A story is told as much by silence as by speech.

Eugene's dark eyes shot up towards the pretty redhead in front of him.

She hadn't spoken to him yet, and she showed no signs that she would.

They both stood outside the hospital holding cigarettes between their fingers.

Jackie blew the smoke high into the air, and watched it curl up, and whisk away.

Eugene blew the smoke powerfully downward, much like a stallion snorting in the cold.

Jackie let her gaze drift over toward the young medic, and she nodded at him.

"I'm Jacqueline Johnson." She told him, muttering.

He nodded quietly, taking a drag. "I know."

She scratched her head and gave him an empathetic smile, before throwing her cigarette to the ground exasperatedly. "No one talks!" She
exploded, her eyes widening. "No one says anything around here!"

Eugene took in the fiery redhead, and sighed, unsure of what to say. "What's there to say?" He said, shooting her a kind smile.

She raised her arms in anger. "You could ask me where I'm from?" She suggested bitterly. "You could ask where I went to school?"

He leaned against the wall, and gave her a confused look. "I know where you're from though, and I know that you didn't go to school."

She bit her lip to refrain from saying anything ugly. "That's not the point. You could ask to ask. You could ask so that we could talk."

Eugene didn't say anything, but watched Adele lead Shifty Powers into the exam room.

Jackie turned on her heel, and strode off briskly.

Adele turned to Shifty, and smiled. "You're good to go Corporal Powers." She told him cheerfully.

He gave her a sweet smile. "Thank you kindly Miss Roux."

She nodded, "Be careful."

He gave her another shy smile, "I usually am. Never been injured."

She tossed his chart into a basket of complete workups, and grinned at him. "Then don't tarnish the record Corporal." She commanded, "Stay safe."

He tipped his hat to her, and she waved at him as he headed out the door.

That night, Adele lay in her bed, legs straight up against the wall as she admired her newly painted toenails, while Jackie sat on her bed, back to the headboard.

Jackie held on to her cigarette, and stared tiredly up at the ceiling, while Adele inspected her toenails.

Jackie rubbed her eyes, and flicked the butt of her cigarette to the floor.

"Like your toes?" Jackie asked quietly.

Adele smiled at her, her icy eyes warm. "I love them. I've never had my nails painted before."

Jackie raised an eyebrow as she passed Adele a cigarette. "Seriously?"

Adele grinned. "Never." She ran one of her feet up her legs admiringly. "I like it."

Jackie couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, well one day I'll do your nails."

Adele looked at her surprised, "You mean you put the paint on your fingernails too?"

Jackie nodded, "Yeah, and usually, your use bright red."

Adele squealed excitedly and then took a flamboyant drag of her cigarette.

Jackie turned to Adele, and looked at her seriously, "What's Eugene like?" She asked, as Adele looked shocked by the randomness of the question.

Adele took the cigarette back in her fingers and looked thoughtfully at Adele. "He's nice. He's very caring."

Jackie nodded, "How long have you known him?"

Adele flashed Jackie a smile, "Since he plucked me from the shower."

Jackie rolled her eyes and prompted Adele to continue.

"He's sweet, and religious. Focused. I've never seen anyone so focused on anything."

Jackie swept her hair to the side, "Where's he from?"

Adele smiled fondly. "Louisiana. He's half Cajun."

Jackie rolled her eyes, "So what he eats gumbo all the time?"

Adele took a quick drag before nodding, "Yeah, and speaks incorrect French!"

Giggling, Jackie tossed her shoes off and cuddled under her covers, as Adele fixed her with a curious look. "Why so curious?"

Jackie sighed and pressed her lips together, "He doesn't like me at all."

Adele's brow furrowed, and she tossed the cigarette into the ash tray. "Of course he does." She objected, "Of course he likes you."

Jackie shook her head, "I tried to talk to him today. Didn't work…"

"He's quiet Jackie. He's probably not too forward around a girl like you."

Jackie flopped over, facing Adele. "Yeah, but he'll talk to you." She accused.

Adele shook her head, "He's just known me longer Jax. He'll warm up to you!"

Jackie shook her head, "Yeah well, I've been warm to him for quite a while."

Adele's blue eyes shot intently upward. "You want sex?" She asked blatantly. "That's why you want to know him?"

Jackie sighed, and threw her head forward. "No, I want to know him. But yeah, I'd like sex."

Adele raised an eyebrow, "For yourself? To prove yourself?"

Jackie rolled her eyes, "No way, I'm good enough."

Adele didn't drop the matter. "Are you trying to prove to yourself that you're desirable because you haven't had sex since you've been here?"

Jackie snarled at her before blowing out the candle, signaling that the conversation was over.