Wounds That Never Heal (Adler)

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

Country: German Military Hospital
Current Time: 22:00
Weather Conditions: Cold, windy night with rain.


"No, please! My baby" "Shut up, you swine!" "My son, let me stay with my son! Please!" The laughter echoed on and on. The sound of a gun shot jolted Freidrich from his sleep. He shot up in his bed to a sitting position. Sweat was pouring from his brow. It was the same dream over and over. The horrors he had seen in concentration camps where he had passed or gone through in his earlier days. He sat in the bed for a while and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. His lips felt dry and his tongue as well. He looked at a table close to him, on the table was a clear glass. No water. He blinked a few times and laid back. He then started moving himself to the edge of the bed. He reached for his crutches, inches out of reach. He reached for them, but no luck. he sighed and gave up for a second. He then tried again. This time he pawed at them and one of them fell into his grasp. He then put it under his arm pit and moved to the edge of the bed and let his legs dangle off. He let his feet down onto the ground. A freezing chill went up through his feet into his legs. Pain also followed in his wounded leg. He grunted as he put weight on it. It felt better than it did, but was nowhere near to fully healed.

Freidrich was now on both feet with both crutches in hand supporting him. He looked at the empty glass and sighed realizing that his hands were full and he couldn't pick it up. He then thought if he could get into the hallway a doctor or nurse would see him and help him. So he made his way to the door and opened it. He was greeted by horrified looks with mouths agape. Freidrich had no idea what he looked like, and he looked terrible. His eyes were dark and had bags under them, his skin was a sick pale color, and sweat stained shirt. He looked ghostly and his voice sounded very raspy. "May...I get some water?"

[Maddie Adler]

Maddie looked up at the man before her. He was asking for some water. Immediately, she grabbed a container and hurried over to him.

"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" She asked him softly as she grabbed a glass and poured in some water. Deciding to play safe, she spoke to him in English.

"Sir you need to sit down" she said to him warmly as she helped him sit on his cot. She handed him the glass of water. He had been shot in the leg from what Maddie could survey. She gently crouched down in front of him and checked on his leg. It bad begun bleeding again, probably from his moving around.

"You do need to stay off this. The wounds opened up again. If you are in any kind of pain, I can give you Morpine" She said to him looking up at him as she got a rag and gently cleaned the area before applying more antiseptic, which more than likely stung, and placed a fresh bandage around his leg, tying it tightly.

"Are you hungry as well?" she asked him, slowly standing up and waited for his repsonse. Some of the soldiers were probably delirious with a fever, but once it subsided, it generally went away. This man however seemed perfectly fine so far. She watched him.

Outside the wind howled and the rain batted against the windows, droplets streaking down the windows. She placed one hand on her hip as she looked at him. Some of the other soldiers blood had gotten on her apron but she didn't care

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

OOC: I personally don't speak German very well, so if you could translate into German and just see that he speaks it anyways. Thanks.

IC: Freidrich saw a young woman instantly come to his aid. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" She said kindly. Freidrich did not reply. He just stood. She then started pouring a glass of water for him. She then began speaking in English. "Sir you need to sit down." Freidrich suddenly realized he had spoken in English when he came out of the room. He did so he guessed because of his time in the American camp before being traded back to his platoon.

Freidrich sat on the cot and his muscles tensed as he did. She handed him the water and he drank it all quickly and gratefully. He felt uncomfortable having a woman tend to him and have her do work for him. The woman crouched and started checking his wound. Freidrich flinched when she checked his bandage. She took out a rag and started mopping the blood off of his leg.

"You do need to stay off this. The wounds opened up again. If you are in any kind of pain, I can give you Morpine" She said. Freidrich gave a little smirk. "Save the morphine for the men that need it." He spoke this time in German. He also said these words somewhat mockingly because he had seen surgeons on the field that dealt with men who had real wounds. Life threatening wounds.

"Are you hungry as well?" She asked. Freidrich looked at some of the people that were still staring at him. "Thank you...for the offer ma'am. May I ask something?" He didn't wait for a response. "What...what's wrong with me?" He asked sounding a bt troubled. He then looked at the glass and then into the womans eyes with question in his own.

[Maddie Adler]

OOC-omg ya i'm sorry i completely forgot to post the translation xD

IC: Maddie nodded at his request.

She fixed up his leg and then poured him some more water. She placed it on the table beside the cot.

"If you dont want morphine, I have a topical anesthetic. It's basically like novocaine. It's not much, but it should ease you if you have discomfort" Maddie said warmly.

