100-Challenge
Prompt 002. Love
Title: Heart
Rating: T
The two trainees moved into the cave, leaning against the damp walls to catch their breath.
"You think we lost them?" Fred looked over his shoulder to see if anyone followed them. There was no one and no sound of pursuers. He turned his full attention to the female cadet next to him. "Are you all right?"
He moved over to her side and she took her chance. The female trainee's fist connected with Fred's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "What the hell was that for, Kat?" She slapped him across the face and he fell to the ground. "Damn it, stop that."
"I told you not to call me Kat," Kathleen snapped, leaning over against the wall and flinching as she sat down. She drew her hand away from her side and cursed the crimson blood that coated her fingers.
"Well, I understand why you slapped me, but why the hell did you punch me?" Fred struggled to get his breath back. He moved over to sit down beside her against the cave wall.
"Because your damn plan failed, and I'm the one that paid for it." Kathleen returned her hand to her side, putting pressure on the wound. She had been nicked by a bullet from one of the instructors. "Don't remember anyone saying anything about live rounds."
"They didn't tell us anything, just gave us a job to do." Fred looked away from her and then back to her side. "How bad is it?"
"It bleeds worse than it is." Kathleen moved her hand back so that he could see the place she'd been hit. The bullet hadn't done too much damage. Most of it was on the surface. "I'll live."
Fred tore at the sleeve of his shirt until he had a strip of cloth. He pulled out his canteen and poured a bit of water on it. He then went to work cleaning the blood from her wound. She protested but he simply told her to be quiet. Once the blood was gone, the wound looked much better and seemed to be healing quickly.
"You should get some rest. We'll try coming up with another plan tomorrow." Fred put his arm around her shoulder.
Kathleen moved a bit closer to him and set her head on his shoulder. He gave her one of his charming smiles, the kind she knew was meant only for her. She slowly closed her eyes, enjoying his presence. They could be in the center of a roaring battle field with bullets overhead, but with him beside her everything was right. It wasn't long before she drifted to sleep in the comfort and warmth.
Years later, Kathleen sat staring at the image of Fred in an UNSC press release. She was relieved but in pain at the same time. Her mind was dedicated to leading her team, her body belonged to the UNSC pumped full of their science to make her better, and her soul belonged on the battle field. But deep down, she knew that Fred would always own her heart.