14 Finally!

Adena pulled down his mask with his gloved hand and released a breath.

"You went to work immediately, didn't you?" He said, from a pile of rotten vegetables in front of him.

"Yeah. But I'm glad they trust me with this. I thought it would take a lot more convincing for them to believe us." Rosalind was busy in the pantry, she still had the cloth wrapped around her hair. "After we're done here, we have to see what we can do about the patient rooms."

They remembered the rooms where the beds and patients lay from one end to the other. There was hardly any space to move, let alone treat the patients. Some nurses were there and had difficulty going from patient to patient.

There wasn't enough space between each bed and the room itself wasn't clean. She worried about the infections that could come about because of the environment.

"This is not hygienic at all," Rosalind muttered to herself when she first entered the room. "Why is it so cramped up?"

"This is the best we can do for now." The Major who escorted them inside said. "We're running low on supplies so everything has to be rationed."

"Even medical supplies ?"

"Yes. We haven't received any new supplies in weeks." The man scowled. "We've had to beg for supplies for weeks before they finally sent us some."

They walked to the musty kitchen and he opened the pantry, the smell of rotting vegetables filled her nostrils. "Every food supply they sent us was either spoilt rotten or is about to be rotten." He slammed the door shut.

"What about the other doctors and nurses here ?" Rosalind asked, trying not to throw up from the smell all around her.

"They are there but we just finished a major operation early this morning. Most of them are resting at the moment. They've been awake for days."

"Have you . . . lost any doctors or nurses ?"

"Five nurses and three doctors. That brings the number of the medical team down to fifteen, three doctors and twelve nurses left." He smiled a kind smile. "But both of you are here now and any help is better than no help. Thank you for making it here safely."

"It is our honour, sir. I'm sorry we couldn't have come sooner."

"Nonsense. Better late than never. You've also treated Corporal Sky, my nephew. I am indebted to you both."

"It's nothing, sir. We only did the right thing."

"Well, we're glad you're here. This is the hospital yet we're the ones in need of help." He shook his head and chuckled. "Now, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me. Now follow me to your lodgings."

"Excuse me, Major." Adena finally spoke.

"Yes?"

"Does this hospital take care of soldiers from the front line as well?"

"No. This is a stationed hospital, we are right at the communications zone and treat troops stationed in the immediate area. The front line has its field hospital. Because they are right at the battlefield, taking time to transport people all the way here for treatment is a futile waste of time and effort."

Adena fell silent again as they followed the Major past three doors before stopping at the end of the fourth door. Across from the rooms were windows showing the vast green land around them. Some soldiers were patrolling outside, rifles in hand.

The barb wires that surround the hospital could be seen along with a small cabin at the side.

"We only have one room available. I apologies, this hospital was built in a hurry and not much importance was given to the living quarters for the doctors. We had to cram four to five doctors and nurses in one room. You may discuss the proper arrangements with the rest of them at dinner."

He began walking away when Rosalind stopped him. "Excuse me, Major? Where do you sleep then? There are only four rooms here."

He pointed outside the window towards the cabin. "We sleep there. Taking turns to keep a lookout."

With a final turn, he walked away.

"He's nice." Rosalind smiled up at Adena, whose face remained stoic.

"Come, let's go inside." He opened the door and an awful putrid smell filled the hallway.

Rosalind had to quickly cover her mouth and her nose.

"Adriel, shut the door please." Rosalind's voice trembled and she looked like she was going to faint.

As quickly as he opened it, Adena shut the door and opened the windows. "Are you ok?" He asked, full of concern. "What happened?"

"I'm guessing this was where the doctors and nurses that died, stayed at. The smell of absolute dread is sickening."

"You can smell that?"

"Can't you?"

"No. That's strange." Adena stared at her, confused.

"Never mind. Come. We have work to do." Rosalind almost instantly perked up.

"And where are we going ?" Asks Adena being dragged by the arm.

"Remember that awful kitchen?"

