For almost half an hour, Reilly didn't find anyone. If it wasn't the irregular sound of gunfire from behind her, she would have thought she was the only person in all of France. And just when she thought she'd might be alone the entire trip, she heard voices from the road next to her. Listening hard, it was a whispered conversation in English.

With a thought and a prayer, she murmured, "Flash."

"Thunder!"

Reilly made her way out of the forest and to the open road. To her delight, she found the two familiar and friendly faces of Liebgott and Compton.

"Jesus Christ, Franny," whispered Liebgott a moment before he engulfed her in a huge hug. "Am I glad to see your beautiful face."

Reilly kissed him on the cheek before pulling back. "Same to your ugly mug, Lieb."

Compton grinned and hugged her to his side tightly. "We're saved. Reilly's here."

Reilly rolled her eyes but grinned back. "No luck on anyone else?" Compton and Liebgott shook their heads. She sighed. "Got an extra gun?"

Liebgott's eyes widened. "You don't have a gun? God, we're fucked."

Compton grimaced. "Leg bag? Yeah, mine fell too, but luckily landed next to me."

Reilly frowned. "Well, I haven't seen any krauts yet. And we're only about another two to three kilometers from the assembly point." They both nodded. It was time to move.

Just as they were about to start walking again, a shout in German came from up ahead. Looking to Compton, he silently instructed them to hide in the brush that Reilly came from. After a few minutes, three German soldiers walked forward, obviously on patrol.

Compton signaled for them to remain hidden until his OK. Reilly sighed, her arms feeling incredibly empty and vulnerable without her rifle. They waited without breathing for the Germans to pass.

With a flick of his hand, Liebgott and Compton opened fire on the three krauts in front of them. Reilly watched with a grimace, before turning away. No need to watch this massacre. With her ear to the side, she picked up a snap of a twig behind them.

Twisting, she saw the kraut a moment before he attempted to raise his rifle. Leaping quickly and without a second thought, Reilly tackled the German, wrestling the firearm away from her chest. His eyes widened when he realized she was a woman. Seizing the opportunity, she used the bottom of her palm, and connected with his nose.

"Franny! Move aside!"

Ducking to the right and rolling away, Reilly heard Liebgott fire his rifle and the German died instantly.

Reilly stood before bending over to take the rifle on the ground. "Thanks, Lieb."

Liebgott shook his head and grinned. "We should be the ones thanking you, doll."

Compton nodded in agreement. "Let's move out." They arrived to the meeting point after only another thirty minutes of walking. They didn't encounter any more of the enemy.

To their surprise, the town was almost empty. Not only was the majority of Easy missing, but other companies as well.

Reilly and Liebgott followed Compton to headquarters. On the way, her eyes widened more and more. "Where is everyone?" she asked nervously.

Liebgott shrugged, but frowned. "I don't know, kid. This ain't good."

Inside the barn that was acting as battalion headquarters, only Major Strayer, Popeye, and Lieutenant Spiers of Dog company were inside. Reilly instantly saluted the officers before running to Popeye for a hug.

"Hey Franny," he murmured after pulling back with a smile. "Man, I'm glad to see you."

Reilly grinned back. "Same to you, Pop."

Strayer raised an eyebrow to Compton. "Is this all of Easy, Lieutenant?"

Compton nodded. "So far, sir." Strayer nodded, but Reilly noticed the muscle in his cheek straining. Compton turned to her, Liebgott and Popeye. "I'll send for you when we're ready to attack. Stay close and let me know if anyone else arrives."

The three nodded. Feeling eyes on her, Reilly looked up to see Spiers staring at her. He didn't turn away when he noticed her looking back. Silently assessing one another, she finally pulled away when Liebgott gave her a nudge.

They made their way to a vacant war memorial and sat down, their packs and rifles happily sliding to the ground. Liebgott and Popeye laid down, but Reilly remained alert, watching the road for new arrivals.

"Fran, they're going to get here. Take a load off," muttered Liebgott. Reilly didn't reply, and she didn't move from her perch.

Hours went by and the sun rose steadily in the east. Every so often, more soldiers would arrive, but in a mix of companies. Some not even a part of the 506th, but stragglers that only followed any American they could find.

