dear dad . . .

“I do admire your persistence,” her slim finger poked at his chin, lifting his face a little, making sure he looks back at her eyes and not any other body parts. “We can have one dance, here, and we can talk–” she raised her hand before he could sneak in another clever remark. “–talk about nice things and not filthy tents, filthy habits or anything filthy your mind can conjure up…” She smiled and wondered if that would make the captain mute, at least for the duration of their dance.

The nurse blinked once, twice, before realizing what he was suggesting. “Really?” she smiled sweetly at him, stopped walking and stood in place. Millie released herself from his grip but remained close. “I’m afraid you doctors make a habit of disorganizing our supply every time you get yourself into that tent…” jokingly, she caressed his cheek before squeezing it a little to hard. “Perhaps you get distracted when you’re there. We should put on a sign banning you from entering….”  She raised her dark brow at him before leaning in a little and whispering; “Good luck trying that on another nurse.” 

     right.  med-bay. that’s where he was at.  tim silently had to wonder how strong the stuff he’d been given by this captain pierce truly was,  if it already made him forget being shot after just one glass.  the bigger part of him didn’t really care;  at least his arm felt less like someone was stabbing it with a hot poker.  “ henry obviously don’t know a good thing if he sees it,  “ he waved off hawkeye’s words with a vague hand movement,  some of the liquor sloshing over the side of the glass with the force of it.  “ i’m actin’ sergeant gutterson,  but y’ already knew that ‘m guessin’?  most folk call me guts.  it’s a’ right.  been better.  been worse.  felt like i got shot, ‘n no one really likes that, do they?  if you’re int’ gun play perhaps, but—  “  

    “ y’ know,  my kentucky fried ass would say it’s a matter a’ national pride i go for th’ bourbon every damn time,  “ and he wasn’t much of a gin drinker to begin with,  “ but i ain’t gonna say no to anythin’ homemade either.  “  even if it wasn’t actually from his home soil.  honoring their one moment of silence with another healthy swig of his drink,  tim indulgently smacked his lips together,  grin already a little looser at the edges.  “ what did y’ say your name was again? “

         ‘   shout for me next time your alone ; i’ve been known to be good at keeping nurses company .   ‘     pierce held out his hand for her to take , ignoring the nudge from his fellow captain as he instead guided her towards an open area near the edge of the officers club .     ‘   and if your place is busy , we could always head out to the supply tent and do a thorough check of our inventory .   ‘

    a lop-sided smile forms.   ❝  never heard of it.  ❞  sledge eyes the man across from him, a quiet laugh huffing in his chest.  ❝  well, by the looks of it you’ll be losin’ out to every marine in this car. you should’a stopped in california when you had the chance.  ❞

   ❝   oh,  well  i  won’t    -     PRAISE   you  for  it  if  that  makes  you   uncomfortable   or  anything.   ❞  

     he chews on the stale piece of bread,  arguably the only thing he’s eaten that actually tastes decent in months. at least there ain’t no maggots crawling through it. it only figures they get stuck eating in the same dining car as the fellas from the army now that it’s all said and done. sledge might as well make conversation, it’s gonna be a hell of a long ride before they get to alabama.  ❝ so, where’re you from? ❞ 

       “ Well,  if that ain’t th’ spirit, brother, “  he raises his own in salute before knocking it back,  the burn of the whiskey trailing a pleasantly warm path down his tongue and throat.  “  Shit,  been far too long since I had any of th’ good stuff.  Where did you even manage to scrounge it from? “