So before you start reading, I should warn you all, I'm not an expert with time period stories especially during Civil War - I'm basically learning as I write. It's a challenge, but I'm definitely going to give it a shot :D

Just bear with me.

March 6, 1863.

Dear diary,

I miss home. I haven't been this far away in a while, since Shawn, Maggie and myself went to Grandma's for a week. But, things aren't so great at home either, some farms caught fire - some believe the soldiers are responsible.

Daddy's afraid for the farm, I am too. It's the only place I've ever known, and, it's upsetting to think at any given moment it could go up in flames. Though, I'm trying to be optimistic that everything will be okay, I still have terrible thoughts as I ask myself, what if?

But, I can't torture myself, I have a job to do after all - as my Daddy always says. And that's exactly what I must do - what I will do. I won't lie and say I like this, I signed up thinking I already knew what I was getting into, but, I didn't know the half of it. Unfortunately, I'm learning everyday.

I have to go now, my twelve minute break goes by so quickly, but I'll be sure to write before bed - if I'm not completely exhausted by then.

- Beth

She put her diary back in her satchel and hung it on the nail, she hurried out to the other nurses as they gathered around Carol, their newest Matron. Beth smoothed over her apron as Carol went down the line of women, making sure their uniforms were in order.

"You're late Miss Greene."

She blushed."I'm sorry, I lost all track of time."

"Please don't make a habit of being late."

"Yes Ma'am."

After she released the nurses from their morning gathering, the women went off to do their rounds as expected. Beth walked over to a bed covered in linen, and began to fold them one by one. She watched as the nurses, Carol included, did various things around the hospital.

Beth liked her a lot, a lot more than their last Matron. Carol was poised, well mannered and extremely dedicated to her work. Unlike their last, who was unstable and lost most of the time. There was a rumor that she was that way from years of abuse, Beth wasn't one to delve into rumors or gossip, but, it did seem logical.

"Ma'am."

Beth looked up and spotted the man who called, she glanced over at the nurses but they were preoccupied. Beth set the folded towels down on the empty bed and walked over, through a row of empty beds. It was probably the first day that there were more empty beds than occupied, and, that frightened her for some reason.

"Yes, sir?" She smiled.

"Can I have some water, please?"

"Of course. Will there be anything else?"

He shook his head."No Ma'am."

She nodded and walked to the table in the middle of the room, that held a few pitchers water and serving cups. She took a cup and a full pitcher of water and walked back to his bed. Since there wasn't many wounded, there probably wouldn't be much water to serve.

"I only asked for some."

She smiled."Well you need to hydrate, it's very important if you want to get better."

He nodded and took the cup."Thank you."

She took a seat in a chair next to his bed, and placed the pitcher on the floor by her feet. He didn't say much to her, just sipped his water while staring into the abyss. She took the opportunity to look him over, taking in all of his features as well as his wounds. So far he had a lot.

"I'll change your bandage." She said, motioning towards his head wound.

"They just did not too long ago." He replied.

"Oh, well, some blood is seeping through, wouldn't want it getting infected."

She walked back to the supply room and grabbed two bowls, a clean towel and some bandages. She came back a few moments later and set the things down on the table beside the cot. She wanted to know what happened to him - her curiosity was plaguing her, again. But she couldn't seem too eager about this, that would be wrong of her. After all, this was a wound and he was a soldier.

She poured some water into the bowl and moved over to his bedside."Could you sit up, please?"

He grunted as he pushed himself up against the wall, Beth moved in close and carefully begun unravelling the bandage. She soon realized the extent of the wound, surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as it first seemed. It was bad, but none like she'd seen in the past. She tossed the bloodied bandages into the empty bowl beside her.

"Does it hurt?" She asked.

He shrugged."Stings a bit, ma'am."

"I'm sorry this happened to you."

"It was my job and I did it."

She nodded as she soaked the towel in the bowl of water, carefully, she pressed it to the side of his head - wiping away any excessive blood while cleansing the wound itself. But careful not to rip out the neat stitching.

"You're one of the lucky one's, aren't you?" She asked, trying to make light conversation.

He didn't answer as she suspected he wouldn't, but she continued on with a smile. After all, a smile was an important part of the job - spreading joy was another.

"Shall I write a letter to your family letting them know you're safe?" She questioned.

"No, it's fine." He muttered.

"They must be worried sick about you."

He snorted."They don't care."

She frowned."They don't?"

"My brother didn't care much that I was drafted, an' my Mother died when I was a boy." He paused."My Father - he was never there to begin with."

"I'm sorry."

She wiped her hands off on her apron and stood up, taking his papers off the shelf and reading the instructions carefully. She didn't want to delve into his past, for fear that he'd become depressed. That was the exact opposite of what she was supposed to do.

She ran her finger down the neat writing, taking note of everything Carol wrote. He was to be given a week leave for his injury, a regular diet of pork, beans and cornbread and plenty of sleep. She smiled to herself as she placed the papers back on the shelf.

"I won't be gone long." Beth announced, as she picked up the bowls.

"Ma'am."

She turned around."Yes?"

"Could I have some more water?"

"Of course." She smiled.

