The rest of the week continued with more of the same with therapy and constant interruptions of nurses checking on Jack's hand and watching his temperature to ensure he didn't develop an infection. Three days after the fasciotomy, the plastic surgeon was able to close the incisions on Jack's hand.

Speech therapy seemed to be helping, especially when Elizebeth helped Jack. Her teaching background became useful in a way Elizabeth had never dreamed.

Friday evening, as Elizabeth sat on the edge of Jack's bed, running her fingers through his disheveled hair, Jack reached up and touched her face. "You're beautiful."

Elizabeth's eyes moved from his hair down to his eyes, then down to his lips. She leaned down, pressing her lips on his. Their hearts were racing as she pulled away.

"What are you doing to me, Jack?" Elizabeth asked, smiling and shaking her head.

"I don't kn...know wh...wh...what I'm doing...to you. But I do...kn...know what...you're...doing to me."

"Oh, what would that be?"

"T..turning my...w...w...w..." He paused for moment to concentrate, "world upside d...down."

"Oh, Jack." She leaned down and gave him a kiss. "I really should be heading home; it's late."

"No. Please stay."

"What? All night?"

Jack nodded.

"Words," she pointed at him, using her best teacher face.

"Please stay. I s...sleep b...b...better when you're here."

Elizabeth lifted up Jack's blanket, slid underneath it and wrapped her arm around him, careful to miss his incision. Jack pulled her in as close as he could and kissed her on top her head. Both were asleep within minutes and slept better than they had in days.

Jack crested the top of the hill, galloping along on a black horse. He pulled the horse to a stop at the top, looking over the little town nestled in the valley. It was a beautiful, cloudless day. A slight breeze cooling the pair off after their run. Sitting next to them was Tuk; resting after easily keeping up with them on their excursion.

Jack could see someone on a horse at the edge of town; long brown hair, light blue skirt draping across and down the horse. Elizabeth. "Ready boys?" Jack asked, Tuk looked up at him and stood, readying himself for another run. Jack kicked the horse, "Heyah!" he yelled, as the horse jumped directly into a run.

Jack laughed as the trio ran down the hill, the wind blowing his dark brown hair. Tuk was keeping pace right along with the horse, sniffing the air occasionally as he ran.

Jack pulled the horse to stop next to Elizabeth, who had seen them coming and waited next to the small pond. She laughed at the sight of Jack enjoying himself so much.

"Good ride?" she asked as he pulled his horse up next to hers.

"The best ride," he exclaimed, full of enthusiasm. "Hi."

"Hi."

Jack leaned over and kissed her, holding onto the back of her saddle to balance himself.

When he pulled away, and they caught their breath, Elizabeth looked down at the sweaty, black horse. "Who's this?"

"Um..." Jack thought about it for a brief moment, "Sergeant. His name is Sergeant. And this guy is Tuk."

"Well, hello, Sergeant," she said as she leaned over and petted his neck. "Hi, Tuk," she said smiling at the wolf.

Tuk let out a little howl, his favorite way to communicate with his humans.

"Want to go for a ride?" Jack asked her.

"I'd love to."

The pair kicked their horses into a gallop and disappeared over the hill, followed closely by Tuk.

Jack and Elizabeth were awakened by someone clearing their throat.

"Eh hem!"

Elizabeth was rubbing her eyes when Jack shot up in bed, almost pushing her out of it.

"Sir!" Jack said as he saluted the man.

"At ease, Sergeant."

Elizabeth quickly rolled off the bed and after catching her balance, she turned to face the man that had Jack so nervous. "Dad! What are you doing here?"

"Your mother has been frantic all night. She's called you a dozen times. And when you hadn't returned her calls by this morning, I decided to come see if you were here."

"I'm sorry. I must have turned the ringer off on my phone."

"So, was I interrupting something?" He said, looking back and forth between the two, clearly making Jack more and more nervous with each look.

"Oh, dad, stop it. We were tired after talking so I just stayed to get some sleep."

William approached his daughter and gave her hug, whispering in her ear, "that better be all you're doing."

She pulled back and placed her hands on his arms, "Dad, that is all. He's in casts and bandages for crying out loud."

William let out a big belly laugh, pleased with himself for scaring Jack and getting under his daughter's skin. "Now, go call your mother before she has a stroke."

Elizabeth picked up her phone, mouthed "I'll be right back" to Jack and vanished out the door; leaving Jack alone with the colonel.

"Sir," Jack said as William pulled up a chair beside his bed.

"Sergeant, how are you doing."

"N...not...t...too...b...b...bad." The colonel made Jack nervous.

"Okay...now how are you really doing?"

"Sir?"

Elizabeth had finished her phone call quickly and wanted to return to Jack to save him from her father, but as she was about to enter the room, she could hear her dad talking and stopped to listen.

