Chapter Five

Sir Robert stared at his arm, at the crusted slice that ran from his wrist to elbow. A close call, he had lost a lot of blood that day, a vital vein had been punctured. If he hadn't been near the medical tent… well the outcome would have been bleak. It had healed over now, but the scar would remain with him always. He imagined explaining this to Cat, how distressed she would feel that a German had been so close to Robbie that he had sliced him. But at least he was still alive; the same could not be said for the man who did this to him.

It was his first kill; they say you will always remember your first. That was something he could believe easily. This was not like other kills he may have caused; he wasn't shooting randomly, or throwing a grenade in the hope that it would target someone. This had been intimate; they tackled each other to the ground, each struggling to unhinge the small dagger that was strapped to their arms. Robbie had only unsheathed his when he felt the excruciating pain of the slice. He remembered crying out in pain, his eyes water from the blood that was gushing from his left arm. He knew he had to overpower this man or else he would die and that was not an option. He had made a promise to Cat. Taking his knife he stabbed him directly in the throat, gasping in horror as blood spurted everywhere, splattering his face, some landing in his open mouth. He heaved as he tasted metal, the blood that wasn't his.

The man slumped on top of him, rigid and unmoving. The only thing Robbie could feel was the hammering of his heart, wasting no time he pushed the man off him and retreated to the bunkers, he had to make it to the tent. Gritting his teeth he rushed towards the bunkers, trying to make himself as small as possible. As he passed a fallen body he grabbed his riffle, just incase he may need to use it. A shell had landed near him as he reached the bunker and he was airborn, clenching his eyes closed he waited for the crushing impact that would certainly break his bones.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in this hospital bed, with a splitting headache and stiches in his arm and his arm in a sling. He could not believe his luck, he should be dead. Why was he not dead, how had he escaped with only a broken bone and scratches?

Bones can heal, scratches too but that scar would remain forever, a constant reminder of the man he had killed. He did not even know his name, was he twenty or forty it was difficult to tell. He felt his throat tightened, aching as if someone had shoved a red hot dagger down it. That man had a life outside this war, maybe he had a wife. Some who loved him unconditionally or worse was he a father? In an instant Robert had taken that away from him.

He thought of what the men used to joke about before they left training, the first kill was like losing your virginity all over again. Robert never really understood what they had meant by it and as much as he did not enjoy being ignorant he also was not sure he wanted to know the feeling of a first kill.

Sadly, he was no longer ignorant. He was stripped of his innocence, something that had kept him grounded all of these months, that was gone. He could never get it back. Would Caterina think him a monster now, he had after all taken a human life, it would repulse her. It made him feel sick to the core.

"Major Shapiro?"

He glanced at the man who stood before him, one of the soldiers who had signed up as a medic. He was a slip of a thing, very young, with rosy cheeks and soft blond hair. But you could not remain young in a war, his eyes where sunken, once green they were now dark and cold. They had seen too much.

"You are being sent on leave immediately, until your arm is healed."

He could only stare at the boy, bewildered, "You mean?"

The boy smiled, "Yes, you are being sent home."

""""""""""""""""""""

The first night on the job, Caterina had vomited; it would be safe to say it was not her proudest moment. Two months ago she had went to York to train to become a nurse. After spotting the poster on her birthday she knew that she needed to help, she had rushed straight over to Dr. Carter to ask him how she would enlist. He had been hesitant at first, warning her that the gruesome sights may be too much for frail heart. But she was determined, she had begged, lamented that she had to be distracted, she could not stand waiting around anymore. Finally he had told her about the programme in York that trained young women the basics. But being a Lady, Caterina lacked the basic knowledge of housework.

Her mother had been beside the idea at first but Caterina had managed to persuade her, she made her mother see that while she was away training, the house would once again be hers to run the way that she pleased. Lady Rebecca noticed something in her daughter when she raved about becoming a nurse, the fire in her eyes was their once more. The passion that had dwindled when she lost her husband to the war, maybe it would be for the best if her daughter had a distraction. Also, she could not deny that being master of the house once more was appealing.

From that moment on Lady Caterina spent her time in the kitchen with Mrs. Grey and the scullery maid, Lucy. She learnt the basics from them; how to boil a kettle and make tea and how to make small meals. Caterina had never felt better when she pulled out her first ever boil cake, the staff had all clapped for her as she presented it to them as a gift. After that she was whisked away to York, much to Jadelyn's annoyance.

Jadelyn had been forced to take cover in the countryside; she could find solace in the fact that at least she had a friend to see every day. But now Caterina had left her for the time being and while she was happy for her friend, she felt bitter. She was bored, life lacked excitement. Her mother and father had rebuked her for thinking this, it was utterly selfish. She knew they were right but she would never admit it.

She had to injure to months of boredom, spending most of her days walking around Yorkshire, refusing to take the car because it meant talking to Flynn. Who had recently become more of a pain, but more often than not, her parents insisted that she use the car, so she was forced to be in his company. He was not afraid of her like so many others, and it annoyed her more than anything. It confused her, she was not supposed to be engaging in a close relationship with a chauffeur and he knew that.

