Disclaimer: DON'T OWN ANYONE!

A/N: Sorry but I'm going to make this one a bit long winded... Sorry for taking so long, had severe writer's block which has been aided by taking a second job and getting ready to move... I've written this chapter in 3 different sittings and am not -totally- impressed with it... but I hope by posting it and getting some feedback it should get my ball rolling again and I'll be able to update another chapter again soon :) So let me know

A/N 2: Also remember how I don't really know WWII... which include ranks, battles, etc. With use of penicillin I researched it on wikipedia... I dunno I'll answer questions etc. if you all need :)

Hope you enjoy!


... Don't Stop Looking For Love...

Remy turned instinctively towards the voice that had interrupted his vigil, his dark eyes falling upon perhaps the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life. His breath caught in his throat as a young nurse, about his age, slipped between the curtains that had become Henri's room. The spotless white uniform caressed her curves innocently but it was still enough to get Remy's blood racing, the caramel color of her skin perfectly set off by the stark uniform and in itself only amplified her own pure white hair that was pulled back off her face allowing a perfect view of her strong structured cheek bones, flawless complexion and the most dazzling azure eyes Remy had ever known.

He knew he was staring but he could not help it as she moved closer to the brothers and began to examine Henri, a blush rising in her cheeks broke Remy's trance and he bowed his heads pretending to examine his own rough hands. He felt his own color flooding his cheeks knowing he had been caught staring at the nurse, from his downcast stare he stole the odd glance as Ororo moved around his brother's body checking his vital signs with every gentle touch the woman laid on his brothers body caused Remy's veins to course with jealousy, wanting to feel her touch himself.

Knock it off LeBeau, he chided himself. Dis femme only here to help Henri, not'ing more… 'side's she's not like you.

Despite his conscious, that held so tightly to his strict and moral upbringings, Remy yearned to get to know the woman in front of him.

"Alright soldier," her voice lilted pulling him away from his brooding. "Your up!"

He turned his sight back on her face that held the most bewitching smile, Remy couldn't help but return it. The aura around her was phenomenal, he found himself thinking as she guided him over to a small table on wheels that she had pulled into the area after her examination of Henri. She motioned for Remy to take a seat on one of the chairs that accompanied the table to which he obliged. Her touch was gentle on his arm, if Remy hadn't had his eyes on her he probably wouldn't even have been aware of her hands on him. He watched as she gently began cutting his coat around the wound on his arm, he flinched as the shrapnel pulled at his skin, really realizing at that moment how much his arm truly had been hurting.

Ororo cut a full circle around the wound in his coat and straightened up.

"Would you please remove your coat soldier?" she asked, the smile never leaving her face.

Remy gave a small nod, and stood to pull off his coat, he sucked in a breath between his teeth as the fire in his arm intensified as he stretched it to pull it off.

"Wait!" Ororo's voice tinged with worry behind him took hold of his coat and helped him remove it gently. If only Remy had been turned towards Ororo he would have caught the deep flush that had returned to her cheeks as she found and herself awed at the muscular physique before her, the man before her had already attracted her but now standing before her in his white ribbed muscle shirt had ignited the flame even further.

Remy reseated himself at the table, keeping that ever present eye on Ororo's frame as she scurried back around him to the own chair she had brought for herself her head bowed now, the color deep in her cheeks again. She placed his coat on the floor and pulled her chair up to the table, reaching out for Remy's arm she pulled it onto the edge of the table.

"Now I am not going to lie to you," her tone now serious, the smile fading slightly from her face. "This will hurt soldier, but I will do my best to cause as little pain as possible."

"Remy trust you chere," he said in a low voice, his tone insuring he was telling the truth.

Ororo nodded and set to work on removing the shrapnel lodged in Remy's arm, turning his head away Remy's eyes focused on Henri's slumbering body forcing himself to accept that the pain he was experiencing now was a far cry from Henri's own experience no more than an hour or two earlier. The metallic smell of his own blood floated up causing Remy to wrinkle his nose until he had become accustomed to the new scent. A burning sensation followed moments later as Ororo cleaned the wound with antiseptic.

"All finished there soldier," she said softly.

"Remy LeBeau," he said his tone matching hers as he turned back to the goddess before him.

