I have a school vacation this week, and I just got surgery, so I haven't been able to do much but write. When school starts again you won't see these for awhile, but they're here so I figure, might as well post 'em, right? Right. Part one of two.

Soldiers (One)
Rating: PG
A Danny Phantom fanfiction

His breathing was the only sound in the entire room. He didn't dare move for a moment, for waking the young woman beside him. When he was sure she was fast asleep, he moved slowly, pushing the blanket off of him and putting it back into place. She moved a little bit, but didn't wake.

He sighed and pulled the curtains all the way closed, grabbing his shirt off of his chair as he moved. He slid his shoes into a pair of thick, steel-toed army boots and grabbed his thick jacket from the back of the door.

He bit his lower lip, staring down at her. She laid silently, her hair askew over her face. He contemplated for a moment, then reached over her and pushed her hair behind her ear. As he did so, he moved the blanket a little bit and saw it. He saw her right hand resting gently on her slowly growing abdomen, her left hand curled beside her head on her pillow.

He bent down and kissed her cheek, lingering for a moment, basking in her smell and warmth. He then laid down a thick envelope on the pillow beside her, underneath her hand.

He stood up straight, unable to keep a straight face, unable to keep the tears from rolling down his face in the darkness of night. He took his left hand and slid his wedding band off, and contemplated leaving it. Did he want to let her have it to remember him? Or did he need it for incentive?

He sighed. He placed it on the pillow beside her. Just the image of her, lying here in the darkness and silence was enough incentive for him.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on her abdomen, feeling the child that she would one day give birth to.

In silence, he took the rose he gave her just the day before and placed it beneath her fingers, the thorns having been cleaned off. He laid his face on her cheek for a moment, trying to keep his tears from wetting her and waking her up.

"I'm doing it for you," he whispered. "If I don't do this…" he trailed off, standing up straight. A bright flash of light surrounded his body and a black-and-white hazmat replaced his clothes, with the boots and jacket still on.

He sighed and looked at the window. He clenched his fists and walked towards it, his body going intangible. He had to fight. It was ghosts verses ghosts, one half of the Zone verses the other, with earth as the battlefield.

And he was the general of one side.

"I love you," he said softly. "…Good bye."

Inspired by the song 'Like Toy Soldiers' by Eminem. Thanks for reading, part two will be later on.