It took some time, but eventually Perconte found her sitting on a fallen tree trunk about fifty yards in from the line. He made his way to her and sat down without a word.

Reilly turned her face from him. "Go away, Frank."

Perconte sighed. "No, thanks. I think I'll stay here."

Anger flooded her. She stood up and faced him, her eyes flashing. "I said go away!"

He stood, innocently putting his hands in his pockets. He could feel the hurt radiating off her. He waited for her anger at the situation to subside.

His patient face and sad eyes only fueled her fire. With a cry, she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him hard, but only made him stagger back a little. With another cry, she did it again. "Get away from me!" The third cry became strangled in her throat and she gasped. "Don't you fucking get it?"

When she tried to push off him again, he grabbed her wrists only to stop her for a moment, but she snatched them away again. "Get what, Franny?" he asked calmly.

She turned from him, but he didn't miss the sob that escaped her. After hesitating a moment, he walked up to her and put a tentative hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off, but the violent side of her was beginning to fade. He tried again, and she let him.

"Are you stupid, Perco?" she rasped, tears welling in her throat. "Or just blind?" Her body began to shake as she finally gave into her sorrow. Images of her parents began to mix in with newer faces. Tabitha. Wentworth. Guarnere. Toye. Her fallen family. And then Liebgott, Luz and Perconte. Her closest friends, not yet taken. Just wait.

He squeezed her shoulder with his hand and waited for her to continue. Finally, she turned to face him, her cheeks free of tears, but her eyes red and brimming. Her voice broke. "Please go away, Frank," she whispered.

Perconte stepped forward and cupped a hand on her cheek. "Tell me why."

Reilly couldn't help it, she leaned into his touch, but she kept her eyes on his instead of closing them. She would give anything to be asleep right now, to be dreaming instead of living reality. "I can't lose you, too."

He clenched his teeth and swallowed hard before gently pulling her towards him. When he wrapped his arms around her, that was the final straw. She broke down.

She sobbed into his chest, the pain from the last several weeks that she tried to keep hidden became fresh and raw. All her frustration at Dike, all her guilt for failing Tabitha, all her fear of giving into weakness came rushing at her at once. And now her friends wounded, almost blown to pieces. It was too much. She tried to push him away again, but he held on tightly.

She tried one more time, feebly. "Please go, Frank." She hiccuped. "Don't you see? I'm no good for you. I only get those close to me hurt or even killed."

Perconte squeezed his eyes shut when he heard that. Running a hand over her hair repeatedly, he pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes. "That's not true, sweetheart," he murmured. "They aren't dead. Didn't you hear, George? They're alive." He cleared his throat. "And none of it is your fault. Not their injuries. Not your parents' deaths. Nothing."

Reilly shook her head, disagreeing. "I don't deserve any of you. I never dreamt I'd find friends when I enlisted." Her voice cracked again. "I never dreamt I'd find my family again. I don't deserve it."

Perconte shook his head, at a loss for words. "How can you think such a thing, Franny?" She opened her mouth to protest but he shushed her. "I don't know who put such ideas in your head, and honestly, unless they're in Belgium so I can kick their ass, I don't care. Because they're wrong."

His eyes skimmed over her face and he brushed back her unruly hair from her eyes. Sighing, he said, "Whatever that person or persons said to you or whatever they did to you -" he swallowed hard at the thought - "they don't matter. What only matters is who you are."

Steeling himself not to kiss away her tears, he took another breath and hugged her to his chest again. "And you are the best person I know. You're strong and kind and you laugh at my jokes." This remark earned him a shaky giggle. Grinning, he continued. "And you have this amazing heart. You'd do anything for a friend."

Reilly took a moment to swallow the lump in her throat before pulling back to look at him again, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. Biting her lip, she attempted a smile. "If I didn't know you, I'd call you a liar, Perconte."

He didn't smile back. Cupping her cheek again, his voice became stern. "I'll never lie to you."

It took a long time, but finally she nodded. Slinging her arms around his neck, she squeezed him close. "God, I love you, Frank," she whispered in his ear.

Perconte closed his eyes, trying not to pretend she said those words to him in a different way, with another meaning. "I love you, too, Fran."

Reilly walked back with Perconte, making sure she let go of his hand when they arrived back at camp in case Dike was around. She turned to leave him in search of Luz, but stopped. Taking a deep breath, she said with a sad smile, "I was right about one thing, Frank. I don't deserve you." And before he could say anything in return, she made her way over to Luz, who was just finishing up a spot-on impression of everyone's favorite CO to Muck, Malarkey and Penkala.

When he saw her, he excused himself from them and walked with her. "Hey, chickadee," he murmured cautiously. "Are you alright?" He took in her red and puffy eyes.

