Some of you asked to know what is going on with Molly and JoJo. Do not own BOB, just this story and the girls.

Time passed slowly for JoJo. She missed seeing Joe on a regular basis. Being bed-ridden did not help much either. The translators cleared out two days ago. Not having anything to keep either her mind or her body occupied made JoJo an unhappy and restless young woman. It got so bad that she started reading Molly's European Art History books, which got old after a while, as did taking naps. Finding a small radio in Jansen's office, Edie brought it up and put it her bedroom as well as some pen and paper. Trigger was close on her heels and jumped on JoJo's bed.

"What do you want me to make a grocery list," asked JoJo? Giving Trigger a treat, she started rubbing the dog's belly. He smiled to let her know that she did not have to stop anytime soon.

"I thought you might want to write Katie seeing how I am back at Battalion and it will give you something to do. I know you are bored out of your tree, but try and make the best of it. I will check in on you later. Now here is something to drink, some pickled stuff from a jar, and a chocolate bar courtesy of George Luz, who sends you his warmest regards and wishes for a speedy recovery."

"Well, thank George for me," said JoJo as she bit into the chocolate.

"You can do that yourself. He's down the hall taking a bath. Be nice to him. He just came off the line, and he looks beat."

"What did you think I was going to do, have him for lunch?"

"Ha, Ha," said Edie. "I have to run. Dick and I are going over the supply requisitions while there is a lull in the action."

"Still no big push," mumbled JoJo? Her mouth was full of chocolate.

"Nope, we are both holding our own, they fire artillery, and we fire back and so forth and so on. I am going to take Trigger with me. Tab rotates off the line today, and he misses the dog. Gotta run, bye. Come on boy." Reluctantly, the Trigger jumped down and waited for Edie.

Edie kissed JoJo on top of the head and went out into the hall where she found a sheepish looking George petting Trigger. "Hello, George why don't you go in and say hey to JoJo. She's is so tired of lying around with no one to talk to. I know you can entertain her. Let's go Trigger." George watched as the dog followed Edie downstairs.

"Hello George," said JoJo brightly. "Come on in, what's the word."

"That's a hell of a dog. Let's see, Liebgott is actually taking Krauts prisoners instead of blowing them away. Malarkey and Guth tried to get the scoop on the Krauts and moved too close on their position because Jerry got pissed and zoned right in on them with artillery shells. They think the Krauts bugged the foxhole if ya can believe that. Winters told them to get the hell of there. You didn't have to tell them twice."

"How about Dike is he still making himself scarce?" JoJo missed the line in some ways. She did not like killing and she sure as hell did not like Kraut artillery, but the camaraderie among the men was something JoJo had never experienced even among her friends in college except for one. Only Edie understood because she had been there right beside her.

George started doing Dike impersonations JoJo could not stop laughing. "Hey, you want to play cards," she asked? Reaching over to the nightstand, George intercepted and handed them to her. "Thanks, I am so tired of playing solitaire."

"I bet," said George. "You know we miss you and Edie on the line. Malarkey has to dig for his own vegetables now. At least you two can shoot straight which is more than the replacements can manage. I tell you some of those boys don't even shave, which I guess neither did you. It's funny how we didn't notice."

Shuffling the cards, JoJo laughed, "George, I bet the last thing you guys expected to find were two women with dirty faces sitting in a foxhole six feet away from you. Now do you want to play poker or gin?"

"I am kind of short of money," said George. "How about you?"

"We are doing all right, but I have a better idea. Let's play poker, if I win, you rub my feet, and if you win, I rub your feet."

"Sounds good to me cause either way I win," said George who could not stop grinning.

"I guess we both do George," laughed JoJo. "Cut the cards."

Three hours later, both JoJo and George had the most relaxed feet in the Netherlands. The latter just woke up from a nap. He felt refreshed and looked up at a very happy JoJo. "You know JoJo, besides being one beautiful woman; you are a helluva of poker player."