He nodded and held out his cup, Beth set the bowls down and poured him some more. He greedily drank the cup of water, letting water spill down his chin and neck.

"I'm Sorry Ma'am." He wiped his mouth.

"It's expected, you're thirsty."

He laid back in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"I'll only be gone for a few minutes, then I promise I'll be back. Will you need more water?"

"I'm fine, Ma'am."

She nodded and walked towards the back room, a few of the recovering soldiers said hello as she walked by. They were sweet when injured, all they wanted to do was talk and play cards. She walked to the door and reached for the knob, when suddenly, it opened colliding into Beth's face - she fell back on her bottom - the bowls of used bandages and water clattering to the floor. Karen gasped and bent down beside her, taking her apron and holding it over Beth's bleeding nose.

"What's going on in here?" Carol asked, as she entered the room.

"I-I opened the door Ma'am, I didn't see B-Beth standing there. She's g-got a nose bleed." Karen spoke quickly, stuttering over each word.

Carol placed a hand on her shoulder."Resume your duties."

She stood up and hurried into the nurses quarter, Carol knelt down and pinched Beth's nose and gently tilted her head back. The young blonde gasped, but, Carol assured her with a nod and smile.

"My Sophia gets these all the time, I learned quickly that this helps." She let go of Beth's nose and guided her head back up."Just remember not to panic."

Beth smiled and stood up."Thank you, Ma'am. I'll go get washed up now."

After Beth washed up, she helped serve the men their meals. Some were only allowed beans due to their injuries, and, some were allowed full meals. Beth guessed that regardless of their portions, it was the best meal they had in months. After the nurses served the men their meals, which only took a grand total of ten minutes, they stood around waiting and cleaning.

"I'm real sorry about earlier." Karen apologized."I'm such a klutz."

Beth smiled."It's fine, it really is."

"I've always been clumsy, my Mother always poked fun. Klutzy Karen, that's what she'd say." She laughed nervously.

"Well I don't believe that, accident's happen all the time. Plus, it doesn't even hurt anymore."

"I don't want to be sent home, I've been so worried Miss Peletier will send me back home." She admitted, frightened like."I've been messin' up a lot, she's been noticing."

Beth placed a hand on Karen's arm."She understood it was an accident, she's not-"

She was cut off by the sounds of panicked voices coming in from the room behind them, both Beth and Karen peered around the burgundy curtain and watched as all three Doctors frantically worked on a young man. Blood covered all of them, the floor and the man himself. It was such a sight Beth couldn't tear herself away.

"W-What's happening?" Karen whispered.

"I'm not sure." Beth replied."I think they're trying to get him breathing again."

"Oh dear, we must do something!"

"No. I think we should go about our rounds, they know what they're doing in there."

Karen was reluctant to follow Beth's orders, but eventually she did. They both put on smiles as they walked around, tending to the wants and needs of the wounded. Beth found herself wandering over towards Corporal Dixon, at first she wasn't exactly sure why, but she hadn't exactly gone back like she promised. It was possible that she was feeling guilty.

As she neared him, she saw that he was sitting up reading a book. He looked like he was infatuated with it, and she didn't want to bother him, so she turned around and started back to the nurses quarter.

"You're leaving?"

She turned around with a blush."You were reading, I didn't want to disturb you."

He closed the book and shoved it under his pillow."You're no bother."

"I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner, I had a little accident." She took a seat in the chair.

"What happened, Ma'am - if you don't mind me askin'?"

She smoothed over her dress."Please, it's Beth." She blushed."And, well, my nose met a door."

He snickered."What'd you do that for?"

She smiled."Well, another nurse was coming out as I was walking in."

He nodded as he got comfortable under the covers.

"What book were you reading?" Beth asked.

"Oliver Twist."

"I absolutely love Oliver Twist!" She boasted.

He smiled.

"I'm sorry." She said as she composed herself."I just get so excited sometimes, especially about reading."

"I don't mind." he admitted.

She blushed and looked around, as the other men began getting settled in for the night.

"Have you gotten far?"

"Page 4." He shrugged."Not really big on reading."

"Oh." She smiled."I love reading. Especially Oliver Twist."

He watched her as she talked about reading with such love in her voice, he was never fond of reading, because he couldn't read all that well himself. But he enjoyed trying, he never did turn down a challenge. But, he hadn't realized he was still staring at her, until she began fidgeting under his intense gaze. He quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed of his actions.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" Beth asked, trying to change the subject.

He nodded."Mhm, I did Ma' - Beth."

She smiled and nodded."I'm glad."

"Isn't everyday that I eat, let alone a full meal."

"Well as long as you're here, you'll be fed." She poured him another cup of water and set it beside the cot."Just in case you get thirsty."

"Thank you."

She placed the chair up against the wall."It's my pleasure, Corporal."

"Daryl." he rasped.

"Pardon?"

He cleared his throat."It's Daryl."

She smiled."Goodnight, Daryl."

So there's not much written about Civil war nurses, but the things I did find were helpful :D

I'm kind of doing this method called, winging it and hoping for the best. That being said, if there is anything that doesn't seem to fit the time period, please PM me instead of commenting and I will fix it.

Reviews are greatly appreciated around here *hint, hint* but as always please be kind.