I wanna say a sincere thank you to the readers, and especially to my reviewers wondertogonder, Camilla, readxme, xXxRainbowxXxStarxXx, Me(guest), horselover, mrssteverodgers, LauRa-ReaDinG-XoXandeurogirl14! Love you all!

Totally made up all 'The Keeper' stuff, so I hope you don't think it's too farfetched… just thought it might add to the story! :)

Chapter Six: The Boys and The Keeper

My hands jolted up to my throat, threatened by a drowning feeling deep in my throat.

"Wha…?" I gurgled, wiping away the chilled trail of drool from my cheek. A gust of cool night air tickled my bare arms. Realizing the time, I bent my middle with my sore abdomen scolding me. A thin, twice folded paper fell into my lap, with the clinking noise of a pencil against the floor following behind. My soiled curls hung pathetically around my cheeks, sticking to my sweating forehead.

Irritably I whipped back the white sheet that drug across the floor with the small breeze dancing through the practice. I shouldn't have been sleeping. It was the middle of the day when I started writing that letter. God only knows how many exercises I had missed. Why did Gene let me sleep?

My eyes instantly found Eugene sprawled in the lone armchair, his round mouth open and breathing out his exhaustion. A sly smirk crinkled up my lips with my zinging arms crossed against my chest.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP!?" I bellowed as fiercely as my shy voice would allow. His arms flew up, squatting the nonexistent boogie man above him. I let out a light giggle as he continued to scramble around in the darkness.

Thud.

I unwillingly fell to my knee with laughter seeing him sprawled on the floor with fear. The still swollen green bruises crying out from when Sobel had thrown me to the ground. I didn't care though, my laughter forced upon his drowsiness made my wounds heal. I hadn't laughed this hard since… well, since I couldn't remember.

"Gene… Gene…" I gasped out through spouts of light laughter, my eyes adjusting to the engulfing darkness. I grabbed his thin shoulders and he jumped with the touch. "Relax, it's just Loretta. I'm not gonna eat ya!"

Pulling myself back up to my feet, I looked down t my fellow medic. He was cute, in a weird and awkward way. I swallowed down another fit of laughter when I observed how he was sitting. With his pajama'd legs crossed his ankle bones pressed against the hardwood floorboards, all I could think was that he looked like a child. Like a small boy, watching a kitten drink from a saucer of milk. His round doe eyes were in awe, but not of the kitten but of me. I could tell he still didn't think I belonged here, but something gnawed at me. I know it sounds vein, but I think Roe enjoys watching over me. As if he feels he is superior because he has a relationship with me that the other men haven't had the chance to develop yet.

"What?" I quietly snorted.

He blinked his long black lashed together, attempting to wrap himself around the situation. "Damn it, Brave! I was sleeping!"

"Really- I couldn't tell. Why don't you go join the nearest moose heard, Gene… they make the same call as you!" I bit my lip, holding down a giggle when I saw a flash of his pink tongue escape through his dry lips. Then I wrinkled up my nose, "Wait, wha…? What did you just call me?"

He moaned as he stood, promptly plopping himself back into the inviting chair before responding to my pressing curiosity. "What are you talking about?" He mumbled in a sleepy tone.

"I mean," I growled, cupping my hips with my hands. "You called me something. You know, comma and then a name?"

A low whir buzzed in the air. He was snoring again.

"Gene!" I irritably snapped my fingers in his face.

I swear I could feel him roll his eyes, "Brave. I called you Brave."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"

He rolled over, nestling his head deeper into his chest, "Ask the Keeper… not me." His scratchy voice was dripping with mystery. Then a familiar whir escaped his slightly parted lips. I promptly backhanded his head, itching to quench my curious thirst.

"The Keeper… in the Cajun culture- he speaks to you through your dreams. He gives me information."

I lowered myself onto the empty arm of the chair, tucking a loose hanging curl behind my ear. "Okay, weird. But, why 'Brave'?"

"Because you are brave. I don't see any other women crawling through pig guts. You've had your own battle back home, yet here you are-"

I cut him off, "Gene, if anything, I'm a coward. I ran away from my past, I didn't fight it. I can barely keep up with these men…"

Doc rolled over to face me, his eyes burning with a fire. Suddenly I wasn't cross with him for letting me sleep. "The Keeper knows you are brave… you can never question that, Roselle."