"Remy LeBeau," she echoed, wrapping a gauze bandage around his arm, securing it tightly she began cleaning up the removed shrapnel and bloody gauze that had assisted her surgery.

She disposed of the items no longer needed and returned to her seat, her eyes focused on Remy's as she put a tender hand on his arm.

"Keep this clean and you shouldn't have any trouble with it," she instructed. "I'll leave some extra gauze for you to tend to it later on."

"Merci."

Silence fell over the couple as they both seemed to yearn for something to say to the other, Ororo's hand not leaving Remy's arm, their eyes not faltering, searching for something more in the stranger before them.

A loud crash startled the duo, Remy turned to find Henri writhing about on the floor, having fallen from his cot. Henri's eyes wide with panic as he began dry heaving. Jumping from his seat Remy grabbed his brother by the upper arm, as Ororo rushed from the room.

"Henri!" Remy's panicked voice repeated over and over, trying to calm his brother, unable to understand what had happened.

Gripping his brother's arm tightly, Remy searched his brother for any sign as to what could have caused the outburst. A doctor and two nurses came racing into the small cubicle with Ororo, the two nurses prying Remy from Henri's body as the doctor swooped in. The two nurses pulled Remy from the area, passing Ororo who stood rooted into place, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at Henri's flailing body, tears dancing in her eyes. Remy was seated against the wall of the tent, next to a sleeping patient whose head was almost totally wrapped in gauze. One of the nurses stayed behind to assure Remy was all right.

"Jus' help Henri," Remy said evenly. "Don' worry 'bout dis Cajun, help my brot'er."

The nurse nodded and disappeared again, with a deep sigh Remy cursed himself repeatedly for allowing his hormone's to distract him from his watch he had kept on Henri. Balling his hand into a fist he slammed it angrily to the ground a few times in an attempt to release the guilt he felt hanging in his heart over his selfish motives. The curtain opened in a flurry and the nurse that had adjusted Remy to his current position raced out and over to a medicine cabinet just down a ways from Henri's room. The panic clearly written on her face as she fumbled amongst the different vials, she seemed to find what she was looking for and in a moment had disappeared behind the curtain again. Remy's heart pounded fiercely in his chest, why had Henri needed more medicine? What was going on in there? Questions swirled endlessly through Remy's mind as he watched the darkened curtain that no longer showed shadowy figures as it had earlier that evening, the flimsy wall of curtain seemed to be a steel fortress keeping Remy away from his brother.

A moment later the same nurse reemerged, her head down as she took quick even strides down the length of the hospital ignoring not only Remy, whose eyes were fixated on her, but also the handful of other soldier's who reached out to her begging her for help or for something to stop the pain. Remy rose to his feet bracing himself against the wall he took a step forward, dying to know what was happening just a mere ten feet from where he was standing. The chaotic movements around him becoming a blur, the nurses and doctors milling around him in an attempt to save the lives of others were non existent, a white noise. All that mattered to Remy was hiding behind that curtain.

Remy hardly noticed as that nurse had returned, ducking back into the room, with her in tow was Master Sergeant Scott Summers. The duo were gone almost as quickly as they had appeared to Remy.

Why he need to be here? Remy thought, his hands growing clammy.

More rustling occurring from behind the curtain, as it finally parted wide enough for Remy to see inside. Ororo and one of the nurses held aside the curtain enough for the doctor to push the bed out from behind the curtain. Henri's complexion was ashen, his breathing appeared shallow as he was moved by Remy. Behind the doctor the third nurse and Sergeant Summers followed, jotting down notes on a clipboard, like a lost puppy dog, Remy joined the group as they made their way out of the chaotic tent and into a smaller, more subdued one that was attached to it. Henri's cot was placed amongst the row of battered, sleeping soldiers as though he belonged there, it was really only at that moment that the others noticed Remy's presence.

"Lebeau?" Sergeant Summers demanded, his voice prim and proper.

"Yessir," Remy saluted, his arm burning from the abrupt movement.

"At ease soldier," he commanded. Remy's posture loosened slightly.

"Please sir, tell Remy what's goin' on here," Remy's voice bordered pleading.

