Author's note: Hello there! I've been on a weird military kick lately (I partially blame bingeing a season of JAG not too long ago), and I just *knew* I had to do a juke AU. Honestly, I love stories set in WW2, and I had this vision of Julie performing on a USO tour, but also pictured her as a nurse? So this is literally both of those things. Pure wish fulfillment. But I hope you guys enjoy it! It was a labor of love, written over the course of a week on my lunch break and then highly edited over the course of another week.
Please let me know what you think! Reviews are the best!
April 1944:
Luke stood in the crowded, smoky room, waiting for the entertainment to begin. He grumbled at his best friend Reggie who had dragged him to this show.
"They're running late," he grouched. "And I wanted to go see Alex." It was rare for all three of them to be in the same place, and Luke was itching to be with both of his best friends while he could.
"Calm down. Of course they're running late, they're civilians," Reggie joked. "Look, the singer's coming out now."
Luke refocused his gaze to the makeshift stage in the dingy tent. Honestly, he knew these USO shows were supposed to raise morale, but some of these performers were just bad. And many of the really good performers weren't willing to risk coming too close to the front lines. He couldn't blame them, really. He wouldn't want anyone he loved to be here. Of course, that hadn't stopped Reggie and Alex from joining the military right along with him when news broke about the German army invading Poland; he had assumed the US would get involved quickly, but instead he twiddled his thumbs for two years before they entered the fray. But now, four years after enlisting, here he was on the front lines in France, waiting for a mediocre singer to come on stage and perform, when he could be checking on one of his best friends who was recently wounded, (although to be fair, not that badly. Luke had definitely seen worse.)
But he looked up at the stage when Reggie commented on her arrival, and he was stunned. The woman on stage was gorgeous. She wore a long purple dress and had thick curly hair pinned back from her face but hanging down over her shoulder.
"Hi, my name is Julie Molina, and if you've got a few minutes, I'm gonna sing you a song or two," she said with a soft grin into the microphone. He was mesmerized by the musicality of her voice and let out a hint of a sigh. Reggie chuckled silently from beside him.
The opening notes to "I'll Be Seeing You," Luke's favorite song, began playing, and he glanced over to see a man at the piano. Luke tried to clear his head, because after all, of course she was a pretty girl, that didn't mean she could actually perform. And then she opened her mouth and sang the first note.
Halfway through the song, Reggie elbowed him in the ribs. "So, I guess you think this was worth your time?" he asked, a mirthful sparkle in his eye.
"This woman is amazing," he said in a whispered sigh.
"You've always been attracted to a pretty voice," Reggie laughed.
"Pretty voice? This is more than a pretty voice. She has the voice of an angel. But powerful. Like a wrecking ball."
Reggie just hummed in response. After the first song ended, he grinned. "It's no wonder Alex thought you'd like her performance. She's very talented."
"Alex has heard her before?" Luke asked incredulously. "And never told me about it?"
"He tried, dude. But you always ignored him when he would talk about these shows. Just think, if you'd come the last time he asked, you could've heard Julie Molina perform six months ago."
"Ohmigosh. Alex has heard her more than once? Have you heard her sing before?"
"This is her third tour with the USO, and no, I haven't. I was on that mission last time." Reggie's eyes darkened for a moment, but then the next song began and he smiled again, enjoying the beauty of the music.
She sang a few more songs, including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," and "I've Heard That Song Before," but after a bit, she paused.
"I hope you all don't mind, I just want to share a few words with you all. I signed up to perform with the USO on the Foxhole Circuit the day my little brother got his orders for Europe, in hopes of catching up with him. I've gotten lucky and seen him a few times since I started. But now this is my last tour, and in fact my last stop on my tour before I go back to the States. I'm headed home without seeing my brother this tour. So if any of you know Corporal Carlos Molina, give him a message for me please."
Luke was so enchanted by her that he didn't notice anything else. He was so focused on the sad beauty of Julie's voice that he didn't register Reggie's nudges until they became aggressive enough to leave a bruise.
"Ugh, what?" Luke asked exasperatedly as Julie began singing the beautiful and bittersweet chorus of "We'll Meet Again."
"Corporal Molina. Isn't that the name of the guy in the bed next to Alex?"
"You don't mean the kid that…" Reggie's nod was all it took. "Shit. We have to tell her."
"After her set, she usually hangs out near the stage, according to Alex. He said she's really nice."
"Well come on then." Luke started pushing through the crowd and didn't even wait to check if his friend was following him.
He reached the stage just in time for her to sing the last chorus. "We'll meet again/Don't know where/Don't know when/But I know we'll meet again some sunny day." She held the last note for a moment before sighing and taking a step back from her microphone. There were tears in her eyes.
The piano player stood up to the mic and said, "Thank you so much for your time. Have a good evening and God bless America."
Julie turned away, and Luke panicked. It looked to him like she wasn't coming back, and he was feeling especially motivated to talk to her, so he shouted at her. "Hey Molina!"
Reggie immediately smacked him in the back of the head, even as Julie slowly turned around to look for whoever had called her name.
"What?" Luke asked annoyedly, turning to his buddy.
"Give her a minute. She always changes out of her fancy dress before she comes to hang," Reggie explained. "Well, it's too late now." He gestured to the stage, where Julie was looking out over the crowd. He waved at her, and she smiled and crouched to talk to them, gathering her skirt to keep it off the dusty floor.
"Hi, can I help you with something?" Luke felt his stomach turn to butterflies as she leaned down to speak to him in a gentle tone.
"Your voice is incredible," Luke said breathlessly. "You're amazing."
Julie flushed a light pink even as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Thank you."
"Oh shit, sorry, you're crying. Here." Luke dug in his pockets for a handkerchief and handed it to her sheepishly. "It's got a couple holes, but it's clean."
"Thanks," she said again with a small chuckle and dabbed at her eyes with the scrap of cloth. After a moment, she brushed a fine curl behind her ear and asked, "So is that all you wanted? To tell me you think I'm talented?"
