Saving Private Robbins

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended by this story, I do not own the plot or the script from Saving Private Ryan, nor do I own the characters from the Series Grey's Anatomy. No infringement intended. The story and characters are used purely for fun and are not used for any kind of profit.

(For the sake of this story, women served on the frontline. I don't have extensive knowledge of the finer details of WW2 apologises in advance for any mistakes)

Chapter One

Present Day…

The afternoon sun was starting to hang low in the summer sky as I got out of the car. The drive had been quiet, no one really knowing what to say. It was a long walk to the memorial sight, but one I was determined to make with the help of the one person who for the majority of my life had always been there, right by my side.

I felt her arm link through mine, as our family followed closely behind us. We walked in silence, the overwhelming feeling of emotions crushing our desire to speak. As the fields came into sight I felt my chest start to tighten.

Seeing the rows and rows and rows of white crosses, equally spaced apart, all exactly the same size really hit home to me how lucky I was. I tightened my hand on her arm, smiling as I felt her hold me closer.

We passed name after name, despite not knowing or recognising the names I knew we would have shared a similar experience. It was then I saw the name I had been looking for. I stopped, standing to face the cross; dropping to one knee my fingers traced the name engraved on the white marble.

I struggled to suppress the sob desperate to escape my lips. I looked up and found immediate comfort in her baby blue eyes, we would both never forget that day.

67 years ago was the last time we'd seen her.

67 Years ago … Callie's Point Of View…

People often say it's hard to describe what fear is like, what it feels like, what it smells like, but not for me. Standing on the assault craft speeding towards the beach where I was sure I was going to meet my death I was trying desperately to stand tall.

'CLEAR THE RAM…30 SECONDS. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU' I turned towards the back of the craft, my eyes locking with the drivers. If his words hadn't been damning enough, the fear in his eyes was the final nail in the coffin. I wasn't going to make it to the beach.

I turned to the person stood to my left, her eyes were completely different. I didn't see any fear, I saw someone who was determined to survive this war.

Miranda Bailey had been my Captain since I enrolled. She did my basic training and now here I was, standing shoulder to shoulder with her preparing to land on Omaha Beach.

I watched as her lips moved barking out instructions about what she wanted us all to do, but I didn't hear anything. I looked around at the rest of my squad. Fear smells like sea water, mixed with gunpowder and vomit.

The craft suddenly came to halt. Everything happened so fast, before I knew what was happening the ramp was being lowered.

Bullets were flying everywhere, I watched as half the people on the craft went down. I felt a pair of hands grab me from behind, I was flung over the side of the craft, I hit the water like a dead weight.

Under the water was oddly comforting, it was quiet, the noise was dulled and in those few seconds I was able to gather my senses. I was going to make it to that beach.

X

Miranda Bailey had served in the US Army for a total of 10 years. This was her life, she breathed everything military.

She was damn good at her job and this is what she continued to tell herself as she huddled behind the metal blockade, one of many scattered across the beach. As soon as the ramp had open she'd lost half her platoon. She'd managed, with help to throw a couple of her soldiers over the sides of the craft, saving them from dying then and there but she knew she was throwing them out of the frying pan and into hell's fire.

Miranda quickly readjusted her helmet, it was only then she saw her Technical Sergeant stood in front of her.

'What do we do now Captain?' Addison Montgomery screamed over the heavy gun fire.

Seeing that at least one of her team was still alive filled Miranda with a small amount of hope. 'We have to take the beach' That was the only plan she had. 'Have you seen anyone else?' Addison shook her head slowly. 'We have to move out'. She looked further up the beach which was littered with dead bodies of brave soldiers. If she survived, it would be this image that would haunt her dreams. 'Follow me' She yelled, signalling for Addison to follow her path.

X

Addison Montgomery had graduated top of her class and had been fast tracked into Miranda Bailey's Platoon. To be fast tracked was an achievement in itself but to have the honour of serving under Bailey was something Addison thought she would never be doing. Everyone knew of her reputation.

She couldn't think of anyone else she would rather be following right now through this rain of gun fire. She kept her eyes trained on the feet moving quickly in front of her, she couldn't, wouldn't look up unless she had to. The horror she had witness thus far was too much for her to bear, she had to focus on surviving and she couldn't do that while watching the others around her being brutally murdered.

It was while her mind was swimming in these thoughts that she ran into the back of Bailey.

'Why the hell have you stopped?' Her voice was fast becoming horse over the sound of gunfire.

Bailey looked to her right and Addison's eyes followed hers. There they saw First Sergeant Callie Torres lying on the ground, a single gun shot wound to her left thigh.

