So this chapter was an epic win for me, it was even longer than the last one and I was so excited after I wrote it! Lame I know. Anyway, here's chapter nine and I'm going to do my best to get Chapter 10 written soon. I've got three exams, a French composition to write, and a Spring Fashion show to plan this week so I'll be pretty busy. Once again reviews are awesome! Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own SPR. But Brooklyn, Hannah, and all the other people not from the movie are mine. Yayy!
Read on! ~xoxx, Carolyn
Note: Thanks to my loyal readers Puddingcup and Reeserella, you guys are amazing!
Jamie's eyes became as wide as saucers, "Brook?" He couldn't believe it was his big sister, this had to be a dream; Brooklyn was at home with their mother and he knew this wasn't home.
Brooklyn bent down in front of the young man, tears in her eyes as she beheld the worn face of her younger brother, "You're so grown up," she whispered. Jamie was 18 now, no longer a boy but a man. She hadn't seen him in three years.
Jamie reached out and put a hand on her cheek examining the bruise on her jaw, the result from the angry blow of one of the German soldiers. For months he had no one to cry with and held his emotions in like he was supposed to as a soldier, but seeing his sister made the soldier disappear. He wrapped his arms around her and began to cry, his sobs quiet as she held him close, stroking his hair and whispering words of comfort.
She cried into his hair and sighed, "I thought you were gone. . ." She reached inside of her dress and pulled out her dog tags, gently sliding them over her head.
The other soldiers on the floor watched the emotional reunion in confusion. "Hey yo Greene! Slow down there kid she only gave you bread, nothin' to get yourself all emotional about."
Jamie laughed, "Remember my sister I was talkin' about guys?"
"Yea, when do we get to meet her pretty little face? You've been makin' us all excited!"
"You get to meet her. . .now! Guys this is Brooklyn Emma Greene, my big sister." He dramatically threw his arm around her and hugged her close, "Touch her and you die!"
Wolf whistles sounded and they all began to laugh, "We'd like to see you try Greene!"
"Hey Brooklyn! How do you put up this kid he's a crazy little bastard!"
Brooklyn grinned and punched him in the shoulder, "Don't ask me, I just do!"
Jamie sat up and furiously sniffed, wiping his nose with his sleeve. He reached up and took the dog tags that were dangling from her finger, holding them close to the candle, "I was wondering where the other one went, I got in a fight with this Kraut and next thing you know he's trying to rip my tags off while he's choking me." He turned them over and noticed another one in between his and his sisters, "Who's Richard Reiben?"
Brooklyn blushed, "Well. . .uhm. . ."
Jamie cut her off, "You know Shiloh's gonna kick your ass! I mean first you leave mama at home alone and now you have a boyfriend? Oh man are you dead!"
Brooklyn rolled her eyes, you would never guess that they were POW's in the middle of a war, you would never guess that Brooklyn had been broken up over him; they were just like a normal brother and sister again.
"Ok Jamie, first off, mama has plenty of friends and Aunt Debbie, so she isn't alone. Second off, he's not my boyfriend, just a really close friend, and if we do love each other or whatever you can just bug off!"
He only shrugged and sat back, "I thought you'd never get over Alex. . .but how'd you do it Brook? Why'd you do it? Where's dad and Shiloh?"
Brooklyn threw her hands up, "Slow down there hot shot, one question at a time! To answer your first question, Hannah I just went and signed, they didn't seem to care that we were women, they need all of the help they can get."
"Whoa whoa wait a minute, Hannah's here? In Europe. . .France? Why is she here?" Jamie has always had a crush on his sister's best friend, though he would never admit it.
"Once again with the questions Jamie, damn! Hannah's trying to get to Germany so she can find her family. . .the Nazi's put most of them in Dachau and Austchwitz. . .our plan is. . or was. . . to get there as-fast-as possible. But then we were stopped and folded into a new unit that was just given an assignment to find a Private James Ryan. All three of his brothers were killed so the army wanted to get him home to his mother."
Jamie glared at the candle, "Hitler that bastard, I hope she finds them. . .we have to help her Brook. . ."
She nodded sadly, "I'm here because I needed to find you. . .mama told me to go and to find you and get back home. . .I always needed to get away. It was awful just sitting at home and going to school and work when there was so much that needed to be down over here."
Jamie swallowed, "Dad and Shiloh?"
"Daddy's gone. . .Shiloh's a POW over in Japan. . ."
Jamie bit his lip hard as tears welled into his eyes again, he had been really close with their father. He could still remember the night that he had left for Europe and his father and brother were shipped off to Honolulu.
