Sharpe's Exploits

[Steiner]

Sharpe smiled. "Oh, You've never been raped, Colonel, I can tell that because I've seen women who have. Most of them in Spanish villages as it happens, just shortly after the departure of French cavalry. Do you think our young patriot will lack the stomach to redress that balance? Because I don't."

He sounded tired now, as if the whole thing had been an interesting question that he'd now lost patience with.

"If you're still alive in the morning, I'll probably send you on up the chain. See if they can find a civil tongue in your head. They have an Irishman working at Army HQ who can accomplish miracles, I'm told. I'd rather you'd just told me what I wanted to know. Then I could have gotten you a meal and something to drink, some fresh clothes and sent you on your merry way."

Again he shrugged. "If you hadn't just given me that speech, I'd probably have kicked you upstairs anyway - but you know far too much about me and my history, so I think I need to know why. I'm certain Captain Avellanos can get the answers from you, if only because you dislike having to deal with him even more than you do me. "

He waved laconically to her as he ducked out of the tent flap and spied the Spanish Captain talking to Kate. Both of them were stood in postures that radiated discomfort and embarassment. Sharpe called the pair of them over with a whistle and a wave of his hand.

 

[Longleg]

Patrick had listened to Susannah intently, he was a little lost for words and his admiration for the young lady increased grately as she expounded the tale of her day and as for the kiss well that equally set his teeth on edge as lifted his soul.

Mr Sharpe would know better what to do, he had a way with women however it was far to say that his way with women normally started with them falling into his arms.For Patrick it was different , oh here had his share of women mostly paid for and one special lady who had his heart. Or was it two ladies who would share his heart.

"I do not find you foolish Susannah I find you a lady of courage and strenght and if you would allow me , great beauty". He blushed and then in an act of impulse moved from his body from the makeshift seat to kneel before her.

"If you would premit me to be so bold , I find myself unable to think of you with out my heart racing, your tender kiss gave me added strenght before the battle and I thank you for that , but mostly I thank you for what you did with our wounded for I have heard what you did and it mattered, Susannah you made a difference and you have the gratitude of the 95th , and myself"

Then to break the silence of the night as Harper ran out of things to say to express a desire that he could never ask a lady so newly met. The sound of runting filled the air as a woman and man in a tent not to far away started grunting.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"My pleasure, madame." Alfonso bowed again, and took the bottle. He would have taken off his hat instead, but he didn't have it on. Now he couldn't remember if he had lost it somewhere, which was bound to be the correct supposition.

Sharpe's whistle almost made his heart go right out of his mouth. Between being nervous just talking to Miss Savage, and knowing she was Sharpe's lover, he knew it might not be the best idea to be seen talking to her. But now, the possibility of avoiding that was completely gone, so he had better act like it was a perfectly normal conversation. Which... well, it was. If not for his blush, of course, in which he employed all his mental strength to subdue, but he couldn't look at himself so he didn't know if he succeeded.

Alfonso walked over to him following Miss Savage's pace, guessing that the time he had taken to get the brandy and talk to Miss Savage had not been enough time to get anything from the French woman. But who knew, she was French.

"Any luck, sir?"

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

As Alfonso approached with his meek question, Sharpe simply shook his head. "No, Captain, no luck. The bitch wants to rely on her rights as a prisoner. Also, I think she'd prefer death to capture anyway, so physical threats are a bit useless. She's full of herself, that one. Doesn't like talking to a mere Major, so I figured she'd like talking to a Spanish Captain even less."

He spat with feeling to show what he thought of her.

"Get back in there with your men, Captain and shake something loose from her. You know as well as I do that the pass was far more heavily defended than we suspected. Find out why. Find out why SHE was in command. And find out why she seems to know so damn much about me and my career. She stinks like a spy to me and the last thing I want to do is give her access to Army HQ without knowing for sure."

He grimaced.

"It goes against the grain, treating a woman like that, I know. But she's as devious as a fox. No doubt her information is valuable, or she wouldn't have ordered her men to seek death rather than be captured, but I can't shake the feeling she's far too dangerous to leave alive. See what you can do to explain things to her and induce her to talk. If you find anything significant out, then let me know at once, I'll be next door where you found me earlier. If you don't find anything by morning, either drag her out into the woods there and shoot her, or drag her off to Army HQ - frankly I don't give a shit either way."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso sighed, and scratched the back of his head. He had never tortured anyone, and had not imagined having to do so in the hussars. But he knew it was a price to be paid. Information was power, or so he had been told. But still...