The man asked what was wrong with him. She sighed and leaned against the wall, folding her arms over her chest.

"Well, it's nothing serious. So don't worry. You were shot in the leg, and a few bits of shrap metal had sprayed, but the doctor managed to get it all out. You wont lose that leg so far, but if infection sets in, especially gangrene, you're in a world of trouble" she looked at him. "Do you remember what exacltly happened?"

She wondered if he remembered being short or injured. Some didn't. He seemed coheren't and able to know what's going on around him.

"I am Maddie by the way," she said softly. She would speak to him in English, her German accent soft and warm. She reached up and wiped a bit of blood on her apron that had come from his wound. She watched him and waited patiently for him to respond.

Basically, most of her patients were taken care of, so if this man needed company or anything, she could take care of him without worry

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

OOC: I was meaning for myself. I don't speak great German, so if you could just realize that that's Freidrich native tongue and speaks it. Thanks.

IC: Freidrich stared off into space as she tended to his wound. "If you dont want morphine, I have a topical anesthetic. It's basically like novocaine. It's not much, but it should ease you if you have discomfort" The woman said sweetly. Freidrich looked at the woman. Attractive. Too bad she has to deal with people like me. Like people in this war. He thought to himself.

The woman stood and leaned against the wall. She spoke again answering his question. "Well, it's nothing serious. So don't worry. You were shot in the leg, and a few bits of shrap metal had sprayed, but the doctor managed to get it all out. You wont lose that leg so far, but if infection sets in, especially gangrene, you're in a world of trouble. Do you remember what exacltly happened?" Freidrich gave a smirk and looked down at the wound. "It was my own fault." He then looked into her eyes. "I lost two good men that day. Not even men, but boys." He felt the drag of guilt pull at his heart just as he had when he had been taken captive with the others. "It does not matter how I got the wound. Stupid, last effort." He said somewhat coldly mainly out of dissapointment of himself.

"I am Maddie by the way," she said, still speaking English. "Nice to meet your acquaintance, Miss Maddie. I am Freidrich." He said with a smile as he held out a hand. He then saw some fresh blood on her apron. "My, apologies. I did not know I was bleeding." He looked embarassed and hung his head slightly.

[Maddie Adler]

Maddie smiled.

"Dont apologize" she said. "I've had worse amount on me before"

She listened to him speaking and sat down beside him on a chair next to his cot. She was basically assigned to him for now. Maddie leaned forward.

"That's horrible. I can't wait for this war to be over" she admitted to herself softly. She studied him.

"I didn't get into this for glamour" she grinned at him. Her tone was light and joking. "Although, this uniform does NOTHING for my figure"

She chuckled.

"I enjoy helping people no matter where they're home might be. I tend to all not caring their background or native tongue. They ALL deserve care and respect" she said nodding.

It was true. No matter what tongue the men spoke, she would tend to them regardless. They were human either way. Besides German, Russian or whatever, they were still the same on the inside. Though some of their hearts were darker than most, that was the only difference. Maddie was tough. If someone gave her a hard time, she would become tough right back and get downright honery. She seemed sweet but don't tick her off. Maddie could certainly handle herself though. It was a thing her father had taught her all her life. How to fight. Unfortunately, those skills had somewhat faded now as her nursing skills became the dominant.

"Do you live near Berlin? Where do you live?" she asked him curiously tilting her head to the side.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Dont apologize, I've had worse amount on me before" said the young nurse. Freidrich nodded. "That's horrible. I can't wait for this war to be over." She said to Freidrich. "If it is the Führer's will...what am I saying? I am not some brain washed child." He suddenly cut his thought off. He didn't want to give away his real thoughts on Hitler and the Nazi regime. It would be counted as treason if he was heard by the wrong person.

"I didn't get into this for glamour." The woman said jokingly. Freidrich cracked a little smile. "Although, this uniform does NOTHING for my figure." She continued. Freidrich looked at her and smiled lightly.

"I enjoy helping people no matter where they're home might be. I tend to all not caring their background or native tongue. They ALL deserve care and respect." He had listened intently as she spoke. If there was something he could ever do, it was listen. He thought it was time for him to speak, though. "War...war changes you. People are people, but wars make them animals. What do animals do? They kill otehr animals." He said answering his own question. "All I can be from here on, is an animal. That's what the Regime makes you...an animal." He said the last words grimly and disgustedly as he looked to the ground.

