Though I try, this isn't always going to be historically accurate (because it's FanFiction). I have read Ambrose's book many times and still use it as a reference as I am writing- but I also enjoy artistic freedom :)

Much love to A- Dog (lol), evannet, Byron W.4 and Paratrooper56 and of course Camilla.

~Chapter Nine: Breakfast in America~

June 23rd, 1943

Camp Mackall, N.C.

Their time at the Alabama portion of Fort Benning had been more enjoyable than in Georgia. The barracks were comfortable and the spaghetti wasn't orange. It had a nice movie theatre to visit on weekend passes and best of all for Essie was the improved PX. She had finally been able to find a goddamn hairbrush. They even had a pillow fight the night after their sixth jump. They jumped with their rifles this jump, and though they already had their wings- they felt like real paratroopers then.

Camp Mackall in North Carolina was their new place to train. Here they worked on house to house fighting, shooting blanks and some field work. Sobel had screwed up a maneuver in a practice between 1st platoon and 2nd. If it had been a real situation, 95% of the men would have been killed. They were moved on past hating him for petty runs and extra PT, now they were concerned he would get them killed in the war.

Essie was wandering around the barracks of the fort they had spent little time at. Her eyes met Harry Welsh's, one of Easy Company's new Platoon leaders. He smiled a toothy grin and turned to enter the barrack where Esther had spotted Winters and Nixon conversing. They had concerned looks painted across their faces, but the expression left when Nixon noticed Esther walking past. He nodded his head at her quickly, not taking his eyes from Winters for long. She walked down a while further, making her way towards the formation of 2nd platoon, where she was supposed to be. Sobel was storming down the muddy path and the instant he saw her, he spit out the chunk out apple he had just ripped off. She put her head down and was amazed at how cruel he could be without using any words.

The first group she saw was Cobb, Toye, Shifty, Popeye and Liebgott. Shifty's face lit up when she smiled at him, and he motioned for her to come.

"Heya, fellas!" she said lowering herself onto the trodden grass. Cobb gave her a hard glance, and Liebgott did not stop to continuing bitching about his favorite subject: Sobel.

"You know, I'm always fumbling with grenades, it'd be easy if one went off by accident, you know?" Liebgott turned and winked at Essie.

"He messed up one maneuver, give him some slack." Shifty said, nudging Essie in hopes she would agree with his kind heart.

"Yea, he gets jumpy like he does, and we get killed! He fucked up a practice, Shift. We don't get second chances in a war."

Liebgott was right, and everybody knew it.

The rest of Easy were chucking their rucksacks into the back of exhaust spewing trucks. She patted Shifty on the knee as he ripped at blades of dry grass, and she stood to prepare to move out.

Throwing her bag over her shoulder she warned, "I saw Sobel a while ago, he looked pissed. Wait and see, he's gonna make us fucking run to New York." The group rolled their eyes with an airy laugh, and Liebgott mumbled, "Hi ho, fucking Silver…"

B.o.B.

Esther somehow found herself in a seat facing a snoozing Harry Welsh and a very quiet Winters. He was writing carefully, almost stubbornly, as the train jerked him around.

The sun was warm on her face as she leaned against the single pane window. It had warmed the stiff leather and she actually quite comfortable as they made their way north. She read a LIFE magazine, most of the articles about the war effort. She wondered where she would meet this photographer that was promised to follow her around.

"Going my way?" Nixon asked over Winters' shoulder, drawing her attention.

Winters gave him little regard, "Wherever the train takes me."

"Where do you suppose that might be?"

"I haven't the slightest clue."
Nixon studied that back of his friend's head, "Yea, c'mon take a guess. Atlantic? Pacific… Atlantic?"

Winters finally looked up from his work, "I'm not the intelligence officer."

"Mmm," Nixon leaned forward with a smirk. "Well, I as such know, but if I told you I'd have to kill you."

He shrugged, "So don't tell me."

Esther's body tensed and all sense of comfort left as he sat down next to her. Lewis gave her an up and down look before continuing his teasing with Winters. "New York City, troop ship, England," Nixon did not take his eyes from the Lieutenant's face as he recited the list. Lewis drew a flask from his back pocket, "We're invading Europe my friend."

