Buford hadn't moved since the 16th, but had somehow stayed alive, the surgeon feeding him as best he could. It was then, that he felt his eyes flicker open and all of his senses came flooding back to him as he let out a harsh cough, struggling for a breath.

He shot forward, surprised at the sound. Afraid to get his hopes up that maybe the man was finally pulling out of this.

His eyes flickered around the room, noticing Hancock after a moment as he tried to get his bearings back. "Win..."He gasped, his voice weak and strained. He hadn't expected the General to be there, he didn't realize how much time had gone by.

He shook his head, "Don't speak, you've been out a long time." He stood slowly, "I'll be right back." He needed to get Anna, someone, he had no medical knowledge.

Buford was trying to register everything in his head, and he didn't listen to what Hancock said. "How..." He fought for the words, choked as he tried to speak again, "long?"

Before leaving the room, Hancock paused at the door, "Nine days..."

With his head spinning, Buford let his eyes close for a moment, his chest heaving slightly as he breathed, a bit more steady then it was when he had been in the coma.

Anna was in the next room, mending a shirt with Jenny sleeping against her shoulder. She worked slowly, rocking the chair slightly, careful not to wake her daughter.

Hancock only took a few steps down the hall, didn't enter the room the family was residing in. "He's awake..."

Evan looked up, glanced at his mother and sister. He still hadn't quite gotten used to the idea of Yankees using their house like this, but had decided not to complain, he knew it wouldn't do any good now.

Anna stood up, still holding Jenny who she laid carefully down on the couch nearby, not waking her as she stepped towards Hancock. "He's awake!" She's been sure at this point that the man would never wake up.

He nodded, keeping his voice low. "Just within the last few moments." Before turning back to where Buford was, he looked at the room the children had been left in. It was Christmas Day......what he wouldn't give to be home right now. He shook his head, the man in the other room had just woken after nine days of coma, that was more important.

She followed him into the other room and looked at the man who laid there. He heard their footsteps and opened his eyes again, looking over in Hancock's direction.

"Welcome to the land of the living..." Hancock said quietly to the other general

Buford blinked, was still getting his bearings again. "Thanks..." He managed to say, although talking was harder then he wanted it to be. He figured it was because, from what Hancock had said, that he hadn't been using it for a while.

Hancock nodded, was unsure what to say. For a week they'd been thinking the man was on the other side of death's door.

He coughed again, although it wasn't as harsh of a cough that it had been before the coma. It seemed, as if by some miracle, that he had been able to pull out of it, even when it had seemed close to impossible.

He glanced at Anna, "Thank you Ma'am. Without your help he'd be much worse off..."

"Your welcome," she said softly, looking from one to another. "He seems alright, I'll give you two a moment alone." She gave him a quick nod and slipped from the room, closing the door behind her to give them time together.

Buford kept his eyes on Hancock, still trying to figure out what day it was, he had lost track of time when he had been slowly getting worse and the coma hadn't helped.

"You're timing is indeed perfect, John. Everyone back in camp will enjoy this news." He smiled slightly, "Merry Christmas."

"It's..." Buford thought for a moment. "It's Christmas?" Again, he tried to do the math in his head, although he couldn't remember when he had gone out.

"It is," He said quietly, sitting in the chair again. "I've been here more than camp since the 16th, you apparently didn't wake up that morning."

It all started to fall into place and Buford gave a small nod, tried to sit up, although he was too weak to do that yet. He settled with just looking at his friend again. "Merry Christmas."

Evan tugged at his mother's skirt. "Mama, when do we get presents?"

Hancock smiled slightly, "Merry Christmas." The words made him remember that they were occupying a home that didn't share their sentiments. That the family was offering help when they could easily have turned them down. "We have much to be thankful for..."

"Yes..." Buford said, "Thank you." He smiled slightly, silent for a moment. "How's Gray Eagle?"

------

Anna glanced down at her son. "Hush dear, soon."

"He's fine." Hancock wasn't surprised by the question at all, "The colonel has been taking care of him, seeing that I have been here."

"Devin?" Buford asked, "How's he doing?"

"He's also fine." Hancock smiled, "Though I am afraid of returning to camp more often than not, for fear of being attacked for information."

Buford smiled as well, able to picture Devin doing that very thing. It didn't surprise him at all, the Colonel always seemed more concerned with him then he did himself. "If he'd like," Buford said, "I wouldn't mind seeing him." He knew it would also make Devin happy.

"I'll see if he can make it up to the house." He glanced out the door before looking at Buford again, "I do believe that should wait though, till you've come around a bit more."

• Forums are not to be used to post stories.
• All forum posts must be suitable for teens.
• The owner and moderators of this forum are solely responsible for the content posted within this area.
• All forum abuse must be reported to the moderators.