Bit of a longer chapter this time! Still trying to figure out Market Garden but hopefully i've got some of it down.
As always if you have any comments just drop me a line i love to hear from anyone.

ooooooooooooo

Marian was sat on an edge of waist high broken wall the music box in her hands when Stephanie found her late the next afternoon. They had been ordered back to Eindhoven and had set up tight defences around the city. Bull had been found in Nuenen early on in the morning and been gratefully put back with his platoon, and now they were waiting.

Stephanie smiled "you get anything out of it?"

Marian frowned and shook her head "nothing, it's dead. The woman isn't even spinning anymore"

"Want me to try?"

"Go for it" Marian obliged throwing the box over to her sister and watching as she opened the box, it was as dead in Stephanie's hands as it had been in Marian's.

"Stupid ass thing" Steph muttered grabbing Marian's bag from beneath her feet and stuffing the box back in among the other random contents. She then turned and leant on the wall next to her sister. "So how long we gonna be here?"

Marian looked down at Stephanie. "E Company moved out of Eindhoven to take the cities on the north and west on the 11th September. So 2 days"

"2 days" Stephanie repeated nodding. "Marian I need you to do something for me"

"Anything"

Stephanie turned and looked up at her sister "I can't remember anything else, not even the bloody TV show. I want you to promise not to tell me. I can't handle it"

Marian nodded slowly "I promise"

"You know for September its hot over here" Stephanie muttered, Marian let the quick change of subject go with no comment and nodded to agree with her sister. Stephanie meanwhile had gone one step further and was stripping off. Her jacket went flying across the wall along with her shirt leaving her upper half in just her helmet and tank top.

"Stephie darling I don't think that's regulation uniform"

"Surprisingly enough I don't care at this minute in time" Stephanie said looking around the abandoned area of Eindhoven they were in. They seemed to be totally alone for once. "Where's our body guards gone?" she asked.

Marian looked round as well noting the same as her sister that they really did seem to be alone. She shrugged "I don't know. Lieb was around here somewhere then he wasn't and I didn't feel up to moving"

"You know what I miss?" Stephanie asked suddenly "I mean apart from baths and showers, proper food and not getting shot at"

Marian laughed and shook her head "No but go on lets hear it"

"Music"

Marian looked down shocked at her sister. That wasn't what she had been expecting. Stephanie was staring off into space once more though until suddenly she jumped away from the wall throwing her helmet onto the floor as well and flicking her long braid over her shoulder she smirked at Marian on the wall and Marian got a very bad feeling.

"What are you doing?" Marian asked as Steph pushed a few stones clear to make a small space that was actually flat and clean.

"Come on Mari, I'll even pick one your bound to know"

"What?" Marian asked, confused.

"Alright lets see" Stephanie seemed to stop and think for a minute before smiling and to Marian shock she started singing. Not just anything but that newest horrible song by Sean Paul.

"Its all good girl turn me on, till a early morn', Let's get it on, Let's get it on 'til a early morning, Girl it's all good just turn me on"

Marian groaned in horror as Steph swung her hips around in time to her singing, she was grinning when she looked at Marian "oh come on Mari, lighten up a bit. Were all right for now and have a few days till we move out. Let go!"

Marian groaned once more "fine but pick another song for gods sake"

"which one?"

"I don't know, just not that one" Marian insisted.

Stephanie grinned and started singing again "Do you really like it, is it is it wicked. Were loving loving loving it, were loving it like that"

Marian groaned louder this time, laughing as well "Jesus you have no taste sis"

"Really, come on then enlighten me" Stephanie challenged smiling at her sister.

Marian jumped down from the wall she was sat on, "fine" she said thinking for a moment before smiling, it was perfect. For Stephanie as well.

"Danger, danger high voltage" Marian started.

Stephanie shrieked with laughter and grabbing her sisters hand started to writhe and shake her hips around to their imaginary music. Both sisters singing now.

"Don't you want to know how we keep starting fires?