A strong arm was flung round Addison from behind, she turned quickly aiming her weapon, her body was on overdrive and ready to attack anyone she deemed a threat.

'Jesus' Teddy screeched pointing the nuzzle of the gun away from her face.

'Teddy' Addison half yelled, half sobbed. Behind Staff Sergeant Teddy Altman stood Corporal Christina Yang another member of Bailey's Platoon.

All 4 women crouched on the ground, another metal block aid was all that separated them from the increasing enemy fire.

'We have a man down' Miranda shouted gaining her team's full attention. 'In this Platoon we don't leave anyone behind'. The women nodded, all in agreement. 'I need two of you to drag her to that sand bunker dead ahead, the rest of you will need to provide covering fire'.

It was quickly decided that Christina and Addison would drag Callie to safety while the others would try and provide them with the best firing cover they could.

Callie's Point of View…

I hadn't realised I'd be shot until my leg gave way beneath me. The pain wasn't instant, instead it gradually become worse and worse until the pain was bordering on unbearable. I'd manage to drag myself close to a blockade, but I was injured and other soldiers who weren't hurt were reluctant to make room for someone who they thought was going to die anyway. I didn't blame them, this was war.

I managed to look at my leg and quickly access my wound, it wasn't life threatening but it did prevent me from being able to move quickly and swiftly. The two things I desperately needed to be able to do right now. I ripped the sleeve of my uniformed off, tying it above the wound, I had to try and control the bleeding.

I had covered good ground on the beach, I was close to the sand bunker that would have provided me with good cover, enough maybe even to try and take some of the enemy shooters out. But instead I was stuck, not close to death but a sitting duck for anyone who wanted to make me a target.

It was then a massive ground bomb exploded a little way in front of me, sand and bodies flew everywhere. It was through the debris that I saw my Platoon rushing towards me, the sand had provided them with good cover and enough time to try and rescue me. I felt my body shake with emotion.

Addison grabbed me under one arm, Christina the other. I helped as much as I could, hobbling on my good leg to try and increase our speed. I watched as the others fired aimlessly at the tower blocks holding the enemy shooters. They were all risking their lives for me.

We hit the bunker hard, all of us rolling on to our backs, sucking in deep breaths of air.

Christina and Teddy quickly looked at my leg, Teddy flung the canvas bag she'd been carrying on her back onto the sand. She took out a needle and swiftly jabbed it into my leg. It didn't stop the pain completely but it sure as hell helped. Christina grabbed some dressing, strapping up my leg nice and tight, I was sure I could walk on it now.

I looked at my Captain, the person I knew who had made the order to save my life. There was so much I wanted to say but this wasn't the time and we both knew that.

'Torres, you fit to walk?' She asked rolling over to where I was positioned.

'Yes Captain'

'Good, cause I'm guna need your eyes for this next part'. I was the best Marksman in the state of Florida. I was about to prove to my team that I was worth the risk they just took in saving me.

X

'Who is in charge here?' Bailey asked the other soldiers lined along the sand bank. They all looked at her nervously until one young man answered her. 'You are Captain'. Miranda took a deep breath before thinking about her next move.

'BANGALORE, BRING OVER THE BANGALORE' Bailey ordered.

Addison and Teddy moved swiftly within seconds they had carried the weapon and positioning it where Bailey had ordered, ready to be fired.

A group had huddle round the weapon as they waited for their orders on what to do next.

'When this son of a bitch goes off I want you all to charge over the top, fire like hell and make it to that next bunker. Understand' The instructions were simply, they even sounded easy but Miranda knew that she was sending at least half of these soldiers to their death with this single order. It was something she would have to live with for the rest of her life. They had to take the beach, otherwise thousands more soldiers would die and they would lose this war. That couldn't happen.

'STAND BY' The soldiers took up their positions, Altman ready to discharge the weapon when ordered to do so. 'FIRE IN THE HOLE' Bailey shouted.

Teddy thrust the explosive over the bunker as a chorus of 'FIRE IN THE HOLE' was repeated along the bunker before they all took covered.

The explosion was massive and did its job, it disabled the enemy tower long enough for Bailey's soldiers to go over the top and make it safely to the base of the tower where they took shelter.

Miranda sat down heavily before pulling the knife from her waist belt.

'Yang, give me that gum, Addison, I need your mirror'. Both handed them over silently, watching intensely as Bailey stuck the mirror to the end of the blade using the gum. It was just long enough for her to see round the corner and get a good look at the enemy bucker that needed to be destroyed.

