#Dick Winters x OC

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Take These Broken Wings

Dick Winters x Enlisted!Unnamed Female OC/Reader

Trapped behind his desk, Dick finds out the unthinkable has happened to the woman he cares about. Now he has to deal with the consequences; first as her commanding officer and then as the man who loves her.

Warnings: MAJOR Canon Divergence, Angst, Implied Sexual Assault, Descriptions of OC/Reader Injuries, Discussion of Retaliatory Violence, Gentleman's Agreement Not To Prosecute, Period Specific Ideas about Honor and Protection of Women, PTSD, Weapons, Language, Inevitable Historical and Military Inaccuracies, Mature/Explicit Themes - 18+ ONLY.

Author's Note: Self-indulgent canon divergence with little explanation ahead, read at your own risk. Because of the sensitive nature of this fic, I chose to write it in the third person but only a nickname is used so it can be read as a reader fic. This is a work of fiction based off the portrayal by the actors in the HBO series. I hold nothing but respect for the real life individuals referenced within, particularly the Red Devils in this case!

Special Note: Dearest tag list, I have chosen not to tag any of you because this is so wildly different than my usual fics, I just wasn't sure who would want to read it.

Word Count: 4148

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October 17, 1944 – Schoonderlogt, Holland

It had never been his intention to fall in love with her. With any of the female paratroopers in the 506th, for that matter. But like the slow erosion of a river carving a new path through bare rock, she had ever so gradually hollowed out a place for herself in his heart until all at once he realized he could not live without her. Of course, if one were to ask her, she fell in love with Dick Winters the first day they met in Toccoa, Georgia, sun scorching their skin, blazing his hair copper – or so she liked to remind him often.

His realization had not come until he’d found her halfway up a tree in Normandy, tangled in the lines of her parachute, desperately trying to slice herself free before she was discovered by enemy troops. The sheer panic he had felt as his mind flooded with all the possible ways he could have lost her that night had only served to drive home how deeply he cared for Peaches. Dick didn’t often use the nickname that Nix had bestowed on her; a nickname born of some sordid adventure involving cans of peaches that he’d decided he’d rather not know about. But he did love the way it made her nose crinkle when he slipped it into their stolen moments together. Moments that were becoming harder and harder to find now that he had been placed in charge of 2nd Battalion.

Several pages being laid on his desk by Zielinski tore Dick out of his inner musings and he lifted his pen to add his signature to the line where his Orderly pointed expectantly. Sink had assured him the paperwork would be ‘nothing to sweat’ but Dick was certainly sweating it now. The call of Nixon’s voice as he came up the stairs was a welcome reprieve from the rapidly multiplying stacks of paper on his desk, something that his friend seemed only too happy to point out.

Dick could only feel envy, mixed with trepidation and a certain amount of helplessness, as Heyliger informed him Operation Pegasus was preparing to launch in a matter of hours and he remained trapped in his combination office and bedroom in the attic. As the pair of them made their way down the stairs and out of the requisitioned farmhouse, Dick looked up from his typewriter once more as he heard Nixon’s bright greeting.

“Hey there Peaches, you’ve got something on your face.”

“Very funny Captain. Lieutenant.” He heard her voice reply and did his best not to grin.

“Zielenski, could you go grab a new box of pencils from the storeroom? It’s going to be a long night.” Dick swallowed, doing his best to come up with an excuse for two minutes alone with her, five if he was lucky.

“Yes, sir.” There was a note of confusion in the man’s voice but thankfully he complied, hustling down the stairs.

There was a moment of silence before he heard the door shut followed by the sound of her jump boots scuffing up the worn wooden steps, grinning as she was startled to find him waiting for her at the top of the stairs.

“And here I was thinking I’d surprise you…Who was that?” She glanced back towards the door, and he sighed, shaking his head.

“Don’t worry about it, how’re you feeling about this thing?” He asked softly, taking her hands in his.

“Should be fine, Moose picked mostly people who can swim, the Canadians are nice. That Colonel Dobie sure is handsome.” She teased lightly, lacing her fingers with his.

Despite her teasing tone, Dick still felt a little annoyed at the comment, particularly given the fact that the man was free to swim the river in reconnaissance and join the operation that night while he was a glorified paper pusher.

“Too bad for him I like ‘em tall as a stalk of corn and copper as a penny.” She leaned in to press her lips to his and Dick felt his eyes fall shut, tension that he’d been carrying for hours slowly ebbing from his body.

She pulled back with a soft smile before frowning apologetically. “Sorry my love I got grease paint on you.” She licked her thumb and swiped at his cheek like he was a grubby toddler, and he could not help the broad grin that stretched his features even as he felt his cheeks heat up at the term of endearment she’d only recently begun to use.

“I’ll get it in a moment, Peaches.” He muttered, glancing around to ensure they were still alone before sliding an arm around her waist to pull her close, kissing her soundly. “Be safe out there…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…”

“Oh, like run across a field toward two companies of SS by myself?” She narrowed her eyes at him, and he pressed his lips together, still able to hear every word of her displeasure at being left behind for the agonizing seconds it took for the red smoke signal to appear.

“Especially that.” He muttered, clearing his throat and taking a step back as he heard the door open at the bottom of the stairs.

She quickly grabbed her handkerchief and soaked it with water from her canteen, passing it to him so he could scrub at his face, hopefully removing all evidence of their interlude.

“Pencils sir.” Zielenski held out the box proudly and she raised an eyebrow, introducing herself warmly to the Orderly.

“That’ll be all, Sergeant, good luck out there.”

“Thank you sir, appreciate your time.” She replied smoothly, looking completely unaffected while Dick was very aware of the residual heat in his face.

Dick took his time opening the box, watching her back as she slowly descended out of sight until the door closed shut behind her. Sinking into his chair he submitted himself to another few hours of pointing and signing with his Orderly before sending the boy to bed, peering out his window hopefully when a great ruckus arose from one of the barns out back.

Glancing at his watch to confirm it was nearly 0200, he smiled a little to himself as everything seemed to have gone off alright. Rain drops began to sporadically strike the windowpane before the clouds opened into a steady, driving rain. Dick dropped the curtain with a sigh, the room filled with the rhythmic sound of water striking the roof and rolling off the eaves. It was dangerously tempting to lay his head down on his desk and give in to the heaviness in his eyelids, to allow himself to be lulled to sleep. Shaking himself physically, he turned back to yet another report and began striking the keys of his typewriter with a vengeance, hoping to keep himself awake with the racket.

Dick was just spooling a fresh page into place when Nixon was suddenly hurrying up the stairs, followed by Colonel Dobie himself. Both men were wet as drowned rats, but it was the seriousness of their faces that pulled Dick to his feet immediately, securing the pencil from between his teeth into his fist.

“Dick, you remember Colonel Dobie.”

“Yeah…yeah I do…” He replied slowly, trying to ignore the feeling of a sword dangling over their heads as he waited for them to tell him what was going on.

“Terribly sorry to barge in at such a late hour but I wanted to inform you of this incident personally. Well, incidents more precisely. It appears that one of our men, a Holman from Yorkshire, has been severely beaten by a couple of your men from Easy in retaliation for his attack on one of your female soldiers.”

Dick nodded once as he processed the news, heartrate picking up immediately. There were a total of twenty-seven women in 2nd Battalion, but given that it had been only Easy involved in Pegasus, that narrowed it down to a possible nine, of which just a handful had been chosen for the operation. Dick merely had to glance at Nixon to confirm his worst fear. Peaches.

He didn’t realize how tight his grip on the pencil in his hand had grown until the wooden object snapped in two.

“I am willing to consider the matter settled and in need of no further action. The man in question will be returned to England and assigned to some menial duty once he recovers from his injuries.” Dobie continued.

“That will take some time?” Dick asked calmly, despite the searing rage he felt rushing through him.

“Your men were thorough, Captain.” The Colonel replied, grimly.

Dick stood there a moment, eyeing an ink stain that had seeped into the wooden desk top while he was refilling his pen, considering. A beating and unpleasant assignment as punishment for heaven knows what the man had inflicted on her. But to demand more formal proceedings would immediately require testimonies and punishments for the men who had taken it upon themselves to defend her honor. He closed his eyes a moment, vision immediately flooded with her smiling face on one of the blissful outings they had enjoyed during their furlough in England. Forcefully setting the image aside, despite the way it wrenched at his heart to do so, he nodded again. If only to save her further pain.

“Agreed.” Dick offered his hand, Colonel Dobie sealing their agreement with a firm handshake.

Dobie turned to shake Nixon’s hand as well before seeing himself out, Dick waiting until he heard the door close before he spoke again. Two questions on the tip of his tongue, two men inside him, warring for dominance. To his dismay, he had to allow the Battalion’s commanding officer to speak first.

“Who are our vigilantes?”

“Martin and Randleman.” Nixon replied, sitting on one of the folding chairs at the small table in the corner with a heavy sigh. “Moose has them downstairs if you want to talk to them.”

“Yeah. Show them up.”

Nixon leveraged himself out of the chair and was halfway across the attic before he suddenly turned back. “She put that can of peaches in Parkes’ footlocker.”

Dick eyed his friend in confusion, the information seeming utterly irrelevant to their current situation until he suddenly remembered one of Sobel’s impromptu barracks inspections back in Toccoa.

“That dumb bastard wouldn’t leave the women in her squad alone, so she planted it there to get him in trouble – never expected him to get thrown out entirely.” Nixon sighed heavily.

“Where is she?” Dick asked quickly, the words almost melding together in his haste to get them out of his mouth.

“Johnny thinks she’s holed up in the supply barn, I’ll find out.” Nixon replied with a frown and Dick nodded silently, muscles of his jaw clenching almost painfully as he clung to the last vestiges of his focus.

He tossed the broken halves of the pencil onto the desk, frowning at the mess of lead on his palm and pulled the handkerchief from his pocket, frown deepening at the smudges of grease paint there from her face. He clenched the fabric between his fingers as Moose entered the office followed by a hard-faced Martin and a typically laidback Randleman.

“What happened?” He asked plainly, eyeing them expectantly.

Moose stood off to the side, watching Martin and Randleman exchange a look.

“Don’t all talk at once…” Dick prodded calmly, and Martin turned back to him.

“Bull and I were on our way out of the celebration, wanted to beat the rain and get back to our quarters – didn’t work out. Ran into Peaches as we got around the corner of the building. She looked like hell, roughed up, wouldn’t tell me what happened.”

“She just ran, not like her at all, sir.” Randleman chimed in.

“And then that bastard from the Devils, or whatever they call themselves, came around the corner looking all pleased with himself. Adjusting his pants.”

“Knuckles busted up.” Came Randleman’s addition once more.

“Anyway,” Martin continued after a sharp nod of agreement, “it didn’t take a genius to put two and two together.”

Dick exhaled a slow, measured breath. “I can appreciate why you both did what you did. Next time, and we can only hope we never have to have this conversation again, bring him to Moose, to me. We have systems in place, alright?”

“Sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

“All that said…well done.” Dick said with quiet emphasis, letting his pride and gratitude burn brightly in his gaze. “And you’re both on latrine duty for the next two weeks.” He tacked on because he really had no choice but to punish them.

A pair of smirking salutes was the only response before Moose ushered them out. Dick waited until the count of twenty before sliding the suspenders of his OD pants onto his shoulders, shrugging into his jacket and clapping on his helmet. Grabbing his M1 and flashlight, he quickly made his way down the stairs and out into the persistent deluge toward the supply barn, nearly slamming into Nixon on the way.

“Follow me.” His friend nodded and continued to lead the way, nodding to Liebgott who was standing guard at the door, soaked to the skin.

“Joe.” Dick greeted him, noting the way he had his collar turned up obscuring half his face. The way his hands were shoved deep into his pockets.

It easily could have been in an attempt to protect himself against the elements, but Dick also knew Liebgott was the sort of man to never let anything go unanswered and if he was standing out here in the rain, he was surely more involved than anyone was letting on.

“Peaches is in there, sir. Doc Roe tried to help her, she wouldn’t let him touch her. Thought I’d make sure no one bothered her until she was ready.”

“Good thinking.” Dick swallowed.

He ought to press further, ferret out the truth of Liebgott’s involvement, but standing just outside where she was hiding, the other half of him was very much in charge now – wanting nothing more than to throw the door open and charge in. But by the sounds of it, that approach would be quite unwelcome.

“Why don’t you go warm up for a bit, we’ll take a turn.” Nixon said to Liebgott who looked between the pair of them before nodding in return.

“Thanks, sir.” He agreed, glancing back toward the barn once before jogging off into the night.

Dick waited until they were well and truly alone before slowly opening the door, stepping into the dim space, sliding his helmet from his head. The sound of footsteps retreating into the far corner behind crates of supplies drew his attention and he took a slow breath, calling her name softly.

“It’s me. Dick. I’m here to check on you.”

There was a soft, smothered sound and he clenched his fists, keeping his progress gradual and measured, trying not to make any sudden movements or noises to startle her. As he reached the rear of the barn, he rounded a stack of crates and his heart clenched painfully as his eyes fell on her wedged between a few bundles of blankets and sacks of something it was too dark to read the labels of. Her knees were hugged tightly to her chest, M1 tucked into the crook of her elbow as she eyed him warily in the dark.

Her normally tidy hair was in disarray, and the side of her face that he could see sported a gash across her eyebrow. He took another step closer, the air shuddering from his lungs as she flinched away, pressing tightly into the wall behind her, revealing her split lower lip, the swelling along her left cheekbone, the barely-dried tear tracks on her face.

Dick had never seen her shy away from anything since the day they’d met – not the obstacle course, the rifle range, Currahee, or jumping out of a C-47. For his proximity to garner such a reaction from her felt very much as though she had torn his heart from his breast and stomped it beneath her heel.

Sinking slowly into a crouch, he swallowed before speaking just above a whisper. “Peaches…”

The look of disgust, whether it was at the nickname or at herself – perhaps both, mixed with horror that crossed her face had Dick seriously considering if he had enough time to find Holman before his trip back to England and land a few blows himself. He gently corrected it with her name, teeth grinding together audibly in his skull as she turned her head to the side revealing small knicks at her throat. He’d held her at knife point.

“They’ve already found him. Some of the boys took justice into their own hands, but his superiors know now too.” He tried to reassure her, let her know he was no longer out there, no longer a threat to her.

Dick’s eyes dropped to follow the movement of her fingers as she picked at the torn ends of her nails, several cuts visible on her hands as well. Knowing her she’d probably put up a hell of a fight.

“P–” He stopped himself before he accidentally used the offensive nickname again. “…please you’re hurt. Can I clean you up?” He asked, voice trembling with the emotions he was desperately trying to keep at bay for her sake as he shifted forward onto his knees.

She shook her head violently in response, hugging her limbs tighter to her body, which hadn’t even seemed a possibility until it was done. Dick swallowed painfully, carefully laying his rifle and helmet down on the wooden floor beside him, sitting back on his heels.

“I love you.” He blinked rapidly at the gathering dampness in his eyelashes. “No matter what’s happened, I will always love you. I’m not going anywhere.”

She eyed him skeptically, no words passing between them for a long while. The sound of the persistent rain outside pounding against the roof filled the barn, drowning out the sound of their breathing, until she opened her mouth to speak at last.

“I froze.” She whispered, tone thick with self-loathing as she released her grip on her M1, laying it down beside his before sealing her palm over her mouth.

She began to shake with sobs so ferocious that no sound passed her throat, rendering the smothering effect of her hand unnecessary. Dick felt his heart shatter as he automatically reached for her, wanting nothing more than to pull her close and soothe some of her pain. Her repeated aversion to his touch, however, came flooding back and he froze, arms outstretched and aching to hold her, but wanting to respect her wishes.

The feeling of her body colliding with his chest as she launched herself into his arms punched the air from his lungs for several reasons, nearly sending him toppling over backwards with the force of it. Dick’s arms quickly gathered her onto his lap, one hand rubbing along her spine as her strangled sobs soaked his jacket, her hands clutching at him in return.

“You survived, my love.” He whispered against her hair, deciding he really ought to call her that in kind. It was only fitting for it was exactly how he felt. “You did what you had to do to survive in that moment. Please forgive yourself.”

He felt her shift against his sternum, the shudders wracking her body gradually slowing as she took deeper and deeper breaths, sniffling and wiping at her face carefully.

“Who did you have to yell at?” She murmured wetly, peering up at him cautiously.

“Martin and Randleman. Fairly certain Liebgott is somehow involved as well.” Dick replied softly, fighting back the urge to stroke her face. One step at a time – being allowed to hold her would more than suffice for now.

She sniffed. “Johnny must have figured it out first. I couldn’t even come up with a plausible lie I just…ran away from him outside the party…” Her eyes lowered in shame before she sat up slowly, Dick biting back a frown at the barely concealed wince that crossed her features.

“Nix is outside keeping watch. Can I take you back to CP? Get you cleaned up?” He swallowed, really wanting her to allow Roe to look her over but doubting that would be an option.

She looked to him, eyes suddenly wide with the terror of realization. “Oh god Dick, what if I catch something or…wind up pregnant…oh fuck…” Her face began to crumple, and Dick swallowed, quickly cupping her uninjured cheek hoping to startle her out of that train of thought.

As she jumped and looked to him sharply, he apologized gently. “My love, we don’t know if any of those things will happen. Hopefully they won’t, but no matter what comes next, we’re going to face it together.”

“But Dick I’m–”

“Don’t go and say something melodramatic, now. You’re the woman I love and something horrible has been done to you. It doesn’t change who you are to me.” He replied firmly, swallowing as she stared at him startled for a moment, before nodding slowly. “Now I’m taking you to CP and we’re getting you cleaned up, ok?”

“Should I salute you, Captain?�� She raised an eyebrow before wincing and restoring her face to a neutral expression.

He felt his cheeks redden, a sure sign that things would some day return back to normal. That the woman he loved was still with him, she just needed a lot of care right now and he was more than happy to provide it. “That won’t be necessary, Sergeant.” He replied and tried not to smirk as she scoffed slightly in surprise before shifting to her feet slowly.

Dick passed her rifle to her before grabbing his own, rising to his feet and sliding his helmet on his head. He offered his hand to her, swallowing back his sigh of relief as she laced her battered fingers through his and followed him out through the maze of supplies to where Nixon was still waiting in the rain.

“Christ, Peaches…” He breathed when she came into view and Dick shot him a sharp look, trying, too late, to stop him using the nickname.

“Son-of-a-bitch ruined the nickname, Nix. I trust you to come up with a new one.” She sighed, sounding positively exhausted, and Nixon nodded quickly in reply.

“Noted. You sure you’re alright?” He asked softly and she shook her head.

“No. But someday, maybe.” She replied honestly and Nixon nodded empathetically as Dick squeezed her hand gently.

“Let’s get out of this rain.” He led the three of them back into the farmhouse, taking her straight to the washroom where he filled the basin with water. “Help or no?”

She paused a moment, staring at her reflection in the cracked mirror left behind by the home’s original owners and Dick waited patiently until she turned back to him. “I can do it.” She replied softly and he nodded, closing the door to wait in the hall.

Nixon shuffled by carrying his pillow and Dick raised an eyebrow. “Give her my bed, I’ll take your crappy little cot.” He muttered, making his way to the attic before he even had the chance to reply.

The ghost of a smile crossed his lips as he leaned his head back against the wall, thoroughly spent by the events of the day, knowing he’d have to be up in just a few hours to face the rest of the paperwork on his desk.

“Dick?” Her soft voice startled him, making him realize he’d actually fallen asleep standing up, for just a moment.

Her lips twitched slightly with a hint of amusement, and he smiled slightly in return, nodding as she looked more herself despite the still-fresh injuries.

“This way.” He offered his hand and led her towards Nixon’s room, gesturing at the bed. “Gift from Lew.”

Her face softened, eyes glistening suddenly, reminding Dick just how fragile she still was. “Where is he sleeping?”

“Attic.”

“Then you need a bed too…” She replied as she crawled onto the mattress, sighing at the softness of the bedding.

“Oh, the floor is fine I…”

“Please hold me.” Her voice was small, her request simple and one that he did not need to hear twice to honor.

He unlaced his boots and removed his outer layers before crawling in with her, letting her curl up against him before sliding his arm around her carefully. “Comfortable?” He asked in a hushed voice.

“Very.” She replied sleepily and he allowed himself to drift, listening to the rise and fall of her breath, letting sleep nibble at the edges of his consciousness.

“Dick?” She whispered and he snuffled awake quickly.

“Yeah?”

“Does it smell like pee in here?”

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Band of Brothers Masterlist

[bandagesandloveletters]

Band of Brothers Masterlist

𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚜, 𝙸 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸'𝚖 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙰𝚕𝚜𝚘, 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚔. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎!

Tag list: If you like my work, feel free to comment, and I can add you to a tag list for any future works either in general or for a certain character.

Lewis Nixon

Cold as Ice -A little something where Nixon learns to ice skate but it’s all part of a deeper plan. Pairing: Lewis Nixon x OFC.