My eyes squinted over to the window. Purple was crawling over the mountain summit like a cowboy from a bar. I tapped my grimy fingertip to the window glass, melting the early autumn frost with the contact. I always hated winter, even as a young girl. I stayed inside with my mother, gulping down hot chocolate seemingly by the gallon while Billy frolicked in the snow with Johnny.

"Rise and shine, Doc… and shining is not optional," I winked down to him, even though I knew his peaceful eyes wouldn't see it. I turned back to face the window kissed by Jack Frost, knowing it wouldn't be there by noon. The sweltering and humid Georgia air would eat away the ice crystals.

The bugler's silhouette clapped to attention against the rising sun. He raised the simple instrument into the now orange sky. It always amazed me how eagerly the sun rose, but how it seemed to dread to fall.

Then his tune galloped through Camp Toccoa, the groan of every restless man murmuring in unison. I didn't know what the day would bring so a churning sensation grumbled in my stomach. I still hadn't met the men… and I didn't want to.

I turned around and found Gene splashing water into his shadowed face. He looked exhausted. A cringe of guilt washed through me- was he growing tired because of me?

Playfully pushing him over with the force of my hip, I hogged the faucet and scrubbed my skin clean of any grim. He just smirked as he wiped an olive drab towel across the droplets cascading off his sharp cheekbones.

"Christ, what was in that 'tonic'? Knocked me out like a baby…"

I heard him gulp down a chortle, "Lesson number two… never give or take something ya don't read the label of first."

My jaw swung open in disbelief, "You asshole!" My small fist met with his shoulder, and he pretended to hobble away, chuckling all the way. I just quietly shook my head at him watching his thin fingers hastily button up a tan dress shirt. Eugene tucked the short coffee and cream colored tie into the space between two buttons, and adjusted his garrison cap. My eyes twinkled as I admired his black, almost blue, hair.

Doc turned on his heel, with one eyebrow cocked in warning, "Breakfast. You will eat it today, Roselle."

I stubbornly crossed my arms, pointed my nose towards the young sun. It's warmth felt good on my battered cheek. Distracted by my bliss, Eugene took my wrist and drug me out of our barracks. I tried to yank free, but his stubbornness was a perfect match to mine.

"I- don't- want- to!" I squirmed and flipped, drawing many eyes. I laughed to myself, knowing they thought Eugene was going to harm me, but he only wanted to care for me. The mick.

"Where'd you drum up this pretty young thing, Doc?" an alarming voice boomed behind me. I whipped around and hid behind Roe's back like a terrified child in a thunderstorm. My fingers curled and dug into his newly pressed shirt. My daring eyes glanced over his shoulder, to find a similarly uniformed man with a paratroop patch sewn into his side cap.

"Get out here," he hissed over his shoulder to me, yanking me to his side. Like glue I pressed firmly against his side. Eugene Roe was my security blanket in this big, bad and man-filled world.

"You the new medic broad?" his heavenly raspy voice questioned. This kindled a fire in my chest.

"Yes," I spat out at him. "I am the woman nurse of Easy Company."

He raised his hands in surrender, "Yesh, Doc! Feisty one you got here… name's Joe. Joe Toye."

My hand reluctantly cupped with his, and I squeezed as hard as I could. Even though I wasn't, I wanted them to think I was tough. "Private Roselle, or Loretta."

"Pretty name." He shoved his hands in his pockets, "You a country girl?"

I struggled to fight the urge to snort, "I'm from Oklahoma, if that's what you're asking."

Another man's boots crunched against the gravel path. Even though the sky was slowly getting engulfed in clouds, I could still spot Bill Guarnere's under bite. He took his place next to Toe, shifting his relaxed weight onto one leg.

"Ah, I see you've meet Easy's finest lady, Joe! Hell of a girl from what I can tell," he smiled through his Philly accent. Eugene nudged me with his elbow as if to say, 'See, they like you fine!'

