He nodded and waited for the doctor and nurse to step out of the screened area within the hospital ward. When they were alone he reached over and softly gripped Oglethorpe"s right hand and squeezed gently.
"James? James? Can you hear me? It"s me. Jake. You wanted to talk to me, James. Can you hear me?"
The heavily bandaged lieutenant moaned softly and then stirred somewhat underneath the sheets. An eye opened and then blinked a few moments before it focused and came to rest on Jake"s face.
"Jake… Jake, I"m glad you came!"
The lieutenant"s voice was the soft whisper of a dying man with just a few moments of life left in him. As Jake stood up he stepped closer to the bed and bent down to listen to the lieutenant. Jimmy Oglethorpe tried to grin but began coughing instead. For a few second
