"That's good, just focus on your next breath, in and out." The nurse said. Caleb drew in a shaky breath through his damaged throat. He had been in rehabilitation for his injury for what felt like forever. The damage to his throat combined with the impact on his chest made breathing a nightmare, and it had taken him a long time to be able to breathe without a machine. As for speaking, it was out of the question. Even attempting to talk caused a sharp pain to course through his throat like a Covenant energy sword. It wasn't the best situation.
During his stay at the medical center, he had plenty of time to think. However, among all of his thoughts, there had been one on his mind that wouldn't leave him alone.
Iona.
"Alright, I think that's enough for right now, you get some rest, ok?" The nurse said, standing up and exiting the room. Caleb nodded.
After he woke up in the ward he had heard the story from the kind nurse that was taking care of him. Hell, half the Pollux was talking about it. Caleb had been incapacitated, but Iona was able to get to the extraction zone. And then against all the odds, she had gone back for him. Then he had heard that as punishment she was going to be reassigned, and Caleb could barely imagine it. He couldn't stop thinking about it, when completing the mission was so close, she had given it all up for him. He wanted so badly to talk to her, to thank her, but he knew now he might never get that chance. Not like he could talk anyway. To communicate in the meantime he had learned enough sign language to get by with the nurse, who was fluent. The Spartan signals he and Iona had developed were effective at communicating battle plans, but not so much when asking for a glass of water.
Caleb listened closely for a moment. Once he was satisfied the nurse had made it down the hall and out of the area, Caleb detached the breathing machine from his mouth and got out of bed. The nurse would be extremely upset if she saw him up and about, but Caleb knew he'd be fine. The ease of the breathing apparatus was welcome, but he appreciated having to struggle to take in his breath. It reminded him of his time with Iona. Stranded deep behind enemy territory, struggling not only to complete their mission but to survive as well. His thoughts always drifted back to her eventually. He tightened his slightly undersized hospital gown and pushed open the door, making sure it was clear before making his way to his favorite place in the area. It was a simple corner tucked away in the back of the ward, nothing more than a chair and small table, next to a window that overlooked the depths of space. He liked to come here whenever he could manage, to get away from that cramped care room that reeked of anesthetic and latex.
He sat down and stared out the window, watching the stars twinkle. To distract himself from his thoughts, he focused on his breathing. A slow shuddering breath in, followed by a shaky exhale out. In and out, in and out. The pattern soothed him, but he couldn't escape his thoughts for long. There was something there, whenever he thought of Iona. It had been there for a long time, but he never usually had time to think about it. It was a feeling he couldn't describe, something that made him want to keep his helmet on when he was around her, the same thing that made him want to sing for her. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Whatever it was, outside of battle it made being around her difficult, but simultaneously the best thing he had ever experienced. It was an impossible paradox of emotion. He had never felt this way around any other person, she was special.
Whenever he let his thoughts get away from him too much, he would daydream about her. The way her short curly brown hair still managed to stick out at odd angles sometimes, even though it had been cut military short. The way she smiled with her eyes closed whenever he sang her to sleep. The way her hazel eyes sparkled when she looked into a light. It was like a curse on his mind he couldn't get rid of. He started to wonder if these emotions were something… More. Was that even possible? Caleb had no idea.
"Well, I have some pretty great news for you today Caleb!" The nurse said cheerfully. Caleb had made his way back to his bed before the nurse suspected a thing. Being an expert in infiltration and stealth tended to help him here and there. Caleb cocked his head to show his attention.
"Though learning to breathe normally again is still going to take some time, there is something that we can do for your voice!" She said excitedly. "The Captain has deemed your voice a valuable asset in your missions, and has approved you for a vocal synthetic reconstruction surgery! But only if you want to of course." Caleb smiled to himself, good old Captain Agnello, always looking out for them. Caleb was familiar with the surgery, it was rather advanced. It was designed to repair the vocal cords using synthetic components and, sensing input from the vocal cords, it would emit a voice as human as it could make it. His voice would never be the same as it was, but he would have it back. Caleb knew the surgery wasn't necessary, he would be able to communicate his needs without it, but it was an opportunity to get back something he had lost. Caleb nodded and moved his hands. signing his approval to the nurse, who smiled.
"I'll go get the proper forms and let the Captain know," she said, exiting the room again. Caleb didn't mind losing his voice, he was getting by without it alright. But he treasured it now purely because somebody else appreciated hearing it. It was incredible how one person had the power to make him value something he had never before considered significant. If he ever saw Iona again, he promised himself that he would thank her for everything, not just the mission.