"I've been doing this for a long time, Jack. I've read the report of your attack so I know what you went through over there. So, when I ask you how you're doing, I'm not referring to your physical injuries."

Jack knew what the man was asking, but he didn't want to talk about it. "R...r...really...s...ssir. I'm..f..ff...fine." The nervousness was making it harder for Jack to get his words out.

"And that is what every soldier says." William paused for a moment. "Alright. You aren't ready to talk about it yet. I can respect that. But if you want this thing with my daughter to continue, you are eventually going to talk to someone about it. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Y...y...yes...s...s...sir."

"Fine, Jack. I am very sorry about what you experienced over there. I have seen my fair share of action and I don't wish that on any man. But what you went through, incomprehensible."

Jack just nodded.

"I've seen the way my daughter looks at you."

"Yes," Jack responded.

"She really cares about you."

"Yes, sir."

Jack's clearer speech at the mention of Elizabeth did not go unnoticed by William. "And you care for her very much."

"Yes, sir."

The colonel sat quietly for a moment. "You better take good care of her or I'll...you know...do what a father is supposed to do when his daughter's heart is broken," he said with a grin.

"Yes, sir. I have...every...in..intention...of taking...c...care of her."

Elizabeth was trying to stifle her crying so her dad wouldn't hear her.

"Very well, Jack. I am very glad that you're feeling better. You keep up the hard work now. Okay, son?"

Jack nodded, fighting to hold back the tears. He was missing his own father terribly.

"And I mean it. Talk to someone, Jack. I've been there myself. It helps. "

"Y..yes, sir."

William stood and took Jack's hand, shaking it and placed his free hand on Jack's shoulder. "Thank you for your service, Sergeant. The Army is proud of you, as am I. And your father would be very proud of you."

Jack couldn't contain the tears now and they began to flow down his cheeks. William remained as he was, holding Jack's hand, squeezing his shoulder with the other.

"I'm also very sorry about your father. He was a great soldier. I served with him years ago in Saudi."

Jack looked at William, "Really?"

"Yes, son. He was a fine man."

Elizabeth couldn't quiet her crying enough to remain unnoticed any longer and slipped down the hallway to an empty waiting room.

"I...m...miss him."

"Yes, I know."

"It's...h...hard."

"What is, Jack?"

"The...n...n...n..." Jack shook his head, getting frustrated.

"It's alright, Jack. Just take your time."

"The...night...mares."

"You're still having them?"

Jack nodded.

"Would you like for me to arrange for someone to talk to you?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Jack, you need to take care of yourself...not just physically."

Jack did not respond and looked down at his hand.

"Do it for Elizabeth."

Jack quickly looked back at William. "Okay."

William patted Jack on the shoulder, "Very good, Jack. Very good. I'll get someone arranged to start stopping by here a few times a week to start out with. Okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"I need to get going. Grace and I will stop back later if that's okay."

"Yes, p...p...please...sir."

"Okay. We'll see you later, Jack. I'll find Beth and send her back in."

"Thank...y...you, sir. B...bye."

William went into the hall, expecting to see Elizabeth standing outside the door. But she was nowhere to be seen. He went to the family room and saw her sitting in a corner chair with her head down.

"Beth?"

She lifted her head; her eyes were red and puffy.

William sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "What is it, Beth?"

"I heard you talking to Jack. It just hurts so much to think of what he might have went through. I don't know the details so my mind takes me places that I'd rather not be."

"Trust me, Beth. You don't want to know the details. That boy has a very long road ahead of him, both physically and emotionally. Are you ready for that?"

"Yes, dad. I want to be there for him."

"Do you love him?"

She looked up at her dad, his face very serious as he waited for her reply. "Yes, dad."

"Go to him then. I think he needs you right now. We had a pretty tough conversation."

"Okay, dad." They stood and Elizabeth stood on her tippy toes and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I love you, dad."

"I love you too, Beth." They walked out the waiting room, each turning a different direction. William stopped and turned, "Hey, Beth."

Elizabeth spun around to face her dad, "Ya, dad?"

"Take it easy with your late-night escapades here."

"Oh, dad. Nothing is happening."

"Alright."

"And hey, dad."

"Yes."

"Just so you know, nothing will happen. Not what you're thinking anyway."

"Okay. I trust you, Beth. Your mom and I will be back later."

"Bye. Love you."

When Elizabeth got to Jack's room, he had his arm across his head, covering his eyes. She gently touched his arm, "Are you okay?"

Jack lowered his arm, wrapped it around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. She could see that his eyes were red from crying.

"I'm fine." Jack answered. He released his hug and Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed. "You...n...never told...me...y...your dad...was...a colonel."

"I guess I never thought about it. He's been here before."

"He was...w...wearing...civvies."

