Doc Featherstone's Return by Stephani Hecht

don’t think I piss kittens every time Trevor has to go out on a mission?”
    Joshua paused. He’d never thought about it that way. There were a ton of other mated couples who were soldiers. Yet they somehow managed.
    “How do you get through it?”
    “You just have to learn how to let go and let them do their duty. It’s hard for Trevor, too, but we both know that we have a job to do.”
    “But Ash has already been through so much as
it is,” Joshua argued.
    Shane gave him a probing look. “You’re one of the few people I can actually be around for more than five minutes without wanting to kill, so I’m going to be straight with you. If somebody told you that you couldn’t be a doctor anymore, how would you take it?”
    “I would be pissed,” Joshua admitted.
    “That’s the same thing that you’re doing to Ash. He’s a trained field medic, and he’s damned good at it, too. In fact, he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and that goes a long way since I hate to give compliments. So if you really care for him, you won’t take this away from him.” With those parting words of wisdom, Shane turned and left.
    Joshua shook his head. Just when he thought that Shane was a one-dimensional killer, the guy had to go and surprise him. It went to show that sometimes looks could be deceiving. Shane saw a lot more than people gave him credit for.
    Finally, Ash came into view. He was dressed in a plain uniform instead of all the body armor, and his hair was slicked back from being wet. As soon as he saw Joshua, his face broke out into a grin, and he came running in Joshua’s direction.
    Joshua opened his arms and Ash all but jumped into his embrace. “I told you I would come back, didn’t I?”
    “Yes, you did, mate.”
“Sorry, I was late. I kind of made a mess of myself, and they made me clean up before they would let me back in the van. We do need to get our asses to the infirmary. They’re bringing in some wounded.”
    “Is it serious wounds?”
    “No, mostly flesh wounds. Nothing that’s life-threatening.”
    “Then let the others handle it. I just want to hold you for a moment longer,” Joshua said as he rubbed his face against the nape of Ash’s neck.
    The shower they’d given him had washed away some of his scent, and he wanted to get it back on.
    Besides, if things got too out of hand, Jacyn would page him so Joshua wasn’t worried.
    “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?” Ash asked as he tilted his head to the side.
    “What?” Joshua asked as he kissed and rubbed all over Ash’s face and throat.
    “Stamping me as your personal property.”
    “Yes, does it bother you?”
    “No, I love it. I just wish we had time to go to our living quarters, so you could do it properly.”
    Just the thought of rubbing all over Ash’s body had Joshua hard with need. “Oh, I’ll be doing that tonight. Just as soon as our shift is over. You can bet on that.”
    Ash let out a moan. “Now I’m going to be horny for the rest of the day. You are so unfair.”
“I promise to take good care of you all night long. Does that help any?”
    “No, it doesn’t, and you know that.”
    The overhead speaker came to life and Jacyn’s voice sounded, “Doctor Featherstone to the infirmary.”
    “Great, looks like that’s our cue,” Ash said.
    He grabbed Joshua’s hand, and they raced toward the infirmary. Once they got there, they dove in and began to help with the wounded.
    Kallen was up and hard at work, having recovered from his injuries. He waved hello, before getting back to work.
    Time passed quickly as it always did when they were busy, and before Joshua knew it, all the patients were taken care of and it was late. The cafeteria staff thoughtfully brought in food for everybody to eat. Ash attacked it like he hadn’t eaten in ages, and Joshua couldn’t help but remember the time when he had to force the Hawk to eat.
    How far they’d come in such a short time.
    Joshua couldn’t help but smile as he