She spoke once again. "Do you live near Berlin? Where do you live?" He looked at her. "I lived in Badem-Württemberg." He said as he shrugged off the question, attempting to dodge it. His home, wasn't much of a home anymore.

[Maddie Adler]

Maddie nodded and listened to him. He was absoluetely right.

" I agree. Animals are nuts. They panic and cause mayhem" she said to him.

"Would you like more water? or perhaps something to eat?" she offered getting up and taking a step toward the door.

He needed to eat now to gain his strength back. The more stronger he got the more he would get out of here faster.

"You'll need your strength to get out of here. Trust me this isn't the most happening place right now. " her lip twitched at that.

She sensed that he didn't want to talk about his home, so she quickly dropped the subject. She smiled at him instead.


"Are you married? Do you have a wife waiting for you? A family?" she implied softly.

She learned that if a soldier didn't want to talk about it much, he wouldn't. She never pushed them into doing anything. She agreed though that war changes people. She met his gaze.

"Granted war changes people, but I am determined NOT to change for anyone" she said nodding. "I'm afraid we dont have any filet mingon or steak, but it's not bad food"

She grinned at him and waited for him to respond.

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"I agree. Animals are nuts. They panic and cause mayhem." Freidrich smiled at the comment. "I guess I am going nuts then." He said lowly. The woman was very persistent in keeping him well nourished. She offered him food and water every few minutes. He had never experienced real care before other than his parents. Even they were working or out trying to find ways to make the family survive. Freidrich felt his stomach grumble. He was indeed hungry. "I could go for a meal." He watched the woman move to the door. He used his crutches to support him and he got up as well. He made his way next to her and she continued talking. "You'll need your strength to get out of here. Trust me this isn't the most happening place right now. " Freidrich nodded.

"Are you married? Do you have a wife waiting for you? A family?" Freidrich knew she only wanted to make conversation, so he kept it going. "No, I do not have a wife. I doubt anyone is waiting for me. I have a father and a mother, I haven't heard from them since I joined a few years ago." He said solemnly. "What about you, Miss Maddie?" He said turning the conversation into a more joking manner. He waited for the reply.

"Granted war changes people, but I am determined NOT to change for anyone. I'm afraid we don't have any filet mingon or steak, but it's not bad food" Freidrich gave a kind smile. "You are lucky to have that mindset...I wish I could be that same boy I was when I left home." He then turned the conversation. "Don't worry. Anything is better than rations, I guarantee it."

[Maddie Adler]

Maddie smiled at him.

"Well, I am in love with someone" she said softly.

Her mind shifted to Jan and she felt a bit of heat creeping into her cheeks. She quickly cleared her throat and turned back to the young man.

"Well you never know you could find someone" She said brightly. "Just never give up hope on that"

She nodded and led him to the small patient cafeteria area. She found a table and gently helped him to sit.

"I'll get you some food. The meals here are a little tastier than just what i was forcing you to scarf down" she grinned at him. She vanished onto the line and got him some meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. She herself simply got a bottle of water as she'd eaten her own food a few hours ago. She took a seat in front of him again and helped him lean the crutches against the table.

"Hopefully this war would be over soon" she commented softly. She studied him. She reached up and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and waited for him to respond

[Stabsgefreiter F. Blutstein]

"Well, I am in love with someone." she replied and smiled. Freidrich bowed his head slightly. "Good for you miss." He said and smiled. He then heard her clear her throat and spoke again. "Well you never know you could find someone. Just never give up hope on that." She said kindly. Freidrich shifted on his crutches. "Yeah...hope." Freidrich said in an almost mocking manner. He didn't mean to mock her, but to mock himself. He didn't have much hope anymore. Not after seeing what Wolfrick had become. Wolfrick was still only a boy, like a son to Freidrich. He had changed so much. "I only hope in God, Maddie." He then started moving to the chair that was at a table. She helped him sit and he nodded his appreciation.

"I'll get you some food. The meals here are a little tastier than just what i was forcing you to scarf down." Maddie was a very kind woman. It made Freidrich almost uncomfortable to be around her. He had really only ever known hatred and death. He tried to be a kind person, but war and propaganda had started running it's course.

She helped him set his crutches up against the table as she set a plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. She had with her a bottle of water. "Hopefully this war would be over soon." Freidrich paused. He then spoke. "Yes...I hope that."

Freidrich bowed his head and clasped one of his hands in the other. He said a prayer for a few seconds then raised his head. "You're not going to eat?" He asked before he even picked up his fork.