You quickly walk away so that Helena won't see you looking at him. Your heart still hurts for Nick and you wish you could just at least talk to him. You walk slowly back to the other side of the ship, thinking of the emergency you're in right now and what happened on the island that got Nick so twisted in knots. You look over the ocean when someone touches your shoulder. You jump around and see Nick standing before you.
"Hey"
You see him standing there with his sunglasses on and you know his hiding behind them because his voice is giving him away. It sounds as if it wants to break.
"Hey...you okay?"
He staggers a bit backward, surprised at your words. He struggles to speak. He only gives a loud sigh.
"Nick, I know I'm not Helena and I have no right....but I think, I think you need someone to talk to. Something horrible happened on the island didn't it?"
He put his hands on the railing of the ship and stare out over the ocean. You see a slight tremor in his arms. You realize that he didn't get any sleep, probably not eaten yet and you see dry blood down his injured shoulder. You wish you could make the hurt go away. You put your hand on his and stand only an inch away from him. You gently caress his strong big hand with your soft small hand. He looks down at your hand and then he turns to you.
"Thank you"
"You're more than welcome Nick...anytime"
He turns away from you and disappear behind the ship. You stand still for a little while just gathering yourself. You realize Nick is hurt very deeply and you wish to do more for him. Then you shake your head and walk back to the medical station they made on the deck.
"Where have you been?" Nita grabs your arm. "I just had to...uhm...get some fresh air" She gestures to the open air around her and laughs.
"I think there's enough air for everyone?"
"I mean, I just-"
"I'm just pulling your socks, I know what you mean this can be overwhelming. The Admiral just announced that we should start dock the boats. We each take a severe patient with us on the boat. We're going first with the patients."
"Yes, that makes sense. Okay"
NICK'S POINT OF VIEW
He walks to the Admiral, he's legs are working but he doesn't know what is keeping him upright because his thoughts, all cries out to fall down and give up. He was about to give up when he boarded the ship but when he saw you, some hope bloomed inside him. He keeps on walking not giving up and thinks.
(Her touch was so soft, so perfect. Somehow she gave me the energy to go on. She gave me a reason to keep everyone safe, to keep everyone safe, to keep her safe, to go on, and see to it that I perform my best. I don't even know her but when she stands there, looking at me and showing her heart to me...I know she's worth waiting for, worth fighting for)
"Master Chief? Did you clear the objective?"
Nick salutes him. "Sir! Yes, sir! Ready for occupation sir"
"Everyone accounted for?"
He looks down on the ground and struggle to get the words out.
"No, sir. Sergeant Thomson didn't make it, sir"
"I'm sorry, Nick. We will make sure he gets the burial he deserves protecting our country and our people. Do you need a minute?"
"No, sir, if you don't mind. I would like to keep myself busy, sir"
"Whatever you need, Master Chief. Let's then carry on with the evacuation"
"Yes, sir"
He turns around and walks back to his men. "I know it's a very hard time for us now. We've lost one of our brothers today. We will have time to mourn his death but we need to be strong now and get these people to safety, otherwise he died for nothing. Let's get these people on the island"
They all cheer and then walk to their different stations. Nick walks to his part of the ship. He helps the people on the boats and he sees Helena.
"Hey baby, can you help me with this patient?"
"Yeah of course"
He takes the one side of the stretcher and Helena the other side. They lay the patient down on the boat. He looks at her and she looks at him, then she smiles. It's at that moment that he realizes she doesn't know him at all and that his heart has left her the moment he carried your luggage. He then proceeds to help her with other patients. She gets in the boat.
"Are you coming?"
"No, I should see to it that everyone gets on a boat. Stay safe okay?"
"I will" One of the soldiers then take the boat to the island.
KIM'S POINT OF VIEW
You let everyone take their patients and you stay till the very last patient is left. This patient also had the most severe injuries and you need to stay by his side. Almost everyone has left and you push the patient close to the boat. You get there and then you realize that you don't know how to get the patient in the boat.
Nick comes walking to you "Hey, you need help?"
You see him standing there in all his power and authority but you know he's not himself. You wish to help him somehow. "Would you please?"
"Sure"
He lifts the patient up and put him in the boat. "Just very slowly please"
"Of course" He helps you to put the drips back on and the extra medical equipment. You try and get out of the boat again to your luggage but he stops you with one hand.
"Can I help you? Is this yours?" He gestures towards your bags.
"Are you sure? I don't have a problem to take it myself"
He looks at you and behind the deep pain in his eyes, there's a hint of pleading. "Kim...please let me do this for you?"
"If you really want to, okay and thank you"
He gives you a small smile, like this little gesture helped him in some way, forgetting his pain. He gets the bags and then he also loads his own bags. He gets into the boat.
"Are we the last ones?"
"Yes"
He start the boat and you drive to the island. You notice that he's driving slowly and not at the same speed as all the other boats as if he wants to stall. You look at him and he just stares out on the water. You feel his pain radiating from him and you feel his agony. You see how he struggles to keep his composure. You dare to ask but you have a know.
"Nick"
"Yes?"
"What happened on the island?"
He swifts around uncomfortably. He clenches his teeth and his eyes avoid yours. He concentrates on the path that he has to take. Then he swallows deeply.
"Nothing...nothing happened"
"Nick, I don't know you that well but I don't know that you're not yourself. I knew it the moment you boarded the ship, I saw it on your face and I see it now. You're trying to be strong for everyone but I want you to know that you don't need to be strong for me right now. I need you to be you...for me right now..."
"I can't...I can't afford to break down now...I need to be strong, if I break, everyone breaks. I can't...I can't...I'm sorry...I can't"
You slowly walk up next to him and you put your hand in his. He looks down at your hand. You look up at him.
"I understand and I get it. I just want you to know this...I'm here and I'll be here when you're ready to break...I'll be here"
He clears his throat and squeezes your hand. His voice cracks.
"Fuck...Kim, it hurts so bad..."