The Solider and the Doctor

chapter 2

She was checking on the patient when she had finally talked herself into going out there and saying something to him. She walked out and instantly found him, asleep agaisnt the arm of the chair. She watched him for a moment remembering all those times they used to share. She then sat down next to him and gently put her hand on his arm to wake him, he jolted away and began looking around. She held her hands up in front of her to show him it was just her. He settled back down and looked at her, "hey, how did -um- surgery go?" She nodded easily, "very well i was able to prevent the artiary from rupturing and put in stents to strengthen the walls." He nodded not knowing anything she was saying. Her tummy rumbled and she layed her hand over it and laughed, he took in those sweet moments of hearing her laughter. He looked at his watch "Would you like to go get some breakfast?"  She slowly let the thought bounce around and then agreed, " let me go get changed".

When she came back out she was in heels and a dress, he couldn't look away from her. She walked up to him and he said "are you ready?" She shrugged "i guess so, there is a cute little diner around the corner that we all hit up when we get off." He smiled at her and she felt her heart race, just a little surprising her. She looked away from him began to walk towards the doors to leave.

They sat down in a booth and while she was fishing her chapstick out of her purse he ordered them coffee, she smiled at the waitress when she returned. Gabe said "what are you in the mood for?" She scanned over the menu even though she had been there multiple times, "I'm thinking sausage, eggs, and pancakes" he laughed and she scanned her eyes over the top of the menu "what?" He looked at her innocently "you still have the same big appetite." She felt the itch of sass fester, "that's what happens when you're eating for two." He choked on his coffee and looked at her with wide eyes and she began to laugh whole heartedly. He then realized she was joking and let the sweet sound take him over. "You tell me your could stand for hours in surgery & not be hungry after!" He laughed "okay, okay I concede." She held a triumphant smirk as she made up her coffee with sugar and cream and began to sip it.

The question she wanted to ask was on the tip of her tongue and itching to be released, "Gabe, why are you here?" He visibly swallowed and began to speak, "I wanted to see you." She studied his face, looking for any hint of it being a lie, but found nothing. "It's been what 7 years? And it wasn't exactly a nice parting." He sighed, "Would you believe me if i said i thought about everyday of those 8 years?" He already knew the answer but he couldn't resist. "Why should i believe that? You -" she trained off. She took a deep breath and continued, "i forgave you so long ago that i stopped even thinking about it. I actually can thank you for that. Because of that night, because of you, i became better i became who i am today. I took all the grief, heartache, and hatred and put it toward becoming someone who fixed people and makes them better." He just stared at her and could see the pain in her eyes, he thought about how her eyes looked the night that he left, then looked away from her in shame, "you became a cardiovascular surgeon, you literally fix hearts. The night i left it broke me as well, i couldn't get the image of your face after i told you to forget me and go for SJ.. i was going straight to war after i graduated from AIT and you... you love so hard and so fully that if i died you would be devastated. I couldn't leave you like that. I'd rather you hate me then morn me." Her face was so stoney that he almost didn't recognize her. She opened her mouth to speak but the food came and she stopped.

They didn't really speak as they ate, only glanced at each other. When they were finished she looked at him and excused herself to the restroom. He sat there thinking about what he had said and decided that he should go pay before she came out and pitched a fit about him paying. When she came out from the restroom she found him leaning against the counter and began getting her wallet out. He held up his hands and she rolled her eyes before walking out the door. He followed after and fell into step with her. "I didn't mean to come here and upset you, i just wanted to talk." She stopped and looked at him, "Gabe i put it behind me and moved on with my life i am doing so well for myself. At that time I loved you with everything i had, i would have done anything for you. I would have literally followed you anywhere. You were my everything. For months i wrestled with myself on why i wasn't good enough for you to love me back. So why are you here now after all this time? Oh don't tell me you're at Quantico?" He looked down at her and saw the storm rage inside her and nodded. She turned and laughed a little at the irony of the situation, "great." Before he could speak she had pulled back the cold mask that she had let slip away and turned to him, "Good luck in your life and truly I am glad you made it back here safely." She trailed off for a moment before she looked back at him, "but Gabe, you did a damn good job at making me hate you. Have a nice night." With that she turned on her heels and headed back into the hospital.

He watched her disappear inside the doors before he pulled out his phone to call SJ before realizing it was 3 in the morning. With a sigh he found his car and headed back to base, letting the thoughts of what just happened sink in.