XII

DAY 159

"Shabbat shalom," Dot entered the medical tent, hugging herself in a thin wool coat that was practically nothing when it came to warming her from the rain pouring outside. "We've got some soldiers coming right now, we need you."

Hadassa stood up, reaching for her umbrella in a rush.

"Shabbat shalom. Go change before you catch a cold."

"Doctor, this is big," she ignored her commands. "Abraam and Rivers are there, they need every hand they can get."

She swallowed hard.

"Go," she insisted. "Having you sick won't help us at all."

Hadassa rushed outside before Dot could protest, caring little if the umbrella was really going to protect her, and dropped it to the floor as soon as she reached the area where the nurses were ready working along with Abraam.

"Which infantry?" she rushed to the closest needing man.

"101st. They were hit by at least sixteen grenades, there were four tanks, men were shot down, at least fifteen were killed," he tore a man's shirt open to see the extension of the wounds. "Nurse, I need someone to clean this one before I can do anything."

Hadassa took a look at the face of the man in front of her. He had lost part of his leg and she needed to clean up the injury before things went worse.

"I need a number seven and chloroform," she called out, then looked down the soldier's face. "And something for him to bite down."

Abraam turned to her with wide eyes.

"Chloroform?"

"It's all we got, the new supplies only arrive in three days," she informed him without hesitance. "We'll do with what we have."

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"Klaczko!" Bucky ran to Hadassa, calling her surname several times before she finally noticed it, waiting for him under her umbrella. "Dasha."

The rain hadn't stopped yet, and she had worked the whole day, filtering cases from urgent to manageable, and it was only when the sun came down that they were done, which gave her and Abraam just enough time to say the last Shabbat blessings.

The moment Bucky stopped in front of her, she didn't let him speak, quickly rushing to protect him from the pouring rain, stepping closer and hoping the object in her hands was enough for the two.

"Are you insane? You can catch pneumonia this way," Hadassa hissed. "James Barnes, fought a war and dozens of battles just to die from rain."

Her boyfriend raised his eyebrows, cracking a small smile but also a foolish face.

"Uh… sorry?"

Hadassa shook her head. Silly boy.

"Come on, let's get inside," she pointed at the tent.

Dot was already there, waiting for them with food and in warm clothes. To many people, it was surprising how the medical team could quickly change into a lighter environment after facing the things they were used to facing, but it wasn't new for anyone in it. They were there to save lives, but there was a time to mourn those who couldn't make it or think of those who needed care, and their lives shouldn't be ignored in favour of them when they were in a position where they saved lives daily.

"Is that dinner?" Bucky questioned, seeing Abraam serving himself unceremoniously, having just shed his coat.

"Beef, peas, potatoes and pudding for four," Dot announced. "Nothing big or new, but it fills you up better than the dinner you boys get. No offence."

Hadassa couldn't disagree with her. She missed the food from back home, but couldn't say the food was that inedible in camp.

"Serve yourself," she told her boyfriend. "It's the only perk of being a doctor around here."

"And dating one," Dot added.

"You don't get a lot of benefits from our relationship, mój drogi," Abraam joked.

(My dear.)

But she didn't flinch.

"Being with you every day is already a privilege, misio."

(Teddy bear.)

Abraam smiled and Hadassa chuckled. He and Dot had finally gone serious, and both were glowing in happiness. She was even learning a few words in Polish for him.

Bucky sat down, at last, serving himself by Hadassa's side and glancing at her with the corner of his eyes before actively eating.

"Do you do this a lot?" he asked. "Eat together."

"Sometimes, when we are all off shift at the same time after the Shabbat."

Her boyfriend frowned.

"Wouldn't that be Saturday?"

She put a hand over his.

"It's the period between a few minutes before Friday's sunset and a few minutes after Saturday's sunset."

He nodded in comprehension.

"I thought you couldn't work in that period, but you always do."

Hadassa tried not to look surprised. Bucky had never shown any interest in her religion. What was that now?

"We don't work," Dot turned to him. "But because of the field we are in, we can't stop and we're saving lives or helping people anytime we even move, so it's considered a mitzvah."

Bucky just stared at her in pure confusion.

"Which… would be?"

Hadassa chuckled.

"A good deed," she explained. "It's fine."

He nodded, taking some of the food and eating it eagerly.

The small group fell onto silence after that but Hadassa couldn't shake the feeling Bucky was hiding something. Maybe he'd received bad news from home? Or would be transferred to another unity?

"I'm gonna put some music on," Dot announced.

Bucky turned to the sit facing her.

"I heard what happened with unit 101," he muttered.

She sighed.

"We did all we could," Hadassa ran a hand over her hair. "It's a war, you gotta have thick skin."

"It's worth it when it ends," he affirmed.

She just touched his cheek. She had seen more wars than she wished. His optimism was something she quite admired.

Hadassa heard steps and turned with a frown when she realised Dot and Abraam were gone.

"Where are they?"

Her boyfriend just shot her a nervous look, shifting on his seat

"I thought about this for a while. Us, our relationship, the war, my family and yours and… well, especially about the future. I've never been as happy as when I'm with you, and I know you're happy too. You're the love of my life."

Her heart raced in her chest. What was he saying? Where was that going with all that?

"So, I made a decision," he palmed his pockets nervously, taking something from inside.

He stood from his chair and dropped to one knee.

"Hadassa Alexandrina Klaczko," he said her last name slowly. "Will you marry me?"

Her eyes went as wide as plates and she felt all of the blood from her body moving to her face, trying to find words but just babbling sounds she was pretty sure weren't even English.

So she just nodded, smiling and reaching for him.

"Is that a yes?" he asked, confused.

Hadassa just blurted out another confirmation, too overwhelmed, and he reached out, placing the ring on her finger and kissing her lips soon after.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too."