"Oh, uh, not exactly," Luke said embarrassedly.
"It actually wasn't the plan at all," Reggie replied. "This is Staff Sergeant Luke Patterson, I'm 1st Lieutenant Reggie Peters, and we think your brother is in the hospital in town."
Julie paled and her eyes widened. "What? You mean he's alive?"
"We think so. There's been a Corporal Molina in the bed beside our friend Alex for a couple days. It could be him."
"Oh my gosh, can you take me there?" she asked anxiously.
"Hold your horses, ma'am. To protect the town and our wounded soldiers, we camp a couple miles out, and if we can't find a truck to ride in, and we usually can't, we have to walk that. I don't think those shoes would be good for a two mile hike."
"Then find me some boots, Lieutenant. I'm going to see my brother," Julie snapped back.
Reggie took a step back. "Yes ma'am. I'll be back in a moment."
"I've gotta change anyway. I'll meet you outside the tent in five minutes, okay?"
"Understood, ma'am." Reggie and Luke saluted her and headed to the barracks to try to find her some boots.
"I think Carson's feet are probably close enough," Reggie said. "I'll see if I can find his boots."
"She's got fire," Luke commented absentmindedly. "I admire that."
"C'mon, dude, let's go get those boots," Reggie said with a roll of his eyes, dragging his buddy back to the barracks.
After a surprisingly fast walk during which no one spoke much, Luke and Reggie ushered Julie into the main room of the hospital, which was filled with rows of beds. "So, if it's him, he's right over here," Luke said, leading her to the one right next to Alex.
"Guys, what're you-oh my gosh, it's Julie Molina!" Alex exclaimed.
The young man in the bed beside him groaned. Julie gasped. "Carlos!" She dropped to her knees beside his bed and grabbed his hand.
She looked over to Alex. "Do you know what happened to him?"
"I don't. He's not been awake since he got here, at least not that I've seen. But they've had me practicing with my crutches a bit, so I can't say for sure. He has been groaning like that periodically for the last few hours. Nurse Hamilton said she thought he'd wake up soon, but who knows for sure." He shrugged.
"Carlos, wake up. It's me, Julie. I'm here," she whispered furiously. "Wake up, my sweet Carlito."
He groaned again. "Five more minutes, Julie," he mumbled and then groaned again as he opened his eyes. "Ow. What happened to my arm?"
"Carlos, you're awake!" Julie exclaimed. Behind her, Luke flagged down a nurse.
"I think Corporal Molina's awake, ma'am."
"Good, he needs to eat," the nurse said. "I'll bring a tray when I get a minute."
"If you tell me where to go, I'll get it now," Luke volunteered. The nurse gave him directions and hurried off.
When Luke returned with the tray, Carlos was upright in bed. Luke saw that one arm was bound up, but the other hand was held tightly by both of his sister's.
Luke cleared his throat as he approached, and Julie looked up at him in surprise.
"Thank you, Staff Sergeant."
"Oh, it was nothing," he said with a brief shake of his head as he set the tray down on Carlos's lap.
Julie smiled widely at him. "Not for bringing Carlos food, although, thanks for doing that too. No, I meant thank you for bringing me to my brother. We hadn't heard from him in 6 months. We got a letter right before I left saying he was missing, presumed dead." She shivered, and there was a haunted look in her eyes for a moment. "I'm glad they were wrong."
Alex spoke up from his bed. "We are too, Ms. Molina."
"She was just telling Corporal Molina how this is her last tour with the USO," Reggie said.
"Yeah, and I can't believe I missed your last performance!" Carlos said with a disappointed pout.
"I'm just glad you're okay. Who cares if you heard me sing. You've heard me sing a million times," Julie tried to brush it off.
"No. He deserves a performance from his favorite singer!" Reggie protested slightly teasingly. "Especially if she's as talented as you."
"I can't sing unaccompanied," Julie said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Well, lucky for you, there's a musician with an instrument right here," Alex said with a grin and a pointed look at Luke.
Julie blinked in surprise. "You're a musician?" she asked.
"Uh, a little," Luke admitted. Reggie and Alex scoffed at the understatement, but he ignored them. "How do you feel about being accompanied by a guitar, if Doctor Jones doesn't mind me borrowing it?"
"I've never sung with a guitar, but I'm willing to try," Julie said gamely.
"Perfect, I'll go grab it and be right back." Luke rushed off to get the borrowed instrument and hurried back so quickly he ran into the end of Alex's bed. He ignored his friends' snickers. "So, I don't know many songs that are your style, but I do know 'Dream a Little Dream' and 'We'll Meet Again,'" he shared as he sat down in an empty chair between Alex and Carlos.
Julie beamed. "Perfect! But I won't know when to come in, so you'll have to signal me, okay?"
Luke nodded and adjusted the guitar on his lap. He started strumming, and after a moment nodded her in.
Julie smiled at his nod and started singing, softly at first, but increasing in volume over the first verse. "Stars shining bright above you/Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'/Birds singing in the sycamore trees/Dream a little dream of me." As Julie got louder, the chatter in the open room quieted, and the attention of all the nurses, doctors, and patients slowly focused on her.
Her performance of "Dream" was even sweeter here at her brother's bedside, and when it was over, the whole room was silently watching, but Julie had no idea. Her eyes had closed sometime during the chorus, and her back was still to the room. She was perfectly still until Luke cleared his throat and she turned her head to look over at him.
"Uh, you up for another? For everyone?" Luke asked, gesturing with one arm toward the silent crowd.
Julie glanced around, eyes widening as she saw so many sets of eyes on her, before finally nodding. She let out a quick exhale. "Play anything. I can sing practically whatever."
"You know this one?" Luke asked as he began his mother's favorite song, 'Will You Go, Lassie.'
She cocked her head for a moment, unsure, so Luke started singing softly. "Oh the summertime is coming…" As he sang, Julie's eyes lit up and she joined in, harmonising with him.
"And the trees are softly blooming/And the wild mountain thyme/Grows around the blooming heather/Will you go, lassie, go?"
