Hello!

So, this is it. I'm afraid that this will be the next last chapter of The Paratroopers. Yes, there's only one chapter left before the epilogue :'(.

I started this chapter out with a 3rd person POV since I had something I would like to put into the story I found important.

Thank you all for the major support during this story - it really means a lot to me :')

Disclaimer: I do not own Band of Brothers, only Olivia Mae and her story. All credit goes to Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Stephen E. Ambrose, and everyone who were involved in making this incredible true story about friendship, brotherhood and the bonds you make with one another while in the horrors of war.

Enjoy ;-).

Chapter 36:

July, 1945 – Zell-Am-See, Austria:

3rd Person POV:

"I've decided. I got the points, I'm going back to Kitty" Harry spoke as him and Nixon sat on one of the many, large outdoor stairwells with a stunning view out over the large lake, running right past their quarters.

"Harry, do you really think Kitty hasn't run off with some F-4 by now?" Nix asked teasingly.

Harry frowned, letting out a little nervous laugh "Son of a bitch, that's not even funny."

"Harry, ignore him" Major Winters told his friend as he arrived.

"How am I supposed to tell her I could have come home finally but decided to jump on Tokyo?" Harry wondered.

"All right. So don't tell her" Nix told him, making Harry chuckle, shaking his head while Nix continued "I mean, she waited for three years, we'll be back in two years, three tops."

Harry shrugged "It'll probably be over before you get there. You know, for reality, you're gonna sit here six months waiting, and I'll be in Wilkes-Barre making babies."

The young Major furrowed a brow at his best friend "You didn't tell him?"

Nixon chuckled "No, I couldn't get him to shut up."

"What?" Harry questioned, looking at the two men in front of him "Tell me what?"

"Guts and Glory here asked for a transfer" Nixon told, looking up at the Major.

Harry furrowed his brows, looking up at his superior officer and friend "What?"

"13th Airborne are heading out for the Pacific right away. If I'm going, I wanna get it over with."

Harry turned to Nix when he saw Dick look down at his dark-haired friend "Are you on this too?"

Nix smirked "Well, I can't let him go by himself, he doesn't know where it is."

Dick frowned at that as Harry asked "So, you're leaving the men?"

"They don't need me anymore" Dick told in confidence.

"What about Olivia?" Harry wondered, not believing the little girl would be heading to the Pacific with the men. She had seen more than enough of what anyone on her age should see.

Dick frowned again, looking down at Nixon "You didn't tell him that either?"

Nix shrugged "As I told you, I couldn't get loud-mouth to shut up."

"What? Tell me what?"

B.o.B

Later that day:

"Wounded in Normandy?" the officer Major Winters were to talk with about his requested transfer, questioned, reading through the young Major's impressive file.

"Yes, sir. In the leg. It was a minor flesh wound."

"Company E lost 24 men killed there" the officer spoke regretfully.

Dick hesitated, gulping by the thought "Yes, sir. Seventeen were in my commander's plane. It went down on D-Day."

"You were given the commanding of the company on D-Day?"

"That's right."

"In Holland, they bumped you to Battalion XO" the officer continued.

"Yes, sir."

"Bastards took your company away" the officer said, like he was trying to get some hidden feelings forward in Dick, but he remained calm and collected, as the man he was.

"I fired my last shots there" Dick chimed.

The officer furrowed his brows, looking up "For the whole damn war?"

Dick nodded "Yes, sir."

"You got through Bastogne without firing your weapon?" the officer asked, not believing he had heard it right.

"That is correct, sir."

"You were on the line the whole time?"

"Yes, sir."

The officer shook his head "Can't imagine a tougher test for a leader. Having to sit through a siege like that, under those conditions."

"We got through it " Dick replied calmly, having small flashbacks of his and his men's war.

"Then there's Olivia."

Dick was ripped out of his thoughts, hearing the little healer's name. Though, he had requested for a transfer, he would make sure that Olivia got home to the States. He would not allow the small girl he had come to care for to go the Pacific with the men. She had seen enough of war.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Olivia Mae" the officer repeated "Born 1935 – of a Jewish family, have been with you since D-Day. Got shot in Bastogne, survived the airraid on Christmas Eve, then returned to the company. She has been through much with you and the men. She is a healer."

Dick nodded, fighting to not show a smile by the thought of the little brave girl "She has indeed, sir. She got through it, but not without scars, both mentally and physically."

The officer nodded " And without you, she wouldn't have lasted long, I'm sure. Both before and after if Colonel Sink haven't given the permission to let her stay."

The Major gulped by the thought, but did have to answer "I agree with you, sir. She wouldn't have."

"But I can imagine that you don't want her to go to the Pacific with the men?"

Richard looked up "No, sir. She has seen way too much a girl on her age should have seen, and hopefully never will see again."

The man before him nodded "That I agree with you about, Major. I will make sure to find a way to get her back to the States, and to one of your men who have been sent home?"

Dick nodded "Yes, sir. Staff Sergeant, Joseph Toye. He got his leg blown off in Bastogne. One of the toughest men of Company E and also one of the best. He got very close to Olivia during her time with us. He's a good man, sir."

