WOUNDED

1

The hot sun scorched the desert of Nas'am. Soldiers marched and scouted the air base with rifles in hand. Medics kept patients hydrated and alive. The war had grown increasingly tougher in the past few years and now civilians were even being targeted. There were too many lives to save. Too many people depending on us.

We had been deployed here for nearly two months now. Major attacks occurred often just east of the city. It was probably the most dangerous city on Earth. Now we were a mere five minutes away from it.

Sweat beaded on my forehead and above my lips. One of the hardest parts about staying alive was staying hydrated. There was barely any water to spare.

My blue cotton scrubs were dirt ridden and slightly bloody. I of course wanted to change but there were not enough resources. So due to a lack of resources I wore my blue scrub top, black jeans which I had arrived in and hadn't been washed for nearly 5 days and my favourite vans, which were now also covered in dirt and blood. Don't wear your favourite shoes in a battlefield.

Also don't wear jeans. They attract heat way too much heat.

But hey at least you can't see the dirt on them as much.

I perched myself atop of a storage container and opened the cap to my water bottle. I dusted the rim off with my hand before putting it to my mouth. I took a long gulp which I had been awaiting all day. I can't drink in surgery it's too unhygienic plus there's not really much time.

The airbase was very lonely today. A lot of soldiers had returned to the carrier and a few remained out on patrol. Some of course lost their lives. It was a sad place, no denying it. It wasn't constant action or running from explosions it was more like minding your own business until a truck of shot up soldiers shows up and you wheel them off the surgery.

It was disastrous really.

I scanned around me hoping to find at least one familiar face I could talk to. Soldiers sat around a table playing cards and laughing whilst most of the others guarded the area. The soldiers and medics rarely spoke. We sort of had our own groups. Kinda like high school.

God I hated high school.

It's not that us medics didn't like the soldiers, they were just loud and got a bit aggressive sometimes. So we more or less stuck to ourselves.

I took another sip of water. My eyes squinted at the bright rays of sun being shone across the base. As much as I hated being constantly at sea, I had to admit, I missed the carrier.

"You gonna share?" I turned my head around in the direction of an all too familiar voice. It was Nick. And his infamous smile.

"Well it's how we survive out here." I let out a sheepish smirk and chucked him the bottle of water. I perched myself at the edge of the container and prepared to jump off.

"No stay on." He raised a hand shook his head before taking a gulp of water.

"Your staying?" I smiled and moved back onto the container.

"Well I finished my patients and I'd rather keep you company than gamble with them." He let out a friendly smile and subtly pointed to the soldier playing cards.

"You're already gambling." I pointed out.

"How so?"

"You're here. We all are. We are all gambling our lives away. We are just as likely to get shot as the next guy."

He remained silent for a while and thought. "Touché." He smiled and threw me the water bottle before clambering onto the container.

"Smooth." I acknowledged his struggle to climb onto the container.

"Shut up." He chuckled and shook his head.

We stayed silent for a while. We didn't need to talk. We just sat on top of the containers and enjoyed each others company. We both knew how it was, sometimes we just didn't need to talk, we needed to think.

That was the good thing about nick. Although he was mainly a huge idiot, he was the same as I was. Talking out feelings didn't always have to be a necessary solution. Sometimes not talking was the best way about it.

I let out a sigh. "I miss music."

"Same kid, same. I miss Spotify and YouTube and Xbox and beef jerky."

"Ha. I miss it all. My family, my friends." A chill went through my body at the thought of my old life.

"I think everyone does." He nodded sadly. "Did you ever find out what happened to your family or friends."

"Yeah," I let out another disgruntled sigh, "mom and dad were killed in the Seattle explosions and my friends, well, I lost them like I lost everything else." I was not the person I used to be. I was not happy all the time. I did not wake up and dance and sing around the kitchen while making pancakes for my family. I didn't care about what I looked like. I didn't care about boys or movies. I cared about helping other people. So many people had died right in front of my eyes. When I was offered the chance to be a medic I jumped at it.

"You haven't lost me." He let out a strong grin and ruffled my long brown hair.

"You corny little shit." I laughed whilst playfully punching his arm.

"Oh my god! Did the Sierra Johnson just swear!"

"Shut up!" I said jokingly.

It felt fun to joke again.

I tied my hair into a mid ponytail. I sort of missed styling it. Now it had just become normal for me to let's bits hang in front of my face. Again, no one cared what they looked like anymore.

"Does it ever scare you? Y'know, war?" He fiddled with his fingers. I speculated my answer to his quotation.

"I used to. Before I saw it all. It's not just one side that could wipe us out. We are all capable of doing horrible things and I've seen it first hand."

"Yeah." He nodded in agreement. "Why are you always right?" He lightly chuckled.

"I'm not, your just always wrong." I teased gently.

"One day I'll prove you wrong Johnson. One day." He smirked.

"Go for it Ashford."

He ran his fingers through his dusty brown hair. Pieces of hair stuck out from in between his fingers causing a nice ruffles effect. His jawline was perfectly chiseled and his hazel eyes glistened against the sun rays. There was no doubt about it. Nick was very attractive but I was clear to myself not to develop feelings for him. Because if something happened, I'd be brought down. And I have to watch my six when no one else can.

"When are we due to head home?" I shuffled.

"That's what I came to tell you." He shrugged. "I'm heading back tonight. They have a few extra seats in the Falcon if you wanna come." He trailed off his words and stared out to the base.

"Yeah thanks man. I could do with getting back for a bit. As much as I want to be here and help I just-"

"Sierra you don't have to justify yourself. It's okay to want to take care of yourself. In fact it's best." He smiled.

"When did you get so wise?" I laughed.

"Oh, I've always been this wise." He wiggled his brows and jumped down from the container, landing smoothly on both feet. "Right, well I'm going to take a shower, you are very welcome to join me Johnson." He smirked.

"I'm okay here. I wouldn't be caught dead in a shower with you." I took a gulp of my water and Nick shot me a playful glare.

"I'll come find you after. Pack your things S." He smirked and with that he was gone and I was left alone, staring out onto the runway of the airbase.

Time to head home.