Title: Indelible
Author: Doxymom
Rating: PG
Challenge: Abandonment.
Season: During Intruder, though NO SPOILERS.
Pairing: none
Summary: John and ripples of Afghanistan.
Drabble
A/N: unbeta'd.
Indelible
By Doxymom
Dogwoods sweeten the breeze. Her favorite. Fresh-turned earth, wine rich. Nauseating.
"You came." Her mother, flat words, black silk, hollow cheeks and mascara tracks.
My excuses evaporated. "Ma'am...what I did--"
"She's dead five years, Captain."
I didn't correct her.
The casket gleamed in the watery sun. "I've been punished."
"She loved you." Her razor voice. A blue veined hand, crimson nails, dangle a gold chained cross, sister to Sumner's dogtags. "She was wearing this."
My tears scalded and the chain charred my fingers. Apologies stuck.
"She wouldn't blame you."
Couldn't.
Her mother's profile disagreed.
White dogwood petals buried me.
The End.