"I know. Katie and I went to Las Vegas and cleaned up on spring break. They kicked us out and accused us of counting cards."

George lit a cigarette and said, "Who the hell doesn't do that? Where's Las Vegas?"

"Uh, Mexico, that's right Mexico. That's the wonderful thing about gambling, it's a universal language." She quickly tried to change the subject.

Putting on his socks, George, said, "Yeah, I think your right, like music, war, dancing…"

"Sex," said JoJo. She enjoyed watching George squirm, which he did much to her delight.

George eyed JoJo and shook her head. Lacing up his boots, he decided to play along with her. Looking at his watch, he threw it right back, "That too, I hate to cut it short, but I gotta go pick up Dike and take him back up the line. Maybe he can stay put for a while, but I doubt it. This has been swell, JoJo." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks for letting me take a shower and for the pickled whatever."

"No, George thank you, I don't make a very good patient. You made the day brighter by being here and being yourself."

"That's sweet of you to say JoJo. I was kind of nervous, but you really put me at ease. I will tell Joe that you are doing fine, and to get off the line first chance he gets and pay you a visit."

"Thank you George, you are the sweetest man. I know you are going to make some woman very lucky."

"I could say the same about you only with the right man though."

"What makes you say that George. Don't you think Joe is the right man?"

George felt awkward, "You wanna know the truth? I think you are too lively for Joe. He is a quiet man, never has much to say, tougher than anyone I know, but he is a stand up guy, I will say that. Whether he's the right man for you, that's not for me to say. Only you can decide that gorgeous. I will see you later. Get some rest."

"Hang tough George and be careful."

Heading for the door, George turned back and asked JoJo if she had a message for Joe.

"I thought you would never ask. She removed a sheet of paper from a book then carefully folded it and handed it to George. Would you be good enough to take it to him? Please George."

George gave her a wink. "Hey, could I say no to you?" Luz picked up the letter and stuck it in his pocket. In his best Humphrey Bogart voice, George said, "I would say come up and see me sometime, but I think it is best if I visit you here where no one is firing goddamn artillery shells at you all the time."

JoJo laughed. She felt better. For the first time in a long time, I feel relaxed, she thought. Seeing the paper and the pen that Edie left behind, JoJo picked both of them up and started a letter to Katie. She told her all about the going ons of the past week, including Edie's strip tease act. After she finished the letter, JoJo placed it on the nightstand, rolled over and fell asleep.

Something woke her up a couple of hours later. JoJo looked around the room, but decided she was hearing things. Then she heard giggling. That sounds like Molly, she thought. I wonder why she doesn't come in and say hello. That's when she heard Eugene Roe, the medic from Louisiana say, "Are you sure she is asleep," he drawled?

"Out like a light, cherie. Now go on and get into that bathtub, I will be right back to wash your back."

I just bet you will, thought JoJo. She laid there half-asleep and waited for Molly as was Gene. Hearing her friend's footsteps, she assumed Molly had returned because soon there was mutual moaning and sounds of great pleasure being exchanged between the young lovers. I feel like I am listening to a porn movie on the radio. Lucky girl, thought JoJo and rolled over again, put a pillow over her head and dozed off again.

"I missed being with you these past few days," said Eugene. He held Molly's face in his hands and kissed her tenderly starting at her brows, then cheeks, the tip of her nose which made Molly smile and then finally her lips where he settled in for quite some time. Molly took the soap in her hands and got them good and slippery then she ran her hands up and down Gene's chest and back then sponged his body off. He loved to watch her face when she did this. Eugene thought Molly the most beautiful woman he had ever met. It was almost like a ritual between the two of them ever since Molly and her friends had moved into the house. "What am I going to do when you go back?"

Molly placed her fingers on Eugene's lips. "I don't want to think about that now, and who knows we may be stuck here. Would that be so bad?"

