Thank you for all you're reviews, it's good to know you like my stories, so here's another chapter!
"Why don't we take you back to bed? You can have a nice conversation with a few fellow wounded soldiers." Klinger's voice rang through River's head. She felt him lift her arm and tug her up, her tray left almost untouched. She wasn't hungry, and would most probably just throw it up again later anyway.
As the two left the mess tent, BJ turned to Sydney, hoping to get some answers. "She say anything last night?" He asked.
Sydney sighed, knowing this questionnaire was coming. "She said a few things, not a heck of a lot of it made much sense."
"She likes talking in riddles." Hawkeye nodded smiling somewhat.
"To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of her. She has a lot of difficulty staying focused on long conversations; she's had several circumstances of instant mood changers and shows strong characteristics that she doesn't even know she's here."
"She doesn't know she's here?" Hawkeye questioned unbelieving.
""Yes." Sydney nodded.
"Then where does she think she is?"
"In her own world. I've never seen a case quite like this, but she does appear exceptionally bright."
"You know we'll always bring you the most challenging cases." Hawkeye said smiling, but scrunching up his face as he took another sip of his coffee.
"What's going on here?" Winchester asked, walking into post-op and seeing a few nurses and other helping hands pulling one of his patients out on a stretcher, covered from head to toe in a white sheet. Margaret was reading his chart, talking quietly to a few nurses before hearing Winchester's question.
"He passed away sometime in the night." She answered her voice grave.
Winchester stood dumbfounded. One of his patients had passed away. It wasn't often that he lost people, and though he didn't show it, each one left their mark. He stretched out his hand, indicating for Margaret to pass him the boys chart. As he read the name, a shiver ran down his spine and the words from River ran through his skull like a knife. Your gonna kill him. You're not helping him right.
"What is it?" Margaret had seen the expression change dramatically on his face.
"No… Nothing. It's nothing." He stammered, unsure what to think.
"It's not your fault. Some just don't make it." She tried in a quiet voice before walking away, directing the body outside.
It was at that moment that Klinger appeared at the other door, gently tugging River behind him. Winchester locked eyes with her, feeling angry but also feeling something else. What was it? Fear? But a Winchester would never be frightened of a little girl. He crudely told himself. Forcing his eyes away from hers that seemed to penetrate his thoughts, he turned his back to them, reading then re-reading the fallen boys chart, looking for some valid reason why he was no longer with the living, but he could see nothing. Feeling more shaken by the minute he left post-op, deciding against his better judgment that a talk with Sydney Freedman, wasn't such a bad idea.
"Well, Major Winchester, I didn't expect a visit from you." Sydney greeted Charles as he entered the visitor's tent.
"Something has been growing on my mind. I start to think I myself may be insane for thinking such a thing, but it just doesn't add up, it doesn't make any sense." Winchester was pacing from side to side, talking faster and faster as Sydney's eyes followed him.
"What are you talking about?" He asked politely, making Winchester stop and turn to him as if he was made.
"The girl, the girl." He replied, his palms shaking as they were outstretched.
"River." Sydney acknowledged. "What exactly have you come to see me for?"
Winchester stopped pacing, and Sydney could see the fear behind his eyes.
"It's just…." He sighed deeply, rethinking his words and actions. "Nothing. It's a whole lot of nonsense. Forgive my interruption." He said before promptly turning to leave.
"Major!" Sydney called before he could go. "What you say to me is completely confidential. If you have something on your mind that's bothering you, tell me."
"One of my patients was found just found dead." Winchester finally confined.
"That's horrible, but you have to remember that not everyone that comes through here can be saved." Sydney comforted.
"There's no reason why he should be dead, he sustained a blow to the leg, but it wasn't too severe. He should have lived." Winchester said shaking his hands.
"Sometimes things happen that we can't explain."
"But she knew." Winchester's words came out harsh, almost hissing like.
"I assume we're talking about River now?" Sydney asked.
"Yes. She said I wasn't helping him right and look what happened, man couldn't have been more then 20!"
"River predicted his death?" Sydney was trying to clarify Winchester's thoughts and after getting a frantic nod, understood Winchester's fear. "You know, the change of someone dieing here, after any operation, is what? 10-5? Anybody could make a guess as to who goes next. That's just what some people do. I'm sure she was just joking and didn't even realise what she was talking about. There's nothing for you to be worried about."
At that moment, Winchester felt more then stupid. Of course! How could he have let his imagination get away with him? He'd never been keen on people who claimed they could see into others future, it was all just a hoax. No doubt that girl was laughing her head off at it. Feeling more then stupid, Winchester made a quite exit, heading to someplace with ample amounts of liquor.