#3: Amy dies

The USS John Paul Jones and the USS Sampson moved in parallel paths towards the unknown surface contact. Amy Hopper was running below deck, preparing the med bay for any possible sailors with minor injuries form RIMPAC exercises. As she set up a bed, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Amy turned around to see her assistant Pam. "You're wanted on deck, ma'am."

Amy nodded, thanked her assistant, and made her way up to the deck. As she was walking up the stairs, she was thrown to the die by the movement of the ship. She quickly jumped up and ran up the stairs to the command center. "You wanted to see me commander?" Amy asked.

Before the man could reply, a bottle shaped explosive embedded itself right in front of the command center. Everyone stared at it as the bomb went off. Amy was thrown outside by the force of the explosion. She landed painfully and rested her body weight on her elbows, in too much pain to stand up just yet.

Looking down, Amy noticed her uniform was stained red. A piece of metal went straight through her body, and blood leaked around it. Amy sucked in a breath and suddenly felt very woozy. Laying back down, she could hear her comrades rushing around her. A soldier stopped, "She needs medical attention ASAP!" Pam rushed over and looked at Amy's wound.

Tears filled Pam's eyes as she locked eyes with Amy. "You're going to be okay, Amy."

"You and I both know that I'll be dead within the hour, Pam," Amy replied, sucking in a pained breath. Amy grabbed Pam's hand in her own bloody hand. "You're in charge now Pam. And when you see Stone, tell him . . . tell him . . ." Amy started to say, but stared to fade. "Tell him I love him," Amy whispered. Her limped hand fell onto the deck as the light left her eyes.

A few soldiers came and covered her body, putting her body with the rest of the deceased. Five minutes later, Stone was pulled onto the ship and taken below deck to the med bay. After he was situated, he asked his attending nurse, Pam, where Amy was. "Do you know where Lieutenant Hopper is? The one that works here in the med bay, the head of this department?" Stone asked.

Pam sucked in a breath. "I don't know, but I'll go find out for you. Just give me a moment." Stone nodded and waited for the nurse to return with his wife. As he looked around the med bay for Amy, Pam ran upstairs to talk to Alex Hopper. "Sir, I have to talk with you urgently and it concerns your brother as well."

Hopper nodded and followed the woman into a room. Pam turned around to look at Hopper. "Sir, Amy Hopper died before you got back. She was in the command center and a bomb hit. A piece of shrapnel hit her in the stomach and she passed away no less than ten minutes ago," Pam stated. Hopper sucked in a breath, and ran a hand through his hair.

"Have you told Commander Hopper yet?"

"No sir. I didn't know how to tell him." Hopper nodded and motioned for Pam to lead the way back to Stone. When his little brother and the attending nurse came into his line of vision, Stone Hopper became confused.

"Where's Amy?" Stone asked, concern lining his statement.

"Stone . . . Amy . . . she . . ."

"Spit it out Hopper, where is my wife?"

"Stone . . . Amy died about ten minutes ago. When a bomb went off on the Sampson, a piece of shrapnel from the blast lodged itself in her stomach. She died about a minute later." Stone stared up at his younger brother, eyes starting to fill with tears.

"Take me to her," Stone commanded.

"Commander, you're not well enough—"

"Take me to my wife," Stone stated, staring up at the two people. Hopper helped pull Stone up and led him to the makeshift morgue on the boat. Stone stopped by the body of one sailor and dropped to his knees. His eyes filled with tears that overflew quickly and in mass quantity. Stone brushed her brown hair out of her face, and cupped her face with his hand.

He let out a sob after feeling how cold she felt. Removing his hand, he stared at the piece of shrapnel lodged in her stomach, the blood still not quite dry. Hopper left Stone to mourn over his wife privately.

*/*/*/*/*

Two weeks had passed and a ceremony was held to commemorate the men and women that were lost during the invasion. "Commander Stone Hopper will accept a naval cross for his late wife, Lieutenant Amelia Hopper, who gave her life in combat against our foes," Admiral Shane read off, getting a little chocked up himself after reading his own daughter's name.

Stone accepted Amy's award and then his own before the ceremony concluded with a gun salute. Stone didn't stay for any of the festivities and instead decided to return to his now empty home. Closing the door, he placed the awards on the table and changed out of his uniform. After changing, he went and collected the mail, returning inside.

Most of it was junk mail, some bills, but one letter sent chills down Stone's spine. The medical examiner's office was required to perform an autopsy on every service man or woman that died during combat. Even though Stone had buried her a week ago, the results had just come in.

Dear Mr. Stone Hopper,

I am sorry for your loss. Your wife, Amelia Hopper died of blood loss and a punctured stomach. Some other things we found during the autopsy included that your wife died within five minutes from the time she was hit with the shrapnel. Also, we found that she was about one month pregnant. Once, again we are very sorry for your loss.

-Medical Examiner Office

Stone reread the second to last line over and over and over again, letting it swirl around in his mind until he lost it. He crumpled up the piece of paper and tossed it angrily. He knocked over a table, causing a vase to smash. Stone proceeded to punch the wall out of anger, causing a hole to form. He slapped his hands onto the wall, and slid down to his knees.

He let out a sob and curled into a ball, just letting his tears run like rivers down his cheeks, his already red eyes becoming redder and bloodshot. His back tensed and relaxed as he sucked in a pained breath.

*/*/*/*/*

Three years later, Stone Hopper died in combat. His ship was attacked by ship of marauders. After his crew had fought and captured the marauders, they found Commander Stone Hopper lying on his side with a bullet to the stomach. His last words were "I'm coming Amy."

A.N. I hope you guys liked it! Thank you to MissDarkBlu259 for requesting. Feel free to request what you want to read!