Jessie hadn't gone far when she heard the shot echoing through the woods. She stopped in her tracks, sweat and tears trickling down her face. She waited for another one, but it never came. She waited for yelling and screaming, but that never came, either.

Nothing.

Only silence.

Wiping her dripping nose with her sleeve, she realized she still clutched the gun belt in her hand. She looked stupidly at it.

Doggedly, she turned. They'll leave the body. I can . . .

She didn't want to think about what she would do when she found him. She just knew she couldn't leave him there. On the side of the road.

Dead.

Dear God!

Quietly, trying to control the shaking that threatened to overcome her, she crept back the way she had come, hiding in a clump of bushes on the edge of the thicket, the gun belt gripped tightly in both hands.

She almost sobbed aloud when she saw that he was alive and had to bite her lip until she tasted blood to keep quiet. The Chinese were rummaging through the jeep. One even rooted around underneath the hood.

She looked down at the pistol in her lap. She knew she couldn't hit anything from this distance. Removing it from the holster, she tucked it in the back of her pants behind her jacket, not wanting it in her hands any longer.

When the soldier with the rifle took aim at Charles, she did gasp aloud, absolutely forgetting to be quiet.

*************************************

I'm going to die in this godforsaken place.

Charles met the gaze of the Chinese soldier.

I hope I don't suffer. I hope my family misses me. I hope she gets back to camp. I hope she finds someone who makes her happy. I hope . . .

Rustling from the woods startled them all, and the gunman swung away from him. He leaned heavily against the jeep, trying to remember to breathe.

Relief was short-lived once he saw who it was.

Jessie ran, arms pumping and head down. She collapsed in front of Charles, who was so shocked he couldn't speak.

"Stop it! Just stop it right now!" she yelled, facing the enemy from her position on the ground.

Even the Chinese looked too shocked to do anything.

"Jess . . ."

Without turning around, she reached behind her to shush him. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her back where the handle of the pistol rested as she ranted.

"How dare all of you! You don't kill a defenseless man on the side of the road. Geez! He's never done anything to you!"

She sobbed aloud, trying to catch her breath, knowing they couldn't understand a word she was saying. She could feel Charles remove the gun carefully, his hand still pressed onto her back to make it appear he was trying to calm her. The Chinese didn't look like they realized, so intent were they on the crazy American woman.

Jessie continued her rant, although she didn't have to try to hard to pretend to be scared.

"He's not supposed to die here! He's supposed to go home to his family and listen to symphonies and be the best surgeon at Boston! Then, he'll get married and have babies and grow old and travel the world. Don't you dare take that from him!" She knew she was babbling, but didn't care. Anything to distract the Chinese.

Especially the one with the rifle.

And, she was waiting for a sign from Charles that he was going to use that damn pistol!

By now, the soldiers had regained their composure at her interruption. Resolutely, the gunman shrugged, raising the rifle.

Jessie immediately stopped talking, eyes wide.

OK, maybe Charles didn't get the point. . .

With his injured arm, Charles grabbed the back of Jessie's jacket, yanking her out of the way. She fell against the side of the jeep, bracing herself for gunfire. With his other arm, he leveled the pistol at the gunman and pulled the trigger.

Before the surprised soldier could notice the stain spreading on his chest, the other two yelped, jumping back in surprise. They both lunged for the rifle as the wounded man fell to the ground.

But, Jessie was faster. She leapt from Charles's side and grabbed the rifle, training it on the other two. "Get down! Now!"

Stunned, they put their hands behind their heads and got down on their knees as their fallen counterpart gasped for breath.

Jessie held the barrel steady as she peered at them through the sight.

C'mon, Callahan, just pull the damned trigger. Pretend they're deer. That's right, they're deer. You've shot plenty of game. Just shoot and get it over with.

She didn't even hear the platoon of British soldiers come up behind her, so intent was she on the crosshairs.

"Lieutenant?" the platoon leader said, approaching her cautiously. The remaining men held back.