Squinting against the sun, Reilly popped up to her feet when she saw a small group come down the lane. First saluting Winters, he saluted back with a grin before walking to Compton with Lipton.

Grinning back, she then turned to be engulfed in a giant hug by Guarnere and Toye. Behind them stood an unfamiliar soldier. She took a shaky breath in before cupping both of their cheeks with a hand. "Who knew I'd miss you two so much?"

Guarnere gave her a wink before dropping his pack and body to the ground. "Crying over your loss, princess? Don't worry, Bill is here. Come sit on my lap and I'll make it all better." He winked again.

Toye rolled his eyes before dropping down next to him. "If I wasn't so tired, I'd find someplace else to nap instead of next to this idiot. There's no off switch. Oh, and this here is Hall of Able company. He's along for the ride until he can find his guys."

Reilly nodded to Hall, who nodded back, trying to cover his shock in seeing a woman covered in battle grease. She moved, sitting down between her friends. Before she got comfortable, they heard a shout. Down the lane, Luz and Wentworth made their way to them.

Running with a huge smile on her face, Reilly collided between them, kissing them each on the cheek. Chuckling when the small woman was almost able to push them to the ground in her frenzy, Luz and Wentworth returned her hugs.

"I had no doubt you'd get here before us, chickadee," Luz said, smiling as they made their way to the monument. The other men stood to welcome the newcomers.

Wentworth nudged her in the ribs. "Hope you didn't doubt us either, girl."

Reilly grinned, but her worry was still evident on her face. "Never, girl."

Together they rested as a group. Reilly refused to leave her spot at the monument, so Luz brought her back some lunch. Absently, she chewed on an apple, her eyes still locked on the lane.

Luz's eyes followed hers. He took a big bite of roll. "Heef gwong to be feen, Fwanny." Reilly looked over at him, her eyebrows raised. Luz smiled sheepishly before swallowing his food. "Sorry. He's going to be fine, Franny." He gave her a look. "Frank. He'll be here before you know it."

Reilly frowned. "I just don't understand what's taking so long."

Luz shrugged. "You heard what Strayer said. We were dropped all over."

Reilly got quiet. "And some of us didn't land at all." Luz joined her silence. He had also seen the plane next to them explode in flames. So far none of Meehan's platoon had arrived.

Before their dark thoughts could run away with them, Winters stepped up to them. "Easy on me." They followed him, leaving their packs but taking their rifles with them.

Inside headquarters, Compton and Strayer were waiting. Strayer looked up at Winters. "Easy only has twelve men?" he asked. Winters nodded in affirmation. "Think you can handle it?"

"Absolutely, sir."

Strayer nodded. "Good. Spiers and Dog company will be your backup. I'm counting on you to take Brecourt." He left after a quick nod.

Winters took a breath before turning to Easy. He explained their objective: there were at least two battery guns firing on Utah beach, but they were planning on four. Along with a machine gun, Easy was to take the Germans down so that the Allies could make their way in. Two groups would take the guns, while Lipton and Reilly would act as snipers with covering fire. After Easy succeeded in taking the first gun, Lipton and she would bring the TNT to destroy the artillery.

Winters looked at each of them. "Everyone understand?"

"How many krauts we talking about?" Guarnere asked.

"No idea."

Guarnere held back a snort. "No idea?" He gave Winters a hard look, but didn't question his CO further.

Winters nodded. "OK, let's move out."

After collecting anything else they needed – Toye grabbed his brass knuckles – Easy plus a few soldiers from the 82nd, and Hall left. Reilly looked over her shoulder one last time, hoping to see Perconte before she was gone, but the lane was empty.

Luz slung an arm around her shoulders. "Bet you a pack of cigarettes he's here when we get back."

Reilly grinned. "I can't bet that. I'm Irish, Luz. Hella superstitious."

He rolled his eyes. "OK, I bet you that Frank is back but picked up a blonde, French girl on the way and is so busy neckin' with her, he doesn't notice our return."

Reilly chuckled. "OK deal. Win-win for me."

"Because you rather be the one neckin' with Perco?"

She felt her cheeks instantly flush and she stammered, "No, of course not. I meant that it will be crazy annoying watching you all fawn over some French beauty."

Luz gave her a look from the corner of his eye. He attempted to hide his grin. "Sure thing, chickadee."

