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Post by FicWriter on Feb 22, 2009 4:30:17 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 31/38
by JD and Mel
Dusk had fully fallen while he had been inside the tent and Luka found that he had to keep his eyes on the ground in the darkness, carefully watching for rocks or anything that could catch a crutch and trip him.
"Luka?" The quiet voice came out of the darkness.
The call was unexpected and he stopped at the sound of his name before looking around to pinpoint it.
Claire was still shrouded some in the dark, but she came closer, heading back towards her tent on his same path. She wore a plain tank top, her arms bare, and some worn jeans. There were circles under her eyes, but she managed a small smile. "I didn't expect to see you out...sorry to bother you."
he brushed off her apology with a shake of his head. "You're not bothering me. I came by to thank you, but you weren't there."
She blinked, her smile faltering. "You....came by to thank me? I didn't think you left the tent."
"Not much." Her words held the truth he had hoped she wouldn't know.
"Poppa said..." She changed her words midsentence, simply answering, "Well, you are welcome. I...thought you might need some things."
"He said what?" He leaned forward, so most of his weight rested on the crutches.
She shook her head. "Nothing. Just....I didn't want to bother you, so I didn't come by your new place."
"What did he say? " He shifted on the crutches again as he persisted, carefully letting his left foot touch the ground.
She hesitated. "Don't you want to go rest your leg?"
"Claire?" His tone grew more serious.
"What?"
"He said something to you or you would have come sooner. I know because you kept coming back when I tried to stop you at the hospital."
She sighed. "He said I should think about whether you really needed me....or if I just needed you. And if it was the second, that I should let you alone."
He let his eyes drop to the ground a moment. "He seems to think I'm hurting you by being around you...making you think something is there that I can't give you." He raised his eyes as he finished speaking. "I can't be what he thinks I can be...it isn't that easy."
"I don't...." She paused, searching his face. "I don't understand.."
"I can't just keep starting over...it's too hard."
"How many times have you started over, Luka?"
"I tried to pretend I could do it after I lost my family...it didn't work...why should I think it will this time?" He tried to explain while avoiding her question directly.
"You could....just try it," she started, sounding unsure. Her face was harder to see in the dark now. "If it's only been the once....you should try it at least once more. What have you got to lose?"
"That's the whole point isn't it...I have nothing to lose. I've already lost everything haven't I?" The words held a bitterness to them he couldn't hide.
She swallowed. "But you are still alive....you still have a chance to have a new life. I only wanted to help you with that."
He steadied the crutch and lifted his leg enough to start walking. "I better get back."
She opened her mouth to protest, then said, "Okay...okay, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be leaving you alone."
"I don't deserve a new life...just this one..." He tossed the comment back over his shoulder as he started away too quickly, his pace erratic as he let his frustration take too much of his concentration.
She stood there, her shoulders slumped, not trying to stop him.
He was no more then 4 tents away when his crutch caught the edge of a rut and skidded. With a groan his leg took the full weight of the misstep before it buckled and sent him crashing to the ground clutching the knee in pain as he rolled onto his side.
"Luka?" She started towards him hesitantly, then broke into a run as he doubled into himself. "Luka!" She skidded to a stop beside him, and went to her knees. "Your leg..?" Her hands went to touch it.
He simply nodded, as he fought the intensity of the renewed pain, the knee already starting to swell from the fluid filling it.
She cursed, quite fluently, as her fingers prodded the flesh around it. "The ligament...it's stretched too far, not healed enough..."
He groaned with the touch then bit his lip trying to hold it back.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," she lamented. "I'll go for help....unless...I can help you with the crutches.."
He released the knee as he caught his breath and raised up on one arm. "I think...I can get back to my...tent with them.."
"Luka, damnit," she swore, "You need someone to rebrace the knee. Let Poppa do it." Despite her angry tone, she supported him as he moved.
He wasn't sure how he was going to get to his feet, the knee seemed to still be swelling, finally he conceded that it needed rebraced if he was going to walk at all. "All right."
She looped his arm over her shoulder, taking his weight as she got her feet under her and pushed. "I'll even leave the tent....I don't care," she said, her teeth clenched as she pulled on him.
He was barely keeping control on the pain as he grabbed one of the crutches and between it and Claire and a great deal of effort got upright. "You don't have to do that...."
"I'll come back...for the other crutch," she said, holding him tightly with an arm around his waist.
"I can do it with them." His stubbornness persisted.
"Do you not want my help that badly?" she shot back, stung.
"I never said that...but I think I can do it...just..need to watch..where I'm going."
"Of course you would not say it," she said, removing her arm once he was stable on the one crutch, then bending down for the other one and holding it out for him.
He took it and tucked it under his arm...the leg barely off the ground. "Thanks."
"I think you know the way to the tent," she gestured with her hand for him to start off.
He turned and dropped his eyes to the path...moving slowly as he walked, his eyes alert for ruts or half buried rocks.
She walked beside him, silently, her hand behind his elbow ready to help, although her fingers didn't quite touch him.
Several times he released a groan as his foot touched the ground but otherwise his jaw remained tight, his teeth clenched as he forced full attention on getting where he was going.
The tent loomed out of the darkness, lit by one of the rare lanterns hanging from a post nearby. Claire paused and held open the tent flap for him.
He managed a small smile as she held the flap. "Thanks." Then he moved past her and inside ready to once more confront William.
William rose from where he sat on the cot, a folder open on his lap. "Luka? That was fast....something the matter?"
The tent flap fell closed behind him. Claire had not followed.
"I tripped." He shifted his weight and let his eyes drop, not yet ready to see the look on the man's face at the news. "Think I might have tore it again. Claire was behind me."
William frowned deeply, quickly moving over and putting a hand to his shoulder. "Here, here...sit. Claire was where?"
"Outside..." He accepted the older man's help as he moved to comply...then carefully eased himself down with only a small groan.
Perplexed, William ducked his head outside the tent a moment, then back, his frown deepening. "There's no one outside."
"She came back here with me."
William didn't answer, merely rubbed his chin a moment. "Lie back...I need the leg straight."
"Don't think it will..." He eased back though before fully lying down and then moved to unfasten his pants knowing they were going to have to come off as well.
William helped him ease the pants off, then set them aside, his fingers immediately going to the knee.
Luka bit his lip...though the groans were still unavoidable as William touched it.