December 20, 1941
15-year-old Jamie stood on the docks of New York City Harbor, looking out at the gray seas in the distance. "Dad?"
James Greene stood tall next to his son and looked up at the large battleship that towered above them, already full of countless young men ready to be shipped off to war. "Jamie I want you to listen to me." He turned around and looked his son in the eyes, "Be strong and courageous, fight as if your life depends on it. Your brother and I may be thousands of miles away but I promise we'll be with you always." He tapped his son's chest, "Right here. That's where your sister and mother will be too. You'll make friends, you won't always be alone."
Jamie wiped a tear from his eye; he was scared and upset, they had separated him from his father and older brother and he didn't know what would happen. "I'll do my best dad, promise."
James pulled his son to him, and held the tears in, "I love you kid."
"I love you too dad."
Shiloh closed his eyes and walked up to his little brother, "Stay safe Jamie, alright? I need someone to beat up on when I get home."
Jamie narrowed his eyes, "Yea we'll see about that."
The men were called aboard, and a sea of white and green uniforms began to march towards the large iron monster. Jamie took a deep breath and then with one last glance at his father and older brother he marched on ahead and into the belly of the giant.
Jamie shook his head and took his sister's hand, "We're here now Brook. . .the Japs are fucking brutal with their prisoners of war, there's no way Shiloh's going to make it. . .we have to get back, we can't leave ma without anyone."
Brooklyn looked away, "I'll think about a way of getting out of here."
Jamie began to eat greedily, talking to her and telling her stories about what it had been like for the past year. "You get shot yet Brooky?"
She patted her side, "Not shot, just skimmed."
"Was it bad?"
"Not really just hurt like a bitch."
"That's good. . .so tell me about this Reiben guy since dad is gone and Shiloh is well. . .I don't know. I'll be the man-of the-house so I have to approve ya know."
Brooklyn closed her eyes and sighed, "Richard Reiben is from Brooklyn, he's a total asshole with a gentle side and I adore him. Ok?"
Jamie narrowed his eyes, "An asshole? Alright I don't approve regardless of whether-or-not he's got a gentle side."
Brooklyn folded her arms and rolled his eyes, "You just need to meet him Jamie. I-"
She was cut off by a rough voice, "Fraulein Greene! Get down here now, the Colonel has requested you."
Brooklyn squeezed her eyes shut, "Bye baby brother, get some sleep."
Jamie stood, he had grown to be about 6'2" so he now towered over his older sister, "Where are you going? Why the fuck does he want you?"
She shook her head and frowned, "I don't know, I was supposed to stay in the same house he was. . ." she trailed off swallowing the lump in her throat.
"Brooklyn don't go down th-"
"Fraulein! NOW!"
She reached up and kissed his cheek, "Be good, love you."
Jamie was horrified, what did Colonel Keppke want with his sister? "I love you Brook, be careful."
She nodded and disappeared down the ladder and into the darkness.
Reiben lay there staring up at the ceiling of the room he was sleeping in with the rest of the squad. His mind constantly wandered to Brooklyn; he could picture that beautiful smile in his mind so well.
Hannah sat there and stared into the orange flames that illuminated the fireplace, her anger and sadness bright in her eyes. The entire squad was still taking Brooklyn's capture hard, especially Reiben who was more quiet than he'd ever been.
Miller entered the room and looked around at the down trodden faces, "Tomorrow we're going to begin moving towards the town Vire. . .that is as long as we can get the Krauts completely out of here."
Jackson spoke, heard nothing of what the Captain just said, "Captain what are the chances of Brooklyn still being alive?"
Miller was quiet "I don't think they would kill her, she's very valuable. She's a medic and she's good with a gun, the only issue is figuring out where she is."
Reiben still saw the look in the Nazi's eyes as he had held her there, his lips on her soft cheek and he hated it. His heart was slowly breaking every minute he wasn't with her. He missed the feeling of her lying next to him, the warmth of her breath against his neck, the quiet sound of her heart beat. But he couldn't let the men see him let his guard down, he had to stay strong.
Jackson was rarely sleeping, he could barely keep his mind on the battle, all he could think about was her.
Wade also was quietly suffering in his own way. He was exhausted; Brooklyn had always been there to help him, her work was fast, quick, and efficient. He missed that small smile that was meant just for him. He could barely think about what they would do to her because it killed him.
"Brook will be ok; she always got herself out of trouble at home. . .I don't think anyone could ever hurt her. . ."
Mellish squeezed her hand, "She'll be fine, we know you're right."
