+Author's Note

Oh it feels so good to be back darlings! I've missed you all! ^^
I hope you're all ready for another book!

"Three fractured bones"

"A concussion"

"Left arm wrentched, right ankle sprained"

"Not to mention series of cuts, bruises, ripped muscles, and other injuries"

A sigh escaped the German's lips.

"All in zhe course of 2 veeks"

Medic gazed up from his clipboard, and saw his patient smile weakly from the operation table, with his neck in a cast; His cracked aviators tucked neatly into his shirt and his dusty hat on the side.

Medic looked through the notes on his clip board, frowning as his dove perched himself onto his shoulder.

"So tell me.."

The Austrailan looked up.

"Do you enjoy hurting yourself? Or are jou merely stupid?"

Sniper bit his lip and turn his gaze sideways, unable to meet the German's stern gaze.

"Jou haff come here at least twice everyday. And according to jour medical records, jour injuries seem to get even vorse by zhe day"

Sniper gave a small awkward cough, and stared down at his feet.

"Sorry 'bout tha' Doc. Won't happen again"

Medic scoffed. He's been hearing the same words over and over again for the past few weeks with no progress on the bushman's part.

With a click of his tongue Medic moved the medigun attached from the ceiling towards Sniper.

"Vell let's get zhis over vith zhen"

And in a flash of light, Sniper's injuries disappeared quickly.

With a small grunt Sniper jumped off the operation table and soon shuffled out the operation room, mumuring a low "thanks" as he went.

Medic's eyes trailed after the Austrailian, as he frowned in thought.

"Coo?"

Medic gave a nod.

"Indeed Archimedes... indeed.."

++++++++++++++++++++++

Medic put a light coat on and followed Sniper into town. Trying to stay out of sight, Medic had to take a detour; spinning around alleys or smaller roads. But he managed to stop his car to a halt, hiding behind a large hill safely out of Sniper's sight.

Medic and Archimedes slowly got out of the car and saw Sniper mumuring incoherent words, as he slowly walked towards a café.

"Vhat in zhe name of.."

The café was placed downhill, at the edge of a small lake. The stairs that headed down towards the café were made of dark wood.

Archimedes gave a coo and turned his head towards the bushman, beckoning Medic to do the same.

Observing Sniper carefully, Medic saw Sniper caught up in his own thoughts, walking in circles and occassionally tripping over small rocks.

"So.. all Oi wanted to say was... will you go out-"

And right then Sniper walked into a lamp post.

Medic cringed at the painful sight and saw Sniper rubbing his head.

"Bloody lamp post.... wot was Oi saying?"

With a moment of thinking, Sniper went back to his muttering.

"Oi think you're a really pretty sheila and..."

Realization slowly crept into Medic.

"Vait.. is he...?"

Medic slowly turned his gaze and saw that Sniper was looking at a girl in the café.

Sniper stared at the girl, watching her through the large windows, sipping her cup of coffee while reading a book. Slowly flipping the pages, the girl gave a small smile; Absorbed into the book that she was holding so dearly.

And with a deep breath, Sniper took a brave step towards the stairs, when suddenly he tripped and fell, rolling down the stairs and finally landing into a crumpled heap.

Fortunately, the girl didn't see the fuss outside, and calmly went about her reading.

Medic gave a groan as he watched this scene from afar.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Slowly dusting himself off, Sniper walked up the stairs, his shoulders slouched from defeat.

With a sigh, he slowly walked towards his car, ready to call it a day when he saw Medic looking at him with both pity and amusement, his dove fluttering on his shoulder.

"Wha..??? D-doc?! Wot are you doin' he-"

"So zhis is vhy jou alvays end up half dead"

Sniper blushed furiously.

"No! No, Oi.. uh, just.. work out a bit and.."

Sniper's voice grew smaller as he saw the German's expression.

"...."

"...."

"Zhat vas a terrible lie"

"Yeah.."

Sniper groaned and sat down on one of the steps, Medic did the same, and patted Sniper's back.

"Vell zhat certainly explains zhings, vhy haven't jou talked to her yet?"

Sniper held his head in his hands, groaning.

"Oi can't talk to girls Doc! Oi can't even talk to that bloody cash register at walmart!"

"....Barbra?"

"Yes!! And she's in her 50's roight now! If Oi can't even talk to that old woman, how am Oi supposed to talk to that sheila ovah there?!"

