WWII: The Legacy of the Screaming Eagles: R.I.P.

Jason took her hand in his good one and slowly stood up but fell into her. both of his legs were hurting and it was to the point it hurt him to stand.

"Need help getting back?" Isaiah offered.

Jason nodded. "yeah i think i will. i'm just glad this isn't actual combat. id be swiss cheese right now if it was" he said chuckling at his grim humor. He was leaning most of his weight on isaiah to keep from falling.

Thankfully, Isaiah was able to carry more than her own body weight. She got him all the way back to the camp and to the first-aid officer.

this was one of those moments when the entire squad realized how gratefull they would be for jason's training when they reached combat. seeing isaiah carrying jason reminded them of that. none of them could have carried him that far before his training. Jason smiled a bit at isaiah when he was being taken away. "give them the rest of the day off" he said referring to his squad. "then if you want you can come check on me" he said. he wouldn't order her to come back, but if she wanted to of course he wouldn't object.

"Yes, Sergent." She said dutifully, her face sort of blank and strange, as if lost in a thought or dream and not quite able to return.

Jason was soon wheeled inside. while she was gone his hand got stitched up and wraped up in clean bandages. his legs were also wrapped up in a few places. he would be walking in a day or two.

After Isaiah did as she was told, she tentatively came back in, not sure if he would want her hovering over him right now. A certain sorrow seemed to drift in with her that was impossible to place. Either way, it was difficult to keep a smile in her presence right now.

Jason smiled when he saw her. "i was hoping you'd come back. i really don't like being alone in this place" he said. "i don't want them to try and get rid of me now" he said laughing. he was trying to lighten the sorrow that seemed to hang over her. he was going to be alright.

She pulled a letter out of her pocket, "It's from Isadora." She said quietly, "Isaiah is dead."

Jason's smile was gone in an instant. "oh... i realy am sorry" he said quietly. he didn't know what to say. he was an only child. he sat up more in his bed. "come here" he said patting the spot next to him. he would help as best as he could but he couldn't walk to her right now.

Isaiah, now Bella more than ever, did as she was told, sitting next to him and letting her head fall on his shoulder. "He was my best friend."

Jason gently wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to help comfort her. "i know he was' he said softly as he kept her close. he wouldn't let go of her. he knew she needed a shoulder to cry on and someone to consol her.

Bella let a tear roll down her cheek. Her lips were opened slightly in an expression of disbelief, as if she was still saying, "He's not dead, he's just sleeping. He'll wake up in the morning and everything will be fine again."

Jason gently pulled her onto his lap and held her close against his chest. he knew what she was going through. he had seen it often enough. he just held her close and gently wiped away her tear. he would let her cry into him if she wanted to. "it's okay to cry bella." he said softly.

Bella nodded slowly, as if the tear that had been on her cheek and thrown out her boyish appearance and replaced it with a young girl, alone and scared, whose only friend had just been taken from her.

Jason kept holding her close on her lap. "i know there is nothing i could say or do to make this any less painful, but i want you to know that i'll watch out for you from now on" he said softly. he was trying to think up something to cheer her up.

Bella nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. She looked as if she was going to pass out with fatigue at any moment, but she was fighting it. A loosing battle, to be certain, but it was giving her a purpose, even if it was only for the moment, "Thank you." She whispered, "For everything."

Jason held her close still. "you're welcome bella" he said kindly as he kept his arms around her. if she fell asleep on him he wouldn't mind it. the medics were going to be busy for awhile with a guy that shot himself in the side somehow. they had time to sleep for a bit.

Sure enough, Bella was asleep before he could finish speaking. She had lost this battle, but be assured that if it involved guns, she would have won, hands down.

Jason held her close and lay back as she slept. he lightly played with her hair and smiled softly down at her as she slept on him. he didn't mind her sleeping. he wasn't much tired but he was glad to have her company, even if she was asleep.

As the sun rose over the horizon, the first golden rays of sunlight woke Bella gently. She was still resting her head on Jason's shoulder, her eyes only half-open.

Jason slowly opened his eyes too. the first thing he noticed was a very wonderful smell in his nostrils. he blinked a few times before realizing what he smelled was bella's hair. he smiled to hmself and stil held her close like the night before. "good morning beautiful" he said softly to her.

Bella looked up, blushing softly, "Good morning to you as well." Her lips were opened slightly, still to tired to close them all the way. Hr breath was soft and gentle, smelling faintly of vanilla.

Jason smiled softly down at her. when he caught sight of how her lips were opened he wanted so much to kiss them. "did you sleep well?" he asked moving a little closer to her while he debated whether or not to actually kiss her.