She waved with the flowers and set the vase on the table. ‘You look good,’ Steve said, his voice not fully recovered, not quite as deep and rich a... it had been before. ‘Thank you,’ she answered. ‘You look good too.’ ‘Have you heard anything about Gwen?’ Steve asked, his eyes bright. ‘Fuck you very much,’ Gabby said with a sigh. ‘Miss Coltrane is fine. They’re supposed to release her from the hospital in about forty-eight hours.’ She waited a moment for that to sink in, and then added, ‘I’m. "He burned me out before, didn't he?"She nodded, looking at the floor."Kaye, is he slow?"She nodded again, the tears once more dripping to the floor."Christ, Kaye, I didn't know." I took her in my arms. "He came at me drawing that goddamned .45 and I already had my pistol in my hand. I couldn't do anything at a distance to disarm him but shoot. I'd already shot out the gas can in his other hand."I said, "Come on, let me pay for this counter top, then we can go out for a coffee and pastry." She. Plus, we're going on a LRP and I don't know when I can call her again."I smiled at Jack and suggested, "Jack, I can tell you really love her so why don't we bring some paper and pens and you can write her a letter each day. We can give them to other Marines to bring back to camp and mail for you."Jack smiled and said, "Thanks Banzai, that's a great idea. Now I just need to find some paper."I let him know I had it taken care of, "Jack, I already put some in your pack along with about ten. "I'm sosorry. Now go up to bed, and you will see me in the morning. Ipromise." I love you," Tommy said kissing her."I love you too, handsome."She watched Tommy ascend the stairs. Then she turned to head toward thekitchen, her heels clicking across the hardwood floor announced herarrival. She heard Jack get up in the family room and she met him inthe kitchen.He stood there before her with mixed look of anguish and happiness tosee her. She raised a finger to him. "We will talk later," she.