Dedicated to Phoenix Fire 55. Because she's "Earned It."
Sunlight filtered in thorough the cracks in the ceiling and glass littered the floor. A thin layer of dust had collected on nearly everything in sight; the rafters had collapsed inward and the store windows were long since blown out.
The young girl had run inside after the shots had finally ceased, tears in her eyes, hands over her ears. She seemed to be trying to put distance between herself and the soldiers, and Private Reiben thought that was a good thing. Unfortunately, his Captain believed otherwise, and had sent him inside the building after her at any rate. Reiben was in a dour mood after what had happened to Caparzo; it ate away at his conscious and what felt like a permanent scowl creased his face.
This whole mission was ridiculous, Caparzo's death the exclamation point of this fact. Reiben couldn't understand what made this "Ryan" kid so damn important, what made him worth the life of one of his friends. It all seemed like a lost cause to him, and he was tempted to quit right now.
But the damn kid had run off.
Reiben knew she had only wanted to help. She had acted as their guide, letting them know where each German outpost was and which way was quickest to the next town. No one wanted to tell her they didn't need or want her help. Reiben assumed it was Jackson who had somehow convinced the Captain into letting the kid stay, seeing as how it was Jacky-boy who had saved her life a couple days back. Reiben hadn't been too keen on the idea; he was never really keen on any kind of idea, unless it involved going to Caen and checking out those pretty French girls.
It didn't help that Carpy was dead because he'd tried to save a kid. Reiben couldn't make sense of the situation. There had to be a million orphans running around filthy, a million families in that condition- there was no way they could stop that. Maybe their tag-along had taken the hint and decided to leave.
These were the thoughts of a jaded New Yorker, and once he realized this, Reiben allowed himself a slight smile. The cigarette in the corner of his mouth wobbled as his lips stretched into a smirk. He took a drag and let out the smoke gently, watching it curl through the air. The trees that remained upright in the small town square glittered with the afternoon rain.
Reiben ducked his head as he stumbled over the rubble, kicking a few beams out of his way. Swearing under his breath, he wound his way around a large piece of concrete and came to the place where the sunlight was brightest.
The girl was sitting on a chair by a broken window, the light making her hair shine a reddish-brown, circling around her head in a tiny halo.
"Hey," Reiben said, and she looked up at him.
He winced. Her eyes were bright with tears. He tried to remember her name, and his brain came up with nothing but old girlfriends. Reiben pursed his lips, the cigarette bobbing up again. The girl looked at it strangely and he tossed it into the rubbish, grinding it out with his boot.
"So you're leaving?" she asked him, voice trembling.
Reiben walked up to her, careful not to hit his head. She looked up at him with large brown eyes and he winced again. He tried forcing away the sympathy but found he couldn't.
"Not yet; we're staying here tonight."
"…Oh…"
She sniffed, looking out the window. Reiben sighed. He moved to sit next to her, his uniform scratching against the floor. The B.A.R. trooper watched her for awhile, noticing how she kept blinking back tears. It was then he remembered her name. Judy.
"So you don't want me to come, right? I've overstayed my welcome, huh?"
Reiben frowned. "What makes you say that?"
Judy gazed at him. She blinked, and a tear slid down her cheek.
"The Cap'n," she stammered, "'We aren't hear to save any fucking kids'- that's what he said!!"
Reiben was surprised at her swearing. For some reason his ears burned, in spite of the fact he heard that word all the time. He searched for words and found some, to his surprise.
"He was very angry, Judy. A soldier was killed under his command and…"
Reiben trailed off, thinking about what had happened. The events replayed over in his mind; he was figuring it all out now, for the first time.
"And what?" Judy questioned tearfully.
Reiben looked back up at her. She moved a strand of hair from her eyes and waited. Gently, he took her hand.
"It wasn't your fault, kiddo. Carpy…" he sighed, forcing away sudden tears, "It was his fault, I guess. We couldn't do much about it. What happened just…happened."
Judy wiped the tears from her eyes. Reiben squeezed her hand, not knowing what else to do. It was bad enough a ten-year-old was running around on her own; he didn't like the idea of her seeing things as horrific as death. It surprised him, the surge of protectiveness he felt.
"I know you're not gonna like this, but…maybe you should stay here, with Company B for right now. You can work your way back to the beach-"
Judy was shaking her head. "No!"
"We'll come back, Judy," Reiben assured her, "Jackson'll come back…I'll come back."
"But I don't want to stay here! I'm so scared, and lonely…the only people I feel safe with are you and Jackson!!" she sobbed.
Reiben took a moment, not expecting to feel so strange. He couldn't believe she trusted him; he hadn't been the nicest guy to her at all. He sighed and took off his helmet; Judy watched him, studying his dirty face.
"…I feel safe here, with you," she said, "But when you and Jackson leave me, I won't be safe again." She paused to wipe away tears with her arm. "I've never felt safe anywhere, Reiben. Not since I was little."
Reiben looked at her crookedly. Now he understood why she was never a step behind Jackson; Judy saw him as her protector. And now she had begun to trust him, too…
He reached up and moved a dark strand of hair from her eyes. She sniffed. Reiben shook his head, laughing lightly.
"Dammit, kid…"
"What?" she demanded.
Reiben smirked, a white smile gleaming out against the filth.
"You had to go and melt my stupid heart, dinnit ya?"
Judy cracked a real grin. "Sorry…"
Reiben rose to his feet, tousling her hair. "No you're not," he replied, "Let's get out of here, okay? We'll be better off out where the Cap'n can see us."
The soldier made a move to leave, but Judy stopped him.
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
Judy waved, signaling for him to come closer. Reiben bent down, and she whispered something in his ear, as if she didn't want to risk anyone hearing it. The private laughed, rolling his eyes.
"I'm serious!" Judy protested, crossing her arms.
Reiben arched an eyebrow at her. She stared at him, and stuck her tongue out. He heaved a sigh and turned his back on her.
"Alright! But if I mess it up..."
Judy jumped on to his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Reiben sighed once more, holding her in place. He adjusted to her weight, unable to see the broad smile stretching across her face. She giggled.
"Here. Watch your head, kid."
Reiben plopped his helmet on her head, which was much too big for her. but she was ready, now. Together, the two of them trudged out of the ruined shop, almost out of place amidst the destruction. For that moment in time, the war didn't seem all that close, momentarily forgotten in the simple act of a piggy-back ride.