William's brows furrowed as he prodded it, gently but firmly, feeling all around the area. "Alright, Luka....you were lucky. The ligament is stretched thin, but it's not torn again. It shouldn't take so long to heal. But.." He held up a finger. "It has to remain immobile."
Luka's hands wrapped in the blanket on the cot, his knuckles white as he kept from pulling away from the touch. He offered a nod of understanding at the man's words.
"I'll make another splint for you in the meantime." He rose, going to his bag and rooting around inside for the small boards, and brought four back this time. "And I think you need to stay here again. I'll be damned if you go off and reinjure yourself again." His voice had an edge to it as he unrolled some gauze.
"I can go back...I don't want to make things so hard for you and Claire."
"Luka." He set down the gauze, looking the younger man square in the eye. "You are not so disruptive that you would ruin the relationship my daughter and I have forged for this many years. I doubt you could, truthfully, even if you wanted to. So for once, start listening to what I tell you instead of always questioning."
He closed his mouth before anything else came out, hearing too much of his own Father in the man's words and simply nodded his assent.
"I have been alive a considerable amount of years more than you," he huffed, unrolling the gauze again, "and I have attained some amount of wisdom. God forbid any of you listen to it." He set his mouth, maneuvering the sticks into place and starting the gauze wrap as soon as he was satisfied with their placement.
Luka's hands tightened in the bedding at the pressure on the knee but he didn't move or answer.
He fell silent, moving the leg as he needed to secure the gauze. After a few moments, he adjusted the strips, and tucked the end in.
Once he had finished Luka released his grip. "Thanks...sorry to be so much trouble."
"It's like having another child," William grumbled. "I'm sure I can handle it." Beneath his gruffness, there was faint worry.
"Pretty bad?"
William took a breath. "I have to insist you stay here. If you walk on it, and reinjure it again..." He rubbed at his face. "I don't want you to lose use of it."
Luka nodded...the first sign of panic registering on his face..that was obviously not a possibility he had considered.
"The ligament is all that holds your knee in place...and we don't have the luxury of expensive surgeons here, who can do it. With what we have, surgery would almost be worse for it, than better."
He wet his lips, his face serious. "I understand."
William's eyes searched his. "I'm going to give you something for the pain, and so you can sleep. I do not want you moving around in your sleep."
For once Luka didn't attempt to refuse the meds, once again simply nodding his consent.
He rose, going back to his bag, then fetching a cup and pouring a glass of water. The pitcher was back on the table, filled now. He brought some pills and the cup to Luka.
Luka pushed himself up on his arm to take first the pills then the water, downing each before handing the cup back.
He wet his lips as he looked to William. "My picture...can you get it for me? In my pocket."
William set the cup aside, and retrieved the pants, fishing the picture out and handing it over.
"Thank you." He glanced to the two in it before laying it on his chest and placing his hand over it.
"The meds will kick in soon, Luka." He poured himself a cup of water and drank it as well. "If you don't mind, I'm going to step out for a moment and see if I can find Claire. But I'll be back.."
"Okay..."
William sighed, then left the tent, quietly.
Resigned to his fate he kept his eyes on the door until the flap settled, his conversation with Claire lingered in his thoughts and left him troubled, how could it have all gone so wrong?
To be continued...
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 22, 2009 16:45:44 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 32/38
by JD and Mel
Luka was dozing, the medication eventually numbing the pain enough to allow him that luxury. He lay on his back with the leg immobilized, one hand splayed on his chest, the picture reassuringly under it. Even though it had been only two weeks since his transfer to Thomas' tent the effects were already evident on both his face and body leaving no doubt that his diet had suffered from the move.
The tent was still dark, meaning it was either late night or early morning. A slight figure moved in the dark, making a small amount of noise although was obviously trying to be quiet.
He twitched slightly in his sleep, caught on the fringes of a dream, not deep enough to pull him fully into it, but enough that it seemed to stir him.
There was the click of one of the lockers, as it shut, and Claire rose from it, holding a small bundle of things in her arm.
Whether it was the click, or something deeper he came awake with a start, sitting up too suddenly then releasing a quiet moan as the action jerked his leg. He drew a couple of quick breaths as he braced his hands on the cot, calming himself before he looked around.
Claire froze, her arms cradled around some of her clothing, standing a few feet from the door. She looked chagrined that she woke him.
It took him a moment to register her presence and what she was doing then his brow creased as he made the connection. "You're leaving?" He didn't immediately register that his words came in Croatian.
She glanced down at her clothes, as if debating a lie to tell him, but instead, she answered, in English, "We can't all sleep in here."
"I should go back...you don't have to go." As he came more fully awake and oriented his words shifted to English.
Setting her jaw, she took a few stiff steps over to the cot. "We can't move you yet, not unless you want to lose use of your leg, Luka."
He blinked not having realized the severity of the injury. "Lose the use?" His gaze shifted to the bandages wrapping the knee then back to her.
She dropped her clothes on the other cot in a heap, and knelt next to his cot. "Yes, lose," she repeated, using her hand to indicate where the injury was. "Poppa said the ligament was stretched again, weakened in that fall. It can still attach back to it's original spot, if we leave it alone and don't strain it. If we move you, any bending of the knee over the next few days might make it come off completely. If we were in the States, we could surgically reattach it...but we can't do that here. And until we could, the knee wouldn't work."
He rubbed his forehead and released a frustrated breath. "I messed it up...mess everything up." His voice trailed off as if the end of his words weren't meant for her to hear.
"It's just a knee injury, Luka," she said, evenly. "It's hardly everything."
"You shouldn't have to go." He picked his picture up off the blanket as if he thought it might somehow get misplaced, an action he knew was simply a distraction to keep him saying more
She looked away, then rose to get her clothes. "A lot of things shouldn't happen, Luka."
"I don't understand." He lifted his eyes to her, knowing she had to be talking about more then leaving but unable to grasp what, the drugs still clouding his mind enough that he couldn't separate what it was.
"It's not the first time I've had to go, and it won't be the last." She glanced back from gathering up her things. "It's still dark, you should get some sleep while you can."
He shook his head. "I don't want to sleep...there are too many things there now."
"You were asleep when I got here," she pointed out, gently.
"Your father gave me something to make me."
"And it should still be working."
He blinked to clear his vision..a good sign she was right though he wasn't ready to admit it. "I didn't mean to say the wrong things before. Do the wrong things..." He added the last more quietly.
Her eyes went down, away from him, drifting over the cot. "You didn't do or say anything wrong," she said, thickly.
