A/N: Hey everybody! It's time for a new chapter and I hope you'll enjoy it.

A big thank you to YouHaveLovelyHair for beta-reading this last-minute.

And I want to dedicate this chapter to lovingthis. I haven't heard from you since and I hope you're alright. They told me you have a rough time and I hope this little chapter can cheer you up a little. (Well probably not, because of the content but, well, I hope you know what I mean ;)

Next, there are actually two songs I heard when I had this chapter in mind. The first one is "Breath easy" by Blue, although it's a really old song and the lyrics aren't quite fitting, it was pretty mind-occupying, and the other one is a german song, so most of you probably won't understand it but it's sung very lovely. It's calles "In diesem Moment" by Joel Brandenstein. Maybe you can give them a listen and tell me how do you find those songs.

Anyway.

Have fun!


The memories haunted Becker again through the night, keeping him tossing and turning in bed. It was only because of the doctor, who decided to give him sedatives, that he finally found a snatch of sleep at the crack of dawn.

Hitting noon, his sleep got lighter and he started to recognize slow movements around him. An audible click was followed by a sudden bright light hitting his face and Becker instantly raised his hand to shield his closed eyes from the impact.

"Sorry to wake you up, Captain, but you really need to eat." The nurse justified her doing and brought his bed into a sitting position, not paying the slightest attention to her patient's resistance.

"Damn! Didn't the doctor order me to rest?" Becker huffed, not liking in the slightest to be rudely awakened.

The nurse smirked widely, placing a tray with food in front of him. "Like I said, you need to eat," she countered.

The Captain gave in and rubbed his lids, forcing himself to wake up. He had to blink several times before his eyes could adjust themselves to the intense light. Watching the nurse leave, he turned his head back to the nurture in front of him. Reluctantly, he took his fork and picked into the food. Grimacing at its consistency, Becker decided that he wasn't hungry at all and put the cutlery aside.

"You really need to eat." Sounded Newton's voice suddenly through the bedroom.

Becker started and turned to the private. "I didn't realise I had an audience."

"Well, your senses seem to recently loose a bit of their sharpness." The young soldier countered cheekily.

"Don't worry. That'll be only temporary. As soon as I'm out of here I'll make sure to regain full power." The Captain stated confident and a smirk appeared onto his lips, greeting his soldier friendly.

A moment of silence fell onto the two before Newton started to speak again: "I'm glad you're finally awake, Captain." He studied the still visible signs of his outburst on the opponent's face barely three days ago. The cut under Becker's eye had started to heal but the flesh had turned to a dark shade of purple, the other bruises became a slight shade of yellow and the cut on his lip was already disappearing. He still remembered the sheer rage and hate he felt that day for his superior. And then, only ten hours later he had fought for him. Fought for his life by giving him a cardiac massage and begging him to hang on as Becker had his heart attack. He saved him and now seeing him awake, giving snappy answers again, Newt felt nothing but great relief and sympathy for that man.

Becker nodded reassuringly, confirming his friend. "And I'm glad you're here."

"Well, I just wanted to keep you up to date a little about what's happened the last few days."

Caleb could barely finish his sentence as Becker took the floor. "How many days have passed by?" He asked in a sudden serious voice.

"A little more than two days." The private replied earnestly.

The soldier sighed audibly, doing the math in his head. "So it's already New Year?"

"Yep. I would hand you some champagne to celebrate, but you're not allowed to drink alcohol yet." Newt replied, trying to lift the spirits.

The Captain grinned cheekily. "Well, that's a pity. Thanks for the thought anyway." Then he paused, the concerned expression finding its way back onto his face. He took a moment to gain strength before he stated the question he wanted to ask since spotting his inferior. "How is Jess?"

Newt knew that this question would be popped eventually and he really wanted to avoid the answer just a little longer. "Well -" He searched for a change of topic. "Don't you want to hear the newest incursions first?"

The Captain shook his head. "Please tell me. How is Jess?"

"Why do you think I would know?" Caleb replied, shirking the answer.

"Because I know you. And I bet you stood by her side all the time." He responded, being absolutely positive.

The private couldn't hide the smile that sneaked onto his lips at being caught that easily. "Well, not all the time. After all I've got a job to do." He replied cockily. "But yeah the rest of the time I pretty much stuck to her bedside." He answered and the worry forced its way back on his face.

