This is a little out of order...sorry...this is how she gets roped into Dr. MacKenzie sessions...
I walked toward a table in the commissary, thinking about last night. It was my first attempt at communication with Cassie about the accident.
I sighed. Today was a blue jell-o day. As I sat down, the Colonel approached me. "Carter, how are you doing today?"
"I'm fine, I guess."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." I sat still thinking about my conversation with Cassie last night.
"The pain never goes away, does it?"
"No…it just gets duller." I replied.
"I just wish that I could have said 'good-bye.'"
Me too. I added silently. Of all the people I work with…she was the last person I would have ever thought…
"Carter?"
"Yes, sir?"
Suddenly, as I saw his face, my mind returned to that planet. I was just doing my job…all of a sudden, the Colonel lunges to return fire, but instead gets hit himself. "SIR!" I yelled.
"CARTER!"
I took a deep breath, and looked back into the face of my commanding officer. Tears started to fall onto my cheeks. "I'm sorry, sir. It was so real."
He smiled, comfortingly. "I know."
We sat in silence for a while. I don't really know how long we just sat there. It was as if time was suspended so that we could silently heal the wounds of our hearts by just sitting in the same company.
"Carter, I think you should see Dr. MacKenzie."
I looked up at him, my mind not fully comprehending his implication. "Why?"
"Because you're having some pretty awful flashbacks. Now, I wouldn't normally do that to you, but…"
I smiled. "I know."
"So, you'll report to his office tomorrow at 1300 hours?"
I nodded. "It can't hurt, right?"
He touched my arm as he got up, still wincing in pain from his own wounds. "Take it easy, okay?"
I smiled. "Thank you, sir."
He stopped. "For what?"
"Nothing."
A smile played on his lips. "Think nothing of it…"
A faint memory returned, a sweet memory. "…I've got plenty of that."