Hi guys! I'm glad you all like this story so much! Next chapter yay!
As always, unfortunately, I own nothing but Harper.
"Lewis!"
Reiben's voice echoed from the left of the field, and mixed with Mellish's surprised shout.
"Wade get her back!" yelled Miller running up and motioning to the squad to give him cover.
Just as he did so, Jackson's rifle popped three times killing four men behind the machine gun. Reiben ran in and slid to a stop next to Wade and Harper. He fired his B.A.R toward the hill while at the same time helping Wade pull Harper, who was still hanging onto life, back. Miller joined them and together they successfully managed to get behind a low hill.
Once there, Wade immediately got to work assessing the damage to his squad member. Without a seconds hesitation, he ripped her field jacket open and was down to her white crew neck before he realized he wasn't dealing with a man. He stopped suddenly and looked for the wounds. He couldn't see them with her shirt on. He slowly began lifting it up, searching her stomach for wounds. Wade had done this on hundreds, no thousands of men, but never on a woman.
His face started flushing, though no one could see it under all the dirt and grime, but Reiben noticed his hesitation.
"You can apologize for seeing her boobs after you save her, Wade!" Reiben shouted firing wildly at the machine gun.
Wade shook his head, internally scolding himself for being embarrassed. He was a doctor after all. He quickly and efficiently ripped Harper's shirt up the center exposing two bullet wounds on her lower stomach. One looked like it was going right through her hip bone and the other was in the fleshy part of her side. Wade took a quick sigh of relief. They were lucky those two hadn't hit anything important.
He scanned up across the rest of her body and noticed blood pouring out of her right shoulder. He judged that was a flesh wound and he would worry about it later. For now he had to get the bullets out of her stomach.
"I need the extra medi-kit!" Wade shouted to anyone who was listening.
"That little prick Upchuck won't come up that hill!" yelled Mellish. "He's too damn chicken!"
"We have to kill those damn Krauts first!" yelled Horvath firing off a round killing one of the Germans.
Suddenly out of nowhere an explosion rocked the hillside. Wade and Reiben threw themselves over Harper at the same time, shielding her from falling debris.
"Was that you bumpkin?" Reiben yelled toward the hill the sharpshooter was behind.
"You bet your ass it was!" yelled an ecstatic Mellish.
When the rocks and German body parts finished falling, Wade popped up and immediately got to work getting the bullets out.
"UPHAM! Get your ass up here!" yelled Miller putting his gun down and going to assist Wade in any way he could.
Jackson galloped down his hill and dropped to his knees by Harper's side. They could all see tears struggling to get free of his eyes.
"How can I help?" he asked letting his eyes roam over Harper's now trembling form.
"Where's the extra medi-kit!" shouted Wade, ignoring Jackson's question.
"I'm here!" panted Upham running up to the group that had now formed around Harper.
Wade snatched it and opened it pulling out sulfate powder and really long tweezers.
"Canteen," he said and was immediately offered four different water holders.
"Jackson, get her head. Reiben, Mellish hold her arms. This is going to hurt. Sarge, try to elevate her legs. Captain, I'm going to need your help. Hold her bone while I try to get the bullet out…"
Everyone took their positions before Wade began to work. Miller put one hand firmly on either side of the bullet wound in Harper's hip bone. Wade began to wash the extra blood away so he would see the wound. As soon as he could see the bullet, Wade handed the sulfate powder to Jackson and instructed him to pour it on as soon as the bullet came out. Jackson didn't look like he had heard any of what Wade had said.
"Jackson! Now is not the time to zone out! I need you here with us right now. Harper needs you," said Wade glaring at the sharpshooter.
Jackson nodded and held the powder ready. Wade took a quick breath though he was suddenly afraid he wouldn't be able to save Harper. Fear quickly washed over him, but he pushed it out of his mind for the time being.
He glanced up at Reiben then Mellish who were holding Harper's arms firmly. They both nodded and Wade wasted no time in diving into the bullet wound with the huge pair of tweezers. The previously unconscious Harper screamed and almost sat up.
"Hold her!" shouted Wade continuing to dig for the bullet.
Before Reiben or Mellish could adjust their grips however Harper began clawing at Wade's hands.
"NO stop! Please Wade!" Harper shrieked, but Wade had heard these same pleas from other soldiers undergoing far worse than her so he felt no pity.
"Hold her damn it!" Wade yelled to Reiben and Mellish.