"Made your father mad at you...at me for being too close. He thinks I use you to not think about my wife." He dropped his eyes from her and to the picture.
"He what?" She sank down onto the other cot, obviously caught off-guard.
He drew a breath before he could continue. "He was here...he said I called you Danijela."
"When..?" Her voice was very low.
"The day I left. It was a dream...I know you can't be her."
She continued to look down, at the floor.
"I think he's not too sure that isn't why I talk to you."
"Why do you talk to me, Luka?" Shelifted her eyes after a moment. "You don't want my help, and a lot of the time you try not to answer me when I talk to you."
He released the picture so he could rub his eyes, the other arm still keeping him upright. "It isn't easy to explain...at first it was because you kept coming...no matter how much I said no...later ..." He shrugged, then continued more carefully. "You didn't make me talk...you were just there." He paused to draw a breath before he forced himself to continue though his words came even softer. "I didn't want to let anyone else close to me...to get anyone else hurt because of me. I didn't want to risk losing anyone else." The last was barely audible and his eyes had once more fallen to his picture as they came.
"Well, you don't let me get close to you, Luka," she said, with a soft sigh.
He shifted his eyes to her before he responded. "Closer then anyone else."
"I had thought so," she answered, her voice strained, "and then we don't speak for days, and when I try and help you again, you pull away from me as if I'm a stranger all over again. When only days before I was crying on your shoulder."
"I didn't see anyone...I thought ...when your Father found us...he wanted me away from you....because he thought I would see you not for you. Then when you didn't come I thought maybe you thought that too."
Her shoulders hunched, as if there was a great weight on them. "I wanted to give you a break. And then I did come, but you weren't there..."
"I know...that was why I came to find you." He swept his tongue across his lips as he struggled not to avert his gaze.
To be continued...
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 24, 2009 0:40:47 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 33/38
by JD and Mel
"You said you came to thank me for the things I brought."
He moved the picture, laying it beside him before he used that arm to support himself in the semi-raised position, careful not to stir the injured leg. "Yes...I did."
She eyed him, almost defiantly. "So, you could say I messed things up this time. After all, if you hadn't come here, you wouldn't have reinjured the leg."
He wet his lips, dropping his eyes a moment before lifting them to her again. "No...but it might still have happened....no one can say."
"Exactly," she said, quietly. "Just like my going to get the supplies."
"No..." He pushed himself up more with the protest. "You went to find things for me. you said that, if you hadn't."
She shook her head. "I didn't just go for you. And it wasn't even my idea. The others got the Jeep and looked for volunteers."
He wanted to argue it...wanted to contradict her, take the blame from her shoulders... but how? "If I hadn't needed the things, would you have gone?" He watched her intently, looking for the signs that she was going to tell less then the truth.
She sighed, her shoulders still bent. "We needed more than just the clothes...meds and supplies."
"I didn't ask that."
"I don't know, Luka," she answered, looking up at him. Her eyes were worn, dull. "Maybe. They asked me before I thought about getting things for you, and I said I would think about it."
His arms trembled slightly from the strain of keeping himself upright but he remained as he was, fighting the drugs in his system. "Maybe...but not for sure."
"Nothing is for sure. You said you might have hurt the knee again anyway. That no one knows for sure."
"Some things are for sure." He let himself down on the cot and draped an arm across his face as if shielding it for a moment.
"Like what?" Her voice was quiet.
He moved his arm before turning his head to look at her. "That my life is gone...and nothing I do now can change that."
"The life you had is gone," she responded, returning his look.
He shook his head."They were my life..."
She looked down a moment, then back to him. "You aren't going to stop living just by wishing it. You have to find something new."
"I tried. I went back to work...to my training...and that was taken away too."
"That doesn't mean it will be taken away again."
"I.....Poppa and I want to help you do that again."
"I don't know that I can start over again..."
"I think you can. I know I can help you do that." She rested her elbows on her knees, hunched over still. "I want to do that. It's gives me my reason to go on."
He rubbed his hand over his face...torn over what to say, how to respond.
"I know you're still going to fight me, but that's okay."
"Claire....I just don't want you hurt again because of me...." He paused to swallow. "Everyone that gets too close. I just don't want you hurt anymore." He pressed the heel of his hand into his eyes, then dropped it to rest on his chest.
"It only makes it worse when you say that, because it means you're pushing me away," she said, strongly. "It feels like...I mean, I can't even stand myself right now." Her voice was thick, pained. "I feel like less than a person right now...and I don't want to be rejected. It only makes it worse."
He squeezed his eyes shut against what he knew was coming before forcing them open before he pushed himself up again. "I'm afraid...don't you understand? I'm not sure I'm strong enough to lose anyone else and I'm afraid if I let you too close that could happen... like it's happened to everyone else."
"If you do this, you will lose me, Luka," she answered, almost tearfully. "Just as if I had died. I mean...I almost did, you know? They were going to shoot me. God...I wanted them to. I wanted them to just shoot me. But I thought about you... and Poppa... and knew that if that happened, you'd never recover."
He let himself drop to the cot again before wrapping both arms over his head as he let a long moment of silence fill the small tent, when he uncovered his face again he fingered the hem of the rough blanket that lay draped at his waist. "I'm afraid..." His voice was no more then a whisper.
In the silence she managed to compose herself, gently refolding her clothes. "You don't have the be afraid of me," she said, sadly, rising to her feet. "But I can't tell you where you'll believe it."
"I feel like I'm betraying them."
"Because you are living?"
He found the picture and held it in one hand. "Yes."
"You deserve to live, Luka."
"Do I...why? For protecting my family so well, for staying with my patients, for protecting them?" His words came off harsher then he had intended and were laced with long withheld pain.
"You did what you could, and you can't tell me differently. You still deserve to live, if only because you got a second chance. You can't just throw it away."
"Did I? I ran away. I knew the Serbs were coming and I ran away to save my own life. I left them to die, Claire. Maybe, just maybe I couldn't keep my family alive but I ran away from my patients to save myself."
"Do you honestly think you could have saved them from the Serbs if you had stayed?" she asked, almost desperately. "Do you think you could have fought them off?"
"I could have tried. I should have. Like my teacher...like the others who chose to stay behind."
"They died, Luka. Those that stayed behind died, and none of the patients were saved."
He wiped the start of tears from his eyes as they seemed to burn, then let his arm drop over them to shield them...hearing from her that which Angelique had never fully told him but that, which in his heart, he had always known. "No..."
