After making sure Jennings was secured on the litter, Saunders made his way to where Hanley was sitting on the ground, back resting against the trunk of a tree. His eyes were closed, face pale, muscles tense trying to ignore the pain his body was in. Saunders shook his head and knelt beside him.

"LT…we have a litter ready for you.

Hanley opened his eyes slowly and peered at his friend. How's Jennings?

"Can't sit up without throwing up or passing out." Saunders said with a frown. "He was hit hard and it's lucky he isn't dead."

"A few Germans tried to ambush us…maybe eight or ten miles back…almost succeeded…one came up behind Pvt. Jennings…hit him with a rifle stock…before I could get a shot off." Hanley said as he rubbed lightly at his temple. "I shot the German but his friend…didn't appreciate my actions and we ended up in a hand to hand fight…I disarmed him but he didn't go down easy.

Was that how you got the knife wound? Saunders asked as he checked the bandage covering Hanley's shoulder.

Hanley nodded, "The soldier was tough Saunders…when he attacked I lost my weapon…he had good fighting skills…wasn't sure I could take him."

"Looks like you did." Saunders said with a smirk.

"Yeah…but it wasn't easy." Hanley commented. "Once there was no longer a threat…checked on Jennings…when I couldn't get him to wake up…put him over my shoulder…started walking back this way." Hanley paused, hand lightly resting over the bruised ribs.

The LT was short of breath by this time and Saunders decided the man had talked enough. "You can tell me the rest later Sir…we need to head out…I'll have the men bring the litter over to you." Saunders suggested.

"No, Saunders, I can walk." Hanley said tightly. "Just give me a hand up."

"LT…it would be better if you let us carry you." Saunders said quietly

Stubbornly Hanley made to stand up, using the tree as a brace he got to his feet, closing his eyes momentarily when he felt a little light headed. Opening them, glanced at Saunders. "I'll walk for the time being…we'll see how far I can get before we have to use a litter."

"Admitting that you might have to use it, tells me you shouldn't be walking." With a frown, Saunders offered a shoulder for Hanley to lean on as they made their way to where the rest of the squad was waiting.

"From the way you brought him in, I assume he didn't use a litter." Dr. Porter commented as he glanced down at the LT.

With a chuckle, Saunders replied. "You would be correct with that assumption, Brockmeyer supported the LT and we continued toward base." Saunders glanced at the Doctor. "We received a call from Capt. Jampel ordering the Platoon to meet up with him…roughly five miles from here…he had new orders from Battalion and needed all the men he could get."

"You explained about the LT being injured."

"Yes…Captain told me to take three men and get Hanley and Jennings to Medical, by this time Jennings was unconscious more than he was awake and the LT was starting to wear down. The other men who were injured…Davis, Warner, Taylor and Harris were mobile and still able to use weapons, so they stayed with the Platoon." Saunders glanced at Hanley. "Brockmeyer told me to keep an eye on Hanley because he thought the LT was starting a fever." Saunders turned to the Doctor. "He was in bad shape by the time I brought him in.

Scanning the Sergeants face Dr. Porter could see the man hadn't slept much but knew he probably wouldn't until the LT woke up. "Sgt. Saunders why don't you have a seat…you can stay as long as you want…try talking to him…who knows maybe you'll be able to wake him…I have to check in with Lt. Hoyt, he's in charge until Capt. Jampel gets back."

"Thanks Dr. Porter." Saunders said as he adjusted the stool near Hanley's bed before taking a seat.

"I'll be back in a few hours to check on him…but if he shows signs of waking, come and get me or send somebody to let me know…I'll be in Capt. Jampel's office."

"Yes Sir." Saunders watched as Dr. Porter hung the LT's chart on the foot of the bed before turning and making his way to the exit…a few minutes later the Medical Bay was quiet.

"LT it would be nice if you would wake up and tell me what happened with you and Pvt. Jennings." Saunders stared intently at Hanley's features, examining the cuts and bruising showing. Where were you all that time? "The Doc said to talk to you but I'm not very good with one sided conversations…Help me out here."

Saunders let out a sigh…he was tired…too worried about Lt. Hanley to get any real sleep, he had stopped by every morning since bringing him in…now the lack of sleep was starting to catch up to him. Studying the LT's face for a few minutes he let his eyes sweep over the bandage on his right shoulder, moving onto the compress covering his left side…as he examined the sleeping man he thought of another time and place.

"You remember when we went on our first patrol together? It was just you and me…we were with Baker company at the time." Saunders leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, eyes focused on Hanley's features. "You were a Tech Sergeant and I had just received my Sergeant stripes…

Can't you find someone else to go on the patrol with Sergeant Hanley? Saunders asked, rubbing a tired hand across tired eyes.

He had taken the squad out on patrol three days ago and had only just returned, all the men were worn out…they had run into several German patrols on the way back to camp. As a result, three of his men had been injured and were currently being checked out at Medical, while the rest of his men had head toward showers and cots for much deserved sleep. Which is what Saunders would like to be doing… sleeping.

"I'm sorry Sergeant." Lt. Hatcher began, "TSgt. Hanley isn't new to Uncle Sam's Army just hasn't had experience in the field yet…Captain Jennings figured since you're one of his most experienced squad leaders that you could teach Hanley the ropes."

Saunders held the man's gaze for a moment…Hatcher was leader of 4th Platoon under Baker Company…he and the LT had worked together for two years, becoming friends over that time. They clashed on occasion but that was mostly due to similarities in personality, both were stubborn and had strong opinions where orders and their men were concerned.