"You see son," the doctor, a man in his late thirties, interjected. "It appears that your brother has suffered and allergic reaction to the drug penicillin that we introduced him to earlier. Nurse Bethany aided me in assuring your brother, was properly treated with epinephrine."

"Wit' what?" Remy's confusion evident.

"Adrenaline… to assure his heart wouldn't stop. He's resting comfortably now, and we have documented that he not be given any more penicillin from now until his return home."

"Home?"

"Yes," Sergeant Summers' turn to talk. "There are strong indications that this war has turned in favor of the allies, and hope that the end is near. Judging from the degree of injury your brother has sustained and the accidental mistake made by our staff this evening I have concluded that the stress be too hard on him to remain here. All these men here are slated for departure home in the next few days, Henri LeBeau's name has been added to that list."

Remy's heart filled with joy, the expression on his face mirroring it, the smile unbeatable.

"Merci!" he exclaimed, saluting Sergeant Summers once again. "Dis be a good sign.

"I have also allowed for you to stay here in the hospital with your brother until he leaves, you were scheduled to leave the line for a break in the next few days any way," Sergeant Summers said with a curt nod, turning back to the clipboard Nurse Bethany held out to him he signed it with a flourish and the trio moved to leave the tent to return to a job that needed them so much more. As they exited from the smaller tent Sergeant Summers called over his shoulder:

"Just make sure you cut that hair of yours LeBeau!"

Remy saluted him a final time, but not with the salute a person learned in the military, but rather the one finger salute he learnt as a boy. A cocky smile played over his lips as he grinned at his brother subdued form.

"Ah Henri! You lucky bastard," he said quietly moving to his brother's side. "You get to go home."

Remy knelt on the ground beside Henri and took his hand in his own, a jealous sigh passing over his lips.

"Jus' make sure dat you keep de pretty filles lined up for Remy when he get back neh?" he grinned. "Don' take dem all wit' you' courageous stories of battles!"

Henri's still form worried Remy slightly, as he eyed him up carefully to ensure his brother would be going back to his father in as good a shape as he could send him. The quietness of the new area Henri was in calmed Remy immensely as he was able to collect his thoughts. Yet another new nurse was moving about the dimmly lit tent, Remy watched her as she assured everyone was resting comfortably.

"Excuse me petite," Remy's voice soft, matching the tone of the tent. "But is dere some paper and a pen dis Cajun coul' borrow?"

"Yessir," she said with a nod pulling a small pad of paper and a pencil from the front pocket of her smock she handed it over. "Are you the one Master Sergeant Summers gave permission to remain here?"

"Oui," Remy nodded, taking the proffered items.

"Very well, my name is Mary, I am the head nurse here. I will bring you a few items to make your stay here more comfortable."

The nurse moved to a shelf set up next to a medicine cabinet and pulled down a blanket and pillow, setting them next to Remy she continued, "it's not much I'm sorry, but its what we have to offer… when you are finished with the paper just leave the remainder on the cart just over yonder."

She pointed to an empty rolling cart that sat near the entrance of the tent.

"Merci," Remy nodded, and Mary moved on with her rounds.

Bowing over the pad of paper Remy chewed on his bottom lip trying to think of what he would compose before he began jotting down the letter he would send home to his father.

August 1, 1945

Dear Papa,

I hope this letter reaches you in good spirit. I know I have faltered in writing to you, but this will hopefully be my last letter. There is talk here that the war is coming to an end! Something I can not wait for, I look forward to being home with you and Henri as soon as humanly possible. I know you will rejoice upon the return of Henri and only hope my return will be soon after. I made a promise the day we left, something I never told you about, I promised myself that both Henri and I would return home safely. Now that Henri is home I have fulfilled half my promise.

Remy paused for a moment, the pencil dangling in the air for a moment before he continued a shy smile playing on his lips.

Also, I have found the woman I am going to marry! I can picture you now reading this laughing at my foolish antics, even more so once you read that I don't even know her yet, I know only her name and the beauty that she is. I have no doubt that I will marry her and I cannot wait for you to meet her… but I suppose I should return home first before we talk of meetings.

