This is a WHN for the episode "Beneath the Ashes" the fourth installment in my "Combat!-Variations" Series...Lt. Hanley and Pvt. Steve Kovac star with a special guest appearance by Sgt. Saunders. I do not own the characters nor do I make any money off of this story and of course No Copyright is Intended. I hope you enjoy...Now, On With The Show!

Chapter 1

"I have to tell him." PFC Steve Kovac said as he caught the Sergeants eyes. "Do you think he'll understand? Kovac had asked.

Glancing over at Lt Hanley who was being placed on a litter by Doc and a few Corpsmen, Saunders turned back to Kovac. "You can tell him later…we still have a job to finish."

Kovac was back in the States a few days later and it hadn't seemed that important. Saunders never brought it up and as far as Kovac knew the Serge hadn't mentioned it to anyone. Now here he was playing chauffer to the very man he had almost let get killed

Lt. Hanley had arrived at 4th Platoons camp last night after finishing up a special mission for some high ups and had stayed over to brief Capt. Nielsen acting Platoon leader for Lt. Jackson who had been injured in a raid two nights ago. The meeting had lasted into the early morning with Kovac being called into the Captains office at 0600 with orders that he was to take Lt. Hanley back to 2nd Platoon, which had set up a TC in a bombed out town some seventy miles Northeast from 4th Platoon's position.

Kovac was nervous, it had been nine months since he had seen the LT last...an injury had sent him back to the States a few days after rescuing Lt. Hanley and when he came back to the war he had been assigned to L Company, 4th Platoon under Lt. Jackson. He hadn't seen much of King Company or Saunders in the time he had been back, though nervous about driving the LT he was looking forward to meeting up with the guys again.

Kovac finished fueling up the jeep and made his way toward the Command Center, Lt. Hanley was just stepping out the door as he pulled up.

Walking over to the waiting jeep Hanley tossed his pack in the back and positioned his tall frame in the passenger seat. Looking over at the driver he was a little surprised to find Steve Kovac behind the wheel, it had been almost a year since the soldier had saved his life when he had been pinned down by several German soldiers. With two bullets in his side and the enemy approaching, Hanley had considered that he wasn't going to make it out of that situation when Kovac shows up killing the two German Soldiers that were moving in on his position, Saunders took out the Machine gun nest and a moment later Doc was there.

"Nice to see you again Private Kovac." How have you been? Hanley asked.

"I've been good Sir." Kovac answered as he put the jeep in gear and headed out.

The first five minutes of the drive passed quietly, Kovac thinking of how to explain his actions toward Hanley.

The LT was thinking how tired he was from the assignment he had just completed, wanting nothing more than to be back with Saunders and his men. Ten minutes later the radio came to life, Hanley grabbed it then motioned for Kovac to pull over.

"King 1 to King 2 come in, King 1 to King 2 come in."

Recognizing Capt. Jampel's voice, Hanley responded. "This is King 2, go ahead."

"King 2, I need you to return to L Company immediately for a briefing, have the Company Commander contact me when you arrive." Captain Jampel ordered.

"Sir, we're on our way to your location." Are you sure you want us to turn back? Hanley asked.

"Affirmative, King 2, everything will be explained once you arrive." Capt. Jampel answered.

"Roger King 1, ETA fifteen minutes." Hanley said.

"Remember contact me as soon as you arrive, King 1 out."

The radio went quiet and for a moment Hanley sat wondering what was going on, then with a tired sigh turned to Kovac. "Well you heard him Private."

"Yes Sir, turning back." Kovac was also wondering what was going on.

The drive back was quiet, each man occupied with their own thoughts and as soon as the jeep came to a stop in front of the Command Center, they were met by Pfc. Martin, Lt. Jackson's assistant. The aide led them quickly to Capt. Nielsen who was already standing by the communications terminal as the radio man sent a call out to King Company. Thirty minutes later, carrying aerial photos, location maps and three sets of orders they climbed back into the jeep and after Kovac reset the odometer, started off again.

Hanley thought about the mission Captain Jampel had assigned them as Kovac drove. They were acting as couriers to deliver highly classified information, consisting of aerial photos, corresponding map coordinates and sealed orders, to M Company, C Company and lastly K Company. Battalion was mounting an attack against a German Command Center located within fifty miles of Allied lines to the east and if the Americans could route the Germans, they would gain another strong offensive position, the attack was to take place in two days.

C Company was temporarily housed at a bombed out farm house forty miles to the west of L Company and would be the first stop.

As Kovac drove, eyes focused on the road ahead, he thought of what had happened nine months ago.

He had almost let Lt. Hanley be killed by the Germans, all because the LT had withheld information that Kovac's wife {ex-wife} was dying until the Red Cross could confirm it, but with one thing after another …by the time Kovac found out it was too late his ex-wife was gone.

Lt. Hanley had apologized saying it was his decision to wait but at the time Kovac was so full of guilt due to his own actions toward his wife that he placed blame on Lt. Hanley. Full of anger he tried to find the LT on base but was told he was in the field with the 361st, backing up N Company to stop a German attack on an Eastern Allied OP. Locating the area of conflict he ran into a wounded Kirby who was heading to the nearest Aide Station, before moving on Kirby told Kovac that the LT was in trouble and needed help. Kovac had continued in his search finally locating Lt. Hanley lying in a fox hole unable to defend himself as a German gun nest took pot shots at him. Crouching down so the enemy wouldn't see him, Kovac had watched as the LT tried to reach for his rifle several times only to end up clutching his side unable to get to the weapon. Kovac heard Sgt. Saunders tell the LT to stay down…turning in the direction of Saunders voice he saw the Serge in a fox hole with the B.A.R, taking shots at the nest seventy feet in front of Hanley. Kovac made his way to Saunders who told him to randomly fire the weapon to keep the Germans from going after the LT, the Sergeant took off in order to try and circle behind the nest. This was what Kovac had wanted to see, the LT dead and as he watched two Germans approach the downed man he thought that was going to happen.

Then he came to his senses…moving into the open he started firing the Browning taking several Germans out as he tried to make it to the wounded LT, a few seconds later he heard the sound of a grenade going off as Saunders finished off the nest. As Doc was taking Hanley off to have two bullets removed, Kovac told Saunders he had to tell the LT what almost happened. Saunders told him to tell Hanley later but later never came.

Sighing heavily, he wandered what he was going to do.