"Yes? We're going to clean it up. And anywhere else we can. Then we have to work on planting what vegetables we can."

"Do you think we'll be allowed to do that?"

"I'll ask the Major. Though I don't see why we won't be allowed."

"Alright. Lead the way."

"Thank you, Adriel."

"Adena."

"Whatever."

--------------------------------------

By the time evening rolled around, Rosalind and Adena had cleaned and scrubbed the walls and cleaned the entire kitchen and pantry.

Rosalind kept aside some of the vegetables, to try and plant them later on.

"Wow~! That was a nice sleep~. Time to prepare for the mess. OHMYGOSHYOUSCAREDME!!"

Rosalind and Adriel were standing like statues in the kitchen. The moment the man entered, they turned their heads in unison, hearing a shriek.

"Hello!" Rosalind rushed up to him and shook his hand. "My name is Rosalind. This is Adena. We just arrived today."

The mean stood, hand on his heart. But the moment she introduced herself, he almost instantly perked up.

"Rosalind? That's a pretty name. My name is Ralph Salisbury, I am the psychiatrist." He turned to Adena. "What do you specialise in?"

"Curing," Adena replied indifferently.

Rosalind glared at him, but he refused to look at her. Afraid their cover was going to be blown, Rosalind tried to say something when she heard laughter.

Ralph dramatically wiped tears from his eyes. "I like you."

Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief.

It's like I'm looking after a child.

"Wow! Did you two clean the kitchen? It looks brand new!" Ralph ran from one corner to the next, admiring everything.

"Yes. It was filthy."

Rosalind burst out laughing, "That's a nice joke. We know they were too busy TREATING people that they didn't have the time to CLEAN! Right, DOCTOR?"

Rosalind turned to him, smiling, no amusement in her eyes.

". . . Yes."

Ralph stared at the two of them, confused. "Really? It's great that you did this. The doctors and I wanted to clean up for a long time but we kept getting patients and before we knew it, it became this filthy mess. One of the doctors died because he drank contaminated milk."

He smiled at both of them. "This is your first day here and you're already doing more than I have done. Thank you. Now." He took an apron from the hook and wore it. "Get out of the kitchen. I'm going to prepare a FEAST! Or whatever I can with those meagre supplies."

"Oh, I took out the rotten vegetables." Rosalind pointed at a wooden crate filled to the brim.

"Thank you! It'll be easier now to cook." Ralph answered from the pantry, bringing out some vegetables.

"Uh. Can I take them?"

" Sure!"

"You're not going to question my intent?"

"Nope." He smiled brightly. "Now go. Shoo!"

Adena picked up the crate for her and they walked to the Major's cabin.

Passing the rooms, Rosalind saw the other two doctors and nurses struggling to walk around, from one patient to the other.

The Major allowed almost immediately, the moment Rosalind told him of her expertise in agriculture. He looked extremely tired but still smiled.

"Hey! Rosalind! Adena!" Corporal Sky called from the bed.

"Corporal!" Rosalind rushed to him, while Adena stood with the box next to him.

"How are you?" She asked, standing beside the bed.

"Much better, thanks to both of you. How are you settling in ?"

"We're settling."

"It's good you came at this time."

"Why do you say that? It seems relatively peaceful so far. Well, as peaceful as the war can get."

"They're working on signing a treaty."

"That's great! So does that mean the war is going to end soon?"

"Hopefully." The Major answered, smiling.

"No. They're not going to sign this treaty if they know what's good for them."

"Sky!"

"I'm being honest here uncle. They come to our lands, destroy everything we have and here they think just presenting a treaty is going to make us forgive them for everything they did to us?! We gave them multiple chances, they crossed the line when they started kidnapping, threatening and killing our people." Corporal Sky spoke with so much venom in his voice, Rosalind shuttered. "Did you forget what happened to your son?!"

"Let's not talk about that now, Sky." The Major rested his head in his hands. "Rosalind, Adena, thank you for coming. You may plant whatever you want."

