9th - Enter; Sidney Freedman
"So close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are and nothing else matters never opened myself this way life is our we live it our way all these words I don't just say and nothing else matters trust I seek and I find in you everyday full of something new open mind for a different view and nothing else matters never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know so close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are and nothing else matters never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know never opened myself this way life is our we live it our way all these words I don't just say and nothing else matters trust I seek and I find in you everyday full of something new open mind for a different view and nothing else matters never cared for what they say never cared for games they play never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know, yeah so close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are no, nothing else matters."
Hawkeye sat at his desk, silently listening to Toni's soft voice. Her singing was making it difficult for him to concentrate, but he appreciated the distraction.
It had turned out that the attack was a failed rescue attempt on one of the Korean men that Hawkeye had been working on. The man had died despite Hawkeye and Margaret's best efforts two days before the attack.
It was so worthless. He thought, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Hawk?" A voice called.
He turned, then smiled. "Sidney. How have you been?" He asked.
"Oh, fine. I heard I was of need here." He commented.
"That's right, Sid, meet Toni White." Hawkeye indicated to the quiet, observing form of Toni, who was sitting up.
"Hello there." Sid said, sticking out his right hand.
She smiled slightly. "That probably isn't the best idea right now, sir." She commented.
He looked down at her bandage-covered hand and returned the smile. "No, I suppose not."
"I'll leave you two to it." Hawkeye said, and turned to go.
"Hawkeye, wait-" Toni started, then when he turned to her she blushed. "Never mind."
"Do you want me to stay?" He asked her.
She nodded.
Hawk glanced around the room. Most of the patients were awake and staring at the ceiling. "Do you want to go to your lake to talk?"
She nodded again.
Hawkeye helped her carefully, and it was all she could do not to stiffen at his touch. "I'm sorry." He whispered as he led her out.
"That's alright." She replied, smiling slightly. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it eventually."
A slightly confused Sid followed as the walked slowly to Toni's lake.
---
Yvette sat at her desk, shocked. She held the letter in front of her, staring at the words as if she couldn't read.
While she was captured the enemy used physical torture, purely for their entertainment.
What kind of sick bastards would-
"Yvette?" A voice said from behind her.
Simon Fischer put a calming hand on her shoulder as she spun around quickly.
"Hey, what's wrong Yvette?" He asked, worried.
Her normally beautiful face was twisted with worry for her younger sister. "T-Toni." She whispered, stuttering for the first time in fifteen years.
Simon frowned, not sure of what she meant.
Blindly she shoved the letter Hawkeye had sent at her co-worker.
He skimmed it quickly, his own worry rising. "Hey, Yvette," he said as he finished it. "Tell you what. You're having the rest of the day off, I'll cover your classes and make sure they're arranged."
She shook her head. "I can't." She took a deep breath, composing herself. "I have to work today. Keep my mind off it." She held his eyes with her own. "Please."
"Well, okay. But you have to talk about it, okay? Promise me."
Yvette hesitated. Neither her nor Toni liked discussing their feelings with others.
"Promise." Simon prodded.
She gave up. He was like a dog with a bone about anything her was passionate about, and he'd made his desire for her clear. He'd even gone as far as asking her year twelve's questions about what kind of chocolate and perfume she liked. She'd often arrive at her desk to find gifts waiting for her from him.
"Okay, I will." She accepted.
"What classes have you got?" He asked.
She blinked, then looked at her timetable. "Um. today's year twelve day. After recess I have my literature double, then just an English single period five."
"Good. They shouldn't be too bad."
She smiled weakly at him. "I'll be fine." She promised softly.
"That's what I like to hear. I'll wait for you for period six then. I am assuming your Lit class will run overtime again." He jokingly teased.
Yvette's Lit classes were well known for being exceptionally good.
"It's not my fault my year twelve's have mistaken me for a good teacher." She replied, smile creeping up.
"You are a good teacher, Yvette. It's not that many teachers that call their class 'theirs' and gets away with it. Speaking of your class." He pointed to the staffroom door, where one of her kids was waiting.
