Lovely Weather for Bats

Tom's been working on Captain Jones since he first came in and now there's nothing more he can do. The man is a patchwork of stitching and splints but he's still got all his limbs and considering the state he was in when he arrived, Tom counts that as a real success. Now the best thing for him to do is sleep.

Tom supervises the orderlies moving the captain from his operating table to the officer's ward and then tells the nurse on duty to let him know when his patient wakes. Having worked for several hours, he can hopefully go and get some rest. Perhaps he can even see Kitty, they had exchanged glances earlier as she had delivered more bandages to the theatre but he hadn't allowed himself to get distracted.

Once Captain Jones has woken, he establishes himself as quite a character, he nearly always delays the nurses with his flirtatious chatter but he is equally happy to talk to the orderlies and doctors and Tom finds himself becoming quite fond of the young captain. Just like Miles, he seems to understand that beneath Tom's harsh exterior he's only human after all.

A few days after the operation when Tom is checking on the state of all his wounds, Jones begins to talk of his girl. Most of the men have someone back in blighty that they talk of nostalgically. Tom is inclined to take such stories with a pinch of salt but there is something in Jones' tone that tells him this is a real and very beloved sweetheart so he listens and smiles as he re-wraps the man's right leg and moves on to his left with the help of the duty nurse. When she leaves to check on another patient Jones turns to him with a conspiratorial smile.

'So Doctor, have you got a girl?'

Tom immediately tries not to think back to a few nights ago when he and Kitty had taken a walk under the stars after supper.

'I can see by the look in your eye that you do.' Jones winks but the cheeky look on his face is tempered by a soft smile. 'Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.'

Tom smiles uneasily and re-bandages the other leg. He's not really comfortable talking about Kitty with anyone, even Miles. It's so foreign to him to talk about feelings, even in a veiled way.

'That's healing nicely Captain,' he says, hoping to change the subject. 'In about a week we should have you healed enough to be transported back to blighty for your convalescence. You've been damn lucky really.'

Jones smiles. 'That's me, always the lucky one, sounds like I was lucky to get you as my surgeon. I heard one of the others mentioning he'd have amputated.'

'Yes well, Major Yelland and I have some differences of opinion. I happen to think that it's better for men to leave here with two working legs.' Tom doesn't mean to sound so grumpy but Yelland, in spite of the Colonel's warnings, is still doing his best to aggravate Tom.

'Well thank you Doctor. I assume I'll be seeing you tomorrow?'

'Either me or my colleague Captain Hesketh-Thorne,' Tom assures him as he leaves. He feels safe leaving his patient in Miles' hands at least and he really doesn't always have time to stop by all his patients every day even when they are as charming as Captain Jones.

'So Doctor, are you going to tell me more about your sweetheart?' Jones asks with a curious glint in his eye.

Tom sighs. At least Jones had waited until the nurse left to start asking questions. He doesn't want to become hospital gossip and he knows that Kitty doesn't want that either.

'Is she pretty? Tall? Charming? Tell me something at least, I'm bored.' Jones does look bored it's true. Such a chatty man would be so much happier in a men's ward or outside socialising but due to his wounds, he is still fairly immobile and has to rely on his visitors to provide entertainment. Sadly the officer's ward doesn't exactly encourage visitors and most of the other men there occupy themselves with books and quiet conversation. It must be a strain for the obviously gregarious man. Tom supposes he can spare a few minutes of conversation, Kitty has been trying to tell him that often the best thing she can do for a patient is talk to him and how much that can improve the rate of healing in someone. Maybe it's time for him to try that theory out.

He sits on the chair by the bed and smiles at Jones' look of surprise. 'I am allowed to take breaks sometimes you know,' he jokes.

'So does this mean you're going to tell me about her? I'm guessing that she's quite a secret.'

'Not a secret exactly, I'm just not keen on sharing all of my life with everybody in the hospital. This place is a gossip mill unlike any other. It's worse than the street where I grew up even!'

'So what's she like?' he looks honestly curious.

'She's very beautiful and very proud and I'm constantly surprised that she'll even look at me…' now he's got over the initial barrier, his feelings about Kitty are threatening to spill out uncontrollably.

'She doesn't let me be grumpy and she always tells me off if I say something rude unintentionally. She makes me feel better after doing this all day and I think I make her happier too.'

In those few sentences he has shared more about himself with Jones than he has with anyone, except perhaps Miles, but it feels natural. The Captain has an aura that invites you to share anything with him. That kind of charm could be dangerous but he doesn't think the captain uses it like that.

'She sounds lovely, perfect for you in fact… I suppose you've left her back in blighty?'

Tom means to say yes but he hesitates for just a little too long and Jones notices of course.

'Ahh… she's here isn't she… don't worry I won't say anything. Now I see why you were so cagey.'

Tom nods shortly. The danger of his romance being discovered has stopped his desire to tell Jones everything and he is pushed back into the world of the hospital abruptly.

'I must be getting on.'

'Of course Doctor. I hope you don't think I was being nosy, I won't say anything, I promise.'

Jones looks sincere and Tom just hopes he is telling the truth. He might warn Kitty just in case.

So this is part one of two. I hope you like Captain Jones, I'm rather fond of him myself and I think anyone who encourages Tom to talk is a good thing. Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter, the second part will be up tomorrow (I promise because I have actually already written it)