Winters looked over at Essie as if to say, 'You didn't hear that,' before Nixon offered him a drink.

"Since when do I drink?"

Nixon settled back, resting his arm behind Essie's head on the back of the seat, "If I thought you'd drink it, I wouldn't have offered it to you."

Winters pretended to continue his letter, "Nix, what are you going to do when you get into combat?"

"Oh, I have every confidence in my scrounging abilities." Nixon looked out the window before continuing, "And I have a case of Vat69 hidden in your footlocker."

Essie's face cracked into a smile of pure amusement. It was captivating listening to two true friends banter back and forth. Nixon so teasing and Winter's so cool about everything.

A smile disappeared from Winter's face, "Really?"

"Oh yea," Nixon nodded in all seriousness.

They held perfect eye contact until Harry stirred from his nap in the sun. Nixon instinctively handed Welsh his flask and Harry obliged happily, "This is turning into a real nice trip."

As he took a swig, he then offered it to her. She peered over her LIFE magazine and gave Winters a questioning brow. He shrugged and finally returned to his letter. Esther accepted it and put her lips to the metal before the taste of strong licorice met her taste buds. Nixon chuckled at the sour expression on her face.

Esther handed it back, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. She felt the need to defend herself, "Different."

This just made Harry and Lewis chuckle more. Red creeping up on her cheeks, she returned to her magazine to try and escape the dark eyes staring intently at her.

"What a waste," Nixon said plainly.

She put down the glossy papers and raised a brow at him. He had no concern for people reading or writing.

"A waste of a woman, that's what all this is. They're sending you into combat for what, propaganda? A waste…" Nixon took another drink but did not take his eyes from her.

Esther was flattered and offended all at once, "This was partially my choice, sir. I'd rather accomplish something on the line than rivet the plane I'm jumping out of."

He shrugged and pulled a half empty pack of Lucky Strikes from his chest pocket. He held it out to Harry, who had been trying not to listen to them. They both planted a smoke in their lips before standing to exit out to the outside of the car. Essie had wanted to smoke but did not want to talk to Nixon and longer.

Winters gave her a rapid look with his icy blue eyes before finally signing his letter.

B.o.B.

Troop Ship

September 6th, 1943

Brooklyn Naval Shipyard

Towering buildings shadowed he cold hard ground. Men kept bumping into her, instructors constantly checking her life jacket. Jeeps were being cranked and lifted to the top of the ship. She felt small and uncertain, much like she did the first day she arrived in Toccoa. She was a long way from Grand Island, Nebraska. Esther imagined New York City differently than it was in reality. She thought it would be clean and the streets painted with music notes. She thought smells would waft through bakeries… and people would be pleasant. Now the only odor in the air was Lucky Strikes.

She had somehow been separated from the rest of the men. As she looked from the ground to the ship, she already felt sea sick. Her small eyes fixed only on minor things, and a red cross caught her eye.

"Gene!" she called out, perhaps a little too loud, thanking God she had found somebody she knew.

He looked over to her voice and immediately looked worried. "Miss, ya don't look so good," he said placing the back of his hand on her forehead and cheek.

"I'm fine, just nervous." Essie said with sweat beading on her face. "You got any motion sickness pills in there?" she timidly asked and pointed towards the sack hanging loosely on his hip. Eugene began to dig through it and pulled out a small box.

"Take one now, and one in 30 minutes. Now, take it easy…" He held her at arm's length and had a nervous expression too.

"Now, I gotta go wid the medics, good luck, miss." He nodded and turned to leave.

When she went on the ramp up to the deck, the man finalizing the check on lifejackets gave her a horrendous look.

"Don't worry; I'm supposed to be here."

Without a word he gave her a final jerk before moving her along.

Once finally on the ship, she met up with Bull. With one analyzing look at her expression, he instinctively lit a Lucky Strike.

Taking it, she curved to neck to look up at him, "Shit, Denver. You know me too well."

He gave hearty laugh that shook his chest. She smiled through the smoke and looked around.