Charles saw her finger tighten on the trigger. He knew he had to stop her before she did something she regretted. He sat the pistol aside, palms sweaty.

"Jessamyn."

No response. She didn't even act like she heard him.

"Jessamyn, look at me."

****************************

She blinked. Her father called her by her given name. So did Mattie, at least when she was mad.

Home.

And Charles. He always used it, preferring it to the shortened version. He had told her that her name was too beautiful to abbreviate.

She let the barrel of the gun drop, much to the relief of the Chinese. And the British.

She turned around. His eyes searched hers, but he remained silent, paltry words of comfort dying in his throat at the sheer panic on her face.

One of the British soldiers reached for her rifle. Jessie jumped at his touch. Dumbstruck, she finally noticed the others standing around, warily eyeing her. Willingly, she gave up the piece.

Once it was gone, all sense of bravery vanished. She sank to the ground, giving into the sobs that had threatened. The British soldiers looked at each other, wondering what to do with the weeping American woman.

Charles struggled to rise, but couldn't. Cursing his back, he motioned towards her. "C'mere, baby, it's alright."

Blinded by tears, Jessie practically crawled the short distance between them. When he wrapped his good arm around her, she sobbed even harder, burying her face in his shoulder.

"I . . . th-thought . . . he . . . I was . . . .g-goin' to . . . shoot . . ." she sputtered helplessly.

"Shh. You're just fine. You're safe now." He pressed his lips to her temple and hair, anything to soothe her.

A medic moved towards him, but he waved him away, motioning towards the dead Chinese soldier. The man he had killed . . . Charles turned away from the sight, burying his face in her hair as she sobbed, letting his tears mingle with hers.

*******************************

The British had them taken to the 8055th because of its close proximity. They were both quiet throughout the bus ride to the unit, Jessie refusing to let the medics onboard touch him. She bandaged his arm herself, grateful for the distraction. For the remainder of the ride, they practically clung to each other, exhausted, as the medical personnel onboard watched curiously.

Once at the 8055th, Jessie was reluctantly led to the mess tent while the staff tended to Charles in post-op. She looked so forlorn that he resisted his first reaction to kiss her again before she left. Instead, he squeezed her hand as she was led away.

"Boy, you two sure had everyone upset around here," the doctor said as he cleaned Charles's wound. "I think every patrol within a 50-miles radius was informed you were MIA."

Charles watched him carefully, making sure he made no mistakes. I wish the guy would shut up and do his job.

The doctor gestured towards the door. "You must have had some experience out there. The British soldiers you came in with said she had the three Chinese guys pinned down with their own rifle." He shook his head in amazement as he cleaned out the wound, making Charles grit his teeth, although he was loaded with pain killers. "I bet you two put up some fight."

He looked at Charles, waiting for a reply, but Charles just nodded his head. The doctor shrugged and continued his work, thankfully falling silent.

His wound was not serious, and the doctor declared he could return to surgery in a week, maybe less, good as new.

Jessie cautiously walked in as the doctor was leaving, a tray from the mess tent in her hands. She laid the tray aside and helped him put on his jacket over his bandaged arm. Carefully, he sat back down on the examining table. Jessie settled next to him, placing the tray in her lap.

"What did he say?"

"You mean, what didn't he say."

He earned a small smile on Jessie's wan face. "Talker, huh?"

Charles shook his head wearily, taking the tray from her. "I'll be fine. Nothing major is injured. And, apparently, our escapades into Korea have reached epic proportions. No telling what Colonel Potter has heard." He dug into the food, glad for anything to eat after the long day and night they had. "Good to know the 8055 eats no better than we do."

Jessie kept looking at her hands.

"Did you eat?"

She nodded. "How's your back?"

"Better. Painkillers helped."

They sat in silence while he ate, Charles growing concerned as he watched her listlessly study her hands. When he was finished, he laid the tray aside.

"Tired?"

Jessie nodded. "Yeah, a little."

He gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes.

"OK. A lot."

