Hell Hath None 7- We might be dead by tomorrow, Soko
Ok so last chapter before norman is introduced. Hope you guys enjoy. And im sorry. Also, guest that reviewed- I know how you feel. As for everyone else, holy hell I love you guys thank you so much for sticking with it so far.
The Christmas Eve they had off was a break from the horrible reality. Right after they got back into duty, they were sent on an assignment that would smack them back to reality. They were tasked with helping to liberate a concentration camp. They were part of a second wave to ensure the camp was freed. By the time the tank Fury arrived, the camp was liberated but it did not make it any less horrific.
The smell of burning flesh lingered in the air and Jack gagged at the smell. She would have to wait a couple of days before she could eat without the threat of vomiting. She wasn't alone. Even though the ovens had been stopped, the smell and the smoke thickened the air and made it difficult to breathe. As they rolled in, they could see piles and piles of rotting corpses, they were just flesh and bones. A heavy feeling of suffering weighed down the Americans as they passed the skeletons that were up and walking around, flocking to them for help, for food, for something. Their eyes were sunken in and hollow. They looked dead themselves.
They were ordered to leave the tank and help out where they could. Some had to help the survivors who were injured or needed medical assistance. Some of them had to be on guard and the rest had to help organize the survivors. Jack was assigned to help get the families and friends back together and into groups. This was to be done so they had their names on a record of who they were transporting out of the camp. She also had to see who needed medical assistance and helped direct them to where they could get help.
It was chaos and madness. If someone was on the ground you couldn't tell if they were dead or asleep. Jack made that mistake a few times. Around midday, two trucks rolled in with blankets and food. Jack and a few other soldiers lit large fires to make food and keep warm. Tents were set up for stations. Jack bumped into some of her tank members through the day but didn't get a chance to talk to any of them. They were all too busy.
Towards the evening, people began settling down near the fires and the soldiers passed out food and water. Jack had time to look around and see everyone. The camp had few women and children survivors and she didn't want to stop and think why there were so few. With all the sorrow and suffering the people had gone through, there was still a faint joy and relief that seeped through the thick fog of death. These people were alive and they were going to be ok.
Jack had the privilege of reuniting families and friends. She also bared the burden of those who had no one to return to, those who were the only person left of their family. She could offer no comfort or solace to those who suffered loss. The only comfort she had for herself was watching those loved ones be reunited. People were crying with joy, embracing their loved ones, kissing their loved ones, holding them close. Jack was able to smile at that. She was glad even a few were able to feel the joy of holding their family close again.
One that stuck in Jack's mind was a couple. They were older, but not old enough to have been killed when they first entered the camp. The woman threw herself on the man and kissed him deeply. They spoke rushed as she cried tears of joy and Jack could just barely understand what they were saying. What struck her to her core was a phrase they repeated to each other so often. Jack knew the phrase and only just realized what it meant. She was frozen in her spot momentarily. She didn't have long to dwell on it when someone approached her for assistance. She shoved it into the back of her head with all her might, now was not the time to worry about it.
AS the sun set and people settled in for the night, the American soldiers wandered around checking on the survivors. They had all been placed into the large brick buildings rather than those small, cramped, wooden barracks. A few fires were still burning brightly out in the yards, providing those outside with light. During the day, Jack had come across a little boy who had no family left. His last remaining family member, his aunt, had passed the night before. He would have been around Norman's age. He would be left with another family when the Americans departed, but Jack let him follow her around and stick close to her. When she had a little free time, she would carry him around. She would hold him on her hip as she did her rounds. When he started getting sleepy, she wrapped him tightly in a blanket and sang to him until he fell asleep. She left him with a family in a small corner.
Jack and other American soldiers had to do rounds to check on the people. Some didn't make it through the night and had to be taken outside so not to distress the others. Jack made sure to check on the little boy every chance she got. He made it through the night.
The Americans remained there for a few days before another, large unit, with trucks and vehicles and supplies arrived to take their place Those few days Jack hardly got glimpse of her tank mates. When the order was given for her to return to Fury, she wasted no time. She wanted to leave the camp badly. When she arrived at the tank she met up with Gordo. They hugged, relieved to see each other again.
"I'm ready to leave." She admitted. "I want to get as far away from here as possible." She said quietly. Gordo nodded in agreement. He had to remove the dead bodies from the area and stand on guard the whole time they were there.
