Ever since the fateful scene in the morgue I've wondered two things: 1) Why wasn't Reese horrified at the scar on Joss's stomach, and 2) Why did Joss look as though the kiss had awoken a memory from long ago? So, I thought to myself, "Hmmm, considering they were both in Iraq at about the same time, and then both were in NY in 2008/2009, who is to say their paths HAVEN'T crossed before? What if they DID meet up but didn't know it? What if their lines crossed but it wasn't the right time or place?" Well, I took it and ran with it!

As always, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you support and honesty. Let me know what you think and if I should continue.

Kiss of Life

February 2004

United States Army Base, Fallujah, Iraq
******

Joss Carter had known pain in her lifetime - 40 hours of intense labour, an emergency C-section, and one gun shot wound - but she had never felt anything comparable to the white heat that enveloped her and set her skin on fire. Nothing compared to feeling as though she was being ripped in half. Literally.

What happened, she wondered to herself as she faded in and out.

She had a vague memory the 'click' sound. Some people described it as a party popper going off or a champagne cork popping. But she didn't think it sounded like either one. In fact, she didn't really hear it so much as she felt it.

She could see the big brown eyes of the young Marine Sgt round in fear and surprise. His mouth opened to say something - what, she would never know - and a moment later he was gone. Disintegrated right before her very eyes - just like that - the 300 pound gorilla was dust.

Barely conscious, her fingers curled gently to touch the sandy, coarse earth. Surprised at the texture, it took a moment for her to realize she was lying on the hard ground. She tried to push herself up, but blackness enveloped her, followed by a white light. She inched toward it as strong arms reached out to hold her. And she welcomed the safety and comfort they promised…

The sergeant on duty had seen the event transpire and was the first to rush over to the fallen female warrant officer. Kneeling beside her, he tried to call to her. No response. But he had seen her fingers move. Encouraged, he called to her again. Still no response.

He tried to wipe away the blood and tissue from her face so he could put his ear close to her mouth. But there was no need to do so as he watched her eyes roll upward and then freeze. He grabbed her wrist. No pulse.

"I don't have a pulse," he shouted to no one in particular and began compressions. He couldn't wait for the medics. He counted to five and then gave a breath. Nothing. He repeated it twice more. "Stay with me," he begged.

He didn't know her, but he was sure someone was waiting for her at home - wherever that might be. Maybe she had a husband or family who desperately love her and were waiting for her return. And for a brief moment he was jealous. A second later his jealousy was replaced by anger - anger at the unfairness that this woman's life could be cut so short by stupidity and revenge. He propelled everything into keeping her alive.

"Come on," he begged. "Fight." He covered her mouth once more and breathed his life into hers. Though he was never a praying man, he threw a quick thought out there for help. In the great unknown, someone had to hear his plea. And for a brief micro-second his faith was restored when she pushed against him.

He pulled back as she coughed to expel his breath and take in fresh oxygen. She was back. Looking down, the sergeant saw the wound on her abdomen. With gentle hands he tried to apply pressure to staunch the bleeding.

"Who…?" Joss gasped as pain overwhelmed her and threatened to short circuit her brain.

"Don't talk," the sergeant cautioned. She needed to conserve her strength until help arrived.

He barely felt the pushing shaving as the medics finally arrived on the scene. "You're going to need to move," a faceless voice demanded and pushed his hands away to assess Joss's wound.

Joss blindly reached out for her saviour. "Don't," she pleaded on a desperate breath.

With every last bit of effort she had, she opened her eyes and found herself staring into twin pools of blue. Looking into the man's eyes, she felt no pain - what she did feel, though, she couldn't put her finger on. The stranger with the sad eyes had saved her - like a guardian angel that fell from heaven at just the right time. How did one pay back that debt?

A sharp pain jolted her back to the present when the team loaded her onto a gurney. Her sob came out more as a gasp as the IV was inserted into her arm, and hot tears leaked from her eyes to sting her cheeks. A gentle hand brushed them away and she tried to turn her head to find her angel. If she was going to die, she wanted to know his name. Blindly, her hand reached for his.

Looking down, the sergeant saw Joss's fingers extend and reach. Taking her cold hand in his, he squeezed. "You're going to be alright," he assured her. It wasn't just empty words; he meant what he said. The world couldn't afford to lose her. Not yet.

"Name," she whispered before the oxygen mask was placed over her face. Her big brown doe shaped eyes bore into his. She wanted his name. He hesitated before reconsidering. He was never going to see her again, so what could it hurt, he argued to himself.

"John," he replied.

Forcing a weak smile, Joss closed her eyes. She wondered if she would ever see him again. Then their hands were rudely forced apart as the medical team rushed her away to triage.

John watched as the woman he saved was taken into the medical tent. The flaps closed ominously.

As the adrenaline left his body, John tried to take a deep breath to control the shaking that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Are you alright?" someone asked. "Were you hurt, too?"

"I'm fine," he replied and looked down at his hands. But he didn't see the blood. He saw her small hand in his and felt the electricity of when they touched. Now he was the one who had to remember to breathe.

"You did well, Sergeant," an authoritative voice complimented. But John didn't hear the words. His mind was on the doe-eyed warrant officer he had lost his heart to.

Forever.
******

To be continued...