It was awkward. Everything about it was awkward. As Beca lay on the bed, a physio working her through some range of motion exercises to prepare her for when she would eventually receive her prosthetics, she couldn't help the feelings of frustration and inadequacy that bubbled up.

She literally spent every day being lifted from a bed, to a wheelchair, and vice versa and was still trying to grapple with and figure out what her limitations where.

Aside from the obvious, not being able to walk or stand up, she also had to deal with things she'd never really thought about, like how she manoeuvred in bed, how to balance her weight when sitting up since she didn't have lower limbs to counter her weight distribution.

Even learning how to care for her residual limbs was a process. But the biggest hurdle wasn't necessarily the physical aspect, although that was a huge part, but rather the mental.

She could still feel her legs as if they were there, something the doctors and psychologists told her would fade with time. But that sensation, that feeling, made adjusting even harder. At least she thought that was the hardest part.

Having finished her physio, the nurses decided to change her bandages both on her stumps and her back, as well as the area where the PEG tube had recently been removed.

Scars upon scars upon scars. Her body was like the human equivalent of an etch-a-sketch, and those were only the ones that ran deep.

As the nurses finished up her back and abdomen area, they helped Beca put her tshirt back on and then lay her bare stumps on a pillow so they could breathe for a bit before they were re-bandaged later.

While Beca lay there staring at the tv, not really paying attention to what was on, Chloe appeared in the room, handbag dangling from her shoulder and her jacket hanging from her arms in front of her.

Beca glanced up and upon noticing the redhead, became uneasy as she tried to adjust herself up a little more, grabbing the bed cover that had been tossed aside and covering her stumps.

Chloe noticed the soldiers reaction as she stepped further into the room. She placed her things down on a spare chair as she made her way to the armchair and sat down, gazing up and down Beca's body before acknowledging her

"You know you don't have to hide them Beca. It doesn't weird me out," Chloe said, resting a hand on the brunettes arm that was resting on the bed by her side. Beca just swallowed and averted her gaze downwards.

"It's not….normal," Beca eventually managed, as she struggled to find the words to sum up her feelings. Chloe nodded in understanding.

"I get that. I know it's been hard for you to adjust," Chloe said, before lacing her hand with the soldiers and giving it a squeeze.

"And if covering it makes you comfortable then fine, I won't push it. But I don't want you to feel like you have to hide parts of yourself from me," Chloe sighed, hoping Beca could hear the sincerity in her voice.

"This doesn't bother me Bec's, not in the slightest."

As if to drive home her point, Chloe released Beca's hand and placed her own over one of the soldiers residual limbs, careful not put too much pressure on it as she knew they were still a little sensitive.

Beca tipped her head huffing out a breath as she willed back her tears.

"It's just, I know it's not attractive to look at," Beca mumbled and Chloe's hand instinctively rubbed softly along her stump.

"Lucky for you I fell in love with your smartass mouth first then isn't it," Chloe joked, a hint of a grin on her lips.

Beca gazed up at her, caught sight of the grin and couldn't help but emit a chuckle of her own and then she heaved out a sigh.

"You know my body's never going to be the same," Beca said eyeing Chloe who nodded.

"I know. But I don't care. I understand that it's gonna take time for you to get comfortable with all this. But just so you know, I don't need time. All the things I care about, the things that are deeper than surface level, they're still beautiful, and that makes everything about you beautiful to me."

Beca gazed deep into Chloe's eyes, searching for an ounce of trepidation or hesitation in what she had said, but found nothing. Nothing except for compassion, understanding and that overwhelming since of love she had always provided.

And that was enough for Beca to take comfort in her words, for now at least. Just as they were getting lost in a moment a knock at the door sounded and they both glanced up to find Aubrey stood at the door with a basket of baked goods in hand.

The blonde stepped into the room and placed the basket on the locker next to Beca's bed, engaging in idle chit chat for a moment before she turned her attention to Chloe.

"Hey, can I talk to you outside for a sec? It'll be quick I promise."

Chloe looked confused for a moment but nodded regardless, standing up and following the blonde outside to the hallway. Aubrey stopped a few paces down from the door and then turned to Chloe, arms crossed.

"What are you doing?" Aubrey asked, and Chloe looked taken aback for a minute, not sure what she was talking about so she decided to interject.

"Cut the bull Chloe I heard you guys talking. Do you even realise what you're doing?" she asked and Chloe looked at her with annoyance.

"I don't know if you've noticed Bree but Beca's esteem isn't very high right now. I was just trying to make her feel comfortable," Chloe shot back and Aubrey nodded her head.

"Yeah, and doing it like you guys are the same couple from before she deployed," Aubrey replied. She knew she was digging but she had to make a point.

"How do you think Beca's gonna feel when you've built her back up to think everything's normal between you two, only to find out that for the last two years you were dating, engaged and almost married to the guy who betrayed her."

Chloe stuttered over her own words, Aubrey's sentiments stinging the life out of her. It wasn't her intention to lead Beca on, but every time she saw her struggling she felt compelled to comfort her.

She knew she was deflecting the Chicago situation but it was only because she didn't know how to bring it up. Every time she thought about it Beca would be having a bad day and her need to comfort and support would override her need to tell her the truth.

Aubrey just shook her head at her best friends lack of a response. She knew Chloe wasn't intentionally glossing over facts, but she also knew that the longer this went on, the more potential there was for irreversible damage.

"I love you Chlo, but right now you need to pull your head out of your ass, bite the bullet and tell Beca the truth. Before you hurt her worse than Chicago ever could."

At those words Aubrey left and headed back into Beca's room, leaving Chloe with the disgusting feeling of having been sucker punched by a devastating blow.

Aubrey's words hurt, of course they did. But not any worse than the realisation that her best friend was right. She couldn't drag this out anymore. She had to tell Beca the truth if they were to have any sort of future going forward….