Life Catching Up - Part One
She clutched her side.
It was a reflex. A response to the intense pain that seared through her side.
Alicia Washington had felt pain in her life. Hell, she'd experienced more pain than most grown men could survive ten times over. And she did it with a face of steel-at least she tried.
She stood, hoping no one saw her moment of weakness, and continued jogging. It hurt, but she went on. She was used to pushing through. Like every Saturday morning-her one morning off duty-she started the day with a run along the inside perimeter of the gate at dawn. It was a long run, but Alicia found that it was the perfect way to clear her head.
Today, there was less head-clearing and more teeth-gritting, but she wasn't about to let a little (increasingly painful) side ache get in the way of her Saturday morning run. She thrived off of routine.
She finished the last mile, albeit slower than she normally would, and paced behind the command center, catching her breath before she returned home for a shower.
Nathaniel watched her with his clear, blue eyes. Eyes that had the ability to sear through a soul.
The big gulps of air that filled her lungs made it worse. Each time she inhaled a sharp pain ripped through her right side. She clutched it and gritted her teeth as she began to walk back to her place. Since she arrived shortly after Taylor, her house was one of the first built. Therefore, it was close-a fact she was grateful for today.
"Lieutenant Washington," she heard the voice of her Commanding Officer behind her.
She spun around, and those blue eyes caught her own.
"Sir."
"How was your run?" He asked. He was well aware of her Saturday morning ritual.
"Fine sir," she said, itching to get a hot shower in before curling up in her bed and sleeping away the pain gnawing at her side.
"A little slower than usual," he said.
Her eyes narrowed at her friend. If looks could kill, Nathaniel Taylor would be dead. She glared at him, hating that he highlighted her moment of weakness.
He stood his ground, his gaze never leaving her own. He knew his comment would get under her skin, but he had a point to make.
"It would have anything to do with the pain in your side, would it?" he asked.
"Sir?" she said, feigning ignorance while at the same time cursing the fact that he could see right through her.
"Come on Wash, you practically walked that last mile."
"I did not!" she was fuming. "I'm fine." though as the words escaped her lips, the pain flared again in her lower right side. It took everything she had not to grimace.
"Alicia," he said softening, "come on, I can tell when one of my soldiers-when one of my friends-is hurting."
She stared into his eyes, simultaneously cursing and appreciating the fact that he could see right through her.
"Come on, let me take you to the infirmary. We can get that checked out."
"Really, I'm fine-"
"Wash, that's an order."
She sighed, her jaw set. "Fine"
He smiled. "There, that wasn't so bad now, was it?"
"Don't push your luck sir." she said and he chuckled.
Part 2 is coming soon! Please let me know what you think!