Chapter 12

Smirking he moved toward her picking her up he kissed her before she could move. It took but a moment but he felt her arms come around his neck and her body melt into his. Slowly the cheering penetrated his mind and he released her lips and let her slide down his body.

As the clapping and cheering increased he smiled at her and turned away. Turningback over his shoulder, "you really need to gain some weight." With his world returned to normal he left her standing shocked in the middle of the street.

Lena put her fingers to her lips in an attempt to hold the feeling of Lew's mouth. When Gene bumped her shoulder she turned to face him.

"So you want to tell me what that was all about?"

Lena laughed, "I have no idea."

"So you're the nurse I've heard so much about."

Turning she meet the cold eyes of Easy's new commander, Ronald Speirs. "Yep that's me and you must be the cold hearted bastard who's the new commander."

He laughed, "Yeah but don't tell anyone I said this…I like you, I think we're going to get along just fine." Turning he started to walk off but paused and looked over his shoulder at her, "Oh yeah, and it's Ron to you."

She smiled, "Lena to you." Both of them smiled and she watched him head back to where Lipton was standing.

"Wow you got some guts talking to Sparky like that." Gene's voice held a touch of awe.

She shrugged, "Nah, he's not that bad, he makes me laugh."

They had been moving and taking one town after another for the last week and by now she, Gene and Spina wanted nothing more than to sit down and sleep. So when the nuns in Rechamps brought out their choir to sing and offered the church as some place to sleep, the three of them piled in a corner together.

Lena was smart enough to get between the two men to keep warm but Spina's snoring was keeping her awake. Turning to talk to Gene she found his back to her talking to one of the nuns in French. Easing out from under Spina she propped him up on Gene's back and headed down to the other end of the pew.

She didn't realize that she'd dozed off till she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, come with me."

Ron pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arm around her shoulders letting her lean hard against him. Sighing she actually cuddled closer for a moment enjoying the warmth from his body. Damn men and them always seeming to be warm. Closing her eyes she let him lead her along until he pushed her down on something soft.

Suddenly realizing she was sitting on a bed brought her wide awake. "Hey now, look I know I'm the only female around but I don't work that way."

Ron eyed her as he removed his boots. "No I never thought that about you. Look, I'm married and all I want to do is see that you're well rested. Hell, I'd never make a move on you even if I was single."

Lena rolled her eyes, "Well thanks that just makes me feel that much better."

"No I didn't mean it that way, I just see how you look at Nixon when no one is watching. I know I wouldn't come close, but I thought that since I was the company commander and had certain privileges," waving his arm around that room, "What's wrong with you and me sharing them?"

Lena frowned, "Well I don't know what you saw when I looked at Nixon, but it really doesn't matter. Second, I'm all for sharing a bed as long as that is all you expect."

Ron grinned at her and dropped his boots, "Good drop those boots and let's sleep tomorrow will be an early day, we're heading out."

She groaned and dropped her boots and jacket, leaving her t-shirt and pants on. She noticed Ron did the same and rolled to face him and as he crawled into bed.

"I'm sorry I accused you of trying something."

With him on his back she saw the corner of his mouth lift into a smile and one arm rise in silent welcome into his arms. Once she'd settled her head on his chest she heard his voice rumble through his chest. "It's okay; I'd think something was wrong with you otherwise."

The pounding coming from the door made Lena snuggle closer to whoever's back she was against and mumble, "You get it."

Finally she heard a sigh and the warm body slipped away. When the door opened she rolled over to see Lipton looking shocked but not overly. "Hey sir, Captain Winters says we got thirty minutes."

Speirs nodded his head and gave some instructions before shutting the door and coming to sit in the chair next to the bed. "So did you sleep okay?"

Lena rubbed her eyes and smiled, "Yes and thank you. That's the first sleep I've had in months that I didn't dream."

Ron finished his boots and stood to leave. "You've got about ten minutes." Walking to the door he paused before he opened it. "Thank you too. It was really nice just to sleep with someone again."

Watching the door close she realized no one here really knew or understood Ron Speirs at all.

Climbing onto the truck Gene gave her a strange look, "So you want to tell me where you spent the night?"

Smiling sweetly, "Not really but it was in a real bed and we'll leave it at that."

He frowned, "yeah well Winters was looking for you. Nothing too important, but just so you know he'll probably be looking for you today."

"Gene why don't you just say what you want and get it out of your system?"

He sighed and turned to face her. "Look, I just don't want to see you hurt again and I don't think that Speirs is the right man for you is all."

"Hmm, I see well then who would you suggest because Gene to be really honest, I'm tired of being alone."

"Well you know I thought you and Captain Nixon…"

"Stop right there Gene, Nixon and I could've might've had something, that died well before Bastogne, let it go. Furthermore why can't I just be friends with someone?"

Gene's face turned red, "I'm sorry Lena, I didn't mean anything I just care about you."

"I know you do, but I'm a big girl let me worry about myself okay?"

Nodding Gene kept quiet. Lena felt bad, but she was tired of everyone wanting to rule her life. If she wanted to sleep with Ron then that should be her decision, not anyone else's.

When the truck jerked to a halt Lena slammed against Gene. "Sorry, guess I got a little too comfortable."

Before Gene could reply, "Well hey look what the cat dragged in."

Lena looked up to see Webster walking toward them. Frowning, "Webster?!"

He grinned at her, "Damn you're still here?"

"Yeah I'm still here, where have you been, you've missed all the fun."

Grinning at her, "Well you know I've been in the hospital and then in the replacement unit, but now I'm here."

Beside her Liebgott snorted, "You must've liked that hospital a lot because we left Holland four months ago."

Webster at least had the smarts to look a little embarrassed, "Yeah well busting out wasn't all that easy."