"I'm sorry," she said, softer, instantly wishing she hadn't said anything. "I shouldn't have.....I'm sorry."
He turned his head to the side..away from her for a moment as he gave into tears for those he would never see again.
As he turned away from her, she rose from the cot, wiping tears off her own face, as she carried her clothes out of the tent.
To be continued...
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 25, 2009 3:10:43 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 34/38
by JD and Mel
He didn't know how long he lay there in the dark before he let himself slip back into the sleep the drug offered, all he knew was that even there he failed to find the escape he needed. The knowledge that he had been spared while the others from the hospital had died stirred the memories and he found himself fighting his escape again...hearing the warnings..seeing the trucks...he tossed restlessly, only to moan as he jarred his leg.
A firm hand came down on his shoulder, grasping it to calm him down.
The touch was unexpected and in his mind he thought the Serbs had found him, his eyes flew open thinking his luck had finally run out, the hand belonged to one of them and death had finally come to claim him. At the sight of William a tremble of fleeting fear rolled through him before he caught his breath and fully registered him.
William tightened his grip a moment, having brought in a lamp with him and set it on the table so it illuminated the dark tent. "Luka," he said, quietly. "You need to calm down, you're moving too much."
"The dreams..." He offered the explanation even as he tried unsuccessfully to slow his breathing.
"I know. I don't want to redose you so soon if I can help it." He smoothed his hand over his jaw, with a small breath, and settled onto his stool. "Bad tonight?"
"They all died." He lifted his hand, rubbing sleep and spent tears from his eyes.
William leaned forward slightly, concerned. "Your family?"
"Yes...but...not only them, I was back at the hospital...the day I finally had to leave, it was so real."
"You're here now, Luka. It's just a dream, right now."
"I ran away and left them there to die..." He moved his eyes to Williams, expecting to see disgust in them, the same disgust that he was feeling in himself.
William regarded him intently, although he didn't look more than just worried. "There was no other option for you, Luka. It was under attack."
Luka shook his head. "We didn't know what would happen, others stayed behind...for the patients...I should have been one of them." His breathing had finally slowed but his voice remained unsteady.
William sighed, interlocking his fingers together, his elbows resting on his knees. "You can't dwell on what could have happened, Luka. There's no guarantee you could have altered a thing by staying there."
Luka rubbed at his eyes again...clearly doing battle with himself. "Why am I the one who keeps beating death? What makes me so different then the rest of them?"
"You're not the only one," William answered. "This camp is full of survivors who think they are alone. Who have lost whole families and friends."
"Three...four times it should have had me...but it didn't...and I don't know why."
"I can't tell you why...I wish I could." William kept looking at him, his face drawn and serious.
He drew a shuddered breath..his emotions fraying..."I don't want anyone else hurt because of me...I just want it all to end."
"Sshh, calm down," William murmured, rubbing Luka's shoulder with his hand. "No one else is going to be hurt....you're safe here."
"Claire was hurt...she got too close...if she hadn't. God...I'm sorry...I never meant for her to be hurt." His breathing grew unsteady again as he started to work himself up. "Everyone I touch gets hurt or dies."
William hesitated, surprised at his words, but drew him to his chest as he sat on the edge of the cot. "Luka, calm down. I know you didn't mean for anything to happen." His voice sounded thin.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry." He murmured the apology over and over as the man held him, at first unable to bring himself to return the hold.
He smoothed back Luka's hair, his hand trembling. "It's not your fault."
"I let her get too close...I can't let it happen again...I can't risk anything else happening because of me...not to you...not to her..." Despite his words he found himself finally giving into the need for the security the man's closeness offered, knowing he was trying to pull away in his head but unable to do so physically.
William didn't loosen his grip. "You can't get rid of us that easily," the older man said gruffly. "We're not going to abandon you."
Luka's body trembled under the man's hand as he fought what was proving to be a losing battle to maintain the last of his control on his emotions. In the end it was too much for him and as he lay his head on the older man's shoulder the tears came,and with them the repeated apology "I'm sorry...I'm sorry.
No one blames you," William murmured, soothing. "Not me....and not Claire. She doesn't blame you."
There weren't anymore words for the moment that would explain what he was feeling so he simply gave into that base need for comfort that a child seeks from a parent no matter their age and in lieu of his own being present he allowed William to serve in his stead.
Reassuring, he continued to hold him, murmuring low consolations to him to help him calm down.
He wouldn't know what what it was about this man more then others that allowed him to let go with him when he couldn't with others...maybe it didn't matter, but under his hand and his words he gradually relaxed and with it he once more edged closer to sleep again.
He finally allowed Luka to pull away, to lie back again on the cot. "You shouldn't worry about us right now," he said, gently. "We're not going anywhere."
Luka blinked, a final resistance to giving fully into sleep...but soon even that battle was lost, he searched William out with one hand, grounding himself in that simple touch then finally released himself to it, and as he closed his eyes, sleep claimed him.
The late morning sun was slanting light across the bare floor when Luka next awoke to the sound of William inside the tent.
As the sounds of the tent and voices outside filtered in he stirred...turning a bit on the cot.
William touched him, first on his shoulder, like a notice that he was there, and then to his forehead, a habitual gesture checking for fever.
At William's touch he opened his eyes...there was the momentary confusion from the meds then the clearing as full consciousness came to him. "Morning..I think." His voice was deep with sleep.
William smiled, straightening up. "Barely....but yes, still morning. How are you feeling?"
He shook his head slightly...even with the man having said nothing he knew what had passed the night before was over, it would never be mentioned again unless he chose to relive it, which he didn't, not now. "Hard to think..." He rubbed at his face...then started to push himself up on one arm.
"I think I'm going to start easing up on those sedatives....we lucked out." He pulled something off the table, what looked like a brace with metal supports, and several straps. "This will hold much better than the splint."
Luka followed his actions as he retrieved the device. "How did you get it?"
"Same way we get most of our supplies...donated or retrieved from locals." He hefted it and brought it over. "It's worn, but still in very good condition."
He raised himself up with his other arm so he could get a better look at the brace. "I'll be able to get up with it?"
"I think you may even be able to walk with it." William rested it on the bed next to him, then moved the covers over his knee. "Let's try it out."
"With the crutches?"
"Depends on how you manage with it." He started to unwind the bandages, but only enough to remove the splint, then started to rewrap. In minutes, he had it in place and was adjusting the cloth straps, testing the give of them.
Luka watched carefully...managing to keep his leg relatively still as well despite the pain the movement caused him.
