Chapter 6 — Home From the War

I turned back to Sarge. He leaned heavily against the wall, head tipped back, eyes closed, his shift over, the adrenaline burned out, a bone-deep exhaustion left in its place.

He reached up and traced the tarnished metal of the dog tag against his collarbone.

“You did good, Sarge,” I whispered, walking over. “You saved them both today.”

He opened his eyes and looked at the incubator. “She’s a fighter. She’ll make it.”

He stripped off the blue gown, his muscles groaning in protest, and turned to me with a stiff, respectful nod — the kind one soldier gives another after a long, brutal night on the line.

“Thank you, Sarah. For letting me finish the watch.”