Sure, he had killed men. Today had been his first blood. But at least he hadn't intended to make them suffer. For all his talk about hating the French, he killed them because they would kill him if they had the chance, and because they would do the same to his family. He was defending a lot of people, the duty of a good and proper soldier.

"Did you at least manage to get her name or her rank? That would help a bit... or at least would help me being more comfortable. Calling her 'woman' all the time is not my idea of having a conversation."

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

He saw Alfonso's hangdog expression and cursed. He'd banked on the Spaniard being a fanatical hater of the French, this look the man gave him told him a lot of things he didn't want to see.

"She's a Colonel de Chasseurs in the 76th Regiment. Her name's Justine de Villiers. Do you know what kind of horrors the French cavalry have inflicted on your people over the last few years? I could tell you stories of the villages I've entered where not one man, woman or child has escaped the sabers. In fact, I've half a mind to gather up the Spanish wives that my men have married and give her to them. I guarantee that if you haven't the balls for this, they have."

He gave a shrug. "Don't go soft on her, Captain Avellano. Don't be more brutal than you need to, but don't let her sleep, eat or give her any comfort that you don't get full recompense for. And let her know just how perilous her position here is. You can do that, can't you? Even if you're reluctant to hurt her, she'll assume that you'd happily fillet her. She'll maybe even try to provoke you to do so, she did with me. Don't kill her unless you REALLY think she deserves it and you can't get anything useful out of her - but if you can put the fear of God into her, it wouldn't hurt."

Switching out of Spanish, he put his hand on Kate's arm. "I'm sorry to have abandoned you, Kate. This was some unfinished business from today that I had to take care of. You mentioned something, earlier, about ham?"

The look he gave her was wistful and soft - it utterly belied the harsh terms he'd been discussing the prisoner in.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

While Kate didn't speak Spanish fluently, her Portugese was good enough to pick up the general theme of the discussion between Richard and de Avellanos. The orders or suggestions, Kate couldn't really distinguish between them had sounded horrible, especially since she understood that the captive was a woman. Still she smiled trying to disguise the fact that she'd known what they'd been talking about.

"Yes there's some cured ham, cheese, bread and Savage's finest red." Smiling sweetly as she followed him back inside the tent. He sat down, seemingly drained of energy while Kate busied herself putting the food on the table.

She sat down opposite from him, taking a slice of ham and some bread but not eating more than a morsel. The conversation had brought back memories that she'd rather not remember. Images of James holding the slenderwhip, having cornered her in the master bedroom of 'House Beautiful' and memories of the deserter Williams. The memory making her shrug in disgust.

"What's the matter Kate? You're cold?" Richard had spoken softly and taken her hand.

Kate bit her lip, not quite knowing what to do but she needed to know.

"Richard, your prisoner, she's a woman? And what do you intend to do to her? I heard what you said and it's horrible," She felt tears burn in the corners of her eyes. Be it that this woman was a Colonel but still. Kate could easily enough identify herself with her now. At the mercy of men who didn't care a bit about the pain they inflicted. "Please Richard, don't touch her, don't interogate her. You're a good person, don't stoop as low as the rest. Promise me that."
She looked down, clasping her hands around her hankerchief.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso's eyes changed at Sharpe's words. His blush became something else. Yes, he was angry. Angry and frustrated, because no... he did not know exactly what the French had done. His family had escaped Spain temporarily while the French were dealt with, and when they came back, they found their hometown was not the same.

Alfonso was furious every time he remembered. Furious and desperate, for not having been able to do something back then. As the son of a noble, he was supposed to have stayed and fight, but his father had insisted on escaping while they still could. And he had followed... and now, life was not the same anymore. And it was the gabachos' fault. And Alfonso feared that he might overdo the interrogation because of that.

He stepped into the tent, and noticed he still had his bottle of brandy with him. He was tempted to have a swig... but he left it on a table instead, and had some water. Alcohol wouldn't help him. Not with the hateful French bitch here. And she was from the cavalry, no less... cavalry. The infamous French cavalry.

