Dear Jon,

I know Mark probably told you, but I've been dismissed from the hospital – I came to Vi's the same day Mark left with the transport. It's so nice to be somewhere where people aren't poking at me all day long! And I can get up and do whatever I need to on my own, without getting into trouble for doing too much. Well…usually I can. It depends on how closely Vi is watching me (Kelly and Sam made her promise to). But the best part is that I don't have to stay in bed all day. Vi's set me up with an area in an old shed where I can putter around and make some repairs on some things that she's had laying around the house. It's a little different being around the other boarders, but I'm managing. A few of them have been very friendly.

Kelly brought me an old music player she found. She figured it would keep me busy for a little while as I repaired it, and then I could use it to listen to some of the music she's been bringing me. Some of what she's brought me to listen to makes me think of you guys. What an amazing collection they've come up with here! Between the books that they've reproduced from copies people have brought with them and the music and cultural files that they have here (again, copies of things people managed to save and bring here with them), I think your father would be pleased. You always told me about how he wanted to preserve what we were losing to Dread. They've done that here. When the war is over and humans can do things other than hide again, everyone will be able to share all of this.

Mark told me that the last time he saw you you looked a little worse for wear – arm in a sling, and walking with a limp. You have to take care of yourself while I'm gone, now. He did say that it had been a major victory, though he wasn't sure of all the details. But I still don't like hearing about you being hurt. And he said that Hawk was the only one not with you that day because of his injuries. He's getting an earful in his letters, too – and that's not counting Vi, who has taken to asking Mark if he saw Hawk or not on his trips as well. I'm sure she's heard about it by now. So…please, be safe. I know you can't promise me that you won't get hurt, but the whole point of you being my reason to come home is that you'll be there, you know.

And speaking of Mark? He and Kelly finally figured things out between them. Kelly tells me he just grabbed her and kissed her one night after he walked her home. And she seems to think that he might have had some encouragement from you. Anything you want to tell me, Captain?

Love you,

Jennifer

L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L

Dear Jennifer,

Don't worry about me. You've spent days on end in a regenerator, had months of physical therapy, and spent two months in a hospital - and you're worried about me having a strained shoulder and a leg wound? We did score a major victory, though…that I can't tell you about in a letter, just in case. But it's a big step towards going on the offensive, instead of just the defensive the way we have been. I've missed you even more as we made our plans. I could've used your solid logic and tactical skills on this. It's not just me who misses you – our team isn't complete. We've all felt it. Even Mentor has made comments about how we're not quite the same without you. He's actually made some suggestions about ways we can make you more comfortable when you get here! See, even he "misses" you.

How is the walk back to the hospital every day? It's not too much for you, is it? As much as I want you to keep improving, I don't want you to go too quickly and have a setback. Mark seemed to think that, if everything went well, you'd have about another month of therapy before they release you to come home. That's less than we've done already – I can do that!

Me? Have something to say to Mark? Well…maybe. I just was thinking about your last few letters, and about how they seem to be dancing around the subject of "them." All I could think about was how I kept putting off talking to you. I kept telling myself that there was plenty of time for us to talk to each other, to be with each other. Last December changed that. I almost didn't get the chance at all. The thought that someone else might experience that…well, I didn't want that to happen. I made sure I went to meet Mark on my own last week, and as I left I thanked him for keeping you company, and for getting our letters back and forth. Because for that short amount of time I thought you were gone, I believed I'd never have a chance to let you know how I felt. I told him that I've learned that none of us ever know how much time we have, especially now, and I'm not going to waste a single second of it. He looked at me long and hard, and shook my hand and thanked me. Then he took off. I thought that maybe, from the look in his eyes when he shook my hand, that he'd understood. I'm glad that he did. So, yes, I might've had a hand in it. What can I say? They're doing what I can't right now – standing by you, supporting you, and making sure you're getting better every day. I had to thank them somehow.

We have to make a run to the Passages to bring them some supplies, so I'll let you rest now. Hopefully, you'll be making these supply runs with us soon!

I love you,

Jon