Here's another chapter! Hope you enjoy it!
Adriana quickly wiped the tears from her face as she walked away from her father. Her face was dry when she made it to Johnny Martin who was watching Guarnere walk away. He looked upset.
"What's wrong with Bill?" she asked.
"He just found out his brother was killed," Martin said somewhat sullenly.
"Who the hell thought it was a good idea to tell him that a few hours before the jump?" Adriana asked annoyed.
"He took my jacket accidentally and he saw the note my wife wrote me. She keeps up with casualties," Martin said dropping his gaze.
"Oh," said Adriana sheepishly. "It's not your fault then. I'm sure he will be alright," though she was not sure. "I'll see yah in Normandy Martin," she said and dashed off after Guarnere.
Martin shook his head and turned back to help the Paratrooper with his gear.
"Bill!" Adriana shouted chasing him down.
Guarnere didn't stop walking and when she caught up to him he didn't even look at her.
"Bill?" she asked.
When he didn't acknowledge her at all she touched his arm. He stopped and looked at her. His face was impossible to read, but his eyes weren't. They held so much emotion and Adriana just wanted to hug him, but she didn't.
"Bill? Are you alright to jump?"
"I'm fine Rosie," he said smiling, but the smile didn't touch his eyes.
He started to walk away but Adriana grabbed his arm with more force and turned him back to her.
"Bill I need you to concentrate on your jump, so if you need to talk about it do it now."
"When we see each other again, I'll tell you all about it," Guarnere hissed then wrenched his arm from her grip.
"I'm counting on that Bill Guarnere," Adriana yelled after him.
He turned back to look at her and smiled at her determined face.
"You better be safe Rosie!" he shouted.
"You too Bill!"
With that they parted to their planes. Adriana took the long way around to her plane, checking on every man as she went past. Unfortunately, the soldier she was looking for seemed to be nowhere to be found. She wondered to herself why the short radioman was not at his plane, but she was distracted by Shifty running up to her.
"Hi Adri. Are you all ready?"
"I am Shifty. How about you?"
"I think so. I was just… well I hoped…"
"Yes?" Adriana prompted the fumbling solder.
"Well… I'm going to want this back next time you see me," Shifty said pressing a small object into her palm.
She looked at him surprised then opened her hand. It was a silver ring. She looked back up into his green eyes. A small smile had crossed his face. Adriana touched his shoulder but he pulled her into him. He leaned down so his lips were against her ear.
"Please be careful Adri."
"You too Shifty. I'll see you on the ground."
Their hug lasted a few more seconds, then he reluctantly let her go. He squeezed her hand and turned back to his plane. She slid the ring on her middle finger and turned toward her plane, only to be met with Talb.
"Hey Rosie. Lt. Winters just told me that you and I are assigned to another plane. Some last minute changes or some shit. Either way, now we are on Meehan's plane."
"Alright Talb. I'll be over there in a minute, she said.
She had just spied the soldier she was searching for. Talb followed her gaze and smiled knowingly, though she missed it. She trotted off toward the forlorn looking soldier. He was talking to Perconte with a rather tired expression. Perconte noticed her first and ran to her hitting Luz's shoulder with his own spinning the radio man on the spot. As soon as Luz saw her, his eyes lit up. He followed Perconte over to her and waited for his turn as Perconte enveloped their small Sgt. in a hug.
"Perconte I want nothing more than for you to get stuck in a tree on your way to the ground. I'm going to find you and laugh my ass off, and then I'll save yours," Adriana said slapping him on the back.
"Yeah, yeah. But you are alright? You're ready for this?"
"Yeah Perco, I'm ready. I swear to god if someone else asks if I'm ready I'm going to start swinging."
"Well good luck," Perconte said giving her one last squeeze then turned her over to Luz.
"George Luz I have been looking everywhere for you!" Adriana said as Luz went to hug her.
"Well Rosie, I have been looking for you too. Why weren't you at your plane?"
"Talb and I got moved to Meehan's plane," she informed him.
"Oh you get to talk to our new company commander?"
"Sounds like fun right?" Adriana asked.
"Yeah right. Listen girl, I want you to be careful alright? Don't be a hero."
"Me? A hero? Please," Adriana scoffed and waved a dismissive hand.
"I'm serious," Luz said holding both of her shoulders so she was forced to look into her eyes.
Adriana had never seen Luz so serious.
"I'll be fine Luz," she said, then thought about the ring on her finger. "Here"
She reached behind her neck and undid the silver necklace. She pulled it out of her shirt and laid it in Luz's open hand. The silver cross reflected brilliantly off his dirty palm.
"You a believer?" Luz asked looking up.
"Depends on how the jump goes," Adriana said. "I'll want this back next time you see me."
Luz looked back down at it then into her eyes.
"Good luck," she said.
"I'll see you on the ground Rosie," Luz said pulling her in for another hug.
He kissed her on the forehead and turned back to his plane. After realizing what had just happened, Adriana smiled and ran to where Talb was waving her over.
"You almost missed your flight Sgt." Meehan said nodding to her.
"Sorry sir. Just had to check on the men."
"You are a good leader Roosevelt."
"Please sir, call Me Adriana."
He nodded and put out a hand to her. He helped her and Talb onto the plane then pulled himself on just as the planes rumbled to life. Adriana jumped a little but Talb smiled and put a hand on her knee.