The privates moved their hands to Harper's shoulders and wrists successfully holding her down. For a few minutes anyway. Miller held Harper's hip bone steady so Wade didn't have to wrestle with her.
Harper continued to fight the five men, but it was useless. Their strength combined with her amount of blood loss was making her unusually easy to control.
After what seemed like hours, Wade pulled the bloody bullet out of Harper's bone and nodded to Jackson. He poured septic powder into the bloody hole making Harper's now soft whining turn into a bloodcurdling scream.
"Hold her," Wade cautioned.
"Wade, is she going to be alright?" asked Upham staring wide eyed at all the blood.
"She will be fine!" said Jackson before Wade could answer.
Everyone glanced at him. He was never worried, and when he was, he never sounded frantic, but that's all any of them could describe his voice as.
Wade was the only one who hadn't looked at Jackson. He was in the process of pulling the second bullet out of her stomach. The 19 year old private was screaming as tears poured out of her tightly squeezed eyes.
"She will be fine if I can get her stable," said Wade pulling out bandages and packing the bullet holes with septic powder and gauze.
"Well is she…" but Upham was cut off by Reiben.
"Oh will you shut up Upchuck? Let the doc work!"
"As long as nothing gets infected, Harper should be fine," said Wade finishing with the last bullet that had lodged itself in her shoulder.
Everyone looked relieved as Wade stabbed Harper's thigh with morphine and finished wrapping her shoulder.
"We are going to have to take it easy for a while, sir," said Wade to Miller.
Miller nodded and said, "We will stay here for awhile until Lewis is better."
Wade nodded approvingly and Miller let his eyes wander to the rest of the squad. Jackson was the first to catch his eye. The sniper was showing more emotion than he had ever shown before. But then everyone was. Miller was glad Harper hadn't died. If she had, he didn't know how many of the men would continue with this mission. He didn't know how many of them would still have faith in his decisions as it was.
It had been a day and a half since Wade had saved Harper's life and she was still unconscious. Poor Jackson was in a constant state of anguish. He hadn't left her side once since that terrible morning when the squad had stormed the machine gun nest. The privates had tried to get the sniper to get some rest on numerous occasions, but all he did was shake his head, all the while keeping his eyes firmly planted on Harper's still form.
Whenever Wade came to change the bandages he would wonder how Jackson was, but not ever ask. Partly because of the way Jackson's eyes never left Harper, but mostly because of the way he looked at him whenever his eyes did leave Harper. Wade knew the last person Jackson wanted to think about was himself so Wade kept quiet. Instead he chose to confide in the rest of the squad.
"Jackson isn't going to last much longer like this," said Wade coming back to the circle he, Mellish and Reiben had created.
Reiben leaned against the tree trunk and took a long drag off his cigarette then sighed. He glanced over at Jackson who was leaning over Harper clutching the cross he always had around his neck. His eyes were closed and it looked like he was mumbling something.
"Do you think that helps?" Reiben asked thoughtfully.
Mellish and Wade looked at Jackson.
"You mean does it actually work?" asked Mellish.
"I mean does it work for him," corrected Reiben blowing smoke rings that floated lazily toward Mellish.
"I don't think it really matters, Reiben," said Wade plucking a blade of grass.
They all looked at Wade surprised. It wasn't like him to feel the hopelessness of war even on the worst days.
"I think as long as it helps Harper, then he can do whatever he damn well wants," said Upham from a nearby tree.
"Geeze Upchuck. Take it easy," said Mellish raising his hands in mock fright.
The outburst even made Miller and Horvath look up from their maps. Upham was never really outgoing. After he had been shut down by Caparzo and Mellish on his first day, he hadn't spoken much. Not even to his sister in law, though Harper hadn't made much of an effort with him either. From the very get go Upham had been made outcast in a group of outcasts. It was not a very good place and then on top of everything, no one really cared to hear his opinions so rather than get his head bitten off, he just didn't speak.
But now, with Harper hurt, he seemed to throw cares to the wind and was speaking his mind with a fierceness Reiben could only wish for.
"She will be fine, Upham," assured Jackson who had come up behind him quietly.
Upham jumped scared by his own name since he hadn't heard it in a while. Jackson patted Upham on the shoulder and sat next to Reiben, who passed him a canteen. Jackson drank deeply, then glanced around at the squad.
"So what have ya'll been talking about?"
Reiben snorted but didn't say anything. Wade glared at the B.A.R. gunner then turned to Jackson, now very serious.