Alfonso dragged a chair to sit in front of... Justine. Justine de Villiers. And stared at him, driving his hatred away bit by bit, slowly. He simply let his anger slip away, as he fixed his eyes on her blonde hair.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

She glanced up as de Avellanos y Marca entered and took a seat in front of her.

"Well, well isn't it the Don himself." She smiled coldly, running her tongue across her broken lip as she gave him a withering stare. "Perhaps we ought to speak English then Captain de Avellanos, seeing as you have found yourself a set of new masters. To be honest I don't give a flip about this country. The English can have it as long as they keep you people on a firm leash."

She looked at him intently, the shadow of a smile playing on her lips as she could see how he fought to stay civil. Clearly Captain de Avellanos was more the gentleman than Sharpe.

"And I fear I have been most uncivil not offering my compliments for your gallant efforts Captain. I'm sure you will be much sought after by the ladies of Madrid when they hear about it."

Justine was still taunting him, yet she had begun to slowly appeal to his pride. Testing different stragegies to find one that might get her out of her predicament.

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

Sharpe cursed silently, he'd forgotten that of course Kate would have a firm command of the Iberian languages.

Taking a breath, he took her hand and looked her in the eyes.

"Kate, I divide the world up into those I have to protect and those I have to defend against. That woman in there is wearing a Colonel's uniform, she ordered her subordinates to kill themselves rather than get caught and she killed men with her own hand today. She reinforced that pass that I had to take today and could have killed half my command. And worse she knows who I am and where I've been - things I haven't even told you. She's a threat to me and my men."

Sharpe stroked her cheek gently.

"You know I wouldn't want to hurt anyone I don't need to. And you know I don't make war on women." he kissed her fingers.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso got up, staring with his most serious eyes at her, and stepped closer. Then, he brought his hand back, and slapped her with all of his strength. The smack almost seemed to echo in his ears, but he showed no reaction whatsoever. No pleasure, no anger... he simply kept himself as cold as he could, his mind fixed only on Justine's blonde hair.

"If you are going to behave like a dog, I will treat you like a dog. When you start acting as a lady, I will treat you as a lady."

Then, he moved to a table, and gripped a knife. A sharp one, made for combat. Then, he walked back to Justine...

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage *Angel of Mercy by proxy*

"I know you don't Richard, but there are men out there who don't have your scruples."

Kate smlied shyly as she looked at him again, her hand placed on his. "Although your armour is rather worse for wear you're probably the closest thing I've ever come to a knight. How come you're so chivalrous? James wasn't and he was a gentleman. I've heard of so many both British and French who had an education, a name and money behaving even worse than the common solider. It's strange Richard. I know you started as one in the ranks but would you have behaved like that man did?"

She refered to the private who had tried to be friendly with her on her arrival to the camp. Kate couldn't picture him doing such a thing, but then again she understood that there were sides to Richard Sharpe that she would never see nor understand.

Seeing the way he looked at her, partly amused and partly guarded she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

"I'm sorry if I'm being inquisitive. I know I ought not to be but is it really true that she's a Colonel? Leading men in battle?" The thought of a woman doing such a thing was as alien to Kate as would walking on the moon. Yet there was a certain appeal to it. This Colonel would have to be tougher than most. "Is she hurt? Perhaps I could ask Susannah to have a look at her?"

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

The blow almost made the chair tip over and she felt her ears ringing as she slowly turned her head to watch him again. Her lips had started bleeding and she spat on the floor anew.

"Is that all you can do Captain?" Taunting him again. "And as for the knife, I recommend to cutting at the chest, or the bosom in this case. The pain is supposed to be rather intense although you will not inflict too serious damage."

Justine had willed herself to sound steady and she surprised herself that she did not feel frightened by his silent threat. Keeping her eyes fixed on him as he sat down.

"And I never claimed to be a lady, Captain. That's the difference between the two of us. I do not hide behind false pretences. I'm an instrument for wreaking death and destruction. That's what I was trained to do, whereas you hide behind words such as 'chivalry' and 'honour'." She spat on the floor again.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso again didn't seem or feel moved at all by her words. They sort of slipped through his mind, the meaning not quite accompanied by the obvious despise the woman felt for him. He simply took the knife, and kneeled right at her side. The side were her breeches were stained with her blood.

