Chapter 4: Recovery

It had been two weeks since my interview with Captain Armor. I didn't see him at all afterwards. I saw the doctor a lot, though. He came by at least once every hour, checking the bandages, administering painkillers, and just talking to me. My only constant company was one of two guards that alternated six-hour shifts watching me; the grey pegasus in the morning and late afternoon, and a white unicorn at noon and through the night. Apart from them, the only pony that came by was a baby-blue nurse mare who brought my meals. I wasn't allowed to leave the room, so she would bring my food during mealtimes.

The doctor kept me informed of how the war was going. Apparently, my ambushed convoy was NATO's last chance at taking Manehattan, because the city was still safely in Equestrian control, and the fighting had died down significantly. I couldn't help but wonder how long they kept trying before giving up, and what they would try next. Turning around and taking Fillydelphia, perhaps?

My wounds had slowly begun to heal, hastened by magic every few days. My leg was almost strong enough to walk on, and the gash in my side was little more than a scar. The doctor began muscle exercises a few days ago, and was allowing me to sit up without the arm restraints. Sometimes he would undo all of the straps and let me test my leg, but I always ended up kneeling on the floor. I wasn't there yet, but he assured me I would be fully healed soon.

We had just finished up the day's exercises, and the doctor was in the middle of re-donning the leg restraints. He worked in silence. In fact, he hadn't been very talkative today at all, which was unusual for him. We usually conversed every minute, talking about the war, and then when that got old we talked about our families. I had recently learned he was the father of a filly, who was living with relatives in Ponyville while he worked in the hospital full-time. Most days, he would go on and on about her. Not today, though. Today he was silent.

"Something on your mind, doc?" I asked him as he finished up with my right leg restraint.

He jumped a bit when I spoke, as if coming out of a trance. He then looked at me, "No, James, nothing at all."

"You sure?" I pressed, unconvinced, "You've been... really quiet today."

"Have I?" he looked nervous.

"Yeah," I kept going, "Normally, we'd be talking about your girl right now. How is she?" Maybe getting him talking would get him to open up a bit.

"She... she's fine, James," the doctor finished up with the restraints and walked around my bed, "Are... are you in any pain at all, sergeant?"

"No, none at all," I replied cautiously. Why the sudden topic change?

"Are you sure? Would you like some painkillers anyway, just in case?"

"I'm fine, doc," I said. Getting a bit irritated, I stopped beating around the bush, "Doc, something's wrong, I can tell. What's going on? You can tell me."

"I-it's nothing major, sergeant," the doctor waved his hand dismissively, though he looked like he was shaking a bit as well.

"It doesn't seem like nothing," I pressed, "Whatever it is, it's got you freaked out. Come on doc, you can tell me. We're friends, right?"

"I... I suppose we are, yes," he sighed in defeat, "Captain Armor is stopping by in a moment. He's conducting another interview with you."

"That's it? Frat Boy's coming by?" I laughed a bit, "What's so worrying about that?"

"Well, nothing really... but..." he paused, thinking over his words, "I'm just not sure why he would conduct an interview after so much time."

"Who knows? I'm sure we'll find out when he gets here," I reached up and patted his shoulder, "It'll be fine, doc. Trust me, I can handle whatever that unicorn can throw at me."

"I hope you are correct, James," the doctor gave me a somber look, "Well, I must leave for a moment. Captain Armor may be here by the time I return."

"I'll be fine, doc," I said as he left the room. Once he left, it was just me and the pegasus guard. He was in his usual position, standing at attention by the door and staring straight ahead, "What do you think, Greyhound?" I asked him, using the nickname I had given him the week before, "Any idea what the captain wants to ask?" He just looked at me and shrugged in response.

The doctor walked through the hospital hallways, trying hard not to look frantic as he searched for Shining Armor. He had to find him. The doctor had failed, and the captain had to be informed. His interview couldn't happen as planned. It would have to be postponed, or cancelled completely. A part of the doctor prayed for the latter. The same part responsible for the guilty feeling in his gut. A feeling he had suppressed for the past two weeks.

The doctor eventually found the captain as he was conversing with one of his sergeants. Once the captain noticed the doctor, he dismissed the sergeant and walked over. Without a word, the doctor led him to a nearby empty room and shut the door.

"Is something wrong, doctor?" the captain asked.

"I'm afraid so," the doctor took a breath before continuing, "Sergeant Blackburn refused the painkillers. He's healed enough that he doesn't need them anymore."

"You're fucking with me, right?" Captain Armor asked in disbelief.

"I'm afraid not, captain. Sergeant Blackburn is not able to participate in your interview. Not the way you want him to, anyway."

The captain sighed, exasperated, "Shit... this is a problem, doctor."

"Indeed. What do you intend to do?" the doctor asked, silently praying for him to just give it up.

The captain waited a moment before responding, "I'll think of something. For now... just continue as you've been. He's almost recovered, right?"

"Yes," the doctor nodded, "I would guess another week or so until he's fully healed, and then a few more days restrengthening his leg. He should be fine to leave after that."

"Alright. I might just hold off until after his transfer, then. Slip the chemicals into a drink, perhaps," Captain Armor thought out loud.

