Roberts shut the door, turning around and seeing that Stillwater was using his hands to move his leg into a comfortable position. He shook his head, moving back into the room to lay on his bed, folding his hands behind his head. Stillwater had asked him to put in a video tape, and Roberts had chosen one marked "ABC 8 hours Jun 86" and put it in. Stillwater seemed more interested in the commercials than the TV show, which Roberts just slated up to him being weird.
Stillwater was eating without looking at his food, just steadily shoveling it into his mouth, his eyes on the television. Roberts could see the bruising down the back of his right arm, bluish black bruising edged with yellow and brown.
There was a knock at the door. Heavy, solid banging.
"Open this door now," Came a woman's voice. Roberts recognized it as the fat girl from Support Platoon who was some kind of medic.
Stillwater groaned and slumped in the chair. "Answer the door, will you, Roberts?"
Roberts sighed, getting up slowly. Part of him resented having to get up to get the door every time someone knocked, but it was either that or leave it unlocked and let Stillwater just yell 'come in' at anyone who knocked and Roberts didn't like that idea either.
The woman banged on the door again.
Roberts moved over to the door, unlocking it and opening it. "What?" he asked.
"I'm here to check on Stillwater," She said.
"He said he's fine," Roberts said, going to shut the door.
"Get out of the way," the fat woman said, pushing by Roberts, almost slamming him against the wall lockers.
"Hey! Get out!" Roberts said.
"Shut. Up." The fat medic growled. "You're already on my shit list."
"What's wrong, Cromwell?" Stillwater asked.
The fat girl stopped beside Stillwater, staring down at him. "With me? Nothing. With you? That damn leg and shoulder. Why are you out of bed?"
Stillwater shrugged, something giving a wet sounding pop that made Stillwater wince and made Cromwell's back stiffen in anger.
Roberts sighed and went over and laid back down on the bed.
"I'm hungry," Stillwater said. He took another mouthful of food.
"The eat in bed. You're on bed rest. You're only supposed to get out of bed to go to the bathroom," Cromwell said.
"I'm hungry," Stillwater repeated, taking another bite.
Roberts wished she'd go away. What business of her's was it if Stillwater got out of bed. Roberts wasn't going to wait on him hand and foot. He was a grown man and E-5.
"You're supposed to be elevating that leg," Cromwell said. She grabbed a chair and moved it over, sitting down. "Sweety, you've gotta stay off that leg and stop using that arm. You're going to throw a clot or blow an artery. Where's your immobilizer?"
Stillwater waved toward the bed. "I threw it up on the top bunk," He said.
Roberts watched Cromwell sigh, get up, and walk over to the bunk. She moved the rabbits and Roberts waited for Stillwater to yell at her. Instead, he just shook his head.
"I don't want to wear it," He complained.
"Tough," Cromwell said, pulling it down. She walked back over, ripping open the Velcro. "Put your arm down."
Roberts frowned. Why was Stillwater letting her order him around? Roberts watched her wrap the immobilizer around his waist, then strap his arm into it.
YOU ARE READING
Third Person - Complete
Tarihi KurguPFC James Roberts just wanted to serve his country, like his father and grandfather. He left his middle class life to join the military with the hope of making his family proud. Graduating top of his class in Basic Training, attending Advanced Indiv...