Quickly she wiped her eyes and waved him in. "What can I do for you Steve?" She asked, neatly folding the letter.
---
"I, trapped in this world, lonely and fading, heartbroken, waiting, for you to come. We are stuck-"
"Well here I am!"
Toni stopped singing and smiled. "So glad you came, too." She retorted quickly. "So when am I out?"
"Don't let her go!" One of the other patients called out.
Others agreed.
"I see you've made some friends here, Tonse."
"Yeh, that girl's a lifesaver." The same man said, grinning.
Hawkeye smiled. "Well, let me check out your hand, and we'll see, okay?"
Toni nodded.
He took her wrist and extended her fingers, watching her face.
Toni knew that he'd be watching her, so she kept her face neutral.
"How does that feel?" He asked.
"Fine." She replied, trying to sound light.
Hawkeye smiled slightly. "Didn't someone tell you? No lying through your teeth!" He pushed her fingers a little more, and her face tightened.
"Okay, next hand."
She held it up obediently.
He did the same thing to that hand, though from her point of view it didn't hurt as much.
"That's good." Hawkeye said encouragingly. "Now do it yourself."
"What?!" Toni demanded.
"I want you to extend your fingers without my help." He explained gently.
Toni gritted her teeth and concentrated. Her fingers moved slightly, then a little more. Sweat formed a small line on her forehead, and she leaned back in her bed. "That's as far as I can go." She admitted.
Hawkeye sighed. "I'm sorry, Toni. You'll have to stay a while longer."
She nodded, looking down.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"I know. I just want everything to go back to normal."
He touched her knee. "Don't worry, it will."
Klinger's voice come over the camp's PA. "Attention all personnel! Incoming wounded!"
Hawkeye jumped up and left the infirmary, and as soon as Toni was sure he was gone she sat up.
"Toni-" One of the patients said warningly.
"I'll only be a minute. I need to help when I can."
He nodded, though unconvinced.
She smiled and stood. For a moment the room spun, but she forced away the vertigo.
She walked out as fast as she could.
"Toni. Be careful." One of the wounded soldiers said as she left.
---
Hawkeye looked up and saw Toni jogging across to the chopper. "Toni!" He yelled over the noise. "What are you doing up?"
She smiled guiltily. "I couldn't just lie there while you guys were doing all the work. I feel fine."
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Hawkeye!" Someone yelled.
He glared at Toni. "Stay out of trouble. We'll talk later."
Toni nodded quickly, and went to help organized the wounded.
One of the walking wounded wandered off a few meters and sat down on the grass, favouring his right leg carefully.
As Toni worked she kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't wonder off further before she could talk to him.
Two hours later she emerged from the operating theatre exhausted after assisting the surgeons, and reassuring the wounded.
Walking to her tent, already half asleep, she spotted movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking around she saw the man she meant to talk with earlier still sitting on the grass, staring at the stars that were beginning to come out.
"Soldier." Toni said as she approached him. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking at the stars. Aren't they beautiful? They remind me of someone I met once."
Toni walked around him so he was facing her. "Quinn!" She cried out.
He smiled. "That's me." He replied.
"What are you doing here?" She demanded, unsure of whether she should be happy he was here, or angry for him leaving her before.
"I was assigned here." He replied.
Toni frowned. "You were limping before."
"No I wasn't." He denied.
"Quinn." She warned.
"I'm fine, honest."
She frowned again. "I thought you were going to 4080!" She said.
Quinn grinned. "Uh, due to my. uh. how did they say? Due to my 'recognition, or lack thereof, of authority, and respect, or lack thereof, of fellow officers'. In other words I was a tad bit insubordinate, and got into a fight. Or two. Or three." He trailed off, smiling slightly.
"Then why did you get sent here?" Toni asked, curious.
"Apparently 4077 has the reputation of being more. lenient."
Toni sniffed. "You've got that right." She agreed.