"So, as far as today's interview is concerned..." the doctor looked at him, barely hiding a hopeful look.

"Canceled. I got too much on my plate anyways, so I guess this is a blessing in disguise."

The doctor titled his head a bit, giving the captain a curious look, "Did something happen?"

"You know Blackburn's other guard? The unicorn?"

"Vaguely, yes."

"His brother was killed in combat this morning. He's leaving for Canterlot for the funeral, so I gotta bring in one of the newbies from Ponyville to take his spot."

"Will the sergeant have a guard tonight?" the doctor asked, his worries momentarily forgotten given this new dilemma.

"Yes, he will," the captain replied, "She should be getting off the train now, actually. I sent one of my sergeants to pick her up."

"Have you met her? Do you think they will be... tolerant around each other?"

"No, I haven't, and I'm afraid I won't," Captain Armor sighed, "I have to go to Canterlot as well. The general wants an oral progress report, but doesn't want to make the trip over. Says the hospital is too close to the front lines to be safe for officers."

"He's fine with sending you here, though."

"I know."

After about five full minutes of silently laying back in my bed, the doctor returned. I could tell immediately that he was in a much better mood; he was smiling and greeted me warmly, completely back to normal. I also noticed that Captain Armor wasn't with him. Curious about the unicorn's absence, I asked the doctor about it.

"I'm afraid he has... more pressing matters to attend to," the doctor said. While he spoke, he walked up to the side of my bed and helped me sit up, "He is leaving for Canterlot soon, and he won't be back for another week."

"Something urgent?" I asked as the doctor checked the gash on my side, which was nothing more than a scar now, just one more to add to my ever-growing collection of them. Soon it would be just another war story to share with strangers in bars, another trophy to show off to whatever chick I was trying to impress that night.

"Nothing too urgent," the doctor replied, "His commanding officer wishes to speak to him, but is afraid to come down here himself," I just nodded knowingly in response.

The doctor continued his work in silence for a moment, but without the nervous atmosphere that surrounded him before he left. Seeing it, I had to wonder why he was so nervous about Shining Armor's interview. Was he worried we would end up at each other's throats? I can't see why; apart from him messing with me at the start of the first interview, we didn't really argue. Then again, I didn't really remember much about the actual interview. Something about my thoughts on the war? No telling what I said to him.

"Oh, by the way," the doctor said, snapping me out of my thoughts, "Your normal night guard is being replaced tonight."

"Replaced? Why?" I asked curiously.

"He also has to leave for Canterlot. His brother was... killed," some of the doctor's depression returned as he spoke.

"Damn," I said. The room was silent for a moment, until I asked, "So, who's the new guy?"

"I'm not sure," he checked a watch on his wrist, "She should be arriving soon, though. It's almost time for shift change. I'm sure you two can get acquainted after dinner."

"Speaking of..." I grabbed his arm and moved it so i could read the watch. Since I did it so often, he didn't resist, and Greyhound didn't even flinch. I looked at the old-school analogue watch. It was ten minutes until seven, "Baby Blue should be here soon, right?"

"She should, yes," the doctor nodded, taking his arm back, "Would you like to move to the table before she gets here?"

I nodded, and with Greyhound's assistance, they helped me to a small wooden table across the room. It had been brought in the week before, after my wounds had healed enough that I could sit up with little pain. The table was paired with two wooden chairs, positioned on opposite sides. Some days, the doctor would sit and eat with me, continuing whatever conversation we had been in that day. Once I was seated at the table, the doctor sat across from me. Moments later, the blue nurse came in with a rolling cart. On top of the cart were two meals from the cafeteria, each consisting of a small bowl of salad, something the ponies called a "daisy sandwich," a small apple, and a glass of water.

"Still no meat, huh?" I asked half-jokingly as the nurse set the food down in front of us. She just sighed and shook her head before leaving the room.

We ate quietly for a while. Since I learned my first day here that daisy sandwiches were not compatible with the human body, I tossed it to Greyhound. He wasn't allowed to leave the room either until shift change, so he always took it. He nodded a thanks and scarfed it down quickly. After a bit, I decided to inquire about this new guard.

"So, doc, about this newbie," I began in between bites of salad, "You know anything about her?"

"Not much," he replied as he wiped his muzzle with a napkin, "Captain Armor didn't know much about her, either. Just that she's from Ponyville, and only just graduated from training."

"So, a greenhorn?" I huffed a laugh, "Great. A new rookie to fuck with."

"I advise against harassing her, James," the doctor warned, "There is a very real possibility that her opinions on human soldiers are... less than neutral."

"True, but Frat Boy said the same thing about the other two, and we've gotten along just fine," I waved a bit to the pegasus standing by the door, "Ain't that right, Greyhound?" He nodded.

"Nevertheless, please refrain from upsetting her," the doctor pleaded, "At least make the attempt to be civil, alright? For everypony's sake."

"I can't promise anything, doc. You know how I am," I replied with a smirk.

"Unfortunately, I do. All too well," he said, slowly shaking his head.

Another moment of quiet passed before I asked, "You know her name?"

"I believe the captain said it was..."