Chapter
V:
She watched him, the next day, from the corner
of the room. She was supposed to be sweeping, and checking over
each of the patients, but she couldn't help it. He looked so
miserable, sitting there. She knew it had to do with the boy
who'd died the night before, but she also knew that wasn't it
entirely. Putting the broom away, she found the shaving utensils
they'd gotten in their last shipment of medical and personal
items. Gathering up a basin of water as well, she moved to his
bed and set the things down on the table beside him.
"Hey..."
"Hi." He lowered his eyes from the
ceiling, down to his hands.
"Ah mailed that letter for you this
mornin'." She mentally kicked herself for having brought
that up. Now, it'd just remind him of John and the war, and
probably whatever else was on his mind.
"Good." One word answers. This
definitely wasn't like the man she'd just spoken to the previous
day. Something in him seemed defeated.
"So..." She pulled on a pair of
gloves, and began to lather up some shaving cream, spreading it
carefully over his cheeks. He leaned his head back, allowing her
to do so, but said nothing else. "Y'know... Ah guess if
we're going to talk we should know each other's names. Your tags
say Wolverine, but they don't have your real one on there
too."
"Thought you nurses didn't like to
know?"
"We don't. Usually. But Ah've already
blown things by talkin' to ya an' gettin' to know ya, so Ah
figure, why not?" Picking up the razor, she began to swipe
his chin, moving carefully so she didn't knick him. Of course,
they'd only remain on his skin for a moment or so, that much
she'd learned already. Still, the momentary wince he'd gotten the
first time she'd given him a shave, had made her wince as well.
And besides that, there were other men around that needed a shave
as well, and they didn't heal quite so quickly.
"Not too close."
"Of course not. Ah like a little stubble
on your chin. Makes you look rugged, y'know, like them cowboys
back in the US?" She giggled slightly, hardly able to
picture him sitting atop a horse, wearing big hats and spitting
like there was no tomorrow. No matter how hard she tried, there
was no other way to picture him besides as a soldier. He just fit
the part, from the physical aspects, down to the behavioral and
mental.
"You flirt like this with all the
guys?"
"Nope."
"How come?"
"Wouldn't be as much fun. Normal men grin
an' flirt back. You're tha only one Ah flirt with that actually
scowls at me." She giggled, and was grateful to hear him
chuckle slightly. "Careful, or Ah'll knick ya good."
"Sorry."
"So. What're your plans for today?"
"Well, there's a section of the ceiling I
haven't memorized yet. I thought I'd work on that for a
while." Laughing again, she moved the razor and got the last
bit of shaving cream off his chin and cheeks.
"Too bad your schedule's so booked. Ah
arranged for a car t'come an' get us outta here for a
while."
"Plannin' on kidnappin' me huh? Aren't
there laws against that?" He moved a hand over his chin,
making sure she didn't cut it too close, even though she'd
assured him a hundred times she wouldn't, mentally nodded in
approval and seemed to ponder a minute.
"You caught me red handed. Now, you gonna
come peacefully, or do Ah have to force ya out?"
"Well, when you put it that way, how can I
resist?"
"Good. Now, Ah know you're tryin' to get
Jean's attention with that bare chest of yours, but if you wanna
go out, you gotta pull on a shirt." She saw him try to
scowl, but they both knew it was a failed attempt, especially
when a grin broke out over his lips. He did as she said, while
she went back to her quarters and found the only nice dress she'd
brought along with her. It was a fairly simple thing, a light
peach color, and sleeveless, but she loved it all the same. She
replaced her nurses cap with a straw bonnet, one that would keep
the sun out of her eyes.
When she went back to get Wolverine, he was
sitting up in his bed. She smiled, realizing how eager he must be
to get away from this place. He wasn't injured, despite the front
he had to put up, and she was pretty sure he'd go mad if he
couldn't walk around and exercise some. "You ready to
go?"
"Yup." She'd gotten a wheelchair in
the process, and helped him into it slowly. Yelling to Jean that
she and Wolverine were going and that they'd be back before it
got too dark, she pushed him outside and up to the waiting
vehicle. The man driving helped to get him into the car, and she
had to laugh at the expression on Wolverine's face. He looked
about ready to belt the guy for implying that he was too weak to
do something for himself. She glanced sympathetically at him,
asking him with her eyes to watch his temper. He conceded, and
sat quietly while the man helped her in as well.