The Afters

Three

Chapter 3

I lied down on my bed in hopes that sleep would come. Rolling over, I saw the time displayed on the clock: 12:44 a.m. I hate my insomnia, I thought. Carefully, I slipped down from my top bunk and headed to the bathroom. The door was open and the light was on, and I stepped in to see Small Bones sitting on the floor staring into space.

"Hey," I sat down next to him. "What's up Small Bones?"

"Nothing," he said looking down at his insulin pen that he cradled in his hand.

"Jack," I said softly. He looked up at me, startled at first, but then he smiled.

"I haven't been called Jack in a long time," he grinned even wider.

"Do you remember that song that I sang to you the first time we went to practice sparring?"

"Yeah," he smiled again. "But nothing heals the past like time, 

And they can't steal

The love you're born to find."

I joined him and we both sang, "But nothing heals the past like time,

And they can't steal-"

"The love you're born to find," a voice said finishing off the song. I looked up and saw Ben giving us a sad, small smile.

"Terminator!" Small Bones jumped up and ran to hug Ben. Ben hugged his back tightly as I stood up dusting myself off.

"You feeling ready to go back to bed soldier?" Ben asked.

"Sir, Yes, Sir," Small Bones responded softly and waded out of the door. I leaned against the wall as Ben walked towards me.

"We meet again, Terminator," I grinned.

"Yes, Ma'am," he smiled back. Ben placed his hands on the wall behind me and stared into my eyes. "I love you."

"I love you more," I breathed as he placed his lips on my neck.

"I love you most," he pulled his head up to look me in the eyes. That's when I started to feel it, a strong compulsion shook my body. I dropped to my knees and then fell to the floor. I saw Ben's face swarm in and out of focus as my hearing faded. I was jerking violently when my vision started to black out. I closed my eyes and time stopped.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Look," a desperate voice said. "She's waking up."

I opened my eyes and bright lights swarmed my vision. I rolled over and saw Ben and the Camp's doctor, Dr. Kalil standing next to each other watching me.

"Ghost, nice to see you awake. Terminator here wouldn't leave until you woke up," Dr.Kalil smiled as if remembering a distant memory. I looked at me and blew him a kiss. Catching it, he blew one back.

"You're free to go, Miss," Dr. Kalil said turning his back to me and handing Ben a paper. "This is to excuse her from all activities today."

"My barrack is still on lockdown," Ben replied. "Thank you anyway."

I sat up and slid off the medical table. I walked towards Ben and together we walked out the door.

"It's like he didn't even care," Ben growled when we were down the hall.

"There's nothing he can do, this is like the 100th time it's happened and meds don't do anything but make it more painful when it does happen again," I said gently touching his arm. Ben stopped and pulled me into a hug.