Richard "Dick" Winters

Hidden Love - A request written around the reader and Dick having a hidden love for each other. Pairing: Richard Winters x Reader

Chuck Grant

Get Well Soon - Chuck gets a visitor to cheer him up. Pairing: Chuck Grant x OFC

Floyd Talbert

Frostbite and Kisses - In the cold depths of Bastogne, a little warmth is always welcome. Pairing: Floyd Talbert x OFC (Rosie Moretti)

George Luz

Sentimental Journey - A dance brings two kindred souls together. Pairing: George Luz x OFC (Ellis White)

Joe Liebgott

A Sergeant's Sorrow - A conversation between two friends after Brécourt. Pairing: Joe Liebgott x Platonic!OFC (Lizzie Welsh)

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Loving Her Was Red

Summary: Now that war has begun there are some major changes for Dick and Lois, and as D-Day approaches can they endure. Warnings: unrequited love, D-Day, themes of war, injury.

I’m finally posting the last few parts of this series as they have been sat completed in my drafts for months so I thought I’d get them out here. I’m not sure if many people are still following this story but i put lots of work into finishing this series at the start of the year so here it is.

D-Day

June 3rd 1944, Milton Hall, Peterborough

“Well Lois, here’s to you. You saved our asses out there,” Ray clinked his glass of whiskey with Lois first, then with Raoul, who sat smoking his cigar in silence.

“I was just doing my job, Ray,” Lois reassured them, relaxing back in the armchair by the fire. She had quickly become firm friends with Ray, he reminded her of a lot of men from Easy Company, whereas Raoul, who Ray often called Raffy, was softer spoken.

“Well then I sure am glad you’re good at your job,” Ray laughed, swigging back his whiskey, before pouring himself another one.

Raoul mumbled something and excused himself, leaving Ray and Lois in silence.

“So have you got yourself a broad back home?” Lois asked, watching as Ray’s eyes creased as he smiled.

“Yeah, I’ve got a beautiful girl, Barbara. She’s a real beauty. Here?” Ray dug into his jacket pocket and revealed a picture of Barbara. Lois smiled, taking the photo and studying the smiling woman looking back at her. Barbara was a beautiful girl, her brown curls seemed to bounce despite the still photo.

“She sure is a looker, Ray,” Lois passed the picture back and Ray grinned.

“So, have you got a guy in Europe coming home to you?”

Lois laughed, “not quite.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture of Dick. The edges were crumpled slightly and she lovingly rubbed her thumb over the picture before passing it to Ray.

“A paratrooper, huh?” Ray laughed, “and a Lieutenant at that. Good job, Drake.”

Lois groaned, reaching back and snatching the photo from Ray’s grip, “Don’t laugh.”

“I’m not,” Ray continued to laugh. “I don’t know if you're just fun and adventurous and he looks like he’d be really uptight.”

“He’s not uptight. Dick is…”

“Ah he has a name. Good to know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lois glared at the Lieutenant but he just grinned in amusement.

“Well, one day when you invite me to your wedding I’ll know the groom's name,” Ray raised his eyebrows cheekily, taking another sip from his whiskey. Thinking back, Ray reminded her a lot of Lewis Nixon. Lewis had consumed her thoughts more and more since their parting and the blush that consumed his face when she’d kiss his cheek when they parted. When these thoughts did consume her mind the images of Dick wandered into her mind, brushing Lewis away and becoming her all consuming thought. She’d tried not to think of Dick too often, worried that one he’d distract her and two that if she thought of him too often it would erase the perfect illusion of their beautiful time together in Aldbourne where there was no war and only love.

“Earth to Lois, hey where’d you go?” Ray asked, waving his hand in front of Lois’ face until she snapped out of her dream. Lois swatted his hand away, causing Ray to snort. “All right there, Captain. Take it easy.”

Lois just glared at Ray and he soon fell silent, choosing to look fallornely into the bottom of his empty glass. Lois didn’t know whether to make further conversation with him but after a while he too retired to bed and Lois was left by the dying fire alone.

“Well Dick, our time has nearly come. I’ll see you in Normandy,” she whispered into the embers before surrendering to her exhaustion and returning to her room.

June 5th 1944 in the sky above Normandy with the 101st Airborne

Dick stood in the doorway, watching the world flash by below him in dark shades of green and black. Flak fire blew up around them, hitting several of the C47 and sending them into an explosive nose dive towards the ground. Dick winced as one plane hit in a great burst of fire. He knew they weren’t going to get through the war unscathed but to have already lost so many. The green light flashed beside him and he felt his legs buckle as he threw himself into the night, feeling the static line tug free and ricocheting him into the breeze. Bullets flew past his head and he prayed that somehow he made it to the ground alive. The rippling fire of machine guns and Ack-Acks accompanied his dissent to earth.

The ground connecting with his feet brought him back out of the daze he’d slipped into as he fell and he jumped in response, quickly cutting his parachute free and cursing at the loss of his leg bag and his M1. He was suddenly glad that he’d put his picture of Lois into the inside pocket of his jacket and not with his bible in his leg bag. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done if he’d lost her.

All he had left was his knife and someone he’d not fancy his chances against a German soldier with just a knife. Another paratrooper fell beside him, fumbling and tugged at his parachute.

“Flash?” Dick whispered and shook his head at the private’s profanity. “I don’t think that’s the correct reply, Trooper.” Dick approached the young boy, helping him out of his chute. “I say Flash, you say Thunder.”

“Yes, Sir. Thunder, Sir.” The young boy replied, pulling off his helmet and his may west as Dick opened the boy's musette bag.

“Coach?” The boy looked at Dick, “It’s Hall, Sir. I was on the basketball team.”

Dick nodded, “leg-bag?”

“Prop blast got it, Sir, and my radio and batteries with it,” Hall complained, shoving his helmet back on his head. After establishing that their leg bags were out of reach, Dick tapped Hall on the shoulder, “Follow me.”

June 5th 1944 in the sky above Normandy with the SOE’s

Lois cursed as she hit the ground with a thud, wrestling against the straps of her parachute to pull herself free. She could hear the gunfire to her right in the distance and was thankful that she’d landed away from the main parachute drop zone.

She pulled off her may west and shoved it with her parachute, covering it in the long grass. She was glad her radio had survived the fall and pulled the bag across her body. Keeping her head low, she shuffled towards the direction of an old frame house that was pinned as the rendezvous point. Ray jumped before her and Raoul jumped after, but the amount of men currently being scattered over Normandy, they could have landed anywhere.

Lois knew she was about a mile from the house, glancing at the map once more before shoving it back in her pocket with her compass. It was the compass Dick had given her before she’d left for London.

“It will always guide you back to him.” He’d promised her as they parted ways.

Taking a deep breath, Lois put her best foot forward, keeping her head low as she dashed through the open field, glad that the summer had been warm and the grass and bushes had grown tall providing excellent cover.

The farm house lay in a shadowy, wooded area on the outskirts of a small village. Lois knew it was risky being so close to civilians who could report her but it was the set rendezvous point and if she had any hope of meeting up with Ray and Raoul then that was her only option.

Creepy through the open door, Lois' eyes were plunged into darkness. She scrambled around for her touch, suddenly acutely aware of how bright the gunfire had made it outside, lighting up the sky in an amber burst of ammunition.

A shuffling noise from the back of the kitchen caused Lois to freeze. Was it Ray or Raoul? Shining her torch cautiously around the room she came face to face with a very startled paratrooper who in response threw a plate across the room at her.

“Fuck!” Lois cursed as it clattered loudly to the floor, ceramic shards cascading across the room. “What the fuck was that, Yank?” She hissed, “Did you really think you could smite a Kraut with a plate.”

An amused laugh followed and Lois shone the light back up to reveal the face of none other than Lewis Nixon.

“Only you could be that stupid,” Lois cursed, moving towards him and throwing her arms around him in a quick hug. “But I truly am relieved it was you.”

Lewis chuckled, “It’s good to see you too, Lois. Who would have thought it? You and I stuck in Normandy together, huh?”

Lois nodded, her eyes scanning out the smudge kitchen window to ensure their prescenes hadn’t been noticed. “Where did you land?”

“Just behind the house. I could hear someone coming so I came straight in here. Thought I stood a better chance in here than in the open.”

Lois nodded, turning back to Lewis, her eyebrow raised, “Aren’t you supposed to be taking the guns that are firing on the American beaches?”

Lewis nodded, adjusting his M1 on his shoulder, “I am but we missed the DZ and have been dropped all over the goddamn peninsula.”

Lois nodded, pulling out her map, “Well, I think we’re about here,” she thrust her finger out to the map, pointing at their precise location. “And over here is where you want to be.” She pointed at Sainte Marie Du Mont.

Lewis nodded and although he should be on his way he seemed reluctant to leave. “Do you want me to stay? You know, until the others arrive?”

Lois snorted, “You know I can take care of myself, Lewis, and anyway you have some work to do and you don’t have long to do it.” She pointed to her watch and Lewis sighed.

“You’re right.” He trudged towards the door, shoulders slumped and for a moment Lois wanted to tell him to stop, to wait for a while, after all she could be sending him to his death. But if he waited with her then they could end up dead.

“Lewis,” he stopped in his tracks and turned, a hopeful smile on his lips. She hurried towards him, throwing her arms around his neck and placing a kiss to his cheek. “Be safe alright. Look after yourself and Dick if you find him. He needs you more than he’d let on. You need each other.”

Lewis kissed her forehead, nodding slowly, “I will.” Watching him go, Lois felt the pang of sadness in her heart that she’d felt that day when he’d walked down the front garden when they’d said goodbye. It was strange really, after all Lewis Nixon was not the sort of man she would have ever considered being friends with, and yet in some strange way she wouldn’t be without him. Knowing that he had Dick’s back and Dick had his, filled her with some sense of relief. At least they had each other.

Dear Lois,

I know I won’t be able to send you this letter for a while, but I cannot help but think of you on the night it all began.

Lewis tells me he ran into you after the drop. I’m glad you landed safely. The whole of the 506 missed the drop zone and we were scattered but we have managed to regroup now. We have survived D-Day and may we live through D-Day plus one.

I fear that the days to come will be the hardest, but knowing that you are here, somewhere nearby brings me comfort and I pray that you are safe wherever you may be. I hope the compass is serving you well. I pray that we will both find our way back to each other.

May my words bring you some comfort, whenever you get to read them.

I love you

Dick

Dick sealed the letter, scribbling Lois name on the front before shoving it down into his pocket. They had made it, they had both made it to Normandy safely, that was the first step in a long line of steps that they had to walk to get back to each other, but at least they were one down.

Lewis stuck his head around the door frame, knocking lightly, “You alright?” He flopped down beside him on a rickety chair, taking his hit flask from his jacket pocket and taking a quick swig.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You?” Dick barely looked up at his friend, too preoccupied with Lois’ picture in his hand.

Lewis shrugged, “Can’t complain. What are you

doing?”

Dick oblivious to his friend's question until the picture was taken from his hand, “She sure is a looker, Dick. You did well.”

Dick snatched the picture from his friend's clutches, “She’s not an object, Lew. She’s a very talented woman.” Dick wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend Lois so much, she was a beautiful woman after all but there was so much more to her than that.

Lewis, seemingly taken aback by Dick’s outburst, sat back down and lit a cigarette, “I never said she wasn’t Dick.” Lewis knew she was a talented woman. He’d seen her file, he’d read about her ventures in occupied France, about her education. He knew far more about her than what she probably told Dick. It saddened him really, that Dick wouldn’t be able to truly know her until after the war, and that was if they both made it that long. It bought Lewis some satisfaction to know more about her than his friend. Someone it made her not being his a little easier. Not that he’d ever tell her how he felt, why would he? Dick was his best friend and he wasn’t about to ruin the best thing he had going. No he would sit, silently and reserved, nursing his unrequited love from afar and ignoring the burning feeling in his chest.

“I sure am glad to see you, Red,” Ray threw his arms around Lois, squeezing her tightly, “And you too, Raffy.” He tried to hug the French man but earned himself a rough push which sent him falling back into the worn armchair.

“It’s good to see you too, Yorkie,” Lois laughed as Ray scrunched his nose at his nickname. While Lois had earned her undercover name for her fiery personality, Ray came from New York, he was a true New Yorker and it had stuck.

“When you too have finished your reunion. We have some Nazis to fight,” Raoul interrupted with a harsh glare.

Lois nodded quickly, gathering up her radio, “Of course. Let’s go.”

As the trio headed out under the cover of darkness into enemy territory, Lois couldn’t help the feeling of dread building in her stomach. They had been trained to the highest level of how to fight and evade the enemy and if in doubt to end their lives to avoid capture and allowing information into the wrong hands. It always baffled her that they wanted to create such a nightly-knit team between the agents and yet they were so dispensable. Lois only hoped things wouldn’t come to that, but nothing in life is certain.

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(I’ve tagged people who were previously interested in this series - if you’d like to be added or removed from the taglist please let me know)

[holdingforgeneralhugs]

Bitter Pill to Swallow

Chapter 25 (Chapter Masterlist)

Thank you as always to @tvserie-s-world for her lovely screencaps

A very special shoutout to @wecomrades for offering to be my editor❤️ Your time and skills are appreciated more than you'll ever know. This one's dedicated to you 💕

"Well, why don't you fire on them when you see them, commander?"

"Because, when we fire on them, they just fire back. Blimey, it was a nightmare the other day."

Valerie had to turn away and stifle a laugh when she saw the look of horrified disbelief on Dick's face. The 506th had been moved to Driel, relieving the British unit who'd been stationed by the riverbanks. Dick had brought Valerie and Lipton to talk to the British Commander and get an idea of what to expect.

"I see. Well, thank you for the intel, commander," Dick replied tersely. "Now, we'd better go and get ourselves set up on the bank."

"Godspeed to you, chaps," the British Commander saluted them as they left.

Dick was shaking his head in disapproval as they walked away, and Valerie could contain her laughter no longer. Dick tutted in disapproval as it bubbled out of her.

"It's not funny, Val," Dick admonished. "They've been way too relaxed in their approach to Holland since before we even got here, and it's cost us dearly."

"I know, Dick, I know. But you gotta admit, it's pretty laughable that they don't fire on the Germans because they fire back when they do. They do realise it's a war they signed up for, not a tea party, right?"

"You do have to laugh at how ridiculous it is," Lipton agreed, "but this whole thing is shaping up to be a real shitshow. I can't wait to get the hell outta Holland, and I know the rest of the men feel the same."

"Well, for now we're stuck here," Dick sighed. "We just have to make the best of it and try to push through to Arnhem. Easy is being kept on the right flank, for now. The line bends at an acute angle there, so Moose will only be able to have two platoons on the line and one in reserve. Make sure he's aware of that."

"Don't worry, Dick, Easy can handle it," Valerie assured him. "Ain't that right, Lip?"

"Absolutely," he agreed. "And we won't be too scared to fire across the river either."

Dick huffed out a small laugh at that, but his face quickly returned to the strained look Valerie had seen him sporting more often than not in the last few weeks. Desk work didn't suit him, and it was plain to be seen to anyone who knew him. She'd seen him peering out his office window when they'd been celebrating the success of Operation Pegasus. She'd been tempted to go up and check on him, but after the awkward way they'd ended things the night before, she'd thought better of it.

"Anyway, we won't get anything useful done standing around here," Dick sighed, backing away. "I need to find Nix, and you need to get yourselves set up on the line. Make sure to give 'em hell."

-----------

"I swear, if I don't get out of this foxhole, I'm gonna lose it."

"Yeah, and if I hear Arnhem Annie telling me to cross the river one more time, I'm gonna lose it."

The weather had been far from ideal the moment they'd set up in Driel. It had barely stopped raining for more than a few hours, and they were confined to their foxholes during daylight hours because the Germans had the high ground across the river. They were cold, wet, hungry, and morale was starting to wane. Valerie had taken to crawling between the foxholes, both to keep the boys' spirits up and to make sure they were alright. That was how she'd found herself tucked up between Gordon and Mellet one rainy afternoon.

"Look on the brightside, boys," Valerie chuckled, "at least they're playing American music for us in between all those surrender messages. And the supply guys have started bringing Stars and Stripes for us. We've got a regular home from home set up over here."

"Oh, yeah," Gordon snorted, "If it weren't for all the rain, we could almost pretend it was a holiday."

"Could be worse, I suppose," Mellet chimed in. "We could be snowed under. Now, that would be a nightmare."

"At least we'd be somewhat dry," Gordon groused. "I'd rather be cold and half dry than soaked to the skin in a mucky foxhole."

"Alright, I've had just about enough of you two complanin','' Valerie sighed, pulling herself over the lip of the foxhole and crouching down. "Try to stay positive boys. I know it's hard out here, but we're not the toughest damn company in the battalion for nothing."

As Valerie got back to the CP, she was stopped in her tracks by Heffron.

"Lieutenant Landry, ma'am," Heffron started, "Lieutenant Heyliger sent me to find you. He wants you back at Easy CP, quick as you can, ma'am."

Valerie thanked him and sent him back to his foxhole, before making her way to find Heyliger. She moved quickly, worried that there was something wrong. It wasn't completely out of the ordinary to be called to CP, but they didn't make a habit of calling her unless it was urgent.

"I'm here, what's happenin'? Is everythin' alright?" She called, roughly shoving the tarp door aside as she entered the CP. Heyliger was waiting for her inside, his arms crossed.

"Yeah Valerie, everything's fine, don't worry." Heyliger assured her. "But, it's been noticed that you've been refusing hot meals and I'm worried about you. You need to eat, Valerie, to keep your strength up out there."

"Is that all this is?" She sighed, exasperated. "I'll eat with my boys when the third rotates back into reserve. Until then, I'm fine. It's not fair for me to come back for a feed, while the boys are out there with nothing but soggy rations. It ain't right."

"I know, it's not right," Heyliger agreed. "If I could find a way to get hot food out to all the men, I would. But I can't. I can only get it to my officers, and it's important you take it. We may be at an impasse now, but we don't know when they'll strike. When they do, the men need you at your best, and you can't be at your best if you're not eating enough."

Valerie knew he had a point, despite how much she disagreed with him. She'd been refusing meals for days while they'd been out on the line. She'd also been offering most of her rations to some of the hungrier looking replacements. Thankfully, Heyliger didn't seem to know that, or he'd chew her out good and proper for it. All in all, she was starving, but she was willing to stick it out with her platoon for as long as it took.

"Moose, I... "

"Don't argue with me, Valerie," he cut in, shaking his head at her. "I'm ordering you to battalion CP for a hot meal. For once in your life, don't be stubborn. Just go and do it."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation, but she knew he wouldn't let it go. "Fine, fine, I'm going," she grumbled, holding her hands up in defeat. "I don't think it's fair, but if you're really gonna order me to go then I have no other choice, do I."

"No, you don't. Now, get going."

Valerie left with a sigh, trudging reluctantly to the battalion CP. She had to admit to herself, the smell of the food wafting from the mess as she approached was mouth watering. She grabbed a large serving of spaghetti, and was just about to tuck in when Dick dropped into the seat across from her.

"About time you came to get a hot meal," he commented, disapproval evident in his tone. "I haven't seen you around here once since we dug in."

"You have too much time on your hands, if you're keeping track of who comes and goes for dinner, Dick," she quipped, grinning as his cheeks turned red.

"Well... I just... I don't like the idea of you starving yourself out there on the front line. You need to keep your strength up out there," he stuttered, the pink stain on his cheeks deepening.

"I'm fine, Dick. There's no need to worry yourself over me," she assured, shaking her head. "And, my point still stands. They clearly need to give you more paperwork if you're able to track who comes and goes from the mess hall."

"Oh, paperwork is the one thing I'm not lacking in," he grumbled. Valerie paused, taking a moment to survey him. He had a furrow between his brows that seemed to have made permanent residence there lately, and his fingers were tapping an incessant rhythm on the table. In all the time Valerie had known Dick, she was sure she'd never seen him fidget.

"Is everythin' alright, Dick?" She asked gently. "You haven't really been yourself since you moved up to battalion."

"I'm fine... it's... fine," he sighed. "It's just... not what I expected it to be like."

"Well, yeah, I'm sure there's less action, but... "

"There's no action to speak of," he interrupted, shaking his head morosely. "All I do is administrative work. I miss being out there with you, making decisions and getting involved. It feels less like a promotion and more like a punishment at this point."

Valerie nodded, her eyes softening in sympathy. Dick had been in the thick of everything since Toccoa, aside from his brief stint with a clipboard back in Aldbourne. He was good at making quick decisions, and he always led from the front. She'd seen that back at Brecourt, and at the Island too. He enjoyed the satisfaction of a well executed plan, and she could see how being deprived of all that would start to wear him down.

"I get that," she agreed. "You get used to the adrenaline of bein' on the front line every day, and when that's suddenly not there anymore it can take some gettin' used to. Give it time, Dick, you'll adjust."

"Thanks, Val," he replied gratefully, his lips tilting up slightly at the corner. "It's nice to talk to someone who actually understands. Most wouldn't."

"Well," she chuckled, "I'm not most."

"No, you certainly are not."

Valerie's heart started to pound erratically from the fond look he was giving her. Her thoughts inadvertently flitted back to that moment in his office, where he'd given her a similar look and she'd been sure he was going to kiss her. Her palms clammed up as the memory resurfaced, and she could feel the heat rising up her neck.

"Well, on the brightside," she said after a beat, "at least you get to spend plenty of time with Nix."

"Yeah," Dick laughed, looking away from her, "I'm not sure yet if that's a blessing or a curse."

