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.