"You're going to be fine," Talb said in her ear.
She looked at him surprised. She had never heard any of her men say that before. They always asked if she was alright. This was new and she liked it.
"Thanks Talb," she said.
He patted her knee then leaned back against the planes interior and he was asleep within the minute. She decided to try to sleep as well. The airsickness pills were making her dizzy. She copied Talb and fell into a restless sleep.
A long time later, she never found out how long, she was thrown from her seat by a bumpy plane ride. She felt Talb land on her back, sending the air from her lungs. The plane's engines were roaring so the only thing she could hear was Talb's heavy breathing against her cheek. After a few seconds, he pushed away from her and helped her up.
"What's happening?" she shouted.
"Who the hell knows? I was asleep!" Talb shouted back.
Adriana threw herself back to her seat by the door and looked out. She was there just in time to see one of their C-47s going down in flames.
"Holy shit," she whispered to herself. "Talb!"
He was at her side in seconds. His reaction was the same as hers.
"That was one of ours," she said.
Talb knew which soldier was on her mind.
"Luz is fine," he assured her.
She didn't say anything but her eyes were round and terrified.
"Concentrate on the jump," Talb said shaking her shoulders. "All the men will be alright."
"What about the ones that just went down in the flaming C-47?" she asked.
Talb had nothing to answer her but luckily the red light had just gone on. He yanked her up and hooked himself up then turned to hook her up, but she was already hooked and turned around helping another soldier to his feet. She turned back to him and her eyes were back to normal.
"You good?" he asked.
She nodded just as the plane lurched sideways and almost threw Talb out the door. Luckily he caught himself on the edge but what he saw didn't make him feel good. The left engine of the plane was on fire.
"Shit. Meehan! Meehan sir! I think we should go sir!" Talb shouted.
Meehan was in the front of the plane so Talb only had seconds to think about what he was going to do. He could go get Meehan and risk getting blown to hell or he could throw Adriana and himself out of the plane and defiantly live. He chose the latter.
"Time to go Rosie," he said and grabbed Adriana by the vest.
Despite her protests about the light she came willingly and jumped by herself. Talb started counting and got to four seconds before the engine exploded sending fire through the plane. Talb had about four seconds to look for Meehan then throw himself from the plane getting out just in time. As the prop blast tore his leg bag from him he realized his arm was on fire.
"Shit," he cursed and beat his left arm with his right.
Eventually the fire was out but his sleeve was literally gone up to just above the elbow, and his hand was already starting to blister. He cursed again and looked below him for Adriana. He easily found her white chute against the dark ground, but then he noticed where they were going to land. They were headed for a wooded area. Rose was already enveloped by branches, and soon enough, he was also.
He landed right next to Adriana. They were caught a good thirty feet above the ground. Talb tried unsuccessfully to free his chute. It was hopelessly tied up. He glanced at Adriana, but realized she was unconscious. 'That's why she hadn't navigated away from the trees,' Talb thought to himself.
"Hey, Rosie," Talb said quietly poking her with his elbow.
She stirred.
"You alright?" he asked.
"I… I think so. I hit my head on the side of the plane," she said rubbing the back of her skull.
"Sorry we had to get out of there in a hurry," Talb said.
"Why?" she asked.
Talb looked up and she followed his gaze. The entire fuselage of their plane was on fire and going down.
"Is that our plane?" Adriana asked.
"Yeah. We got out of there just in time."
"How did you know?" Adriana asked him.
"I saw the left engine on fire. I knew I needed to get us out of there."
"Thanks Talb. Even if you did give me a concussion," she said the last part with a smile.
Talb smiled but winced when he moved his hand.
"Lemmy see Talb," she ordered.
She never missed anything so he leaned over and let her examine his hand. She saw how the arm of his uniform was gone and his hand was close to charred. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with worry, even in the dim light. He shrugged.
"I didn't quite get out in time."
"We need to get down," she said leaning down and pulling a knife from her boot.
Talb raised his eyebrows impressed. She reached behind her and pulled up her leg bag by the rope and started to cut it. It dropped harmlessly to the ground. Once the bag was off her she started to saw through the thick material of her chute.
"How did you manage to keep that leg bag on?" Talb asked, wishing he still had his.
"Well they are supposed to stay on right?" she asked.
"Mine didn't," Talb said.
"Sorry to hear that. Do you have your gun?"
"No," Talb confessed. "It was in my bad. Along with everything else."
"Awesome," Adriana said stiffly.
She had cut through one strap and was now hanging sideways. Talb had to stifle a laugh. He was pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate it at that moment. She put her knife in her teeth and pulled herself up onto a branch while she cut the other strap. As she sawed away, six Germans walked under the tree. Talb almost didn't notice them, but when he did he stopped Adriana and shushed her. She looked at him then down at the Germans who had stopped and were reading a map.
A wave of terror ran through Adriana. She and Talb were hanging helplessly from a tree like Christmas decorations. Talb was hurt and had no weapon, and her weapon was in her leg bag that had conveniently landed in patch of tall grass, and had yet gone unnoticed by the Germans. She only could hope they didn't look up. As if they could read her mind, one did. She felt Talb squeeze her arm and they both froze, but the German saw them.
