AN: While we wait for the real writers to get back to us, I will attempt to entertain you. Could Season 4 hold a Lourdes/Hal romance? How about a Ben/Lourdes romance?

The recent rains had made the grass as green as I could ever remember seeing it. For the first time in what must have been years, I could hear birds singing. The sun shone bright on our convoy of cars and trucks and they sparkled like diamonds. Lexi's smile was contagious and I found myself smiling despite everything.

I looked back to where the convoy had stopped for lunch. People were starting to gather near the "chuck wagon" so I told Lexi we should head back and get in line. It was a beautiful day. Summer was getting closer all the time. I wore a thin coat over my thin T-Shirt and Lexi only had a sweater on with her jeans.

We got in line behind Jenny and Bob, whose daughter I had treated for a cough several times. Since I had "woken up" from the nightmare that was being bugged, I realized that there were details here and there that were hazy. So without giving it a second thought I asked Jenny,

"How's Jessica doing?"

She jumped as if I had struck her. She spun around to look at me with wide eyes and I wondered if I had spoken too loudly. After recovering she finally said,

"She's fine. Doing great, thank you for asking."

I just smiled in reply. Two weeks and I still was being treated like I had the Black Plague. You would think after all of this time people would realize I was okay, that I was back to myself, but no. Jenny spun back around and grabbed Bob's arm with both hands and they scooted closer to the person in front of them.

I looked down at Lexi to see if she had caught what had happened between me and Jenny. She was crouched down looking at a butterfly that had landed on her hand. Suddenly a warm voice spoke quietly behind me.

"Don't worry about it. A week from now they will get hurt, or their kid will get hurt, and they'll come running to you."

I turned around and looked into a muscled chest. Looking a little further up I found the face of Ben Mason. When had Ben gotten so tall? And so muscular?

"I didn't think anyone would ever be nice to me again, but when they found out what my skills were, I had people begging me to come with them and help them on missions."

I smiled. I didn't know what to say. It was awkward talking about it. Ben smiled back at me and I realized that if anyone understood what I was going through it would be Ben. I looked around and realized that we were within ear shot of a lot of people.

"Do you think we could talk later?"

Ben nodded, then looked around. He thought for a moment then said, "I usually take the zero to four hour watch. Would you still be up? We could sit together."

"Yes, I've gotten good sleep the last couple of nights. Come find me, I'll sit with you and keep you company."

He smiled a smile that made me a feel giddy. Usually only Hal's smile had that effect on me.

The stars sparkled brilliantly but I no longer enjoyed staring at them. We sat down on the back of a truck that was parked at the perimeter of our camp.

"So, have people been treating you better? Do you still get looks? Whispers?" I asked Ben.

"I don't get looks anymore but not everyone knows how well I can hear. I hear people talk about not wanting their kids around me sometimes."

"I haven't treated anyone yet. I thought after two weeks people would see I'm me again, and I could start helping people. I hope I get the chance to try to make up for the damage I have done. I know I can't ever make it right, but I want to at least try to do some good."

I looked at Ben and he nodded as I spoke. I was already feeling better being able to talk to him.

"I know that I... I... killed people. But that was the bugged me. I want to help now. Why let my medical knowledge go to waste?"

"Give them a few more weeks. We'll have a big battle and they'll be a lot of wounded and people will be begging you for help. Once you've helped a few people they will remember you're the doctor and everything will be fine."

I smiled as Ben spoke to me, his voice soft and low. I was so glad I had taken the time to come out here and talk to him. I felt like I had a friend again. I may have to make sitting with him during his shifts a regular thing.