Chapter XI:

The night before he was to leave was the hardest for the both of them. They didn't know whether the other one wanted to talk about his departure, or postpone mention of it until the last possible second, so most of the conversation was pointless banter at first. Eventually, however, they came to a point where they needed to discuss it. The sun was coming up above the horizon, and any minute the transport would arrive to take him away. "Are you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"War. Fightin'... things like that?"

"You mean, since I've been away from it so long?" He looked over at her, only to see her staring at the ground. He wondered what was going through her head just then. God knows his was a mess. He didn't even wait for her to answer his question before replying. The more he talked, the less he thought. He liked it that way. Thinking caused too much trouble. "It'll take some getting used to, I guess. No more home cooked meals an' all that..."

"Yeah..." He looked down as well when he heard her give a faint chuckle. They both knew the food in the hospital was anything but real home cooking. He always complained that nurses got better treatment than battle weary soldiers. And most of the time, their little arguements ended up with him triumphant, and Marie giving him her dinner. He tried not to take it, but she was always so insist... and he was always so hungry.

He wasn't sure when exactly it was that it hit him that he may never see Marie again after that day. Nevertheless, it hit him strong and hard in the gut. He raised his eyes to study her face. Her lips were drawn thin and tight, and he could tell by the way her eyes were squinted that she was doing her best not to cry. She didn't like to cry in front of soldiers, or so she said.

"Transports!" The word rang loud and sharp through the halls of the hospital, jerking Marie from the reverie she seemed to have buried herself in.

"Ah guess that means you..." Simultaneously, they stood to their feet, Marie smoothing her dress with the palms of her hands, Logan pulling on his army cap. He complained about it all the time, saying it made him look like a prissy boy. She told him she thought it made him look strong and official like. "Look Logan..." He couldn't help but smile as she pulled her hands up to straighten his shirt out some. Always had to have them doing something... God... he was going to miss her... "Just try an' come back in one piece... all right?" Slowly, he took hold of her hands and stopped their movement about his clothes. He watched her keep her gaze on his hands, now wrapped tightly around her wrists. Her struggle against the tears was growing harder, he could tell, because she shook now.

"Say it." Marie raised her eyes to look at him, not quite sure what he meant at first.

"Transports!" He didn't move from his spot, only tightened his hold on her wrists. All at once she must have realized what he was asking of her, because rememberance filled her eyes.

"I need to hear you say it..."

"They're callin' you Logan..." Nothing around him mattered for the moment. Still holding her wrists, he was able to pull her closer so that their noses were just barely apart from each other. The air was different around them this time. It wasn't like in her room, where they were alone and could speak their mind and had all the time in the world to do so. Now, it was a frantic need that drove and directed his actions. He needed to hear her say it.

"Just say it!"By now, others had entered the room where they were, and proceeded to take Logan's things from him. He shrugged them aside, but knew Marie was consious of their every move. Every muscle in his body strained as she opened her mouth and took in a breath. Before any words could come out of her mouth, a man had clamped a hand onto his shoulder, pulling him backward. The force caught him by surprise, and he had no choice but to release her wrists. She stared wide eyed, possibly in shock. This was all happening too quickly! He couldn't stop the man from pulling him toward the truck and shoving him on. He was aware, however, that Marie had followed them, step for step, and stood just outside the hospital, watching. The motor of the trucks lined up rang loud in his ear, and the shouts of men drowned out all other sound. Just before stepping onto the back of the truck, he squinted and saw her mouth moving, but couldn't make out the words. Before he could focus more to listen, she was pulled inside, and the truck pulled away.