The officer nodded "I will figure something out then."

"Thank you, sir."

"So why do you want a transfer?"

The question caught Dick completely off guard, he had to ask again "Sorry, sir?"

"Why do you want to leave your men?"

"It's not that, sir, it's that if the war is still on in the Pacific and I could do some good...over there."

The officer eyed him closely "Looking to have your own division some day?"

"No, sir "Dick replied.

"Not gonna make a career of the Army?"

"No. Ye—Well, I don't know, sir."

"If you think you need more experience to get stars on your helmet...let me tell you something, son. You've done enough" the officer told him, sounding like a father.

"Thank you, sir. That's not my objective."

The officer sighed "Major, I took this meeting out of respect for your achievements. And for the 101st. If they go to the Pacific eventually...then you should be running one of the battalions."

Dick nodded "Thank you, sir."

"And frankly, your men earned the right to keep you around."

"Yes, sir...thank you, sir."

"So I would stay in Austria for the time being, waiting for orders...and trying to watch over soldiers with no enemy to fight..."

Olivia's POV:

Webby sighed "I fucking hate this, Lieb."

Frankly, I didn't like it either. Skinny, Webby, Lieb and I had been driving through the stunning fields of Austria to 'eliminate' a Nazi who had been one of the heads of a labor camp. I didn't know what 'eliminate' was but I had seen Ron who had given the order, give Lieb a weird look.

I sat in the back with Webby while Skinny and Lieb sat up front.

"Oh, Jesus Christ, they fingered him! One of the fucking Polacks at the slave camps said this is where he lived" Lieb replied irritated.

"What camp?" I questioned silently.

"Whatever camp" Lieb replied.

I was shocked of his mood. Of course I knew he was Jewish like me but I didn't flip out.

"I'm under direct orders and I'm happy to follow it" Lieb, putting the security on his sidearm off, jumping out of the jeep, followed by Skinny. I'd rather stay in the jeep but I didn't want to be alone as Web also jumped out and ran up to Lieb.

I walked silently, looking down at my feet beside Skinny who held a hand on my back.

"Is this a personal thing, Joe?" I heard Web ask up front.

"What?"

"Is this..personal to you?"

"No, it's a goddamn order" Lieb sneered.

"Does Major Winters know?" Web kept going.

"Doesn't matter..."

"The fuck it doesn't!" I jumped slightly of Web's outburst.

"What if he's just a soldier, an officer with no ties to the SS? What if he's innocent?"

"What if he's a fucking Nazi Commandant of a fucking slave camp?" Lieb shot back.

"Which one? Which camp? You don't have any proof!" Web let out frustrated.

Lieb stopped, turning to face him "Were you at Landsberg?"

I cringed by the thought, feeling Web take a look back at me before turning to Joe who had followed his gaze "You know I was."

"Think he's a soldier like you and me? A fucking innocent German officer?" Lieb looked quickly at me before saying the last thing to Web "Where the hell you been for the past three years?"

When we reached the house, I stopped, showing them I would wait outside. None of them said anything, only giving me sad looks before their faces became hard as stone again.

I heard Lieb shout at the German in there and the two others searching through the house.

I caught Lieb shout 'You did this to my people!' before the door opened, Web coming out standing beside me, lightening a cigarette, his fingers shaking.

Then Skinny came out, standing behind me, putting both his hands on my shoulders.

"He's guilty. Liebgott says so" he told Web.

"Then he probably is" Web replied with no emotion in his voice, except a bit shaky.

Suddenly a shot rung out, making all three of us to jump before the door burst open, the German running out, holding his hand up to his bleeding neck. Then Lieb came out, aiming at the man, me closing my eyes. I heard a click and then heard Lieb curse, telling Web to shoot the Nazi.

"Shoot him!"

I thought I was flying, that high I jumped.

"No" Web replied calmly as the German were about the get away. I jumped once again as a single shot rung out, the German falling to the ground face-first, shot in the back by Skinny who had tears in his eyes.

The drive back was done in silence. I sat in the back with Skinny, who had pulled me against him so I rested my tired head with tearful eyes on his shoulder, him rubbing my back.

"Officers don't run" Lieb told as my first sob came out quietly.

"The war's over, anybody would run" Web told nonchalantly.

Summer in the Alpine paradise should have been a welcome relief. Especially now that we were at peace with the Germans. Everyone just wanted to go home.

B.o.B

I had asked Richard to get to the guard duty area where John Janovec had guard duty right now along with another soldier I didn't know, a German I think. He had approved. Web would come later.

I sat on the ground watching as trucks, cars and other vehicles drove by after being checked by John and the other man.

"France. France was the best" the man told John. They were talking about the different countries they had been in. Or, for the most it was the other man talking.

"Really?" John asked.

"Yeah...Five years. I think I was in every country, but France was the best" the man replied as John lightened his cigarette.

"Italy would be second for me. Russia is not desirable. Ukraine, it was okay" the soldier continued waving a German past.

"So.. when you get out?" John asked.

The soldier shrugged "The unit is discharged. We leave when my captain gets transferred. It is the end of my second war."

"Jesus!" John breathed.

