Can't Do It Without You

Worries And Memories

A few days later found Linda sitting in the doctor's office with Mary. The mother to be was very capable of going by herself, but it was Baby's first ultrasound, and there was no way Linda was going to pass up the opportunity to film it.
"Are you nervous?" Mary wondered, smiling at her daughter in law.
"Mm-mm." She shook her head, bringing her water bottle to her lips. She took a long sip, "I'm excited.... I only wish Danny was here to see it." She took another swig from her thermos, sighing. "I gotta pee." She stood up and walked to the front desk, "excuse me. Where's the restroom?"
"Through that door, down the hall, and to the left."
"Thank you."
Mary smiled as she looked about the office. It was so different from when she had gone all those years ago. She still found it hard to believe her last baby was in college- in law school- and no longer in the nest. She was glad, though, that Linda had agreed to move in with her and Frank. She was missing having kids in the house, no matter how old they were.
"Linda," a nurse stopped the mother as she walked back into the waiting room, "we're gonna need you to drink more water."
Linda nodded, "I can do that." She sat back down and took her cup from Mary. She sighed as she took a long, slow sip.
"You're thinking loudly."
So that's where Danny learned it.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I mean... there's nothing I can do. It is what it is."
"What's that, sweetie?"
"Danny being in Iraq... why'd he have to go anyways? Doesn't he know I can't live without him?"
"He knows. And he'll come home.... you seem to be forgetting about R&R."
"What?" Linda looked at her mother in law.
"R&R. Rest and relaxation. It's usually two weeks."
"At Christmas time?"
"Or whenever. He's been back. That's how you ended up here."
She nodded, she had forgotten about that.... bizarrely. "That makes me feel a little better, I guess."
*********
It was seven o'clock in Fallujah, and the fighting was done for the day. The marines sat in a bar, drinking beer, eating nuts, and cat-calling the female singers. All were having fun... all except one.
Danny sighed as he stared at the picture of his wife. He remembered taking that photo as if it were yesterday.

Danny and Linda decided to take a walk in the park on the crisp autumn day. They held hands and laughed, enjoying the time alone.
"You look beautiful," Danny had told Linda, nuzzling his nose into her dark locks.
She blushed, her heart beating a little faster.
"I'm gonna need a picture of you," he held up the camera.
"Why?"
"In case I'm ever on business trips or whatnot. I'm gonna need pictures of you."
"You're a cop. They don't travel."
"You don't know what the future holds... we might have five kids."
Linda laughed out loud, "two. Maybe three."
"Whatever. Lemme get a picture."
Linda sighed but stood in front of the trees. She smiled in her shiny pink jacket as the sun beamed down in golden rays.
"There. Now I've got my picture."
She rolled her eyes and put an arm around her husband. "I love you."
"I love you more."
"I love you most."

"She's pretty," another buddy, Chris, interrupted Danny's memory. "Who is she?"
"My wife. Linda."
Chris smiled, "miss her, huh?"
"Completely."
He nodded, "when was that taken?"
"Recently. '99, 2000."
"You should be having fun. You haven't had fun since we got here."
"I can't have fun. We're in a bloody war."
"So?"
"So I have to stay focused. I have to get home to my wife, kid, and unborn kid."
"Your wife's pregnant?" Chris raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, it's mine, you twit. My last R&R, I made the most of my time with her. So, for two weeks, I did nothing but bang my wife. She got pregnant at some point during those two weeks."
"How far along is she?"
"About four months. Sarge is letting me go back for three months. Then I'm coming back to this bottomless pit of despair." Danny grumbled, taking a large sip of beer.