Joe dropped on the ground beside him, "Yeah, well Joe Toye found a way and so did Bill."

Brightening at the sound of the other men's names, "Yeah so where is Sergeant Guarnere?"

Lena dropped beside him, "Lost his leg in Bastogne, same as Toye. Welcome back."

"I was told to rejoin second platoon, so here I am."

Malarkey looked at him, " I'm not so sure about that, why don't you head down to the CP and see what Captain Speirs says."

Looking confused Webster watched everyone walk past grabbing Lena on her way by, "Speirs, what happened to Winters?"

"Oh Winters is at battalion, Speirs is Easy's commander, come on I'll show you where to go."

Grabbing his things he fell into step beside her. "So you want to catch me up on what's been going on?"

"Well I think you know about everything…I mean it's been a bad four months and I'd just rather not talk about some of it if you don't mind."

"Uh yeah sure no problem, so what's going on between you and Nixon now?"

Stopping right before she entered the CP she glared at him, "Webster are you stupid, I just said I don't want to talk about it." Turning on her heel she went to where Lipton was sitting on the couch, "Hey how you doing?" She put her hand on his forehead to test his temperature.

"Well I'm better now that you're here."

She laughed, "Yes, well I brought you a present. Webster here needs a platoon."

Lipton nodded, "Grab a seat Webster; we'll talk about it in a minute. Hey Lena, Speirs has been looking for you."

She laughed, "Well lucky for all of you I'm here now."

"Will you please go in the back and rack out? There's clean sheets."

Lipton nodded and mumbled a 'yes sir', and then he pointed to Webster quickly explaining the need to assign him to a new platoon. Speirs waved in that direction and went over to stand beside Lena.

"How you doing?"

Giving him a smile, "I'm good, but you know if you keep checking on me like this, people are going to start to talk."

Giving her a smirk he took the cup out of her hand and took a drink. "Good."

Her response was stopped by Nixon and Winters entering the room. Winters immediately started talking about the fact that they had to have a patrol tonight. Lena did her best to ignore Nixon who was currently leaning against the doorjamb watching her.

The interesting thing to her was that when Speirs came and stroked her hand to gain her attention that Nixon's jaw tightened up. Hmm, that wasn't what she expected.

"What's he looking at?"

She turned to look at Speirs who's entire body language said he was being more into her than normal. "Okay," she whispered, "What are you doing?"

Glancing over her head he looked back down at her and smirked, "Let's just say there are some people around here who need to realize a few things." He brushed a loose hair behind her ear before turning back to Lipton.

When she glanced at the doorway again, Nixon slammed his helmet back on his head and stomped out of the room.

Watching Ron and Lipton talk about the upcoming patrol she made a decision. She put her hand on Ron's shoulder, ignoring the Lieutenant and Webster. "Ron I want to go and I think they'll need a medic. Please, let me go."

She watched as Speirs and Lipton exchanged looks before he answered. "Okay, go sack out and get some sleep. I'll wake you up before the briefing."

Leaning in she kissed his cheek and moved to his room in the back of the house.

"Damn it Dick did you hear what I said? Ron's letting her go on the patrol tonight, how could he do that?"

Dick sighed and stopped any attempt at paperwork. "Nix, I've got no idea why you are so upset. Ron commands Easy and he makes the decisions. Why are you questioning his choice?"

Pressing his lips together hard he took a moment to compose himself before replying, "Look, I just got her back, I've had no time and well putting her on this patrol could cause me to lose her again. Please Dick, you can talk to Speirs."

"My question to you is why haven't you talked to her? I've noticed that you've gone out of your way to avoid her."

"Gees Dick I don't know, but I do know I don't want her on this patrol"

Deciding to make Nixon squirm a little more he picked up his paperwork, "So have you talked to Ron about it?"

"Are you kidding me? He's part of the problem there is no way I'd talk to him about her!" He was almost shouting by the time he finished his speech.

Dick bit the inside of his jaw to keep from laughing, he'd noticed what Ron did every time Lena and Nixon were in the same room and if Lew's little speech was any indication it was working.

"Okay Lew, I'll talk to Ron, but in the end it's still his choice."

"So Ron, I don't think Lena should go on this one, you need to find another medic."

Ron lifted an eyebrow and smirked, "Nixon right?"

Dick coughed into his hand, "Yeah, give him this or he'll just be impossible to live with."

Ron nodded, "Okay, but you get to tell her. In fact here she comes, I think I've got to see…well I'm not going to stand here. Good luck."

Dick smiled at Lena as she walked up, "Hey Lena, how are you?"

"I'm good Dick, where is Ron going; I wanted to talk to him about the patrol tonight."

"Yeah Lena, about that patrol, I overrode his decision, you're not going now."

He watched as her eyes narrowed, "So let me see if I understand this, you just made up your mind that you aren't going to let me go?" She sighed, "You're sure it was your choice and yours alone?"

Dick knew his face gave him away when he saw her shake her head. "Fine Dick I won't go, but I've got a man to see. I'll talk to you later."

"You interfering, controlling bastard!"

Nixon had only a moment to dunk before her helmet came sailing across the room toward him.

"Okay what have I done now?"

Walking over she picked her helmet back up and glared at him, "You know what you've done. Let me tell you something, I'm not a replacement in your bed for Marcie and you won't control me. I'm sick and tired of people telling me what to do. Stay away from me Nixon, you don't own me and have no rights to me. Next time I won't miss."

Nixon watched her go not having any idea how to fix what he'd just done.

You can all thank the wonderful, amazing captain ty for writing up this chapter. It's all her brilliant work. We only own Lena. Everything and anything that you recognize we don't lay claim to. :)

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