I would like to state that I do not own HBO's Band of Brothers nor do I intend any disrespect. I am basing this story on the HBO mini TV series.

Please keep reviewing, I love hearing what you think about the story. Good OR bad. Suggestions are always welcome!

Big thankyous to all my readers but especially to the wonderful reviewers: Lift the Wings, Volleyball Babe22 and Emmie-Chan14

Previously on 'Angels with Dirty Faces'

Her heart broke for the man in front of her. Muck and Penkala were his closest friends and she could see it had hit him hard. She wanted to tell him how strong he looks. She wanted him to hold her, just hold her in his arms. She wanted his warmth and she wanted to feel safe, even if it was for just a tiny fraction of a second. Rose wanted him to look at her and never look away. These feelings confused her, she didn't know when she'd started seeing George as more than her best friend, but over time, he'd become so much more to her. She slipped her hand into his, and his hand tightened instantly over hers, drawing comfort from her touch. Together they sat on the log, surrounded by death and destruction, trying to make sense of the world around them.

i'll miss the winter
a world of fragile things
look for me in the white forest
hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
i know you hear me

My Last Breath by Evanescence

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Rose was sitting cross legged on the cold ground by herself the next day with her rifle in front of her when she was broken out of her thoughts by the sound of angry muttering. She grinned as the noise came closer, recognizing the voice and a moment later, George sat down in front of her with a grunt of distress.

'What's wrong?' Rose asked, looking up from where she was cleaning her rifle. 'finally run out of jokes?'

George fixed her with a glare and pinched the bridge of his nose, a look of disgust on his face.

'the lord is testing me' he groaned.

'you've been assigned to Dike for the attack on Foy?' she guessed. George was the most logical choice, he was the best radioman in the company and he was able to keep a cool head in the heat of battle, something that Dike was going to need.

'Have you been briefed?' she asked the man in front of her. 'you need to be ready for tomorrow.'

'I just really don't fucking care. Foxhole fucking Norman is going to get me killed.' George said bitterly.

All Rose could do was pat him on the shoulder. She couldn't tell him that he'd be fine, because they both knew it would be a lie. Dike was going to get a lot of people killed tomorrow.

'Dike sent out a scout party this morning' George spoke quietly, not looking at her, 'was a fucking disaster.'

Rose sucked in a breath, 'what happened?'

'Only two came back. Severely wounded according to Battalion.'

Rose swore under her breath, trying to ignore the ripple of fear that spread down her spine. She tried to focus on the weapon in her hands, wipe the barrel, check for residue on the rear aperture. Just the thought of crossing those white open fields into Foy made her palms sweat.

'Sergeant Barker, you're in First Platoon with Foley.' Dike spoke, blowing into his cupped hands trying to warm them.

'Yes sir' Rose said, keeping her face neutral.

'Okay, so we're clear on the plan of attack?' he asked, not looking at any of the officers that were grouped around them nor at the men standing behind them, listening in for instructions on the attack of Foy.

Foley answered for all of them. 'yes sir.'

'Okay' Dike clapped his hands together, 'I've gotta make a call' and he pushed past Rose and disappeared in the direction of Battalion CP.

They could only watch him go incredulously. There had been absolutely no sense at all to what Dike had instructed them to do and they were all feeling confused. What Dike had ordered was a complete contradiction to all of their basic training under Sobel in Toccoa and England.

Rose sighed and rubbed her hand absently over the top of her helmet.

'Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing.' She asked no one in particular

Babe raised his hand.

'Put your hand down Babe.' Rose said tiredly turning to pick up her weapon as Lipton stepped forward and ordered the men to start moving.

'Winter's is waiting at the assembly point,' Lipton spoke up, 'Let's take Foy boys!'

'and Rosie' Skinny spoke up and Rose just rolled her eyes.

'and Rosie' Lipton amended as Easy Company moved out.

'Someone's being a negative Ned.' Perconte spoke to Rose as they walked slowly through the woods to where they would meet up with Winters to take the town.

Liebgott turned and grinned 'in Rose's case, a negative Nancy.' He said cheekily with a wink at Rose, forcing some dry laughs from the men around them.

'I'm just trying to prepare myself' Rose spoke out, frustrated at the command being given to Easy Company. Her brow was furrowed in consternation.

'Hope for the best but prepare for the worst' George drawled, imitating one of Colonel Sink's many inspirational one-liners.

Rose whirled to look at him 'that was actually pretty good.' She said, surprised.

George screwed up his nose at her. 'it hurts at how astonished you sound.'

Rose unslung her rifle and checked the chamber, her gun needed to be spotless for the attack; there was no room for error. One mistake and she was dead.

'You ready, Rosie?' George asked, nudging her gently in the side.

'As ready as I'll ever be,' she replied smiling up at him. The smile made George's heart constrict, she was beautiful even with the dirt staining her cheek.

Rose quirked her eyebrow at him, silently asking him why his face had suddenly looked so serious.

'it's reassuring that even after all we've been through, you're still…well, beautiful.' He shrugged, unsure of what he was really trying to say.

Rose stopped, letting the last few soldiers pass them, ignoring the curious glances that the others were giving them. She waited until they were alone on the trail before replying slowly.

'I'm not.'

And she wasn't. Rose knew that she had scars on her face; memories left behind from D-day and Bastogne. She was dirty and her uniform was ripped, her nails were short and broken, her lips cracked. Rose looked down at her hands, she had bruises and cuts everywhere from the constant barrage of artillery. She knew that her hair was a mess and her nose ran.

Rose was a murderer. A killer. She had blood on her hands.

But George just kept looking at her calmly with an unreadable expression.

'I think you are.' He said simply

She couldn't look at him. She didn't know why he was saying these things before they were going into battle. What was the point? They might never see each other again. Rose found that the thought of never seeing George again made her insides clench and she flinched, pushing the thought away. She glanced up at her best friend, unsure of what to say, she decided that humour would be the easiest way to defuse the situation. Grinning cheekily she batted her eyelashes at him like she'd seen actresses do in the movies.

'If there's anything I love, it's a spontaneous compliment.' But anything further she was about to say was cut off as George bent forward and pressed his lips against hers. He didn't know what prompted him to do so, but he couldn't seem to help himself.

It took Rose a moment to realise that she was being kissed by George. She didn't know what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn't the explosion of senses that she felt when his lips moved across her own, moulding the contours of her lips to his. He held her tightly and Rose found that she didn't care. She wrapped her arms around George's neck, clinging as tightly to him as he was to her, glorying in the feel of his warm skin through his uniform, the scent that she knew so well and was so uniquely George.

George knew that they had to stop, that people would come looking for them and reluctantly he pulled away and pressed a small kiss to her nose.

Rose looked up at him dazed, smiling softly as he straightened the front of her jacket, pulling the collar up and smoothing down the material absently.

He winked at her, and picked up his gun from where it was lying on a tree stump next to them.

'You sure you're up to this?' he asked, his eyes twinkling, marvelling at the happiness that made him feel invincible. Kissing her had felt right. She was right. She was his flower.

'cause I can handle it if you don't want to break a nail or anything.' He teased, as Rose came to her senses and punched him hard on the arm.

'gaaahdammit Rosie, stop hitting me.' He rubbed his arm as she smiled at him sweetly.

Shaking his head laughing, he started to walk forward to catch up with the rest of the men.

'you'll drive me crazy Rosie Barker'

'but you'll always like me, right?' she laughed from behind him

'no.' he called over his shoulder as they reached the edge of the forest. 'you, I'll always love.'

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