Chapter 2

The remainder of the squad was un-nerved and confused by the uncharacteristic behavior of their leader. Looking to each other and then over to where Doc and Saunders remained seated on the lip of the broken fountain. They could see the medic talking to the blonde NCO, one hand resting lightly on the unresponsive mans shoulder, while the Sargeants fingers played restlessly with the toggles of the shoulder strap of the Tommy, his gaze now fixed on their actions.

The youngest member of the platoon was more than un nerved, he was frightened by his Sargeants behavior. This was the man that had lead them out of danger more times than he could count, was the rock that all of them clung to when the tides of war threatened to wash their sanity away. There were whispers of things like this happening to men in other squads, but he could never find out what happened to the men affected, nobody would talk about it and just acted like it didnt happen at all. He looked to the remaining members of his squad, Kirby and Little John were standing off to oneside talking in hushed voices and he couldn't make out their words. As he slid a little closer they looked in his direction and stopped talking both men putting looks of false confidence on their faces.

"Hey Billy come on over here, Kirby and I were just gonna see it there's any hot chow around. How 'bout you come with us. You can help bring some back for Caje, Doc and the Sarge." Little John said in his best "big brother" voice

"Yeah, then we can find a place to bed down before the Lieutenant finds us. I sure could a a few hours of sleep before he decides we're the only squad in this war and sends us out again." Kirby said stepping up and forcing a bravado into his voice that he didnt feel. "Leave your gear here, we can come back for it once we find a flop."

Looking back and forth between the two men he studied their faces for a moment looking for the truth in them. Billy stood there for a minute and then looking into their eyes found that they too were looking for that truth, that they too, were unsure as to what was happening, but trusted that once again Saunders would some how come through and make it right. A smile brightened his boyish face "Yeah, yeah I am kinda hungry, hot chow would sure taste good." Dropping his backpack next to Little John and Kirby's, he shouldered his M1 and looked expectantly at the other two men.

Kirby looked back at where Doc still talked with Saunders, and saw that Caje had returned with a white coated doctor who now stood with the squad medic, examing the silent soldier. Caje turned toward where his squadmates were and saw Kirby waving him over. The action followed by one mimicing eating. With a nod Caje turned back to the medic. "Hey Doc, we're gonna hunt down some hot chow, you want me to bring you some back?"

Doc looked away from Saunders for a minute, "Yeah, bring some for Sarge too, over at the med tent."

Caje nodded and went to rejoin his friends, for a soldier there were three things that transcended everything else. Hot coffee, hot food, and dry feet anything else was secondary.

Doc watched the four men for a moment, and then back at Saunders a frown folded his brow. Together they were a force to be recconed with, but without their Sargent they were a rudderless ship, helplessly caught in the swells of this war, just waiting to be bashed against the german infantry.

The doctor waited for the squad medic to return his attention to the blonde haired man in front of him once he had done so the physcian continued his examination. "Has he said anything at all since you found him here?"

Doc shook his head negatively, "Not a word, was just sitting here staring at the other end of town like there was something there only he could see. Only time we got a reaction out of him is when we tried to take his gun away. He just gave out a shout, jumped up and tried to bash Caje in the face with the stock, would have shot him too if the magazine hadn't been empty."

The field doc stared at Saunders thoughtfully, watching the man continue to play with the toggles on the shoulder strap of his tommy gun, normally sharp blue eyes staring blankly down at the constantly moving fingers. "And he is not wounded in anyway other than the cuts on face? No sign of head trauma of any kind?"

Doc shook his head "None that I could find Captain. He was just sitting here like I said."

The Doctor spoke softly at first. "Sargeant Saunders look at me please." Repeating himself two more times without any response before putting two fingers beneath the mans stubbled chin and tried to raise the mans face to face his without effect; the muscles in Saunders neck locking against the upward pressure. "Sargeant! I order you to look at me!" The Captain demanded, using his most authoritive voice, snapping fingers several times in front of Saunders face still without reaction.

Doc watched worriedly, "Sir, let me try something please." The Captain nodded and stepped back to give the medic room. "Hey Chip, its me George, George Andersen from work. You remember me right?" Doc spoke softly and in a light-hearted manner that he did not feel. "How you been buddy haven't seen you in a while"

For a minute or two nothing seemed to happen, and then the blue eyes rose to meet brown and there was a slight nod. The sargeants mouth moved but no sound came for a minute, then a hoarse whisper, "I - I dont know..."

"That's ok Chip! Hey whadda say I buy you a beer and we catch up. I know just the place." Doc stood and gently urged the other man to his feet. He looked at the Tommy gun, "You can leave that here, my friend will watch it for you. "

Saunders gaze dropped to where the medic was looking and a puzzle look furrowed his brow. A brief feeling that he should not part with the weapon brushed his thoughts and he hesitated before handing the prized weapon over to the waiting doctor.

Throwing his arm around Saunders shoulders Doc lead him toward the hospital tent where he could be thoroughly examined and hopefully answers found as to how to help him recover.