"Thank you, Major. We'll get going now." She turned to the Corporal. "Take care of yourself, Corporal Sky."

"You too, Rosalind." He smiled and waved at her as they walked out the door. Then his expression turned grim as he looked at his uncle.

"You're a coward."

------------------------------------------

"Rosalind! Adena!"

"Ralph!"

They are at the dining hall for dinner, looking for a place to sit. Ralph waved at them, his blond hair bobbing. He called them over and they made their way to him.

Seated opposite to him were the other two doctors, still in their coats. Diaries in hand. Their food is barely touched.

"So, how's the food?" Ralph asked, beaming.

"It's delicious. With how limited the rations are I didn't expect anything this good." Rosalind smiled. His enthusiasm is contagious.

She didn't think he could look any happier but he did. Dramatically resting his hand on his face he said, "See! This, she is the epitome of beauty and grace. Unlike these losers." He pouted.

The other two completely ignored him. However, the brown-haired doctor looked up from his diary and smiled.

"Hello. You both must be the new doctor and nurse. Ralph's been talking non-stop about you two. My name is Vincent Angevin. This is Louis Mercia. I am a surgeon and he specializes in cardiology."

He pointed to the black-haired man beside him. His curls covered his face and he still wore a mask.

"It's a pleasure to meet both of you." Rosalind smiled. "My name is Rosalind and this is Adena. May I . . . uh . . . look over your notes?"

Vincent blinked in surprise. "Sure." He moved a little, as Rosalind walked over and looked at the notes.

Her eyes brightened with curiosity. She looked over their notes intensely, making comments and asking questions now and then about everything.

Even Louis turned to listen to her theories, completely taken in.

By the time Rosalind realized that they were all staring at her, the food had gotten cold and the hall was empty.

Light from the lantern helped to hide her embarrassment.

They're going to find out!

"At-at least I think so. Maybe." She tried to cover up but their expression told her they figured it out.

"So, who really is the doctor here?" Vincent mused. Looking from Adena to Rosalind.

"Can't you tell? I could never compete with her." Adena was smiling at her proudly.

Panic struck her, she worried about what they would say, what they would do. "I promise I'm competent. Even if I am a woman. Just give me a chance to show that I know what I'm doing."

"Hey, relax." Ralph laughed. "Weren't going to rat you out."

"Besides skill doesn't depend on the gender does it?" Vincent continued. "It's just the stupid misconception about women that people readily believe. You shouldn't have to hide and lie to help others but you can trust us, ok?"

Rosalind looked around the table, Vincent, Ralph, Louis, even Adena were smiling encouragingly at her. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

"T-thank you so much." She cried. "I promise I won't let you down."

"Don't cry, it's ok."

Louis handed her a handkerchief and patted her back.

"Thank you." She wiped her eyes.

"Oh! By the way. Have the lodging arrangements been made?" Ralph asked.

"Yes. Adena and I are in one room an-"

"What?! An unmarried man and woman shouldn't be lodging in a room?!" Vincent exclaimed.

"Vincent, calm down. They could be lovers. Right?" Ralph smirked at them.

"No." Rosalind and Adena said in unison.

"She is like a daughter to me." Adena continued.

"And he's like my guardian."

"Oh. Well." Ralph coughed. "If he's single, can I have him?"

Vincent, Louis and Rosalind stared at him.

"Look, he's beautiful," Ralph said, pointing at Adena. "You're beautiful. I'd like to do a painting of you and hang it on my wall once this is all over."

"Thank you." Adena smiled making Ralph choke on his drink.

"Then it's settled." Vincent piped up, ignoring Ralph. "Adena, you'll be lodging with us. Rosalind, you'll lodge with Louis. Is that alright with you?"

Louis nodded his head.

"Great!" They stood from the table, carrying their empty plates to the kitchen.

"Weren't you against an unwedded woman and man being roommates?" Adena asked, walking beside them.

"Hmmm? Oh, Louis is a woman."