"So close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are and nothing else matters never opened myself this way life is our we live it our way all these words I don't just say and nothing else matters trust I seek and I find in you everyday full of something new open mind for a different view and nothing else matters never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know so close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are and nothing else matters never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know never opened myself this way life is our we live it our way all these words I don't just say and nothing else matters trust I seek and I find in you everyday full of something new open mind for a different view and nothing else matters never cared for what they say never cared for games they play never cared for what they do never cared for what they know but I know, yeah so close, no matter how far couldn't be much more from the heart forever trust in who we are no, nothing else matters."
Hawkeye sat at his desk, silently listening to Toni's soft voice. Her singing was making it difficult for him to concentrate, but he appreciated the distraction.
It had turned out that the attack was a failed rescue attempt on one of the Korean men that Hawkeye had been working on. The man had died despite Hawkeye and Margaret's best efforts two days before the attack.
It was so worthless. He thought, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Hawk?" A voice called.
He turned, then smiled. "Sidney. How have you been?" He asked.
"Oh, fine. I heard I was of need here." He commented.
"That's right, Sid, meet Toni White." Hawkeye indicated to the quiet, observing form of Toni, who was sitting up.
"Hello there." Sid said, sticking out his right hand.
She smiled slightly. "That probably isn't the best idea right now, sir." She commented.
He looked down at her bandage-covered hand and returned the smile. "No, I suppose not."
"I'll leave you two to it." Hawkeye said, and turned to go.
"Hawkeye, wait-" Toni started, then when he turned to her she blushed. "Never mind."
"Do you want me to stay?" He asked her.
She nodded.
Hawk glanced around the room. Most of the patients were awake and staring at the ceiling. "Do you want to go to your lake to talk?"
She nodded again.
Hawkeye helped her carefully, and it was all she could do not to stiffen at his touch. "I'm sorry." He whispered as he led her out.
"That's alright." She replied, smiling slightly. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it eventually."
A slightly confused Sid followed as the walked slowly to Toni's lake.
---
Yvette sat at her desk, shocked. She held the letter in front of her, staring at the words as if she couldn't read.
While she was captured the enemy used physical torture, purely for their entertainment.
What kind of sick bastards would-
"Yvette?" A voice said from behind her.
Simon Fischer put a calming hand on her shoulder as she spun around quickly.
"Hey, what's wrong Yvette?" He asked, worried.
Her normally beautiful face was twisted with worry for her younger sister. "T-Toni." She whispered, stuttering for the first time in fifteen years.
Simon frowned, not sure of what she meant.
Blindly she shoved the letter Hawkeye had sent at her co-worker.
He skimmed it quickly, his own worry rising. "Hey, Yvette," he said as he finished it. "Tell you what. You're having the rest of the day off, I'll cover your classes and make sure they're arranged."
She shook her head. "I can't." She took a deep breath, composing herself. "I have to work today. Keep my mind off it." She held his eyes with her own. "Please."
"Well, okay. But you have to talk about it, okay? Promise me."
Yvette hesitated. Neither her nor Toni liked discussing their feelings with others.
"Promise." Simon prodded.
She gave up. He was like a dog with a bone about anything her was passionate about, and he'd made his desire for her clear. He'd even gone as far as asking her year twelve's questions about what kind of chocolate and perfume she liked. She'd often arrive at her desk to find gifts waiting for her from him.
"Okay, I will." She accepted.
"What classes have you got?" He asked.
She blinked, then looked at her timetable. "Um. today's year twelve day. After recess I have my literature double, then just an English single period five."
"Good. They shouldn't be too bad."
She smiled weakly at him. "I'll be fine." She promised softly.
"That's what I like to hear. I'll wait for you for period six then. I am assuming your Lit class will run overtime again." He jokingly teased.
Yvette's Lit classes were well known for being exceptionally good.
"It's not my fault my year twelve's have mistaken me for a good teacher." She replied, smile creeping up.
