The next morning, Claire and the rest of Easy Company woke up with terrible hangovers. They reluctantly loaded up the truck, their orders were to leave Berghtesgaden and to go to Austria. They were no longer a combat unit, instead, they became an occupation unit. No one wanted to leave the elegant village, that is until they reached the Austrian countryside.

They drove past surrendered German soldiers, they walked proudly, casting looks over at the shabby and hung-over American's. They must've wondered how these men were the ones that defeated them.

If Claire thought Germany was the most beautiful country she'd ever seen, it was quickly dethroned by Austria. Every inch of the country looked like something out of a fairy tale. The sky was clear blue, the grass perfectly green, it was untouched by war. The mountains were breathtaking. She'd never seen anything quite like it.

"D'you think they'll make us run up those or ski down?" Talbert asked.

The other thing about Austria the boys seemed to like were the abundance of beautiful blonde women. Claire laughed as the men flirted with them.

"Hey! Hi! You're beautiful!" Skinny said as he waved at two blonde girls.

"Trying to find the 'one'?" She asked him.

"The one for tonight," he replied.

Claire rolled her eyes but laughed. "Just make sure to wrap it up."

Riding in the back of that truck with her boys was probably the most at peace she'd felt in a very long time.

The town of Zell-Am-See was picturesque. Claire met up with Lew, Ron, Dick, Lip, Harry, and the other officers at the large mansion overlooking the large clear blue lake.

"I think we'll be comfortable here," Lew said.

"I'm claiming a room with a view," she declared.

What a view it was. The bed was large, much fancier than any other she'd stayed in. There was a large vanity on the right side of the room. A brown door led out to a balcony overlooking the lake. There were large windows with white curtains decorating them. There was a large mahogany dresser. Another door led to an adjoining bathroom. She had her own bathroom. Standing there, Claire couldn't help but feel low-class. This is the kind of place she imagined some grand duchess to stay, not a tired, dirty army nurse.

She took a bath and scrubbed the grime off of her until she felt clean. She changed into a new, fresh uniform. She bloused her trousers over her boots and then headed out. It was nice not having to put her helmet on. She found Lew, Dick, Harry, and Ron in the study. All of them looked as clean as she did.

"I could get used to this place," Claire said as she walked into the room. "So, what's going on?"

"German Colonel just surrendered. He's on his way in to do it formally," Dick explained. That essentially was Claire's cue to not be around.

"Where's medical being set up? I'm guessing they're not far," she deduced.

"They're setting up in the school in the middle of town," Harry told her.

"Alright, that's where I'll be then," she said before starting to walk away.

"Wait, Claire, before you go there's something we wanted to give you," Lew told her. Claire turned back around and he tossed her a black box. She opened it to reveal the double bars.

"Congratulations, Captain," Dick told her. Claire grinned, the pride swelled in her chest.

She removed the single bar on her collar and replaced it with the new one. She heard the front door open.

"I'll take that as my cue to leave," she said before exiting.

Of course, Eugene was already at the station by the time she got there. They were setting up the post-op room on the west side of the gymnasium with at least twelve cots. Claire saw Wilkes and went over to get the low-down on what they were working with.

"Most we're expecting at this point are sickness and accidents," he explained.

"Alright, then we do shift work," she said. "Day shift and night shift."

"Yes, of course."

"So we've got the surgical ward, post-op, pre-op, and general evac. Where are the men staying?" She asked.

"We took the house next door. Jones's is there now with MacDonald setting up," Wilkes added. "You know; you don't have to help set up."

"Well, I'm not doin' anything else," she shrugged.

"Then come on and help... Congratulations on the promotion, Captain Rousseau."

"Thank you, Captain Wilkes. Feel free to use Doc Roe and me. We are at your disposal."

"Already done. Good thing too. Four of my men were transferred out," he explained. "Which means I'm back to only Jones, O'Connor, Spina, and the replacement MacDonald."

Spina had been with them since Claire went back to Easy Company in Bastogne. It was almost like they did a switch.

"Well, good thing you got us then."

"Got a letter from Carson the other day. Said he's back in the States at some hospital in New York," Wilkes told her.

She hadn't heard anything about Carson in months.

"Good. Is he still…?" She couldn't bear to say the word.

"Paralyzed? Yeah. He doesn't blame you though."

She didn't need to know the last bit, but hearing the reassurance did make her feel a little better.

"Thank you for letting me know," she said. "I'm gonna get to work."

Claire walked away from Wilkes and over to Eugene. He looked at the double bars on her collar.

"Captain, huh?" He questioned.

"Mhm, looks like it," she stated.

"Congratulations," he told her with a smile. "It's about time."