"Stay still." Grabbing the fabric, he pulled, and did some cutting there to see the wound properly. Had she not bothered healing it? No bandages, not even a semblance of someone having cleaned it. He sighed, and grabbed some water and a rag to clean the filth away, which would come before pouring some alcohol on the wound.

"I am not torturing you with the knife. I want to make sure that you look acceptable, because if you don't cooperate with me I am making sure that my men have a go at you, starting with raping you. Maybe even sodomizing you. Now, that is a sin, but I think I can skip on the details just this one time when I ask them."

Alfonso wished there was a fire nearby to heat the knife on so as to cauterize the wound, but he was not willing to carry de Villiers out of the tent, or to leave her alone for one second.

"As for chivalry and honor, they are not values that I hide behind. I uphold them, which is quite different. Thing is, you seem so insistent on killing me and my people, that I can't let you live without a good reason. And I do need to know the purpose of your mission, so torture is necessary. Of course, if you give me the chance to skip on both, I will make sure you suffer no more. You will be sent to prison, and liberated when the war ends. Perhaps I could even offer you somewhere else to live. But of course... you think too highly of yourself to allow me that pleasure. You will make me sweat for the information..."

Alfonso cut away the leg of her breeches, trying not to let a too revealing part of it be cut and fall, and turned around to drop the knife on the table, and grab the brandy and the bandages.

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

The sound of the blow from next door and the raised voices raised the hackles on Richard's neck. Why had he insisted that the interrogation took place a mere two canvas walls away?

"Is she hurt? She is now, I suppose..." he knew he should be outraged, should be horrified at the thought of the pride being beaten out of those defiant eyes, but he just couldn't summon up the feeling. Instead he felt the merest ghost of it, and wondered what he was turning into.

He kissed Kate softly, knowing she'd heard too and feeling the flinching as he touched her. Placing his head to hers he spoke softly and quietly.

"I know those men, Kate. They were my brothers, long ago. I never raped, to be sure, but I was a thief, and I've murdered in my time too. And even if I hadn't I've seen such things over my career, so many terrible things. I've killed so many times that I don't even hesitate anymore. The first battle I was in, I didn't kill more than a handful of men, and I can remember each of their faces. Today I beat a boy, no older than 18 or so, down to the ground and let my men bayonet him to death - and I can't remember his face, Kate. I've lost so many friends, and killed so many enemies - I don't know how a man could have so many of either."

He paused, drawing in a breath. He'd only meant to explain to her, but the moment was affecting him too.

"War does something to you, I think. Inside, where you can't see it. At first you have to be angry or frightened before it comes out. Later you stop feeling either and just feel the rage. That's good, because frightened and angry men make mistakes, and mistakes kill you. That woman in there, she doesn't feel anger or fear any more than I do. Maybe less than I do. She has less in common with Susannah and you than she does with myself or Captain Avellanos. Her gender, Kate, is irrelevant. She thinks of it as simply another weapon she can make use of. Do not grieve for her, she wouldn't grieve for you."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

"The spoils of war Captain. And don't you think you're contradicting yourself? Offering me to your horde of Spaniards to rape and ravish and still calling yourself chivalrous?"

She stayed still as he cut away her breeches and put the rag to the wound, cleaning it with surprising gentleness.

"I ask you not to threaten if you cannot stomach to put strenght behind it. Had it been the reverse position you'd be on your back already."

Justine smiled at him, perhaps less scornful than she'd done earlier. "I think you misunderstand me on purpose. I am not afraid to die Captain, I am not afraid of pain. If you let your men have their way with me I'll do what I can to cause them as much hurt as they do me and that will provoke them to finish me off. And that in turn will mean that whatever questions you want answered will go with me to the grave."

She sighed as she watched him get the bottle of brandy. "Tell you what though. If you agree to have my hands tied in front of me I'll give you some intelligence. It won't help you though. I already told your sullen major that I will not speak to anyone else than General Hill or Milord Wellington, but at least I can further your standing, being the one who arranges such a meeting."

Holding his gaze, her face as void of emotion as his had been. "What do you say Captain? Do we have an accord?"

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"It's horrible. I hate it Richard. I hate it."

Kate's words nothing more than a whisper as she closed her eyes, leaning closer to him.

"How can one do such things? Is it for King and Country? Or who do you fight for? I saw that woman Richard, she can't be much older than I am and you say that she is as callous as you? No you are Richard, as long as you're fighting. Remember that I was at Douro as well."