"Gene and I were just heading off breakfast, what about you guys?" I wrung my hands together nervously. The statement sounded so much better in my head.

"Heading off?" Joe scoffed. "Looks to me like your were being drug to the gallows against your will!" Eugene and I both chuckled, realizing how humorous we must have looked. Moments later I was staring down at my plate of steak and eggs. My stomach boiled and gurgled, my sore morning throat fizzled.

"What's wrong, 'etta?" Bill nudged me, a yellow chunk of scrambled eggs dribbling against his chin. Smiling, I tenderly wiped the filth away with my napkin to reveal small black whiskers poking from his chin.

"You need to shave, Bill," I poked at him. I could tell we would be good friends.

He narrowed his glance down at me, "I asked you a question, cowgirl."

"Nothing," I waved him off, hatefully stabbing my fork into the chunk of meat. "I hate breakfast!"

Muck gently kicked my shin under the table, "Who the hell doesn't like breakfast!?"

"This girl," I said, pointing my fork to my chest. They all just grinned and continued scarffing down the early meal.

Still not interested in the food, my eyes once again wandered off to the window. I saw Winters swallowing down a smile as Sobel snarled something clearly vile in his face. The bright and lively sun lost the battle for today, wispy clouds swirling overhead to block the beams. He fastened a golden single bar to Richard's collar, tugging a little extra just to make my toes curl.

The table ratted under me, pulling my eyes back to the towering men. "We're going back to the barracks. Sobel says it's a light day." Joe Liebgott tapped my shoulder, coolly inviting me.

"That son of a bitch… I could have slept longer," I snarled to nobody in particular.

Liebgott clapped his hand to my back, "Hey, this girls alright!"

I weakly smiled up at Gene who resumed his protective position at my side. We watched as the men flooded out the door. "Well, you ready?" He offered his bent elbow to me.

I took it without hesitation, "For what?"

"It's time to meet them, Brave."

My heart churned, I was slowly getting attached to the nickname that The Keeper had assigned me.

B.o.B.

"Penk! Catch!"

A white wad met with my chest. The second I realized what I was holding in my hands, the undergarment fell to the ground. Disgusted, I curled up my nose and was tempted to head back out the door.

"Ah, Jeezus… she let it drop!" A stocky, dark-haired man irritably snatched up the underwear that was sprawled across the toes of my cork boots. "Good things she's a nurse and doesn't handle grenades…"

Skip Muck strolled down the aisle, slapping Penkala on the back of the head, "Cut the girl some slack, Alex." I smiled kindly at him, thankful for his sympathy.

George Luz who had introduced himself during PT patted the cot neighboring him, "Come sit down, cowgirl. We got your royal throne all ready for ya." George dramatically bowed down as I lowered myself onto the cot. I playfully rolled my eyes, and when I opened them a million nameless men stood anxiously around the bed.

With a ferociously pounding heart, I frantically searched for Eugene. I felt the need to call out for him; I needed him at my side. I quietly dug my fingers into the fabric of my pant leg, begging myself to stay brave.

"This here is Frank Perco-" George Luz was pushed aside by an even shorter man with comical thick eyebrows.

"Christ, Luz! I can introduce myself!" He held out a petite hand, and I curved my lips in our greeting. "Call me Perco, dear."

He took a step back, never tearing his eyes from me for one second. I felt squeamish as they all continued down the line. Some were bashful, some flattered me but over everything they made me laugh and smile. I could tell I had lucked out when I was assigned to Easy Co.

"Johnny Martin," a married man offered me a handshake, his mass of dark curls swooping onto his forehead. When he stepped forward, I couldn't help but notice Denver standing behind him. The enormous and seemingly heartless man was gnawing on his big fat cigar. The odor it emitted reminded me of my father and how he would always smoke cigars specifically during celebrations. Johnny Martin's name made me yearn deeply to hear Johnny's sweet voice. I was already missing home.

Webster seemed smart and well educated, and I looked forward to having literature discussions with him. Then came Cobb. He weakly shook my hand, as if I was a homeless person to him. Worthless. To him I clearly didn't know my place as a woman, and Roy would be sure to remind me of it.

