to drift off to sleep along with her, "Goodnight, Love."