7th May 2013 Tuesday

Day 127 (number of hours it took that guy to begin cutting off his arm; now think of 127 DAYS…I'm starting to see where he was coming from…)

Dedicated to DragonFlyer9!

Disclaimer: Don't own the show, enough of the interrogation.


"Come one, one more?" Zap begged from his bed, stacking and shuffling the deck of cards again. Jenny sighed as she stood up.

"I can't, I have a job to do," she debated, gathering her items from the side desk.

"Fine. So food comes at six like usual?" he wasn't really asking a question; his life in the infirmary had become very routine in the last few weeks so he really didn't need to ask.

"Yes, like usual," Jenny rolled her eyes playfully. She had become his personal nurse, and surely enough, the movements in his leg were becoming stronger everyday.

"Can I have a kiss goodbye?" he questioned, moving his eyebrows suggestively. She sighed in exasperation; already tired of his games. This happened every time she left, and every time she would reply with a quick no. Something about never getting involved with patients was always her excuse, but Zap knew he could get passed that barrier.

"I'm sorry, I don't get-"

"-get involved with your patients, I know," he finished, the smirk on his lips returning. He grasped her hand gently and kissed it, her cheeks growing red by the second. "But I bit my tongue last week, and the guy in the room next to me has died; we don't know how much time I have left." She knew she couldn't laugh at such a horrific joke about war, but couldn't help the small giggle that bubbled in her throat. After all, jokes like those aided in pushing past the pain of what they saw every day.

"Your condition has been nothing but improving," she said, pulling the sheet back as she prepared herself to leave. "And food comes at six."

He winked at her, clicking his tongue as she rolled her eyes again. He could see her silhouette through the sheet, watching her as she marked something on her papers and walked away. He sighed heavily, falling back in to his bed as he stared up at the blank ceiling.

He had never felt this way towards anyone before, or really, no one had felt anything towards him. Even though Jenny was still acting cold towards her patient, he could sense that it was an act, and there was this unspoken connection between them.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as a few men in uniform pushed the sheet aside and walked up to Zap's bed. He immediately pushed himself up to address the men properly. He saluted, and removed his hand once they saluted back.

"Private," the first man addressed, reading the clipboard that was attached to the bed. "You're being called up on a mission."

"A…a what?" Zap asked in disbelief, almost afraid at where it was going.

"A mission," he repeated, sounding more regal as the words left his lips. "Your condition over the last few weeks has improved to a perfectly healthy status, so you're no longer needed here. We need your fire and ferocity in the front line."

"The front line?" he reiterated, surprise and slight excitement lacing his voice.

"That's right, chap. We'll give you five minutes to gather your things and a car will take you to the station," the men saluted again before walking towards the door. Zap furrowed his brow in thought before raising his voice.

"General?" the first man turned at the address of his status. "Could you send in a scribe; I, uh…need to write a letter."


Jenny had placed all the items of food on her tray, preparing the meal for Zap. This time, she even placed a small flower, a lily, on the tray just for him, feeling the excitement grow in her stomach. She knew her rule; never get involved with your patients, but there was something about the way he always asked her how she was, or the way his eyes sparkled when he saw her. Maybe this time, she thought, she might break her rule. With a steady breath, she held the tray up and walked to his bed.

Pulling back the sheet, her smile went from beaming to a frown in a matter of seconds. The bed looked completely unused; freshly pressed and made.

"Hey doc?" she queried, turning to the man tending another patient in the opposite bed. "Where's Zap?"

"Who?"

"Uh, patient ten-37?" she read from her old papers. "He's not here."

"Oh uh, some soldiers came in before and spoke to him," he spoke casually, pulling the white sheet over the very recently deceased patient. "Yeah I think he was deployed."

Her throat began to close, feeling the tears threatening to fall. She walked in to the sheet-divided room, placing his never-to-be-eaten dinner on the bed. She sat down next to it, looking at her open palms in her lap. This was exactly why she didn't get involved with her patients; the moment she began to feel the same way, they would always leave in one way or another. She glared angrily at his pillow where she used to see his smug grin, his charming wink, his…his playful laugh…

Her eyes moved slowly from his pillow to the bedside table, only now noticing a blank envelope upright against a stack of books. Her brow furrowed curiously as she reached out and took it. With a shaking hand, she ripped it open and pulled out the thin piece of paper. A small lily fell out of the envelope in to her lap, her sad eyes moving from the small sentiment to the letter. Her tears fell in large splotches on the page as she read every word carefully.

Jenny,

I know our time was short-lived, but it was a small ray of sunshine in my currently dark world. I'm not sure whether or not you started to care for me, but if you couldn't tell, I really started to care for you. You were my saviour in my time of need; bringer of food and player of card games.

I've never known a family, and I've never known love, but your mere presence by my side everyday was what gave me hope and strength. It wasn't the fancy medicine that made me feel better, it was you.

If I ever make it back, would it be possible for us to find each other again? I would love very much to see you again, my sweet, because life without you is worse than living through a thousand bomb raids.

If I succeed in this mission, I've been told I'll receive a purple heart; but when I'm without you my heart is purple, longing to gaze upon your hair, to feel your hand in mine once again.

You can call me crazy if you want, but lately I haven't thought of anyone else, and it's not due to the fact that I don't know anyone else. I love you, I'll miss you, and with you as my lucky charm I know I'll make it through the long days.

I look forward to seeing you in the future again.

All my love,

Zap.


And this is where the story ends. " but when I'm without you my heart is purple" (oh what a good line!) Sorry to leave it like this but it's poetic and it's up to you whether or not they meet again, or if he's killed in action. I may come back to this era in other stories, so look out for it. R&R! Please post your entries to the cover image competition.