Sniper gestured towards the café and the two men watched a girl with (h/c) hair and (e/c) eyes, smile softly as she kept reading the book.

"Jou did a gute job a vhile back! Just say vhat jou said a vhile ago to her!"

Sniper gave a mortified look, embarrassed that anyone heard him.

Medic gave a chuckle and gripped Sniper's shoulder.

"Let's try again tomorrow. For now, let's get jou cleaned up Ja?"

Sniper looked down at his ripped pants, along with his injured hands, and slowly felt his broken nose.

"Sounds loike a plan Doc"

++++++++++++++++++++++

The next day, Sniper came out wearing a white button up with his sleeves rolled up, holding a small bouquet of flowers; Wearing some black slacks with neat shoes he borrowed from Spy.

He carefully treaded down the staircase, and with each step, he took extra caution to walk slowly, trying not to trip on anything.

Medic walked along with him.

"Jou're doing a gute job so far! Just be calm und gentle"

Sniper started sweating nervously, repeating Medic's words under his breath.

"Calm.. gentle.."

The two men managed to reach the café without incident, suprising the Bushman greatly.

"Oi managed to get here without hurting myself!"

Medic chuckled.

"Jou're onto a gute start zhen!"

Sniper beamed and they both walked into the café, Medic standing afar, while Sniper walked in to find the girl.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Medic quietly hummed to himself as he waited, but quickly became confused to see Sniper back so soon.

"Hmn?"

He saw Sniper talking to the barista. The two men exchanged some words. Medic watched curiously from afar, and was soon surprised.

He saw that the hand that held the bouquet shook, and slowly one by one, the flowers dropped onto the ground.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

It was 2 days later when Sniper finally began to talk. He said that the girl had moved away.

Medic was tempted to ask at how far the girl had gone, but the defeated look in his friend's eyes advised him to keep quiet.

And that was how it ended. No introductions, denial or approval. Not even a simple greeting had been exchanged between the two.

Medic was indeed startled to find the bushman so upset.

"Time vill heal zhe wounds"

Sniper smiled sadly at the Doctor's kind words, but none of them knew how deeply the pain coarsed through Sniper.

Time passed on, and regretting his shyness, Sniper began to put some effort to speak to woman.

He and Barbra soon were able to exchange small talk, and Sniper soon learned how to talk to woman and also learned how to politely reject Barbra's constant hook ups with her daughter and him.

A month had passed, and Ms. Pauling announced that they would be changing bases. The 9 mercenaries soon packed their things, Sniper was the most enthusiastic, glad to leave the town that had left him so much sorrow.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

"Hey!"

"Wot is it ya bloody dingo"

"It's our turn to buy da groceries, remember?"

Sniper grunted and slowly got up from the couch, relunctant to leave the football game he was watching. He lightly punched Demoman's shoulder.

"Fill me in later"

Demoman nodded absentmindedly and soon Soldier, Heavy and Demoman gave a roar as a football player landed a touchdown.

Sniper barely peeled his eyes away from the game but soon headed out with Scout chatting away.

After a short drive to the supermarket, Sniper and Scout continued chatting (with Scout being the louder one) and headed inside.

Scout kept chatting as Sniper filled the cart with groceries.

"Hey Snipes, didya see da- OH MY GOSH!"

"Wot?? Wot??!!"

"LOOK AT DAT MOUNTAIN!!"

Scout pointed towards a large mountain that was made from boxes of various flavors of Bonk! Soda.

"Oh bloody hell.."

Scout ran off towards the mountain without a second thought, and Sniper just shook his head.

'Loike a kid with a Christmas present.. Moight as well do the rest of the shopping myself'

Sniper turned the cart towards a random aisle, looking through his shopping list.

'Hmm let's see.. tomtato sauce.. canned pineapples.. three boxes of-'

His thoughts were soon interupted with a crash, he and the cart he was pushing fell down, and a small yelp was heard near him.

"I'm so sorry!"

He quickly gathered the things that fell out of the cart when a small hand held out to reach him.

"Here, let me help you up!"

Sniper looked up from the can of beans he was holding when he saw a girl with (h/c) hair, and (e/c) eyes.

He froze when he realized who she was.

"Hi, my name's (y/n)! Sorry about that"

Sniper gave a grin.

"Name's Mick. Have Oi ever met you before?"