"Nice..." Gavin murmured as Chloe opened the long box. It was his cane. Elijah had just collected it from town. It was safely tucked within a red velvet lining. The box seemed a lot of trouble to go to for something that would never be placed in it again. The cane itself was wrapped in a thin, black cloth. Chloe let him do the honours. It seemed to have a good weight as he pulled it free. The main body was a sleek, smooth black. It was good and strong all the way down to the metal-tipped base. He tapped the end on the floor, hearing a loud tapping sound. Well, at least people will hear me coming...At the top was an ornate golden handle, probably made of bronze. It didn't curve like a hook. It was almost flat, like a door handle. There was textured gilding all over it, except across the top where his palm would rest and an oval plate on the side, where his name had been engraved in fancy swirling text. Not that I'm likely to forget or leave it anywhere...

"Why don't you try it out?" Chloe suggested eagerly as she put the lid on the box and set it aside. They were up in one of the examination rooms. She'd called him in to give him a quick once-over and deliver the cane. Everything was going well. His skin where the prosthetic sat was still a little pink and raw, but it should gradually strengthen as he got used to it. The balm he'd used the night before had sort of eased the sting a bit. He'd worn the prosthetic over for the examination, but he fully intended to take a break that day. A little practice first wouldn't hurt though...

"Alright, just a turn around the room, though." Gavin passed the stick between his hands a few times, testing the weight. It felt nice. Balanced. Chloe tapped his right arm. The stick needed to be in his stronger hand. He stood straight and stepped forward with his left foot and the cane. The hard part would be balancing as his stronger foot left the ground. He wobbled a little as he took the first step. It was harder than it looked, and completely different to using crutches. Chloe stepped in front and walked backwards with her hands out, ready to steady him if he fell. "Phck, this is weird..." It was like having three legs. If he leaned on his left, he'd fall, but it felt weird leaning on the right when he stepped with his left.

"It'll come with time." With time. It seemed everything came with time these days. Walking. Healing. The end of the war. Nines coming back. He sighed as he stopped and leaned on the examination table. Balancing was hard, and his leg was fucking sore. "Maybe try again tomorrow. You wanted to rest your leg today, didn't you?" Chloe added sympathetically as she took his left arm. Gavin nodded as he took the weight off his leg, wincing at the pinch of the prosthetic. He reverted to crutches as he returned to his room. Chloe said she'd drop the cane by later.

As soon as he was back, he hopped to the bed and sat with a groan, barely waiting an instant before hurriedly tugging the thick laces free. He moaned and sighed in relief as the grip loosened and the heavy attachment clattered to the floor. He flopped on his back and stared up at the ceiling, legs still dangling over the end of the bed. Usually Nines was there to gently chide him and pick up after him. He'd have to lean down and grab the damned thing himself at some point. He dug his good heel against the base of the bed and pulled until his shoe clattered free.

After shuffling and rolling into a more comfortable position, Gavin settled down to gaze out at the clear blue sky. It was another nice day. He couldn't help wondering whether the nice weather had carried over to France as well. His tired eyes fell shut, still heavy from the night before. He hadn't slept well. He wasn't used to sleeping alone after three solid months of feeling Nines pressed up behind. If he stayed really still, he could almost feel it. The lingering warmth against his back. The hint of another body lying close. He didn't shuffle closer. He knew Nines wasn't there.

His thoughts soon returned to France. If there were no assaults going on, Nines would be in the resting camp tending to sick and injured soldiers. He slipped into his own memories, seeing Nines in his field medic uniform moving smoothly through the makeshift ward. Only about eight cots would fit inside each of the large tents. Nines checked charts and pulses, administering medication as necessary. Gavin felt his chest flutter as those silvery eyes raised to look right at him. Nines made his way over and sat on the edge of his cot.

He felt like shit. Shivery and feverish, but he didn't let on to Nines. He smirked as he sat back with his usual cocky attitude. The one good thing about being injured was being able to wear the less scratchy hospital pyjamas. He leaned back on the pillows, biting his lip as he slowly unbuttoned his white shirt. Nines was doing a pretty good job of hiding his interest as he watched, especially as Gavin finally parted the material. He didn't even warm the metal disc of the stethoscope before pressing it against his chest. Gavin gasped at the sensation, trying not to squirm as Nines deliberately teased the cold disc on his nipples.

"Phck! Asshole..." Gavin griped playfully, enjoying the deep rumble of Nines' chuckle as he moved the disc across his pecs to listen properly.

"Breathe in...Deep breaths..." He did as he was told, noting the slight pinch in Nines' brow as his chest wheezed. He'd been coughing a little with the flu. It probably wasn't anything serious. "I don't like the sound of your chest..." Gavin almost melted as a gentle hand touched his forehead. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, enjoying the coolness on his skin. He opened his eyes as the hand was removed and Nines opened a small metal tin. His eyes watered as soon as he smelled it. It was a chest rub to help him breathe. It felt strange. I seemed to cool and warm his skin at the same time as Nines massaged it into his chest.

"You know, I heard a hard fuck can help cure the flu faster..." Gavin knew he was pushing his luck. Nines' silvery gaze sharpened slightly, though the hand on his chest remained.

"That's a myth and you know it...If anything, the expended energy would make you feel worse. Not to mention the risk of infecting your partner." That much was probably true. He wouldn't want to make Nines sick. Nines probably wouldn't even take a break for illness. He'd push himself to work through it. "However...it is true that orgasms can affect your cortisol level and reduce congestion." Gavin blinked. Wait, really? Nines seemed amused as he used the hand on his chest to press him into the mattress. Gavin wondered why at first until his free hand tugged the sheets aside enough for him to reach the waist of his pants.