'Ok listen up! We have 6 shooters up in that bunker; we need to get Torres to that crater positioned just below the bunker. She has enough cover there to be able to take out the shooters without being a target. Altman, Yang give her cover, when the enemy is taken out I want you both to secure the bunker, me and Montgomery will give you cover'. The all nodded. 'Think you can do that Torres' Bailey asked as the women readied themselves and their weapons.

'Yes Captain' There was no hesitation in Callie's voice.

Callie, Christina and Teddy, all lined up, ready to charge to the crater which was soon to be there next makeshift safe bunker.

'Hey Torres, make sure you don't miss ok, I don't feel like dying today' Yang simply stated, no emotion in her voice.

'GO GO GO!' Bailey ordered and just like that the woman disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

The gun fire was deafening as it roared around their ears.

'We're sending them into a god damn firing squad' Addison yelled sombrely.

'It's the only way we're going to make it off this god forsaken beach' Bailey replied before aiming her weapon at the tower and firing. Addison quickly did the same.

Callie's Point of View…

By the grace of good all three of us made it to the crater. It was now up to me. I had to make these shots, I couldn't afford to miss I was running low on ammo.

On either side of me sat Teddy and Christina, both breathing hard, faces white from fear and the adrenaline that was slowly started to wear off.

I took the cross hanging round my neck with my dog tags out from under my shirt, I kissed them quickly saying a prayer, I needed my aim to be strong and true more than ever before.

'Take your time Torres' Teddy told me wiping the dirt from her eyes.

I nod once before turning round. I have a perfect view; I just have to wait for the enemy to show themselves. This wasn't going to take long, slowly each of the gunman showed their position and I was able to easily pick them off.

I had been specifically chosen to become a marksman; every Platoon had to have one. It was an honour and I was proud to serve my country in this role. I'd been so excited about being chosen I hadn't really given much thought to the fact I would be a trained killer. 6 months of intensive training turned me from a normal foot solider to a specialist marksman. Your whole training is based around ending another human beings life, in combat it's them or you. However nothing can prepare you for this until you go into battle. Its fight or flight.

I never take pleasure in ending another persons life, but being a marksman had numbed me to the fact I was ending others lives. After watching so many of my friends be gunned down I had slowly lost any sympathy for my targets. Like I said, it was them or me.

I quickly spin round resting my back against the bunker again.

'Got all of them?' Yang asks.

'Yeah' She quickly stands and I watch her as she pulls the pin on one of her grenades throwing it into the enemy bunker.

I turn to my right and see Teddy signalling to Bailey and Addison, they quickly begin charging forward. Teddy turns to me. 'GO GO GO TORRES'.

We stormed the bunker and I don't think I took a single breath until I was sure the bunker was clear of the enemy. I had done my job and it felt good.

X

In taking this bunker it was the beginning of the end for enemy and their strong hold over Omaha Beach. In breeching their defences it allowed floods of Allied troops to storm the remaining bunkers and tower blocks.

Bailey and her Platoon sat in silence as hundreds of their fellow soldiers swarmed over the enemy lines. They had done their part. They had played a small part in taking Omaha Beach.

'Quite a view' Addison whispered as she looked out over the beach, the horror of what they had survived hitting her with full force.

'Yeah' Bailey mumbled. 'Quite a view'. The others chose not to look.

Hundreds of bodies covered the beach; the sea had been turned red with all the blood shed. Little did the Platoon know but on that beach lay the bodies of two soldiers, whose sister would change all their lives.

X

A concession of sharp knocks on Derek Shepherds door drew him away from his thoughts.

'Come in' Derek watched as Jackson Avery entered his office.

'Sir something had been brought to my attention that I think you need to see' He hands him one of the three letters he is holding.

Derek quickly scans over the letter. It was addressed to the wife of Master Sergeant Daniel Robbins informing her that her husband had been killed in battle. Derek looks at Jackson unsure why he wants him to see this.

'Master Sergeant Daniel Robbins was killed last week in battle, his son Staff sergeant Daniel Robbins Junior was killed 5 days ago' He says sombrely handing him the second letter. The content was exactly the same, only the names were different.

Jackson hands him the third and final letter. 'Corporal Jonathon Robbins was killed 3 days ago in battle'.

'My god' Derek whispered running a hand through his hair.

'Sir I've been informed that this poor woman is going to receive all three letters tomorrow morning informing her that her husband and two sons have all been killed in battle' Jackson says sadly.

'This woman has my sympathy but I'm not sure what I can do for her' Derek reply placing the letters on his desk.

'She has a daughter sir, fighting in this war'.

'A daughter?'

'Arizona Robbins, she was deployed to Normandy' Jackson hands Derek more papers.

'Is she alive?'

'We don't know'

Derek sits back in his chair, he sighs heavily before standing quickly. 'Come with me'.