Disclaimer: I do not own Todd Blackburn or Black Hawk Down. I'm using 'Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War' by Mark Bowden and any details I remember from the movie. All details concerning the battle, dates, times, places, etc. are the same. None of that has been changed. I do own this fan fic idea, Danielle Ashton, and Sarah Thomas.

Author's Note: Flashback! I've never written one before, but I was compelled to write on in this chapter. It fit so perfectly that I just had to. A bit of a mush warning. I'd like to thank all of my subbies for waiting so long for a new chapter. I appreciate your patience. This was written for Susan for helping me make this fan fiction a bit better, for giving me your honest opinion on the story, and for making me write more to this even when I wanted to quit.

Sarah woke up to find herself in her bed, still in her nurse's uniform. A weak bit of light entered the room through a window and she sat up. Her auburn hair cascaded down to a little above her elbows and reflected the rays, making it seem more of a strawberry red. She brought her hands up and rubbed her emerald eyes, which were bloodshot from crying the day before. Paying no mind to the fact that they were burning, she rubbed even harder. Shame made it way into her heart as she remembered what had happened last night.

I can't believe I cried in front of Matt. He probably thinks I'm the biggest baby in the world. Did he bring me here? God! That would be even worse.

A knock at her door stopped her and she got out of her bed. She stood up, adjusting to the pressure changes from crying herself asleep to being fully awake. Still a bit dizzy, she made her way to the door when another knock came.

"I'm coming," she said, annoyed that whoever it was kept knocking.

"Well, one would hope so Miss Thomas." It was the head nurse. "Do you mind? I do have other places to be."

"Oh yes! Of course!"

Sarah leapt to the door and pulled it open, allowing the head nurse to come. It was the same old lady that had shown Matt to Sarah's room. Her gray-white hair was pulled back into its usual tight bun and her cold steel eyes flashed around the room. Sarah's bed was unmade and many things were out of place. Sarah's insides churned when the head nurse's eyes fell upon her.

"Do you know why I'm here, Miss Thomas?"

Sarah shook her head and looked down at the ground.

"No Miss Smith. I just woke up."

Sarah picked her head up when no response came. Miss Smith was staring at something on her dresser. Sarah followed the older woman's eyes and blushed when she learned what she was staring at. On her dresser was a drawing she had done of Todd when they had been talking to one another a few days back. It was the day before he had been sent out to go on the mission that ended so quickly for him.

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FLASHBACK

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Sarah was sitting at her desk in the main medical center. Things were as usual; slow and boring. She sighed as she signed yet another form about something. She had enjoyed working in the center when she had first arrived in Mogadishu, but the excitement had soon wore off. Another form releasing a soldier, who had wounded himself in horseplay at the hangar, another letter for the soldiers mixed in with the medic's mail. The mail had just come in today and she was put to sorting through it.

It's so weird how soldiers get so many letters from their loved ones, yet the medics rarely get any. I've never seen a letter for Miss Smith or for Major Rob Marsh. Odd.

She picked up a manila folder. She read her name across the middle and flipped it open. She pulled out what was inside and a smile lit her face. Her parents and younger sister had written to her. They had also sent over a sketch pad and drawing pencils for her. That was one of her favorite things to do when she had free time. Drawing. She was actually an excellent artist, but she never pursued her dream.

Instead, she had given it up to come to Somalia. Her boyfriend had been sent over to fight, but he had died. Murdered as she saw it. It was an ordinary mission, but his partner hadn't had his back and he was shot. They had brought his body back, but the pain was still there. She stayed in Mogadishu even when they had given her the chance to leave. She felt compelled to help those who could be helped, not allowing what happened to her occur to anyone else.

Sarah continued to smile before placing the letters, sketch pad, and pencils aside for later. She was off after noon, and she would have plenty of time to draw to her heart's content. She sorted the rest of the mail and took it to where it needed to be. When she returned, a soldier was waiting for her. She hadn't recognized him from behind, but he turned around at the sound of her footsteps. It was Blackburn. She smiled gently at him.