Love your son,

Remy

Tearing the paper off Remy folded it carefully and placed it in the front breast pocket of Henri's military coat that was draped at the foot of his bed. Returning the paper and pencil to its designated location he spread out his blanket and pillow on the ground next to Henri's bed. Being able to rest in a place far from the constant rain, loud explosions and death that seemed to lurk in every corner was like heaven to Remy and slumber quickly took over.

Remy opened a reluctant eye, peering sleepily at the world around him, for a moment he was disoriented as the sight of metal legs and bedding flooded his vision. The smell of medication came next as his awareness filtered in. Propping himself up on his elbow he yawned, he looked down at his bandaged bicep, the bandage seeped a pinkish red in the middle through the gauze, and Remy frowned. The pain in his arm a dull ache as he raised to his knees to peer over the edge of the bed at Henri, relief flooded Remy's soul as he saw color had almost completely returned to Henri's features, though he still looked a bit pale the ashen color had totally dissolved and his breathing seemed to be deeper and more regulated.

"Morning soldier!" an all to familiar voice chirped.

Remy looked over his shoulder to see Mary pushing the rolling cart towards himself and Henri, on it were several covered trays.

"it seems as though you may be needing something to eat!" she said with a small smile.

"Dat may be a plan," Remy agreed, his stomach growling loudly.

"Once you've finished eating I can point you in the direction of the nearest showering facilities if you would like," Mary offered, holding out a tray to Remy.

He took it with a small obliging smile and frowned, realizing what kind of a mess he really must be. Living in the trenches and fighting for your own life really doesn't give much time to personal hygiene, Remy thought numbly.

Poor boy you probably scared Ororo away las' nigh' wit jus' you' own stink, he thought ruefully as he shoveled food hungrily into his mouth. Ororo.

Breakfast passed pleasantly for Remy as his thought's revolved around the woman he had been so enamored with over the past few hours, wondering if amongst all these people if he would ever see her again. Setting aside his tray he sought out to find Mary, she was easily found behind a desk just outside their little tent, briefing another nurse who must be taking over for her.

"Ah soldier," Mary smiled. "Ready for that shower?"

"You read Remy's mind petite," he smiled.

"This is Nurse Betty," Mary introduced. "She will be relieving me of my post and will gladly show you were to go and assist you as you need."

Remy nodded, bowing lightly as his southern upbringing seeped into this cultureless world he now knew. Nurse Betty moved from behind the desk and motioned for Remy to follow her, as they walked outside in the bright sunlight Remy surveyed the landscape around him. The city they were set up in was no more than a pile of rubble, make shift memorials were strewn amongst the streets, abandoned buildings that were lucky enough to still be standing threatened to fall at any moment. The clear sky and warmly shining sun seemed to taunt those who were stuck in what was now only a wasteland. Betty stopped beside a large metal door.

"Behind here are the men's showers," she explained, holding out a rolled up towel to Remy, exactly when she acquired it Remy wasn't quite sure as he had been so caught up in the scenery. "You will find your basic toiletries inside the towel. When you are finished I will re bandage your arm soldier."

Remy could see the shyness in the young girl in front of him and knew she had thought he was attractive.

Dis migh' be fun, he thought coyly to himself as he bowed deeply at the waist and took the items from Betty's hand, taking hold of her hand he kissed her knuckles lightly.

"Remy look forwar' to de honor of you helpin' him out later mon cherie," he said with a wink.

The girl flushed deeply and scurried away, leaving Remy to chuckle to himself. Patting himself on the back for his performance he entered the shower. Finding a few other stalls being used Remy got a chance to look at himself in the lightly fogged mirror and frowned in deep disgust at the image before him. Remy had always prided himself on his looks and being in this war had not helped him at all. Dirt hung deep in the creases of his face, aging him by a few years at the very least, almost a full weeks worth of facial hair hung in scraggly patches on his face. He was never one to grow a beard and the fact that one was trying to force its way on him only frustrated him. His long auburn hair hung lifelessly to his head, dirt and grease clinging to it desperately. Shaking his head he turned to an empty shower stall and set to work on cleaning himself up the best he could. The steaming hot water felt good on his sore muscles as he worked out the dirt and debris that had made a home on his body. Feeling refreshed from the shower Remy wrapped a towel around his waist and once again made camp in front of the mirror, glad to find his hair clean and the dirt ridden creases had disappeared he set at shaving the hair that had amassed on his face and in minutes had expertly removed any trace of facial hair.