Singing with Julie sent chills down Luke's spine. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced. Luke had been a musician for as long as he could remember; he had always felt a connection with music, but this was entirely different. He felt more alive in this moment than he ever had before, like this was what he was meant to do. He sensed an instant connection with his singing partner, and by the look on her face, he wasn't the only one.
Although her hands still held her brother's, Julie's eyes met Luke's and held his gaze as though putting him under a spell. It was like she was seeing him for the first time and more clearly than anyone ever had before or ever would.
All too soon, the song ended. As Julie's voice faded, there was a single moment of silence before the entire room began clapping and cheering for them. Julie blushed and broke eye contact with Luke, and he awkwardly set down his guitar.
"Wow, you two should tour together," Carlos teased, and Julie rolled her eyes fondly.
"Hush, you."
"So, uh, if you're not touring again, what'll you do when you get home?" Luke asked as their audience returned to their previous activities.
"I'm actually enrolled in a nursing course. I'm on a break at the moment, and when I graduate, I plan on enlisting in the Army Nurse Corps. My best friend and I are doing it together."
"That's brave of you, Ms. Molina."
Someone shouted across the room, and Julie looked up in surprise. The clock on the wall caught her eye, and she jumped out of her seat.
"Oh my goodness! I'm gonna miss my train!"
Luke and Reggie jumped up with her. "We'll take you back, no worries," Luke said.
"Or we could always try to grab you a seat on a supply truck," Reggie suggested.
"Oh, I can run, but I have to get back as quickly as possible." Julie said frantically. She leaned down and kissed her brother on the cheek as her two guides slipped out of the room. "I love you Carlos. Take care of yourself. And write to Dad and Tia whenever you get a chance."
Carlos nodded. "You take care too. You and Flynn watch out for each other."
"We will. Promise."
"Good. I love you. Now get outta here!" Carlos insisted.
Julie nodded and practically ran out of the hospital. As she sprinted to the exit, Alex shouted, "Nice to meet you Ms. Molina! Thanks for singing for us!" She tossed a grin and a wave over her shoulder as she stepped out of the room and left the building. Outside, she saw Luke and Reggie talking to a private. When Luke saw her, he waved her over.
"Miss Molina, Private Davis drives the supply truck, he's gonna take you back to camp."
"Oh thank you!" she said enthusiastically to the young man. And then she turned to the two officers. "And thank you both. You gave me back my brother, if only for a moment."
"That was nothing," Luke said, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"It wasn't nothing," Julie insisted. "It was everything." She got up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek and then did the same to Reggie. "You're both wonderful, and I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you."
She turned to hop onto the back of the truck, and Luke watched until she settled into her seat. When she turned to wave at him, he took a step forward.
"Can I write to you? I know we're strangers, only… I don't have anyone at home to keep in touch with, to remind me what we're fighting for. And I feel strangely connected to you."
Julie blushed but smiled widely. "I know what you mean. You can. Carlos can give you my address." Just then the truck started, and she had to shout to be heard over the motor. "I promise if you write, any of you, I'll write back."
She waved at the two men until the truck was gone.
When she was gone, Reggie nudged his best friend. "Aren't you glad I made you go to that USO show?"
Luke merely grunted before he turned back to the hospital.
Reggie laughed. "I'm gonna write to her too, I think. Ya know, as friends. As long as you don't mind. Alex probably will too. Since none of us have anyone to write to back home."
"Not sure why you think I'd mind."
"Course you don't," Reggie laughed. "C'mon, let's go talk to Molina, and then we should head back to camp."
October 1944 (Six Months Later):
"Girl, I don't know why you're so nervous," said a beautiful young woman in a nurse's uniform to her companion.
"Flynn, I was assigned to start a hospital one town away from his post. I'm gonna see him for only the second time in my life, but he's somehow one of my best friends. What if things are different in person?" She tossed a fitted sheet to her best friend at the bed across the aisle from her. The two women were finishing making beds in the sanctuary of a church that was being converted temporarily into a wartime hospital in France.
Flynn laughed as she caught the bundle and began unfolding it to put on the bed. "Julie, it can only get better in person." She raised her eyebrows in a flirty/suggestive manner.
"Ugh, Flynn, you know I'm not that kind of girl. And it's not like that with Luke." Julie flicked a flat sheet out in front of her and began tucking it under the mattress she was making up.
"Julie Sara Molina. I've been your best friend for our whole lives. I know you. It's true that you're not that kind of girl, but it is definitely like that with Luke. Besides, you're not nervous about seeing Reggie, who you've also written dozens of letters to and become very close with in the last six months."
"Reggie's not here. His unit's in Italy, remember? But… I get your point," Julie gave in with a soft smile. "It might be like that with Luke, at least a little," she admitted, pausing for a moment. "But I won't know for sure until I see him." She picked up another set of linens and moved to the next bed in the row.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing we've got tomorrow off so we can go see him."
"Who are you going to see tomorrow?" asked a deep voice from the back of the room.
Julie whirled around, dropping the fresh linens on the bed beside her. She gasped. "Luke!"
He shrugged nervously. "I had the afternoon free, and you said today was your first day and I couldn't wait to see you." He looked down and started fiddling with his ring. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get in your way or any-oof."
Julie had run down the aisle between the beds and practically threw herself into his arms.
"I'm so glad you're here," she said softly.
"Yeah?" he asked equally quietly.
"Yeah."
Flynn cleared her throat. "Um, excuse me. Can I meet loverboy penpal now?"
Julie and Luke sprang apart. Julie's cheeks flushed a deep pink as Luke asked, "Uh, what did she just call me?"
Julie shook her head. "I'm so sorry. Luke, this is 1st Lieutenant Flynn Thomas, my best friend since infancy. Flynn, this is Gunnery Sergeant Luke Patterson."
"It's so nice to put a face to the name after six months of watching my best friend go gooey eyed every time she gets a letter," Flynn sassed with a pointed look at Julie. "And, Julie, you didn't tell me how good-looking he is."