He reached out his arm, and she gladly leaned into his chest tiredly. He held her tightly, wondering how he could feel such elation at having her so close after what they had been through.

The pain medication and lack of adrenaline was taking its toll, as well as the feel of her warm body on his, and his eyes grew heavy.

Jessie broke the comfortable silence. "You know, the aid station feels like such a long time ago, doesn't it?"

"Yes. Yes, it does."

"Do you still have the cap?"

"Huh?" he said, confused.

"You know, the one you brought with you. With the . . ." She didn't finish. Talking about bullets made her think of the three Chinese soldiers.

Don't go there.

Charles reluctantly let go of Jessie long enough to rummage in his pocket and extract the cap. Jessie took it from him and studied it for a moment. She leaned over and placed it on the head of a dummy skeleton in the corner before settling in his arms again.

"Was that necessary?" Charles asked, his mind a little foggy.

"I just don't think you'll need it anymore."

"Really?"

"Really. You faced your fears. And won."

He took a sharp breath, remembering the surprised look on the Chinese soldier's face. The one he had killed. He buried his face in Jessie's hair, breathing deeply.

She could feel him trying to compose himself. "Charles?"

"Mmm?"

"You did the right thing."

"I killed him."

"It was either him or us."

He held her tighter.

Her soft voice was so muffled, he had to strain to hear. "I almost shot two defenseless men. I was trying to convince myself they were animals."

"You wouldn't have done it."

"You don't think so?"

"No."

"Because you stopped me."

"You still wouldn't have done it. You're not like them."

"They were going to kill you, Charles. I wanted them to suffer." Jessie was surprised by the venom in her voice. "When I heard that gunshot, I thought you were dead. I was coming back to get. . ." She could feel the panic rising again and clenched her fists, trying to fight it.

"I wish I were as brave as you."

"Me? Brave? I was a sobbing, sniffling idiot back there!"

"If you ever tell Hawkeye this, I'll deny it profusely. But if it's one thing he's taught me, it's that being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. You do what needs to be done. Like you did when you stepped between O'Reilly and that crazy woman. Or back there on the side of the road."

He leaned away from her until he could see her, placing his finger lightly underneath her chin, lifting her face to meet his. "In fact, you're the bravest person I know."

As she held her breath, he traced her jaw with the tip of his finger, a soft look in his eyes.

Her stomach grew tense.

He's going to kiss me again.

Strange. I think I want him to.

"Boy, am I glad to see you! Hey, Colonel, they're in here!" Klinger burst through the double doors, oblivious to what he interrupted, followed by Col. Potter.

Relieved at the diversion, Jessie jumped from the table into Klinger's arms. He swung her around the room as she laughed.

"Klinger! You certainly are a sight for sore eyes! But, I'm going to puke if you don't stop spinning me around!"

Klinger put her down, but not before he kissed her noisily on both cheeks. "You're beautiful, just beautiful!"

"You're not so bad yourself!" Jessie said, trying to catch her breath. She spotted Col. Potter inspecting Charles's arm. The colonel stuck his finger in her face.

"Don't say a word! I'm trying not to flog you both for running off! Nearly drove me to drink with all your running around!"

Jessie knew they were in a heap of trouble. She didn't dare look at Charles, so she studied her filthy boots.

"Colonel?"

Col. Potter turned towards Charles. "Wait your turn, Major! I'm not through lamblasting the Lieutenant, yet!"

Charles cleared his throat. "It's good to see you, too."

A large smile erupted across Col. Potter's face. "You, too, Winchester." He gruffly reached for Jessie and gave her a quick hug. "Now, let's get the two of you home where you belong. And what's all this about Jessie wrestling with a Chinese platoon?"

**************************************

Col. Potter leaned back in his chair, which groaned and creaked under the extra stress. He whistled through his teeth. "Lieutenant, it sounds like to me you had one helluva past 24 hours. Whatta you say, Corporal?"