----------

Valerie was discussing movements with Welsh at the Easy CP when they heard the gunshot pierce through the silence of the night. Their heads snapped up in unison, and they shared a concerned look.

"Jesus, Harry, that sounded close," Valerie breathed shakily. "They've hardly decided to break the stand-off with an ambush, have they?"

"Doesn't sound like it," Harry disagreed, "there was only one shot. But, Dick and Moose said they were coming down here to do an inspection, so we better go and make sure they're not in trouble."

Valerie grabbed her rifle and swung it over her shoulder, before following Welsh out into the night. As they jogged down the narrow path, they started to hear a commotion up ahead of them. They slowed, pulling their rifles into their hands and creeping forward cautiously. The shadows started to solidify as they got closer to the noise, and it was clear that there was no enemy ambush going on.

"Dick, Moose, is that you?" Welsh murmured, swinging his rifle back onto his shoulder as they approached the pair of shadows.

"Yeah, Harry, it's us. Moose is down, some jumpy private shot him because he forgot the passphrase," Dick called back.

"Jesus, is he bad?" Valerie asked, closing the distance between them and falling to her knees beside Dick.

"His shoulder is a clean wound, but his calf is pretty cut up," Dick huffed. "We need to get him back to battalion quick, give him the best chance we can of making it."

"We gotta give him morphine, he's in agony," Welsh said as he started wrapping bandages around Heyliger's calf. "He won't make it back to battalion unless we give him some morphine to dull the pain."

Everything after that was a blur, and they were all so frantic in trying to save Heyliger that they became erratic in their actions. Valerie left Dick and Welsh as they picked Moose up to carry him, running ahead to call an ambulance and a medic.

"Gene, there's an emergency," she called loudly as she ran into the med-bay. Roe dropped the bandages he'd been carrying and ran straight over to her, worry evident in his eyes.

"What's happened, are you alright?" He asked, giving her a frantic once over.

"I'm fine, it's Moose," she replied, "he's been shot in the shoulder and the calf. His calf is pretty bad, and he's lost a lot of blood. Dick and Harry are carrying him up now but he'll need an ambulance to be evacuated."

Roe sprang into action without another word. He called for the ambulance driver to get ready to go, then went to gather the supplies he'd need for the journey. Valerie followed close behind him as he rushed out to the ambulance and jumped into the back.

"Tell the driver where they are, chérie, we'll meet them halfway. We gotta give him the best chance we can."

Valerie and Roe sat in anxious silence as the driver sped down the path. She was so caught up in her worry for Moose that she jerked violently against the back door of the ambulance when the driver stopped suddenly. Roe pushed past her and opened the door quickly, turning and pulling the stretcher out with him. Valerie jumped out behind him, searching to see where she could step in to help.

"Valerie said he's lost a lot of blood," Roe said as he grabbed Heyliger and helped the others put him on the stretcher. "You did the right thing bandaging him up to stem the blood flow. Have you given him morphine? I don't see any syringes, where are they?"

"Uh... Jesus, I... I'm not sure," Welsh stuttered.

"Could have been two or three, we didn't... "

"Two or three?" Roe exclaimed, his nostrils flaring. "Jesus, you could've goddamn killed him. You'll be lucky if he survives as it is after that. What were you thinkin'?"

"We didn't know what to do, he was in so much pain, we... " Dick said frantically

"Well, you are grown ups! You are officers, you oughta know!" Roe shouted, glaring at them as he loaded Heyliger into the ambulance and slammed the doors closed. Valerie, Dick, and Welsh watched in astonishment as the ambulance sped up and left them there, the silence echoing in the night around them. She had never seen Roe get that angry, not in all the years she had known him.

"He's right," Dick croaked, "it was so stupid to give him that much morphine. But he was in agony, and I just... "

"It's alright, Dick," Valerie assured, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "You did your best, given the circumstances and the shock."

"It's not alright," he groaned, shaking his head in disappointment. "We could have killed him with a dose that high. I should have kept my head and handled it better."

"It's not your fault, Dick, we just panicked," Welsh sighed sadly.

"He's gonna make it," Valerie assured as confidently as she could. "Gene will take good care of him on the way to the aid station."

"If he even makes it to the aid station," Dick grumbled. "It'll be a miracle if he does."

"Dick, don't be... "

"You two better get back to Easy, tell them they've lost another CO," he cut in tersely, resentment clear in his voice and demeanour. "I'll probably need to write a report on this, so I better get back. I'll see you both tomorrow."

Valerie watched him go, his usual aura of self assurance replaced by sagging shoulders and clenched fists. If anything happened to Heyliger, he would blame himself. He always took it hard when he lost men under his command, and this would be no different. Part of her wanted to follow him, to make him see that it wasn't his fault and he'd done his best. She knew she shouldn't, though, that he'd probably prefer some time alone to process the whole ordeal.

"C'mon Val, we better head back," Welsh said quietly, breaking her from her thoughts. She took one last glance at Dick's retreating frame before turning and heading back to the Easy CP with Welsh, neither of them uttering another word.

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[luminouslywriting]

Ok, but I am really interested in seeing Dick and Rosie's relationship prior to this. Like who fell first, what drew them in, and ultimately just some key moments. I wish you best of luck on your surgery and can't wait to keep reading your work!

Oh Nonny, this is such a good ask and I'm thrilled to answer it because I really do have a LOT of thoughts on the two of them! They're an underrated fave couple of mine actually because they really do work so well.....which is sad haha. SOME MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD, SO BEWARE KIDDOS!!

How'd they meet?

Ruth had already been in Europe since Spring of 1942. Unfortunately, starting out as a woman in the JAG-Corp wasn't super appealing to a lot of different court systems within the military. She had to pretty much claw for every shred of respect and reputation that she earned. So by the time that Easy Company (I'm fudging the timeline a little bit so it all works out) shows up in England, no one really wants to work with her. Enter Ruth being the only person they can get to defend one of the NCO's in a court martial against Sobel. So naturally, this is where her and Dick Winters first meet.

He's hard at work training and trying to stay focused on his men and she's this little shark with an attitude. They immediately click and get along because he does NOT try to hit on her or flirt with her. He just asks her about work and what will be the most helpful for her job. Well she defends the men well and earns Sobel's irritation, which automatically endears her to him anyway.

How'd they get together?

She gets asked to stay on in Aldbourne and starts working with other companies and a large variety of soldiers. As she's building up her reputation, she doesn't go out on the weekends. You know who ALSO doesn't go out on the weekends? Dick Winters. Neither one really cares for drinking or partying or anything of the sort and they're both just nerdy enough to find each other doing paperwork on a Friday night, which presents the perfect opportunity.

The thing about Ruth is that up to this point, she's already been burned in a relationship due to a lack of respect from her former fianceé. If you ever want to get over that, date Dick Winters. Because he drinks his "respect women" juice and treats her first and foremost as a JAG-Corp lawyer doing her job, a friend second, and then romantically third. Which brings us to the next questions.

Who fell first/What drew them in?

Truth be told, Ruth was really turned off to wanting to get to know anyone. She has a hard time socializing, especially after how badly things ended with her first fianceé (more on that in the Flak-House chapters, so be on the lookout for that). So when Winters comes along and literally follows all of her standards, checks every single box off, and treats her as an equal?? She's absolutely baffled. He's a kind man who has goals and morals and beliefs. He has courage and cleverness and cares about people deeply.

But he absolutely fell first. He's quickly endeared by her quick wit and sharp sarcasm, though she rivals Lewis Nixon in that field, truth be told. She has a strong moral compass, similar to his and he really appreciates that she's open and upfront about the things that she wants. She's a natural leader in her own right and they're both very much opposite sides of the same coin, if that makes sense.

Their relationship:

These two were the sweetest with one another. Dick Winters had a way of calming her down and keeping her grounded. When she was with him, she wasn't constantly on the prowl for things to court martial or for people to sass. She was relaxed enough to do her job when needed and was having fun at the same time. Neither one was big on PDA, but they were big on communication and making time for one another. They'd swap ideas about the universe and about God and he and Lew were the only people in Aldbourne that knew she was Jewish.

They'd spend mornings together curled up in bed and she loved to help clean him up after hard training sessions. She was the person he could go to and rant and vent and let out all of his feelings to. They were each other's safe space in a seriously tumultuous time. They'd talk about history and art and literature and write each other letters. He'd buy her books and she'd find little knick knacks and things that he needed. They'd spend evenings just working on paperwork or talking about his men and his worries for them all.

And Lewis Nixon could usually be found trailing behind or trying to get them into trouble.

Key Moments:

Key Moment #1: They always used to go for walks together and talk about work. Surprisingly, it was her that initiated a conversation about more than work and about his hopes and dreams for the future. He kissed her first and their relationship very much had a sense of comfort and ease with one another. They never really needed to speak too much, though conversation was important to them. Everyone knew that they were together but no one was about to say anything about the scary lawyer lady and their beloved preferred leader of Easy Company lol.

Key Moment #2: She defended him in a court case against Sobel to get RID of Sobel. Yes, it was a messy situation but he knew that if he needed a lawyer, he needed the best one he could get. And she was the best of the best. So them getting rid of Sobel freed them up for more time together and to figure out where they'd go from here. Neither one had any illusions about the two of them getting to be together throughout the entire war. They just thought that they'd have more time.

Key Moment #3: They had a serious talk about what they wanted after the war was over. And for Dick Winters, he's a traditional man who wants a family and wants to settle down and live a peaceful life. And it isn't that Ruth is opposed to that. But she's got some serious trauma and some things that make her believe that she could not give him that life that he wants. He wants a farm and she wants to stay in New York. He wants kids and she's not sure if she'll ever be a mother.

This is also the point in which Ruth realized that she loved him. And love for her is scary, as I've talked about before. Affection, friendship, admiration—all fine things for her to be feeling. But love? Love is when things get real and she wasn't ready for that.

Which brings us to Key Moment #4: The breaking point. The picnic where she talked about that to him. She expressed that she couldn't give him the future that he wants and that she needed to leave. And the thing is? He can't even be mad at her or begrudging in any way. Because he understands that her leaving is an act of love for him. It's a rough pill to swallow for both of them. But they remain close friends and they write to each other as often as they can.

The other thing to consider here is the fact that if Ruth had stayed in Aldbourne....she absolutely would have ended up with Winters. He would have stuck by her through everything and tried to make a life that worked for the two of them. And they'd be very happy together. If she hadn't run, she'd already be engaged and waiting for him to come back by the time that D-Day comes around. It's the right person at the wrong time. And that doesn't mean that you can't have more than 1 right person in your lifetime. This is thus evidenced by her and Rosie—and finding the right timing for that relationship.

[mccall-muffin]

I can’t come to the pacific with you / / Dick Winters x Female Reader

Summary:  You are a sergeant that was with Easy Company from the start. Over the time you and Dick Winters got really close and fell in love. Now you are in Zell am See and are waiting to be deployed to the pacific.

Pairing:  Dick Winters x Reader

Warnings: Language

A/N: So this is my first OneShot I’m posting here. I hope you like it. I am not a native english speaker, so I’m sorry, if there are some mistakes in my writings. 

Nervously, you knock on the door of Dick's room. "Come in," you hear him call from inside and you hesitantly open the door. You quickly realize that he is not alone. "Major Winters? Do you have a minute?" you ask, looking him in the blue eyes. "Certainly, Sergeant Y/L/N. I'll talk to you later Ron, yeah?" says Dick, looking at Speirs, who briefly looks back and forth between you and Dick, amused. "Sure.”

Speirs leaves the room and closes the door behind him. You watch him for a moment before turning your attention to Dick. He is sitting at a table with some papers in front of him. As you take a few steps towards him, he lifts his eyes and looks at you before standing up. "How are you?" he then asks, taking your hand in his and stroking it gently. "Quite well thank you. You can tell the men are starting to get restless." "Why don't you sit down? Would you like something to drink?" he then asks, pointing to the chair. You nod and sit down while Dick fills two glasses with water and offers you one. "Thanks." "I was going to..." " Y/N there is something..." you both begin, but then stop and smile at each other. "You first," you say quickly, smiling sheepishly. Dick nods and then looks at you again. "I had a conversation with General Chapman this morning. I asked for a transfer." Incredulous, you look at him. "You what?" "I asked for a transfer. The 13th Airborne Division is about to go to the Pacific right away, and when I go, I want it done." "You're leaving? Me? The men?" Sadness spreads through you. "You can't do that, Dick. We need you. I... need you." Dick takes your hand in his again. "I'm not going. The request was denied." Relieved, you exhale. "Thank God." "I thought you should know anyway Y/N." "Thank you Dick. I appreciate it." "What did you want to talk to me about?" You bite your lip and then look Dick in the eyes again. "I don't know if I can go to the Pacific with you," you then say. "What do you mean?" "I... I don't know if it would be responsible." Dick looks at you, confused. "I don't know what you're getting at Y/N." "Well... I don't think it would be beneficial to my condition if I jumped out of a plane. Especially when, God knows, we're going to be here for a few more months." Dick is still looking at you, his brow furrowed, trying to match your words. "I think I'm pregnant, Dick." There is silence for a moment. Dick's gaze slides to the table and he seems to be thinking convulsively. "How... When?" he then asks, looking again at you, while you raise an eyebrow. "Berchtesgaden would be my guess. At the hotel..." "Oh," is all Dick does, remembering. "And you really think that you are.... pregnant?" "I can't say for sure, but I'm already three weeks late and.... I don't know either, Dick," you say, and you begin to sob. "Hey, hey," he comforts you and slides over to you. He takes you in his arms and you cry against his shoulder. "It's all good, Y/N. We'll do this together, okay?" "How can you say something like that? You're going to the Pacific and you're going to be there for I don't know how long and I'm going home and my dad.... Oh God, he's going to kill me." "Don't say that, Y/N." "How am I going to do that?" "I'll help you where I can Y/N. Do you understand that? I'm not going to let you down." Dick and you look into each other's eyes for a moment. Dick wipes the tears from your cheeks. "This is something we're both responsible for, and so we're both going to stand behind it, yes?" You nod at first, but then lower your head. "I'm going to give birth to a child out of wedlock.... God," you breathe, rubbing your face. Dick eyes you for a moment before standing up and digging into a box. Then he walks back over to you. "I was actually saving this for after the war, but given the circumstances..." He holds up a small box and you look at him. "What's this?" you ask, confused, but Dick is smiling at you. "Open it." He gives it to you and you open the small box and discover a beautiful ring inside. "Dick... I...", you stammer and look at it. " Y/N, listen to me," he then says, taking your hand in his. "Ever since I first saw you, you've had me under your spell. But I think you know that. Of course I would have imagined it all a bit differently, but you have turned my world upside down and with you I have experienced things.... I definitely didn't think I'd experience before marriage." You smile briefly. "You can say that, Mr. Honor." "Anyway, I know one thing, Y/N, and I think that's the most important thing of all. I love you. And I couldn't be happier that the little miracle inside you is growing  and that I get to start a family with you. Actually, like I said, I was saving this for home, but while we're here..." He takes the ring out of the box. " Y/N Y/L/N. I love you and I want to stay by your side forever. Would you do me the honor of making me the happiest man ever? Will you marry me?"

A few tears glisten in your eyes, but this time they are tears of joy. Your lips begin to tremble. "Of course! God! I love you," You then say, throwing yourself into Dick's arms, who sets you on your feet and holds you in his arms. Then he gently pushes you off him and kisses you passionately before putting the ring on your finger. "You don't know how happy you make me," he whispers against your lips and then places a hand on your stomach. Suddenly the door opens and you and Dick put a little distance between you. It is Nixon who enters. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know that..." he stammers, scratching his head. "It's okay Nix..." says Dick, smiling at you. "I, uh, was just leaving anyway. Major Winters, thank you for your time," you say, saluting him. However, you are held back by Nixon. "Whoa. Dick? I thought you were going to wait with that?" he almost shouts, taking your hand and lifting it up so the ring is visible. Dick and you exchange a look. "I think I'd better stow this somewhere else for now," you then say chuckling, taking the ring off your finger and putting it in your left breast pocket. "Okay, what's going on here? You think you can just get engaged and not tell me about it?" Again, Dick and you exchange a look. "Well, I actually had it planned for home first, too, but circumstances changed." Nix looks back and forth between you and Dick, who both just grin gently. "Oh come on. You're pregnant? Damn you Dick, you son of a bitch, I knew you had it in you." ***

Nothing much happened for the next few weeks. Some accidents occurred and you can tell that the soldiers are getting bored. Dick's job is to keep the soldiers busy, or if possible, send them home somehow. Some succeeded because of the points they had, for others they found a reason to send them home. You would have enough points to go home and Dick actually wants you to, but you decided to stay with the men. At least until they go to the Pacific. It is now start of September and slowly if you look closely, you can see your little baby bump. Luckily the uniforms are big enough to hide it. On this day, the company is playing a baseball game. You sit with Lip on the jeep and cheer on your friends. In the corner of your eye, you see Dick and Nix coming toward you and stopping at Speirs. Then Speirs calls you all together. You quickly run up to the officers and hear what they have to say. Dick looks at you briefly and smiles gently. "Listen up. Got some news," he then says, addressing all his men. "This morning, President Truman received the unconditional surrender from the Japanese." For a moment, it feels like the world stops. No one makes a sound and somehow the soldiers can't process the information Dick is giving them. "War's over," he then adds, and then they all start cheering. You take Lip, who is standing next to you, in your arms and relief spreads through you. Then you look at Dick, who smiles at you. When he nods, you don't hold back. You run up to him and throw yourself into his arms, earning yourself cheers from the men. "Finally!" you hear Luz shout and can't help grinning. Then you break away from Dick and look him in the eyes. He doesn't hesitate long either, and then he kisses you. In front of everyone. He doesn't care. The war is over. They all go home. And then he finally gets to marry the woman he loves.

[sergeant-spoons]

22. Gilded Summer

Sutton Flynn-Marshall

Taglist: @thoughpoppiesblow @wexhappyxfew @50svibes @tvserie-s-world @adamantiumdragonfly @ask-you-what-sir @whovian45810 @brokennerdalert @holdingforgeneralhugs @itswormtrain @actualtrashpanda @wtrpxrks

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As the June breezes took wing, the Normandy invasion proved a resounding success—but the operation did not come without its grief.

D-Day came and went with little warning and far more turmoil than even Dick had expected. Always a cautious man, he'd prepared himself for a hundred different circumstances while awaiting the drop, his feet securely planted on English soil. And yet, despite all his preparation, France managed to surprise him time and time again in just a few short days. He lost his rifle in the jump, which did little to soothe his initial angst upon landing in such unfamiliar territory. He'd studied the maps and run the drills repeatedly over the past few months, but the real thing was different. He'd always known it would be so. Just not this different.

Men died. Men lived. Men were shot. Men got out of a skirmish unscathed. The hot, sunny days began to blur as Allied forces pressed southward into the mainland of France. The 101st Airborne met resistance here and there but never with enough force to deter their advance. Dick got his hands on another rifle, probably stripped from some poor soul with a sheet covering his head, waiting to be buried in the army plots already springing up in occupied towns up by the coast. Nix came riding into the rendezvous point on a tank and Harry and Buck both showed up a few minutes later. The only person they were missing... Dick couldn't think about her. Not here. Not in this place. He found the enlisted men of Easy Company and, just as soon as he'd arrived, left to make a tactical assault on Brecourt Manor. They lost a man there, Private Hall. Dick had only known him a few short hours, and yet thinking about being the commander to send him back to his mother in a box made his stomach turn. He was thankful that wasn't his job.

A week and then some after D-Day, Easy Company stopped to rest for the night after a taxing march through the better part of the evening. They'd traversed hills and dells on the path to Saint-Marie-du-Month; now, they braved swamplands and marshes on their way to Carentan. The boggy surroundings filled the soldiers' boots with lukewarm water and now caused the medics to scurry around to pass out fresh socks, all of them anxious to prevent trench foot. In the early hours of the morning, counting down the minutes to the sunrise, Dick accepted a pair from Doc Roe and slipped out of his boots to peel his wet socks off his sore feet. Beside him, Harry rubbed his feet in the grass until a bug of some sort bit him and he started to curse, jumping up and down until he was satisfied he'd squished the nasty thing. A few feet away, Nix didn't even stir on his bedroll. How he managed to sleep anywhere at any time, Dick would never understand.

"Saved my chute," Harry mentioned as if they'd already been talking about it as he plopped back down onto his poorly-laid-out bedroll. "It's silk, you know. Gonna send it back to Kitty."

He flashed a broad grin.

"Think it'll make her a fine wedding dress, don't you think?"

At first, Dick just nodded—Harry had told him this several times already—but then a thought came into his mind and stuck around. Harry pulled his chute out of his pack and refolded it, just as he did every night. The fabric often crumpled up throughout the day during their trekking and Harry's frequent, messy searching for one thing or another in his pack, so whenever they stopped for a while, he got the chute out and smoothed it all neat-like, as if he'd be presenting to Kitty tomorrow. He wouldn't see his fiancée for some time. None of them would see their loved ones for a while yet. Dick didn't say anything like that, of course. While not the most optimistic, given the circumstances, memories and dreams of home past and future were sometimes all they had. After a moment's more thought, Dick reached into his breast pocket and took out the folded photograph Sutton had left him the day she left Aldbourne. A month had passed since then. Dick looked at the photograph at least twice a day, though he tried not to look for too long. It wasn't his place. He still didn't know why she'd left it to him, but she had. And it meant something to him.

