She remembered Flea.
Mel woke up from her daydream. Her coffee was already cold. Ann had gone. She got up, checked Red`s monitors again. Read the latest bloodgas analysis. He was making well. Mel asked a passing nurse "Do you have any others from his team here? I´m searching for a guy named Jason Mabry" "Yes, yes. He is my patient. Over there, in bay twelve." She made her way to him. Flea was already awake. He smiled at her.
Mel took his hand. "How things goin' for ya, Soldier?" -"I got really fucked up this afternoon. "- "Yeah you did."- "Is my left leg still there? They say so, but I don't believe them."
The nurse standing next to him rolled her eyes and went away. Mel supressed a laugh and looked underneath the blanket. His leg was covered with smaller and larger wounds. One was filled with gaze and only sewed loose. But it was warm.
"You will go with the guys again, although it might take some time of rehab" she said. "Did all made it?" Sorrow was in his face. " Dunno.. Met Red and Lake- they`re ok" she lied. But she meant it would be better now, not to tell him that one of his friends wasn´t in the best condition.
After staying a while, Mel decided to search Lake and tell him that she found Flea and that he´s well.
She walked thru the entry hall.. But there were only a few of the hospital staff cleaning up the mess of the night. She asked a LT where Lake and the others might be and if all made it here. He told her that he doesn't know exactly but he thinks that the man with the Mohawk followed his teammates. Those will stay here for a few days on Intermediate Care, but they weren`t as seriously wounded as Red or Flea. He showed her the way. "Ma'am",he held her. "Before you go; Dr. Holtmann is here too. She wanted me to tell you she`s outside for a moment" "Oh, that`s great. Thank you!" Quickly she went thru the big entry door outside.
Mel saw her crouched and leaning her back on a wall. "Katie!" she jumped over to her. "Mel!" Both were happy to see each other. " You look as shit, as I feel." Katie noticed in German. Mel confirmed with a big grin. They talked about what they seen and done last night. Katie was still sad, because her patient hadn´t as much luck as Mel´s. Mel looked still worried, too. Her best friend of course noticed that. Katie stared at her. Mel knew there was no way to hide her sorrow any longer. "It´s...Red. My patient is Red." Katie got pale, her mouth open. Her thoughts ran thru her head. "Damn Shit." They cursed often in English. "All will be good somehow." said Mel. "Lakes`s also here" she mentioned incidental. Unbelieving, Katie stared at her. Mel calmed her and ensured her that he was ok.
They had to ask other nurses and doctors, before they got them. Silk, Doc and Slo were lying in bed. They had dressings on several wounds. But they seemed to be ok . Lake sat on a chair, his legs up on a small table, staring out of the window. He said "People die in beds. I don't wanna lie there if I don't have to!" "Soldier! Behave yourself! Take your damn boot off that fuckin' table" Katie said loud. Lake turned around, jumped up his chair. He didn´t care that it tipped over. Passionate Lake hugged her. Lifted her up to his face and kissed her. Recently he felt his pains again. So he had to set her down. He wasn't able to say a thing. He just wanted to look into her shiny blue eyes. She did too. Lake caressed her cheek and her long blonde hair. After a moment of staring, they pressed tightly to each other, still saying not a word.
"What about Red and Flea?" Silk asked first. "Flea is ok." Mel reported "He`s awake and stabile. He don't trust the nurses!" Mel had to lough. "And Red?" Lake wanted to know. "Stabile, too. We´ll see if he wakes up." "If?" asked Slo . "Yes. IF he wakes up. He had lost plenty of blood and had three cardiac arrests. I´ll go to him right away and take a try." "You´ll do it. And if he don't wakes up, kick his fuckin' ass!" Silk tried to encourage her. "I will", she sobbed. "See ya! - By the way: I didn`t hear from Zee, do ya?" The three guys shook their heads.
Katie left Lake`s hug. She took the tipped over chair and sat on it. She lowered her head before she began to speak: "Zee…" Katie paused to take a deep breath. "I lost him last nite." The boys and Mel stared at her. "At first I didn´t knew it was him" she began to cry quietly. "He came in without a pulse… He... He was so messed up... He wasn´t recognizable... I never thought you guys could be here. I…I failed…." Lake came over to her to comfort her. "No, you did not! Do you hear me, Honey? Damn, shit happens here. It´s a fucking war! It´s ok…." He was shocked, but he had seen his injuries, too. Mel also tried to calm her. She knew how hard it was, to lose a patient. "Damn! What a fuck!" Doc whispered. Before he got injured by the same explosion that hit Red, he was busy to supply Zee`s wounds. The others said nothing. They were like frozen.