Luke laughed. "It's nice to finally meet you too, Lieutenant. Julie writes about you often."
"She better," Flynn replied with a sassy grin. "Now you two go on, catch up and whatever. I'll finish up here, and Julie, I'll meet you in half an hour for our meeting with Major Jackson?"
"Flynn. You are the best!" Julie said excitedly before pulling Luke out of the building.
They started down the street toward the town square, and Julie tucked her arm into Luke's. "So you're really here," he said.
Julie laughed. "Did you think I was making it up?" she teased.
"No, of course not, I just can't believe you're really here. That we're actually…" he gestured to their joined arms.
"Oh, sorry," Julie blushed and started pulling her arm away. "I can be overly-"
"No," Luke interrupted, grabbing her arm and returning it to its original position intertwined with his. "It's just wild, you know? We only really know each other through letters, but you're one of my best friends. And now you're actually here. You're… real."
"So are you," Julie grinned and leaned into him even more. "It's funny you say that. Before the first letters and then pretty much up until Alex came to visit, Flynn was convinced you guys weren't real. Some figment of my imagination or ghosts or something." She laughed. "It was fun introducing her to 'Ghost One'. And now you've met her too. I'm really glad."
"Me too. Flynn sounds incredible from what you've told me. I can't wait to get to know her, and you, while we're stationed so close together."
Julie leaned away from Luke to look at his face. "You mean that Luke?"
He turned to look at her, leaned his face down close to hers and smiled before- "Gahhh!" Luke was knocked to the ground.
"Ahh! What happ-Nicky!" Julie laughed as a golden retriever sat down on Luke's prone body and started licking his face.
"What the heck just happened?" Luke asked, looking shocked as he attempted to push the dog off of him.
"Nicky is a dog Flynn adopted at our last post," Julie explained as she tried pulling the dog off of him. "He was a stray and Flynn decided I needed a canine companion since you guys were ghosts. So she kept him. But not officially, because officially that would be frowned upon and we would be forced to let him go."
Luke stood up and looked down at the dog. "Hmmm. I guess he's okay."
Julie looked up at him, aghast. "You're not a dog person?!"
"I like them better when they're not trying to come between us." Julie rolled her eyes and patted the dog's head. His tail wagged.
"You're a good boy, aren't ya Nicky? Yes you are! Yes you are! You're the best dog here!" Julie was using a distinct 'I'm-talking-to-a-dog' voice that Luke found adorable. He melted.
"Okay okay, I get it! You love the dog, therefore I should love the dog!" Luke said. He knelt down to scratch Nicky behind the ear. "You're cute, bud, but please don't knock me down again."
Nicky barked. "He promises. Now, I should probably head back to the church. Flynn and I have that meeting with Major Jackson, the head of the new hospital."
"Can I walk you?" Luke asked.
"Of course. As long as you're nice to Nicky." Julie reached down to pet the silky ears of their four-legged companion to make her point.
Luke let out a loud, quick laugh. "I think we can make it work. So," he began nonchalantly as they turned back toward the church, "what's new with you?"
"Well, I was meritoriously promoted to 1st Lieutenant a couple weeks ago!" she shared enthusiastically. "It's actually really rare for members of the Nurse Corps to be promoted at all, but Flynn and I both were. Our CO in Berlin said we were some of the best nurses he'd seen, especially under pressure." Julie felt herself brighten at the recollection of the gruff but well-meaning captain who had recommended their promotion.
"Congratulations, Jules!" Luke stopped walking and turned to look at her.
Julie's breath caught in her chest. She'd read those words several times over the last six months, every time she'd written to him about one of her accomplishments, however small. But to hear him say it so naturally and with so much warmth, to hear him call her Jules with such familiarity, and to see the excitement in his face, it warmed her heart and set the butterflies in her belly fluttering like mad.
"Thanks Luke," she said with a bright smile.
"Of course! I'm proud of you, ya know?" He pulled her into his side in a sort of half-hug and began walking again.
Julie nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm proud of you too." Just then, Nicky barked and stuck his head in between their legs, pushing them apart. Luke stumbled again and nearly fell.
"I'm proud of you, too, Nicky. You're such a good boy. You've been so good at being trained," she said in her doggy-voice.
Luke squinted his eyes skeptically. "You sure? Because he seems awfully determined for us not to be too close."
Julie laughed and grabbed his hand. "Come on, Luke. I've gotta get back soon."
Three Weeks Later:
"Shit, here come two more," Nurse Johnson called from receiving. "Molina, Thomas, do you have any beds left?"
Julie met her best friend's eye across a noisy hospital room. It had been a crazy few days, what with a direct confrontation with a German company only a couple miles outside of town. The two nurses had a silent conversation before Flynn replied, "We can make room. Give us five minutes."
As a bomb went off in the distance, they scrambled to move things out of the way, shouting orders to the newest nurses in their unit what to do, and before they knew it, two men on stretchers were carried in.
"Corporal Dempsey's lost a leg, he just got out of surgery," said one young specialist helping to carry the first stretcher. Flynn gestured for them to put him in the first bed.
"And Gunny Patterson took a couple bullets, one flesh wound in the arm, another through and through in the abdomen, not fatal, but he lost a lot of blood."
Julie looked up, horrified, to see her Luke laying on a bed in her unit.
"No," she whispered.
"Molina!" Flynn called sharply, and Julie instantly remembered her training.
She turned to a younger nurse standing beside her and immediately gave her instructions. Then she reached for his neck to grab his dog tags. "His tetanus shot is up to date, thank goodness, and we have plenty of B negative blood. Perfect."
She got to work preparing him for a blood transfusion and stitching up his bullet wounds.
As she worked, she kept her emotional distance, but as soon as she was done, she felt her fear rise to the surface. She saw his blood on her apron and nearly passed out.
Flynn came up beside her and tugged on her arm. "Come on, Julie, you need to wash up. Carson, you're in charge until we get back."
Julie let Flynn guide her out of the room and to the wash station across the hall. She numbly scrubbed up to her elbows and untied her apron, tossing it into the laundry basket.