Finally, he leaned back. "Alright. Want to give it a whirl?"
"Okay...he bit his lip as he fully sat up..it took him a minute more to find his picture and after getting his pants on he was ready to stand. He turned so he could put his good foot on the floor.
William stood first, offering his hand for support.
He lifted the other leg with his hands...shifting it so it was over the edge before looking up at William and taking the offered hand.
William pulled him to his feet and steadied him, letting him find his footing.
When he was on his feet he was a bit unsteady..the weakness of the bedrest and lingering medication evident.
"Fresh air will likely clear your head better as well."
"Yeah."
"Can you walk on it this way?"
He moved his eyes to William, the hesitation to bear weight on the leg visible. "I can try..."
"The brace will keep it immobile...it's just a matter of it paining you now. I think you can still use the crutches with it too.."
"It's not so bad..." He wasn't sure how much pain was being covered by meds but knew he had to stop relying on them.
William waited while he tried a few steps on it, eyeing him critically.
He looked at William then bit his lip and took a tentative step...then another...his balance still unsteady but not bad.
William nodded, almost to himself in satisfaction, then picked up the crutches. "Here...to steady you until you get used to the brace."
Luka took the crutches and settled them under his arms.."Thanks." His appearance reflected the days of bedrest...his hair shaggy and his face lightly bearded. The shirt he wore wrinkled from continually sleeping in it.
"I've got to get back to a few patients soon....maybe you want to go have a shave?" William asked, with a wry smile.
He lifted a hand to rub his chin and nodded. "Yeah..sure. You can go..I can get there. Can I shower with this?"
William nodded. "It shouldn't hurt it, and Angelique wanted to stop by and see you once you were more awake," he mentioned.
"But not Claire?" He shifted his eyes to William with the question.
William glanced back, his smile giving way to a more somber look. "Are you asking if she wanted to come see you as well?"
He let his eyes drop to the floor..."She wants more from me then I can give her..." He tried to explain.
"What does she want from you, Luka?" he asked, concerned.
He wet his lips..."She wants me to let her in...to be able to forget with her...but it's too soon." He stopped and lifted one hand from it's crutch to scratch his head. "It's hard to explain."
William nodded, rubbing his chin a moment. "Maybe...she understands that now. I'm sorry, but she hasn't asked about you, not since I started you on the sedatives. She's in the med tent right now, anyway."
He lifted his eyes to William as he took hold again.
William knelt a moment, adjusting one of the straps, before standing again.
"Long story. You've been out about four days...we had a bad run of new pnemonia cases, and she was helping out where we were short. You know Claire...persistent. Last night, we had to start treating her for exhaustion, dehydration."
"You should be there...not with me."
"I have been there, Luka. But I can only stay in the med tent so long...I have many other duties. She was asleep when I left."
He eyed him, not fully sure if he believed him but not ready to call him a liar either. "I can go back to the tent...let her be here with you."
"Maybe tomorrow," William relented. "I doubt she'll be released from care today."
He nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. "Okay."
"You could go visit," William hedged. "Angelique is there as well."
He nodded again.."I guess I should clean up first then."
William allowed a smile. "Indeed."
"Claire brought me some things...a small bag." He glanced around for the bag as he mentioned it.
"It's on the locker at the foot of your cot," William gestured.
Settling the crutches he made his way over to pick it up...then turned and made his way back.
"I'll be back here shortly...take it slow, and get used to the brace," William cautioned. SetsunaLuna: He glanced around. "Actually, let me help you with your shoes before I go." He retrieved them and knelt to help slide them on.
To be continued....
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 26, 2009 1:43:53 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 35/38
by JD and Mel
Finally satisfied, Angelique seemed to relax a little, slowing the flood of questions that had accompanied her examination Luka since he had presented himself at the main medical tent. . "I'm glad the brace could be used on your leg."
As promised to William he had showered and shaved though he still wore the same shirt and jeans Claire had brought back, and while he was looking thin his lungs sounded fairly clear. "Yeah, it's better.."
She smiled. "You have improved so much...." She smoothed the shirt over his shoulder in a motherly gesture. "Soon, Dr. Northstar will have you working here, yes?" She chuckled, letting her hand linger a little longer then necessary.
He dropped his eyes slightly. "He's asked me to...I'm not sure I'm ready."
"I know, do not worry, take your time," she said, soothingly. "We are only wanting you to get better right now."
"I know...it's just I owe him now...and with Claire sick." He shifted his leg a bit as a delaying tactic more than anything else. "I can't really put him off...not now."
"We still have people to help," she said, firmly, "if you cannot work yet. And Claire will be fine, soon."
"But not enough...I saw how it was when I was here."
Angelique half-smiled, relenting. "Yes, we need more help. I just do not want to be pushing you."
"I know." He fidgeted with the strap around the brace at his thigh. "I can't keep hiding from it though...even if I may not finish...I can still do some things."
Slowly, she said, "You are more than welcome, Luka. You can start anytime you wish, if you are feeling up to it."
"Where's Claire? I have something for her." Another doctor hurried over, calling her name, as he asked the question, delaying her reply.
After a brief conference with the doctor, she smiled apologetically to Luka. "I must go, mon ami. But I would like it if you came back soon, perhaps to be working." She paused, then said, "Claire? She's not too far...down by the other tent entrance." She pointed, helpfully, then hurried off with the other doctor.
"I'll try." He braced the crutches so he could get to his feet then started off in the direction she had indicated...looking over those in the cots in search of Claire.
She was in one closest to the door, looking as if she were asleep, lying on her back with a blanket up to her waist. There was an IV into her right hand, and it rested on her stomach. Her breathing was slow and even, and there were circles under her eyes.
He paused as he reached her, biting his lip as he debated if he should wake her. Most people at this end were obviously suffering from different levels of colds or flu, with random coughs. Still, it was quieter here, with the less injured patients. Hearing the creak of his brace, and the quiet thump of the crutches, she opened her eyes just barely.
"Hey." He offered the greeting as her eyes opened.
She blinked several times, her lashes like dark smudges over her cheeks, before finally opening them a little more fully. "Luka?" she murmured, in a rusty voice. She raised the hand with the IV in it to her eyes, to rub them.
"I brought you something." He shifted the crutch to reach in his pocket and once he had the thing in his hand moved closer so he could hand it to her. Whatever it was was concealed by his hand as he extended it to her.