"We just were wondering if… well…. If it really works," Wade said nodding to the cross Jackson was still fingering.
"If what work? Praying?" asked Jackson looking confused.
All the privates nodded looking like they actually wanted to hear anything Jackson wanted to tell them. Jackson sighed before continuing.
"It gives me hope fellas," he said at last. "You have to have something in this war to hold onto. This here cross-" he held it up so the wood shined in the noonday sun. "This cross is all I have right now."
He cast a quick glance back at Harper who looked like she might be asleep had they not seen what happened. But suddenly, almost as if Harper could sense all their worry, she sat straight up. The Rangers were so surprised that they didn't do anything at first. Only when Harper moaned and blood started seeping through the clean white bandages Wade had just applied, did anyone do anything.
They all jumped up at the same time and charged to Harper's side. Wade got there first with Jackson close behind.
"Easy," Wade said pushing Harper back to a flat position on the ground although she wasn't completely flat. Her head was resting on Jackson's lap.
Wade worked quickly. He unwrapped the wound that was bleeding. Sitting up that fast had caused the stitches in the bullet wounds in Harpers stomach to rip.
"Canteen," Wade said quietly.
It was handed to him and he slowly poured it over the wound making Harper jump then cringe. Jackson's hand found hers and he let his fingers entwine with hers. The squad made no comment. Reiben didn't even look twice at them. It was silently agreed upon by the squad that Jackson and Harper could be together all they wanted. Besides, Jackson hadn't had a girlfriend since before the war began so he was due.
"I'm, going to have to remember to move slowly," moaned Harper in a raspy voice.
A nervous laugh went through the group of men. They weren't sure if they should laugh or be worried about her health. When they glanced at Wade for answers he was smiling at her comment, so they felt able to be more relaxed. All but Jackson. He looked sick. Harper happened to look back at his face at that second and said, "Jackson, I'm going to be fine. Right Wade?"
Wade glanced up almost surprised to be asked.
"As long as the wounds don't get infected," he said re-wrapping the wound.
"See Jackson," Harper said smiling back at him. "I'm gonna be back on my feet in a few days."
"Well actually you need to take it easy for a while," Wade interrupted glancing at Harper.
"Well I-"
"She will," said Jackson matter-of-factly staring hard at her.
Harper rolled her eyes but nodded. As Wade finished wrapping the wound on Harper's stomach Miller and Horvath walked up. Horvath had his nose in a map. The squad looked up curiously as they walked over. Wade looked at the map then at Miller's face warily. He didn't like that look on normal days. That look said, 'pack up we are moving out.' There was no way Harper could be moved without ripping her stitches.
"We can't stay out here in the open," began Miller.
Wade gave him a look but waited respectfully for him to finish.
"If any Germans come around here we are going to be caught off guard and get killed or captured."
Wade could see the sense in that, but still didn't like the idea of moving his patient just yet.
"Sir," Wade began in the most respectful tone he could find within himself. "I wouldn't advise moving her just yet. She just tore her stitches and she needs to rest. Just give the stitches a day to heal and-"
"We are right on top of one of the biggest trade routes for the Germans. Do you want to be here when a tank with 200 men guarding it comes through?" asked Miller glaring at Wade.
Wade shook his head, but still looked unsure about moving her. When she noticed all the controversy was about her, Harper immediately tried to get up to prove she could do it. Wade jumped on her at once and gently pushed her back down.
"If we are moving you won't be walking," Wade warned.
"You want to carry me?" Harper asked laughing.
Wade smiled.
"I could, but I'm sure Jackson would rather he did it."
Miller seemed to be getting more anxious by the second and said, "so its settled. We will move out in 10 minutes. We aren't going very far. Just to that tree line."
He pointed to a hill a few miles away where the squad could see a small line of trees. Wade had serious doubts Harper could make that in one trip. Even if she was being carried. But as always, Miller was right and even if he had made a stupid call that had almost gotten her killed in the first place. Though Wade didn't tell the captain that.
He also didn't tell anyone how worried he was about the only woman in their squad. She was a lot weaker than he would have liked her to be when they did decide to move her. Even though he was the doctor, it didn't really matter when Miller had set his mind on something, and he wanted to get to the tree line. Wade shook his head as he helped get Harper as ready as she could be to move. Cpt. Miller's last decision had taken away most of his credibility, in Wade's eyes at least.
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