The sound of artillery fire sounded from off and everyone was quiet for a moment until a high pitched screech filled the air, "Screaming mimi's everyone get down!" Miller yelled.
They all sprinted down the stairs as explosions shook the ground, brick and dust filling the air as houses and office buildings were obliterated. The once quiet, beautiful town of St. Lo was in ruins, completely destroyed. Years of history, stability, and peace were gone. "Get to the post office now!"
The squad fought their way through the streets, exchanging fire with the Germans. "Captain over here! We'll get there quicker and easier through the sewage system!" Mellish called, lifting the metal lid on the street.
Upham made a face, "Sir! We can't go down there! That's unsanitary!"
Miller rolled his eyes, "Well I'll give you two options Corporal, you either stink or you get your head blown off! You choose!"
Upham cringed and ran in front of Miller, scrambling down into the large sewer. Miller was the last, pulling the metal lid back over the hole. The air was damp and smelled of every disgusting thing possible, the sounds of rats scurrying around sent shivers through Hannah.
Horvath moved ahead, the moonlight shone through grates in the street, guiding them forward. The sound of a radio with a German voice blaring from it came from just a little further down, the gentle golden glow of a lantern filling the darkness. Horvath turned and motioned for all of them to be quiet, peering around the corner at a hole that led into the basement of a cafe. One Nazi sat at a table, listening to the radio and taking notes as a voice yelled out commands and directions for the next assault.
There were two more soldiers sitting in the room, talking about something and moving boxes of artillery shells to the back of the room. "Captain, two foot soldiers and a radio man."
Miller nodded, "More forward cautiously, take care of it."
The Sergeant nodded, "Reiben, up front with me."
Reiben moved forward, his BAR in hand, "Ready Sarge."
Horvath nodded and they both moved into the light; the Kraut looked up and yelled, "Americans!"
The Sergeant shot him and Reiben quickly took care of the other two. "Squad move in!"
The rest of them entered the room and looked around, "Artillery shells and guns, blow the place," Miller ordered.
Everyone was clear of the building as Jackson set the explosive. Within seconds of him getting out, the building exploded and went up in flames.
Brooklyn glared at the officer as he pushed her towards the flower ship, "Hey I got it thanks," she hissed.
The soldier backed away and glared, his gun pointed at her. Brooklyn walked through the door where the secretary from earlier was waiting, "Come with me."
She followed him up the stairs and through another door into a beautiful room with a large bed and canopy, a large velvet settee, and a small oak desk with books lining the top shelf. "You will be staying here. The colonel wants to see you, he'll be in later."
"But uh-" The man was gone before she could finish her sentence.
Brooklyn moved around the room and sat down at the desk, looking around at everything that had been left behind by the previous occupant of the room. There were two beautiful quills and an inkwell, a book that someone had began to write in, and a picture of a beautiful young couple standing in front of the store. She turned the picture over and read the caption 'Pere et Mere; 1935.' She smiled softly and placed the picture back into the drawer she found it in.
"Hello Fraulein Greene."
She jumped at the voice and turned, "What do want?"
He moved towards her, "You are a very brave young woman. Very beautiful. . .you look like my wife did when she was young. . ." He backed her up against a wall and reached forward, running his hand through her hair, "Blonde. . .green eyes. . .a rare color. . .you would be the perfect component to our superior race. . .if only you were German. . ." he breathed as if speaking to a lover, his eyes looked as if they were appraising a piece of artwork.
He reached forward to kiss her but she dodged him, moving quickly towards the bed. He turned in anger and threw himself at her, knocking the breath from her lungs as she landed on the bed, crushed beneath him. She pushed at him as he tore at her dress, ripping the delicate white fabric, causing her to scream out, "No! Get the fuck off of me!"
He raised a hand and hit her hard across the face causing her eyes to well with tears. The bruise that was already there was on fire with pain, her eye throbbed as she gritted her teeth. She couldn't let him have her and so with all the strength she had left, she kneed him hard and he fell off the bed, moaning with pain.
She stood and ran as fast as she could passed stunned soldiers, the white material flapping wildly around her thin frame as she ran towards the small house where the women were. Mercedes heard the commotion and threw open the door, catching Brooklyn who fell against her sobbing, the old woman held her close, "Shhh. . .shhh mon cher, tu es ici maintenant."
Anya and the other two women gathered around and gasped at the dark bruise forming around her eye. The Colonel had never tried anything with any of them but this time he had and he had gone too far, something had to be done. Anya got word to Jamie about what happened to his sister and Jamie was beyond angry now. He would speak to his sister tomorrow.
