Chapter XV:

The surgery went on as scheduled. Marie had done all in her power to find an alternate cure for the gangrene, with no positive results. And so, bright and early that Monday morning, they'd rolled Robert Drake into the surgical room and prepped him for the amputation. He was calm, which surprised her. Of course, it seemed his nature, to always take things in stride. "Hey, Marie?" She glanced at the doctor, who raised an eyebrow at her in question of his familiarity with her. Deciding pointedly that she didn't care what the rules were, she turned and looked at him.

"Hey kid. What is it?"

"She wrote me back." A small, sleepy smile was passing over his lips. How he'd managed to sleep the previous night was behind her. As for herself... she'd remained awake, pacing, straining every inch of her mind for any previously unseen cure. It was all to no avail, however, and as the sun began to rise, she'd left her quarters to ready the surgical room, and retrieve the patient.

"Who did...?" She reached behind her and pulled on a pair of latex gloves, more suited for surgery than the ones she always wore when on duty. The snap of them falling into place around her wrists made her flinch, as well as jump slightly. She was on edge. She didn't want anything to go wrong in this surgery.

"Jenn." It took a moment for her to remember and place the name, but when she did, she smiled.

"Oh yeah? What'd she say?" She rolled the anesthetic over toward the bed and set it to the right amount.

"Didn't open it yet... I'm gonna do it... when I wake up."

"Fair 'nough."

"You'll be there... won't you?" Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the doctor watching. Instead of the frown she expected him to be wearing, she saw a small smile. Amazing. To think, all this time, she believed he had no feelings. That he was cold and uncaring of each and every man that came and went. It was a relief to finally find someone whose emotions were touched by these cases.

"Ah will. Ah promise. Now, Ah gotta put this mask on you. When Ah say, you jus' take one big, deep breath, an' all your work is done. All right?" When he nodded, she slipped the mask over his mouth and nose, and patted his hand gently. "Okay... breathe in deep..." She watched him do so, counting mentally in her head. They were supposed to be asleep by the time you reached ten. He was out by 6.

"He'll be all right." She turned sharply to look at the doctor. It was the first time he'd directly spoken to her since they'd reached the hospital months ago. "It's a simple surgical procedure. I've done countless." She nodded in understanding, even if it didn't calm her nerves. Every surgery she helped with made her nervous, but not so much as this one. This boy was Logan's friend... was HER friend too. She knew Logan was counting on her to take care of him... because he trusted her like that. She'd be letting him down by erring in this.

Taking in a deep breath and pulling a long apron 'round her waist and neck, she tied the mask over her lips and nose and nodded at the doctor, who nodded back. Letting out the breath, she pushed all doubts and fears from her mind and began, keeping a silent prayer going, at all times, in the back of her mind.

"Well, what's she say?" She realized, as she slid into the seat beside Bobby, that she was just as anxious for the girl's reply as he was. She hoped the girl had a good heart, and that this situation wouldn't put a damper on her feelings for Bobby. He really was a sweet boy.

The surgery went very well. There were no complications at all. They managed to salvage everything from just below the knee and up.

From the looks of him sitting there, beaming, ripping open the envelope, she was sure he wasn't feeling too embittered about it. True, there would be moments in the next few months, maybe even years, where he'd curse the war for doing this to him. But he'd survive.

Marie began to worry when Bobby frowned. Her heart stopped, and a breath caught in her throat. The girl had declined. Even if it was respectfully or kindly, it was still a harsh blow all the same. "Oh Bobby... Ah'm so sorry..."

"Sorry...? What for?"

"Well... didn't she... Ah mean..." Her cheeks burned, and she gave a little shrug. "You're frownin'. Ah thought maybe..."

"Oh! No... it's just... still a little groggy. I'm having trouble readin' is all."

"Need some help?" When he nodded and handed her the letter, she sort of panicked. Now, if things were as she feared, she would be the bringer of bad news. She frowned inwardly, wondering why she always took that job upon herself. Lowering her eyes, she began to scan over the letter first, until she heard Bobby.