"Man, I know what you mean." He nodded. "This place is horrible. How can they do that to people?" HE asked outraged. Jack shrugged in defeat. It was a mystery to her too. Eventually they were joined by the rest of the group. Don was the last to arrive and he gave the order to start rolling out. They all started to climb into the tank. No one had managed to actually get seated in the tank when a small boy's voice cried across the yard. Jack had just opened her hatch but her head snapped to the boy calling to her.
"Jack! Jack! Lass mich nicht! (don't leave me) Sie konnen mich nicht verlassen! (you can't leave me!)" the little boy cried as he ran across the yard towards the tank, pursued by two American soldiers. Jack jumped off the tank and began sprinting to the little boy. He was sobbing and calling out to her. When she was close enough she dropped to her knees and opened her arms, letting him run into her. He sobbed into her shoulder and grabbed onto her tightly. Her heart felt for him. He had just lost everyone and now she was leaving him too.
She comforted him and eventually got him to stop crying. It took her awhile before she could get him to let go. By then she had stood up and held him on her hip. She promised him she would keep in touch and that they could write to each other, she had to promise him he would be safe with the two American soldiers who had chased him. She eventually was able to pass him off to one of the soldiers who promised to do his best to make sure the boy was safe. It took a while but the boy eventually went with the soldiers, clutching the information he needed to write to her in his little fist. Jack went back to her tank.
"The fuck was that about?" Grady asked as he climbed in.
"Looks like jack made a friend." Boyd commented. Jack smiled and nodded as she climbed up.
"Sorry, guys. Poor kid doesn't have family. Guess he just got attached." She explained. Jack caught War Daddy's gaze and held it for a few seconds before smiling and slipping through the hatch and into her seat. They fired up the tank and rolled out. Each was glad they were able to leave. Jack wished the best for the survivors and admired their strength. sHe doubted she would survive a hell like that. When she had been taken by the Nazi's they did take her to a concentration camp for a few days but she didn't stay with the rest of the people they held captive.
While at the concentration camp, they had received orders to go retake a town again. It was easy to retake and they spent a night there. Jack had found food in a pantry and made them a real dinner. They inhaled it all. While everyone was settling down for the night, Collier passed her and told her that German phrase again. It startled her and she remembered she had figured it out. He had passed her before she could tell him.
But what was she going to tell him? She loved him, yes. But why tell him? They couldn't do anything about it in Germany. Then she remembered that they were in a war. Tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.
She didn't get a chance (or courage) to tell him until March 15, 1945, a few months later. March 15, would be a day that would be remembered by everyone in the tank Fury. And Gordo, Grady and Boyd were able to watch it happen.
They were told to go take a town. They did. It was normal and nothing special at first. Once it was taken, they had to get out of the tank and make sure the area was clear. Jack went on her own into a building. No one was there. Once she cleared it, she headed out to the town square where more soldiers were gathering around. She saw a line of Nazi soldiers being lined up and lead away. She stood by and watched them.
The Americans were milling around, looting, eating, drinking. Jack was still walking around, stretching her legs. Jack came face to face with Collier. She smiled at him. She felt butterflies rising in her stomach. It had been happening since she learned what the phrase meant.
"Ich liebe dich." He said and tried to walk past her. She reached out her arm and stopped him, a small frown on her face.
"You keep saying that." She stated firmly. Don met her slight glare with a firm look of his own. "You keep saying it at the oddest times." She noted with a small smile of victory. "Like you didn't want to give me a chance to respond." She rested her hands on her gun, imitating his stance. His mouth twitched into a smile. He looked over her shoulder and to the side a bit. Boyd was watching from the tank with Grady and Gordo. You would think they were waiting for one of them to attack the other. But with Jack it wouldn't be much of surprise if she went after one of them.
"So, you figured it out?" He asked, looking back at her with his small smile and stepped closer into her personal space. Jack's smile stretched to show her teeth and her face slightly reddened. She let out a small, quiet laugh.
"Yeah." She nodded and looked at him. "Yeah, I did. And I gotta be honest, Don, I-" she was cut off. She never got a chance to finish that sentence. Warmth spread over Don as he held her in his arms. Two bullets had just burst through her chest. The warmth was the spray of her blood over his face and shirt. He held her limp in his arms, the sound of gunshots filling the air, grenades going off around him. Her blood spilled over him and pooled on the ground. He held her in his arms and was oblivious to the world around him.
She never got to finish that sentence.
So please, review. Tell me what you think. Sorry it's so short but hey next one will be longer and Norman comes in. That'll be an adventure. I hope to have next chapter up this week.
Also, were you guys shocked at the end? Like could you see it coming?