"Thank you," she replied with a warm smile. The promotion was flattering. "So, where are you staying now?"

"With First Platoon," he said. It made sense, Eugene started off in First before he became a medic. "Luz and me are sharing a room."

Suddenly, she felt awfully guilty about having that massive room all to herself.

"Got a bed, shower too. I'm not complaining," he said seemingly sensing how tense she got.

"That's good."

"I wonder what we're gonna do now," Gene pondered.

"We might actually be bored for once," she said. "I think being bored'll be a nice change."

"Yeah," he said somewhat absentmindedly.

"Gene, what's on your mind?" She asked.

"Some of the men and I were talking… d'you think they'll redeploy us to the Pacific?" He questioned.

Claire fluffed the pillow before laying it down on another cot. "I dunno. They might… honestly Gene, you know they don't tell me anything. I'll probably find out when you do."

"The war's still goin' on there," he reminded.

"I'm well aware."

"I hope they don't," he admitted.

"I do to," she added. "Every one of you deserves to get on that big boat home… but, if they do… we'll make it."

Eugene said nothing before nodding. Claire knew that hoping and praying was futile. If they were going to the Pacific, then they were going. There was nothing they could do. Claire had confidence in the men. She knew they could handle Hell.

June 1945

She'd been right. Barely two days after arriving in Austria, the men were gathered in a room and watched a propaganda film from some place called Okinawa. She watched the screen as the devastating war scenes played on her screen. When they shot footage of a dead soldier, Claire looked away. She knew what death looked like. She didn't need to be reminded about it.

They were being redeployed to the Pacific. At least, that was the rumor that was looking to be true. A points system was introduced, at eighty-five points, soldiers were eligible to be discharged. If they did not, they were heading to another war. The points were awarded based on certain aspects: marital status, combat experience, rank, medals, and wounds. The unfortunate reality was that hardly any of the enlisted men had enough to go home. Not even Toccoa men, not if their only medal was a Purple Heart. The officers did. It was a stupid system in her mind. It wasn't fair.

She and Gene were always paired up to work in the aid station. They alternated with O'Connor, Jones, MacDonald, Spina, and the medics from Fox and Dog companies. Wilkes worked during the day and remained on-call during the night just in case they needed a surgeon. They did four on, four off. Dog had two medics and Fox only had one. Tonight, they were paired with Fox Company's medic, Suarez, and MacDonald. The aid station had been empty for the most part, minus a few cuts and bruises from drunken brawls. A few soldiers got sick. Suarez and MacDonald were fast asleep on cots, Eugene and Claire were still up and playing cards, not for money of course.

"Ace's high," she declared as she dealt the cards.

"How many points do you have?" Eugene asked.

She'd been getting and asking that question a lot the past few days, ever since they announced it, but she'd never asked Gene. They talked about everything and anything else.

"Doesn't matter," Claire shrugged.

"Why?"

"It's different for nurses. When we sign up, it's for the war plus six months. I'm not leaving the men," she explained. She wasn't sure if it was entirely true, but she wanted to stay with her men. "How many do you have?"

She silently prayed he said eighty-five.

"Seventy-eight," he answered. "Guess I'm staying too."

She felt her heart sink.

"This entire thing is ridiculous. You deserve to go home."

"So do you."

What home? She thought to herself.

"I don't know if I want to be a surgical nurse anymore," she admitted. She slid two cards from her hand. "Two."

She picked up the new ones and mentally sighed. These one's weren't all that great either.

"What?" He asked.

"I've been thinking about it quite a bit since you asked me… I don't think I can go back to it," she continued.

"You love it, don't you?"

"I did… I do… but I dunno. I think I've seen enough traumatic surgeries for a lifetime," she replied. "Back in Bastogne when Wilkes was busy… sometimes I had to do the surgery. Never something too complicated but… holding a man's life in your hands... If they died, it was me that killed them."

"You never told me that," he stated.

"You saw how bad it got. I did what I could, but it wasn't always enough. The calls that I made… Melville and Renée…"

"It wasn't your fault."

She would always have that guilt in her heart. "I still want to help people, but I want to do it another way."

"Change can be good," he said.

"What do you want to do after it's over?" She asked. He looked slightly caught off guard by the question. "You asked me before but I never did the same. Seems safer to ask now, don't you think? So, what d'you want to do?"

"I… probably work in construction," he shrugged. "I've always like building things. Did it all the time as a kid."

"What did you build?" She asked curiously. She didn't know this about him.

"Before the floods, we used to have this playhouse in the yard, but it got swept away. When we moved to Morgan City… my sister stayed cooped up inside the house all the time, so I helped my father build her another one," he explained fondly. She didn't hear about his family often, only on occasion, just as he didn't hear much about hers.

