Disclaimer: Hi, I don't own any of the franchise of Band of Brothers. I have the utmost respect for the men of Easy Company and all those that have served. I mean no disrespect to those men. This story is for entertainment purposes only and is based only off the portrayal of the actors from the miniseries. Only Anna Cohen and any other original characters that may crop up in this story are mine.

Till the End of the Line

Chapter 13: A Smile Falters

Aldbourne, England, July 1944

It felt like a coming home party when we arrived back in Aldbourne; Alf and Babs had welcomed Val and I back as if we were their own daughters. They'd hugged us tightly before preparing a great meal for us which was a welcome change from the rations we had been eating for the past few weeks. However the feel of an actual comfy bed was the best thing the first night we had gotten back, I didn't think I'd fall asleep so quickly after everything that had happened but I was just too exhausted. Everything just felt worlds away from the horrors we had faced in France.

"Annie can I ask you something?" Marie asked somewhat timidly, the pair of us were currently waiting for Val to show up as we sat watching the world go by in one of the fields close by.

"Sure."

"Had you ever held someone as they died? I mean before the war." She questioned and now I realised why she had been timid at the start.

"I had three patients die when we were trying to save them, that was when I did a few years in the ER." I replied the first patient had been a young man maybe in his early thirties who'd been in a severe car accident; he'd died shortly after he'd gotten onto the operating table. The second was an elderly man who had suffered a heart attack, he died shortly after surgery he'd at least gone peacefully in his sleep. The third patient was a young woman who was expecting her first child, she'd ended up in a car accident when the taxi she was in was hit, we were able to save her child but she unfortunately died just as her child was born.

"Does it get any easier?" She asked I wanted to tell her it did, that after you saw one death you'd pretty much seen it all. But no matter what it never got easier, every patient that passed away when there was potentially something you could have done hurt the same as any other death.

"No I don't think it does." I replied, "I'm guessing it was your first time dealing with death?"

"Yeah, I mean you do get stillborn babies when you work in midwifery, but I've been lucky in my life never to have delivered such a situation." She explained of course she hadn't been accustomed to a lot of death; she'd pretty much worked in the line of life giving for most of her time as a nurse. "And when I switched over, none of my patients had died."

"All you can do is your best, some people you just can't save." I offered her some advice that the Matron in my first job had offered me on the first day, which I had taken with me ever since. Shortly Val arrived carrying a basket full of goodies that Babs had given her, hopefully she'd be able to cheer up Marie.

"Gals, I've hit the jackpot." She exclaimed as she sat down next to us and opened the basket. Inside were variant cakes that looked delicious, the taste however was somewhat of a disappointment. "Babs apologises if they don't taste as sweet as they should, there's a shortage of sugar."

"Still it's the thought that counts." We sat there for a little while longer talking about anything that would take our minds off the war.

"Found any Cary Grant's?" Val asked wiggling her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

"No and when exactly would I have found time to find Cary Grant?"

"You know what they say; when you're not looking love will find you." She answered I shook my head as Marie giggled beside her.

"You know what they also say; if you don't pay attention you get shot." I grumbled as we made our way back into town she was about to retort when someone started yelling Cohen. "Anna R." It was a mail call for me, he handed me several letters all from my family.

"Somebody's popular." Val joked as looked over them all deciding to open the one which was from my parents first:

Dearest Annie,

I hope this letter finds you safe and well, we are constantly updated with how well the war effort is going it's all the newspapers are writing about. However there is also an update on the wounded and killed list which your mother is obsessed with reading every morning. I'm not sure if you have been told already and this is old news to you, but your brother George…he didn't make it. They told us his plane was shot down somewhere over France, your mother is adamant that he could still be alive.

Promise me one thing come back to us.

All our love,

Dad and Mum

I couldn't believe what I was reading, George couldn't be dead he just couldn't be dead. We were both meant to make it back home, and he'd promised the first round of drinks too.

"Annie what's wrong?" Marie asked noticing I had stopped in my tracks. "What's the letter say?"

"It can't be true." I muttered and then Val had taken the letter out of my hands and read it quickly, handing it to Marie and then pulling me into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry Annie." She whispered as I let the tears fall and sobbed into her shoulder, he couldn't be dead he just couldn't be dead. Marie then hugged me as well rubbing a hand up and down my bag as I uncontrollably sobbed. "It's going to be alright."