"Here."

Dick held out the photograph, and Harry, once he'd carefully guided his silken parachute back into his pack, accepted it with a curious smile. He unfolded it and his grin grew at once, just as Dick knew it would, but before he could say something teasing, Dick spoke.

"What do you think it means?"

"The picture?" Harry turned it over and read Sutton's handwritten message. "Or this? The note?"

"Both. No, just the photograph." Dick had studied her words long enough to make plenty of sense out of them. It was the picture he still didn't understand. "Why me?"

Harry snorted a laugh and pressed his face into his elbow to quiet his laughing, apparently not realizing Nix wouldn't have woken for anything but the morning. Dick held back a sigh as Harry shook his head over and over, then finally lifted his head and returned the photograph.

"She adores you, Dick," he said, sounding a little exasperated but too fond to really say so.

"I don't know about that."

"Well, I do. She feels safe around you."

Dick's gaze shot up from the grass swaying lightly between his boots.

"She told you that?"

One side of Harry's smile crawled up higher than the other.

"She didn't have to."

Dick wilted a little, and Harry seemed to notice.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"She trusts you more," Dick started to reply, but Harry was already cutting him.

"Yeah, right. She doesn't look at me the way she looks at you."

Dick could feel his face getting warm and thanked the night for hiding his heightened emotion.

"She doesn't look at me any kind of way. If she did, don't you think I would have noticed?"

"No," Harry said, and Dick was surprised at his sudden switch in tone from lighthearted to serious. "No, and you know why you never noticed? Because you never went looking for it. You never actually looked."

"I looked," Dick muttered, but Harry didn't hear.

"Dick, hey. You were so focused on making sure she liked you—a noble pursuit, don't get me wrong—that you totally overlooked how much she ended up loving you."

Dick took his helmet off his head and laid down on his bedroll. He didn't have anything to say to that, and it was all he could think to do was end the conversation there.

"You know I'm right," Harry said, reluctantly lying down as well. "Think about it. And get some sleep. Maybe you'll have figured it out by the morning."

Contrary to Harry's hopeful supposition, Dick had not figured "it" out by the morning—in fact, he'd only confused himself more, and so determined to stop thinking about the photo once and for all. He failed right after breakfast, when he took it out of his pocket without even thinking and couldn't put it back until he uncreased the fold and looked at her face. As he tried to convince himself to put it away, Harry sat down on the curb to his left, noisily eating his porridge-type breakfast (Dick had preferred to scrounge up an apple and a wedge of cheese than to trust army cooking, as friendly as Joe Domingus was). He didn't have to see what Dick was looking at to know what it was, and Dick put it away in his pocket at once. Just then, a few of the enlisted men wandered past. Joe Liebgott stopped, raising his hand in a casual salute, and Dick rose to answer the question he could see coming.

"Sir, how soon d'you think we're gonna get outta France?"

"Soon," Floyd Talbert laughed before Dick could venture a guess. "You know he's gotta get back to that London girl he loves!"

Dick could see from the look on the two men's faces that his expression had surprised them, and they quickly apologized and scurried after their pals. Displeased at his own reaction, Dick sat back down on the curb and shoved Harry's shoulder when he caught his friend snickering.

"Hey, c'mon, we both know they're right."

"No, they aren't. They're not right."

Harry gave him a look. Dick sighed, dropping his chin against his chest.

"She's from Colchester, not London," he corrected, and Harry slapped the cobblestones with the palm of his hand out of glee.

"Wipe that smirk off your face," Dick added, pulling back his sleeve to check his watch. "We've got to get moving."

"Oh, yeah? Or you'll what?" Harry cackled. "Kiss me? You'd better save that honor for the honorable Lieutenant Sutton Flynn-Marshall from Colchester-"

"Just Sutton, Harry, you know she doesn't like her surname."

"Right, yeah." He shook his head, a small smile still stuck on his lips. "I don't quite have your memory for those sorts of things."

Adjusting the straps on his pack, Dick stopped in the middle of the road and turned to face his friend, trailing behind with his porridge bowl still in hand.

"What sorts of things?"

Harry shrugged. "You know. Sutton sorts of things."

Dick pressed his lips together, displeased, but Harry just sauntered on forward and clapped his hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, slowpoke. You said it yourself—we've gotta get a move on if we're gonna make it to Carentan today."

Many miles away—but closer than Dick knew—Sutton was dealing with her own set of problems. She hadn't thought once about the photograph she'd left for Dick in the month since she'd left Aldbourne. She didn't have the time for it. She'd been positively swamped by her emergency redeployment. As soon as she returned to the London office, it became clear they hadn't meant to send her back in for this particular operation, but one of their better operatives had been killed and they had no time to find anyone else. At least Sutton knew she was wanted for her quick learning abilities. Once told, she knew better than to show her surprise at her chosen destination, but she managed to show relief, instead, which seemed to translate as eagerness to her superiors. They, inturn, threw her right into the deep end. Day and night, she memorized maps, fake names and birthdays, fake nationalities, fake accents, fake backstories: the whole lot. She'd be traveling with another operative for the first leg of the journey, after which they'd separate and she'd continue to her assigned post while he went on to his. Neither agents were told each other's true names nor their designated arrival points for optimal secrecy of the mission.

"I know it isn't what you might have expected, with your skillset, and all," supposed the strong-browed gentleman whose name Sutton was never given, "but this is where we need you, and I'm sure you won't disappoint."

"I won't, sir."

She couldn't tell if he believed her or not, but it didn't matter, in the end. Whatever he thought of her, he'd still be sending her into France just a week shy of the Allied invasion, and she'd still have a job to do. She'd get it done. It was a much more immediate appointment than the last she'd undertaken, but no less risky. She was to locate the police station of the former Vichy France—now under complete German occupation—in the former border town of Bourges, acquire the file the sympathizing police had been keeping on a known SIS operative in the region, and burn those records to a crisp, then get out of Bourges and head north in whatever direction she could until she met up with the invading Allied forces. The plan hinged on the success of the Normandy operation. Sutton's superiors and even her fellow spy seemed surprised at her confidence that the invasion would bear fruit. She kept it to herself just why: she believed that with men like Dick Winters spearheading the advance (even if it was only for a single company), they could hardly expect to fail.

The operation went as smoothly as it could have given the time, the place, and the situation in which she'd attempted it. Smoothly, at least, in Sutton's book, which meant she made it out alive and reasonably unharmed. She and her companion crossed the English Channel on a hired fishing boat bound for the border coastal town of Hondarribia, Spain. From there, they snuck across the border in the dead of night, encountering several delays that cost them nearly three valuable hours of darkness. After nearly getting caught by a small patrol of border guards, they split up much earlier than planned, but their tactic worked and they each lost the guards. Sutton learned several days later that her companion had also escaped and made it to his destination from her contact in Bourges. She found the police station, determined a point of entry, and broke in through a ventilation unit leading into a storage closet two nights after arriving in the city. She fled northwest, hoping to disappear like a ghost in the night, and strangely discovered that her path toward the sea was oddly devoid of troops and other Nazi personnel. She wouldn't know until after the war ended that Hitler had remained convinced that the Allied invasion of France would begin at Calais, not the beaches of Normandy, and had redirected most of his armed forces to the far northeast—the opposite of her travel route. 

Days and nights passed with Sutton sleeping in haylofts and on mattresses in abandoned houses. She tried to stay out of these empty homes unless she had no other option, for the uncanny quiet of people being missing disturbed her so much she could hardly sleep. Barns proved her best option and remained that way until the morning of June 18th, when she came over a hill and discovered a signpost pointing toward a place called Carentan. Something about the sunny morning convinced her to follow the road, and she was soon glad she did, for she quickly came upon two American soldiers in a jeep who seemed mighty pleased to meet her. They told her the town was just back that way and they'd only finished up on the eastern half of it not ten minutes ago, then gave her directions as they lamented not being able to give her a ride.

"Forgive yourselves, gentlemen," Sutton implored. "I understand. Duty calls."

The two Americans drove off, one of them waving his helmet at her in farewell, and Sutton continued down the road, keeping her bearing north until she spotted the town. Still hearing the occasional exchange of rifle and machine gun fire, she strayed toward the eastern side of the town and took the long way around through the field, which proved the more dangerous route. A bleeding German shot at her from within a bush but was gunned down as soon as he moved by a soldier in the upper window of the building above her. As soon as she knew she was safe, she looked up and waved at the man, who leaned out of the window and told her if she was a civilian, she'd better get moving.

"I'm not," she called back, raising her hand to see him better against the sunlight over the rooftops. "I'm coming up north from Bourges."

"Hey, you sound British," the soldier exclaimed in surprise. "Do I know you?"

"You might. Are you with the American Airborne?"

"I sure am!"

The man ducked back into the window, then came back with another man.

"I thought that was you down there!" the second man exclaimed. "How on earth did you end up here, Lieutenant?"

Sutton couldn't help but smile, and smile wide, for the first time in a very long month. Lieutenant. Yes, that's what she was to these men. A figure of respect—and if not that, she was at least someone to be known.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," she joked, but then quickly had to explain she was only kidding when the two men looked alarmed.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," the second man laughed, and Sutton did think she could recognize him if she tried. "There's a checkpoint a few hundred yards to the east, they can let you in there. Might have to show 'em some papers or whatever, but I'll send somebody on over to let 'em know it's you."

"I'd appreciate that. Thank you... Sergeant."

The man beamed, and as Sutton continued on through the choppy undergrowth in the direction he'd indicated, she heard him say to his companion—

"You hear that, Smokey? She remembered me!"

"Yeah, yeah, save it for the pub. You want me to run over? Got nothin' better to do up here."

"What, nothin' better than shootin' Nazis in the bushes?"

Sutton lost track of the conversation as she went further away from it, but by the time she reached the checkpoint, a runner had arrived, and it wasn't either of the men from the window. They had her present her false French identification for posterity's sake, and even though they knew she wasn't Marguerite Dupont, they called her by the name until they let her through the gate. One of the men tried to hug her, but Sutton carefully declined and quickly accepted the offer of a boyish-looking fellow to take her to find somebody she knew better than any of them.

"You, uh, used to hang around Battalion a lot, right, Miss? Erm, Lieutenant?" the soldier asked, swinging his rifle nonchalantly between his hands. "Think I know where to find one of 'em. We lost the whole of Headquarters on D-Day, don't know if you heard—the Krauts blew their plane to pieces—but we've still got who's left floating around here somewhere. Most of the boys still haven't gotten over the shock. I know I haven't. Oh, how about Welshie over there? Erm, Lieutenant Welsh."

Sutton didn't mean to abandon the young man in the street—he had been helpful to her, despite his rambling—but Harry Welsh had just jumped up from the stone steps of a church, a grin splitting across his face, and she couldn't help but go to him at once. She'd only taken a few steps before a man cut her off, and she stepped back, caught by surprise and alarm. She didn't remember his name, but she knew she'd met him before; his distinctive face conjured up disagreeable memories for her.

"I just had to see it for myself," he said, blinking at her with oafishly wide eyes. "A woman, in a warzone."

Sutton tried to step around him, but he stopped her again. She would have shoved him away from her if she'd had any nerve, but she'd stopped caring about bullies like him some time ago. Instead, she did the one thing she felt right in doing and instructed him coolly to move out of her way.

"I've spent years in occupied Europe, Lieutenant," she added. "You and all your Americans aren't the first to come here. You're not special."

"Hell, Snider, leave off the woman," Harry said sternly.

"And stop gaping," Sutton added, her bravery bolstered by his presence. "It won't help you look any less like a rat."

As Snider—that was his name, she was sure of it, now that Harry had reminded her—stormed off, swearing things that would have made his mother faint, Sutton stepped up to Harry and hugged him before he was done asking her if he could hug her. He quickly caught her up on Easy's operations in France and made sure she got a bite to eat, then started to tell her about how he'd been saving his silk chute for Kitty's wedding dress—she thought it was sweet and told him so—before trailing off halfway through waxing poetic about his darling. Sutton felt bad for losing focus, but sitting still made her antsy despite her poor feet, which ached after days of cross-country travel in poorly made shoes. And besides, while she was thrilled to see Harry again, there was someone else she was doing a poor job of pretending not to keep an eye out for.

"I'd go on for hours if you didn't stop me," Harry laughed, waving off her apology when she started to give it. "Finish your bread and then we'll go. I can see you're frothing at the bit to see Dick again."

"Dick's here?" she asked, and her weak attempt to insinuate false ignorance made Harry laugh.

"Where else would he be?" he teased, his grin as persistent as the clouds coating the sun overhead. "Come on. We'll walk and talk."

The medbay was relatively quiet that afternoon. The battle had been over for nearly a week, and accordingly, things were calming down around Carentan. Dick had been sent by Colonel Sink himself after a meeting considering what the next few days would hold for Easy Company. Humbled enough by how wrongly he'd imagined disguising his limp, Dick complied. Doc Roe didn't have to voice his displeasure with his commanding officer for Dick to understand his several days of skipped check-ups had not won him any favors. So he sat still and let Roe do his job, managing to hold back a wince when the medic poked at the stitches. The westward-facing door opened after a time, and as Roe went to fetch a fresh bandage, Dick listened for the new arrivals. He could hear Harry coming around the corner, blabbing about how Dick had taken a bullet ricochet last week, and just as he ducked his head, a small smile of exasperation on his lips—

"You've been shot?"

It seemed France had not had its fill of surprising Dick. His head moved with such a speed that his neck twinged, but he hardly felt it, mesmerized by the sight before him. Sutton was walking directly toward him at a clipped pace, eyeing the wound on his leg, and he was so astonished that she was here and that her first words to him were of such concern that all he could think to say was what first came to mind.

"I'm fine, Sue—I'm fine, really."

He stared at her, and she stared back. He'd never called her that before, and the endearing nickname hung in the air like an unanswered question neither of them wanted to touch. Doc Roe cleared his throat, and Harry hooked his arm around Sutton's, backing her up toward the door they'd come in through.

"We'll come back later. Sorry to disturb you, Doc. Dick."

Roe mumbled something and went back to looking at Dick's leg, and all Dick could do was lift a hand in a meager wave after his friends had already gone.

Trying to free her from her distraction, Harry took Sutton to see Nix next. He nearly fell out of his chair when she came in through the door, and he hugged her after asking if he could. He pulled up a chair for her (but made Harry sit on the floor) and caught her up on everything Harry had been too absentminded to tell her before, starting with Meehan and the rest of HQ going down in their plane—news which Sutton had started to glean from her guide earlier but still made her queasy now to truly know it had happened—which resulted in Dick's sudden promotion to Easy's commanding officer and his immediate deployment to capture the German guns on D-Day. He'd led that operation.

"And Speirs here was there, too," Nix added, and Sutton and Harry turned to find the lieutenant standing in the doorway, listening in on the report. Sutton stood and shook Speirs' hand, which seemed to surprise him, but not in a bad way.

"Glad to see you're still alive," he told her, and Sutton echoed the sentiment in kind.

"Oh," she said, reaching into the small knapsack she'd managed to fill up halfway during her travels north, "I've got something for you."

She presented a fine lighter, which Speirs readily took, that she'd picked up a few days prior on the road. With the ground so trampled, it must have been dropped by a German soldier some time beforehand. She'd left that road quickly, made uneasy by the fresh tracks, but the lighter had given her something to do for an hour or two that night as she waited, restless, for the sunrise. She'd polished it up and now gave it to him; he thanked her and told her he'd go put it to use right now. As he left, Sutton shut the door behind him (lest any other eavesdroppers appeared) and found Harry practically aghast behind her.

"I smoke, too!" he exclaimed, dismayed that the gift had been given to someone other than himself, and Nix chimed in just the same.

"Shh," she told them both, waving her hands to pacify them. "This will keep him from nicking some poor private's family heirloom. At least, it will for a little while."

Harry cracked a smile, and Nix rolled his eyes as Sutton sat back down in her chair.

"And besides, you haven't been forgotten," she appeased them. "I did find something for each of you."

First, a decanter of whiskey for Nix.

"I know it's not your usual, Lewis, but I did my best."

He whistled and took it from her, admiring the fine glass, and Sutton felt gratified that she'd carried the heavy thing all this way from Bourges just for him.

"Sutton, I could kiss you."

Shying away, she mumbled her disapproval of the idea, and he laughed fondly.

"I'm just kidding, relax. That's somebody else's job, not mine."

Sutton felt her ears start to flush pink and wished it were cold enough to justify pulling up her collar to hide how he'd flustered her.

"Speaking of Dick," Harry chimed in, "did you get him something, too?"

"I did," Sutton replied evenly, drawing Harry's gift out of her pack, "but that's for him and not you. This, on the other hand-"

She gave him the silver hairpin she'd picked up just outside of Tours and watched his eyes light up.

"-is for you. Well, for your fiancée."

Harry sighed happily and turned the hairpin over in the light to examine its fine craftsmanship.

"You know me so well."

Nix returned to recounting Easy's exploits across the northwestern part of the coast, though it didn't take him long to catch Sutton up to speed with how they'd taken this very town—so it was Carentan, she'd followed the signpost correctly—just a week ago. It had been a hard-won fight. They'd lost men, more even than on D-Day, but the company persevered all the same. Sutton didn't want to think about any of that too much. The idea of so much unnamed loss reminded her of her unknown companion somewhere out there in the south of France, still deep in the Nazi-occupied country. If he was still alive, that is. His operation would be more drawn-out than hers had been—it had been planned for much longer, due to its greater risk.

"So, the point of the matter is, Dick will make Captain just as soon as we move out," Nix concluded. "I'm sure of it."

He seemed pleased at how pleased and proud Sutton seemed on Dick's behalf, but before she could remind him it was only because Dick was her friend, a knocking came on the door, and Dick himself arrived, accompanied by Lieutenant Buck Compton.

"Would you look at that, Winters?" Compton exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he seized Sutton's hand to shake. "It's the pretty Brit I met back in Aldbourne. What a sight for sore eyes you are, Lieutenant."

Sutton hummed her thanks a bit awkwardly, distracted by the jealousy she saw flickering through Dick's eyes. It couldn't be jealousy, she'd clocked the feeling wrong. She must have. Jealousy wasn't a friend of Dick's—right? Did she know him well enough to make that claim? And if he was jealous, what did it mean?

"Hey, Buck, why don't you come and see this gorgeous thing I've just picked up from a little birdie who knows how to give good gifts?" Harry suggested as he smoothly guided Compton back out of Nix's makeshift office with a hand on the lieutenant's shoulder. "Not sure what you'd call this design here, but Kitty's going to love it..."

A jeep horn honked outside and Nix got up from his desk.

"I'll be right back." He pointed at his two friends. "Behave."

Dick chuckled, so Sutton felt free to join in. He looked happy to hear her laugh, but she couldn't make it last long, nervous to be in his presence again after their time apart. She didn't expect him to think of it that way—as if her absence meant something vast to him the same way it meant something vast to her—but maybe he'd missed her, just a little.

"I brought you something," she said at the same time he said, "I kept your picture."

She paused, then asked, "What?" just as he did the same.

"You... for me?"

"Yes," she said, taking the escape he'd awkwardly provided to go digging through her knapsack. "I got it for you when I was- well. I can't say, but... South. I got for you while I was south."

She'd bought him a pocketwatch. Not that she would tell him she'd spent any money on him—she'd picked everything else up along the road—but she'd ended up in a secondhand watch shop while hiding from an S.S. patrol and the watch reminded her of Dick so strongly she hadn't even realized she'd bought it until it was in her hand. As she gave it to him now, their fingers brushed, and she pretended not to notice, pulling her hand back like she'd noticed nothing special about him at all. The watch was brass but gilded in gold on the handsome lion crest on the back and the hands of the clock. The crest likely represented some family, but Sutton didn't know who or from where. All she knew was she thought Dick would like it. And from the smile creeping up his lips, she'd been right.

"It's right on time," he said as he looked between the hands on the pocketwatch and then those of his wristwatch. "Exactly right on time."

Before Sutton could express how happy that made her to hear—how happy it made her to hear his voice—Nix came back in with two boxes stacked haphazardly in his arms, and Dick stepped aside to help, carefully placing the pocketwatch in his breast pocket as he moved. Sutton caught a flash of white photo paper as he flipped shut the flap of the pocket and wondered if it could be her photo before dismissing the idea as wishful thinking. The breast pocket was where soldiers kept pictures of their girlfriends and fiancées and wives—pictures of the women they loved. It wasn't like that, with Sutton and Dick. They were only friends—even if Sutton would have married Dick tomorrow if he'd asked her to. But she'd never tell him that. And he'd never ask.

A runner came in just as Nix and Dick were setting the boxes down on the desk and informed Dick rather impatiently that something had come up on the other side of town and they needed him there immediately. Sutton instinctively tried to follow, but Dick insisted she stayed back, squeezing her hand briefly on his way out the door. She stood by the window, antsy, watching him go, and Nix tried to appease her by telling her Dick is right— she'll only draw attention to herself by trying to help.

"And besides," Nix added as he began sorting through the papers in the first box, "resting your feet for a little while will do you some good."