"Uh uh! No cheating! We find out together, remember?" She laughed at his impish grin and nodded in agreement.

"Dearest Bobby..." She paused a moment while he shifted to get a little more comfortable in the bed. "Dearest Bobby. Ah miss you. Ah'm glad to hear that there's a nurse there who is seeing to your needs. Ah'm grateful to her, as long as she doesn't take you away from me. Thank her for me." Marie paused a moment, glancing over at Bobby. He had a large smile on his face, and he was staring at the ceiling. She knew he was picturing this girl, in every detail. How did she know? Because every time she received a letter from Logan, she would sit alone in her room and picture him, clear as day, as though he were there, speaking to her.

"She's always jealous like that." His words shook her from her daydream. "When we'd go out, and another girl would talk to me, she'd always look away. And her nose would kind of scrunch up too." He chuckled at that, before waving a hand. "All right, what are you tryin' to do, give me a heart attack here? Finish the letter..."

"All right!" It took her a moment to stop laughing before she was able to continue. "It's funny. There's a war over there... yet... back here in the States, you can't hardly tell. If it weren't for your letters, Ah'd think someone was making up all that talk. Of course, now, they have pictures. They print them in the magazines, trying to get support from any men still left here. You're a hero, Bobby. That's what Mama says. She says you'll get a medal too. That's very honorable. 'Course, I knew you were brave, even before now." She paused a moment, shaking her head. There was no way such a sweet girl could possibly hurt Bobby. Her fears were quelled just then. She glanced over at Bobby to make sure he was still awake, since the medication they'd given him was pretty strong. He was watching her, waiting for her to continue. "Why Bobby, Ah do believe you're blushin'!" She laughed as he turned a little more red and gave a brief shrug of the shoulders.

"I miss her..." He sighed and looked back up at the ceiling. "An' I love her. Course, I'd love her a whole lot more if she got to the point a little quicker." They both laughed, and Marie sat back in her chair, straightening the piece of paper so she could see it better.

"All right, where was Ah... oh!" She cleared her throat and crossed her legs. "Ah love you very much Bobby. Ah know you know that already, but Ah just felt Ah should say it again. With that in mind... you should already know mah answer to your proposal." Marie's throat grew tight, and a burning sensation grew in her chest. "Please send information about your return. Ah want to be there when your ship comes in. It's been so long since Ah've seen you an' held you..." She bit her lip, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She knew what this girl was feeling. Every word she read made Marie want to run to her room and write Logan again. If she hadn't promised to stay with Bobby, and if he didn't need her to read the letter to him, she might very well have. But she stayed for the moment, muddling through the rest of it. "Ah love you. Always. Jenn."

"Well..." Marie re-folded the letter and looked over at Bobby. He seemed to be as effected by the letter as she was. Probably moreso, because it dealt with his future. She'd accepted his proposal. She could tell it was taking time for that to sink in. It must have, finally, because she watched him lower his head and saw tears falling. She said nothing, just as he remained silent.

After some time, he finally composed himself and let out a deep breath. She handed back the letter, and he took it, holding it tightly in his hands. "Well... you think that meant yes?" He looked at Marie, a childish, playful grin on his lips. For a moment her mouth hung open before she began to laugh. He followed her example, and for some time they just sat there giggling.

Eventually, though, he grew too tired to continue. She hugged him in congratulations, then left him be. Scurrying to her room, she sat down on her bed. Pulling the tied letters out from under her pillow, she pressed them to her lips, then held them tightly against her chest. Unable to stand the growing tightness in her chest, she let the tears fall. She didn't even bother to wipe them away as they trickled down her nose and cheeks, clinging to her chin before falling into her lap. She missed him. God how she missed him! And she was afraid. Afraid, because she didn't really know if he felt the same. And because she didn't know if she would ever see him to ask him and know for sure.