"Wait, right here?" Gavin hissed, green eyes wide with panic as he looked around at the other cots. Three of them were empty for now, the occupants currently out getting some air. Two guys at the far end were talking in hushed tones, another was reading, and the last one was sleeping soundly. Nines smirked, giving him a look that told him he'd asked for it. "Hey! Don't you phcking-hng!" Nines' hand reached over his waistline to wrap around his half-hard cock. Gavin's head fell back immediately, emerald eyes clouding as he gasped and bit his lip. It didn't help that Nines was smirking down at him, squeezing and pumping in slow strokes.

"Just lie back and accept your treatment, Sergeant..." Gavin pushed down a moan as he looked around, resting a hand on Nines' wrist to push him away. He was annoyingly immoveable. "Be good for me..." That just made him harder. Nines felt it, too. He smirked and tightened his grip, jerking the twitching flesh slowly. Gavin took a breath and closed his eyes. One hand reached up to grip the hand on his chest while the other remained on Nines' lower wrist, moving up and down with each slow pump. This is phcking crazy! He was pretty sure his cheeks were flushed as he looked around. No one was watching them, but they could look across at any minute.

It probably wouldn't look too bad if they did. Nines' hand was on his chest, but his busier hand was out of sight, hidden in the bunched up sheets. The only way they'd see properly was by walking over to stand at Nines' shoulder. Gavin panted softly, trying to hold back the little whines of approval that wanted to break free. They'd only kissed a few times and touched each other once or twice. Nines didn't know how badly he wanted to let loose and moan his appreciation to the world. This is why I wanted a little more phcking privacy! Oh-phck! A strangled whimper escaped. He looked at Nines like a deer in headlights.

"Shh, it's alright...It'll all be over soon..." Nines assured softly, as if soothing an anxious patient. That almost made it worse. He gripped Nines' wrist tighter, squirming in the sheets as he reached full hardness. "That's it, Sergeant...Take your medicine..." Gavin couldn't help letting out another little whine. He wanted it. He wanted his medicine. Nines' lips curled as he read it on his face. "I'll give you the full treatment when you're a little stronger." He felt his cock twitch at the news. He took in a slow, shuddering breath as the hand on his chest started rubbing circles again, creeping down to press and tease his nipples.

"Ph-phck, Nines..." It was barely a breath as it left his lips. He was pretty sure he must have the dumbest look of blind adoration on his face right now. He couldn't believe he was being jacked off in public. Sort of in public. His heart stopped as the young man with the book closed it. He was in the bed diagonally to the right, away from Nines. If he looked over, he wouldn't be able to see anything, but he'd probably know from the look on his face. He put the book down and looked around, eyes falling on Gavin a moment before he sighed and got to his feet. Oh phck! He pulled on his trench coat and boots before searching his pockets for a tin. Cigarettes. He was going for a smoke. Gavin closed his eyes in relief as he walked by without another glance.

"You enjoyed that...I could feel it." Nines squeezed his twitching cock meaningfully. Phck! I did phcking not! Gavin glared up at him as he continued to tease and pump. He was starting to feel it. That building swell that told him he was going to burst at any second. Nines hushed him as he removed the hand from his chest, leading his hand to bunch in the sheets as he grabbed the bedpan. Seriously? Gavin's eyes were wide as Nines smirked and moved the pan between his thighs. "Be good for me..." Gavin didn't need the reminder. His eyes snapped wide as Nines' second hand moved to squeeze and tease his balls in encouragement. That was too fucking much. He gasped, letting out a strangled little whine as he spilled. "That's it, Sergeant. Let it all out for me," Nines encouraged in a deep, silken tone as he milked him into the metal pan. He really hoped the other two guys didn't hear the gentle hissing tinkle as he spilled against the metal.

Nines watched with smug satisfaction as Gavin's body fell limp, the stress and strain leaving his muscles along with his release. He continued to stroke and tease him for a while, gently shaking him off before tucking him away. Gavin flushed. That was humiliating. Nines laid a cotton cloth over the bedpan, hiding the contents from view, before setting it aside. He got to his feet and leaned over him, buttoning his shirt and smoothing down the material. Gavin was tired and hazy as he settled back into the pillow, barely awake enough to register the quick press of lips against his forehead.

"Rest now...I'll take this to perform a thorough analysis." Gavin would have blushed if he had the energy. He was pretty sure Nines was just messing with him as he raised the bedpan and smirked. He was barely awake as he watched him leave the tent. His eyes fell shut in the tent and opened in the mansion. He whined softly as he noted the painfully tight bulge in his pants. Phck, it felt so phcking real...It had been real. He rested a hand over his tight trousers and pressed, remembering the first time Nines had dragged him to the woods a few days later. Time to take your medicine, Sergeant. He shivered at the silken tone.

That first time wasn't their best, but it was special nonetheless. He loosened his belt and pulled himself free as he thought about it. The shared chuckles and kisses. Cold, eager hands working beneath scratchy clothes. Biting ice on their skin as their pants dropped. The rough bark against his hands as he held himself up. Nines' hot breath in his ear. The slap of their skin. Nines' fingers stretching his ass. The filling pound as he finally pushed in. It was his first cock in over a year. He whimpered as he pumped himself, bouncing and squirming as he thought of Nines. He spilled at the memory of Nines reaching around to milk him, telling him how good he was to take his medicine so well. Despite talking about an injection and filling him up, he'd still pulled out. Mess like that wasn't exactly easy to clean up around the camp.

He sighed and panted as he turned on his side, ignoring the wet smears on his shirt and pelvis. How long would it take the war to end? How long until Nines came back? He missed him, and he'd only been gone for one fucking day. Nines...