"What about Dick?" she asked, still looking out the window.

"What about him?"

"He's limping."

Nix leaned around the desk to see through the glass, following her gaze, then grunted out of amazement.

"I'll be damned, he is. Remind me never to underestimate your powers of observation, Agent."

"It's not much, really," she said, neatly bending one leg over the other as she sat. "When I worked at CP, I sort of... puzzled out whose walking pattern was whose. So I knew who to open my office door for... and who to keep it shut against."

Blowing air out of his nose, Nix pressed his lips together, and at Sutton's suspecting squint, he let loose an unabashed smirk.

"I meant the whole 'you're a spy' thing," he told her smugly, "but I am more than happy to go with the 'I've memorized Dick's footsteps' angle you've got going there."

"Oh, shut it," she replied bashfully, retreating to her chair, and Nix chuckled, putting the lid back on the first box.

"Whatever you say, Agent. Now rest up—I'm sure you've had a long few weeks out there in God knows where."

He set a stool out in front of her, and with a grateful sigh, Sutton lifted her aching feet and gave them a rest as ordered.

"I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you, Lewis."

"Don't mention it," he muttered, already distracted by his work, and returned to sorting his papers, a task which Sutton peacefully watched him complete for the rest of the warm afternoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Sutton's back! Woohoo! I'm having a little trouble with tagging people so if it doesn't seem to be working, let me know and I'll see what I can do to fix it.)

[1waveshortofashipwreck]

Should've Been Born Later, Nix - Chapter 1: The Fall

Easy Company x Fem!OCs

Synopsis: What will happen when some of Easy Company's finest soldiers fall through a foxhole and into another time?

Words: 1,314

Find the fic's navigation page here !!

Author's Note: HERE WE GO LADS!! The first chapter of my self-serving BoB time travel fic!! If you want to be added to the taglist please let me know !!

Luz was the last one to arrive on the ground, immediately crashing into Malarkey with a resounding thud… Well, resounding for someone as small as Luz. He was the last to drop onto the pile of Easy Company men - a giant pile of limbs, helmets, and olive drab was groaning in pain, bewildered eyes darting in every direction. One minute they were dropping into a foxhole in Bastogne. The next?

Winters was the first to jump to his feet, helping his men find their footing. Up came Nixon, Liebgott, Roe, Guarnere, and Bull Randleman. Speirs and Toye had gotten themselves up and situated, looking to make sure they had all their gear. Luz was still on the ground, trying to get his bearings, while poor Malarkey was doubled over underneath him. “FUCK, LUZ!” Cried Malarkey, his hands shooting to his ribs as his body folded in pain. “I think you broke something!” Malarkey’s feet rammed themselves into Luz’s back, flinging the soldier off of Malarkey and onto his stomach with an “oof!”

“You say that like I did it on purpose!” Luz cried, wincing from the boots in his back. By the time George finally got his feet beneath him, Roe was already looking at Malarkey’s side, inspecting his injury.

The Cajun grimaced and shook his head. “It might be broke, Malark. We should get you to the aid station,” Roe spoke thoughtfully. "Which way sho-" Before the medic could finish his thought, all the boys realized something. They had no idea where they were.

The boys all looked around and took in their surroundings. “Where the fuck are we?” each soldier thought to himself, attempting to find a single scrap of familiarity in the landscape around them. The higher they looked, the taller the walls on either side of the group grew - not tall enough to be skyscrapers, but tall enough to tell the ten men that they were not in Bastogne anymore. What was once a frigid warzone, one step away from death, now became… warm? Sunny? Well, it seemed sunny at the ends of the alleyway.

“...are we in an alley?” Bull mused to no one in particular. He absentmindedly chewed on his Emotional Support Cigar, using this to contain his anxious thoughts and energy.

"It appears so Bull…" Winters replied. He had intended for the sentence to be more assuring, but the men's leader was just as confused as the rest of them. The captain exchanged a glance with Nixon beside him, the only man he was comfortable sharing his worry with. The two looked at each other, their eyes conveying confusion mixed with anxiety - how could this happen? What exactly happened?

"Captain Nixon, you're an intelligence officer right? Do you know where we are sir?" Guarnere asked as he slung his rifle over his shoulder, still taking in the alley around them. The brick buildings on either side of the men provided shade from the sun shining down on the pavement. The alley appeared to be barren, save for a Hershey bar wrapper beside Luz's feet. Bending down to get a closer look, the radioman saw a piece of text on the wrapper that morphed his confusion into panic - "expires January 2023." Before Nixon could answer Guarnere, Luz's shaky voice spoke up.

"Um, Captain Winters? You might wanna see this sir," Luz said as he handed the wrapper to his CO, his mind going a mile a minute. Dick took the wrapper from George and saw the text, scrunching his face as he read the expiration date.

"Nix, how long does it take chocolate to expire?" Winters asked, looking up at his captain.

"Why the hell do you think I'd know that?" Nixon replied, one eyebrow halfway up his forehead. Only after Lewis posed his question did he see the infamous date on the wrapper. Nixon paused for a second before he spoke up, "well surely it would expire way before 2023…"

Upon hearing the year, every man's eyes became the size of dinner plates. "Excuse me, sir? I think I heard you wrong, sounded like you said 2023," Liebgott questioned, a nervous chuckle following his words. He couldn't have heard Nixon right…right? Winters simply handed the wrapper over to Liebgott, the poor man's stomach dropping down below his feet.

"That's not possible, this isn't possible…" Toye muttered under his breath, trying to shake the idea from his head. While all the men were trying to process what Nixon said, Speirs had already made his way to the end of the alley.

"Captain Winters!" He called out, twisting his body to call out behind where he was standing. Winters nodded to Nixon, a silent request to keep an eye on his men, before making his way down to Speirs. The warm sun at the end of the alley was a welcomed surprise to Dick - it felt like forever since he felt mild, comfortable weather. Bastogne was the literal manifestation of hell frozen over, and the sun kissing Dick's skin was its absolute anathema. "Sir, I don't think this is Bastogne," Speirs' comment shook Winters from his mind, reminding the captain of the problem at hand. The two took in the scene around them. Winters thought he was seeing cars - they had four wheels, and they were driving on the street, but they were far beyond any car anyone in the company has ever seen before. The soldiers seem to have landed in a city of some kind. All the street signs were in English, giving Winters a small amount of relief - wherever they were, they spoke the language. Something different stood out to Speirs, though… the noise. It was not bombs exploding and trees breaking like in Bastogne. It was just as loud, but more…lively? The sounds, whatever they were, seemed to celebrate life rather than take it - honking horns, vehicles driving by, music Speirs had never heard before blaring from their windows - he would never admit to it, but Speirs felt a pang of relief knowing he was not in a war zone.

"I'm inclined to agree with you, Ron," Dick replied before hearing their medic call out.

"Sir! We need to get Malarkey to the ai- uh… I guess a hospital," Eugene called out as he made his way towards Winters and Speirs, supporting Easy's other redhead on his shoulder. Malarkey's face twisted in pain as he held his side with the arm that was not slung over Roe's shoulders. Dick nodded in understanding at his medic and stepped a foot out of the alley, getting a better look at the buildings around him. To his right, Winters spotted the red cross universally associated with medicine displayed prominently on a tall, light-colored building riddled with mirrored windows. Beneath the cross were the words "Emergency Room."

"You think they can help Malarkey?" Speirs asked, hopeful but confused at the words. Seeing Roe holding up Malarkey, the officer quickly made his way to Malarkey's other side, taking his arm over his shoulder to help the soldier.

"It's worth a shot, wait here," Winters replied, heading back to the rest of the men to tell them the plan. "Alright men, there's a place that looks like a hospital a short walk from here. Keep your guard up. Just because it doesn't look like Bastogne, doesn't mean we're in friendly territory," he instructed the six men before him, "Keep Speirs, Malarkey, and Roe in the center, I'll lead the way to the hospital." A chorus of "yes sirs" was heard from Luz, Liebgott, Guarnere, Toye, and Bull, while Nixon nodded in understanding and walked up beside Winters.

"Are you sure about this?" Nixon asked under his breath, ensuring only Winters heard his question.

