Chương 24: Nick's Worth

"Admiral, what did I do?"

"I've heard what you did for Nick and I wanted to come down here personally to thank you for the great service you've done for your country"

You feel overwhelmed by his words as a small blush is starting to creep up to your cheeks. Luckily it's night and he can't see the redness in your cheeks.

"It's truly no need to thank me, I was merely doing my job. I'm sure that anyone in my position would've done the same thing"

"I must disagree with you there, Dr. McPherson. Not everyone would put their own lives at risk to save another human being. You don't see this kind of quality in people anymore"

"Oh, wow, what a nice thing to say. Then I can only say, thank you"

"Nick is one of our top Seals. No…who am I kidding, Nick is the best we've got, and should he have died, we could be very lost at this specific moment in time. We are greatly indebted to you. I've come down here to ask if there's anything that I can do for you as a thank you?"

"Oh, no. I'm okay and you don't have to do something for me, for helping Nick, sir. I'm here to help the soldiers and that's what I wanted to do and hope to continue to do but thank you for the offer, sir"

"Well, if you're sure, Dr. McPherson. But please, should you change your mind or think of anything you might need, please don't hesitate to ask me, even if it's just a call to your family"

"Of course, thank you, sir"

"Have a good night, Dr. McPherson"

"You too, sir"

He turns around and starts to walk towards his tent. You stare after him as he walks away. You can't believe you've just spoken to the Admiral. This is such a great honor. It makes you realize even more, how much Nick is worth, not just to you but also the people in this base. They must have great respect for him if the Admiral is the one thanking you for saving his life. Just then the door opens and Nick stumbles out the door, wincing.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Well, let's just say it was a challenge to get it done" You both laugh and you put his arm around your neck again.

"Did I just heard you talking to someone?"

"Oh, yes, the Admiral came to talk to me"

"The Admiral??"

"Yes, I was just as shocked as you are. He wanted to thank me for saving your life. Looks like you're a rare commodity around here"

This time it's his cheeks that burns bright red. "Nah, I think you see things that aren't there"

"Oh, I'm very sure of this little fact. Ever since I've been a doctor to these soldiers, the Admiral never visited or thanked me for looking after anyone, until you…"

"Please, just stop…" He tries to hide his obvious embarrassment but you see the red on his cheeks. "I'm just like everyone else around here. There's nothing special about me. Everyone works hard and fight for their country"

You see the seriousness in his expression as he speaks and the conviction in his voice. He doesn't see himself as something special or in a higher rank than anyone around here. He's truly a humble human being and you know, that he's a diamond in the rough. So many people hide who they truly are but Nick wears his heart on his sleeve and honestly is his true form. This only makes you like him even more. You struggle to keep your distance the more he shows of himself to you.

You then grow quiet as you start to think of Helena and how she has been treating him when he was in grave danger. How she left him to chat with some other soldier and then she only stayed for a moment to just leave him again. Your heart breaks to think that a man like Nick is with a woman like Helena. Helena is full of herself and Nick only thinks of others.

"Hey…did you go somewhere?"

"Oh, sorry. I guess so…was just thinking"

"May I ask about what?"

You turn your head away from him and look at the vast ocean stretched out before you. You would like to share every thought with him. You would like to let him in completely but you know that he's still with Helena. You want to shout out that Helena is not good for him and that you were meant to be with him but you can't. You can't be that woman that destroys a relationship. You can't be the cause of them breaking up. This must be his own choice.

"I was just thinking about where we find ourselves right now. Shipwrecked and living on an island that probably isn't safe to stay on, based on what happened to us yesterday"

He stops dead in his tracks. He turns his face toward you and then you see his eyes growing soft. He takes you by your shoulders.

"We'll be okay, I'll make damn sure of that. I won't let anything happen to you-…to the base"

He clears his throat and you see a glimpse of red appearing on his cheeks. You smile gently back at him.

"I know you won't let anything happen to us"

He smiles and you see that there's a visible sign of relief in his eyes. You walk slowly back to your bed and Nick to his bed. He struggles to get his leg lifted on the bed and you see the pain reflecting on his face.

"Can I help you, please?"

"That will be nice, thank you"

"Okay, keep your leg straight, don't bend it, okay?"

"Okay"

You take hold of his foot and his knee, then you keep his leg steady as you swing it back on the bed. You then proceed to cover his legs with the blanket. You see him staring in awe at you with his head tilted.

"Hey, Kim…"