When Flynn had done the same, she pulled Julie into a hug. Only then did she fall apart.
Julie cried into her best friend's shoulder for a minute, deep, heart-wrenching sobs. When she'd cried all her tears, she straightened up and dried her eyes with a handkerchief. "Sorry. I just. He's come to mean a lot to me."
Flynn nodded. "Girl I know. We've been best friends our whole lives. It's okay to be scared. But you saw his injuries. You took his vitals. Odds are good he'll be fine. Now, you need to go take a walk, clear your head, have a drink of water. And when he wakes up, you can go sit with him, okay?"
Julie nodded. "Yeah okay. I'll be back in five."
She did as Flynn suggested, and when she got back, she worked calmly and efficiently for the remainder of her shift.
When she was about ten minutes from being done for the day, Luke woke up. She was dressing a sergeant's wound two beds over when she heard him groan. She quickly replaced the gauze, disposed of the dirty bandage, and then rushed to Luke's side.
"Luke. Luke, are you awake? Can you hear me?" she asked, taking his hand and gently squeezing it.
His eyes fluttered open. "Julie? Is that you? Where are we? What happened?"
Julie laughed from relief. "Yeah Luke. It's me. You're in the hospital. Apparently you pushed your platoon sergeant out of the line of fire and got shot yourself. But you were lucky. No major organs were hit, none of your bones either, by some miracle."
"Miracle?" He was clearly groggy and already drifting off to sleep.
"Now you need to rest. You lost a lot of blood, and you've got seventeen stitches. I've got a couple more patients to check on before I finish my shift, but I'll be back as soon as I've done that, okay?"
"Yeah, okay," Luke replied, his eyes closing.
"Sweet dreams," she whispered before planting a soft kiss on his forehead.
The next morning, Luke woke to someone pulling off his boots. "Julie?" he immediately assumed. He was still getting his bearings and his eyes were bleary with sleep.
"Good guess, lover boy, but no. Lieutenant Molina is on night shift tonight, so she's sleeping at the moment. She did ask me to look out for you, though."
Luke smiled at that. "She did?"
"Of course she did. You're really important to her. She nearly fell apart when you were admitted yesterday."
"Shit," Luke whispered under his breath. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"
"I know," Flynn cut him off as she tucked his legs back under the blanket. "I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty. It's a war, after all; there are going to be wounds. No one comes out of these things unscathed. I was just pointing out how much Julie cares about you, that's all."
"I care about her too," Luke said earnestly.
Flynn nodded as she picked up a bowl filled with water and a rag. "I know you do. Now, I've gotta clean those bullet holes so they heal up properly, so I'm gonna need to unbutton your shirt." She set the bowl at a small table at his bedside.
Luke flushed as he reached for the buttons of his shirt himself and then immediately winced. "Ow," he practically gagged from the shock of the pain at both of his wounds.
"Right, you injured yourself, which is why I'm gonna do it," Flynn said matter-of-factly. She leaned forward and carefully unbuttoned every button on his shirt and pulled it open. The bandage over his abdominal wound was speckled with blood. She grimaced at it and reached for her shears. She carefully pulled the bandage far enough away from his skin that he was in no danger of being cut. "So how are you feeling, Marine?"
Luke shrugged as Flynn pulled the cut bandage off and carefully pulled away the gauze. "You mean, other than the whole, I've-been-shot-twice-thing? I'm grand."
Flynn snorted. "I should've expected that reaction. I mean, more specifically, any headaches, nausea, feeling feverish? Anything like that? That's out of the ordinary for a gunshot wound?" She took the rag from the bowl of water and began carefully dabbing at the dried blood around the edges of his wound. Luke winced at every touch but said nothing, because he knew it was necessary.
"Not that I know of. But then, I don't make a habit of getting shot, so I'm not totally sure what to expect."
"Yeah, you're fine," Flynn replied flippantly. She worked in silence while she finished cleaning and dressing his abdominal wound and then started on the much less severe cut on his arm where a bullet had grazed him.
When she finished, she gathered his bloody bandages and the bloody rag with the red-tinged water bowl.
"Hey Lieutenant," Luke said softly, stopping Flynn in her tracks. She raised an eyebrow in response. "Thanks for looking out for her. Julie wrote that you've gotten her out of a scrape or two in the last couple months."
"She did the same for me. That's family, you know?" Flynn said with a smile.
"Yeah, that's how me and the guys are," Luke nodded. "But I just… I don't know when exactly Julie became so important to me, but she is. So thanks for keeping her safe."
"You just focus on healing up, okay Gunny? And Julie will be here tonight." Her tone was a bit gruff, but as Flynn walked away, Luke was pretty sure he saw a genuinely soft smile on her face.
It was a quiet shift for Julie. There were a few patients who had needed her attention, but mostly she was just on watch from just before dinner until just after dawn. She didn't usually work the night shift, but Lieutenant Carrie Wilson, the cold but competent woman who was usually the head nurse at night, had been injured in a bombing outside of town the day before. So for the foreseeable future, Julie figured she'd be working nights. She didn't really mind, except that now Luke should be asleep for most of her shift.
Speaking of, there was a whimpering noise coming from the section of the room where Luke was sleeping. It was common; most of the men had nightmares, and Carrie, cold as she was, tried to always go and hold their hands or whisper encouragement to them when she noticed it. So Julie headed that direction and looked in the dim light for the man who was making the noise.
It grew louder, and then she saw Luke thrashing around in his bed. He was crying. She practically ran over to him and knelt at his side. "Luke, hey, Luke, it's okay. You're safe Luke. I promise you're safe." She reached for his hand, but then he immediately tossed in the opposite direction. Instead, she grabbed his good arm and shook him a little. She was worried that all of his movement would pull his stitches out, so she decided to risk waking him up. Not to mention, she didn't want him to wake any of the other men, although several were obviously still awake.