"Got any better ideas?" Dick replied, cautiously emerging onto the sidewalk. The men left the safe haven of their alley and began the trek to save their friend.

~~~~~

Chapter Two

Thank you so much for reading! Please tell me what you think and be on the lookout for Chapter 2: the Hospital!!

Taglist: @love--persevering , @panzershrike-pretz , @executethyself35 , @stolen94 , @dontirrigateme

[malarkgirlypop]

MEDIC! - 2nd Part (Donald Malarkey x Fem!OC)

I have absolutely no patience... so here is the next part because I'm not a tease and I won't make you wait hehe. I have a lot more I might post everyday until I run out! Because like I said, no patience in my body! Also the main love is Malarkey but I have a problem and make everyone all love the OC. I'M SORRY I CAN'T NOT!! Warning is a slow burn I'm sorry I have ideas in my head and so things can't happen in the timeline without the ideas. I have to have everything ahhhhh. Anyway enjoy!

People step out of the way as the tall man pushes us through the crowd, we reach another soldier dressed in the same uniform. 

“Captain Winters, Sir!” The man's low voice carries over the commotion of the crowd, Captain Winters who is talking to another soldier turns his attention towards us. 

“Yes?” Winters replies. 

“Sir, we have a field nurse who is here somehow by herself?” The man says from behind me. I watch Winters glance over to me then back to the man.

“Sergeant Randleman there are no field nurses here and there are none meant to arrive.” Winters appears just as confused as the man, who’s name apparently is Randleman, was when I spoke to him first. Winters steps closer to me. Reading my name badge that is pinned to my top. 

“Emily Lane?” He looks at me for confirmation.  

“Yes,” I pause looking up at Winters, “Sir?” I feel compelled to also call him Sir since everyone is saying it. 

“How did you get here?” Winters asks. I let out a chuckle. I have been wondering the same thing. I sober myself when Winters gives me a confused look. I probably look crazy standing here laughing to myself. I go to open my mouth to say, oh I don’t know I was pulled through a portal of some sorts, but that coming out of my mouth in this situation might not be the best idea. My mind races. How the hell do I explain this? I open and close my mouth, Winters frowns at me squinting his eyes as if daring me to speak. 

“I, uh…” I start to say. Think! Think of something to say, these men are looking at me like I’m crazy.

“Emily, how did you get to Holland?” Winters asks again, pushing me for an answer.

“HOLLAND?!” I blurt before my brain can catch up. The two men seem shocked by my outburst. I cover my mouth with my hand before anything else can come out of my mouth. 

The two men share a look, I glance from one to the other. “Bull, why don’t you take Emily here to see Doc, she seems to be in shock.” Winters takes my shoulder turning me back to the care of Randleman aka Bull apparently. 

I am once again being pushed through the crowd by Bull. People are still dancing and cheering, a man approaches with his eyes closed and lips puckered out steering straight for me, I flinch back, my arms coming up to deflect the incoming kiss, a nervous laugh bubbles from my lips. I look back at Bull trying to gauge if he just saw that as well. He leans close to me, “They’re celebrating.” 

“I can see that.” I watch other soldiers move through the crowd; they are swarmed, being hugged and kissed as they walk. 

“What are they celebrating?” I ask. 

“The Germans have left, they are liberated.” he answers, still moving us through the crowd. 

The Germans? 

We stop at a commotion in the road, a woman next to us is grabbed by two men. They violently rip off her dress, I gasp moving forward to try and help her but Bull’s grip remains firm. I turn to face him showing my distress, “It’s not our business darlin’.” 

I continue to watch, spotting other women stripped of their clothes and their hair has been cut. The woman that was next to me cries out as a man with scissors hacks her hair. A lady is dragged by us with a symbol painted on her forehead, I step back into Bull realising what that symbol is. My hands shake and my chest heaves, the world spins. A swash sticker is painted onto the foreheads of other ladies. 

Where am I? What is going on?

“You alright there lil’ lady?” Bull notices my panic, holding me up as my legs almost give way. 

“What is the date today Bull?” I pant, my eyes darting around. I’m wrong, this is a reenactment of some sorts. This isn’t happening. 

“Well today is the 16th of September.” Bull replies looking confused, his cigar hanging from his teeth as he speaks. My breath leaves me in a short huff as the answer did not comfort me at all. 

“The year, Bull?” I ask, my words holding an ounce of hope that was soon to be extinguished as he opened his mouth to speak once more. 

“Why 1944, of course.” He says matter-of-factly, his eyebrows pulled down over his eyes even more, his expression mimicking a mix of confusion and concern as he looks at my face, trying to gauge my thoughts.

“1944?” I choke out. NO NO NO NO. I try to catch my breath, steady my heart rate but it’s no use. Black dots dance around my vision. Panic rises in my chest, my stomach twists. I spin around looking for the portal I came from. Where was it? 

“Emily take a breath.” Bull’s muffled voice says in my ear. I shake my head pushing away from him. I stagger backwards hitting people as I go. Bull follows closely, holding out his hands to catch me. This has to be some sick dream? That's right, this is a dream! I raise my hand striking it to my cheek, it stings but I am still here. Bull looks at me shocked by my actions, I raise my hand again readying myself for another blow, harder this time. My hand is caught mid-air, my other hand also captured by a very concerned Bull. 

“Bull,” I say very seriously, “I need you to hit me.”

“Hit you?” Bull questions. “I’m not going to hit you darlin’.” He keeps my hands in his, I’m sure he’s worried what I will do next if I have free reign of my hands again.  

“Bull, Emily.” Winters appears next to Bull, he glances at the position that Bull and I are in. “As you were.” He says bewildered, moving forward with the rest of the soldiers. Bull pulls me towards him, tucking me under his arm and following Winters through the crowd. I don’t struggle, I march forward like a zombie, my brain has officially shut off leaving me detached from reality. In my mind I am back in my apartment, making dinner and then sitting down to watch a show then crawling into bed to get up and do the same thing the next day.   

After some walking we leave the crowd behind moving away from the town, Bull continues to follow the rest of the soldiers still having me tucked under his arm like an injured bird. I don’t talk, I listen as the soldiers banter, most of what they say makes no sense to me. Dusk falls quickly, the group makes camp on the side of the road we have been walking for the day. I get given food and water, I slowly sip my water but I give my food to Bull, my stomach is still twisted in knots. I know none of it will stay down. Bull asks if I am sure to which I nod, he takes the food from me and quickly eats. None of the other soldiers seem to pay much attention to me, I guess since I have been so quiet and mostly hidden behind Bull for most of the day they didn’t see me. My white uniform top is now dirty and sweaty, my feet hurt from the constant walking. I'm sure I have blisters on the backs of my heels. A hand taps my shoulder, I jump swinging around to see Winters standing over me. “Emily, I need you to come with me. You too Bull.” Bull stands quickly following orders, I stand slowly and trail behind the two. We make our way through the makeshift camp, only one tent is pitched, the rest of the men are sprawled out on the grass under the stars, quietly chatting to each other. We make our way to the tent, Bull and Winters disappear inside. A thought crosses my mind, run, while no one is looking, run back to the town, find the portal and forget what you saw. I freeze glancing around the dark land that seems to sprawl for miles. No, something in my gut tells me I need to stay with these men, if I run I could find much worse. I shuffle my feet following the men into the tent. As I enter Bull and Winters sit at a table that has a map pinned to it. 

“Emily, we radioed command and there is no record of a field nurse by your name.” Winters looks up at me, I still stand wringing my hands in front of me. I wrack my brain for an explanation. 

“I’m independent, Sir.” I state. 

“Independent?” Winters hums. “And how did you get to Holland?” 

“I was signing up to be a field nurse in England, when I heard whispers of Paratroopers making their next jump into Holland. I also heard they had only a few medics, so I figured I would meet you in Holland and join you and your men, Sir.” I lie through my teeth. I keep my stare steady, and my body language relaxed to make my lies more believable. 

“Why were you so frantic in the town then?” Winters asks. 

“I got turned around in the crowd, Sir. I was worried I had missed my opportunity to join you. I was trying to tell Sergeant Randleman but I seemed to have confused him.” I glance at Bull, he watches me closely. 

“Why did you ask for the date? Specifically the year?” Winters continues with his interrogation. 

“Well I was tired from all my travels, I had fallen asleep at the place I was staying, when I awoke I was unsure of how much time had passed, since I didn’t want to miss your arrival. I felt like I had slept for years.” I internally cringe at how easily the lies roll off my tongue but I need to ensure I stay with this group.    

Winters pauses thinking about my explanation. He looks towards Bull as if trying to read his mind, they share a glance as I watch them. I catch my bottom lip between my teeth chewing on it nervously. 

“Well Emily we do need more medics. Have you been trained?” Winters turns back to me raising his eyebrows as he speaks. 

“Yes, well no technically. I am in my last semester of training, I only have a couple of months left.” I say. 

Winters brows draw together. “I guess that’s good enough, we are desperate.” he sighs, leaning back in his chair.  

“But you haven’t been trained in combat?” He continues. 

“No, Sir. I am medically trained but have not been on the frontline. I understand not all medics carry a firearm, and are just there to help the wounded.” I answer. 

“That’s correct. Well I cannot prepare you for what you are going to see on the frontline, and you understand Emily that you could also die on the front. There is no guarantee for your survival.” His strong stare pins me to the ground, I gulp. I have seen war movies, most of which I had to watch through my hands. I hated seeing the men being blown to pieces and shot down. 

But this wasn’t a movie. I couldn’t watch through my hands, I was here on the front fighting against the Nazis. The thought hadn’t sunk in. How much danger my life was currently in, like Winters said there is no guarantee for my life. But what is my life? Is this it? Stuck here in 1944? Or when the war is over, if I make it through, do I find another portal? Is there another portal? It’s strange to think how quickly it all got turned upside down, this isn’t a dream, I’m stuck in a time where I do not belong.  

I pull myself from my spiralling mind. “I understand Sir.” I say firmly, holding my ground, making my words as believable as I can. 

Winters stands a small smile spread across his face, he reaches his hand out to me, “Welcome to Easy Company Emily Lane.” I take his hand gripping firmly with a single shake he releases me. 

“Bull, get Miss Lane here some proper attire and supplies.” Winters turns to look at Bull who is already nodding and making his way out of the tent. I follow Bull as he holds the tent flap up for me to walk under. I follow him from behind, having to take double steps for his every one, he grabs things from piles, rummaging through bags, he turns holding up a shirt measuring it to my body. 

“Seems you’ll fit the small.” He says, a new cigar is hanging from his teeth. I follow him as he grabs things and passes them back to me, by the time we are done I can hardly see where I am going. “Oof” I grunt walking into something hard. 

“Hey, watch it tiny.” A man says in a thick philly accent. 

“Oh I’m sorry.” I say peeking out from behind the mountain of gear in my arms.     

“Aye, who are you?” he squints trying to get a better look at me in the dark. 

The group of men that stand around with him also pique interest, five pairs of eyes land on me. 

“Are you lost?” The man I bumped into speaks again. 

“No, not lost.” I say, staring back at him. 

“She’s our new medic.” Bull speaks from behind me. “Are these boys hassling you Lane?” He leans forward but says it loud enough for the group to hear. 

I look over my shoulder at him and smile. “No, they aren’t giving me any trouble, but I think I could take them if I wanted.” Bull lets out a laugh, patting me on my back. 

“You’re going to be trouble Lane, I can already tell.” He chuckles. “How about I introduce you to these men before you try and fight them all?” I smile up at him. 

“This right here is Bill Guarnere,” he points to the man I walked into. “And that is John Martin, but everyone calls him Johnny.” Martin raises his hand giving a small wave, I smile back politely. “And that there is Joseph Liebgott, George Luz, Webster and Donald Malarkey.” Small hello’s and hi are said as they are introduced. They all look basically the same in the dark in the same uniforms, and I have no hope I am going to remember anyone's names. 

“Hi I’m Emily Lane, but everyone calls me Emmy.” I say semi waving my hand from under the pile of clothes I am holding. 

“Emmy, what on earth are you doing here?” the man who I believe to be George Luz says smiling. 

“Well I heard you needed medics so, here I am.” I let out an awkward laugh. “I better go get changed, but I guess I will see you around?” I cringe, when was it hard to talk to a group of men? 

Luz chuckles, “I’m sure we will Emmy.” a cheeky grin forms on his face. I don’t know what that smile means but I move quickly to find somewhere to get changed. I feel the men watch me as I go, I hear them fall back into conversation once I am out of view. 

I turn around looking for a place to change, in front of me a field spans out with trees in the distance, behind me the men have made camp and are lying in the grass, huddling around in groups talking. I turn in a circle, trying to find the best spot. There are trucks parked on the grass but men sit in them as well.

“Emily.” Someone calls from behind me, I whip around to see a tall man standing in the shadows, I glance down at his arm a white band on his sleeve shows the red cross, the sign for medic.

“You must be Doc?” I say moving closer to him.  

“I am indeed, I have your medic pack here. Bull told me to give it to you.” He hands over the army green bag with the red cross mark on the front. I take it trying not to drop the clothes I am holding. 

“Thank you, Doc.” I say. 

“Call me Gene.” I nod at his response, “Do you know what is in this bag?” he asks.

“I think so? A powder that stops infections, gauze, scissors, Tourniquet, medical tags, safety pins, tweezers?” I say off the top of my head, I actually have no idea what could be used in the 40's. I am so used to modern medicine, they would have no gloves, no alcohol swabs to disinfect gear.

“That’s about right, but I will let you have a look through by yourself if you have any questions come ask me.” he says turning to leave. 

“Ok, thank you Doc. Sorry Gene.” I say loudly as he walks away. 

“Miss Lane.” I hear from the other side, OMG now what. I turn to see Winters poking his head from the tent. I straighten, this man seems to be in charge here. I can't piss him off. 

“Yes, Sir.” I make my way over to the tent. 

“Emily, are you wanting to change?” he motions his head to the armful of clothing I am carrying.

“Yes please Sir, I couldn’t find anywhere private.” I shuffle forward and into the tent. Winters steps out, closing the flap behind him. I move quickly putting the clothes down on the table, I start by taking off my shoes and socks. Then shimmy my pants down, kicking them to the side. I empty the pocket of my uniform top, my hand grips something cold. I pull it out to inspect it. My mouth drops. No goddamn way! I clutch my phone in my hand, letting out a strangled gasp. 

“Everything ok Emily?” Winters asks from outside the tent. Oh fuck! I thought he left, he’s probably making sure that no one comes in while I change. 

I clear my throat, “fine.” my voice cracks, “I’m fine.” I say in a clearer voice. OMG, OMG, OMG I mouth. How the hell did I not lose this. I tap the screen and almost shriek, it lights up. The time and date have not changed from when I was back in my own time. I open the screen, no bars. Well I would be more surprised if I did get reception. 87% battery, I need to keep this on me, I mean if I go back to my own time I don’t want to have to buy another phone. I power down my phone and place it on the table. I search through my pockets, pairs of medical gloves, I place them down next to the phone. I pull more from my pockets: pens, pencil, a mask, hand sanitiser, omg I could kiss myself for always having the most full pockets. The last thing I pull out is a small black case, I open my earphones to find them sitting in their charging ports, the green light flashes. God I am good, they’re fully charged. But unfortunately I am unsure how long they will last as I can’t power them down like my phone. I place them down on the table as well. I take my name badge and pin on watch off my top as well. 

I quickly get changed into the uniform given to me, leaving on my bra and underwear I slip into the pants doing the belt on the tightest loop so they don’t fall down and a white cotton t-shirt, I pull on my black thick socks and combat boots. The boots are a bit big but if I wear a couple pairs of socks they should be fine. I button up the long sleeve shirt, pulling on my jacket. I tuck the helmet under my arm and the medic kit is slung across my body. I gather the items from my pockets and slip them into my kit for safe keeping. 

“Almost done in there?” Winters asks from outside. 

“Yes Sir.” I reply, the tent flap opens as he walks back in. Winters scans me from head to toe, a small smirk forms on his lips. 

“You forgot one thing.” Winters reaches into his pocket pulling out the red cross band. He gestures for my arm. I reach out my right arm, he steps forward and slides the band up, I look down at him watching him intently. Winters eyes meet mine, I look away quickly embarrassed I was caught staring. Winters laughs softly pulling safety pins from his pocket pinning the band to my sleeve, as he pins the last one I gasp. He looks up worried, scanning my face, “Got you.” I smile, his face cracks into a smile. “Indeed you did.” 

He finishes pinning the band taking a step back to admire his work, I feel my face flush shy from being scrutinised by him. 

“Well now you look the part.” He steps forward again, taking my helmet from under my arm. He gently places it on my head. “You always wear this, you got it?” I nod the helmet falling in front of my eyes from the movement. He chuckles, pushing it back up.  

“Well I think you should show me how good your skills are.” Winters crosses his arms in front of him. 

“My skills?” I am confused. 

“I have a wound on my left leg, ricochet bullet. Gene was going to come dress it but you’re here now.” He sits as he talks, pulling up his pant leg for me to see the wound. I kneel down in front of him to better look at the wound, the lighting in the tent is poor but it will have to do. I pull gear from my medic bag, gauze and a fresh bandage. I pull down his sock to see the affected area better. The bandage on his leg is dirty, blood has seeped through the previous dressing. I look up at him as he watches me. 

“You should be keeping off this, no?” I ask, wondering what the other medic had told him. 

“I mean I can’t really, these men rely on me.” he sighs, he looks tired. I cannot imagine what this man has seen, his face looks young but his eyes hold scarring memories that he will never be able to unsee. 

I remove the bandage on his leg, the wound appears small, and the wound bed appears to be granulating and no slough seems to be present. There appears to be no sign of infection, I press the back of my hand over the area to feel if it is hot to the touch, which it isn’t. There is no sign of erythema around it and the edges are actively healing; they pucker up due to the trauma of the ricocheted bullet entering the skin. 

I feel Winters’ eyes on me as I assess the injury. “Do you have water?” I ask looking around. 

Winters pulls a canteen from his belt, handing it to me. I tip the water from the canteen onto a couple of pieces of gauze. Then pouring the water onto the open wound, “ah.” Winters gasps flinching. 

“Sorry.” I say continuing with my task, I clean the injury itself and around it, to help stop bacteria from entering the wound. I pat the skin dry, I apply the new clean dressing tying it around his leg to secure it. I sit back on my haunches looking up at Winters, he smiles seemingly impressed with my work.          

“So what’s the verdict nurse?” he tilts his head as he asks the question. 

“No sign of infection, which is good. Should be healed soon. It would heal faster if you didn’t walk on it so often but I can compromise with you on that. How about when you have time, you elevate your legs, to help reduce the swelling.” I say gathering my supplies and tighten the lid back onto the canteen before handing it back to him. 

“Well I guess I can do that for you.” he says, taking the canteen from my hands. I stand making my way to the exit. 

“Goodnight Captain Winters.” I say. 

“Dick.” he replies.

“Where?” I exclaim. 

The man looks confused, I stare at him eyes wide. My hand lifts to point at him. 

“Yo..” I mumble. 

“Me.” He says pointing at himself. 

My eyes are big as saucers at this point, what is this man asking me?

“Right now?” I ramble.

“What?” his face scrunches in confusion. I mean he’s cute, but like I just met him. I reach my hands up to my top button undoing one. 

“I mean I guess.” I say slowly unbuttoning my top, unsure if this is the request he just made. 

“Emily what are you doing?” He seems genuinely concerned.

“What am I doing? What are you doing?” I stop unbuttoning, I think I have read this situation very wrong. 

“My name is Dick, Richard Winters.” He states.

My mouth falls open and my cheeks become hot, I’m sure my whole face has turned the darkest shade of red. 

“Dick short for Richard.” I gape, the cogs in my brain finally turning. 

“Your name is Dick.” I half shout, covering my mouth. I hastily do up my buttons. I am so dumb what is wrong with me, I could hit myself. 

“Well… ah… goodnight Dick” I mumble hurrying out the tent. The cool breeze brings relief to my hot face, I fan myself trying to catch my breath. I need to find somewhere to sleep or hide, I need the ground to swallow me whole, that's what I need.   

I rush back to the group of men most of which are sleeping, I see Bull’s larger figure sitting quietly talking to others. I make my way to him, carefully stepping over the men sprawled on the floor. I sit next to Bull. He appears to be my comfort, not that I know him well but from the interactions I have had with him he seems to be a kind person. He smiles down at me when I seat myself next to him.

“Saw you in Winters’ tent, everything ok?” he asks, leaning closer for me to hear him. 

“Yeah, yup, oh yeah, fine I’m fine, so good, grand even, yup everything is a-ok” I ramble quickly looking back at the tent I just ran from, cringing at how the interaction ended. I wanted to curl up and die. 

“Ahh, are you ok?” Bull frowns in confusion, tilting his head to get a better look at my face that I ducked down out of view. 

“Yes, yup.” I reply, popping the p at the end of my sentence. 

“Alright, get some rest.” Bull says, lending me the blanket from his legs, I slip under it next to him relishing his heat. Exhaustion pulls at my eyes, even on the cold hard ground my body yearns to rest. Bull moves next to me coming closer so our bodies are almost pressed together, I rest my head on my medic bag, as the world around me fades.

[liebgotts-lovergirl]

Fire On Fire: Chapter 27

(Ch. 26.2) ... (Ch. 1)

II Gallery II Symbol Guide II

Summary: "I can accept the idea of my own demise, but I am unable to accept the death of anyone else." - Maya Angelou

WARNINGS: Death, Espionage, War, Survivor's Guilt, the usual

Taglist: @latibvles @softguarnere @brassknucklespeirs @mccall-muffin @lieutenant-speirs @bellewintersroe @emmythespacecowgirl @holdingforgeneralhugs @parajumpboots @hxad-ovxr-hxart @sleepisforcowards @suugrbunz @ax-elcfucker-blog @chaosklutz @mads-weasley @vibing-away @eightysix-baby @ithinkabouttzu @emmylindersson

Contemporary: 11:30 PM, December 2nd, 1944. Liart, France.

“You do know where Liart Station is, right Nix?”

As the pair crept through the thick trees, Alix's whispers were underscored only by the subtle crackling of the frosty ground beneath their feet.

“You’re not going to get us lost agai–” 

“Oh Jesus Christ, let that live forever,” the intelligence officer griped in mock exasperation but even among the chirping chorus of crickets and the occasional crunch of dead leaves, Alix could hear the wry laughter in his voice. 

“How about next time, I complain and you can navigate. How’s that sound, Runt?”

Alix made a vague noise of acknowledgement as they trudged onward, her heart already beginning its heavy drumbeat as speckles of gold began to appear just beyond the treeline a few yards ahead.

The train station.

“Oh ye of little faith,” Nixon remarked dryly and if it hadn’t been for the thick blue lenses, she would’ve rolled her eyes and come up with a snappy retort.

But her mouth had suddenly gone bone-dry, all mirth dying in her throat.

She had bigger problems now.

Under the unforgiving glare of the station lights, there would be nowhere to hide. 

She would be a sitting duck.

It was a spy’s worst nightmare.

Alix’s joints seemed to lock for a split second but she forced herself to catch up with her case officer, slowing only when the hem of her dress snagged on the extended arm of a nearby tree.

“Cazzo!” 

Muttering more expletives under her breath, the spy undertook the arduous task of prying the delicate blue silk from the bough’s stubborn grasp.

The tree's taller branches rustled above her as she worked, showering her in puffy golden blossoms like tiny comets raining down onto her newly-auburn hair as Nixon snickered. 

"Less laughing, more collecting, wise-ass," Alix advised with a cocked eyebrow as she tossed a couple starry blooms in his direction and managed to ease the rest of the gauzy material from the gnarled bark. 

"Saves Donovan some cash on my funeral arrangements." 

“Don’t even joke about that,” the intelligence officer snapped before turning his attention back to the compass in his hand. “You’re going to be fine.”

 Alix would have rolled her eyes but the uncomfortable blue contact lenses stung enough as it was so she settled for an impetuous toss of her hair which launched a few more flowers into the chilly night air. 

“If you say so,” she mumbled but after hiking the skirt of her dress up to her thighs, she forged ahead, trying to ignore the nagging doubts dogging her every step into the night.

No one had told her anything about her mission partner except that they were a floater but that fact alone was enough to fill her with dread.

More of an asset than an agent, floaters were just temporary consultants with highly-specialized skill sets. 

Codebreakers, forgers, interrogators, radio operators, explosives experts, floaters hired by the OSS had talent on top of their respective training, of that she was sure. 

But they weren’t spies and that caused Alix serious trepidation.

How could she put her whole life in the hands of someone who'd never even been in the field before?

What if they froze when she needed them most? Then what?

How did she know they wouldn't sell her out to the Gestapo as soon as they got the chance? 

How did she know they hadn't already done so? 

She didn't, Alix realized as ice seemed to run through her. She didn't know a damn thing. 

What if–

“Knock it off,” Captain Nixon interrupted over his shoulder as if reading her mind. “I can hear you worrying from here.”

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered, tugging the thick mink wrap even closer around herself protectively. 

“You’re not the one walking into a trap, Nix." 

"And neither are you," her handler retorted testily.

“He’ll be there. Just remember the recognition phrase and look for the ring. You'll be fine." 

The notorious skull ring. 

The identifying symbol of a Werwolf Kommando, only gifted to the most dangerous of combatants. 

Alix didn’t even want to know how the OSS had managed to get one for her partner. 

“Hey Runt,” Nixon interrupted her musings once again but his expression was one of slight concern, though his usual laughter still put a lilt in his tone.

They were almost there now.

 “Loosen up, will you? Jesus, you've got the same expression as Dick going on and he usually looks like he’s being marched to the gallows.”

“Well that’s what it feels like,” she grumbled, her stomach churning at the thought of being in plain sight of the Gestapo with a 1 Million Franc bounty out for her capture.

“Hey.” 

Her handler gave her a light smack on the shoulder. There was a brotherly concern in her handler’s eyes but he tried to summon a lackadaisical grin anyway, which she appreciated.

“Relax, 'kay? It’s a mission, not a death sentence.”

The shriek of a train whistle cut off her reply.

It was not her train; she still had plenty of time but she still needed to get to the agreed-upon meeting spot before someone else. 

Hurriedly smoothing some fallen pine needles from her dress, her muscles tensed with anticipation as she made her way beyond the treeline and to the station door, leaving her handler behind in the shadows of the forest.

Alright, she said to herself, forcing an imperious posture as she tugged open the door. Let’s get this show on the road.

∆∆━━━━∆∆━━━━━∆∆━━━━∆∆

If anyone had asked, Alix would’ve told them the worst part of being a spy was the waiting. 

Bathed in the yellow glow of the station lights overhead, she remained frozen on her solitary island, the few passengers in sight hustling past like a flock of seagulls without so much as a glance in her direction.

With every light puff of breath, Alix noticed her fingers twitch slightly with the urge to reach for the rosary that no longer resided there. 

Alix may have been Catholic, but "Tanya" was not. 

Her Nona Lucrezia’s rosary was stuffed into a tiny pouch buried at the bottom of one of her many suitcases, which had already been shipped ahead to Paris. 

In its place around her neck was a weathered golden medallion bearing the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, a popular Russian Orthodox intercessor. 

The patron saint of deliverance from misfortune.

She could certainly use some of that right about now.

Feigning boredom, the young agent casually reached into her silk purse and retrieved an ornate silver lighter and her half-smoked pack of Herzegovina Flor cigarettes. 

Instantly, she felt nearby eyes on her. 

Locating the closest reflective surface, Alix clocked the observer: an elderly Frenchwoman in a patchwork skirt who was gaping at her as she shuffled her way past to the fourth bench. 

Of course people were going to stare, Alix reminded herself, trying to focus instead on the lime-green packaging in her lap, the name embossed in glinting gold Cyrillic font.

After all, she was covered from head to toe in diamonds, fur, and silk, not to mention she was smoking the priciest cigarettes in all of the Soviet Union. 

Remembering what Nix had taught her, Alix was careful to pinch the cigarette between her thumb and forefinger instead of how she would normally hold it– casually propped between her first and second. 

"It's always the little things, Runt," the intelligence officer had commented around noontime as he'd adjusted her grip on one of her beloved Chesterfields. 

"The stupidest little things can make or break an op." 

Making a mental note to thank Nix when she got to Paris, Alix took a long drag off her cigarette, enjoying the rich, earthy flavor. 

No wonder it was reportedly Stalin's favorite brand, she mused. The tobacco was of superb quality. 

Noting the time– twenty minutes till midnight – Alix scanned the scene as she awaited the arrival of her contact. 

Liart Station wasn’t very crowded at that hour of the night so he should’ve been easy to spot but none of the men in view wore the distinctive skull ring of the Werwolf Kommandos.

They're going to be late, she thought, gritting her teeth with irritation. This is why I don’t work with floaters.

She could practically hear her handler’s teasing sing-song in her head:

“One-time assets are just as necessary as full-time operatives, Runt."

Only the ones that take the job seriously, Alix thought bitterly. Which this one clearly didn’t, seeing as they had not received any word from them and it was rapidly approaching midnight.

With a huff of irritation, the spy went back to surveying the scene around her.

The gray-haired matron was now hunched over a book whilst a pair of businessmen stood nearby, commiserating about the late hour.

Moments later, a small gaggle of young women bustled past, causing one of the men to let out a rude wolf whistle.  

Clearly working girls, there were about four or five in the bunch, all with tousled hair piled high and splotches of rouge coloring their gaunt cheeks. 

Three were her own age, the other two a bit older, but they all had the same rings of exhaustion around their eyes that even heavy makeup couldn't camouflage.

No doubt, their workday was just beginning but the windy French night had no pity, battering them with icy gusts that their flimsy chemises and torn stockings couldn't hope to combat. 

The call-girls were shivering uncontrollably as they reached the 4th bench, the older two gathering the younger ones to them in a futile attempt to ward off some of the chill. 

A pit formed in Alix's stomach as she watched them.

It was a miserably cold night, the bitter wind nipping at her face, and she had a luxurious coat to protect her. 

The call-girls had nothing, nothing but each other.

How could she help them while still maintaining her cover? 

Hearing raised voices, she glanced toward the sound, where a harried-looking teenager in an ill-fitting blue uniform was scurrying two stairs at a time down to the platform below while an older man in the same uniform was shouting after her, shielding the edge of his coffee cup to prevent spillage as he made his way down the stairs.

The poor girl looked scared to death, nearly in tears, and seeing her supervisor bellowing at her over what was the most minor of mistakes was really pushing Alix's buttons.

Taking a languid puff of her cigarette, the spy yawned and nonchalantly stretched out a leg at the last minute, just as the supervisor was hurrying past her bench to no doubt continuing bullying his employee.

 

The Three Stooges could not have timed it better. 

The man's boot caught the hem of her dress and he stumbled forward, accidentally releasing the cup into the air like a baseball. 

The container’s soaring arc gave Alix ample time to briefly flee the bench, ensuring that while the occasional droplet sprinkled down on her coat like a soft rain, the supervisor was completely doused in his own coffee.

Howling, an expression of confusion and outrage flashed across the middle-aged Frenchman’s face but before he could get a word out, Alix seized the opportunity to round on him first, stepping towards him and snarling expletives in Russian with such vehemence that spit practically flew from her red-painted lips. 

"You idiot," she hissed, switching to heavily-accented French as she examined her clothing with melodramatic horror. "My favorite coat-"

"Madame, I-"

The supervisor had reached out, presumably to assess the damage, but Alix slapped his hand away with a glare so scathing that it would've made even Lady Macbeth run for the hills.

As the spy tore off the offending article, she muttered expletives in Russian before hurling the mink coat to the cobblestones and taking an intimidating step closer to him with a shrewish stomp of her foot. 

"The station will receive bill," she intoned with a final sneer before smoothing off her dress and stalking back to her bench, leaving the priceless mink in a heap on the cobblestone and the station supervisor fuming behind her. 

Noticing one of the shivering women inching her way toward the coat, small puffs of breath escaping her chattering teeth, Alix glanced away at the giant clock mounted on the wall. 

Ten minutes till Midnight. 

She had time.

