Coming Back

Real Food

The note contained an address and a time, which I presumed was her apartment. I definitely wasn't passing this up, even on the sheer curiosity.

I sighed as I got into my truck, I was dressed nicely, and I'd picked up a small bunch of flowers. I thought about sticking a few pairs of hemostats in the bundle, but it was to late now. I pulled up to the building with a few minutes to spare. Grabbing the flowers and dodging traffic, I finally made it to the door. I took a deep breath and knocked lightly.

Christina smiled as she opened the door "I figured you'd be here earlier" she informed bluntly as she pushed the door open a little wider and walked back inside.

"Sorry" I snickered as I walked inside, the heat hit me like a wall in the chilly Seattle air. Shutting the door behind me I made my way to the bar, sitting down on a stool.

"I can't cook" she stated as she threw a box of Macaroni and Cheese at me. I caught it with one hand and got up, this was already the best date he had been on.

"I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mother" I smiled as I walked behind the bar and opened up the fridge. I looked through as I thought about what I could manage to make taste decent. I grabbed a pack of chicken and sat it down on the counter. I rummaged through the cabinets and grabbed a few odds and ends. When I found a potato under the sink I smiled "now we're talking" I chuckled as I turned on the stove, placing a skillet I had found on the burner.

"What the hell?" I could sense the disapproval in her voice, as well as confusion and admiration.

"I'm not making Mac and Cheese" I looked up at her as I squatted, seeking out anything I could use.

"Well why not?" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Because I'm pretty sure, by the looks of your cabinets, you live on Cereal and Ramen" I retorted as she shrugged in slight agreement.

I spent the next half hour throwing together spices and slathering them on the chicken breasts that sizzled in the pan. I could see her in my peripheral, she was definitely not used to having someone who would and could be as blunt and as stubborn as she could. After I was positive the meat was done I turned off the stove and looked around, seeing I had forgotten to look for plates and silverware.

"Where-" I turned to ask and was joined by a plate in my hand. I nodded approvingly and placing a breast one plate, then the other.

As Christina took the plates to the living room and sat them on the coffee table I eyed the practically bare plates, knowing I'd forgotten something. "Son of a bi-" I cut myself off as I noticed the starch next to my hand. "Ummm" I picked up the potato and the trauma surgeon in me took over. Christina giggled as she grabbed a cutting board and knife, placing it in front of me. "Oil" I looked over at her "and herbs, it's kinda green leaf chunks" I tried to explain what I needed, not knowing if she was aware of what I was speaking. Soon afterwards a bottle of oil and a small shaker of herbs were placed in front of me.

"Turn on the burner, put enough oil in to cover about half the bottom of the pan" I ordered as I cut the potato as precisely as I could. I picked up the cutting board and dumped the potato chunks into the pan. "Use the spatula to toss them around, cover them in oil" I pointed out the utensil hanging on a hook on the back wall. "When you're done toss in a little of this" I motioned to the bottle of seasoning. "Then do it again"

"Ok" Christina nodded, slightly overwhelmed. I stormed over to the table and brought back the plates. As I placed them down I heard her cursing at herself over the steaming pan. I took a deep breath and calmed down, walking up behind her and ran my hands down her arms slowly, guiding her hands. I tossed around the potatoes in the pan, she gave a small smile and pressed her body against mine. I closed my eyes as my breath hitched lightly.

"They smell amazing" she sputtered as I continued to guide her hands. "Are they done?" She asked looking up at me.

"Distribute as you wish" I stated offering the plates for her to scoop the chunks into. She dumped a heaping amount onto one of the plates and a normal amount on another, one colossal against the other. I raised an eyebrow eyeing the plate with potatoes covering most of it. Christina noticed my fascination and grabbed the plate, leaving me with the small handful. I shook my head smiling as she skipped over to the couch and flopped onto the cushions.

I placed my plate on the countertop and watched her, slightly amazed by the strange and wonderful woman he had in front of him. "What?" She asked through a mouthful of chicken.

"Nothing" I picked up the plate again and made my way over, sitting on the opposite end of the sofa. I picked at my food as I observed her movements, the way she ate, her body language, she was like an unknown species, something he had never encountered before.

"You stare at me like I'm some kind of freak" she glared, her harshness snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You're not a freak" I could feel my cheeks turn a slight shade of red "you're the most amazing surgeon, the most amazing person, I've ever met" I stammered, not sure how to word what I was feeling.

Her demeanor changed as the words poured my mouth. She softened, I hadn't realize how tense she'd become. She silently got up, walked over to the television, switching it on. I watched as she slid a tape into the vcr she smiled giddily. She turned around and skipped over again, this time standing in front of me. I looked up at her, she then shifted me to an angle, moving my arms to the rest and seat back. I let her do what she wanted, completely trusting her.

"Stay" she held a finger up me before running to a back room, coming back a few moments later in a laced bra and shorts. My eyes followed her, she seemed to not care at all, she was practically naked in front of a man she had known for a short while. She grabbed a remote and pressed play before laying down on the couch, her head in my lap.

"What?" She looked up at me, sensing my being unsettled. "You don't want to watch old surgery videos with a pretty girl in your lap?" She scoffed lightly and rolled back over, focusing on the bowel obstruction on the screen.

"This is perfect" I gently played with her hair and ran my fingers over her back. She relaxed under my touch, making my stomach feel uneasy. After a short while she slept peacefully, snoring lightly. I gently lifted her head and slid out from under her, picking her up and taking her into her bedroom. I laid her down and covered her, allowing her to stretch out a little more. I slid off my boots and jacket, laying down beside her, staring at the ceiling. I heard a small moan and a yawn from beside me, her brown eyes peeking through her matted curls.

"Wh-" I shook my head and pulled her into my caress. 

"Go back to sleep" I whispered, holding her close. She submitted and went back to sleep soon after. That's when I managed to doze off, a light sleep, as I always did, you learn to be ready at all times when you're overseas, ready to do whatever you had to to save the lives of the soldiers on your table.