Becker realised the change of expression and he felt his chest tightening as he questioned again. "How is she, Newton?"

"You better find out yourself." The young man answered short-spoken.

"You mean?" The Captain questioned astonished with eyes wide open.

"The doctor said, you're allowed to visit her as soon as you're awake." Caleb told him truthfully.

Looking like he wanted to scream 'And you only tell me that now!' Becker tossed his blanket aside, intending to jump out of his bed as fast as possible.

"Wow! Slow down, Captain!" Newt shouted, instantly stopping him in his movement. "Don't you wanna change yourself out of the gown first?"

"Oh. Yes. That might be a good point." Becker replied, looking down at the fabric that barely covered his private parts.

"Why don't you sit back, while I'll go and bring you some spare clothes from your locker." He offered already heading for the door.

Becker nodded, putting himself back under the blanket. "Do that, private."

"And try to eat something. I don't want you to pass out on the floor." Newt ordered as he quickly left the room.

/-/

The first thing Becker recognised as he entered the intensive care room was the steady sound of the breathing machine, assisted by the beeping of the heart-monitor. He looked around to find his love lying on the bed, eyes closed. With slow steps he went to her bedside. Her sight let his heart ache all over and his chest constricted, making it hard to breathe. He looked over her fragile body, not daring to touch her in the slightest. Her skin was deathly pale. A bandage completely enveloped her head, ending right over her eyes. A tube was coming out of her mouth disappearing into the breathing machine to bring her the essential air. Another tube threaded through her nostril, feeding her with nurture. In addition there was an infusion, coming from a bag with colourless liquid and heading right into her arm vein, supplying her with pain medication.

"Oh Jess." Becker swallowed hard, trying to keep his tears from falling. "What have I done? What have I done?" He questioned himself, his voice barely a whisper.

The chair right next to him stood there as a matter of prudence and he let himself drop powerlessly onto the wooden piece.

The soldier inhaled deeply. "My lovely, lovely Jess." Becker wanted to say more, wanted to talk to her like Newton encouraged him to do so, but his voice refused to work.

He shut his eyes tight, pressing the salty liquids out of the corners to run across his cheeks. With the back of his hand he wiped them away, his other hand somehow found its way to Jess' lying hand, wrapping around it, his fingers caressing her tender skin.

"I love you, Jess. I love you so much." He halted to take a breath. "I wish I could do anything to make you better, to wake you up. To make this all undone. I so wish I could."

Becker brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it lightly, before he hugged it to his cheek, feeling her soft, warm flesh. Turning his head he closed his eyes and kissed her fingers, whispering into the skin: "I need you, Jess. So much. Please wake up. Don't leave me."

Becker felt so selfish for telling her that. He knew she needed rest, and most of all she needed time. But he couldn't wait. He needed her to be awake. He couldn't be without her any longer. He couldn't live without her, her smile, her rambling, her kisses, her love for him. He simply couldn't.

His heart ached even more as he begged again. "Wake up, Jess. Please, you have to." The last words were mixed with his cry, his falling tears wetting her skin.

The heart monitor started to beep irregularly, and Becker startled as the pace increased.

"Jess?" He questioned in shock, his own heart started to race and his breath quickened.

As the tone ended in a shrill sound, screaming through the room he jumped up, bending over her. "JESS!"

He screamed turning to the door. "Help! I need help!"

Instantly a team of three medics rushed inside the room, conducted by a young doctor. "Aside!" She shouted, shoving the Captain away, and went to her patient.

The staff bustled around Jess with practised steps, laying her flat down and rushing her bed to the treatment room.

"Jess please, don't do this to me!" Becker cried, running after his girl.

"She's having another aneurysm! Start the sedation, we need to operate again!" The doctor shouted to her colleagues, ignoring the man standing beside the table.

"Jess! Please! Don't leave me!" Becker screamed panicking. "JESS!"

The doctor turned her head, looking at the private who was standing at the entry, frozen in terror. "Cal, get him out!" She ordered and Newt, coming out of his stiffness, did as he was told, rushing to the Captain and dragging him out of the room.


A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please leave a review and let me know.

Have a nice day!

:o)