Affecting boredom, Alix took a long drag off her cigarette and rose from her seat, heading toward the tiniest, most decrepit-looking newsstand she’d ever seen to give the callgirl an opportunity.

Keeping an eye on the last remaining travelers trickling their way into her periphery, the spy flipped through the latest edition of Le Figaro for the benefit of whatever prying Nazi eyes might be watching.

5… 4…

As she counted down in her head, Alix fought the urge to turn around and check.

Pick up the coat, she urged the prostitutes silently, still keeping her eyes trained on the newspaper in front of her as she loitered. Take the damn coat.

3… 2… 

She couldn’t wait any longer without seeming suspicious. 

1…0…

When she began to head back toward her bench, just as she’d hoped, the coat was being used by the older women in the group to shelter the others, all huddling to take advantage of the fur's warmth like chicks under a mother quail’s wing.

One of the callgirls–  was gazing over at her with tear-filled eyes, seemingly unable to find the words to express her gratitude.

Chewing on her bottom lip to avoid smiling, she let her eyes flicker away just as a couple sailors hurried through. 

The thin gold rings encircling both sleeves marked one of them as an Ensign, a junior officer probably just graduated, and Alix felt as though a boulder had been dropped onto her stomach.

╔══ •🖤🖤•🖤🖤•🖤🖤• ══╗

5 Years Ago: 30th Street Station, November, 1939. Philadelphia, USA.

"You're going to send Helen Astor into fits, you know," the eighteen year old teased as she jogged after her brother. "Leaving without saying goodbye when she's been pining after you for years." 

"Well I've been avoiding her for years," Giovanni countered, slinging his canvas knapsack over his right shoulder with a grunt, causing his uniform to rustle. 

"It's Dad who wants me to go steady with her, not me. She's not my type." 

"Have you told him that?" Alix inquired as she wove through the onslaught of servicemembers and their families, all crying and hugging as they said their final goodbyes. 

"Right," Gio snorted skeptically.

"Because that would go over so well. What would I even say?!

'Sorry Pops, I know you had big plans for me but I'd rather get eaten by a shark than marry any of the Astor girls so I’m going to run off to the South Pacific instead! Take my inheritance and shove it! Sincerely, your firstborn’.

Yeah, that’ll go over splendidly.” 

“You’re still the favorite,” the girl reminded him doggedly, a tinge of resentment creeping into her voice.

“Between being valedictorian, track team captain, and an altar boy, I think you could start robbing banks and Dad would still say 'Alix, why can't you be more like your brother?'"

She had expected a breezy chuckle and one of his usual witticisms but her brother let out a long exhale instead.

"I’m sorry about that, Passerotta. I know it can't be easy–”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alix interrupted, her tone sharper than she’d intended it. 

Gio raised his eyebrows but acquiesced and continued the dutiful trudge ahead. 

Jostling past a cluster of other officers, Alix gave her brother a wan smile as she tried to lighten the mood.

"Don’t let this go to your big head but we’re all gonna miss you.”

“Don’t I know it,” Giovanni remarked with a grin. “Between your crying and Mom’s, I thought we were all going to drown before we even got here!”

“Can you blame us?” Alix retorted, trying to keep her voice light. “You are going to be over 4,000 miles away.”

“Yeah, in Hawaii.” Her brother barked out a laugh. “Do you know what happens at a duty station that nobody's ever heard of?” 

Alix shook her head and her brother readjusted his grip on his knapsack, heaving the canvas bag over his other shoulder.

“Exactly,” he grunted, dark hazel eyes twinkling as they continued their walk.

“Nothing happens. I'll be bored to tears."

Alix quickened her steps to keep up with Gio’s long strides.

“You’ll have liberty though, won’t you?” she asked and he shrugged. 

“Once a week supposedly but how many times can a guy watch the same four pictures? Benji says-" 

Alix cocked her head inquisitively.

That was a name she hadn't heard before.

"Benji?" 

"A friend," Gio replied too quickly and Alix swore she could see his cheeks reddening slightly. "At OCS. He was…We were–" 

The train’s piercing whistle cut him off. 

“Well, that’s my cue!” he piped up with a tone of false confidence but she could see the sadness just behind his eyes. 

Noticing her expression, he gave her a light smack on the shoulder and yanked her into a tight hug.

Alix wished she had hugged him for just a little bit longer... But before she knew it, her brother was boarding the train.

Hanging his head out the window, he shot her that trademark million-dollar grin of his, and called out a joke that would still haunt her even 5 years later:

“Relax, 'kay? It’s a three-year contract not a death sentence."

╚══ •🖤🖤•🖤🖤•🖤🖤• ══╝

[trashbag-baby666]

Guys I have covid so hit me with more request prompts from this list!! Ive got a few boring days ahead of me!!!

Taking requests for:

Band of Brothers:

Joe Liebgott

Webgott

Luztoye

Baberoe

Winnix

Speirton

The Hunger Games:

Finnick Odair

Top Gun: Maverick:

Rooster Bradshaw

Hangman Seresin

OC’s:

Daisybilly

Baberoe/Graham

[roadtogracelandx45]

Under False Pretenses Rewrite 2| Band of Brothers AU

@marycorleone

masterlist

part one

Two 

Olivia blinked her eyes open and looked around the bedroom, the bitter resentment of her reality came crashing down around her again. She had been abandoned by the man that she thought loved her and was going to be her husband and the father of her child. And she was going to be

 stuck fulfilling a stupid promise that her great-grandfather made with Lewis's great-grandfather. For as long as she could remember she was with Lewis, or with his family, even her college education was done at the same schools as him. 

Whatever this business arrangement was, it was controlling her whole life, she was the only one that James had left to fulfill the promise. His daughters, Olivia's aunts, refused saying the whole arranged marriage thing was outdated and cruel. And Olivia agreed wholeheartedly. But in a way, she was happy that it was Lewis she had to marry, they did love each other deeply, not on the same level as her love for Joe but still it was there and then there was Dick. he loved them both and was ready for the long haul. 

As if he could read her mind Dick squeezed the hip he was still holding, "Good morning. Happy birthday.'  his voice was still thick with sleep. " Thank you." She returned softly, "Sorry about last night." Dick pressed his lips against her forehead and pulled her closer to him, "You have nothing to be sorry about love. This is what I am here for." He wouldn't admit that he had laid awake after Lewis dropped off to sleep wanting to escape back home but couldn't leave them both.

 Olivia was already falling apart about Joe leaving, his flight would bring as much damage. And then there was Lewis, he wasn't ready for all of this. He asked Olivia to marry him because it was what was promised between the Nixon and Stewart family and it was almost expected at this point that they would get married but the two were happy where they were with.

 Lewis with him and her with Joe.

 It all just made sense.

 Lewis shuffled closer to her, his lips finding the back of her neck and his fingers tracing a pattern on her bare skin. "Morning.' He mumbled kissing his way up the side of her neck to her jaw, "Happy birthday." Turning her head Olivia let him kiss her lips several times. He knew the best way to distract her from the feelings and their reality was all physical touch. Dick sensing that he wasn't going to be needed went to slide out of the bed but was stopped by Olivia's hand grasping his and pulling him back towards them her legs tangling with his pulling him flush against her. "Stay please."

 This was the first time that all three of them were together like this. Previously had just been watching or stealing glances and touches.  “Liv.” He started, his breath hitching in his throat when her lips found his throat, pressing soft kisses and nips against it.  Lewis’ hand grabbed his and squeezed letting him know it was okay, that they all needed this. 

**

Bobby Stewart sighed heavily as he let himself back into the condo early the next morning, he hated that he was going to be the one who had to tell his twin that Joe was gone, and they were having a hard time tracking him down.

 Even Hoobs and Alton, the two guys who found a rare bottle of whiskey for Olivia to give Lewis' for his birthday were having a hard time locating him. His phone was shut off, and the credit cards that he normally used hadn't been used since. The last time it had been used was when he went to a vintage jewelry store and purchased a ring. A ring that they had found sitting on the kitchen counter with a card with his sister's name scrawled on the front in Joe's chicken starch. 

"Livvy!" He called, sitting the packages he had brought down on the table that lined the front hallway, "Come on sis! Papa is waiting for us."

"She is coming." Dick's voice floated down the stairs as he came down them fastening the cufflinks Olivia insisted he wore to impress her grandfather and uncles. If he was going to be a part of their family, they had to prove to them that Dick was worthy of joining their family to be associated with the granddaughter of  Robert Stewart Sr. 

 "Is she okay?" He asked leaning against the doorframe.

 The tall redheaded man swallowed the lump that was in his throat, he didn't want to give anything away. "No, but can you blame her? She was with Joe for years. And he was her one true love." Bobby froze as he took the smoke out of the pack.

"Don't get me wrong she loves Lewis but it's not that maddening I have to be with you every second of the day or I am going to go crazy type of love." "I thought it was the same for Joe. But." The older twin cleared his throat and flashed the card at him, "This is saying otherwise." 

"You snooped into your sister's mail?" Dick was floored, he knew the twins were close but not that close. The only time that Bobby had been furious with his sister was when he found out that Olivia was sleeping with Joe. And had flirted with Floyd and Chuck, his friends. He didn’t mind her being a flirt but when it was his friends that's when he started to draw a line. 

“I don't know if this is going to help her or upset her even more.” 

Sighing, Dick reached out for the card and box that the older Stewart twin produced from his pocket, he knew that if they kept it from her and she found out, she would flip like she had when she found out that Bobby had tried to seduce Alice, one of Olivia's childhood best friends who was dating Bull Randleman, who when he found out about it first, took matters into his own hands and went after him. And then when Olivia found out about it went off the handle, cursing and throwing things at him. If it hadn’t been for Joe and Floyd pulling her away, she would have launched herself at him. She had been a firm believer in Alice and Bull being together and still was even after all the crap that they had been through together.

Before he could look at it, Olivia and Lewis appeared at the top of the stairs looking like a couple out of one of the magazines that Mrs. Stewart insisted that Olivia got every month. “Bobby, have you heard anything?” “No.” He returned, ‘The apartment was empty of all his belongings, he left this though.’ Dick held out the items to her causing her  to retreat up a few steps behind Lewis, like the items were going to burn if she touched them. “I don’t want to open them. I don’t want it confirmed that he is really and truly gone.”  Lewis turned to look at her, his hand catching hers again, squeezing it. “Read it, babe, it will help you.”  Her suddenly teary eyes searched Lewis’ dark eyes for several long moments before she nodded her head causing Dick to step forward and hand the items over to her. 

Growing more uncomfortable about what was going to happen, Bobby turned so his back was facing them, he couldn’t bear to see the heartbreak and pain that she was going to go through.  He couldn’t handle it.

**

Finally shaking off some of the guilt, Joe turned his phone on and frowned seeing the number of missed calls, voicemails, and text messages he had. Not only from Olivia but from her twin, Floyd Talbert, Chuck Grant, Mary Corleone, Alice and Bull Randleman, and Johnny Martin. The last one surprised him, normally Johnny stayed out of the petty drama was calling him on his bs. “I don’t know what the fuck you are thinking Joe, but leaving your pregnant girlfriend for whatever stupid fucking reason is bullshit.” The phone slipped out of his hands and clattered to the ground,  his Olivia was pregnant? With his baby? No, that was probably just an excuse they made up to have him come back.  Not even this would make him come home and back to Olivia and their baby. Their lives weren’t worth it.  

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Loving Her Was Red

Summary: Lois Drake an SOE from England didn't expect to fall in love, she didn't want to but there was something about the blushing, red-headed officer that melted her cold exterior. But war is no place for love and can they endure. Warnings: unrequited love, Sobel being Sobel, heartache

We’re going to War

14th May 1944, Aldbourne

Lewis Nixon had always been an observant man and he was no different now from his spot on his bed, watching as Dick filled in some paperwork. “You know Dick, if you’re that fond of Lois you could always ask her out,” Lew declared, watching as his friend's face contorted awkwardly until he replied.

“And what good would that do either of us, Lew? She is so far out of my league and we will be leaving England soon enough. War is no time for romance,” Dick replied, never one looking up from his papers.

Lewis groaned, taking a small swig from his hit flask before continuing, “Dick, she seems like a nice girl and you are not the kind of man who does one-night stands. I know this, hell the whole company knows that. Lois must have been really special for you to go to bed with her the first night. There has to be something more in this, Dick.”

Dick huffed in frustration, pushing the papers across the desk and looking up at his friend, “She’s too good for me, Lew.”

Lewis stared at his friend blankly for a moment before snorting, “You’re kidding me! Any girl would be lucky to have you, Dick. Now I’m not taking no for an answer, you ask Lois out or I will do it for you.”

“Lew, no please don’t…”

“Then do it and if you don’t I will find out. I’m the intelligence officer, after all, I know everything.”

Dick laughed, “Why do I get the feeling she’s growing on you.”

Lewis looked away, his cheeks turning a little red as he muttered, “S-she’s not. She’s okay for you… I don’t like her… why would I like her.”

Dick’s forehead creased as he watched his friend disappear from view.

The conversation played over and over in Dick’s mind as he followed the path up to the house Lois was billeted at. He knocked on the door nervously, smoothing down his hair with one hand and grasping hold of the flowers he’d bought with the other. Kate’s face appeared at the door and she grinned enthusiastically at him.

“Lieutenant Winters, how nice of you to drop by. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Dick would tell she was trying not to combust with excitement on the doorstep and scream for Lois immediately but as soon as his reply came that he was here to see Lois Kate sprinted from the door, shouting up the stairs. There were some rustling and hushed voices from within before Lois appeared in the doorway. She looked as beautiful as ever.

“Lieutenant Winters, how nice of you to come by. Please do come in.” She pushed the door open wider and allowed Dick to step into the passageway.

“Please I must insist you call me Dick,” he spoke softly, unsure if Kate was still nearby.

“Whatever you say, Lieutenant,” Lois grinned, biting her lip and looking up at him. Dick gulped, straightening himself before thrusting the flowers towards Lois.

“For you.” Lois looked a little surprised but took the flowers gratefully with a smile. She moved through to the kitchen, taking a vase from one of the cupboards. Dick watched from the doorway, unsure whether the invite extended to the kitchen or just the hallway.

“Dick, please don’t hover. You can take a seat. Would you like some tea?” Lois asked, two cups already in her hands.

“That would be lovely. Thank you,” Dick took a seat at the kitchen table, his eyes never leaving Lois until she finally took a seat opposite him.

“So what brings you to Ramsbury, Dick?” Lois reached across the table, her fingers brushing against Dick’s until he took her hand in his, smiling at her as he blushed once more.

“Well…” Dick wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to ask next, “well, I- umm.”

“Dick,” Lois squeezed his hand, running her fingers over his knuckles with a small smile on her lips. “It’s okay.”

Dick smiled sadly at her, “I’m sorry. I’m not good with women.”

Lois laughed, “Well you’re lucky I’m not any woman and I like you very much.”

Dick now filled with some brief confidence, “Well I was wondering if you’d like to go out… sometime… with me.”

A big grin spread across Lois’ lips, “Absolutely. I would love to Dick.”

Dick grinned back at her, the nervousness leaving him as he leant forward across the table to press his lips firmly to hers. It was soft and gentle and Dick found himself unable to pull away until something crashed down the stairs and a very confused Donald Malarkey stood watching them, his shirt half done up and roughly tucked into his trousers and the rest of his uniform tucked under his arm.

“Lieutenant Winters,” he saluted before scurrying away.

“What was all that?” Dick turned back to Lois who just smiled.

“That was Kate’s doing.”

18th May 1944, Aldbourne

Dick tugged nervously at his tie, straightening it for the tenth time since he’d arrived at the pub. He wasn’t sure why he was so worried. It was only going to be a few drinks in the Crown. He’d wanted to take Lois to London, or Swindon but Sobel had cancelled all the weekend passes again and so the best he could do was sneak off for a few hours to see Lois in Aldbourne. He’d never snuck off the base before, always following the rules but he was sick of Sobel's antics and after finally working up the courage to ask Lois he wasn’t about to let her down. He’d left Lew and Harry in charge of his alibi so who knows what he could return to.

Dick took a seat in a dark corner of the bar, away from prying eyes and anyone who might tell Sobel of his whereabouts. He was watching the door the whole time, holding his breath as the anxiety built again. That was the moment Lois came in. Her brown locks curled and pinned in her usual style, her lips coloured with her signature red lipstick and her blue dress hanging to her curves as her hips swayed. Dick had to all but hold himself down to stop himself from immediately leading her back to her billet for some alone time.

“Lieutenant Winters,” she greeted him, pressing her lips to his and Dick instantly melted into her touch.

“Good evening beautiful,” Dick smiled and pulled out Lois’ chair allowing her to sit down before taking his own.

“I’m sorry this isn’t more glamorous. Sobel’s been running us all ragged and cancelled our passes again. I swear that man…”

“I have never seen you like this Lieutenant,” Lois interrupted a cheeky smile on her lips. “But I like it.”

Dick blushed again, smiling when Lois grabbed his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to his knuckles.

“And anyway this is perfect. I wanted to spend time with you, I don’t mind where we spend that time.”

Dick wasn’t sure whether she was insinuating what he thought she was but his blush grew deeper once more.

The evening went swimmingly. They laughed and talked as if they had been doing so for years. Conversations came easily to them as they discussed their homes, their families, and life before the war. Dick was pleased to finally know more about Lois. She’d grown up in Benthal Green with her mother and father. Her father was a WW1 veteran and had a temper that even Dick wouldn’t have wanted to mess with. Her parents had been killed during the bombing on 3rd March 1943 while Lois had been undercover in Europe. Her knew she felt their loss greatly but wouldn’t elaborate on her family after that.

“I do have one question,” Dick spoke up, taking a sip of his ginger beer. “Why did you sign the letter you left as ‘R’?”

Lois laughed, cringing slightly that she’d signed it as ‘R’ instead of Lois. “Well…” Lois pondered over her next words. “It’s my code name, ‘Red’ or ‘R’. I guess it’s just habit.”

Dick smiled, reaching across the table and squeezing Lois hand, “I like that.”

Lois chuckled, “What’s there to like about it.”

“Well, we’re R and R. Richard and Red.” Lois grinned brightly at him. She’d never considered it that way before and the fact that Dick was thinking of their names side by side made her heart flutter. Dick must have felt just as excited about the prospect as she did, for he quickly changed the subject, blushing furiously.

Dick touched briefly on the D-Day plans which Lois was already fully aware of.

“I wish I could tell you more about my job but it’s highly classified,” Lois smiled sadly and Dick reached across the table to squeeze her hand.

“Please don’t worry about it. I trust you and maybe one day when this is all over and only if you wish to, you can tell me about it.”

Lois smiled brightly this time, nodding at him, “I’ll hold you to that, Lieutenant.”

Dick rolled over, his eyes blurry from sleep and his arms outstretched towards the woman next to him. To his surprise she was still there, snuggled up next to his side, her face buried into his neck. She groaned sleepily, clutching him closer. It was still dark outside, the morning rays having yet to break through the thin curtains.

“What time is it?” He mumbled, voice thick from sleep as he buried his head into her hair, placing a sweet kiss on her forehead.

“Still early. Go back to sleep, Dick,” she mumbled in reply but Dick shook his head.

“No, I should go. Sobel will have my guts if he catches me.”

Lois looked up at him sadly but nodded anyway, “Okay. I have a meeting with Nixon again today so I’ll see you later.”

“Of course,” Dick replied, kissing her one last time before he dressed quickly and hurried out of the house, waving awkwardly at Kate and Malarkey who were sitting at the kitchen table.

“Malarkey, weekend passes are cancelled. What are you doing here?” Dick spoke sternly, trying to avoid the embarrassment of being caught by one of his men.

“I could ask you the same thing, Sir,” Malarkey retorted before remembering himself. “I’ll head back to base, Sir.”

Dick nodded, following after him. Malarkey had a large smirk on his face causing Dick to sigh. “I’d appreciate it if you could keep this encounter to yourself, Malarkey.”

“Whatever you say, Sir.”

Dick was surprised to find that Sobel was in fact not pacing at the gates waiting for them.

“Head straight back to your hut, Malarkey.” The private nodded, rushing off towards his Nissan hut.

Dick walked into the officer's room to come face to face with Harry and Lew sat at the desk waiting for him.

“Christ Dick, thank God you’re back. Harry said you never went back to your billet last night,” Lew began, throwing his arms around his friend and wrinkling his nose. “Christ you need a shower man, you smell like a woman now.”

Dick blushed and his two friends fell about laughing.

“Well, how was our dear Captain Drake?” Harry asked, grinning cheekily at Dick who did his best to ignore the looks shared between his friends.

“She’s very well, thank you. We had a lovely evening.”

“I’m sure you did,” Lewis laughed, throwing Dick’s PT kit at him. “Here change into this, Sobel should be here any minute.”

Dick stripped off quickly, ignoring the laughter from Lewis as he pointed out the love bite Lois had left on his neck. He was just tying up his shorts when Sobel came barreling through the door followed by Evans, both surprised that the three officers were ready and waiting.

“What’s all this?” Sobel asked, eyeing the men suspiciously.

“What is what, Sir,” Dick asked, hoping amongst hope that Sobel wouldn’t notice the love bite that Lois had left on his neck.

“Well this,” Sobel waved his arms around. “What are you all waiting for? Go!” He ushered the men outside and Lewis patted Dick on the shoulder.

“You were lucky this time, Dick but I wouldn’t change it again.” Dick nodded to his friend, he had a feeling that Lew was right but for some reason, he just could keep away from Lois Drake

“You know what’s funny about all this?” Harry wheezed as they finally made it back to the Nissan huts, sweat trickling down his forehead and his cheeks red. Lewis was always teasing him that he hadn’t had to run Currahee but Harry was a tough little man and he soon went after Lew for that comment.

“What’s so funny, Harry,” Lew asked, flopping down onto the crate at the end of his bed.

“Well, we came into this with one man married, one man engaged and one man single and now Dick is getting more action than either of us.”

“Alright Harry, settle down. I’m not getting any action…” The two men looked at him judgmentally. “Okay, maybe I’m getting a little action.”

“Dick, you have been rolling around in the sheets with Miss Drake nearly every night this week,” Lew squeaked, waving his hands above his head.

“It’s Captain Drake,” Dick corrected him as Lewis just rolled his eyes. Dick blushed, “Okay maybe I am getting some action.” He laughed as his friends continued their jesting.

20th May 1944, Aldbourne

“Lois, this package came for you this morning. It looks official,” Kate slid the large brown envelope across the table towards her. Lois set down her tea with a sigh. The A4-sized envelope stopped open easily and the contents spilled out onto the table. There were two sets of identification papers, photographs, French francs, and a list of instructions. Lois read the instructions carefully and Kate couldn’t quite make out what she was thinking.

“Lois, what is all this?”

“It’s my mission. I’m going to war.”

“You’re what!” Kate shot up from her seat to see the papers but Lois quickly shoved them back in the envelope.

“I won’t be allowed to discuss it with you, Kate. They’ll want me to go up for a briefing in person. I’m sorry Kate.”

Kate looked a little deflated but took her seat. “I understand. Maybe soon they’ll be sending me on a mission too.”

Lois smiled at her friend sympathetically, “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Kate.” This wasn’t Lois' first debut, she’d worked in the Bletchley Circle since the war began, deciphering codes and sending coded messages to allies. Her first mission had been to go undercover in occupied France and work closely with the French resistance. However, her cover was blown near the end of the mission and she was extracted for her safety. She hadn’t been in the field since and now all of a sudden they were sending her back out there again. Lois' heart sank at the realisation that she would be leaving Aldbourne soon, it sank even more when she realised she’d have to break the news to Dick.

The mood was sombre in Lois billet that night. Kate excused herself after dinner and went for a walk and Lois headed to bed earlier. She was just pinning her hair up in curlers when there was a knock at the door. Dick was standing in the doorway with a bunch of wildflowers in his hand and an endearing little smile.

“Good evening,” his face fell when he saw Lois' appearance; standing in the doorway in her nightdress. “I’m sorry. I can go if you were planning an early night…” but he was cut off when Lois threw her arms around him.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Dick wasn’t sure what was going on but he dropped the flowers and engulfed her in a warm hug.

“What’s wrong, Sweetheart?” But Lois shook her head.

“I can’t tell you but I wish I could.” Dick nodded, stepping back off the step. “I understand. I can go if you want me to.”

“No Dick, please stay.”

Instead of their normal dash up the stairs, whipping each other's clothes off as they went, this time was sombre and slow. Lois hand linked in Dick’s as she led him towards her room. Dick sat down on the bed, removing his boots before laying back against the headboard and beckoning Lois to join him. She curled into his side, her head resting against his shoulder while his fingers danced down her back.

“I’m sorry. This probably isn’t the evening you had planned, Lois mumbled, tears slipping freely down her cheeks now.

Dick froze, his forehead creased as he spoke, “Do you think that’s the only reason I came round? Lois, I want to spend time with you. I enjoy spending time with you. Not just the sex, although the sex is great,” he blushed and Lois could help but laugh at his embarrassment. “But Lois, I love spending time with you. You’re a wonderful woman.”

“I love spending time with you too,” she whispered before leaning up to kiss his lips. Lois had kissed Dick many times since she’d first met him and yet this kiss felt even more special than all the others, it was a silent promise to each other.

“We’re supposed to be leaving Aldbourne soon,” Dick whispered, his lips pressed against Lois' forehead. She looked up at him, her eyes trained on his lips as he spoke. “Lew can’t tell us exactly what is planned yet but I fear the invasion of Europe is finally on the cards.”

Lois nodded slowly, she knew that what was being called D-Day was imminent, she also knew that Operation Jedburgh was directly linked to help aid the allied invasion of Europe. The main question Lois was asking is would it work?

Dick shuffled over slightly so he could look down at her, a broad smile on his lips, “Lois, the last few months we’ve spent together have been the best time of my life. I don’t want to leave on a sad note.”

Lois smiled weekly at him, “It’s been the best time of my life too, how can this not be a dad time? We’ll be apart for so long.”

“Well, how about you write to me and I’ll write to you whenever we can,” Dick suggested.

Lois sighed, “You won’t know where to send them though if I’m send to France. I’ll be undercover, I won’t have a permeant address.”

“Well, we can write the letters to each other, everything we are thinking, feeling, anything we want to say to one another and then when we can post them, we will.”

Lois looked up at Dick, her eyes misty from the unshed tears and she admitted something she never thought she would. “I love you, Richard Winters.”

“And I love you, Lois Drake.”

The next morning Dick had left early, leaving Lois alone with her thoughts while she packed for her trip to London. Her mind drifted from her mission to London, to Dick, to Lewis… Lewis!

She watched as the intelligence officer paced up and down the path, mumbling to himself. She leant forward, bracing herself against the bed to stare out of the window. What was he doing? He had a file underneath his arm, and he nearly dropped it several times while waving his arms around as he mumbled. He then seemed to make a decision and strode towards the door, tapping the knocker three times before a deafening silence followed.

Lois made her way downstairs slowly, her mind trying to piece together the situation. She opened it with a wide smile and Lewis gave her a curt nod.

“Captain Drake.”

Lois smiled, “Lieutenant Nixon, what can I do for you?”

The officer seemed flustered, she’d never seen him so out of control, he was cool and calm, barely ever lifting an eyebrow at any situation.

“Well… I umm,” he paused again, swallowing hard. “Well I hear that you have a mission and we’ve had some extra intelligence so… here.” He thrust the folder into her hand and she accepted it gratefully.

“Thank you, Nixon.”

“You can call me Lewis if you want to,” he gave her a small smile, his breathing finally falling into a more normal rhythm.

“Thank you, Lewis. Would you like to come in?” Lois pushed the door open further but Lewis shook his head.

“No, thank you. I should be heading back to base.” Lois nodded understandingly.

“Well, I look forward to seeing you again sometime, Lewis. Let’s hope it’s under different circumstances,” Lois leant forward, giving the officer a quick hug and pecking a kiss on his cheek.

Lewis' cheeks flushed red and Lois pretended not to notice.

“Goodbye, Lois. Good luck.” Lewis turned away and strolled quickly down the path, quickly disappearing from view.

Lewis felt his heartache as he turned away and began his walk down the cobbled street. He didn’t know whether his heart ached for the woman he had fallen for going into a combat zone, or whether his heart ached for his friend who would have to let go of the woman he loved, or whether his heart ached for himself, for he could never share how he truly felt about Lois Drake.

Tags: @georgieluz @iceman-kazansky @yeahcurrahhe-e @msmercury84 @blvestxr @dustyjumpwjngs @theflyingfin @jump-wings @kafka-ohdear @kmc1989 @mads-weasley @docroesmorphine @liptonsbabe @hesbuckcompton-baby @ronsparky @allthingsimagines @whollyjoly @bucky32557038ww2 @hanniewinnix @inglourious-imagines @l13bg0tt

[holdingforgeneralhugs]

Bitter Pill to Swallow

Chapter 24 (Chapter Masterlist)

Screencap from the ever lovely @tvserie-s-world it's been awhile but I hope this chapter makes up for the very long wait 💕

There was something off about that Colonel Dobey. Dick had been watching him since he'd walked into HQ with Nix, and though he couldn't put his finger on what the issue was, he'd taken an immediate dislike to the man. There was just something about him that put Dick on edge. It didn't take too long for Dobey to prove his suspicions correct.

"So chaps," he started once they were in the jeep back to batallion, "I'm to have Easy Company along on this excursion? "

"Yes," Nix replied, placing a hand on Moose's shoulder, "Easy are one of the finest outfits in all the army, ain't that right Dick?"

"Sure are," he smiled, a little bubble of pride forming in his chest at the thought of Easy. He may not be their CO anymore but they would always be his company, and he'd always be happy to sing their praises.

"Aren't they the company with the lady Lieutenant?" Dobey continued, a curious glint in his eye that put Dick's nerves on edge. Surely he wasn't going to make an issue of a female Lieutenant after he had asked for their help on his rescue operation?

"Yes," Dick replied, a sharp edge to his voice, "Lieutenant Landry has been with Easy from the beginning and she's a model officer."

"Oh I'm sure she's quite the model officer alright," Dobey smirked as the jeep pulled to a stop,"I shall look forward to working closely with her then. Who knows, perhaps we'll become rather friendly after all this. Now how about we source a spot of tea and run through the intelligence for this operation Nixon?"

"Eh...sure," Nix agreed after a moment's hesitation, his gaze lingering on Dick as he waited to see if he'd respond, "Moose and I will go through it with you in my office. Dick here has a mountain of paperwork to do so he gets a free pass." Nix spared a final glance at Dick before leading the British Colonel away, Moose falling into step beside them.

Dick remained silent throughout this exchange, his temper continuing to rise in response to the Colonel's flippant comment. Clearly Dobey had a few ideas about Valerie and how he could...befriend her, but Dick would be damned if he'd let him have the chance.

"Moose, can I have a quick word," he called at the retreating party as he finally climbed from the jeep. Nix glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow but continued on his way without comment. Dick knew he'd ask Moose about it as soon as he had a free moment.

"What can I do for you Dick?" Moose asked, straight to the point. Dick appreciated that about him, that and his all-in style of leadership. Dick had often seen him out on patrols and doing nightly checks on the outposts since he'd taken over Easy, and it eased his worries somewhat to know that they were in good hands now.

"Keep Lieutenant Landry out of this operation yeah?" Dick instructed. Moose's brows rose in momentary surprise before furrowing in confusion.

"But Lieutenant Landry would be -"

"I know she would," Dick agreed with a sigh, "but she can sit this one out alright? There'll be other operations."

"Yes sir," Moose conceded after a terse moment. He looked like he wanted to question the order but ultimately thought better of it and followed after Nix and Dobey.

Dick watched him go with mixed emotions. Knowing Valerie she'd be the first to volunteer for the operation, and she'd have no fear in questioning why she wasn't permitted to go. Moose would of course tell her the reason, and he fully expected her to be banging his door down by the end of the day to give him an earful about it. He stood by his decision though. Dobey clearly had plenty of ulterior motives when it came to Valerie, and Dick could not in good conscience let her walk into something like that. He'd happily take a hundred of her angry tirades if it meant she was safe from Dobey's wandering hands.