It was later that night after I couldn't sleep that I wrote back to my parents, I didn't want them to worry about me after the news about George and not hearing from me for a while they were probably sick with worry. I felt numb; I still couldn't quite believe that I'd never seen George again, it felt like David had died all over again but this time I was older and realised just how awful it was. The next day I must have looked awful, Babs and Alf gave their condolences and Marie and Val kept checking up on me but I felt the need to be alone. I made my way out to a field just outside the town and sat against the trunk of an oak tree, the breeze was nice even if it was a little chilly.

"Need some company?" I nearly jumped out of my skin when Joe appeared out of nowhere and sat down next to me.

"Christ, you made me jump." I mumbled I had yet to tell anyone else about George's death, but I didn't know whether Marie and Val had told anyone else.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked I definitely must have looked awful; my eyes were probably as red and puffy as they currently felt. I unrumpled the letter that I'd stuffed into my trouser pocket and handed it him. "What's this?"

"Read it." I replied as he sat down next to me and began to read it.

"Oh God, Annie I'm so sorry." He said before he pulled me into a tight hug one hand moving up and down my back reassuringly.

"I don't…he's gone and I…I won't be able to see him…" I cried as more tears fell down my cheeks.

"Shh, shh." He mumbled into my hair as he pulled my impossibly closer to him. "It's going to be alright."

"How?"

"Remember when David died? You got through that, and you'll get through this." He explained and while that was true we were kids when he died and it probably didn't hit me as hard as it was now. "You're the toughest woman, hell maybe the toughest person I know."

"Joe…"

"And I'll be with you to help you through it." He continued, "And I am going to make sure you get back home."

"What about yourself?" I asked as I finally stopped myself crying and looked up at him, he used one hand to wipe away some of the tears from my cheeks.

"Isn't it your job to worry about me?" he joked a small smile on his lips and that seemed to make me feel better about things even managed to make me smile a little. "There's the Anna I know."

"Thanks." I mumbled as he unwrapped his arms from me and helped me up.

"You'd do the same if it were me." He responded and then we were on our way back to town. "Anyone else know?"

"Just you, Marie and Val and then Babs and Alf who me and Val are staying with." I replied as we reached the gate to Babs and Alf's property, I needed to wash my face after crying again.

"If you need anything, anything at all, you know where I am." He said before hugging me once more and then he was on his way back to his accommodation. I let myself into the house and went upstairs to throw some water on my face and try and make myself a little bit more presentable. It must have been a few hours later when Val arrived back.

"Annie you here?" she asked before she came into our shared room, "There you are, right I know you probably don't feel like it now but I swear it will make you feel so much better."

"What scheme of yours is this?"

"We are going the pub tonight, and then I've managed to get passes for the whole weekend for the three of us; you, me and Marie to go to London." She responded and I couldn't quite form a reply, I certainly didn't feel like going anywhere this evening.

"Val, I don't…." but she cut me off and grabbed her bag full of make-up.

"No, no I promise this will take your mind off things." She stated and before I could argue I was in no state to be seen by others she cut me off once more. "Don't worry; I'll make you up so no one can take their eyes off of you." And true to her word she began attacking me with the whole arsenal she had in her bag and by the time she was done you couldn't tell I had been crying at all. "See I can work miracles."

"Thanks Val." I said as I looked over her handy work before I set about getting out of my ODs and into actual dress uniform. "You better get ready too."

"Already ahead of you." She responded and she was already putting her face on as I ran round the room trying to find the pair of kitten heels that went with the uniform, it felt odd being able to dress up after spending a good month being covered in dirt and blood. Once Val was ready we headed on down to where Marie was living with Matron and the four of us made our way to the pub. Which as usual was full to the brim with men from the Airborne, Matron and I were left on a table we found round the side of the bar, while Val and Marie got the round in.

"Anna, I know I should have commended you at the time, but the way you took charge of treating Floyd Talbert really showed your leadership." Matron began and I couldn't quite believe she was actually commending me on that it was simply what I had to do.

"It was just what needed to be done."

