kerrigcn.
the middle of july in hawaii was bright and hot. everything seemed to glow effervescently in the sunshine and one not used to the heat or humidity would find themselves sweating once the sun got high in the sky. kerrigan was one such person, who’d grown her whole life in boston, where the air was cool and often very dry. her hair was coiffed, just so, but the moist, salty air left whisps floating about, framing her face. she’d arrived on base from new york in the spring and had long since given up taming her hair.
as it were, she milled about the nearly empty hospital, stocking cabinets with fresh linens and minor supplies. an oscillating fan buzzed in the corner, tossing cooler air on her every so often as she worked, softly singing along with frank sinatra as he crooned “blue skies” from the radio a few rooms over. it wasn’t rare for many of her fellow nurses to catch “sick” so that they might tan on the beaches or catch the afternoon matinee, but keri didn’t much mind. there was hardly anything to do in a hospital built in paradise. she’d stitched a busted brow earlier in the morning and set a broken thumb before lunch, but now, she was left with her own company.
that was, until she heard someone enter and begin conversing with the doc on duty in the lobby downstairs. she straightened her bright white nurse’s apron and hurried down the stairs at his beckon. keri approached the only occupied bedside and picked up a chart and notes. “what seems to be the problem today, sergeant kennedy?” she asked, not looking up from the doctor’s notes. her eyebrow quirked behind a loose tendril of hair that hung over her face. “much too lovely a day to spend in a bed.” she smiled, finally looking up to meet his eyes. “i’m kerrigan. why don’t we get you taken care of and back out there to enjoy your day?”
in nate’s opinion, a war soundness honorable. he had always known he had wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in serving his country, and while nature’s father hadn’t been wounded, plenty of his platoon buddies had. it was always made incredibly clear to nate thst, after those who died in service, being injured in battle was the most honorable way possible to leave the military.
which was why he was already dreading the letter home that said he hadn’t sprained his wrist on the field, but playing football on the beach. the weather had been too beautiful, the soldiers too restless. they were all sick of sitting around and listening to the radio, hearing the latest coming from france, from england, that the germans were moving in closer every day. it drove all of them nearly to insanity, knowing that the war was happening and being unable to fight in it. and when they were all this anxious, the best thing to do was to throw yourself one hundred percent into anything that would distract you for a few minutes. pretty hawaiian girls, cool fruity drinks, and tossing around a pigskin on the sand.
a doctor escorted nate through the clinic to a clean hospital bed, and when the doctor left, the soldier sprawled across the sheets, still cradling his injured arm. he was testing out the bounciness of the mattress- better than his cot, but definitely not as good as home- when a pretty nurse appeared around the corner. X sprang back up to attention, giving her a winning smile.
he shook his head a little, letting what was left of his hair fall into his face. "much too lovely, indeed." (he wasn't talking about the day.) "think it's just a sprain," he added, nodding at the arm hanging limp. "can you wrap it up, or something? work whatever magic you do."