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Guarnere was getting ready to be shipped out to the States where he would continue his physical therapy for the next several months in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Army hospital had a wing that specializes in prosthetics.

Toye was seeing his friend out in the common area while they waited for his transport officers.

"Whatcha gonna do now with old Guarnere not around to make sure you're behavin' yourself?" Guarnere grinned.

Toye rolled his eyes but grinned back. He had just had his second amputation a few days ago, and Nurse Mindy was keen on keeping him out of bed as much as possible. His thigh ached where the new incision was above his knee, but he had to agree with her. He wanted to start PT again immediately.

"Live in peace? Sleep for once?"

"Bone the hot girl?"

Toye shoved him hard, but it was difficult as Guarnere was standing with support from some crutches and he was in his wheelchair. "Cut it out, I swear to God."

Guarnere cackled and shoved him back. "I'm just messin' with ya, you know it." He paused. "But seriously, get on that." That earned him another smack. "Christ, I'll miss ya too."

Before Toye could reply, a young nurse came up to him to bring him back to his room to check his vitals. It was a daily routine after surgery until they were confident he was past the point of infection.

She gave Guarnere a warm smile. "Don't worry, sergeant. I'll have him back in time to say goodbye."

He gave her a wink. "I trust ya, sweetheart. Take your time and poke him a bit for me. He's grouchy today."

With a cackle to himself, Guarnere waited for them to return. The crutches cut into his arms, but it felt wonderful to stand again.

Before he could go find some trouble to pass the time, he heard a shout from down the hall followed by a lot of yelling. Instantly, he made his way as quickly as a guy with one leg and new crutches could go before he found the source of the ruckus.

Liz cried out again, bucking against the vice-like grip the two MP soldiers held on her body. It looked as if she had somehow found her OD jacket, but it was coming apart as she fought against them. It was no use; she didn't stand a chance against them.

Nurse Mindy sighed dramatically next to them. "You either stay here, sergeant, or I will happily request your discharge papers to send you back to the States! You've heard this before. I don't know why you keep fighting it!"

"Let me go, you old bat!" Liz cried, enunciating each word with a kick towards the chest of one of the men. He pulled her leg back awkwardly and she cried out.

"Christ, you're hurtin' her!" yelled Guarnere.

Nurse Mindy turned to him with a glare. "Stay out of this, Sergeant Guarnere."

"Then tell the thugs to let her go! She ain't leavin' so leave her alone already!"

With an air of triumph, another nurse arrived with a syringe and Nurse Mindy took it with a word of thanks. "Hold out her arm, dear."

"No!" yelled Liz. "I'll behave! Christ, just -"

Nurse Mindy plunged the needle into her inner arm. The medicine took almost immediate effect, and Liz began to collapse into a puddle in their arms, even as she cried out again.

"Sit her down in the common room next to Sergeant Guarnere and he can see for himself she's fine."

The MPs unceremoniously deposited Liz onto the chair next to Guarnere. With a scowl they left, and he had an idea this isn't the first time this has happened. He made sure to give Nurse Mindy his best Guarnere death glare and he was pleased to see she looked affronted. And then they were alone.

"Liz," he murmured, sinking down to one knee and balancing his weight on the cushions of the chair she was in. "Sweetie, are you OK?"

She groaned; she could hardly keep her eyes open. Guarnere looked at her for a moment before asking again, "Liz, are you OK?" She waited a bit before nodding silently. "Joe should be back in a bit."

Liz's eyes were closed but she hummed. "You stopped being a jackass just in time to leave, huh?" she whispered through white lips.

Guarnere chuckled quietly, relieved to hear her spunk once more. "Honey, if you're missin' it, I can easily flip the switch, and…"

She placed a hand on his arm and shook her head silently. "God, he's back. When did you say Joe would be here?" Her eyelids were only getting heavier and she knew it was only a matter of time before she'd be out.

"Want me to go get him? I could use the practice, or so the old cow tells me."

Liz smiled, her eyes still closed as she dipped deeper into the cushions. "You know what? I think I am going to miss you."

He scoffed. "Of course you are. Who else can bring this much charm while looking this…?"

"Liz?" They both looked up to see Toye there, rolling closer. He took in her pale, clammy skin and heavy eyes. "Christ, what happened?"

Guarnere sneered. "They drugged her up."

Liz tried to look like she didn't care when she shrugged. "Caught me again. Fuckers forgot to take my jacket though. Can you stow it away for me? Any little bit of semblance to my station with my regiment helps when I get past the gates."

Toye and Guarnere helped peel off the OD jacket from her, her arms unable to hardly move. They were like lead. When she fell back onto the chair, she winced, trying and failing to reach for her head. "Ow."

"Sergeant Guarnere?"

The men turned to see one of the MPs back. "Your ride is here."

Guarnere scowled at him before turning back to Liz. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her forehead. "Try and stay outta trouble, OK, kid?"

Liz was able to wrench her eyes open enough to look at his face one more time. She gave him a tired smile, even though the impending pain in her skull. "You first, Bill. Maybe I'll see you in the States one day."

"Lookin' forward to it, honey." And with a wink, he pushed himself to stand until his crutches were steady. He turned to Toye and leaned down to give his friend a hug. "Take care of her, Joe. She looks like she needs it."

"Fuck off, Guarnere."

Grinning between themselves, Toye hugged him back. "Yeah, yeah, I'll see ya soon, you fool. Remember to behave now that Frannie is sure to be there waitin for ya."

"Behave? What's that?"

And with another wink to them both, he slowly made his way to follow the MP out of the hospital floor.

After he was gone, Toye turned back to Liz, and her color was only getting worse. "Hey Liz."

Even as her head continued to throb, Liz smiled at the sound of his voice. "Hey yourself."

He was at a loss at what he could do. He could tell she was in pain, but with his new wound on his leg, he couldn't exactly take her away again. Thankfully the common room was quiet, but he watched her wince against the neon lights above them.

"I keep telling that old bat sedation only makes the headaches worse."

Toye was quiet. He felt useless just sitting there, and another wave of annoyance swept over him for being forced into a second surgery. He eyed the plush chair she was in. "Hey, make way."

Liz tried to look at him, but that only made the pounding worse, but she got the idea when he slowly began sliding from his wheelchair and into the armchair. She slid over to give him some room.

It took a bit of an adjustment, but she was able to curl into his left side and burrow her face into the darkened crook of his neck. He sighed when she did as he began to massage her neck again.

They remained like that for a long time. Toye also began to fade off into a light snooze, but he didn't miss her fingers sliding through his on his free hand, and giving them a feeble squeeze of thanks.