~~~~~~

"Alright listen up," Moose called as he walked into the barn, "The Brits are staging a rescue operation across the river in three days, and they want Easy to run it. Welsh and Shames, you'll be on this one with me so pick out fifteen men and bring them to CP for briefing at 1700."

Valerie knew it was irrational and childish, but she couldn't help her frustration at being left out of the mission. She'd been with Easy longer than Shames and Harry both, yet somehow she always seemed to be overlooked. This would be a hugely important mission for Easy and it grated that she'd been excluded. She tried to get Moose's attention then, but he quickly averted his eyes and looked anywhere but her before walking out of the barn. Valerie narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously before following him out.

"Hey Moose, wait up," she called as she jogged to catch up with him. He came to a reluctant stop, sighing quietly before turning around to face her. "What's up Valerie?" He asked carefully.

"At the risk of insubordination," she started, "I was wonderin' why you passed me up for the rescue mission?"

"Well I..." he started, clearing his throat awkwardly before stumbling on, "I just..."

"If you think I'm not capable or somethin' then I....."

"Jesus no Valarie," he interrupted, shaking his head vehemently, "you're one of the most competent officers in this outfit."

"Then why did you pass me over?"

"You're not going to like it..." he sighed, defeated, "and if I tell you you have to promise to not get angry..."

"Moose," she deadpanned, "spit it out."

"Well y'see Dick he.....he told me to leave you out of it. I dunno why but..."

"He what?" She whispered, deadly calm. She clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into her palms hard enough to draw blood. The pure unadulterated rage was rising so quickly inside her it burned in her chest, and her body began to tremble with the effort of holding it all in.

"Now Valerie you promised you..."

"I promised no such thing," she quipped sharply, "now I'm sorry, but I have somethin' I need to do."

Without waiting for a response she marched purposefully towards the house where the batallion officers had set up shop. She drew immediate attention as she stormed into the house, but nobody made a move to stop her, too wary of drawing her obvious ire in their direction.

"I'm looking for Captain Winters," she said tersely to the first aide she came across, "can you point me in his direction?"

"Uh...in the attic ma'am. Only door on the top floor," the aide replied warily. She gave him a rigid nod in thanks before purposefully marching up the stairs, her heavy, stomping footsteps rattling the wooden frame. When she finally reached the top floor she rapped her knuckles on the door and barely waited for the 'come in' before entering the room and closing the door harshly behind her.

Dick stiffened as his eyes met hers, his fingers crumpling the edges of the report he was holding in his hand. "Valerie..." he started warily.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She cut him off abruptly, "what goddamn right do you have to tell Moose to exclude me from that operation?"

"Valerie please..."

"I've been here since the goddamn beginning, and I've worked my goddamn ass off every goddamn day for this goddamn company and you," she spat furiously, pointing an accusatory finger at him, "have the goddamn gall to order Moose to cut me out of an important mission."

"Valerie if you'll just..."

"How dare you," she hissed, "I knew you were on some kinda newfound power trip but this just takes the..."

"Dammit Valerie I did it to protect you!" He snapped, slamming his palms on the desk with an audible smack, his chair banging off the wall as he stood up abruptly. Valerie was stunned into silence by the sudden outburst, and Dick's heaving breaths were the only sound to pierce the thick blanket of silence that had come between them.

His eyes softened when they met hers, and he pushed himself away from the desk with a sigh before coming to stand in front of her. "I knew you'd come storming in my door to chew me out the minute I made the call but I had to alright? Colonel Dobey was a little too interested in the 'Lady Lieutenant' from Easy and he heavily implied he wanted to get a bit more than friendly with you. And after what happened in London...I didn't want you to be in a position like that again so I made the call. I'm sorry I upset you and made you feel like you're being overlooked, but I won't apologise for trying to protect you from unnecessary discomfort or harm."

Valerie found that for once in her life she was unable to speak. Her heart was hammering a mile a minute in her chest and her throat was tight. This wonderful man, despite all the grief she had given him and all the spiteful comments she had thrown at him, had without hesitation done his best to keep her safe from harm. It was the most thought anyone besides Gene and his family had ever given her, and her heart felt like it was going to burst with the weight of it.

Before she could second guess herself, she flung her arms around his neck and burrowed her face in his shirt. She closed her eyes and exhaled shakily as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him. She turned her head slightly, her nose brushing gently against the edge of his collar, and she heard his breath hitch. "Thank you Dick," she whispered against his neck, and he gave an involuntary shudder, "Thanks for lookin' out for me."

"No need to thank me Val," he murmured, his thumb rubbing small, gentle circles on her spine, "just doing the right thing. I....I care about you too much to let someone take advantage of you."

Valerie could feel his heart thumping against his ribs, and her own started to beat in tandem with it. She knew they had been holding each other far too long for it to be considered normal, but she didn't want to be the one to break away first.

"I'm sorry for what I said the other day," she said quietly after a moment, "I didn't mean any of it. You know me by now, sometimes my mouth starts runnin' before my head catches up. I just...I guess it just took me by surprise and I worried that with your fancy new desk job...well I guess I worried I wouldn't see you no more because you wouldn't have the time."

It was a rare moment of vulnerability from Valerie, and she felt embarrassed that she'd perhaps been a bit too honest, that he'd read between the lines and see the feelings she was hiding. She squeezed her eyes shut and hoped he wouldn't notice the blush rising rapidly on her cheeks, but alas he pulled back far enough so he could give her an earnest look.

"There's no deskjob they could put me on that would allow that to ever happen," he promised quietly, and Valerie felt the knot in her stomach tighten as though he'd grabbed it and tugged it sharply.

"Well I'm glad about that," she whispered.

They were far too close together, she realised, with her arms around his shoulders and his hands resting on her spine. It was all far too cozy, just the two of them in his tiny attic office, and her heart began to thump so hard and fast she was certain he'd feel it through her back. For the first time she noticed the subtle little flecks of darker green in his eyes. She was so intently focused on his eyes that she noticed when they briefly flickered down before coming back up to meet hers again. If she didn't know better she'd think he'd glanced at her lips, and they parted unconsciously at the thought.

"Val I..."

A loud bang from downstairs caused them to spring apart, their eyes widening. Valerie's cheeks felt like they were about to melt straight off, and Dick ran his fingers through his hair roughly.

"We'd better go check that out," Dick said hoarsely, clearing his throat and looking anywhere but at her.

"Uh yeah, we should," Valerie agreed, her voice pitching. She spun around and made to grab the door, Dick following behind her, but she stopped abruptly in her tracks as the door swung open and Nix appeared at the other side. Her sudden stop sent Dick crashing into the back of her, and he instinctively put his hands on her waist to steady both her and himself.

Nobody spoke for a beat. Nix's eyes flitted between them and a slow, amused grin lit up his face. "Well, if I knew I was interrupting something I'd have come back later."

"You're not," they said in unison, and Valerie cringed as Nix's grin widened.

"In fact I was just leaving," she continued, side stepping around Nix and out the door, "I'll see you both around." She walked down the stairs and out the door without a backwards glance, her heart stuttering unevenly in her chest. For a brief second she'd thought maybe he was going to...no. That was a completely ridiculous thought which she needed to forget all about.

~~~~~~

Dick watched her go down the stairs, pointedly ignoring Nix and his ridiculous, smug expression.

"Hell Dick, about time you made a move," Nix chuckled.

"Nothing happened," Dick insisted, the tips of his ears burning red hot.

"Sure, whatever you say," he teased, "but based on how flustered you both looked I think it's safe to assume something almost happened."

"Shut it Nix," Dick said tersely, rubbing the back of his neck and walking back towards his desk, "she just came to chew me out about leaving her out of the rescue mission. When I explained why I'd left her out she was actually grateful."

"Yeah, a regular knight in shining armour you are Dick Winters," he snorted, "never thought you'd let jealousy get the better of you."

"It was not jealousy," Dick huffed,"Dobey had less than professional interests in Valerie and I didn't want her to end up in an uncomfortable situation so I stepped in."

"Yeah I know," Nix agreed, "he did seem a little too interested in Val. Kept asking about her in the briefing too. Was a good call you made on that one."

Dick stayed silent for a beat, and Nix knew there was something else on his mind that he was debating telling him.

"Val she...." Dick started, scuffing his boot on the floorboard, "she apologised for what she said the other day..."

"Val's spent an awful lot of time apologising to you lately," Nix laughed, "she say why she lost it?"

"She..." Dick hesitated, "she said she was worried that she wouldn't see me anymore, that I wouldn't have the time now I've got a 'fancy batallion deskjob'. But I don't know, maybe I picked her up wrong. She's probably worried that Easy will.... "

"Christ Dick," Nix laughed incredulously, shaking his head, "the woman basically told you she has feelings for you and you're standing here trying to explain it away. She couldn't have made it more obvious if she'd slapped you with it."

"Nix we've been over this," Dick sighed, "I can't.."

"Yeah yeah yeah, duty and honour and commanding officer and all that crap, I know. But Dick, she clearly likes you so..."

"So nothing," Dick insisted, "I can't put her in that position. Its bad enough I almost..."

"Almost what?" Nix jumped in, raising an eyebrow, "You may as well spit it out Dick because I knew the minute that door opened and I saw your guilty looking face that something had happened."

"I...almost...well what I mean is I considered..." he stuttered before his shoulder sagged in defeat, "for a brief moment I thought about kissing her...but it was a stupid idea and I..."

"You're completely hopeless," Nix sighed, rolling his eyes fondly, "trust you to over complicate it. You like her and she likes you, it shouldn't be so difficult."

"Yeah, I know," Dick sighed in defeat, "but we've had this discussion before and I'm too tired and too busy to have it again, so just drop it alright?"

"Fine, fine," Nix conceded, holding his hands up, "but just think about it alright? Now why don't you hand over those reports you have due before the good Colonel gets a stroke. You know he loves his paperwork."

Dick was glad the subject had circled back to work matters, but he knew the warm feeling of Valerie in his arms would be haunting him long into the night.

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[hinkel-im-home]

Chapter Two

March 21st, 1943

At the break of dawn, the shrill bark of the bugle pierced through the wooden slats of their billet. Eva startled on her pillow, a groan sounding from somewhere to her left. The short night of sleep was well needed, the long trek from London to Toccoa having worn on her body. White light streamed in from under the door, despite the early hour, and she could nearly feel her bones creak and squeak as she sat up. During missions, she’d found that waking up wasn’t so hard; the constricting fear in her gut, usually caused by sounds of boots slamming down on the pavement outside or distant sirens, was much too strong to let her fall into any sort of deep sleep. Here, the terror was gone, replaced by the hardened nervousness of knowing that the vulgar pride of american soldiers would likely cause the agents a great deal of trouble.

The very room they slept in left an unsettling curl in Eva's stomach. She was already itching to be back in Paris, in Munich, even in Lyon, where she could feel the change her actions were making. In the trunk of a car, in a woman's stolen dress, she could almost touch her goal, she could smell the liberty in the air that was soon to wash over her people. The sweating soldiers of this camp were too unfamiliar a sight, too unknown to her. She felt as though they'd made two steps forward, and ten steps back, over the Atlantic and into this country. The american uniform was folded at the edge of her cot, patiently waiting for her to trust it. Eva couldn't quite, but she could try. 

She was dressed and out of bed in five. Outside, the humidity pressed through a blanket of clouds, and she inwardly thanked the sun for sparing them of its blaring heat. In the distance, she caught sight of the brass headed officer she’d met last night. The lieutenant. She could tell, though their eyes had only met once, that he tried his hardest to appear calmer, more poised than his peers. The agent didn’t believe it for a second. Those who contain themselves the most are usually those who do so for a reason; because they have much to hide. 

He turned around, catching her gaze. He sent her the tightest of smiles. She nodded back, striding over to where he was standing and trying her mightiest to ignore the burning stares of the soldiers before them, their whispering growing louder and louder. The lieutenant greeted her, and directed her to an empty spot in the formation in which she was supposed to stand. She knocked into a few shoulders on her way, almost tripping over a lace. She willed herself to stand as still as possible and stare ahead.

-> Read the rest: Time After Time - Chapter 3 - snoopyhomeboy123 - Band of Brothers (TV 2001) [Archive of Our Own]

hello lovelies

shes back and better than ever and i have been drowning in work but i finally have time to write a bit. since this story is lacking a beta-reader, please let me know if any of this is confusing or lacks clarification. pat on my own back for writing a story where i can use my german and french (so a minimal use of translation).

hope you enjoy xx

[mccall-muffin]

Account for allrounder fandoms @its-all-or-nothing94

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