She shook him a little harder until he stopped moving so much, and Julie sighed in relief. "Luke, are you okay?" He was still crying. "I'm so sorry, Luke. I'm so sorry for everything you've had to endure." She started gently brushing his hair back from his face, like her mother used to when Julie was upset. "Shhh. You're okay."
He finally opened his eyes. "Julie, is that you?"
"Yeah, Luke, it's me," Julie responded softly. "Are you okay?"
He let out a long, shuddering breath. "Yeah, I'm okay. That was just one hell of a nightmare…"
Julie took his hand. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, feeling tears form in her own eyes from the haunted look on Luke's face. His eyes looked empty and he was still trying to catch his breath.
"War is nothing like I expected, Jules… it's not right. It makes me rethink everything."
"It's horrible," Julie agreed softly. "So many men have died. Others will be crippled for the rest of their lives…" She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and started wiping Luke's tears. "I'm so sorry you've had to endure this…"
Luke smiled at her sadly and took the handkerchief out of her hand and started dabbing at her face too. She realized there were tears falling down her face as well. "You remember what I said about bullies? In one of my first letters to you?"
Julie nodded. "You can't stand them. That's why you enlisted."
"Yeah. I won't stand by and let my inaction be the reason someone I love is hurt. No matter the cost."
"You're a good man, Luke Charles Patterson," Julie whispered. "Is there anything I can do? To make the world a little less… grim… for you?"
"Just keep being your beautiful self. When you're on the front lines and you've been there for weeks and all you know is guns and bombs and barbed wire and the enemy and the guys on either side of you, you forget that there's beauty in the world. But you are beautiful, and you remind us all that there is still beauty out there. That's enough."
Julie nodded slowly. "I'll remember that. In the meantime, you need to sleep."
Luke frowned. "Will you sit with me just for another minute?"
"I'll stay until you fall asleep." Luke smiled and slowly let his eyelids close. Julie started humming her favorite song, and Luke reached for her hand. She sat there humming until his grip loosened and his breathing evened and she was certain he was asleep.
The next morning, Flynn showed up early to relieve Julie from her duties. "Hey Julie, how was last night?" she asked softly, as many of the patients were still asleep.
"Long. I'd forgotten how lonely the night shift can be. Without the hustle and bustle of everyone talking and things happening, and no one to talk to, it's easy to get lost in some unhappy thoughts," she admitted.
"So that explains the puffy eyes, then," Flynn said, looking her best friend over carefully. "Well, if you want, I can talk to Major Jackson about switching so you can work days and I'll work nights. I don't mind them so much as you do."
"No, it's fine, it'll just take some getting used to," Julie replied with a falsely bright smile. But when Flynn's skeptical gaze met hers, she dropped the pretense. "I don't mind nights, honestly. Luke just had a nightmare, a bad one. So I woke him and we got to talking and… war is horrible. Just horrible. I wish I had more words."
"I know, Julie. I know." Flynn pulled her best friend into a tight hug. When Julie finally pulled away, Flynn gave her a pout. "So, the women's barracks are decidedly not as friendly without my best friend there. I missed you last night."
Julie laughed. "Well, they're not too fun when I'm trying to sleep in the middle of the day either."
"Well hey, head over early and try to fall asleep before the sun's too high in the sky. Maybe you'll sleep better then."
"Flynn, you are seriously a saint, but I can't do that." Julie replied, squeezing her best friend's arm. "You cover for me too often these days. I can make it the next half hour."
"Julie, it's like you've forgotten all the times you covered for me in Berlin, when I was dealing with the news about Grandad. It's no big deal, honestly."
"Ugh, have I ever told you that you're the best friend I could ever ask for?" Julie replied with a grateful smile.
"Yes, all the time. Now go on!"
"Thank you, Flynn!" Julie started gathering up her things. "I'll be back early, I think I'm gonna dust off that piano in the back corner before my shift starts. Maybe sit with Luke a little, too."
"Good," Flynn said. "It's about time you practice again. And I think the men will enjoy it. Now get outta here!"
Julie grinned at her best friend before moving toward the exit. But then, she paused and detoured over to where Luke was still sleeping. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, Luke."
True to her word, Julie came early for her shift the next day. Better yet, she was accompanied by a sweet golden retriever. When the first soldier closest to the door saw Nicky, he clapped. "C'mere boy, come here!" Nicky excitedly ran to him and started licking his hand.
Flynn met Julie near the door. "Is that wise? Bringing Nicky here? Major Jackson doesn't like dogs."
Julie shrugged. "I know, but I was just thinking about when we were kids. Annabelle Masterson's dog? She told me that her uncle had trouble sleeping and more because of the horrible things he experienced in the last war, but their dog calmed him down. I thought Nicky might do the same."
"Oh girl, that's genius! Although the Major will protest."
"It'll definitely be worth it," Julie replied confidently. "Now, if you don't mind, I have an hour and a half before my shift starts, and I'm gonna say hello to my favorite Marine." She glanced over to where Nicky was calmly letting Sergeant Cranfield pet him. When she was sufficiently convinced that Nicky would be fine, she headed over to where Luke was sitting upright in bed reading a book.
"Afternoon, Gunny. How's it going?"
Luke looked up and his face instantly brightened. "Julie! I mean, Lieutenant Molina! It's good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too! What've you been up to today?"
"Oh, you know. Enjoying the enchanting company of my peers, reading Pride and Prejudice, and writing letters," Luke replied in a wry tone. "Not exactly a productive day."
Julie grabbed a stool and settled down on it next to Luke's bed. "Sounds like a very appropriate afternoon for someone who was shot twice only 48 hours ago."
"Not to mention, I am sparkling company," joked the man in the bed on Julie's other side. Julie chuckled and reached over to grab his hand.
"Don't I know it, Staff Sergeant Torres," she replied with a grin.
"Well, I'm glad to see you, especially after last night," Luke said with genuine warmth in his face and voice, drawing Julie's attention back to him.
"Yeah, me too. In the dark, everything can seem a little more hopeless." Julie sighed. "But there is hope, and beauty, left in the world."
"I know. You remind me every time I read one of your letters."