Eugene shook his head no and let Molly wash his hair. Closing his eyes, Eugene tried to push the image of Vera from his mind. He had met her back in England, but that was before Molly. In the beginning, Molly was the instigator, and at first Eugene tried to put her off by telling Molly that it was not love, but just a need to remove herself from death that was all around them. So what if it is," she said. We are in the middle of a living hell created by a mad man. Why shouldn't we find comfort where we can? He had no argument for her, and soon after that conversation, they became lovers. They never talked about the past or the future anymore only the day-to-day activities. Neither one knew if people were aware of their affair nor did they really care because it is what people assumed anyway. They never stayed away long. Stolen moments in the afternoon when Edie and JoJo were out of the house. Somehow, it was enough for both of them.

Later that evening, JoJo shared her discoveries with Edie, who did not seem all that surprised. "Don't tell me you knew?" When JoJo realized that her friend did, she was a little pissed. "Why didn't you tell me?" Trigger laid his head on JoJo's lap and obliged him by scratching his head.

"Because I wasn't sure. I just wondered how Eugene keeps so clean all of the time. Then there is that way they look at each other when they think now one else is watching. It's as if they could eat each other alive."

"Have you hinted to her that you are aware of their amour," said JoJo.

"No, I haven't and neither should you. I think Eugene is her first lover who is not a boyfriend. That is very private as far as I am concerned. If Molly wants us to know, she will tell us."

"However, did you get to be so smart when it comes to matters of the heart," asked JoJo? "Before you ask, no, I did not mean to rhyme, but please tell me."

"I read a lot, I listen to what other people say, I make careful observations, and occasionally I watch Oprah." They both laughed. "I almost miss her," said Edie.

"Who, Oprah, yeah I know what you mean. Along with Ben and Jerry's, Tivo, computers, hell, I am even beginning to miss my brothers."

"That bad, eh, how did it go with George?" Edie stretched out across the end of the bed and listened to JoJo describe her afternoon and shared George's observations about the chances of JoJo and Joe's future. "You didn't tell him about us, did you?"

"Christ Edie, I am not a fool." JoJo looked so hurt that Edie immediately apologized.

"I would offer to make it up to you by rubbing your feet but George beat me to it."

"It's all right. Was Trigger glad to see Tab?"

"Yes and no. They played outside for a while and then Trigger wanted to come back inside to my office. I think Tab's feelings were hurt, but he said it's understandable seeing how the dog spends more time with us than him."

When Molly came up with their dinner trays, they all politely exchanged descriptions of how they spent their day. JoJo and Edie never made eye contact when Molly talked about the work at the aid station, but both noticed that their dear friend had never looked more beautiful and never seemed so content with the world around her. JoJo realized Edie was right. Somehow, if Molly and Eugene's affair became common knowledge, it would be a joke among the company and might destroy the tender thing that the two lovers cherished. Neither Edie nor JoJo wanted that to happen.

By the time Luz drove Dike back to the line, it was dark. Dropping into his foxhole, he exchanged hellos with Perco. Soon after that, Johnny Martin walked over. "Hey Luz, where the hell have you been all day?"

"Like you don't know, but to answer your question, driving Dike to Battalion, taking a breather from this lovely establishment and playing cards with JoJo. What's it to ya?"

"Me, not so much but Joe Toye has been looking for you ever since he heard you went off the line. It sounds to me like he might be concerned that you might meet up with a certain blonde so if I were you I'd make everything sound real innocent."

Frustrated, George said, "Listen Johnny, it was. We just played cards, ate some snacks. I took a nap then came back here. Besides, I got a letter from JoJo to give to Joe. Do I look like the kind of guy who moves in on another man's girl?"

"Don't look at me," said Frank who started to laugh along with Johnny.

"You read my mind Frank. I will see you two later. Just remember what I said about Joe. He's not exactly the kind of guy that you want to have a beef with if you know what I mean." George and Frank both nodded. They knew exactly what Johnny meant.