She bit her lip and squeezed his hands. "Can we please leave. I can't stand hearing that."

Looking at him, her dark eyes imploring him to acceed. It was truely horrible to Kate, even though she had hated James Christopher she could not contemplate killing him. The mere thought revolting to her mind. And here she was surrounded by men and a woman who would kill without thinking about it. As easy as blowing out a candle. It was frightening a thought.

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

Richard sighed. "I fight for something I believe in, Kate, the men outside this tent. Anything that threatens them is my enemy. Anyone who helps them is my friend. I heard from the surgeon what you and your maid did today, so you helped them. That woman tried to kill us all, she's my enemy."

He released her hand with a tired sigh.

"Look, I can't leave this tent until the interrogation is over. I promised Captain Avellanos that I'd be here. If you really need to leave, then feel free to retire to your coach, you'll be safe enough in the South Essex lines."

He looked up into her eyes.

"I know you came here to find your hero, Kate. I'm sorry that the man was a disapointment to you." but his voice registered less sadness than a boneweary fatigue as he slowly stood and walked to the cot, flopping down on his side.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

Kate didn't respond, his words had been harsh but to the point. She realised that she had idolised Sharpe, thinking him different for the few kindnesses he'd shown her.

The way he described himself frightened her. She had been brought up with strict morals. She'd studied Grotius "De Jure Paci et Bellum" which described the legitimate war, hinging on the idea of chivalry and the sport of gentlemen. Now she was being confronted with the gritty reality that Richard had explained it and it contrasted everything she had hitherto believed in.

Further, her frightened her. Was he capable of shutting his emotions on and off? It seemed like that and it was not a comforting at all. Still she kneeled by the bed, placing her hand on his arm.

"Do you want me to stay Richard? I'll be quiet so you can sleep. I'm sorry I've taken up your time but I don't want to leave you in your state."

Kissing his cheek, lips brushing against the stubble, as she squeezed his shoulder.

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

"I want you to stay, Kate." he said simply, turning to face her.

He reached out and held her, marvelling once more in how wonderful and wholesome she smelled, how fine she felt in his arms.

"You've truly been in love with me since we met? I was an idiot, Kate - although I can imagine your mother's face at seeing you married to a Lieutenant..."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"Of course I want to stay Richard"

She kissed his cheek again and made to lay down next to him, prompting him to move over to give her room on the narrow bed.

"And yes I have been in love with you since then," she smiled sadly "I've must have told you a thousand times since I arrived. And as for Mother, well I honestly don't care too much what she thinks these days. She's spending her days pining for England but she dares not return. Besides there's a liason with a Portugese gentleman so all in all she's not really in a position to express an opinion." She looked at him, her dark eyes obscured by her long lashes, "had I married the then lieutanant I'd be the wife of a Major today"

She smiled albeit without mirth, "do you love her Richard? I mean since you lay here with me."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso snickered at the thought of the reversal of positions. Him on his back. Where would she be? That was a very pleasant thought, but a somber idea found its way into his brain. It was bothersome, to be honest. But...

"For someone who seems so idolizing of logic and reason, you are a terrible woman, señorita de Villiers. But you know what? I will make an even better offer than you could ever hope for."

Alfonso left the bandages and brandy back on the table, moved to the entrance of the tent, and waved one of his men to come over. Sharpe had taken his pistol with him, which perhaps had been a good idea given the guest's attitude. A short exchange of words in Spanish later, and Alfonso was back inside with a pistol, a gunpowder sack, and a round projectile. He put all of them on top of the table, and sat back on his chair.

"Señorita de Villiers. If I gave you to the men, you can be sure you won't hurt them bad enough for them to kill you before they've had their way with you. You can be sure of that. Such a thing has rarely happened, and I don't plan on untying you any time soon, so I doubt you could do much unless you intended to spit your teeth at them.

But, I know that if you got out of this alive, you would be shamed for life. You are a high-ranking officer of Napoleon's armies, and not just that. You are also the officer of an elite unit, and a woman. You would never live down the shame for the failure of your mission. You can't possibly accomplish it now. So... death is certainly the best way out of this for you.

I can give you that. And a honorful one, too."