Julie felt the world shift a little as she looked into the shining eyes of Luke Patterson. Somehow he made her feel like a better woman than she knew she really was. She took one of his hands in both of hers and squeezed it. "So, I have a surprise for you."
Luke cocked his head to the right and raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Just wait right here for a minute." Julie got up and started moving toward the back of the room, to Luke's left.
"I can't exactly go anywhere!" Luke called to her.
As she walked down the aisles, other soldiers started calling out to her too. "Are you really gonna do it Lieutenant?"
"Nurse Molina, are you finally playing?"
Luke felt confused for a moment, until he saw Julie pull a sheet off an old grand piano. She gently pressed on a single key, and then, without warning, began playing the opening notes of "Dream a Little Dream of Me."
All the men in the room clapped as she began, and then quieted while she sang. It was just like her singing at her brother's bedside, but less intimate. Even still, Luke knew she'd chosen that song for him. Not only was it one of their mutually favorite songs, but the message was obvious. Instead of the war, dream of us, of beauty, of the future, she was saying. And he loved her for it.
That realization, that he loved Julie, caught Luke off-guard, and he nearly toppled out of his bed in surprise. Ensign Roberts from a bed next to him leaned towards him and asked, "You okay there, Marine?"
Luke nodded dumbfoundedly. "Uhh, yeah, thanks Sailor." He didn't even look over to see Roberts's faint smirk. He was still reeling. I mean, of course I love her. She's the most amazing woman I've ever met. She's kind and beautiful and talented and opinionated and strong and brave and loyal and patient. She may be the best person I've ever known.
He just watched her in awe, too aware of this new revelation to say or do anything else. She played a few more songs, taking requests from patients around the room, but after about fifteen minutes, she finally stood back up. "Sorry gents, I'm out of practice so my fingers are a little stiff, but I'll play some more tomorrow, okay?"
The entire room clapped and whistled for her, and Julie just smiled and made her way over to Flynn. Luke watched her chat with her best friend for a minute before making her way back over to him.
"You may want to wipe that look off your face or the good Lieutenant will be asking lots of questions," Roberts commented with a chuckle.
Luke shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to school his expression into something more neutral. "Thanks, Roberts," he replied sheepishly.
"Any time, Patterson. I may not have full use of my leg anymore, but I can still keep a sharp eye out."
"So, Luke, what'd you think of your surprise?" Julie asked as she reclaimed her seat beside him.
"You're the most amazing woman I've ever known!" Luke blurted out.
Julie's eyes went wide. "Uh, thanks. It was just a few songs though, nothing particularly amazing. I know for a fact that Lieutenant Wilson plays for everyone about once a week."
"Not that, just-you. Being you. You're incredible!"
Julie took his hand and smiled shyly. "Well thank you. You're pretty amazing, too."
"Honestly Julie, I don't even compare with you. You're spectacular. You're-" And then, once more, he was interrupted by a dog.
Nicky had run down the aisle and leapt up onto Luke's lap, immediately licking his face. "Oh my gosh!" he exclaimed. "Seriously?"
Julie giggled. "He's just so happy to see you, aren't you Nicky?" She reached out to pat her sweet pup.
"I can't decide if this is funny or annoying," Luke admitted with a hint of a smile.
"Oh, I can't even see anymore, but it's hilarious," replied the wounded Staff Sergeant from Luke's other side. Both he and Ensign Roberts laughed. Julie joined in.
Well, at least he kept me from making a total fool of myself, professing my undying love in front of a fly boy and a grunt, Luke thought to himself as he gave in and started petting Nicky behind the ears.
They developed a routine after that. A veteran nurse was transferred in to replace Lieutenant Wilson, so Julie was returned to her regular daytime shift with Flynn. Every day after her shift, she would sit with Luke for a few minutes, play a few songs, and then help Luke walk down the hall of the hospital or toss a ball for Nicky. Even during the day, while she was on her shift, the guys around Luke clearly knew they were involved, and they found reasons for Julie to come over to them for "help" as often as possible. And the other nurses were quick to encourage Julie to work with that quadrant of the room, with a little teasing about 'her handsome Marine' in the mix. Every day, Luke found himself amazed that Julie cared for him as much as she did, and that she was so willing to give him her time and attention and affections. He was so grateful for the opportunity he had to know her in person after spending so long getting to know her by correspondence.
But after two weeks, Luke was healing quite satisfactorily. He was able to walk around without help and without too much pain, and the stitches had been removed, so the doctor decided Luke no longer needed to be in the hospital. He took Luke and Julie to one of the private examination rooms to discuss Luke's next steps.
"We're sending you Stateside for a couple months to fully heal, okay Gunny? You don't need us anymore," said Major Jackson with a smile.
Luke grimaced. "That's not true," he said with a pout.
Major Jackson furrowed his brow in confusion, while Julie laughed silently beside him. "Yes it is, m'boy. You're healed up pretty well, so we're sending you back home for at least six weeks to work with a physical therapist."
"Not that," he muttered. "I'll always need Julie."
Major Jackson looked at Julie in surprise. "Lieutenant Molina is a capable nurse, Gunnery Sergeant, but you don't need any further medical care."
Julie patted the doctor on his shoulder. "Yes Major, he understands. We're just… friends, is all, from before I became a nurse, and he's being silly."
"Am not," he muttered under his breath, and Julie chuckled again. If she'd learned anything from nursing him for two weeks straight, it was that he was adorable when he got grumpy. And that happened when he thought people weren't appreciating her enough.
"Well," the Major interrupted, "You'll be leaving our hospital first thing tomorrow, so pack up anything you want to take with you, okay?"
"I understand. Thank you Major," Luke said, saluting as the doctor walked away. "So Julie, do you think I could pack you up and fit you with all my things?"
She laughed as they moved slowly into the hallway back toward the main room. "I'm afraid I wouldn't fit in your knapsack. Besides, I've still got work to do here."
"But I don't want to leave you."
"Me either," Julie agreed. "But we don't have space for you here anymore. And you need to go somewhere to recuperate."
