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RAVE

H e walked in and saw a push-out chair had been moved in. He sat her down on the side of the bed. Pulled the chair apart, kicked off his shoes off. Motioned for her to follow him to the reclining position he had on the chair. She came toward him, and he yanked the blankets off the bed behind her. He settled into the chair with her in his arms, tucking the blanket around her. Eventually he felt her stop shivering and relax. He texted his team to bring some dinner and clothes for Sylvie, so she’d be warmer.

Two hours later she jerked out of a dream, waking Rave underneath her. When she got oriented, she was surprised she had rolled onto her cracked ribs in her sleep, but not wanting to leave the warmth she settled back into him. Rave started shifting, “go to the bathroom and then come back in here,” he ordered, lifting the blankets. “We got time.”

Sylvie slowly followed his direction; she did have to pee. As she stepped out of the bathroom, shadowed by the light in the hallway, she stopped. He was watching her. “What?”

“Probably should get some ice on your eye.”

“Stop bossing me around,” Sylvie retorted. She stepped forward, took the edge of the blankets and started pulling them off Rave, heading toward the bed.

“The hell you say,” Rave answered as he reached up and pulled her toward him.

“Just cause that was the first sleep I had without drugs and you are so warm and smell so good.” Rave smiled a cocky grin at her. “Doesn’t mean you get to boss me around. I’ll sleep on this stupid bed and you can leave.”

“The bed’s not warm.”

“I bet they have heated blankets.”

“I’m already warm. No one else has to get you anything.”

“They aren’t as conceited.” She pouted.

“I smell good?” a playful grin back in place.

“Shut up. That was a moment of weakness.”

“But not a false statement.”

The doctor walked in, thankfully breaking up the direction of the conversation. “Afternoon. Go ahead and have a seat,” he directed Sylvie. He watched her get on the bed. “How’s it going today?” He moved to the far side of the bed to check the stitches and her eye.

“It’s fine,” she answered noncommittally.

“I’ll have the nurses bring you in some ice to see if we can get some swelling to dissipate.” She saw Rave out of the corner of her eye, with a shit eating grin on his face. Motioning to her ribs he said, “let’s check these out.” As she started to pull herself out of the scrub top she was wearing the doctor continued, “I don’t think there is any reason to assume once the bruising heals and the swelling goes down that you’ll have any vision issues.” Rave’s demeanor shifted as he saw the bruising across her torso. The doctor poked and prodded a bit, watching her reactions. “You can cover back up. They seem stable, x-rays didn’t show anything more than the one crack.” Once she managed to get her shirt back on, more difficult with a pull over instead of a button up top he continued, “I don’t think there’s any reason you need to stay here with us. You need time to let those ribs heal and don’t drive with your eye like that but otherwise, you’re good to get out of here. Unless I hear otherwise, we’ll plan on releasing you tomorrow morning. How’s that sound?”

“Fine. Thanks.”

The doctor asked Sylvie, “Have you gotten in touch with Behavioral health?”

“Not yet. I’m not really sure where I’m going after this. I was gonna look into it when I landed wherever that is.” That was the first time Rave realized that they might not be stationed near each other. He shifted back in his seat; he did not like it.

“Ok, well, you might want to get working on that,” the doctor’s gaze slid over to Rave when he shifted back in his seat. Sylvie nodded. “Ok, then. Good Luck, Sylvie. Get some rest tonight. Ice your eye.”

Sylvie laid her head back on the bed, closed her eyes. Trying to put things in order. It was too quiet for Rave who now had a ton of questions, “Wha—” Sylvie raised her hand in his direction, cutting him off. He watched her close back in on herself again, it was lunch all over again. She got out of bed, grabbed a bunch of business cards off the nightstand and started laying them out on the mattress. With her back to him he could not see, could not help; he stood up and came along side the bed. The cards were from the military lawyers, military psychologist, different ranks and positions, “Is this a ‘Welcome to Hawaii’ starter pack?”

“I’m pretty sure this is ‘Welcome to your life is fucked’ pack. I got here with my duffel bag from the ship. They won’t send me back, my exchange isn’t over yet. Who the hell is my Chain of Command? Whose problem is it right now,” she thought aloud. “Did they tell me, and I forgot?”

“This is a joint facility. They send wounded warriors here. There’s gotta be a liaison somewhere.” He tucked her under his shoulder.

“Jeezuz, I don’t want to walk all over this place,” she muttered into his shirt.

“We made it,” Red burst through the doorway.

Sylvie smiled.

“With food,” Tech was next.

Genie came in with a bag. “Heard you could use some of your own stuff,” he set it down on the bed. He exchanged a look with Rave, after seeing the cards.

Flash and Stitch were helping carry food bags. “Did you guys buy the place out?” Sylvie asked looking at the bags of food.

“We eat a lot,” Flash answered back. “Heard you could—” Stitch punched Flash in the arm, shutting him up. He looked at Flash, rubbing his arm. “Damn, man!”

Sylvie turned her attention to the clothes Genie had brought in. “Thanks, Genie.” She grabbed the bag and headed into the bathroom, knowing the guys were not leaving. Going through the bag in the bathroom, Genie had gotten sizes nearly perfect, it was a little weird. Something to discuss with Rave later. But there was clean underwear too! She opened the door, “Can I shower real quick?” The guys had already pulled out food and spread around the room eating. They looked up a little sheepishly and nodded. While she showered, they fell into their easy banter.