I am so sorry that this has taken so long, I have been caught between beta-ing various fics (I am available, btw) and working on another one (Loki/OC, sorry, I couldn't resist) which I hope to have up once I have finished and polished it.
Thank you for all the alerts, favorites, and reviews this fic had gotten! It drove me to get finished and put my utmost effort into making it worth your time.
I own nothing but my OC and ideas!
The days passed quickly after that, with Merideth looking forward to when James Nicholls would come and visit. Tim and her other patients healed nicely and most people credited her, earning her a strong reputation and respect.
She was out walking one day when she found someone walking beside her. "Hello, James."
"It is a beautiful day, is it not?"
"My patients are safe and recovering, we have not had a battle in over a week, and you are walking with me. Yes, I daresay it is a beautiful day."
He smiled, as he so often did in Merideth's presence. "I am flattered you include me in your reasons for it being beautiful."
"And why shouldn't I?"
"I do believe that you are the beautiful one here."
She smirked "And I believe that you are flirting, dear Sir."
He looked at her pointedly.
"James."
They both smiled warmly, as if they were the only two people in the world.
At that moment another officer walked up, breaking the silence. "Jim, the officers have gathered. We have received new orders. An attack is being planned."
James paled. It did not escape Merideth's notice. "Thank you, Jamie. I will be there shortly."
"Miss." The man, Jamie, nodded toward Merideth and strode off.
James turned back towards her and pulled her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. "Till we meet again, Merideth."
Always such a gentleman. She smiled brightly as he walked away.
She could tell there was something wrong. James was agitated or worried but he would never freely admit it to anyone, not even Merideth.
One day when they were out walking, as they increasingly did, she dared to ask him.
"What's bothering you?"
He looked up, "Hmm?"
"You're nervous. Or worried."
"It's nothing for you to worry about." He chuckled nervously. "Perhaps I will have to work harder to keep my emotions in check. I do not wish to bother you."
Always the gentleman, protecting his lady from harm. As if she couldn't handle it.
She scoffed, " 'Nothing for me to worry about?' This is my war too. I have seen just as much death as you have; I can handle whatever comes my way." She started walking away from him.
James practically ran after her, looking slightly stunned. "I meant no disrespect. You should know better than any that most women would not endeavor to hear the troubles of an officer planning an attack that he does not agree with."
She stopped, and turned around, spine stiffening. "I am not an ordinary woman. 'You should know that better than any.' "
He sighed. "I am not ignorant to the fact that I am one of the few people you truly talk to. I don't get close to many either."
"I know."
They stared at each other for a few moments, then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
James slipped his hand into hers and held on tight.
It still took her some time to get James to open up, but eventually she found the truth. A cavalry charge was being planned to ambush a German camp. James, with his unfailing moral code, did not agree with it. But he had no choice.
"Orders are orders, Merideth."
"I am aware." She smirked at his irritated glance.
"Would you like to meet Joey?"
She arched an eyebrow and jerked her head sharply, "Who?"
James grinned. "My new horse. Come on, you'll love him."
She knew he was just trying to get off subject, but her interest was piqued.
The horse was spectacular, she had to admit. A red bay thoroughbred with four white socks and a star on its forehead. It was magnificent.
"Hello, Joey." She reached up to touch his muzzle, not missing James's smile from the corner of her eye.
"I think he likes you."
"I think he's just glad to be around someone other than you or Perkins."
"I think anyone is glad to not be around Perkins." They both chuckled quietly, trying not to attract attention and inherently failing.
Merideth kept catching glances between other nurses whenever the two of them strolled by. Apparently people thought they were an item. It wasn't uncommon for a soldier and a nurse to hit it off, but that only made when the soldier came in, wounded and bleeding, more devastating.
She was trying to ignore that possibility for as long as possible.
When she had a moment of time to think between her rounds at the hospital, Meredith's thoughts always returned to her dashing Captain. She had begun to think of him as her Captain. She had no idea when "Ma'am" turned to "Merideth," "Merideth" to "My Lady," and "My Lady" to "My Love." All she knew was that their relationship was not really defined by either one of them. It went beyond words. Beyond logic. And beyond normal limits.
She loved him. One day she had been standing there, watching him out on the practice field, and it had hit her with the force of a brick wall. Now she couldn't get him out of her mind.
Was he thinking of her too? Was he worried that he wouldn't return?
Did he miss her every second of the day?
Sometimes she chided herself for thinking such things. He had much more important duties and worries than her.
When she did not see James for a few days, she began to worry. Where was he? The attack had not been launched yet, and few of the soldiers had left. He hadn't even said goodbye.
And then he suddenly reappeared, disheveled and slightly distraught, even if Merideth was the only one who could see it.
She tried to reach him but he had been swamped with other officers, who had obviously been waiting for an important message or something. She could tell he had been on a mission of importance, just from what she could read from the officers' reactions.
She tried her best to see him in the next few days, but there were obvious preparations being made for the attack. He was kept constantly busy, and every time he could even catch sight of her he mouthed "I'm sorry," or "I missed you." It was the only thing that kept her going.
More happy to come, followed by a heavy dose of angst! And then an epilogue…
Leave some love! Please…
{I am SO SORRY about the wait, I have had this chapter ready for almost a week but I was at the beach where my computer would not connect to the internet for some reason}