"Smooth as a baby's bottom," he said with a grin, happy to see his own reflection again in the mirror.

Staring at his own reflection for a moment Remy felt as though he could be at home, everything looking back at him cried for home, but the dog tags that hung around his neck served as a cruel reminder that this was the farthest thing from home he had ever known.

By the entrance of the shower he found fresh uniforms that had been set out for the soldiers as they needed them, grabbing the correct size of pant and a crisp white muscle shirt he slipped them on. He realized he would soon need a new army jacket too, having surrendered his last night to Ororo when she removed the shrapnel from his arm. Remy felt discouraged in a way too, the jacket he had lost had sewn on the front, his name. It had been a parting gift to him and Henri by their servant Camille. She had chosen a camouflage pattern so similar to the coats they had received, embroidered their names on a small patch and sewn them on the front of each coat for the boys. With a discontented sigh Remy knew he had seen the last of it and would receive a new coat the day he returned back to the lines.

He trudged slowly back to the army tent, looking into the distance he could see where the battle he had fought in just the previous night was occurring, on the horizon black smoke rose and the faintest of explosions were heard every so often. Another sigh of disgust passed through his body as he ducked into the tent, his eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness inside. His arm throbbed painfully, the water from the shower had agitated the wound to the point of reopening and now blood seemed to readily seep through the dampened gauze. Thankfully Betty was not far from where Henri was and upon Remy's arrival she came back over to him, he could see her reaction to the freshly shaven and showered man before her and felt quite flattered.

You still got it LeBeau, he grinned and allowed himself to be guided to a table almost exactly set up as it had been the previous night he had seen Ororo. As Betty seated him and unwound the used gauze he found his mind not on Betty and any games he may play on her, but rather on Ororo. He felt as though Betty's touch was that of sandpaper, not soft and gentle like Ororo's, her voice hard, not lilting like Ororo's. A longing to see the woman he only knew as Ororo filled his heart, but he knew not how he would see her again amongst the chaos that reigned around him outside of this small sanctuary. Betty finished cleaning him up and with a small nod she moved away, having noticed Remy's stiff behavior towards her she knew flirting with him would only be a waste of her time. Feeling a bit relieved at not having to find an excuse to shake the girl off Remy cut a small length of extra gauze from the roll and used it as a tie to pull his still damp locks off his face and shoulders.

Taking the extra chair he had been seated at he pulled it next to Henri's subdued form and again set up a vigil next to his brother. Lunch came after a time and again Remy ate the food with such zealous vigor it even surprised himself, but then again it beat trying to eat in the trenches while trying to cradle a gun and keep the blowing dust from invading every mouthful. Contentedly he set aside the tray and watched as the IV dripped the necessary fluids to sustain Henri's fragile condition. Remy watched his brother take in one slow breath at a time, his heart swelling with an overwhelming sense to want to protect his brother- to send him home as soon as he could. A shadow fell over Henri's bed and startled Remy turned to see a timid looking Ororo standing at the foot of the bed, a coat clung tightly in her hands as though it was the only thing keeping her rooted there.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," her voice small, scared.

"Don' worry 'bout it chere," Remy said, his heart began racing faster as he rose.

"I- I just came to apologize about last night," she continued, seeming to be unable to look Remy in the eyes and instead stared at his chest.

"Dere's not'ing to apologize fo' chere," Remy assured, taking a step towards her.

"I should have kept a closer eye on him," she said, her eyes now on Henri.

"Dat damn doctor shouldn've given him de medicine wit'out checkin' firs'," Remy argued.

An appreciative smile passed her lips, even though her eyes shone with tears. Remy closed the distance between them until they were no more then a foot apart. He held out a hand to her, and she quickly shoved the jacket between them and stammered out the next few words.

"I- I also wanted to give you this… I saw it last night and figured you'd want it back."

Remy looked down at the new jacket in now in his hands and saw the patch the Camille had so lovingly made had been removed from the old jacket and was sewn carefully into place on this new one. Remy's heart warmed immensely at the gesture and it made the next words from his mouth much easier.

"How would you like to go out wit' Remy sometime?"