"General, I assure you, I'm quite alright," McCall croaked, his fist clenched around the edge of the desk. His usually gentlemanly demeanor was replaced with strained stoicism, his face pale and sweaty.

Sandhoff looked at McCall with narrowed eyes, her patience running thin. "McCall, you've been displaying symptoms of hanahaki for days now. It's not something one can simply overlook."

"I... I understand that, General." McCall's attempt at a smile was painful to watch. His gaze drifted towards the window, lost in thought.

"McCall, confessing your feelings isn't an act of weakness," Sandhoff pleaded. "It's about honesty, and health, in your case." Her eyes reflected genuine concern, something rare considering her no-nonsense persona.

"But General, it's not that simple," McCall responded. His eyes met hers, revealing a depth of emotion he usually kept well hidden. Unspoken words lingered in the heavy silence that followed.

Breaking the silence, Sandhoff decided to take a different approach. "Alright, McCall," she said, softening her tone. "Let's pretend I don't know who this is about. What would you say to them?"

Caught off guard, McCall looked at Sandhoff, trying to read her expression. A nervous chuckle escaped from his lips as he tried to gather his thoughts.

After a moment, he spoke. "General, I would tell them that... their strength and tenacity inspire me. That I admire their resolve. That I... I... Ugh!" His voice faltered, pain lacing his words.

"McCall..." Sandhoff reached out, a hand aimed to comfort him. But she froze, realizing something. Her words, her composure, her tough demeanor... he was talking about her.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, processing the revelation. She looked at McCall, his pained expression, and felt her own emotions surge.

"McCall," She started, her voice barely a whisper. "Are you in love with... are you in love with me?" Her stern expression softened. Her hands trembled slightly.

He looked into her eyes, his expression filled with surprise and pain. The fear of rejection had held him back, but now, he could no longer hide his feelings.

"Yes, General," he admitted, his voice shaky. "Yes... I'm in love with you. You've been the one all along." His confession filled the room, the unspoken secrets finally revealed.

Sandhoff stared at him, a mix of shock and relief in her eyes. She stepped towards him, her hand reaching out to place gently on his. "You should have told me, McCall."

"I was scared, General," McCall confessed, his gaze locked onto hers. "Scared of losing you... losing our friendship, losing what we have."

"But you almost lost yourself, McCall," Sandhoff said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And that, I couldn't bear." Her confession mirrored his, a shared secret now out in the open.

"I'm sorry, General," McCall apologised, his voice filled with regret. "I should have been honest with you, with myself."

"Let's not dwell on that, McCall," Sandhoff reassured him, her fingers gently squeezing his. "What matters now is recovery. Your recovery." Her heart echoed the same sentiment.

A smile found its way onto McCall's pale lips. "I think, General... I think I already feel better." His words held the hope of a brighter tomorrow, a tomorrow unburdened by secrets.

Sandhoff smiled as well, relief washing over her. "It's about time, McCall," she said, her voice filled with affection. "It's about time." The unspoken secrets, now shared, took the weight off their shoulders.

They sat in comfortable silence, a newfound understanding settling between them. Their shared secret was no longer a burden, but a beacon of hope. Indeed, love could be a healing force.

From then on, McCall's health started to improve. His sickly pallor faded, replaced with his usual vitality. The confession had done its job – it had saved him.

As for Sandhoff, the truth opened a door she didn't know existed. She found herself experiencing emotions she had long buried, now resurfacing with a force she couldn't ignore.

Through it all, Sandhoff stood by McCall's side. Their friendship blossomed into something more profound, something stronger. The unconfessed love held no power over them anymore.

"Thank you, General," McCall told her one day, his gaze filled with gratitude. "Without your push, I don't know where I would be." His grateful eyes held a new fondness for her.

Sandhoff chuckled, her expression tender. "You needed a little push, McCall, that's all. But remember, it's our honesty that made the difference, not my push."

In the end, McCall's unconfessed love, once a curse, became his salvation. And Sandhoff, the stern, no-nonsense general, found a new perspective on love and honesty.

Their journey, while challenging, brought them closer than ever before. Bound by an unspoken secret, and now the knowledge of shared love, they moved forward together.

And so, in a world where hidden desires could be a curse, two souls navigated their way into each other's hearts. Unconfessed love, at last, found its voice.

And as they embraced their shared love, McCall and Sandhoff found the balance they were missing. Their unspoken secrets were out, and with them, they built a bond stronger than ever.

No longer unconfessed, their love was a beacon leading them into a future – a future intertwined with honesty, understanding, and above all, love. And with this, their story continued.