A/N: I really hate writer's block. I haven't been able to come up with anything good lately, so I hope that this one's okay. As always, please review.
This takes place directly after the events of chapter 39.
Theme #50: Fingertips
It wasn't possible for it to rain indoors, yet there was something that felt suspiciously like raindrops landing on his face. He forced his eyes open and discovered that it wasn't rain trickling down from above him but rather the tears of his faithful First Lieutenant leaning over him. He shakily reached out his hand and grazed her tear-stained cheeks with his fingertips. The unexpected action caused a startled gasp to escape her lips and her eyes widened in shock, but she made no attempt to move away from his touch.
"Such beautiful tears…" he murmured with a slight smile as he brushed a teardrop away from her face. The comment caused her cheeks to redden, which he thought only made her look more beautiful.
"Colonel…I…" she began, her voice unusually weak, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes it is. It's my job to protect you, and I failed. If I hadn't suggested that we split up…"
"I didn't have to… go along with your suggestion. So you see…it's not your fault at all," he explained with a strained voice and hoped that she wouldn't be able tell how much pain he was in because he didn't want to worry her any further.
The blonde woman didn't respond and sniffled slightly as a pair of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"So beautiful," he whispered softly as he allowed his heavy eyelids to close, succumbing to the exhaustion from his injury. He felt more teardrops land on his cheek, and he couldn't help but smile at how lucky he was to have someone who cared so much for him.