Word got around that Luz was back and soon Joe Toye came to pay a visit. He told Frank to beat it for a while. Perco was reluctant to leave his buddy alone, but he did not need any trouble. Frank nodded at Luz who returned the gesture.

Joe stared hard at Luz and coldly asked him if saw JoJo when he went off the line. "Yeah, Joe, in fact here is a letter for ya." George pulled out the letter and handed it to the imposing figure crouched down beside him. "Listen, Joe, when it comes to JoJo, you don't have to worry about me or any of the other guys trying to impose ourselves on your girl."

"Who said she was my girl?" Joe grabbed Luz by the arm.

George was getting nervous now. "Err; you did just now when you asked me if I saw JoJo. That girl is nuts about you too. You are all she talked about if anything I am jealous. You are a lucky man Joe Toye."

"Yeah, lucky me," said Joe bitterly. Climbing out of the foxhole, he apologized to George. "Thanks for being straight with me."

"Don't mention it if word gets around it might spoil my reputation as a tough guy." Apparently, Joe did not see the humor in his remark so Luz watched as Toye crawled over to the foxhole that he shared with Heffron. Soon Frank returned and apologized for ditching him, but he did not want any trouble with Toye either. "You don't have to explain it to me Frank. I could tell you didn't want to bail, and I appreciate that. Joe and I came to an understanding and seriously I would never mess around with a girl who is seeing anyone in the 506, now the 82nd Airborne that's another matter altogether." The two men chuckled softly.

"I'll take the first watch," said George. "I managed to get some shut eye while I was at JoJo's." He didn't say anything to Frank about the way Joe reacted when he told him how lucky he was to have a girl like JoJo. "I don't get it." Luz realized he said that out loud.

"Get what, you said you would take the first watch," said Frank.

"Go to sleep Perco."

"I thought that's what I was doing."

Johnny Martin walked by and told them to shut the hell up. He looked over at Joe Toye's foxhole, but couldn't see much. Johnny hoped Joe was doing OK. It is hard to stay focused in the field without guys fighting over a dame, he thought. Then he corrected himself or women in general.

Meanwhile, Joe Toye sat with his poncho covering his head, reading JoJo's letter courtesy of Babe's flashlight. Unfolding the letter, Joe could smell JoJo's perfume on it or at least he thought he could.

Dear Joe:

Thank you so much for coming to my rescue the other day. It was sweet of you to carry me all the way back to the house. My ankle is still swollen and Eugene recommends bed rest. That was fine at first, but now I am really restless. If I could, I would take pot shots at the Krauts from my bedroom window just to relieve the tedium of lying in bed with my foot propped up on a pillow.

It seems like ages since I saw you last. I am going to ask Molly to draw a picture of you so I can put it in my locket. Not that I need to remember what a handsome, hunk of man, you are Joe Toye. If you like, I can have her sketch one of me to keep you warm at night.

Just know that I am here lying in bed thinking of you, my big Irishman. I can hardly wait until I see you again. If you get a chance to go off the line, I hope you will come pay me a visit.

Stay low my love.

JoJo

Joe put the letter back in left pocket. Then took out the last one he got from his girl back home. It had her picture inside. Studying the photograph, Joe realized that he didn't have a future with JoJo. That is unless she somehow managed to stay here, but the girls couldn't keep following Easy around forever. Either I should make a clean break with her or …Joe stopped his train of thought. He started to remember how good JoJo felt in his arms. "I should have just kept on walking," he said.

"Hey Joe, you okay under that thing," asked Babe.

"Yeah, Babe, I'm just fine," said Joe as he turned off the flashlight and pulled the poncho off only to find it had started to rain. "Son of a bitch," said Joe. As he sat like there in the rain, Joe hoped it would clear his head and give him some direction as to what he should do. In the end, Joe decided that his job was to take care of his squad and try to keep them as well as himself from getting killed while taking out as many of the enemy as possible. He would save thinking about JoJo or anyone else for when he came off the line.

Although Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, the development of Las Vegas as we know it today did not begin until 1945.