Post Critical Condition. I don't own anything, woe. Characters & mentioned episodes and storylines are Bellisario's. Please don't sue, I have no money, it's proving to be a problem when I want to pretend I actually have a life. Huge thank you to the wonderful delgaserasca for the beta job.
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Road to Recovery
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- Dizzy-Dreamer -
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You've never seen him so helpless, even in Russia when you found out about his father. You do all you can: you sit with him and you reassure him; you don't know how you came to it but you find yourself holding him, tears spilling down your own face.
You know there's a risk with every overseas assignment, that whenever you board a ship and go out to sea you may never return – or at least, not in one piece. You know that, of course you do – you're a marine, a lieutenant colonel at that, and look at you now.
"Look at us now," you laugh lightly, hastily brushing tears from your face with the back of your hand. He looks at you, lost and confused; he knows you and your mind but he's missed this train of thought, it's left him running along the platform as it speeds from the station.
"We knew the risks. I know Bud's our friend, but—"
"You never expect it to happen to you?"
"No… yes… you're right."
"Excuse me? I'm not entirely sure I heard you ri—"
"Watch it, Flyboy," you punch him lightly and he smiles. You've missed this: the banter, the nicknames, the knowing-what-the-other-is-thinking.
"He's gonna be okay now, Mac. Bud's a fighter." He notices your sudden downcast expression, and you've missed that too – Harmon Rabb is arrogant and sarcastic and God, you wish he'd get his head out of his six sometimes, but he's a wonderful friend.
"Will we be okay?" you ask; you see his heart break at the fear in your eyes.
"Yeah," he answers, wrapping his arms around you and tugging you closer, dropping a kiss on the top of your head. "We'll be okay."
You believe him.
