The Handle With Care Raid

By: AliasCWN

Chapter 4

Moffitt settled on the ground next to Troy and used the flashlight that Tully had left behind to check the bandages. They were still white, showing no sign that the bleeding had resumed. Taking the edge of the blanket, Moffitt tucked it around Troy's still form.

Seeing Hitch running toward them with Troy over his shoulder had been a shock. Seeing Troy carrying Hitch would have been a surprise but somehow it wouldn't have been as shocking as seeing Troy incapacitated. The sight had caused him to hesitate, just for a few seconds, but those few seconds could have been deadly for Troy or Hitch, or both. Thankfully Tully hadn't paused at all; he had driven straight at the Germans and drawn their attention. If Troy or Hitch had gotten hit because of his hesitation Moffitt wasn't sure he could ever have forgiven himself.

That thought sent his mind in the direction of their youngest member. He knew Hitch was standing guard anxiously awaiting word on Troy. He just didn't have anything new to tell him. He'd already said that he didn't know if the other sergeant would survive; that hadn't changed, and he didn't feel like talking about it in any more detail.

Hitch hadn't asked again, perhaps afraid to hear the answer. He stood with his back to them, watching the desert, or what he could see of it in the dark. Even when he turned to check the terrain on the other side of them he avoided looking down at the jeeps.

Moffitt knew he should try to reassure their youngest member, he just didn't know what to say. He'd already told him that it wasn't his fault. He had assured him that everyone knew that he had done his best. It hadn't changed the way that Hitch felt, he knew that too. With a heavy sigh he wondered what else he could say that might help. Saying that Troy was going to be fine would help, but he couldn't honestly say that, and he refused to lie to any member of his team.

He recalled his first encounter with the others, when Colonel Quint had told them that they would be working together. He had felt like such an outsider then, and he had been. Troy had been very vocal in his belief that it was knowing his men, how they thought, how they reacted in any given situation, that kept them alive. Moffitt had thought at the time that he understood what Troy meant. But he had been wrong; he hadn't had a clue, not really. Troy and the two privates had taught him what teamwork really was, about trust, and how it affected everything they did. It even affected how they thought. He had never realized that such a connection existed. He couldn't imagine going back to his old unit, not after getting so close to Troy, Tully, and Hitch.

If Troy died, and he couldn't convince himself that that wasn't a very real possibility, he wondered what would happen to the two privates. He supposed he could always find undercover work or some such thing. The British army could always use a man with his skills, especially his knowledge of the German language. He worried about the privates. There was no guarantee that they would be able to stay together. Who would watch over them? Who would care enough to make sure that they weren't considered expendable?

"Troy old man, you'd better not die on me, on us, we need you." Moffitt whispered to the unconscious man.

He heard Tully lift the hood on one of the jeeps and he thought about what Tully had said. He would check the jeeps and then go check on Hitch. Moffitt let himself off the hook about talking to the young soldier. Tully could reach Hitch better than he could. The two of them shared as much as he and Troy. Tully would have a much better idea about what to say. It wasn't that he didn't talk, or share experiences with Hitch, he did. It was just that Tully and Hitch seemed to think alike when it came to their responsibilities. Troy told them that they weren't responsible for him, but they had their own ideas. Moffitt smiled as he thought about it. He thought that the two younger 'rats' thought that they needed to watch out for their sergeants just as he and Troy felt that they needed to watch out for the privates.

It was all part of that teamwork that Troy insisted was so vital to their survival. Even Troy had given up on trying to convince the privates that they were being overly protective. Usually Troy just pretended that he didn't notice.

That brought Moffitt's thoughts full circle. He turned the flashlight back on to get another look at Troy. He felt a little warm but he didn't seem to be running a fever yet. He was still unconscious and that worried Moffitt a bit. He rose from the ground to get another blanket from the jeep. Rolling the blanket into a bundle, he elevated the wounded man's feet.

"Doc? How is he?"

Hitch's call wasn't unexpected. Moffitt was just surprised that Hitch had held off as long as he had.

"He's still unconscious Hitch" Moffitt called back.

"Isn't there any change at all?"

"No, not yet."

Hitch fell silent but Moffitt could see the discouraged slump of his shoulders at the news. The private was still keeping watch, making sure that no one snuck up on them.

"It's going to be light soon." Hitch hesitated. "Are we going to try to move him to a hospital?" The blond didn't turn to look toward the jeeps as he asked the question.

"We may have to move him, even if he doesn't regain consciousness. Hopefully he'll wake up before we have to make that decision. His body needs the rest right now; he'll come around when he's ready." Moffitt allowed a little of his own hope seep into his tone. He didn't have the heart to completely dash the younger man's hope. "Do you need a break? I can take over on guard if you want."

"No Doc, you stay with Sarge, I got this."

Moffitt wasn't surprised at Hitch's answer. They all did what they could for each other. Tully was busy with the jeeps and he was the unofficial medic, so Hitch would stay on guard.

"I've checked the jeeps and they're ready to go when we are Doc." Tully stopped next to him and looked down at Troy. "I'm going to go talk to Hitch for a few minutes, and then I'll see what we have in the jeeps to eat."

Moffitt nodded, grateful for Tully's initiative. Troy was the only one hurt but somehow they all seemed wounded; there was that teamwork again.