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Post by Mush on Oct 8, 2011 13:44:37 GMT -5
Well, she tried. "All right. I'll be back tomorrow, then. Nurse Helen is coming on duty next," she informed him, just in case he was wondering.
"Oh, yeah? Huh. That should be interesting. I'll probably see it on the news, then," he replied, pulling out a piece of grass and fiddling with it.
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 13:47:47 GMT -5
He said her name before he could stop himself. "Kat...Kathryn..." He turned his head to look up at her. His eyes were red-rimmed and wet. "If yer off-duty...can ya sit with me now..?"
She watched him, chewing on her lip. "Well...you could come...if you wanted to. We like it when soldiers come. You guys've got the real story." She leaned back on her elbows, frowning. "All we get is propaganda. Apparently, we're winning." She smirked in disdain.
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Kathryn
Full Member
set me free so i can feel
Posts: 854
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Post by Kathryn on Oct 8, 2011 13:51:01 GMT -5
Kathryn had no misgivings about fraternizing with the soldiers when she was off-duty, so she sat down primly on the edge of his bed. "What's wrong?" She thought she'd start with the obvious question.
"If you don't mind, I, uh...would rather not. I would just like to relax and be with my family. I don't wanna think about bein' a soldier when I'm on leave," he glanced over at her, noticing for the first time how beautiful she was.
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 13:55:16 GMT -5
He gave a bark of a laugh, smirking. He wiped at his eyes, embarrassed. "What ain't wrong, Kat? That'll probably be a shorter list." He looked at her, corners of his mouth turned down. "How long til they send me home?"
She nodded, looked at him, blushing when she caught him staring. She gave him a smile and put her hand over his gently, her fingers bedecked in cheap rings and chipped nail polish. "Well...welcome home." She met his eyes, biting her lip.
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Post by Mush on Oct 8, 2011 14:00:01 GMT -5
Kathryn shrugged before shaking her head slowly. "I don't know. I wish I could tell you." She reached for his hand, sandwiching it between her own and setting it on her lap. Despite her grim and serious attitude while she worked, Kathryn was actually a very compassionate, caring person. She had just learned to turn that off when she needed to.
"Thanks," Teddy replied softly, looking at her hand on his. "It's great to be back. Can't wait to have a real meal."
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 14:06:57 GMT -5
He moved his hand to link his fingers with her, squeezing her hand. "I feel stupid layin' here like this, Kathryn. Gotta have somebody else take care a' me. I can't even take a shower by myself." He frowned, wincing as he shifted to make himself more comfortable. "How the hell can you stand it out here?"
She smiled at him, leaned over and kissed his cheek, then got up, grabbing her guitar case and strapping it to her back. "Come on. I know a place. Best chili dogs in D.C." She offered him her hand, catching his eyes.
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Kathryn
Full Member
set me free so i can feel
Posts: 854
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Post by Kathryn on Oct 8, 2011 14:13:08 GMT -5
"I have work to keep me busy. And when that doesn't work, I read," she told him, reaching over to brush a piece of hair from off his forehead.
Teddy gazed up at her, mouth slightly agape. "How did you know chili dogs are my favorite?" He took her hand, hoisting himself up off the grass, and slung his pack over his shoulder once more.
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 14:18:03 GMT -5
When her hand came up to brush his hair, he turned his head to press a kiss to her wrist. He knew he shouldn't have. But he needed...something. Somebody. Her. He brought his hand up to keep hers there, nuzzling against her palm.
She laughed, giving his hand a squeeze. "You seemed the type, I guess." She smoothed a hand over her gauzy skirt as they walked, smiling up at him every so often. She wasn't really sure what she was doing, but they both seemed like they needed company. It didn't take them long to get to Ben's Chili Bowl. "Here we are." She led him in and to the counter.
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Post by Mush on Oct 8, 2011 14:23:00 GMT -5
Kathryn slowly pulled her hand away, looking at him cautiously. "Private, even though I'm off-duty, I'm still a nurse... I shouldn't..." She couldn't seem to finish her sentence.
Teddy was overwhelmed by the smell of hot dogs and chili, two of his favorite food scents. He set his pack down on the floor before taking off his hat and sitting down on a stool. "Two chili dogs for me, and a coke," he told the man already waiting to take their order.
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 14:26:16 GMT -5
He grabbed her hand back gently, holding it to his chest. His eyes met hers, sad. "I know, Kat...I know, but...please..." He wasn't really sure what he was asking for. "Everybody else is asleep, and Nurse Helen won't say nothin'. She knows I like ya, anyway."
Maggie settled in beside him, guitar case making an interesting sight beside his pack. "Bowl of chili for me, and a cherry coke." She let herself spin around once on the stool, then blushed, smiling up at him.
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Kathryn
Full Member
set me free so i can feel
Posts: 854
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Post by Kathryn on Oct 8, 2011 14:30:09 GMT -5
"What do you even know about me?" she challenged him, a small smirk forming on her lips.
Teddy smiled over at her, chuckling to himself. "So, what is it about this war you dislike so much? If you don't mind my asking, of course..."
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Post by Script on Oct 8, 2011 14:34:14 GMT -5
He smirked back at her. "Well, I know yer gorgeous. And I know yer smart, and efficient as all get out." He let himself kiss her wrist again. "And yer about the bravest girl I've ever known."
She bit her lip, taking a sip from her cherry coke as it was handed to her. "Well...I've lost friends to it. I think everybody has." She frowned. "And I'm not even sure what we're fighting for. It's been years, and it just keeps getting worse." She looked down at her lap, then lifted her head to look at him, giving him a weak smile. "Don't get me started. I'm not very pretty when I get all riled up."
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Post by Mush on Oct 8, 2011 14:38:24 GMT -5
"You can discern all that from me tending to you for no more than an hour a day for the past week?" She looked at him skeptically, raising one eyebrow. She didn't pull her hand back this time, though.
"I find that hard to believe," he said, reaching into his pocket to pay for the food. "No, your money's no good here, soldier. It's on the house," the man said, holding his hands out. Teddy's eyes widened a bit and he glanced over at Maggie. "Oh. Thanks. Thanks a lot."
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Post by Script on Oct 9, 2011 0:37:47 GMT -5
((Ack, I totally thought I responded to this already!))
He smirked. "Sugar, I figured all that out after fifteen minutes." He kissed her hand again. He'd missed real human contact. "Actually, the figurin' out yer gorgeous part took about ten seconds."
Maggie gave him a small smile. She figured the man's gesture didn't extend to the young hippie girl, so she paid for her meal separately. She settled back on her stool, their food arriving, dipping her spoon into her chili and blowing over it lightly to cool it.
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Kathryn
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set me free so i can feel
Posts: 854
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Post by Kathryn on Oct 9, 2011 0:52:44 GMT -5
Kathryn pursed her lips, trying to stave off a blush. "Well, Private, I'm not here to look gorgeous. I'm here to save lives, including yours," she reminded him. Her hand was burning where he'd kissed it, however, and she knew she should leave soon. "Is the pain medication starting to kick in?"
Teddy ate silently, still thinking about the man not making him pay. And the man stopping to shake his hand in front of the memorial. And all the people in the DC airport that clapped for him as he walked by. They didn't get it. He'd done things that shouldn't be rewarded... Or at least that's how he felt.
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