"You did?" She had to clear her throat, thick with sleep, but she didn't try to sit up. Instead, she just lifted her left hand for whatever it was.
He held his hand over hers and released the small silver foil packet. The size of two squares of a Hershey bar, which is what it contained when she opened it.
"I traded half a bar of soap for that, thought you could use it."
She lowered her right hand from her eyes as she brought the silver packet closer to her eyes, perplexed. Once she realized what it was, she gave a little half-laugh. "Chocolate? You're amazing....I couldn't find any, no matter how hard I tried." She smiled up at him, sleepily, but before he could respond, her smile gave way to a surprised expression. "Hey, you're walking."
"Some of the Peacekeepers were handing them out to the little kids, I was coming back from the showers and just happened to be there when it was going on. So I made the deal with one of them for what I had left of my soap."
She brought the packet to her nose, closing her eyes a moment as she inhaled the scent of the candy. "God, thank you so much, Luka. It smells heavenly."
He leaned slightly on the crutches, the braced leg extended a bit in front of the other as he had taken his weight off of it. "I'm sorry I couldn't get more."
She shook her head, her hair tangling on the pillow. "This is more than I hoped for. Thank you." "Now comes the hard part," she murmured.
"Claire..."He wet his lips as he hesitated. "I'm sorry about the other night."
She rested her hand on her chest, cupping the chocolate with her hand. "I'm the one who should be sorry, I didn't mean to tell you about the hospital like that.."
"I think I knew all along, I mean...I'd heard the shooting...the screams...we'd heard stories before...you just don't want to believe them."
"Still....it was..insensitive of me."
"You didn't know...I never said anything about it...how could you."
"Angelique mentioned the hospital to me, I didn't realize you didn't know the truth, but as soon as I said it." She let her voice trail off, swallowing.
"I think she was afraid to tell me...after everything else...and it didn't come up in the interviews since they only wanted to know what I had seen."
Her fingers closed around the chocolate, gently. "I'm just sorry I hurt you like that. I didn't mean to."
"I know...it's okay. You should probably rest now...and I should get back before your Father worries more then he already is."
She regarded him another moment, before her eyes started to flutter closed. "Okay, you want to share this before you go?" she offered, uncurling her fingers from the candy.
He shook his head. "No..you eat it. I'll try and come around tomorrow."
She reopened her eyes. "I should be out of here by then."
He eased his weight back onto the braced leg slowly. "Okay, I'll see you then."
She gave him another tired smile. "I owe you one, for this."
He shook his head as he turned to walk away and half under his breath added. "I didn't think we were counting but I think I owe you far more..."
To be continued...
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 27, 2009 3:10:01 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 36/38
by JD and Mel
Claire opened the flap on Thomas' tent it was in the late afternoon, she was holding a small folded pile of clothes in her arms and seemed surprised to find Luka sitting inside on his cot. The metal brace was stretched out and his other leg was upraised, bent at the knee with Angelique's book resting against it as he held it there. She still looked tired, a shade paler than usual, but she moved with her normal energy, and wore her faded jeans with a blue t-shirt.
As Claire neared she couldn't help but notice that Luka's clothes had taken on the rumpled appearance of being worn repeatedly for multiple days on end.
She rapped with her knuckles on the center pole by the door. "Anyone home?" she called out.
At the sound of Claire's call he lifted his eyes from the page they had been on for the last half hour and to her voice. "Yeah, come on in." He leaned over to set the book on the table beside the cot and managed to find half a smile for her in the process. Most of the tent seemed shrouded in shadows except along the path illuminated by the opening door flap.
She slipped in, letting the tent door close behind her. Her eyes had a hard time in the low light and she blinked several times as they adjusted to it. "Hey, dark in here."
"You get used to it." He pulled himself upright a bit more with a wince allowing her space at the foot of his cot. "They let you out huh?"
"Kicked me out more like it," she joked, taking a seat gingerly in the space he provided. "Hard to put up with me for too long."
"You look better." He offered the compliment hesitantly.
She smiled, looking down to the folded clothes in her lap. "Thanks, I was exhausted."
He nodded, drawing his lower lip between his teeth as he did but otherwise remaining silent as if not sure what to say.
"I brought you some more clothes to replace the ones I took." She held out the folded items.
"You didn't have to do that, but thanks." He leaned forward to take the small pile and laid them on his lap before looking at what was there.
There was another pair of jeans, not as new as the ones she had given before, but still durable. Below those was a dark green sweatshirt, slightly faded.
He didn't unfold them, but looked them over. "Thanks." He managed another smile with the word.
"Are you getting out, walking around?" she asked, almost hopefully.
"Yeah, some." he sat the two items beside him on the cot "I usually go down to the tent for mid meal and to the showers. How are you doing?"
"I get tired faster," she admitted. "I hadn't realized how bad off I was, until..." She shrugged. "I couldn't ignore it anymore."
He nodded slightly. "Did you want to sit for awhile, or do you need to get back?"
She shook her head. "If you don't mind the company. I have the time to stay a bit."
He shook his head to the question. "No, I don't mind."
She sank onto the end of the cot, leaving plenty of room for him. "Does Thomas bring you things to eat, then, if you only go down for mid meal?"
"Why would he do that?" He looked at her a bit oddly like the thought of even asking the other man hadn't entered his mind.
She looked perplexed. "Don't you eat any other time besides midday?"
He shook his head. "No, not like I need that much."
Her brows came down in a frown. "Luka, you're a full grown man over six feet tall. You need more than one meal a day."
He shrugged then offered a vague hint of a smile. "It's more then I've eaten in a while, it's okay, really, and besides, they give big servings."
She seemed like she would argue, but she relented, with a sad little smile of her own. "I wish you would eat more, but okay. I won't bug you about it."
He brushed his now shaggy bangs off his forehead with a sweep of his hand. "If I eat too much I'll get fat, then the clothes I have won't fit." He offered the comment to lighten the mood in the tent.
"Hey, if you managed to gain that much weight, I'd buy you new clothes," she shot back, hotly.
He shook his head again..his cheeks dimpling slightly before he swept his tongue over his lips and raised his eyes back to her. "I get enough to eat, don't worry."
"No you don't," she said, although she smiled, "but I'll let it go for now. And I don't know how you can call those servings big. Honestly, Luka." She chuckled, a little. "Maybe I'm just greedy."
His eyes widened a bit at her comment. "You could feed two people with what they give you."