With a smile, she leaned up on her tippy toes and wrung her arms around his neck and into a hug. After a moment of surprise, Luz smiled and hugged her back.

With a kiss on the cheek, she pulled back and looped an arm through his. "I will be. Thanks, George. And sorry for running away before."

Luz waved his free hand, which held its token cigarette. "Don't mention it, kid. I'm just glad you're OK. We heard from the battalion aid station. They're stabilized. Looks like they're heading to rehab in England at the first chance."

Reilly nodded, taking this in. "Good. That's good."

"Toye and Guarnere's war is over, but Gigi might make it back to us."

"That poor hospital staff. Those three together, no doubt bored and whiney?" she whistled. "Yikes."

Luz grinned. "Agreed. We're safer in this frozen tundra."

Over the next few days, Easy began successfully clearing the forest around Foy. They all knew this was in preparation of the eventual attack on the town. The fact that they easily overtook the woods gave them hope that the battle would be just as easy.

Mortar strikes became a daily endurance as the enemy turned more and more aggressive, knowing they were coming soon. Reilly stayed close to Liebgott, Luz, and Perconte, her remaining close friends. She rotated staying in their foxholes, trying to keep up good spirits.

Truth was, she was embarrassed about her reaction after Toye, Guarnere and Wentworth were hit. She had thought after the last two years, training by both the Army and SOE, that she was past any weakness. She tried to remember Perconte's words whenever she felt down. She put all remaining effort into cheering those around her.

This became especially hard after Muck and Penkala were hit. There weren't even bodies to transport back home or bury. Luz witnessed the strike.

There wasn't much she could do for Malarkey, their closest friend. Lipton made sure to stay with him as much as possible, but whenever anyone tried to speak to him or get him to eat, he only stared into space, lost in his own thoughts. Reilly tried to see past the shell of the man in front of them, but the vacant look in his eyes haunted her dreams.

Liebgott, Perconte and Reilly worked on Luz. Although worming his way into the hearts of everyone in Easy, Muck and Penkala were close friends of his. Reilly tried to soothe his nightmares every night. He would jump and shout in his sleep, a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

A few more days passed, and Luz began to seem like his old self again, cracking jokes and impersonating Dike. Reilly was pleased to see the change again, but it came just in time for her to leave again.

Martin jogged up to her, Perconte and Luz. "Fran, there's a radio transmission in for you. Winters asked me to get you."

She felt Luz and Perconte still next to her. She smiled at Martin. "Thanks, Johnny. I'll get going now." Martin nodded and left.

Reilly turned to her friends. "Save me some rancid ass beans?"

Her attempt at humor worked on Luz. He smiled widely. "Absolutely, kid. You can even have mine."

Perconte was still frowning. She tried to get him to smile, and only somewhat succeeded before needing to go.

She found Winters with Nixon under an overhang in between Easy and Fox companies. They stopped their conversation to greet her and stand. "Hey Fran," said Nixon, grinning. "Looks like you're about to become popular again."

Reilly grinned back. "Always an adventure, sir."

Winters motioned to the radio nearby. "We'll leave you to have some privacy, but I wanted to let you know that Easy is moving into Foy in two days, weather permitting. I'm assuming your call has something to do with it."

Reilly nodded her thanks and they walked away. Putting the earpiece up, she murmured a hello.

A new voice replied with a new quote, standard when the operative changes, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective ways of preserving peace."

Reilly, trying not to show her surprise at hearing this stranger's voice, replied instantly, "Know thy self, know thy enemy."

"Your regiment is moving on Foy in two days," said the woman's nasal voice immediately. "You will be surrounding the town. Before this happens, we need you to steal intelligence from the Germans. We believe that they have information inside about prisoners. If you try and steal it during the attack, they will likely try and destroy it before you can get to it. That's why you need to go in the night before."

Reilly swallowed, unsure what to say. This was unlike any mission she has had before. "Will I be undercover?"

"Yes. If you're apprehended, knowledge of your military involvement would only hurt the plan."

Reilly's eyes widened at her harsh tone. And me too.

Before she could think of another question, the woman continued. "This may take you several hours, so an overnight stay is a must. Once you've acquired the paperwork, find a safe place and wait for your regiment to take the town."

"And if they don't?"

The woman paused. "Find your way out with the papers."

Reilly sighed, sick and tired of her abrupt and lacking answers. "Any idea where the paperwork could be? The town isn't small."

"None. But I recommend trying public buildings. They tend to have more offices."

Reilly snorted silently. And more krauts.`

The woman became impatient. "Any more questions?"

"None," Reilly repeated her words back to her. Bitch, she added silently.

"Then you'll see us when you've gotten the papers." And with a click, she hung up.