Pat Christenson and Edward Tipper were next, both greeting me with a big broad smile that practically made you grin. I was surprised at how many of the men I had run into during training or in the mess hall.

Then there was Donald Hoobler with his ears. Hoob was the most adorable thing I had ever laid eyes upon. His small, curled ears protruding from the sides of his round face. The moment it was his turn, his pleasant face burned a deep tomato red.

"Loretta. Or, there's plenty of nicknames floating around here so choose your pick. Cowgirl, Lottie, Brave…" The last one hung on my tongue and danced in the smoke filled room.

"Brave?" Don's bubbly voice questioned, and I felt my face burn as red as his.

I waved him off, wishing he would forget about it, "Oh nothing, Doc came up with it."

"Haha…" he chuckled to himself, looking around the room and back to me as I sat cross legged on the cot. "You do realized Doc likes you, right?"

My small eyes grew large, my face so hot now I began to sweat, "You're crazy, Hoob."

"I'm serious, Etta," he sat down next to me. "I don't make shit like this up."

I looked over at Eugene who sat on a footlocker, fiddling with his thumbs in isolation. I chose not to comment back; instead I narrowed my sights on Bull Randleman. I was attracted to him for unknown reasons. His strong build that boldly stated he would protect me, when there was never a man in my life to do that other than Johnny. He carried me down the mountain, and helped me up from the course. But I knew any other man from this company would do just the same thing. Then the next moment he would treat me as lifelessly as any other soldier. I couldn't for the life of me explain it, but I was interested in him. I wanted to know him better, to feel the security of my small hand folded within his goliath palm.

"Well, since you zoned out on me… Sobel is having us eat spaghetti for lunch." He nudged me in the ribs, "Or do you hate lunch too?"

I playfully slapped his shoulder blade as he stood from the low bed. "Cya, around Hoob." I smiled up at him and those adorable ears of his.

Bored as the restless men all chatted and tossed wads of socks and other personal belongings across the room, I began fishing bobby pins from my hair. The honey colored curls hung loosely around my tense shoulders. Looking down as I jabbed them into my teeth, I didn't notice the towering man nearing me.

"Care for a smoke?" Bull's booming voice offered, pulling the wet cigar from his lips.

I lost all sense of manners and spoke through the pins, "I don't smoke." I said curtly, remembering back to my father's bad smoking habits too.

"Oh…" he turned on his heel, already giving up on the conversation.

"Wait," I reached out my hand, my face still burning. "I didn't get to talk to you."

Denver raised his eyebrows that matched his thick, curly blonde hair, "Seemed to me you didn't feel like talking, Roselle."

"God," I looked down to my hands. "Could you call me something other than 'Roselle'? There are plenty of nickname's floating around here. Pick one."

"Nah," he sat down on the corner of the bed, his weight making the thin mattress sink. "I don't like none of 'em."

"Then make one up," I shyly suggested, gathering all of the pins into my fingers. He looked up to the ceiling, seeming to search for inspiration.

"Boon."

I furrowed my brows, running my fingers through my hair, "Huh?"

"You don't like it, do you?" He shyly glanced down at his hands. I was in awe that such a big man was as painfully shy as me.

"Actually… I do. A lot."

I caught him swallow down an elated smile, "Well, I just figured… you got a drawl. You know, boondocks."

I giggled, "I said, I like it Bull."

"Where you from, Boon?" He asked, trying on my new name on for size.

I straightened my back, "'Lahoma. You?"

"Arkansas," he smirked as Johnny Martin walked down the aisle and slapped his back.

"Lunchtime, Bull. Spaghetti."

My stomach kicked around with the thought of eating warm spaghetti, and I felt myself begin to drool. "Lord, that sounds good!" If only I had known…

We both stood from the cot, following closely behind the rest of the men. Eugene was nowhere to be found, so I stayed close beside Bull. "Loretta… if you don't mind me sayin'… you got some pretty hair on your head." He mumbled shyly as we crunched across the gravel. My face seared blood red, and all I could do was look at the ground.

There it is! This chapter felt different to write than anything I have every written before for some reason. Would you agree?

Feedback and suggestions, advice and any comments are so appreciated! :)