She adjusted her seat, resting her hands on her lap. "If youjust wanted to keep them alive, sure, but not if you wanted them to thrive. Think back what it was like before the war, Luka."
He brought his uninjured knee up to rest his arm on it with her comment. "It's hard to compare, we made meals for 4 people then. Maybe they weren't fancy but they filled you up."
She was still smiling at him, a little distracted, then said, "Well....I wanted to talk to you anyway, so why don't we go get something to eat? Since they give away so much," she teased.
"Sure." Figuring she needed to eat more then he did he didn't prottest, and instead turned to lift the splinted leg from the cot before leaning down to retrieve his shoes from under it.
"How is the brace working?" She moved to kneel down and help him with his shoes.
He released the task to her with a quiet, "Thanks, it's ok. I take it off to shower but otherwise I try to keep it on all the time."
"That's good," she murmured, sliding them on his feet and lacing them well. "Before you know it, you'll be able to walk without it."
"I can't wait." He leaned back down to pull the crutches out from under the cot and used them to pull himself up before tucking them under his arms. "Ready?"
She stood, taking care to move slower. "Yep." She held the curtain door for him.
He followed carefully..then squinted slightly as they stepped out into sunshine after the dimness of the tent.
"It's really nice out today," she murmured, walking slowly to the mess tent. "You should take advantage of it while you can."
"Another suggestion?" He allowed some teasing to enter his tone.
She hunched her shoulders sheepishly, although she smiled. "Just an idea."
The hoarseness had all but faded from his voice reflecting the passing finally of the pneumonia. "Maybe things will dry out ."
"Hopefully," she agreed. "I'm sure it will make things easier for the other doctors, and patients."
Many of the family tents had clothes draped on the ropes securing them, laundry left to dry in the sun.
As they walked Luka kept his eyes on the ground still wary of ruts and loose rocks on the path. "Yeah, less colds anyway."
"You seem to be doing much better," she ventured. "Your cough is all but gone now."
He lifted his eyes as she spoke, a hint of surprise that she had noticed in his look. "Just little bit sometimes at night, but mostly it's gone. How long you have to rest?" He asked the question automatically, not even realizing he had until it was out.
"Well..." She seemed hesitant to answer.
He slowed a bit with her hesitation."Claire?"
"I'm fine," she said, waving her hand dismissive. "We'll talk about it over eating."
He almost pushed her to continue but instead stopped himself."Okay..." As they neared the mess tent though he did slow...mentally preparing himself for entering the space. The process was one he faced at every visit, an internal battle that he waged with himself and which in truth was the reason he limited himself to one meal a day. Having to hear and see so many other intact families, it was just too much for him to face three times a day.
She again held the door for him.
He shook off the thoughts as he realized that Claire was holding the door for him then eased past her. "Thanks." The room wasn't bad, he stopped to look at the line, they seemed to be between rushes anyway.
"If you want to sit," she offered, "I can wait in the line and get plates for us."
He shook his head. "That's okay, I can get mine, have to get used to doing it myself anyway."
"Okay, if you're sure." She moved with him over to the line.
He worked his way through the line, taking the tray and letting them put the basics on it before balancing it against the crutch as he made his way to an empty space on one of the tables.
She joined him, setting her own tray down and sliding into the seat. "You're right," she joked, "it's like a banquet." She grinned.
He glanced over the tray at what it held, a slice of farm bread, a generous scoop of beans, a medium sized roasted potato, and coffee. "Yeah, a banquet..."
"Yeah, a banquet..."
To be continued...
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Post by FicWriter on Feb 28, 2009 3:38:19 GMT 10
For One Life
Chapter 37/38
by JD and Mel
Claire found herself looking over what Luka had gotten to eat, but made herself refrain from commenting on it. The difference between the variety served in the staff tent and the refugees was obvious, the food being mostly carbs, bland but meant to be filling.
"You know...I can get..'" She let her words trail off, knowing she had to stop trying to tell him what to do, or make offers.
He had picked up his fork to poke at the beans as she spoke and he raised his eyes to her. "Hmm?
"Nothing, nothing," she said. She held up her hands, palms outward in a supplicating gesture. "See? This is me not meddling." Her tone was teasing.
He gave her a half smile in response before scooping a bit up and putting it in his mouth. As he chewed he lay the fork back down on the tray.
She bent her own head a little, playing with the food on her own plate with her fork.
"It's not that bad."
She looked up, quizzically. "What?"
He broke a corner of the bread off with his comment and gestured towards her tray with it. "I said..it doesn't look that great but it's not that bad."
She looked down at the plate, realizing what she was doing. "Oh, yea, it's not. I know." She took a small bite of the food, chewing silently.
"Then what is it?"
She lifted her eyes back up, swallowing. "How is it living with Thomas?"
He shrugged slightly. "All right I guess."
Claire half-smiled. "Just all right?"
"Better then the hospital tent, or one of the bigger tents."
"Okay, I'll give you that. I didn't realize how bad it could get sleeping in the med tent," she admitted.
"Can be noisy." He realized he was still holding with piece of bread he had torn off, and after balling it between his palms he popped it in his mouth.
"Yea." She took a piece of bread too, shredding it with her fingers absently. "But, you have Poppa to talk to as well...and Angelique...and you're doing much better now, with the peumonia almost gone.."
He tilted his head slightly, reading a bit between what she was saying, or rather not saying. "What's going on?"
Her look was bleak. "I'm being sent home...for a little while.."
He looked at her a minute. "Because of what happened?"
A small self-recriminating smile touched her mouth. "Which thing?" she said, wryly.
He glanced around themm then swallowed. "Any of it...being sick."
"Yea, all of it." She dropped the bread onto her plate, brushing her fingers against her jeans. "Angelique says she can't get my blood sugar to stabilize, and that I'm at a much higher risk for infection here, but, yea, those other things too."
"Be good for you going back...better food." He poked at the potato, his appetite, what little had been there, essentially gone. "Lots of chocolate."
She half-smiled. "I suppose."
"Your Father will go too?"
She shook her head. "He's staying here. In fact, he'd probably like you to stay back in the tent with him, keep him company."
He paused in his assault on the potato. "So he can watch me again?"
"No, nothing like that," she said, with a small chuckle. "I think he'd just like someone to talk to." She paused. "I'd like that too, for his sake."
"He said that?"
Claire rolled her eyes. "Of course not. He told me that I should leave you alone already."
That raised a smile. "So I am supposed to just go there and surprise him?"
She warmed a little. "Yea, tell him Thomas snores, and you can't take it anymore."
