AN: Hey, Kats and Kittens. Hope you're enjoying the story so far, yes? Things are a little hectic around here. I just can't seem to make myself get up and go to class. Grr. I'm just waiting until Midterm Break, so I can go home and relax. FACT.

Chapter Six:

"I don't get it," the rather large woman says as she stares at the man known as 'Ernest Jackson.' "He's clearly dead as a doornail. I don't see the point of keeping him around."

"Mrs. Grant, with all due respect, I don't think you should talk about patients that way," Kaara replies softly, her eyebrows drawing together. The older woman waves a hand in the air.

"He's a damn free-loader, if you ask me," she spits, staring at the prone figure with disgust. "The military dumped him on us because they didn't want to take care of him themselves."

"Mrs. Grant!" Kaara says sharply. "That was very rude. I insist that you stop speaking poorly of my patient at once."

"Or you'll what?" Mrs. Grant snorts, placing her hands on her hips.

"I suggest you do as the young lady says," a quiet voice comes from the doorway.

Both women turn to see Jack standing stiffly just inside the room, his hands in his pockets and a scowl upon his face. Mrs. Grant clears her throat and hastily scurries from the room, avoiding the man's eyes as she does.

"Colonel . . . I-I . . . I don't know what to say," Kaara stutters nervously, her hands trembling. As Jack turns back to her, she is relieved to find that the menacing look has been replaced by one of kindness.

"I believe you already said it, Miss Whitten," he smiles warmly. Kaara glares at the doorway that the older nurse had passed through not moments before.

"Oh, that . . . that horrible wench!" She seethes though clenched teeth, unknowingly clutching the clipboard in her hands so tightly that her knuckles turn white. "I wish the head nurse would have her transferred or something. She's such a nasty woman!"

Jack cannot help but chuckle at the small woman's obvious maliciousness towards the other nurse. She is a mini-Janet if he ever saw one.

"I know a nice little place in Alaska that's a little short on medical staff," he offers with a shrug. Kaara smiles brightly.

"That wouldn't be nearly far away enough for me," she laughs softly. Jack walks to Daniel's bedside.

"So how's our boy today?"

"Fairly well," Kaara says, looking over his charts. "Heart and respiratory rates are remaining steady. We, uh, still can't take him off of the respirator. I . . . don't suppose we'll be able to . . . f-for a while at least." Jack nods as he continues to stare at the younger man.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to come since the transfer," he says absently.

"It's only been a week, Colonel," Kaara replies reassuringly. "I can understand a busy schedule."

"I'm sure you can," Jack nods. "And I think it's time you started calling me Jack." Kaara blushes with a small smile.

"Only if you will start calling me Kaara," she replies. Jack nods with a smile of his own, which disappears as silence ensues.

"Would you like to be alone?" The young woman asks timidly.

"Actually, I'd prefer the company," Jack requests, sitting in one of the chairs. Without a word, Kaara sits in the chair on the opposite side of Daniel. For a moment, they remain in an awkward silence, until Jack decides to speak.

"I think he would have liked you."

"M-Mr. Jackson?" Kaara questions, her eyebrows raised.

"Yeah. He was always the silent, studious type. Liked to read. Dragging him away from a book was like trying to ride a bull without hanging on."

Kaara smiles and looks down at her clasped hands, reminding the colonel of the younger man.

"And when he smiled . . . it was just one of those rare occasions that you wish would happen more often."

Kaara nods in understanding.

"My brother's like that," she says quietly.

"Sounds like he and Ernest here would get along quite nicely," Jack smiles.

"Yeah," Kaara returns the gesture. Another silence ensues. Jack, suddenly, bursts into laughter.

"I, uh, remember this one time . . ." he starts with a wide smile, his eyes shining with a memory. "I hadn't seen him for a while, and, all of a sudden, we just sorta meet up. He and his wife were having this party. He invited a few others and me, and we had a great time. His brother-in-law made this concoction, this awful stuff. I ended up spitting it all over myself." Kaara giggles.

"Then, he wanted to . . . take me into town, show me something, I guess. So he tells his wife, and she immediately plants this kiss on him that just stuns the hell out of him. He turns beet red and the crowd starts making whistling sounds and catcalls. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen." Kaara smiles, nearly able to see the scene in her mind, but the smile disappears as a thought pops into her head.

"Oh, his poor wife! How is she handling all of this?" She asks. Jack looks at the ground.

"She . . . died a couple years back," he responds grimly.

"Oh," Kaara whispers sadly, sympathy filling her eyes as she looks to Daniel's impassive face. "It . . . It doesn't seem fair for someone so young to have to go through that . . . and then something like this happens."

"Yeah. Danny's had it pretty rough," Jack sighs before he can stop what he is saying. Kaara gives him a confused look.

"I-I'm sorry?" She asks, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Oh . . . um, just a nickname," Jack attempts to amend the situation. The young nurse nods skeptically, knowing that the colonel is not being truthful but pushing it no further.

AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard to any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?

There are two more chapters coming for this part, and then I'll start into the second. Yay! Fun stuff. Hope you'll stick with me til the end, yea:)