Page 43 of Love and Loyalty

Izzy would sit beside Drew's bed, holding her hand and talking about everything and nothing—their dreams, fears, and aspirations. Drew felt like she was getting to know Izzy on a deeper level, and she reveled in their connection.

As Drew's recovery neared its end, Izzy's behavior began to change. She would arrive at the hospital, her usual smile faltering, her eyes clouded with a mixture of emotions. She would sit beside Drew, her hand grasping hers tightly, but her gaze would wander as she was lost in thought.

At times, Izzy would pause mid-conversation, her words hanging in the air as if she was struggling to find the right words. Drew sensed a turmoil brewing inside Izzy, and she prayed that this storm would not dare to upend the intimacy they had built with each other over the last few weeks.

One day, as Izzy sat beside Drew's bed, her eyes welled up with tears. Drew's heart skipped a beat as she reached out, her hand brushing against Izzy's cheek.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Drew whispered.

Izzy's gaze locked onto Drew's, her eyes searching for something—reassurance, comfort, love. "I don't know what's going to happen next, Drew." Her voice cracked. "I don't know why I'm still so scared for you, even though you're safe now."

Drew's mind raced, trying to understand the underlying currents of Izzy's words. What did she mean? Safe from what? But before Drew could ask any questions, Izzy leaned in, her lips brushing against Drew's, a soft, gentle kiss that spoke volumes.

That night, many questions went unanswered, but most importantly, for the first time in weeks, Drew wondered where she actually stood with Izzy.

All that was forgotten the next day, which happened to be the final day of Drew's recovery and the beginning of her reintegration into the unit, and she was eager to get back to her normal routine. As she walked into the barracks, she was greetedby an eerie silence. The usual bustle of activity was absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness.

Drew's curiosity was piqued, and she quickened her pace, her heart beating with anticipation. As she turned a corner, she was met with a sight that took her breath away.

A huge, bold banner was right in her face, and just as she tried to clear it away, she was shocked to see that the entire special operations unit was gathered in the mess hall, their faces beaming with smiles.

"Surprise!" they all chorused.

Balloons and streamers adorned the room, and another giant banner reading "Welcome Back, Major!" hung from the ceiling.

She couldn't believe what had prompted her team to do this, and she truly believed it was her team, til a further look revealed that it was like the entire military personnel on the base had come to welcome her.

But what caught Drew's attention was Izzy, standing at the center of it all, her eyes shining with love and adoration. Drew's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Izzy had planned this entire surprise party for her.

As Drew made her way through the crowd, her unit members congratulated her on her recovery, their words and hugs filling her with warmth. But Drew's gaze kept drifting back to Izzy, who was watching her with an intensity that made Drew's soul flutter.

When they finally reached each other, Izzy took Drew's hand, her touch sending shivers down Drew's spine. "I wanted to make this moment special for you," Izzy whispered.

Drew's feelings for Izzy surged as she gazed into her eyes. She saw the love, care, and devotion that Izzy had poured into this surprise party. Drew knew at that moment that she was deeply, irrevocably in love with Izzy.

As they shared a tender look and the room erupted in cheers and applause, Drew knew that she would never let go of this feeling, this love that had blossomed in the most unexpected way. Izzy had shown her that love could conquer, even the darkest of times, and Drew was forever grateful.

As the night wore on, Drew and Izzy found themselves lost in conversation, their words flowing effortlessly as they shared their deepest feelings. The surprise party was just a distant memory now, replaced by the quiet intimacy of the moment.

As they sat together on the couch, hands entwined, their talk turned to the future. Deployment would be over soon, and the prospect of returning to their normal lives was both exciting and daunting.

"I don't know what I'll do without you by my side," Drew said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Izzy's gaze locked onto hers, her eyes burning with intensity. "You'll never have to find out," she replied, her voice firm. "We'll face whatever comes next together."

But as they delved deeper into the conversation, differences in opinion began to emerge. Drew wanted to take things slow and figure out their relationship in a civilian setting. Izzy, on the other hand, was eager to leave the unit and start a new life together, free from the constraints of military protocol.

Their discussion turned into a light argument, with both women passionately expressing their views. But as the night wore on, they began to see each other's perspectives, their love and understanding bridging the gaps.

In the end, they came to a mutual decision. They would leave the unit together, forging a new path, one step at a time. No more secrets, no more hiding. Just them, together, facing whatever the future held.

As they embraced, their hearts beating as one, Drew knew that she had found her soulmate in Izzy. And Izzy knew that she had found her forever love in Drew.

Their love had conquered all, even the uncertainty of their future. And as they drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, they knew that nothing could ever tear them apart again.

As the days went by, Drew and Izzy continued to spend every spare moment together, their bond growing stronger with each passing hour. Despite the demands of their deployment, they found ways to steal away and be together, whether it was a quiet walk around the base, a shared meal, or a simple moment of connection.

Their unit's activities became a blur as they went through the motions, their minds always drifting back to each other. They would exchange secret glances during briefings, their eyes locking in a way that spoke volumes.