In a Starbucks in Torrance, California, the barista shouts "I've got a Venti Iced Caffe Americano for Penny?"

"Here, thanks" Penny takes the big cup with her right hand, carefully steadying it with her left and heading for a seat.

She's a tanned and blonde wearing jeans and a washed out long sleeved plaid shirt

Someone shouts "Hey Penny! Penny Watson!" across the crowd and she turns, looking for who knows her name. It's been ages since she's been here, who'd know her?

then a tall middle aged man with a surfers tan dressed in a smart jacket gets up from a table and waves.

She has a guilty start of recognition. Mike, her ex from the last year of Med school. Damn, it's a small world sometimes. He was a sweet enough guy, they'd split up because they were just going different ways when they graduated.

"It's me, Mike. Mike Stamford. Remember?"

"yeah, Hey Mike. it's been years."

He offers her a hand to shake but she gestures with her coffee. He nods and gestures to the seat opposite him "join me?". She sits with a smile of thanks, setting the big coffee down carefully. He looks her over as she slides into the chair, taking in the curve of her tight jeans, the swell of her chest as she's got the shirt buttoned low. She's in great shape, she must still be doing dance or yoga maybe. He carries on looking up to see a knowing smile and has a guilty start. Suddenly at a loss for words he pauses then says "erm, That's a beast of a coffee"

"Four shots of espresso with water over ice, packs 300mg of caffeine and only 25 calories"

"you'll not sleep for a week"

She shrugs "I don't sleep much these days"

he smile an open and easy grins "well, you're still looking good!"

She smiles a little, a sunny smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes "and so are you"

He gives a self depreciating laugh, looks down at himself. "Ah, I know, I got old and settled down. So, I heard you were abroad somewhere, putting people back together, getting shot at. What happened?
Penny smiles awkwardly and shrugs "I got shot." She raises her left hand, he does a double take as there is something odd about it. the wrist is too stiff, the fingers too still. She gives a brittle little smile and the fingers move as one, opening slowly. Realisation hits him and he flinches, he looks surprised then awkward and embarrassed . "oh. Oh I'm sorry"

She sees the familiar look of shock and pity in his eyes. "We were in a convoy meant to be bringing supplies to KOP in Korangal valley. They had an old soviet 14.5mm heavy machine gun up on a hill, over a mile out. We never saw it until it opened up. We got pretty chewed up before the helo got them. I got med-evaced, was lucky to make it. One Round went right through the middle of my forearm while I was treating someone. he didn't make it." She shrugs "So Yeah, I'm not all the Watson you knew anymore."

There's an embarrassed pause.

To break the silence Penny asks "Are you still at The Rampart, then?
"Harbour, yes, though I'm teaching now. Bright young things, like we used to be." He sighs "God, I hate them!

What about you? Just staying in town 'til you get yourself sorted?"

"I'm just visiting old haunts, but probably be heading East. I can't afford California on Army disability and I need to settle down to get rehab arranged" .
" Ah, and you couldn't bear to be anywhere else. That's not the Watson I know. "
Penny looks uncomfortable "Yeah, well I'm not all the Watson you used to know any more"
she stops. Mike awkwardly looks away and drinks his coffee, then his brow furrows and he asks " Couldn't your family help? ".

She laughs sarcastically " yeah, that's going to happen. They're still out on the farm, I've been working my whole life to get away from that, I don't want to end up in a trailer park with three screaming kids"

"How is your sister these days?"

"She got drunk and shot her husband, hit him this time"

"So no going back there. maybe get a roommate and share a place round here?"

Penny stares into her coffee "Come on, who'd want me for a roommate?"

Mike Chuckles thoughtfully

"What?"

"you know, it's funny but you're the second person to say that to me today"

"Who was the first?"

"it's hard to explain, you'll have to meet him"