"What about a wife?" She asked. "I mean… you asked if that's what I wanted… d'you want that too?"

"Mhmm," Eugene answered. "I wanna get married. Have a family."

For a brief moment, Claire imagined Eugene as a father and a husband. He'd be good at both, she knew that. Eugene was the kind of man who would love completely unconditionally. Never trying to change them.

It was the kind of man she wanted.

What?

"There's gotta be a way to get you enough points," she stated quickly changing the subject and pushing the thought out.

"It's alright, Claire," he assured. "A lot of men got it worst than me… Shifty's missing fifteen."

"Shifty's been in every campaign… How is he missing fifteen?" She asked.

"Was never wounded," Gene explained. "Some guys are missing two, three… others ten."

"I feel guilty… I've got enough but I'm not going anywhere," she told him. "But then there's good men like Shifty… like you… who should be back home instead of here."

"Maybe we won't even go," he told her. "Maybe we'll get lucky."

Claire scoffed. "When have we ever been lucky?"

"Well… we're both alive. That's pretty lucky," he shrugged.

"You're right."

"It'll be a year tomorrow since Normandy," Eugene told her. A year? Was that all?

"Feels like it's been a decade," Claire huffed.

"I fold," he said. She'd forgotten they were playing cards.

A day later, long after their night shift at the aid station had been finished, Claire and the rest of Easy Company were gathered for a ceremony in commemoration of D-Day. She stood in front of the stage on Ron's right. She remained in the attention position until Ron said 'at ease'.

"General Taylor is aware that many veterans, including Normandy veterans still do not have the points required to be discharged," Ron spoke. "On this, the anniversary of D-Day, he has authorized a lottery to send one man home from every company effective immediately."

Claire tried to keep her smile at bay. She knew that this lottery was not exactly random. In fact, when Claire went to go see Ron, Harry, and Dick after she finished at the aid station to talk about the points system and how they could try to work around it, they worked a way to help their men.

"For Easy Company, the winner is: serial number 13066266, Sergeant Darrell C. Powers."

There were hoots and cheers from the men. Claire smiled brightly. Shifty Powers had saved the lives of everyone in Easy Company on a few occasions. In Bastogne, he saw an 88 cannon that no one else could see because he spotted a tree that wasn't there the previous day. In Foy, he took out the sniper that almost killed her.

With fifteen points to go, Shifty Powers was going home.

The good news was cut short however by Ron announcing the thing they were all dreading. The 101st Airborne was being redeployed to the Pacific. Starting tomorrow morning, they were beginning to train for another war.

"Make sure you stay off that ankle," Claire advised O'Keefe as she finished wrapping his ankle. He'd twisted it while doing PT that morning. It was a bad sprain, it was dark purple and blue. "I'm serious. It'll make it worst if you push it too far."

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

"And if Lieutenant Peacock gives you any trouble, you tell him to come see me," she ordered. When Peacock returned from his furlough, he became an even bigger jerk. "I've got some crutches."

"Thank you, ma'am," he replied.

She got him the crutches and gave them to him. "Get some rest."

O'Keefe hobbled out of the aid station Claire huffed and sat the nearest cot. She pulled out her pack of smokes and took one out for herself and brought it to her lips. She lit it and inhaled.

"Captain Rousseau?"

Claire looked up to see Shifty Powers. She knew he was starting the long trip home today.

"Shifty, hi… all ready to go?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am, got all my paperwork done. Got all my loot," he answered. "I just wanted to thank you."

"Shifty, you don't need to. I should be thanking you for saving me back in Foy. I'm happy you're going home."

"I don't rightly know how I'm gonna explain everything…" He drifted off.

"You don't have to," she told him. "Not if you don't want to."

He pondered over it for a moment. Claire got up from the cot and held out her hand. Shifty grasped it and they shook hands.

"Good luck, Shifty."

"Good luck to you."

Then Shifty left. She would find out later that his truck, which was taking him towards a train and then a boat home, but he was hit on by a head on collision. He lived but he broke his pelvis, his arm, and had a bad concussion. He would spend months in a series of hospitals, he wouldn't make it home until long after she did.

One thing I would like to specify before the rest of this note, I know Spina was not transferred out of Easy. I know he remained there until the end of the war. I took a few creative liberties since, especially in the show, he is not mentioned after Bastogne. Typically, each company had two medics and so it made sense that Spina wouldn't be there because Claire is.

Please let me know what you thought about this chapter. Thank you to those who reviewed! The war in Europe may be over but there is still a lot of story left to go. Also currently working on Eleanor's story, I hope you guys will read that as well. I'm not too far but I'm gaining momentum on it.