"Yeah, it's definitely one to tell your grandkids about." Klinger was rapidly writing, trying to keep up with Jessie's version of what had happened from the aid station to the 8055. Charles was absent, due to the fact he had fallen asleep on the ride back to camp. She and Klinger had hauled him straight to the Swamp when they returned, ignoring concerned looks from his bunkmates.

Jessie rubbed her weary eyes. "I could have lived without it."

Col. Potter watched her closely. "I know it seems like ages ago, but did you ever figure out what was eating Winchester in the first place?"

Jessie blew her hair out of her face, choosing her words carefully. "The same thing that bugs us all. Death, dying, you name it." She paused, not wanting to give up a confidence. "He just . . .he's not able to express his emotions like the rest of us." She shrugged. "But, you already knew that."

Col. Potter seemed satisfied with her answer. He straightened up in his chair. "That'll be all. Get some sleep. You sure look like you can use it. Oh, before I forget?"

"Yes, sir?"

His kind eyes watched her carefully. "Sidney's here. He said he's always willing to talk."

"Charles seemed like he'd be alright."

"What about you?"

"Me, sir?"

"You've had a rough few weeks lately. You alright?"

"I . . . guess so."

Seemingly satisfied, Col. Potter returned to his chair.

Klinger watched the swinging doors until they stopped. "I don't know what in the world Radar was thinking letting her go. Any man worth their salt would have fought to keep her."

The Colonel reached inside his drawer and pulled out a new cigar. "You got that right. I just wonder what Winchester's thinking."

"You saw them, too? On the way back to camp?"

"They were a might bit clingy, weren't they?"

Klinger shrugged. "They'd been through a lot."

"I don't know, Klinger. I just don't know."

"You do know she was lying about being OK, don't you?"

Colonel Potter studied the swinging doors for a moment. "Didn't take Radar to figure that one out."

******************************

Hawkeye and B.J. were waiting in her tent. Wearily, she flopped on the cot, not even feeling like arguing with their presence.

Hawkeye handed her a drink, which she gratefully took and sipped.

"What happened?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.

She recounted the story. When she got to the part where the Chinese arrived, she started shaking. She set the glass down with a thunk and clasped her hands together, hoping they didn't notice.

"I didn't even really have a plan. It just . . . just struck me as totally unfair that he had to . . ." Resolutely, she grabbed the glass again and gulped its contents down, composing herself. "I actually went back for . . . for his body. I thought he was . . . dead when I heard the shot." I will not cry, I will not cry. . .

B.J. and Hawkeye looked at each other. "Go on."

In as monotone of a voice as she could manage, Jessie finished the story, only wavering when she started telling them about wanting to kill the remaining two soldiers.

"Charles told me that I wouldn't have done it. But, guys, I don't know! If he weren't there to stop me, I really do think I would have shot them in cold blood. I guess that makes me . . .makes me just like them. Doesn't it?"

Hawkeye put his hand on her shoulder. "You do realize if Charles wasn't there, you wouldn't have come back to help him. You'd have been long gone by then. You were just reacting to someone threatening someone you . . ."

B.J. glanced at Hawkeye, a warning look in his eyes.

"A friend," he finished lamely.

Jessie didn't notice the exchange. She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. "It's so different from when I . . . when Yung Lee . . . Then, I knew exactly what I was doing. This time, I couldn't think or reason. All I knew was that Charles was dead or hurt, and I had to do something. Anything!"

B.J. crossed his arms. "I hope you're on my side when it comes down to it. I could use the back-up."

"I've had it with heroics! I've never done so many stupid things in my life!" She yawned. "How is he? Charles, I mean?"

"He was sawing logs when we left. Between him and Sidney, it's kinda hard to sleep. That's why we came to see you. Couldn't wait 'til morning to get the whole poop."

"Thanks, guys, for the drink. I'm going to take a shower, maybe. . ." She yawned. "I think I'll get some sleep."

"Sweet dreams," Hawkeye called as they sauntered out the door. But, Jessie didn't even hear, she was already curled up on the bed, dirty clothes and all.

******************************

Only 17 chappies to go!