*coughs

the smarmy bit where the romance kicks in... (ratchets eyebrows)..

“Before we go in”, Rowdy said, “I just want to fill you in on what our situation is - but don’t tell Graps unless we have to, and leave it to me.  I think he’s got enough on at the moment.  Darin’s Troop is gone.  All we got out were ten wounded, and the rest were all dead.  Daz and Sarrain were the last two on their feet, and putting in that charge was the only way they could try to keep the Zoms off the wounded.  They’re both up for the Medal for it.   All I’m going to tell Graps is that Daz and Sar are up for the Medal. That’s all he needs to hear right now.”

 

He nodded to Jupiter, who took over,

 

“Make it quick, guys.  You’ve got about five minutes before that chopper is here, and he needs to rest.”

 

They went in, and gathered around their wounded colonel, who smiled a weak smile.

 

“Hi, Graps”, Rowdy began, “just coming to see why you’re taking it so easy while the rest of us have to work.  Don’t talk, Jupes has told us to be quick, so let me do it, OK?  Darin and Sarrain are up for the Medal for going out there, and the troops are proud as punch.  They did a great job, but we couldn’t pull ‘em out alive, you know.”

 

Grappler nodded slightly, and held up a hand…

 

“I was a silly old b*****d to go out there like that.  Cost us Daz and Sar, was it.... sorry!”

 

“You’re wrong, Graps.  Daz and Sarrain put that charge in for you and for their people.  They were the only ones left on their feet, and if the Zoms had  gotten in, the wounded were toast.  By putting in that charge, they drew the Zoms off and gave us the chance to nail their asses good!”

 

Grappler nodded a small nod,

 

“There’s more”, he whispered so low they all crowded in to hear, “when Sarrain and Daz - didn’t know it was Daz, got there, I couldn’t see or move or get up, just had to sit there while they slugged it out.  Felt Daz, must have been Daz I know now, fall across my lower body.  Hurt like hell with that leg and gut.” 

 

He winced for a moment, then went on, tears starting in his eyes,

 

“When I heard….heard the rounds hit Sarrain, it was, you know, I could hear the hits. Awful.  He came down on me, too, and he was still alive….. I could feel his blood running out, and…. and.. he said…he said”….

 

Tears began to run down Grappler’s face, and he struggled and went on,

 

“He said….Don’t worry, Colonel - I will cover you!  And .. he.. he crawled over me until he did just that… I could feel his blood running out..then he … just died.”

 

Rowdy put a hand on his shoulder,

 

“I’ll make sure they give those guys that Medal.  We’d better get going,  Jupiter is giving me a head wave to get out, and I can hear that chopper coming.  Take it easy.  We’ll be all right ‘til you get back, and we’ll all be pulling for you!”

 

Grappler nodded, and the four started to walk out.  Temple stopped, and they all turned to see what was up.  She held up a hand,

 

“Doc - Colonel - could I just have a few seconds?  On my own?”

 

Rowdy gave it a moment’s thought, then nodded and lead the way out, closing the door behind the three.  Temple turned back to Grappler, and went to him.

 

“Graps”, she said, and he turned his head to her.

 

“Temps!  They told me you insisted on going out for me.  You shouldn’t have done that.”

 

“Just doing what you taught us, you know.”

 

Grappler nodded and Temple reached over and took his hand.

 

“Graps, there was something else!  I… just had to come!  I could sort of feel you out there alone and calling me.  Sounds stupid, but that’s it.”

 

Grappler half smiled, gave a little chuckle, then a grimace as pain gave him a gentle reminder, then said,

 

“S’funny… when I was out there, not even sure if I was alive of dead, not knowing if I was dreaming or not, couldn’t see a damned thing… I kept seeing you.. you and that damned dog of yours!”

 

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and went on, holding it,

 

“I dreamt I was lost in the dark, you know, and I just kept calling to you, over and over.  And you came, Temps.. you came for me!”

 

Temple felt a tear pricking her eye, and she felt herself just falling apart from the tension of the last hours.  She was all of 21, and it was too much.  She took Grappler’s hand and kissed it, then gently laid her head on his chest and started to weep quietly.

 

“I had to come for you!  I had to!  I.. just don’t think I can get by… or the others.. without you.  I don’t want to lose you again..  Say you’re coming back.  I realised when you were out there that I just want to be with you - always.  I’ll never leave you, never!  I just can’t do this forever or live without you any more.  I just want this to be all over and just to be happy again.”

 

Grappler stroked her hair gently, moved his other hand across to hold her gently to him, and felt the tears starting in his eyes again, too.

 

“I’ll be back, Temps.  Believe me, I will.  And I’ll never leave you, either, if you want.  Just let’s get this damned war over and get home, then we’ll see, OK?  You be strong.  I’m sure Brad and Georgette will be dropping in and I’ll get them to pull the Legion out.  We’ve done our share for a while.”

 

Jupiter opened the door, and looked at the young Captain resting her head on the older colonel’s battered chest, and quietly closed the door again, turning to Rowdy and Jess standing with huge question marks over their heads.

 

“I think we’ll just leave them for a couple of minutes.  That chopper is just setting down, so give them that.”

 

*     *     *