"Slowly turn." came Benjamin's voice from the hallway. I got up slowly and Nathan and I moved towards it. I was unable to see the face of the man Benjamin held at gunpoint in the darkness. He turned slowly around to face Ben.

"Father…" the man mumbled slowly and quietly. Gabriel! Benjamin rushed to catch him as his knees gave out. I was right there to. Thomas rushed over with a lit candle.

"ABIGAIL! BANDAGES AND WATER, FAST!" Ben shouted. I helped him get Gabriel into a room with more light. Thomas started firing questions at Gabriel until I gave him a silencing glance.

Gabriel moaned as we helped him to lie down on a small bed. "Have you seen any redcoats?" he asked, difficulty in his voice.

"Not yet." Ben answered. Abigail brought us the supplies we needed. "Thank you." He said. The he added, "The children…please." Abigail herded them out. "Thomas, go help her."

Reluctantly, Thomas followed. "Perhaps I should-" I started.

Gabriel cried out in pain and grabbed my wrist, silencing me. "No!" he exclaimed, wincing.

"He's right. I need your help." Ben said. I nodded. Ben tore open Gabriel's shirt. I gasped as I saw the deep, red gash on his stomach. "Jesus…" Ben mumbled. I took one of the cloths that was in the bowl of warm water and wrung it out, staying calm as I could. I dabbed at the gash gently, but Gabriel still winced. I set to work cleaning the wound while he and Ben talked. "What happened?" Ben asked.

"Agh….we got into a skirmish with some redcoats. Our lines broke. The Green Dragoons cut us to bits." He started.

"So this is a saber wound then?" I said to no one in particular.

Gabriel nodded though. "I was given these dispatches. As I left, I saw the Virginia regulars surrender. The Dragoons rode in on 'em…killed 'em all." He paused. He was breathing heavy. I wiped a speck of dirt from the gash. "Agh! Jesus!" he cried out.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed.

He shook his head as if to say it wasn't my fault and then he found and squeezed my free hand. "I have to get these dispatches to Elysburg." He said, trying to sit up.

Ben pushed him back down. "You're in no condition to ride." He said in a very fatherly tone.

"I can't stay here! It's not safe for-" Gabriel was cut off by a loud gun shot outside, closer than before. Ben and I exchanged glances.

"You go. I've got him." I said.

"Don't let him up." Ben said, standing.

I gave Gabriel a look. "Trust me, I won't." I assured them both. Ben got up and left to go see.

"Sarah, please. It's not safe." Gabriel begged.

"I don't care. You're not going anywhere." I said. In all the time I'd spent doing first aid at the military camp, Gabriel was one soldier I'd never worked on. "Abigail!" I called. She didn't answer. She must have been upstairs. Instead Thomas peeked around the doorway. "Get me something for Gabe to drink." I ordered.

"What should I get?" he asked.

"Something strong." I said and he disappeared into the kitchen. I pulled apart the very bottom of Gabriel's shirt and then slipped it off his shoulders and then off his arms. His breathing was still heavy. He watched my every move.

"Will you have to stitch it?" he asked. I saw a hint of fear in his eyes. I inspected the gash more closely.

It was deep, but not too deep. It could heal on its own with time. I shook my head. "No, bandages will do." I said. He looked slightly relieved.

Thomas entered again soon. "We don't have any brandy or anything. All we had was corn-whiskey." He said.

"That'll do." I said. I took it from him and handed him the flask. He took a sip and a look appeared on his face that made me think he was going to spit it out. "Swallow." I ordered. He did so and I imagine it burned. Gabriel wasn't really much of a drinker. He especially wasn't a fan of whiskey. Helping him sit, I took the bandages and began wrapping his stomach. Blood soaked through the first couple layers so I kept wrapping. He stifled cries of pain and pursed his lips. "I'm sorry." I said for a thousandth time.

"Don't be." He said through gritted teeth. I finally finished and pinned the end of the bandage. I helped him to lie down. Gunshots continued to ring outside. One particularly loud one made me jump. "It's alright." Gabriel said calmingly. It was odd he was the one comforting me at a time like this. I pushed my bangs out of my face and picked up a new cloth. I dabbed his cheek and saw a layer of dirt and sweat disappear.

"You're filthy." I said, trying to lighten he mood.

"Gee thanks." He said sarcastically.

I smiled slightly. "And when was the last time you cut your hair?" I asked.

His laugh was labored. "Haven't." he answered.

"I liked it better short." I told him.

"I see." He said. I couldn't bring myself to full on smile. I wiped across his forehead with the cloth and around the rest of his face and then cleaned the dirt and dried blood from his neck. I sighed, fully aware he was still watching me. I wiped away a spot of dirt from his collar bone and then dropped the rag back in the water.

I met his eyes and wiped my thumb across his cheek gently. I sighed. "Well, not quite clean but better than before I suppose…." I said.

He grinned. "Stop acting like my mother." He said.

I smiled and stood up. "I'll have Abigail lay out some clean clothes for you, but for right now get some rest." I told him. "Good night." With that I turned to leave but he again caught my wrist. He slowly pulled me down closer to him until our noses nearly touched.

"You could stay…." He said.

I looked deep into his eyes. I was less than an inch from his lips and he knew it. I took a deep breath and pushed his hand off my wrist, standing up. "Get some sleep, Gabriel." I said and left the room, blowing the candle out on the way.