"That may be, but I've seen the three of you out there and by far you are the most confident in taking control." Matron replied I didn't really know what to think; surely Val had much more confidence out in the field. "The others just can't seem to order men around like you can."

"I think I'll take that as a compliment, thank you." I said and for once in a while she smiled widely.

"Anna, it's a skill that is needed more especially in our line of work." She suggested and I couldn't quite work out what she was getting at. "Lord knows a Doctor thinks he's right and that's the be all and end all of the situation, but most of the time he's bloody wrong and he just can't admit it."

"Margaery language!" Val chimed in as she and Marie arrived back with our drinks, everyone including Matron laughed at that. The night continued on in good hearted fashion, we'd each get a round in until we didn't need any more alcohol in our systems, when it got a bit later Matron bid us farewell wishing us a good weekend in London. At one point Val had gotten up at the request of a rather persistent replacement paratrooper leaving just me and Marie again, like it had been at Fort Benning.

"Feeling better?" Marie asked after a bit of a lull in the conversation.

"Yeah, I suppose I am feeling a bit better." I replied as I lit up the final cigarette in my packet, at least I had one more back in my pack at Babs and Alf's place. I'd just have to get more in before we left for London tomorrow. "How did you manage to snag three passes?"

"Ah we can all have our secrets." She said smiling before catching the eye of Luz who once again was rather tipsy and looking for someone to dance. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to dance for said secret."

"Does Johnny know?" I joked earning a smack to the arm…my still recovering arm. "Ow!"

"You deserved that." She shouted back before her and Luz disappeared onto the dance floor, I felt somewhat awkward just sat there by myself but as I got up to leave, Joe made an appearance having gotten a bit tipsy himself.

"Annie, come on let's dance." He said slurring one or two words as he dragged me up to the dance floor; I had just enough time to stub out my cigarette. He twirled me around the dance floor not bothered in the slightest if we bumped into any other pair up there, which drew some rather disgruntled looks from some of the British Red Cross nurses who were keeping some of the soldiers company.

"Jesus Joe." I laughed as he pretty much picked me up and twirled me round once more. "I know you like to show off and all, but I don't think the others are quite appreciating it."

"Annie, I don't give a fuck about the others." He said laughing but he at least toned down the twirling and instead we were now steadily swaying. "It's you I give a fuck about."

"I think that sounded better in your head." I laughed but all the same I don't think it would have sounded right any other way out of Joe's mouth. He laughed along with me as we continued to dance at some point Luz and Marie came up to us and I swear I heard something along the lines of 'way to go Lieb.' It felt like an eternity as we danced and laughed, it felt as though we were just all back home and there was no war on, there was nothing but the fun and happiness of the moment.

"Closing time, Ladies and Gents." Was called by the barman as the music stopped and everyone in the bar groaned and aired their grievances.

"I'll walk you back." Joe offered as I took his arm as he led me out of the bar. "I'm glad your smile is back."

"Well I don't know anyone that wouldn't at least smile at a tipsy, dancing Joseph Liebgott." I laughed nearly tripping over the cobblestone road which made me laugh even more.

"Hey I'm a good dancer." He retorted as he stopped me from tripping over, but he was laughing along with me.

"So you say." I said giggling as he pouted slightly which just made me laugh even more. "Well this is me, thank you Joe, for a great night."

"I'm glad you had a good night." He said I let go of his arm and turned to open the gate when his hand reached out and caught my arm. I turned back around and met his gaze, not entirely sure why he was stopping me from going back inside, his gaze then slowly drifted down before flickering back up. I was about to ask him what he wanted but before I could he closed the distance between us, dropping his hand down from my arm to my hand and interlinking our fingers. His other hand tilted my head as he closed the distance between us and then his soft lips touched mine, taking my breath away.

Author's Notes:

Hi guys, I hope you have liked the story so far and have enjoyed this chapter. I'm actually having so much fun writing this, and have so many different ideas on what I could do. Any suggestions/reviews are much appreciated as it is always helpful when writing the next chapter. Thank you to all those who have been adding to favourites, following and reviewing this story it means a lot to me. Hope you enjoyed the little bit at the end; the next chapter takes us to London before Easy is finally sent to Holland.