"I'm going home now, to Mannheim."

"I'll take this one" John said as a truck arrived with German soldiers.

"Passkarte, bitte" he spoke, checking the passcard before waving the truck forward "Okay."

He then saluted the German soldiers in the truck which some of them returned.

"Hey, Webster. My relief!" John smiled.

"Don't salute the Germans" Web told like he was talking to a little child.

"Oh, come on. I get a kick out of it. Anyway, I got me a new enemy. The Japs. Seventy-five points. How about you? I mean, you're a Toccoa guy, right? How many you got?" John asked.

Web let out a smile hint of smile "Wouldn't you like to know."

A German soldier on crutches then gave a passcard to Web.

"Discharged, huh?" Web asked.

John looked at the passcard over his shoulder.

"Go, ahead, take off. It's my turn" Web told him, waving him off.

"Okay, see you at the farm. You coming, Livy?" John asked, helping me up onto the truck, me waving at Web who suddenly said "Eighty-one."

"Huh?" John asked.

"I have eighty-one points" Web repeated as the jeep slowly started to drive.

John chuckled "Well, that's just not good enough."

We had only been driving a couple of meters when a passing truck drove down in a rabbit-hole, a barrel falling off, right in front of us.

"Turn the wheel!" John shouted, before looking back at me with that sad look I had seen before, grabbing me by the collar, tossing me off the truck, right before it drove off the road, colliding with a tree. He knew he was going to die. I wrapped my arms around myself, sobbing. I hadn't been hurt badly since John had tossed me so 'gently' he could.

"Jesus" Web breathed over me, looking at the crashed jeep before kneeling down to me.

"Livy, you okay?" he asked concerned, turning me carefully.

I looked up at him with tears rolling down my cheeks "John...he..sacrificed..me."

More I didn't get to say before Web took me in his arms, shushing me down.

I had now lost two John's. Both having sacrificed themselves for me.

"It's Pvt. Janovec" the medic told Ron and Richard as Web and I had been taking back with John's body in an ambulance, me wrapped up in a blanket.

"He was dead when they brought him in" the medic continued. I couldn't get myself to look at Janovec's face, his always happy looking face was now lying on a stretcher with his eyes closed, looking like he was in a peaceful sleep. He would never wake up again, though.

"Seventy-five points" Web said bitterly from somewhere beside me.

"What?" Ron questioned.

"He was ten points short."

I didn't understand – why did more soldiers have to die?

The enemy had surrendered, but somehow men were still dying. Young men, who wanted to be home with their families by now...who'd served since before Normandy, were stuck here because they lacked points. They did have plenty of weapons, alcohol and too much time on their hands...

B.o.B

That very same evening, I was on the road again, just with Chuck and two privates from his platoon in the jeep this time. The men and Richard meant it would be good for me to think of something else than John's death so I would be going with them to check up on the checkpoints.

Currently, Chuck was telling the two privates about Bill Guarnere whom I missed so much, Richard himself driving by from another road, Chuck saluting the Major whom saluted back.

"Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a guy jumps out of the hedgerow and shoves a knife against his throat and screams 'Whose side are you on?'" Chuck laughed.

"I don't get it" one of the privates said confused, making me smile.

"It's D-Day" Chuck explains "It's 2nd platoon's own Bill Guarnere. Old Gonorrhea himself. Just landed in Normandy, all wound up. 'Whose side are you on?' What a fucking character."

"What happened to him?"

Chuck felt my uneasy shift in my seat since he took my hand before replying, stopping as a shocking sight had its scene in front of us "Got his leg blown off in Bastogne. Wait here."

"Chuck, no" I whispered, holding onto his arm.

He smiled assuring at me, stroking my cheek before walking against the only living man on the road before us. There was two vehicles with its light on, showing the raindrops falling quickly.

The man looked like being drunk as he was zigzagging. I gulped when I saw he had a gun in his hand. That would explain the two officers lying lifeless on the road.

"You okay, Mac? You need some help?" Chuck asked carefully, eying the gun.

The drunken G.I laughed waving his gun up in the air "They wouldn't give me any gas...krauts!"

Chuck neared as the private continued "I tried to explain...This fucking limey wouldn't listen! I think he was a Major."

The G.I then did a lame kind of salute.

"Look, private, we got a problem here" Chuck spoke.

"Do you have any gas?" the private asked.

"Why don't you give me your weapon?" Chuck asked, holding out his hand.

'Mac' turned "Well, I guess I'll just use his jeep. I don't think he's gonna need it."

Chuck then walked after 'Mac' "Hold on a second, all right?"

I didn't realize that Chuck had been shot in the head before after I heard the wheels of one of the vehicles screech as 'Mac' drove off in the other direction.

"Jesus!"

"Sarge! Sergeant Grant!"

I screamed when reality hit me "CHUCK!"

Eh *smiling sheepishly* sorry about the cliffhanger but I had to cut it off that way :) Forgive me?

*sigh* Next last chapter - it feels like I only started this a week ago or something. Gosh...

However, feedback's much appreciated - 'To want all of it you might have for me'! :D

-LovingBOBThePacific/Camilla