It's my desire, It's my desire, It's my desire

Don't you want to know how we keep starting fires?

It's my desire, It's my desire, It's my desire

Danger! Danger! High Voltage!

When we touch, When we kiss

Danger! Danger! High Voltage!

When we touch, when we kiss

When we touch

Danger! Danger! High Voltage!

When we touch, When we kiss

Danger! Danger! High Voltage!

When we touch, when we kiss

When we touch, when we kiss"

They were both laughing and holding onto each others shoulders to stand up when they'd finished. Stephanie turned to grab her helmet up once more and when she turned she saw Bill and Liebgott stood on the other side of the wall staring at the two of them like they'd grown an extra head.

"Hey boys" Stephanie said pleasantly. Marian jumped round and turned fiery red when she saw the two of them.

"What the hell" Liebgott asked "was that?"

"That my dear JD was a taste of the dancing, and music you've got to look forward to"

"Holy hell" Bill muttered to himself.

Stephanie just grinned turning to blow a kiss at her sister she waved at them all grabbing her shirt and jacket before leaping the wall and grabbing Bill's arm "need to talk to you Guarnere" she said before dragging him off as well back into Eindhoven. Leaving a very embarrassed Marian to stare silently at Joe.

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Stephanie eyed the bucket in front of her with mild disgust. Seems even though the British and American troops had liberated the Dutch it didn't mean that they could stretch to providing a little hot water. No, instead it was still the frigid icy stuff from a well just down the street.

Sighing Stephanie quickly stripped off and thrusting a bit of clean cloth she'd found into the bucket she rubbed herself down thoroughly removing the mud and blood she'd acquired since jumping into Holland. She then took a deep breath and dunked her head into the water. She came up spluttering. Rapidly twisting her wet hair back into a braid she pulled her clothes back on. Trying to not to think about the fact that she was putting dirty clothes back onto her know relatively clean body.

She then yanked open the door to the empty building she'd found smiling at Bill who was as she'd asked sat on the ground back against the wall guarding the door against any troopers who thought they might get a good peep show. "Thanks bill"

"Not a problem sweetheart" he said grinning as he got back to his feet. "Always willing to help a damsel in need is old gonorrhoea"

Steph just laughed "I'll remember that one" she followed him as they moved back towards the main line on the outskirts of Eindhoven where the majority of E Company had gotten themselves dug in. "You know where Toye went?"

Bill nodded and pointed over to the left "He's should be on watch with Babe"

"Thanks Bill"

Bill just smiled once more and wandered off to go and talk to Lipton. Stephanie moved down the line of men around the outskirts of the town until she found Joe and Babe. Dug in they were from what she could hear arguing over the differences of Lucky strikes over Camels. Smiling Stephanie crouched down behind their heads and cleared her throat loudly. Both men jumped turning round to glare at her when they realised who it was disturbing them.

"Harris. What can we do for you?"

Stephanie smiled at them both "Now is that any way to talk to a lady Toye"

Toye snorted and turned back to the countryside in front of him. Babe looked between the two of them before holding up his hands in surrender and climbing out of the dugout. "I'll just leave youse two alone, shall I"

No one answered him so Babe walked away leaving Stephanie enough room to slip into the dugout beside Toye.

"So were back to taking shots at each other again huh?" Toye asked looking over at Stephanie.

"Well yeah" she said reasonably "its just so much fun to wind you up Toye"

"rather more dangerous for more ribs as well" he grumbled.

Stephanie couldn't help laughing at that one, which she got the feeling he didn't appreciate. "Aw poor Joe. If I promise not to hurt you can we still be friends"

Joe didn't bother even glaring at her this time. Just stayed silent next to her.

"Come on Joe it's no fun if you don't bite back"

Joe's brows scrunched together "Bite?" he asked "you didn't bite me so why should I bite you?"

Stephanie was laughing again "I just meant answer me. Please!"