Alfonso scratched the back of his neck, and decided to simply take off his jacket. He was amazed at how dirty it was. Who would have thought that a battlefield could kick up so much dust, blood and gunpowder into the air? Alfonso suddenly realized, with quite a bit of surprise, that his mind easily wandered away from the nastiest thoughts. Perhaps his upbringing as a noble had something to do with that, as did that everything he told her from then on was said in a very low tone of voice.

"If you tell me everything I want to know, you can load that pistol and blow your brains out yourself. Hell, I will load it for you if so you wish, and even let you taste some of that brandy. But know that you will not be getting out of this tent alive one way or another, because I will be guarding the only exit with the only other weapons in this tent. That knife, and my sword. So either you shoot yourself, or you shoot me, but the guards will be coming over to kill you.

An honorful death either by killing yourself, or your enemy. I can hardly think of anything better for you madame."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

She cast her head back and laughed, the sound of which filled the tent.

"You talk of honour? Please Captain." Her blue eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "I will not talk, go ahead have your ruffians have their way with me. It won't be first time I've been raped. One learns to distance oneself from the body, how should I put it, one becomes indifferent Captain."

Justine kept her gaze fixed on de Avellanos as she continued. "So tell me Captain, how does this code of honour of yours correspond with letting a score of men have their way with a bound woman?" Smiling again and licking her lips. "Besides I would find it hard for you to conceal it even if you had someone gag me. Rape generally and gang-rape specifically tend to attract attention and as far as I understand Milord Wellington has made that a hanging offence." She tilted her head to the side, a strand of blonde hair having fallen down to rest on her face "Correct me if I'm wrong here but you serve under Milord Wellington do you not? Thus you would be implicated and even if you yourself escape the gallows, some of your men are likely to dangle by their necks."

Leaning back again, the smile still on her lips, making her features soften somewhat. "So shall we get down to business. You allow for me to have my hands in front of me, tied of course and as a token of my good-will I'll divulge some information which will put you in Wellington's favour."

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

He turned over on the bed.

"That's a very cliche question to ask, Kate. I never knew how you felt about me - I thought it simple gratitude. I did enjoy saving you though, that bastard who acted like he owned you needed taking down a peg or three. And I could tell there was something not right about him."

"As for Jane, I killed her brother, if you must now. For treason. He tried to kill me at Talavera when I took the eagle. He wanted it for himself, so Pat and I killed him. That would be one of those murders I told you about. When I went back to England, looking for recruits, I found that the old CO of the Regiment was trading off my name and fame, and selling recruits to Regiments who were short. Jane was the daughter of that man, and she suffered much the same as you did with Christopher. Just the beatings, no rape, but what amounted to a forced marriage on the cards - so that wouldn't have been the case for long."

He gestured helplessly.

"She's beautiful, sweet, young and she didn't deserve that fate. She had nowhere else to go, so I just took her under my protection and things snowballed from there."

 

[Britwitch]

Susannah

"I do not find you foolish Susannah I find you a lady of courage and strength and if you would allow me , great beauty".
"You are too kind, Patrick..." Susannah said softly as she turned to glance at him, just as he moved to kneel before her. It was a strange sight, the tall, broad shouldered irishman on his knees before her. A smile swiftly flickered to her lips, curving them and brightening her eyes.

"If you would premit me to be so bold , I find myself unable to think of you with out my heart racing, your tender kiss gave me added strength before the battle and I thank you for that..."
The sensation of his lips pressed against her flashed through her memory, fleeting but lasting, she could almost feel the warmth and the surprising softness as their lips had met all too briefly.
"...but mostly I thank you for what you did with our wounded for I have heard what you did and it mattered, Susannah you made a difference and you have the gratitude of the 95th , and myself"
"I...I didn't do what I did to make a difference...not really..." Susannah replied, letting her eyes wander over his upturned face, taking in the shadow of stubble across his jaw, the tiredness in his eyes along with the kindness and something deeper shining within them.

"I...I did it hoping that if you had somehow been injured, someone would be there to help you in such horrible conditions, to hold you hand and soothe your pain...I didn't do what I did for the 95th...or anyone else, Patrick...I did it for you..."
Her hand rose to rest upon his cheek, her thumb slowly and gently stroking across his skin while her eyes met his once more. She had to look away as the sounds of passion floated towards them upon the breeze from a nearby tent, her cheeks pinking and her smile growing slightly embarassed.