He had decided whoever invented the clock had done it to annoy him. It was bad enough he couldn't feel his legs, not to mention only getting one cigarette a day, but to hear tickticktick all day long was really beginning to drive him insane.

He felt useless, lying in bed, idling day after day away while his comrades were out there fighting. He knew it wasn't his fault but it didn't do anything to assuage him, didn't quench his desire to do something.

He needed to get out of here.

He hears the door open and sees his mother peer around.

"Are you comfortable, Jean? Do you need anything?"

He manages to repress the reply, I need my legs. No need getting angry at his mother, it wasn't her fault he was paralysed.

"I'm fine, Mum." he forces a smile before turning to look out the window. He can still feel her in the room, sense her hesitation before she speaks.

"Jean…" she pauses before continuing in a rush of words, "You know we're here for you, don't you? Anything you need. If you want to do anything, go outside—"

"What I need," he mutters through clenched teeth, "is my legs back. What I need is to be useful."

He regrets the words as soon as they escape his lips and he turns to see the door slam shut.

He will be startled out of his thoughts when the phone begins to ring.

"Hello?"

"Yahooooo, Second Lieutenant Havoc!" an excited voice will chirp over the line.

"… Rebecca?"

"How are things with you? Keepin' busy?" she will ask happily.

He will chuckle in reply, her enthusiasm as infectious as it always was. "As good as things can be, I suppose. Feeling a little useless just sitting here, but what can you do?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked! You see," her tone will suddenly turn serious and he will feel a shiver of anticipation, "I think you're just the man for a job we need done."

"Me?"

"You."

He will take a moment to think and, in that moment, realise he didn't need to think at all. His voice will shake slightly, barely able to suppress his excitement.

"Tell me what I can do."