"My choice to that was the bigger tent, I don't think snoring is a reason to move here."
She sighed, relenting. "Well, I've already mentioned it to him, and he seemed agreeable. I'm sure he'll come talk to you on his own, after I've left."
He nodded, looked at his barely touched tray and pushed it away.
"You should eat more," she said, automatically.
"I'm not too hungry."
She rubbed her eyes. "We sound like a broken record."
"Broken record?"
"Yea, you know, a record," she started to explain, then realized she couldn't. "Um, repeating the same things over and over again."
"Oh, broken record." He nodded and filed the phrase away.
She smiled at his expression, although hers was wistful. "I wish I could stay," she admitted.
"Maybe you can come back in the summer, nicer here then. Or used to be." The addition came half under his breath.
She blinked, a little surprised at the invitation, and nodded. "Sure. I could do that." She glanced at the forgotten food. "Neither of us seems up for eating," she said, quiet. "You want to go for a walk, you know, for old times sake?"
"Sure. I'd like that."
To be continued....
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Post by FicWriter on Mar 1, 2009 3:08:23 GMT 10
This is the last chapter, I hope you've enjoyed the story...
For One Life
Finale
by JD and Mel
Even before he finished consenting to the walk he had turned in preparation of standing, then reached for the crutches. His actions more fluid as he seemed to be getting used to them. Once on his feet he balanced both under one arm so he could reach for his tray with the other hand.
"I can get the trays." She took up hers and reached for his. "And I can just walk you back to, whereever you want to go."
"I have it, thanks though."
She shrugged, then turned to take care of her own tray.
He unconsciously bit his lip as if that might somehow affect his balance as moved towards the waste area. The tray, held a bit unsteadily but not so much that it would spill, he seemed to reach the table set aside to hold the dirty trays none to soon.
She emptied hers and took care of it, then patiently waited for him by the door.
Once he had cleared it and deposited the contents in their proper places he slid the extra crutch under his arm and walked over to join her.
"Where would you like to walk?"
He offered a shrug."Wherever you want to go is okay."
She nodded, holding open the door for him, and stepping outside. "How well is your leg holding up, for a walk?"
"It's not too bad, we can walk." He stepped outside and paused to wait for her. "When do you leave?"
She looked out over the camp a moment. "In the morning."
"Pretty fast, you'll go home?"
She nodded. "Actually, I think I may need to leave tonight, depends on when the next set of trucks go out. Can't fly out of here," she said, with a half smile.
"No...just over..." He dropped his eyes to check the path in front of him with the statement. "Be good for you to go back, yes? Hot showers, a real bed?"
"Sure," she admitted. "But I won't be doing any good over there." She sighed.
"I think you'll find someone to take care of." He gave her a sideways glance.
She rolled her eyes. "No one back home needs me to take care of them."
"You can't help in a hospital there?"
She shook her head. "I can, but it won't be the same. I'm still in school, technically. I could do a residency. Hopefully I would really get to work."
He seemed less bothered by those around them then he had on earlier walks, though he still kept his eyes mainly on the worn path. "You will find out when you get there?"
"Yes. I'll need to apply for a residency, because the spots may all be filled right now. I think I'll have a month or two to wait for a new program. But...I can study. Rest, I suppose. That's what Angelique says to do."
"But your Father won't go back with you?" His question was more one of concern that she would be the one left alone.
"No, he had agreed to a certain length of time here, and he doesn't want to go back on his word. Plus, he has good surgical skills. Not all doctors here have that."
"It will be hard for him I think."
She glanced at him as they walked. "Hard?"
He wet his lips, for a moment his thoughts drifting to the lonliness he felt at not having his family with him. "To be away from family."
"Oh." She walked in silence a moment. "I don't know, maybe. He's very into his work here."
"I think he will still worry about you...and miss you." He kept his eyes on the ground a bit longer then raised them to look off in the distance. "I've been thinking I should try to find where my Tata has gone...it's been a long time since we got word to him."
She looked at him, hopeful. "I think that's a great idea. I'm sure I....well, Poppa could help you."
"I sent word with someone leaving Vukovar after..." He paused. "I don't know if he got the message, and with all the bombings... I'm not even sure he was in the same place."
"I know you can find him again. He's probably looking for you too."
"There are a lot of places to look, many camps, yes?"
"Right," she nodded. "So it takes some time, but if you are both looking, it would go faster."
He nodded."I should write another letter, see if it will find him."
"I think I might be able to help, but you won't have the letter in time," she mused. "I know that the Red Cross has been compiling lists of all refugees, but they haven't gotten here. They should be soon, but I can send someone this way."
"I'll write something tonight."
Someone was calling her name from a farther point on, insistently, and she looked in that direction. One of the other interns was coming their way.
He stopped as she did and looked towards the approaching man.
The man gave a brief nod to Luka, correctlyassuming him to be a patient. In quick tones, he told Claire that they had to move the transport up because of troop movement, and they were leaving within the half hour.
"Go ahead, I can get back on my own."
The intern jogged off, and said they'd be waiting, and she turned to look at him.
"You probably need to finish packing."
"There's not much." she started, then released a breath, figuring it was foolish to draw out any farewell. "Alright, then, I guess I have to."
"I'm not sure what to say..." He fumbled a bit with his words."Thanks seems not enough, so I'll say be safe. It'll be strange not to have you push at me."
She smiled, a little forlornly. "Maybe a relief, not to have me pushing you around. But, I'll be safe, as much as I can. Okay?"
"Okay." He remained standing where he was, his hands tightening and loosening on the grips of his crutches.
"Take care of yourself, Luka," she added, quieter. "You know, just one last thing for me to bug you about."
"Sure, you too." He offered a weak smile himself at her words.
She put a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. "Thanks too, for, you know...listening." It was clear she was having a hard time too, thanking him for comforting her when she was upset, and she withdrew her hand to run it through her hair.
"It's okay."He let his eyes settle on her. "You should go, before they get mad."
She looked back up, her eyes searching his for a moment, then she smiled, self-conciously. "I'm really bad with saying goodbye I guess. So, I'll just say, see you later." She started to move off, then turned to walk backwards a moment so she could wave. "Hopefully sooner rather than later," she called back, then turned to go.
He gave her a smile."Yeah, sure."
He remained where he stood long after she had disappeared into the camp, it was time to move forward, for both of them, or at least to try. With a sigh he straightened and slowly began the walk back to his tent.
THE END
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