"I don't want to fight with you anymore Harris" Toye answered wearily "it makes my head hurt"

Stephanie glanced back to see Ramirez and George coming towards them. "Well seen as Babe left and George and Ramirez are appearing I presume your watch is over. Yes?"

Joe glance back to check George and Ramirez were there before nodding. "Yeah its over"

"Do you want to go and find some food?" Joe looked over at her curiously "I promise no fighting, arguing or shouting. Just eating"

"Alright" Joe agreed. Both of them smiled and quickly said hello to George and Ramirez before moving off into the city. Almost tentatively Joe reached out his hand and took Stephanie's. "It occurs to me that I haven't gotten to kiss you since before we jumped"

Stephanie looked up at him "it occurs to me to"

Finally Toye smiled as he backed her up against the nearest wall. Staring down into her eyes Stephanie's heart rate sped up at the heat she saw there before he leant down and pressed his mouth against her own. She opened her mouth to him wrapping her arms around his neck as Joe controlled their kiss.

Stephanie smiled up at him when they broke apart her eyes sparkling. "So can we eat now?"

Joe laughed taking her hand once more he nodded "now we eat"

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Marian walked slowly towards the aid station. She knew that Captain Winters idea was a good idea. She wasn't like her sister she couldn't handle the weapon that had been put in her hands the last few times they had come into contact with the German's. She could still be useful though. She had a bit of first aid training and even some experience as a nursing volunteer. Which was why she was now finally standing in front of the temporary aid station.

She walked in trying to ignore the smell and the moaning. Instead locating Doc Roe at the back of the building "hey Doc. Captain Winters has assigned me to you. Think he wants me to try out nursing"

Eugene turned surprised to look at Marian. She watched the shock fade and finally acceptance flood his face. "You got any training Miss Harris?"

"Marian please call me Marian" Eugene nodded "And yes, a little bit. My entire class took First Aid and I have a bit of nursing experience from when I was at university"

Eugene nodded once more motioning for her to come with him towards a door at the other end of the room. Marian followed him silently. Smiling at the men who noticed her and stopping once to squeeze the hand and whisper a few words of comfort to one man who had managed to grab the leg of her OD's.

"You'll be needing on of these" Doc said handing her a white armband with the distinctive red cross on the side. Marian quickly pushing it up her arm securing it in place. She then took the canvas bag which Doc Roe was handing her. She looked in it frowning, slightly confused she said "Doc? It's empty"

Eugene smiled at her "I know that Marian. That's why we're going in here"

Marian grinned sheepishly and followed Eugene further into the room. She took the things he was handing her pushing them into the bag. She was given packets of sulphur, bandages, morphine syrettes, iodine wipes, opium tablets, a book of EMT's and a single pair of scissors. "guard those scissors with your life" Doc warned. "they won't be another spare pair"

"Got it" Marian said securely pushing the scissors into the bag.

"Well then welcome to the life of a medic Miss H… Marian"

"Thanks Doc"

Roe smiled and motioned around the outside of the aid station were the wounded men were laying or sitting depending on how badly hurt they were. "Care to get started?"

Marian nodded "where?"

"Pick a side. Bandages need changing and wounds cleaning. Waters over there and help yourself to supplies" Roe paused and then said gently "try and be sparing with the supplies. Treat them as best as possible but just take into account the supplies we have aren't endless, and they have to last"

"I understand Doc" Marian said squeezing his shoulder briefly before turning to walk for the nearest bed.

"Hey Marian" Doc Roe shouted once more.

She turned to look at him "yeah?'

"Eugene, call me Eugene"

Marian smiled and nodded. "Sure thing" she then turned once more heading once again for the first bed and her first patient.

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Night was definitely worse. Sat in the darkness nothing covering your head but your helmet staring up at the stars. Just waiting for them to be blacked out, darkened by the body of a plane along with the sudden whistling and screaming of a dropped shell.