Machine gun fire echoed around Lipton and Reilly as they ran through the brush. "I can't see anything!" cried Reilly.

Lipton nodded, agreeing. Looking up, he pointed to the trees. "Fire as much as possible, Reilly. When the first gun is taken, we need to move fast and bring the TNT to Winters."

Reilly followed his finger and nodded. Quickly scampering up the oak tree with her rifle on her back, she hid herself well in the high branches. Finding a hole, she reared her gun around and pointed towards the enemy. Focusing with one eye closed for a moment, she fired.

Branches exploded around her as the krauts zeroed in to her location. Still she and Lipton fired.

Careful not to go anywhere near the crouched and running forms of her friends, they took out a handful of krauts before they noticed Liebgott at the first gun. Holding her breath, she exhaled once again when he made the all-clear signal.

Time to go, she thought. Move it, woman!

Sliding carefully down the trunk, Reilly hit the ground quickly, beating Lipton who was struggling in the branches. She waited for the sergeant to wiggle his way down, looking forward as Easy took the second gun. Hurry, Lip!

Finally, Lipton made it to the ground. Taking the TNT from his pocket, he handed her half. "I'll go to the first and second guns. You head to meet them at the third and fourth." Reilly nodded before running quickly to the left as Lipton headed to the right.

Stopping every few feet to shoot her gun towards the enemy, Reilly ran for her life, bullets exploding on the ground around her. She made it to the long trench, jumping in as soon as Compton and Malarkey started towards the third gun.

Reilly's sudden arrival spooked Malarkey. She gave him a grin as he lowered his weapon from her chest. "Gentlemen. I have your TNT."

Compton grinned back and nodded. "Let's go then."

The three of them hunkered down and crawled through the trench, ducking into a makeshift cabin. Emerging, they were at the third gun in a matter of seconds, Compton and Malarkey leading the way.

"Malarkey! Cover the front!" Compton yelled, shooting at the German on the ground. "Reilly! Blow that shit up!"

Reilly grinned widely. "Yes, sir!"

Shaking a round of TNT into her hand, Reilly stuffed it down the barrel of the huge artillery weapon. In her other pocket, she found an incendiary explosive. Pulling its cord, into the barrel it disappeared.

"Fire in the hole!" she screamed, before attempting to cover both their bodies with her own. They heard a pop! and it exploded, effectively destroying the kraut weapon. Reilly joined them, lying on her stomach, shooting at the enemy across the field.

Eventually, Winters, Toye and Guarnere joined them, helping to take down the enemy.

Guarnere blew her a kiss. "Fancy seeing you, doll."

Toye fell next to him, grinning. "Don't you mean 'Easy's warrior princess'?"

Reilly shot across the way again, taking down another soldier. "I told you, guys. Call me that again, and you're gonna pay for it." They grinned at one another, delighted.

Suddenly, Spiers and a few members of Dog company joined them. He had a rope of ammo around his next. "Winters! Heard you needed ammo!" He tossed it to him.

Spiers looked around excitedly. "Mind if D company takes the fourth gun?"

Winters shrugged. "Be my guest. Take Reilly, she's got TNT."

Spiers looked to her and nodded. She stood and followed him and his men down the trench to the fourth and final gun. Surprising her, he jumped from the safety of the barrier and ran to the krauts, shooting them, and somehow not getting shot himself.

With amazement and a grin, Reilly helped take down the rest of the enemy, before running to the barrel of the fourth gun. After TNT and the incendiary were tossed in, she jumped onto his back. "Fire in the hole!" she screamed for the second time in his ear.

Another loud pop! and the weapon was destroyed. Reilly laid down next to Spiers and together with the others, they took down the rest of the krauts. Soon after, both companies scampered back to headquarters. The mission was a huge success.

Walking back after they found safe territory, Reilly fell into step with Spiers. He kept glancing at her, but didn't say anything. After the fourth or fifth time, she huffed, annoyed. "Never seen a goddamn woman, sir?"

Spiers gave her a small, but very quick grin. He turned to look forward again. "Yes, of course, private. I was just wondering what I could barter with Winters to get you transferred to Dog company." She caught his eye. "We could use your courage, not to mention your ability to blow shit up so well."

Reilly flashed him a smile. "Sorry, sir. My home is with Easy." A warmth filled her at the thought. Home.