"How many I help you?" she asked.

"I was wondering if I could have some advil," he began, "I have a terrible headache from my plane ride yesterday. I figured it would have gone away by now, but it hasn't."

"Sure. Follow me."

Sarah led Todd towards the medical storage closet. She opened it and rummaged through a few boxes until she handed him a small sample packet of two advil.

"These should help." She said, smiling. "Is there anything else you'll need?"

"No. At least, not anything that you can help me with." He responded before frowning slightly.

God! He looks so hot when he frowns like that. Get a grip on yourself Sarah. You barely know him.

"Oh," she retorted, "So sure that I can't help you? Try me."

He looked up at her, their eyes meeting. He then smiled as if challenging her.

"Well. Since I have no real friends at the current moment other than Matt Eversmann and he is too busy to eat lunch with me, I was hoping to find someone," he than frowned again, "Then again, I'm not sure if I want to eat with the likes of you."

She placed a hand on her chest and gasped.

"Why I've never been more insulted in all of my life! The nerve!"

They both laughed at each other.

"Well, I'm starving. I suppose I'll have to eat with you then; since, there is no one else around."

Todd looked at Sarah, quirking an eyebrow. Now she was calling him scum.

"Whatever," was his response.

He walked out, leaving Sarah standing there. She soon came running up behind him and he smiled, glad that she realized he was kidding around with her. A sudden thought struck him when he saw Sarah smile back at him.

God Todd! Get a hold of yourself. Imagine what Danielle would think if she saw you flirting with the nurse on campus. She'd flip a lid and you know it. Stupid, stupid. Okay. Just cool it.

Sarah saw an emotion flicker across Todd's eyes for a moment, but she pushed it away. She was overwhelmed with joy that the guy she had a crush on was actually talking to her. Maybe even flirting if you looked at it from a certain angle. Each was so submerged in their own thoughts that they hadn't even registered the fact that they were at the cafeteria. They each got what they wanted and sat down at a table, neither talking to the other. Finally, Sarah broke silence.

"So, where you from?"

"Huh?" Todd mumbled, looking up from his food. "Can you repeat the question?"

Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed, "Where are you from?"

"Florida. I live in Palm Bay, right by the water. How about you?"

"Jersey. Don't you dare laugh!"

Todd looked like he was about to crack up laughing. His face and sides hurt from trying not to laugh aloud.

"Why does everyone laugh at me because I'm from Jersey?"

"It's just…I was expecting the accent that Jersey is famous for."

"For your information, no one in Jersey has that accent. Only silly pea-brained fools like you believe that."

"Pea-brain fool, huh? Aren't you from the state that is great for its language during traffic."

"Just because some people are asses and curse all the time, doesn't mean I do too."

Todd couldn't hold it in any longer.

Should have known she was from Jersey. She's got the attitude. That's for sure.

He just began to laugh. His sides were throbbing from holding it in and then for laughing so hard. He grabbed the table as to not fall over. Sarah just glared at him with her arms crossed over her chest.

Typical guy to laugh at me. He's just like all of the others. No brains and all balls. I'm stupid for thinking he was different.

"If you're done laughing at me because I just said something completely hypocritical…"

"I'm quite finished now. Did you enjoy Jersey?"

Todd looked at her before beginning to eat again. She twirled her fork around in her salad, getting Italian dressing all over her plate.

"I'm glad to be away and yet I miss it all at the same time. Jersey is a great place and all. My family is wonderful and caring. It's just so boring there. Sure, you get to go shopping a lot and New York is just a few hours away, but I just need something more in life."

He looked at her thoughtfully, "Is that why you came to Somalia?"

"Yes and no. Partially. The other reason is a bit more personal and I rather not talk about it."

"Fine with me."

