It was a couple of months later. And the time for their weekly video call rolled around.
He had his elbows leaned against his kitchen table, and his laptop set up in front of him.
He felt a smirk creep onto his lips, he had leaned his crutches up against the wall, right inside the camera's reach.
She connected.
"Hey there…" she yawned, "Sorry, I overslept…"
"Nightshift last night?" Metal smiled, "Shouldn't it be around 5pm there?"
She nodded, "Was one of those shifts where it's just impossible to get away…"
"I didn't know how much I missed that sleepy face of yours in the mornings…" he chuckled, "How are things there?"
"Last 48 hours has been hectic…" she shrugged, "Had a quiet stretch before that…"
He nodded.
"And how are you?"
"Good." He nodded, "Got something to show you…"
"Yeah?"
He nodded and got up, "Actually, I could've shown you this the last couple of weeks, but I wanted to make sure first…"
"Make sure what?"
He reached for his crutches and hobbled away from the camera, until his whole body was visible on her screen. Then he flashed a proud smirk and placed the crutches against the wall once more. "This."
He took a few steps. They were still tentative and cautious, but he didn't need the crutches.
"Metal! I can barely believe it!"
"Wait, there's more…" he held up a hand to stall her, before he bent down and hiked up the leg of his pants.
"No boot?"
"No boot!" he beamed as he stood back up again, "Was good enough to toss the crutches a few weeks back, got the clear signal to kick the boot ten days ago."
"Wow, that's great!"
"Been working on not looking like a newborn four-legged animal ever since…"
"Considering how long you've been off that leg, I'm impressed by how steady you are…"
"Let's just say there's been a lot of improvement over the last ten days…" Metal smirked, "Don't you have a raincheck for a dance laying around? Maybe I finally can swing you around the dancefloor when you get back home… Not promising I'll as good as I once was though…"
Emily smiled, "Looking forward to it… Just make sure your leg is ready for it, no need to do too much too soon…"
"No, relax… I won't…" Metal shrugged, and sat back down on the kitchen chair. "So, How are you? You said it had been a hectic couple of days…?"
Emily nodded, "Yeah, there's been a lot of activity in the area the last few days. I don't think it's enough to make international news, but it definitely enough to make us busy…"
Metal nodded, "-But you're staying safe?"
"As safe as anyone is here nowadays." She nodded, "Nothing compared to what you and your guys come up against on a regular basis."
"You're attempting to ease my mind?" Metal's brows knit together, "That's really not the best way to do it…"
She chuckled a bit, "I said it was NOTHING compared to what you guys go up against…"
Metal rubbed a hand over his stubbles, "Gonna be good to have you back home, alright?"
She nodded, "I'm looking forward to it as well…"
SEALTEAM
Emily barely noticed that the hours passed as they talked.
Each time they talked, she missed him more than what she did when she was working. Yet, she didn't want to be without their weekly talks.
She could barely wait to be back with him on US soil. Spending her evenings by his side, sleeping next to him in bed.
"We should hang up soon…" she sighed, "I've got to get ready for another night shift soon, and you probably have stuff to do as well…"
He nodded a little, "Yeah, Trent's coming over soon… Gonna work out together."
"Sounds fun…"
Metal chuckled, "For Trent, yeah…"
She tilted her head.
"We're doing leg day…" Metal chuckled, "My workout program looks like ten minutes of walking on the treadmill, or as close to that as I can get… And then those leg exercise machines, with less weight than most of the grandmas at the gym puts on… Before I cool down with the same treadmill routine as I start the exercise with. It's pathetic…"
Emily chuckled, "I wouldn't call it pathetic, at least not since I know what that left leg of yours has been through…"
Metal nodded a bit, "Guess you've got a point…"
"I do." She nodded, "So, when are we gonna talk again?"
"My schedule is pretty much empty, so let's find a time which fits with your work…" Metal shrugged.
Emily nodded, "How about Tuesday, same time as we started today… I'm on dayshift… Should be off by then…"
"Sounds good." He smiled, "See you then…"
"Can barely wait…" she winked.
He nodded, "Alright, I love you. Talk to you later…"
"Love you too…"