Disclaimer: I do not own Outlander.

The many recarinarions of Jamie and Claire...

One shots featuring different lives and possibilities..

1# - Modern Day

Claire had just the divorce papers settled with Frank after seven years of marriage, it is clear after the events of Iraq and Afghanistan they were too different.

Being a doctor on the front lines changed her. For better or worse, this is who she was now.

She has tremors sometimes as she gets flashbacks of men she grew up with in highschool get blown to Oblivion.

Frank did not understand her sudden panic attacks late at night. She was supposed to heal people she was supposed to be on the sidelines, but they called her out, she had killed people.

She could have killed some kids father, someone's brother, a husband hoping to his his wife one more time.

Everyone told her not to think too much about it, that their kind deserved it after 9/11. But, Claire disagreed these people are innocent. People were blinded by paranoia and sorrow.

They were still on friendly terms. But, it was clear to everyone that knew Frank and Claire that the spark had been extinguished,

Claire decided after working the hospital double, sometimes triple amount than the usual employee. She decided to take a vacation to the Scottish islands. She was looking for a place to get some much needed rest and relaxation.

So, Claire went to Scotland a upon Frank's recommendation, ordered her plane ticket and took off for a three week stay at a small bed and breakfast.

She kept communication with the hospital with her phone in case they needed her advice on a diagnosis, she was a big deal at the hospital. People called her the miracle worker after bringing a patient out of near brain dead state.

She had another reason for visiting Scotland because the partial patient had been a young Scottish man that had some how survived a shot to the head.

The bullet managed to get through his skull but did not completely reach his brain so he was in a coma. It was the only way to save him. She did not know his name but there was something about this stranger that had her captivated.

At first she attended to him because it was only something she could do. Everyone knew it too. So, when she devoted majority of her time with him nobody questioned it up until she started bringing books, singing to the stranger, most of the time she would talk about her.

In hopes the rumors about Coma patients coming out it through verbal and physical connect from the outside world were true.

She started with the basics of her background, play twenty questions with him even if she knew he would not respond. According to his file he dove in front of the line of fire to save some random stranger on the street.

So, she assumed that he may be a cop, soldier of some kind or maybe he was one those rare people they were just selfless for the sake of being good.

So, yes she talked, sung to him, told him jokes, and sometimes just watch him. Eventually, it started working within the fourth month of his coma. The changes were gradual at first he saw his mouth twist into a smile at her jokes, sometimes when she had a difficult time talking about the war, she felt his hand land down in hers tenderly before becoming stiff.

This was a regular pattern a momentary spark of brain activity before going back to a faint buzz. Then, suddenly the fateful day arrived.

Claire came in to check up on him and suddenly without warning he woke up.

She finally got to see his eyes for the first time. As he took a big intake of breath, as if he just came up from a long swim underwater. Sweat dripping down his face.

He turned to her and smiled softly, his voice was a bit hoarse from not being used in a while. "N-nice to finally put a face to the beautiful voice that I have grown to know for a few months. " but she hear a tender Alto voice that was smooth and rough at the same time.

Claire blushed and said "Hello, Jamie I'm Dr. Beachum and I'm flattered by your compliments do you want me to bring you Water then you can tell me the last thing you remember. "

He nodded and flashed one of the most Goofy yet charmingly handsome smile Claire had ever seen it made her feel a sensation she hadn't felt since Frank. Making her smile back a bit fluttered.

He nodded and said "Aye, sounds like a good place to start I like to thank ya Dr. Beacham for not giving up on me I'm sure my family will be grateful for it as well. "

"Claire, call me Claire". she said quietly with a bit more tenderness than she attended to give out, it almost sounded like she was flirting. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! She was practically was flirting with this man.

They ended up going out after she helped him get through physical therapy to him re learn how to walk, stand and eat. Sometimes it takes a coma patient a while to recover.

The next thing she knew He was with her on the plane talking about Scotland and the beautiful countryside. Soon, a three week vacation with her Scottish boyfriend became a place she would call home.

If she were to be honest she did not regret helping him that fateful day. She smiled softly as she came out of her air of reminiscing, she looked down at her new wedding ring fashioned from a key.