Marian had somehow found herself on watch and in a foxhole with Bill. The hold itself wasn't particularly deep or more importantly wide. Which was most likely why Marian had been picked to share with him, another one of the guys wouldn't have fit. Even with Marian her entire left side was pressed fully against Bill's right. Her sister would have fit better being shorter and smaller than even Marian but she'd just laughingly shook her head when Marian asked grabbing onto Toye and saying she'd already found herself a bunk partner. Which only left Marian. Not that she minded sharing with Bill he was an amusing person to pass the time with.

"So youse is a medic now?"

Marian nodded her head, realised he couldn't see her in the dark so answered instead "Since this evening yeah"

"Youse know anything about medicine Marian?"

"Enough to stop you bleeding to death Bill"

Bill snorted in the dark "good enough for me" he declared "it would's be better to have your hands all ower me than Doc Roes"

Marian turned to look at the dark silhouette that was Bill's face "is that right?' she asked him sarcastically. Somehow even in the dark she managed to see Bill's face crack into his famed grin. "Well yeah. Much as I like the guy he ain't exactly in the same league as youse when it comes to looks"

Marian managed to smile slightly "I think that's a compliment"

"Course it was doll"

"Do you really get away with calling women that?" Marian asked, genuinely curious.

"What Doll?"

"Yeah"

Bill seemed confused when he answered "why's wouldn't I?"

"It'd be called sexist where I'm from"

"Sexist?" Bill asked "What the hells that mean?"

Marian laughed and shuffled slightly lower in her hole trying to relieve the ache already starting to settle into the base of her back "it means derogatory to women"

"Sorry love but that's don't make it none the clearer"

Marian paused not sure exactly how to explain the term sexist to a 1940's American GI. After all women were still not expected to wear trousers in this time. Never mind trying to explain that some women in her time would find being compare to a doll, something breakable and delicate unfair to their feminist ideals. Eventually she settled on "some women in my time would be offended by being compared to a doll"

"Why?" Bill asked.

"Well… because dolls break and they'd think you were trying to tell them they were weaker than a man. After all you wouldn't call a man doll would you?"

"Women are weaker" Bill said. His tone of voice made it perfectly clear that he thought what she was trying to explain was quite simply insane.

"I know that" Marian said trying to be patient "but I suppose some women don't like it being pointed out"

"What that they's is weaker?"

"exactly" Marian said. Pleased that she'd gotten him to understand at least.

That thought soon fled when Bill then said "well that's just dumb. I mean I's can't cook and women can. Don't mean I would's get offended if a women said that to me"

"I think your missing the point Bill"

"youse is probably right there" Bill agreed. A rustle of clothing was heard as he dug in his pocket to pull out a pack of smokes. Taking one out he offered the packet to Marian who shook her head. "I don't smoke. As I keep telling all of you over and over again"

"Just trying to be polite" Bill said, then grinning added on "wouldn't want youse to think I was being sexist not offering them to ya cause yer a woman"

Marian couldn't help it she burst out laughing. Loud. Someone in the foxhole next to the two of them hissed over to shut up, they were under sound discipline and Marian rammed her hand over her mouth trying desperately to stop giggling.

When she finally had she beamed at Bill "promise me something Bill?"

"what's that doll"

"Don't ever change" she saw Bill's head turn once more to face her "don't ever stop being Bill Guarnere. Old gonorrhoea"

"Ain't much chance of that happening"

"Promise me" Marian insisted. "Whatever happens"

Bill nodded "alright's I promise"

Marian couldn't help it, as much as she could she managed to throw her arms round Bill's neck and hug him hard. She knew she'd shocked him but he managed to wrap one of his arms round her shoulders and pat her back softly. Marian carefully untangled herself from him and went back to leaning back against the mud wall of earth behind her. Bill wisely let the whole conversation drop and they both continued to stare out into the dark. Waiting for something to move and hoping that it wouldn't.

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Alright to explain the song choices which i know aren't current we have to remember Steph and Marian are from 2003 England, and unfortunately that was what was in our charts in 2003.

Songs are
Sean Paul: Get Busy
DJ Pied Piper: Do you really like it?
Electric Six: High Voltage