The First Time
He Waited
His boots were the first in her line of sight. Spread, shoulder-length apart, toes pointed upward and out.
Ignoring the murmurs of passing cadets, she stepped off the pavement and closer towards the tall oak.
His long legs, sprawled across the neatly trimmed lawn, led up to his slumped torso. His head lolled to the side against the rough bark, falling closely to his shoulder so only the top of his fair hair was turned to her.
She stopped just before him, hesitated, then dropped to a knee to view his drooping face.
Eyes closed, pink lips slightly parted, a moist sheen along his hairline, cheeks, and nose, and the faintest hint of a blooming bruise underneath the left side of his chin. He must have arrived right after his scheduled combat training.
She exhaled sharply.
That was nearly forty-five minutes ago. The time he'd told her he'd be there.
She was now going to have to punch Hennigan for holding her up after Tactical Analysis. Sure the big guy hadn't been kidding when he confided his serious need for help in the class, but she'd made it more than clear she'd had an engagement to get to.
And here he was.
"You okay?" She questioned, her voice low as if she didn't really want to rouse the man whom she couldn't help but compare to an exhausted young boy.
His chest rose as he breathed in, life momentarily returned to his form as his limbs stretched. But, then he exhaled, his body slumped once more while his eyes remained shut.
"'m waiting on you." He mumbled.
A corner of her mouth lifted.
She reached forward and pat one of his outstretched legs emphatically.
"Come on, Jim. Waiting on you now."
A/N: Short and sweet. For something I've been editing and rewriting since February. :) What do you think?