A few weeks later he was waking up from the surgery where the surgeon put a graft where his fractured ankle wasn't healing as it should.
He found Emily sitting by his bed when he woke up. She had her feet kicked up on the side of his bed, and was submerged in a thick book.
"What are you reading?" his voice was a little groggy from being under, maybe it was from being intubated or having some kind of laryngeal mask during the surgery. But his head felt fine, they had obviously made a mix which didn't mess him up too bad.
"Hello there…" she smiled, "I'm reading Jack Reacher again…"
"Oh…?" he yawned, "How's he doing?"
"Just got shot in the chest…" she tsked, "But, it's only the third book in the series…"
"You've read it before?"
"A few times…" she nodded, "It's kinda a comfort thing…"
"A comfort thing?" he raised his eyebrows a bit, "A guy getting shot in the chest?"
"Not exactly that." She shook her head, "More the big, tough guy who's pretty much invincible."
"Lucky guy…"
"I'd say you've got a lot in common with him…" she winked.
"Oh yeah? I don't feel so invincible right now. Haven't for months…"
"I'm not saying he doesn't get hurt…" Emily rolled her eyes, "I'm saying he always gets through it…"
"Can't promise I'll get through this one and be as good as I once was."
"Well, judging by all those scars you've got all over… You've always gotten through things this far…"
He flashed a cocky smirk, "You've been studying my scars?"
"I- uh…" she blushed and closed her eyes, "We've been together for a couple of months now. And sleeping in the same bed for a good portion of that time. I'd say it's pretty inevitable."
"Yeah, guess so…" he nodded, "So, is it right? Do 'chicks dig scars'?"
"I guess some do…" she shrugged.
"And you?"
"They don't revolt me…" she shrugged, "But they do pique my interest. So I'm kinda proud that I haven't asked where they all come from…"
Metal chuckled, "Pretty sure I could rattle off an explanation for at least half of them…"
"The others are from too classified stuff?"
He chuckled, "No. You've seen how many scars I have, do you really expect me to remember where all of them came from?"
She chuckled, "Okay, maybe not."
He nodded, "Any scar in particular you want to know the reason for?"
She nodded, "A few…"
"Let's start with one…"
"There's one on your right thigh. A third of an inch wide, four inches long…"
"Scouts camp when I was nine." He frowned, "Learned that a dull knife never is your friend."
"So not all of them are from line of duty badassery?"
"No, a good portion of them are from the time before that…" he shook his head, "Any other scar you want to know straight away?"
"You've got this… massive crisscross of scars by your right side…"
He nodded, "Yup. Diyala province, 2010… Our team got hit by an RPG. Some shrapnel cut me up pretty good. About half my team needed medical attention after that one…"
"You're allowed to talk about where and when?"
"Sometimes." He nodded, "Other times I might chose to say the wrong when and the wrong where…"
Emily chuckled.
"But, I think I'll stick to just saying that I can't tell you…"
"Alright…" Emily smiled, "I'd appreciate that."
Metal nodded, "Figured you would."