Operation Termite Hill

Warning Signs

"Look, Brother," Williams stood up, walking over to Moralez, "just be nice to Swatch and Wolf, you mess with Swatch, you ain't getting help on the battlefield when you need a Navy Corpsman. You mess with Wolf, eh, you probably won't live for much longer, so don't try it."

"Like I'm gonna need a Navy Corpsman in the battlefield!! I'm not weak like you all!! I ain't no sissy!!" Moralez got up off the ground, and as Bruce for me a tissue, Moralez picked me up, threw me to the ground, and kicked me in the stomach. Blood poured from my mouth, and I began coughing. Bruce turned around and saw him kicking the junk out of me. I tried to stand up, but failed. I kept repeating my father's words, '...weak...weak... puny and weak...' 

"BACK AWAY!!" Bruce ran over to Moralez, tackling him, drilling Moralez's head into the sand. Moralez stood back up, putting up his arms and walking backwards. He was bloodied at the back of the head, and scraped up all over his arms. Bruce rushed over to me, helped me stand, and got me over to the Medical Tent. "Holy crap, that guy was a jerk." Swatch sat me on the stretcher, and rubbed my torso with Neosporin before wrapping it in Ace Wrap. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help." He dried the blood from my mouth with a wet towel, sighing.

"It's fine, I'm alive, aren't I? I hate how weak I am." I winced as he cleaned the cut on my right eyebrow, he looked at me sadly. "What's wrong?"

"I hate seeing you in pain..." Bruce finished cleaning the wound, putting a large Band-Aid on it.

"Bruce, I'm fine, pain is just temporary... most of the time..."

"Malachi...? Can I be honest...?" Bruce looked at me in fear, concern even. 

"Sure." I tilted my head, wondering if he was ok.

"I- I can't stop thinking about it... I can't stop thinking of you getting hurt on the battlefield, and I can't save you... I wouldn't ever be able to live with myself knowing that you were hurt and I could've helped you..." Tears swelled in his eyes, and he walked away from me. I stood up, hugging him. That was the first time I saw him cry, it hurt me more than anything. I saw him in pain, and I couldn't stand it.

"It's ok, it's ok, shh, shh. I'll be fine, I promise you."

"There you go again, promising me something that you can't keep..." Bruce said through tears.

"Again with that person that tells you that I can't keep my promises. I need to have a talk with that person in your mind." At least that comment made Bruce laugh slightly. 

"Don't you go dying on me Wolf, and that's an order." 

"Yes, Sir!" I replied, laughing slightly. 

"Ok, ok, how are you feeling?" Bruce wiped away his tears and I looked at him with a smile.

"Are you really asking me how I'm doing? I was just fixed by the best Navy Corpsman in the world!"

"Oh, shh." Bruce gave me a kiss on the forehead.

 "Let's go back to the boys? Sorry, it ain't really comfortable on this stretcher..." I asked, wondering if he wanted to go.

"Ok." He walked out of the tent, I followed, limping slightly. "You ok...?" Bruce asked in disquietude.

"Oh, yea, yea, I'm good, just a little jacked up." I smiled at Bruce, hobbling quicker to catch up. 

"Hey!" Williams laughed. 

"Why are you so happy?" I raised my eyebrow at Williams, all Bruce did was switch back to 'Terminator' mode. I liked him a bit more when he was all tough and intimidating.

"Don't know. Ain't ever been this happy for someone since I first enlisted! At least those old Veterans don't need to worry about me!" Williams began to laugh more, which escalated into a cough.