"There's no one left for me in the States. Alex just made it back to France. Reggie's in Japan, and you know what my parents are like."
Julie gave him a sad smile. "I know. But they're sending you back anyway."
"Where will I go?" Luke asked thoughtfully, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Well…" Julie said slowly. "You could always go see my dad. He's alone in the house, working at the newspaper. I'm sure he'd love the company."
"He doesn't even know me," Luke replied.
"He doesn't know your face…" She trailed off.
"He knows I've been writing to his daughter?" He asked, his voice half a pitch higher than before.
Julie gave him a bright smile. "He knows your letters have been some of the best parts of the last six months. He knows enough about you, Luke, that you're always welcome in the Molina household."
"You're amazing, Julie," Luke said, not even trying to hide the admiration in his voice. Julie just blushed and shook her head. "No, seriously, Jules. You are incredible."
He leaned slowly down, took her face in his hands and watched her eyes, to make sure that this was okay. And when she leaned into his touch, he brought his face to hers and then-
They were started by a loud cough from behind them and awkwardly pulled away from each other.
"Uh, Lieutenant? You're needed in the main hall."
Julie looked over to the medical assistant standing there uncomfortably. "Thanks Wallace. I'll head there now."
Luke pouted for a moment and held her hand in a death grip as she tried to walk away. "Don't go yet, I'm about to leave."
"Luke, I have to, and you're not leaving until tomorrow. I promise I'll come see you again before you go."
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Okay."
The next morning, Julie arrived at the hospital from the nurse's quarters extra early. And there was Luke, along with half a dozen other soldiers, preparing to head home.
Julie handed Luke two envelopes.
"What's this?"
"Letters." When Luke still looked confused, Julie sighed. "If you look at the envelopes, you'll see there's a letter for you, for the long trip back, and a letter for my dad, just to remind him how important the messenger I'm sending to him is to his beloved daughter."
Luke's face softened into a gentle grin. "You think of everything, don't you Julie?"
She laughed. "Not quite. It didn't occur to me that you wouldn't be the only one leaving today. I was hoping to finish what we started yesterday, but we're not going there with my boss and several other of my patients watching." She blushed.
"About that…" Luke trailed off nervously, his hand scratching the back of his neck.
"What Luke?" Julie reached for his hand and held it still in her own. She'd learned that he fidgeted when he got nervous, and that neck-scratch was his most obvious tell.
"I just want you to know that I meant it. I mean-I know a lot of guys who don't take this sort of thing seriously. They have their wartime women who don't mean much. That's not me. That's not this. At least, that's how I feel."
Julie threw herself into his arms. "That's not how I feel either, Luke. This is real between us. It's serious."
He signed with relief into her loose curls. "Oh, thank goodness. Then Julie," he pulled back and held her at arm's length to watch her face. "After this god-forsaken war, can we meet up again? And maybe try to build something… permanent?"
"Luke Patterson, is that a proposal?" Julie asked quietly.
"If it is?" he asked with a nervous grin.
"Hell yes!" she responded eagerly. "Now, it looks like it's time for you to go. Take care of yourself, okay? I don't want to be a widow before I get to be a bride."
"You got it boss. And, uh, by the way… I love you Julie Molina."
"I love you too, Luke Patterson."
Mid-November 1945:
"Flynn, do you see them?" Julie asked anxiously, jumping up and down in the crowd to try to set her eyes on her favorite people in the world.
Flynn shook her head. "Not yet. But when Carlos called last night, he said they were together and were hoping to arrive by train today. All we can do is wait and watch."
They kept looking for a few minutes, and Julie kept thinking she saw one or the other of them only to realize it wasn't. But then she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her.
"Jules!" She whipped around but didn't instantly see him, and she visibly deflated. She turned back to her best friend.
"Shit, Flynn. I really thought that was him," she said disappointedly.
"Uh, babe?" Flynn replied and pointed over Julie's shoulder.
She turned and squealed, pushing through the crowd to get to Luke. And then he was right in front of her.
She stilled in front of him, her eyes shining with happy tears. And then he smiled, and she whispered, "Hi Luke." And he took a step forward, put his hands on her cheeks, and lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss that Julie quickly deepened.
They both lost all sense of time, but were forced to part when someone far too close whistled.
Julie blushed as she looked over to see three other men standing beside them looking smug.
"Carlos! Reggie! Alex!" Julie exclaimed and pulled herself out of Luke's arms to give each of them a hug.
"Wasn't sure you noticed us, sis," Carlos teased.
Julie blushed. "Oh, pipe down, you. I know you're dying to see Allison. She told me you've been writing."
"I'm not hiding that," Carlos said in a way that showed he was clearly surprised she knew.
She just laughed as she pulled Reggie into a hug next. "You're okay, yeah?"
"Yes ma'am. Perfect health!" He saluted her.
"Good." She patted his arm before hugging Alex last of all.
"Is your leg still bothering you?"
"Not all the time. I'll be okay," he said. "It's good to see you, Julie."
"Excuse me, can I get my fiancee back?" Luke asked, sounding annoyed.
"Is she your fiancee though?" Flynn asked skeptically. "Your proposal was hazy at best, if I recall. Not sure it counted."
Julie scowled at her best friend. "Flynn!" She scolded. "Of course it counted! Extenuating circumstances!"
"No, Jules, she's right," Luke agreed, and dropped to one knee. "Julie Sara Molina, when my world seemed completely without beauty or hope, you suddenly appeared. You brightened my every day, even when we were apart, and gave me reason to believe in joy again. You literally helped me heal from my physical wounds and encouraged me to mend the holes in my relationship with my parents. You're the most amazing woman in the world, and I love you. I don't want to spend another day without you, so I have to ask: will you marry me?"
Julie gasped as he pulled a chain out from under his shirt with a diamond ring hanging from it.
"Luke, where did you get that?"
He chuckled. "My mom sent it to me. It was my grandmother's, apparently. So, will you?"
"Of course I will!" Julie exclaimed, and Luke stood up to pull her into another kiss.