Bull's massive hand grabbed her delicate one and he led her over to her favorite people. She saw Floyd Talbert leaning casually against the railing of the now moving ship. Next to him were George Luz and Chuck Grant. Lady Liberty was silhouetted by the deep orange and purple sunset. A ping of fire grew in her chest, as did a twinge of homesickness. Her daze was broken when a familiar hand was slowly waving in front of her sweating face.

"Hey, anybody home? Luz to Essie, Luz to Essie! Anybody home, over?" the radio man joked with her, making her feel better. Two hands slipped over George's shoulders, and Tab popped his head around the hilarious and short man.

"Hey Essie!" Esther began to beam and Talb took her into his side with his arm. "Ain't it something?" He nodded his head towards the statue. She nodded in agreement, inhaling and exhaling the smoke through her nose. She liked how her and Tab could communicate without many words. They stood against the white railing, silenced by the statue draped in copper.

She looked down at the pink sea. "Those motion sickness pills are making me tired as hell. I'm going to the living quarters. Anybody coming with me?" Talbert explained he wasn't tired, and Luz had wandered off, losing interest in them.

"I'll go with ya, Essie." Muck helpfully offered as he walked by.

"Thanks Skip, I'd appreciate a tour guide," she said as he eyes drooped in drowsiness. Muck scooped her up in his arms, and carried her like his new bride. Floyd started laughing hysterically, making her face flush as many turned around to stare.

"God dammit! Muck! Put me the hell down now!" she screamed, kicking with what little energy she had. Every Easy man they walked past, or rather was carried past, gave them funny looks. They got into the living quarters, and the air was thick with smoke. She was dozing off, despite men accidently kicking her as she was carried by. Muck put her on his back, piggy back style to make it easier. Malarkey sprung from his suspended bed to talk to his best friend. Skip and he started talking about the lucky bastards that got to go to the South Pacific.

"Right now some lucky bastard is headed to the South Pacific… Oh, what I'd give to be holed up on some tropical island underneath a palm tree with six naked native girls…" Malarkey voiced his agreement. "Helping them cut up coconuts so we can hand feed them to the flamingoes."

Essie managed a smile.

"Flamingoes are mean- the bite," Ramirez stated.

"So do the naked native girls," Skinny said through a grin.

Perconte followed Skip and Malarkey, "With any luck." As Muck squeezed past Frank, the short man smacked Esther's rear.

She immediately dropped from Muck's shoulders and spun around to meet with her harasser. "Why the fuck did you do that?"

He shrugged and looked around. "I wanted to?"

"I'm a soldier, just like Toye and Bill and Malarkey and even Winters. In the eyes of the US Army, I'm your equal. So unless you'd like to slap Denver Randleman's ass too, fuck off Perco."

Her face was hot as Perconte walked away, rolling his eyes and swearing. She respected him as a fellow paratrooper, but not as a friend.

Bill waved his large hand at her, signaling her to come next to him. "Don't pay no mind to him, Essie baby. He's just wants laid like the rest of us, but some are better than others at hiding it."

He looked down at her over his broad chest. She was hot and unable to breathe through all the smoke. Esther looked up at him too, "Hey, what the fuck happened to your face?"

Joe Toye rolled over and rested on his elbows, "Him and Joe got in a fight over Joe being a Jew… again."

"Goddamn it, Bill." Essie sat up on her arm and glared. "How many times do I have to remind you two we're fighting on the same side."

He had no excuse. Easy's section of the cots quieted down, seeing as Essie had scolded two men within minutes of each other.

She rubbed her stinging eyes, "Boys, I'm sorry. I'm just tired."

Guarnere drew her to his side, and looked over at Liebgott. He had a pretty petite nurse in a white uniform tending to his broken nose. Liebgott moved closer to her, eyeing Bill as he began rubbing Essie's back. There would always be a competition between them.

Essie jerked away from Bill and rolled on her stomach to finally sleep, "I won't be a pawn in your two's game."

I wrote Perconte too harshly last time, but still I want to portray the sexism that would be inevitable if a woman was allowed in combat- and in my story Frank has to be the bad guy.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter- review please if you did (or didn't) I'm keeping it between 2,000 to 3,000 words per chapter. Do you like this? More, less? Thank you for reading!