Todd took another bite from his sub and she finally began to eat some more of her salad. She had only taken a few bites before starting up their conversation. Todd was just beginning to collect all his thoughts up about Sarah, when she spoke up again.

"Why did you come to Somalia?"

Todd set down his sub and looked at her before answering. He could put it bluntly for Matt, but he knew about battles and the spurts of adrenaline you got. He highly doubted that Sarah did though. He finally answered.

"There's something about battles that I like…more like addicted to. When you're at battle with someone you get this whole new strength and energy. It feels wonderful and you feel like you can accomplish anything. I, by no means, enjoy killing people, but the rush you get when your life and maybe even others is on the line is so amazing. I've looked everywhere for it, but nothing compares. I tried everything. Skydiving. Bungee jumping. Nothing compares. Sort of like the same reason you came. Life was getting a bit boring in that department and I needed to get away for a bit."

Sarah just nodded.

Surely he could have said that in a less amount of words, but whatever floats his boat. Probably thought I wouldn't understand him if he said it differently. Another typical male idea, thinking that women don't understand them.

Todd went back to eating his sub, before he glanced at his watch.

"Shit!"

"What?" she asked.

"I need to go. Sorry. I have some more drills to do today and I'm going to be late if I stay here any longer. It was nice to meet you Sarah."

"Same to you. Maybe will see each other again and have a nice lunch and talk."

"Maybe. Bye!"

With that, Todd threw away his trash and dashed out of the cafeteria. Sarah watched his retreating figure before sighing. She picked at her own food for a bit, before throwing hers away and returning to the medical center.

When she got there, she opened her sketch pad and drew a pre-sharpened pencil from the pack. Slowly she drew a picture of Todd in it. First, lightly sketching the head, ears, nose, eyes and mouth. Then adding more detail as she went along. She was lucky that nothing of much excitement took place that day and she had plenty of time to finish the sketch. By the end of the day, she looked at her artwork and thought it was perfect. She then framed it and put it on her dresser, imagining that he was more than just a friend.

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PRESENT TIME

***************

"It's a very lovely drawing, Miss Thomas. May I ask who it is of?"

Sarah looked up from the picture and into Miss Smith's steel eyes. A sudden panic went through her veins as she remembered that soldiers and nurses were not to communicate as much as possible.

"It's of Todd Blackburn ma'am."

"The boy who got injured from falling out of a Black Hawk?"

"Yes. I drew it of him a few days ago. Is there a problem?"

Sarah stared back at Miss Smith, who was now glaring at the younger nurse. There were strict rules for nurses and by the looks of it, Sarah had just broken one of the more major ones. Cutting straight through the fluff, Miss Smith asked the question on her mind.

"No. I have no problem. You know all about the rules. Is there anything between you and Mr. Blackburn?"

"No! God no! He's got a girlfriend back in Florida. I'm just a friend."

Sarah had turned away and sat on her bed when she responded. Miss Smith walked over and placed an arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay, dearie. It happens to us all. You'll find someone else."

Sarah just nodded and wiped a few tears that had slipped out off of her cheeks. She sniffled once before looking up at Miss Smith, a smile firmly set on her face.

"I'll clean up my room," Sarah began, "and then I will be down at the medical center to help out as much as possible."

"As I would expect. I'll see you there. And do hurry because we need a lot of help there. More soldiers have come in and most of them are injured bad."

Sarah just nodded, a gleam of determination in her eyes.

Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. This was the longest chapter ever, so I hope it has enough detailing and all for you. Please review if you do like it. Flame because it will help heat my room, just make sure it helps to make my fan fic better. Not to flame for the fun of flaming. Thanks! More updates should come soon because I'll have more time to write after graduation on the 19th. Thanks to Susan who has done wonders. This chapter is for you. I appreciate your honest opinion on the fan fic, for making it a bit better with your advice, and for making me finish this fan fic even if I didn't want to. I'll try to get it done by the end of this summer because I haven't decided when to end it yet.