"You are a good teacher, Yvette. It's not that many teachers that call their class 'theirs' and gets away with it. Speaking of your class." He pointed to the staffroom door, where one of her kids was waiting.
Quickly she wiped her eyes and waved him in. "What can I do for you Steve?" She asked, neatly folding the letter.
---
"I, trapped in this world, lonely and fading, heartbroken, waiting, for you to come. We are stuck-"
"Well here I am!"
Toni stopped singing and smiled. "So glad you came, too." She retorted quickly. "So when am I out?"
"Don't let her go!" One of the other patients called out.
Others agreed.
"I see you've made some friends here, Tonse."
"Yeh, that girl's a lifesaver." The same man said, grinning.
Hawkeye smiled. "Well, let me check out your hand, and we'll see, okay?"
Toni nodded.
He took her wrist and extended her fingers, watching her face.
Toni knew that he'd be watching her, so she kept her face neutral.
"How does that feel?" He asked.
"Fine." She replied, trying to sound light.
Hawkeye smiled slightly. "Didn't someone tell you? No lying through your teeth!" He pushed her fingers a little more, and her face tightened.
"Okay, next hand."
She held it up obediently.
He did the same thing to that hand, though from her point of view it didn't hurt as much.
"That's good." Hawkeye said encouragingly. "Now do it yourself."
"What?!" Toni demanded.
"I want you to extend your fingers without my help." He explained gently.
Toni gritted her teeth and concentrated. Her fingers moved slightly, then a little more. Sweat formed a small line on her forehead, and she leaned back in her bed. "That's as far as I can go." She admitted.
Hawkeye sighed. "I'm sorry, Toni. You'll have to stay a while longer."
She nodded, looking down.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"I know. I just want everything to go back to normal."
He touched her knee. "Don't worry, it will."
Klinger's voice come over the camp's PA. "Attention all personnel! Incoming wounded!"
Hawkeye jumped up and left the infirmary, and as soon as Toni was sure he was gone she sat up.
"Toni-" One of the patients said warningly.
"I'll only be a minute. I need to help when I can."
He nodded, though unconvinced.
She smiled and stood. For a moment the room spun, but she forced away the vertigo.
She walked out as fast as she could.
"Toni. Be careful." One of the wounded soldiers said as she left.
---
Hawkeye looked up and saw Toni jogging across to the chopper. "Toni!" He yelled over the noise. "What are you doing up?"
She smiled guiltily. "I couldn't just lie there while you guys were doing all the work. I feel fine."
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Hawkeye!" Someone yelled.
He glared at Toni. "Stay out of trouble. We'll talk later."
Toni nodded quickly, and went to help organized the wounded.
One of the walking wounded wandered off a few meters and sat down on the grass, favouring his right leg carefully.
As Toni worked she kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't wonder off further before she could talk to him.
Two hours later she emerged from the operating theatre exhausted after assisting the surgeons, and reassuring the wounded.
Walking to her tent, already half asleep, she spotted movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking around she saw the man she meant to talk with earlier still sitting on the grass, staring at the stars that were beginning to come out.
"Soldier." Toni said as she approached him. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking at the stars. Aren't they beautiful? They remind me of someone I met once."
Toni walked around him so he was facing her. "Quinn!" She cried out.
He smiled. "That's me." He replied.
"What are you doing here?" She demanded, unsure of whether she should be happy he was here, or angry for him leaving her before.
"I was assigned here." He replied.
Toni frowned. "You were limping before."
"No I wasn't." He denied.
"Quinn." She warned.
"I'm fine, honest."
She frowned again. "I thought you were going to 4080!" She said.
Quinn grinned. "Uh, due to my. uh. how did they say? Due to my 'recognition, or lack thereof, of authority, and respect, or lack thereof, of fellow officers'. In other words I was a tad bit insubordinate, and got into a fight. Or two. Or three." He trailed off, smiling slightly.
"Then why did you get sent here?" Toni asked, curious.
"Apparently 4077 has the reputation of being more. lenient."
Toni sniffed. "You've got that right." She agreed.