Today Jadelyn found herself walking towards the garage, unable to stop her feet from moving, unsure of why she taking herself here. Before she could tell her feet to stop she had barrelled in to the garage, surprising Flynn who was lounging on the hood of the car and smoking. The room smelled strongly of oil and tobacco, Jadelyn should have been repulsed by it but she found it strangely tantalizing.

Noticing Jadelyn standing by the door, he grinned lazily not bothering to stand up and fix himself, "Going into town?" he asked her.

Jadelyn shook her head, taking a tentative step toward him, "No. I am not sure why I am here." She admitted.

"I can answer that." He replied as he slid off the car, landing softly on the gravel, "You're bored."

Jadelyn took the pack of cigarettes from the counter and pinched one, "It would seem you are the only company that I have at the moment."

Walking over to Lady Jadelyn he handed her the lighter, their fingertips grazing slightly. Lady Jadelyn jumped back at the sudden contact, not enjoying the strange feeling it gave her. A strange tingling sensation in her hands, lighting the cigarette she took a long drag as she studied him. He was a good height, possibly hitting six foot. He had a large torso and strong arms from hard labour, with dark brown hair and green eyes he was attractive, she could not deny it.

"Want to do something then?" he asked.

Jadelyn smiled, "It's highly inappropriate."

"Come on. I'll let you drive." He teased, "You know you want to have some fun."

Lady Jadelyn smiled, how could she refuse such an offer.

"Fine. But we have to go somewhere secluded."

"""""""""""""""""

Currently Caterina was back at the Valentine hospital in her hometown. After the training she decided that she wanted to be closer to home, she wanted to be here for when Robbie returned on leave. She was washing one of the soldiers, a horribly messy job, after just a handful of wipes she had to change the water; it was already thick with dirt and blood. Returning to the solider he hissed when she swiped over the open wound on his shoulder.

"Sorry." She murmured, as she lightly dabbed at the wound, biting her lip to stop herself from wincing at the sight, it was infected, badly. Yellow pus oozing out of it as she pressed down on it, "It has to be done, it is the only way that it may heal."

"I understand." He yelped as she placed the tonic on his shoulder, "Distract me, please. Tell me your name."

"Caterina" she replied, "You may call me Cat."

He smiled slightly before wincing again, "Pretty name. I'm Sam."

Taking the cloth she wringed it out, watching as the dripped black, "You are lucky," she told him, "I have seen worse."

He scoffed slightly, "Lucky is not the word I would use. I am missing half of my leg." He replied bitterly, "Wheelchair bound forever."

Caterina sighed softly as she sat on the small stool beside him and gently placed her hand on his tough scarred one. The other nurses envied Lady Caterina, while she may not have been the best nurse when it came to the more severe injuries, she had such a kind heart that it exuded around the ward, lightening the hearts of all of the men. You were lucky if she was your nurse, she would spend hours, sitting with them if she could. She loved hearing about their lives and ambitions.

"You can still live" she placated, "I will not let you give up on yourself."

"How can I face my family?" He asked her, "I lived on a farm you see. I will not be able to work, what use am I now?"

"Do you have a wife?" Cat asked, trying to find something to make him smile.

"Yes, we've only been together a month before the war broke out." He said, his eyes glistening, "How can she love this?"

Her grip tightened on his hand, "You are alive and that is what matters. She will not care, I know I wouldn't if my husband looked as well as you do." She soothed.

"Who is your husband?" he asked, as he attempted to prop himself up in the bed.

Cat surged forward to assist him, "Major Shapiro, Robbie. Do you know him?"

"No I am sorry." He responded, "Although it is hard to keep up with the amount of men at the front, they are so many of them. But I am sure he is alive, he would not leave someone as kind as you."

Caterina's lip wobbled, "Get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow."

Leaving his bedside she assisted the some of the other men, she rubbed her eyes as she attended to a burn victim. She was exhausted, the night shift was long but it was worth it. She was finally making a difference, which was what she had always wanted. But she still felt empty; she imagined she would feel this way until he was home.

Dawn broke as she trudged up the path towards Blackwater, her coat covering her blood stained nurse's uniformed. She desired a bath, a long soak to calm her tired bones. Rain was softly falling as she finally reached the door of her house. Knocking on it, she waited for one of the servants to answer the door. When there was no reply she banged louder on it.

"Hello!" she screamed, "Someone let me in."

The door finally swung open and she stepped inside, removing her coat she shook it as she complained to the servant, "How many times do I have to bang on the door until someone will answer?! I mean who—"

She stopped speaking immediately, her angry dissolving instantly. Standing before her laughing slightly at her angry nature was Robbie.

"Hi." He replied simply, "I'm home."

:D Hey guys!

First of all I would like to Thank Flamekat for the constant help with this time period! Your little snippets have helped me shape this story so far into something kind of believable! :D

Anyhoo what did you all think?

I am enjoying writing this and i am not sure how many chapters it would be, it could be 10.. or 40.. who knows ;)

AND YAY everyone is still alive!

BTW Robbie will have to return to army! but for the time being his is back in Yorkshire (yay)

Love you all

xoxo