"Oh, ya. I forgot. I'm sorry."

"It's...okay. I...w...was...just caught...off guard. I was...so...n...n...nervous w...when you left...me...alone with...him" He smiled, letting her know he was okay now.

"Yes, sorry about that." She grinned back. "Well, it's Saturday morning. What should we do?"

"Not a lot...of...op...options here."

"I have an idea. I'll be right back." She jumped off the bed and ran out the door.

Fifteen minutes later she returned with the doctor. "Hi, Jack," Dr. Shepherd said as he walked in. "How are you feeling today?"

"Good," Jack answered, giving Elizabeth a questioning glance.

"How's your hand? Any pain."

"No...not...n...now."

"And you're leg?"

"Good."

"How would you like to get out of your room for a while?"

"S...s...serious...ly?" Jack said with a huge smile.

"Yes, I think you've been cooped up here long enough. We'll get a chair and be right back."

Jack held his hand out for Elizabeth to take it. "Thank...y...you."

"You're welcome. I thought maybe some fresh air would do you some good."

"You have no...idea." He said, flashing his dimples.

Dr. Shepherd returned with Faith and a wheelchair. They set the wheelchair and locked the wheels. Faith unhooked the IV and pulled the blanket back off Jack.

"Alright Jack, we are going to swing your legs around and get you sitting up. Are you ready?"

Jack nodded.

Dr. Shepherd pulled Jack up as Faith helped him move his legs around and off the bed. With Carson on one side and Faith on the other, they steadied Jack as he turned and sat into the wheelchair. Faith raised the leg rest under Jack's cast to support it out straight. She laid a pillow across Jack's lap and gently place his left arm on it.

Elizabeth was standing behind him and ran her fingers through his messy hair, trying to calm down the back that had been against the pillow. Jack tilted his head back so he could see her and mouthed "thank you".

"How's everything feel, Jack?" Dr. Shepherd asked. "Any pain?"

"No...feels good." Jack answered.

"Okay. You got it, Elizabeth?"

"Yes. Thank you so much."

Elizabeth wheeled Jack out of his room and down the hall. She backed him into the Elevator then pushed the button for the bottom floor.

"Where are we g...going?" Jack asked.

"Out to the garden."

"Th...that s..s...sounds great."

The large double doors slid open in front of them and Elizabeth pushed Jack out and into the sunlight. He tipped his head back, letting the sunlight cover his face, remembering his dream when he watched Elizabeth do the same thing. He took in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the freshly mowed grass. Three weeks of stale hospital smells and before that, months of living in the sand, had Jack craving for the familiar smells of his home.

Elizabeth smiled as she watched Jack. She hadn't seen him so happy and he was soaking it all in.

He put his hand out to hers, "Come here." He pulled her to him and lifted his arm with the splint off his lap.

"What?"

"Have a seat."

"What? I can't. What about your arm and your leg?"

"You won't ….be...s...sitting on them." He said grinning.

"I don't know about this, Jack."

"P...please. Sit."

Elizabeth carefully lowered herself across Jack's lap; her legs hanging over the armrest. She laid the pillow on her lap and gently laid Jack's left arm on the pillow. Jack's free arm was wrapped around her waist, pulling her in close to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and met his lips with hers, matching the eagerness of his kiss. Her lips parted slightly, Jack's tongue grazed along the edge of her lips. Elizabeth's heart was racing as she slid her hand to the back of Jack's head, her fingers entangling in his hair. The fire in Jack moved from his abdomen up to his throat, causing his eagerness to grow.

Elizabeth pulled back, trying to catch her breath. She looked into Jack's eyes, seeing a longing for her in his gaze. "Jack."

He pulled his arm out from behind her and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. "What is it?"

Elizabeth could feel the tears beginning to sting her eyes so she buried her face in Jack's neck, hoping to hide them from him.

Jack put his arm back around her and held her tight. Kissing her on her head, he asked, "What's wrong."

Elizabeth lifted her head and a few tears escaped their hold and slipped down her cheek. Jack wiped them away with his thumb.

"I don't know. I'm just so sorry for what you went through. I'm sorry about your dad." She paused for a moment, "And what I feel for you when you kiss me like that is so overwhelming."

Jack continued rubbing her cheek with her thumb. "I know what you mean."

"Jack."

"What?"

"Have you noticed that you've barely stuttered? And you just said that perfectly! Your speech is so much better." Elizabeth's face was beaming with excitement and pride.

"It's because of you. You...make me want to...g...get better."

Elizabeth touched her forehead to his, breathing him in. His mom brought his cologne earlier that week and the exotic aroma of it drove Elizabeth crazy.

She sat on his lap, wrapped in his arms, as the two talked and watched families enjoy time in the warm spring air. Both of them falling harder and deeper than either were willing to admit.