Reilly blinked several times before putting down the radio piece. Trying to wrap her head around what she just heard, she stood and walked back to Easy. Well, hell.

January 12, 1945

"You have got to be shittin' me."

Reilly immediately pulled her OD pants back on in an attempt to stay warm, even under the skirt of the hunter green dress she wore again. Back in September, the dress was cozy, even if it was annoying because of its shortness. Now it provided no cover beyond her knees.

After pulling on Tabitha's sweater, her chest was warm, but her bare legs almost froze together when her knees knocked and hit one another. Jesus Christ. The only other clothing she had with her was the thermal, tight outfit from Antwerp. If that doesn't read 'spy,' I don't know what does. The long sleeved shirt was useless with the dress, but she looked at the pants.

They could pass for black nylons, she thought desperately to herself. They have to. Trying it out, she wiggled in her foxhole, pulling off the OD pants once again and slipping on the black pair. Liebgott stood guard outside in case anyone came looking for her and got a show instead.

"Lieb," she called. "I need an opinion."

He pulled back the tarp and immediately smirked. "Can't even trust you to dress yourself."

Reilly huffed, annoyed. "Am I passable at least?"

Liebgott hopped down into the foxhole and looked her over. He took her feminine boots off, smacking her hand away when she tried to intervene. Taking another pair of woolen socks from his pocket, he put them on her feet over her pair, and rolled them down several times to the ankle.

With the boots back on, his eyes raked over her legs. If it was anyone else other than Liebgott, Reilly may have blushed from his intense stare, but she only sighed, waiting.

He nodded to himself. "Take off the sweater." She gave him a look before obeying, immediately chattering in the cold. With another smirk, he turned his back. "Unzip the dress and bring it down to your hips. Roll it inside the pants at the waist until it feels OK."

Reilly cocked an eyebrow, but silently continued with his directions, the dog tags on her chest immediately frosting over. Surprisingly, the dress felt secure, the skirt going down to almost her ankles. The wind didn't make its way through the fabric.

"OK, next."

"You can at least get the rest, doll. Jesus."

Reilly rolled her eyes, but pulled on the thermal shirt and then the sweater, the wool on her body warming her instantly. She sighed in relief. "You're a genius, Lieb."

Liebgott turned back around, figuring it was safe. "Care to say that again?"

Reilly rolled her eyes again, but smiled. "How did you know how to do any of that? You made me a goddamn skirt!"

He smirked before climbing from the foxhole and holding out a hand to help her out. "I've got three sisters. During the depression, they figured out ways to stretch their clothing. I was bound to pick up on somethin'."

She nodded and smiled. "Lucky me."

They made their way towards the center of camp, thankfully not running into Dike, the very last thing she needed, especially in a skirt. The sun was almost done setting. She would be leaving soon.

To her surprise, a line of soldiers was waiting to say goodbye to her. Luz was in front. He shrugged, grinning. "I may have let the cat outta the bag that you were leaving again."

Reilly grinned back. "Can't trust you with anything, Luz." She leaned in and gave him a big hug. "Stay outta trouble, OK? I'll see you tomorrow."

Before he could reply, he was pushed away. Martin and Randleman came next, followed by Heffron and Garcia, and even Malarkey, who seemed to resemble a little of his old self as he gave her a quick hug. "Come back to us, Franny."

Liegbott managed to sneak in there next. "Yeah, from wherever the fuck you say you're going this time."

Reilly rolled her eyes. "I didn't. I'll leave this one to your imagination. Your dirty, dirty imagination." He chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows, no doubt already scheming.

Finally, Perconte stood nearby. "Walk you back?" He motioned towards the headquarters, when he knew, in fact, she would be moving forward towards the town instead.

She smiled and nodded. After a few more hugs from the men, she and Perconte began to walk towards the woods. After a few minutes and some tree cover, they turned to the left and back towards the railroad tracks near Foy.

Stopping him at a safe distance, she grabbed his hand. "This is good, Perco."

Perconte frowned. It was getting more and more difficult to tell her goodbye, even though he knew he'd see her tomorrow. Seeing his expression, she tried to smile, but she felt the same. "Come on, Frank. Are you going to wish me luck?"

He sighed before pulling her into a hug, his lips immediately pressing against her forehead. Murmuring against her skin, he said, "I hope you don't need luck."

Reilly froze at first when she felt his lips, but she immediately kicked herself. What's wrong with you, girl? You kiss one another all the time. Thinking back, she realized she was the one that usually kissed his cheek. The only time she could remember him returning the gesture was the last time they said goodbye. Her cheeks burned once again.

Mentally shaking herself out of her own thoughts, she sighed, relieving the tension in her shoulders. "Wish me luck, anyway?"

Perconte pulled back. With a sad smile, he acquiesced. "Good luck, Fran."