A/N:

Thank you drovingallday96 for the review! Thank you so much for your kind words! It always pleases me to know that I'm able to keep things realistic even in the hard circumstances. Poor Marie is under so much stress, but everyone understands so I'm glad you appreciate that part lol. I know I sound like a broken record, but thank you for your continued support :)

Thank you kEs-2717 for the review! Jackson's death always breaks my heart because it was one of the deaths that could have been easily prevented. Always happy to hear you're looking forward to more!

Thank you BobtheFrog for the review! I'm also conflicted by Cobb. In Webster's book I remember Web describing him as good-natured, but the show portrays him to be so mean. I mean he was dishonorably discharged in real life, but still. It's one of those strange things. Haha yes! Marie can always count on papa Lipton lol.

First update of the new year! Happy 2015 everybody! Dialogue from the episode and from the book. There's more conflicting dates with the TV show and Malarkey's book. In the show they only stay in Haguenau for a day or two, in the book they stayed there for three weeks. I decided to follow the show with that one. Thank you all for reading - I appreciate it immensely! :)


After Malarkey walked Marie to OP2, she shut herself inside her room thinking carelessly that she'd be alone. She wanted nothing more on this chaotic planet than to let him inside her room, but it was still daylight out and he needed to help prepare for the patrol. Marie closed the dark wooden door behind her, leaning against it and exhaling a deep breath as her eyes closed slowly, a headache already forming behind her eyes. Just thinking about reliving last night's mistakes all over again made her head throb. A faint rustling coming from the other side of the room alerted her. She opened her eyes to find Abernathy leaning over Barbara's bed, squinting down at something that she held in her hands. Marie observed her a moment, Abernathy's posture intent on whatever she was studying; she was so focused she didn't even notice Marie had entered the room.

"What are you doing?"

Abernathy let out a sharp gasp, whipping her head around in Marie's direction. Her eyes grew wide like a deer in headlights as she froze under Marie's scrutinizing gaze. She went to hide whatever she was looking at behind her back but she knew it was pointless, Marie had already seen her. She dipped her head in guilt like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar as she held out the item that her slender fingers curled around. Marie arched a brow, stepping closer, making Abernathy wince as Marie studied the object. It was a flimsy magazine with a picture of a scantily clad woman dressed in polka-dot lingerie that was coming undone at the top, while the giggly woman attempted to hold it up to keep her modesty. Marie glimpsed back at Abernathy, awaiting an explanation as to why she had a girly magazine in her possession.

"I was just trying to make Private Goode's bed for her, when I saw that she had this stuffed under her pillow." Abernathy explained promptly, biting her lip as she finished. "Should… uh, I be concerned as to why she has this?"

Marie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just don't worry about it, Harper. Put the magazine back where you found it and don't breathe a word of this to anyone."

Abernathy hurriedly did as she was told, neatly stuffing the magazine back under Barb's pillow. She smoothed out the creases on the pillow and bed, hoping to wipe any evidence away of Barb's things being tampered with. Abernathy's eyes flitted back toward Marie's enervated figure, her mouth full on words but unsure as how to present them. She stumbled with her thoughts a moment until words finally managed to spill from her.

"Is Private Goode a… um…"

"Listen just don't get into it okay? Talking about it could get her into serious trouble. Barbara is a good friend and I don't give a shit who or what she's attracted to." Marie dismissed irritably, not wanting to talk about it. There was a distinct reason she told Liebgott back in Noville that she wasn't his type, and she wasn't about to spill the beans to a person she'd just met yesterday. Barbara deserved that much, and Marie wasn't sure if she could fully trust Abernathy.

Abernathy nodded, her face drawn in worriment as it usually was. She fidgeted with her hands as she paced back to her bed; sitting down on it as her mind raced with a way to ease the awkward tension that she'd created. Marie teetered onto her bed, lying on her back as she closed her eyes and prayed for sleep consume her for a few hours. As she started to get settled the door to the women's quarters flung open, causing Abernathy to yelp and Marie to groan in instant annoyance. Lipton stood in the doorway, his tiny eyes narrowed purposely on Marie.

"Marie we need to talk." Lipton stated briskly. Marie could sense his tone was serious to the point where it seemed almost nauseatingly parental. Lipton's eyes drifted over to Abernathy, looking stunned and out of place as usual. "Would you excuse us, Private Harper?"

"Oh-Oh, yes sir!" She chirped, getting right to her feet. She scurried out the door, thankful for an excuse to leave the tension filled room; she passed him the two of them, her eyes downcast.

Lipton waited until he heard the door closed, then crossed his arms exhaling heavily like a person deeply disappointed. "How long have you been having this affair?"

Marie fought the sensation to roll her eyes, working her jaw in irritation that he'd even brought it up. She was hoping he'd just drop it or forget what he'd seen last night. Marie averted her eyes from him, her eyes catching on anything in the small room that could draw her attention away long enough until he'd leave. Lipton waited for an answer, his eyes canvassed her until she could feel the physical weight of them boring into her flesh. He wasn't going to let this go until he gave her a proper scolding.

"Marie-"

"For God sakes Lip, let it go. We're not having an affair."

"Don't lie to me. You know how much trouble you can get into for this? You know how fast the brass will discharge you if they found out you're sleeping with one of the men? Not only that, it would be a dishonorable discharge! You're smarter than this, Marie!" He commented crossly, as if she wasn't aware of any of that.

"I slept with Malarkey one time! I'm not the only soldier who's gotten some on the side you know! Besides, it's nobodies business anyway!" She retaliated, jabbing her pointer finger in his direction. "You told me last night 'don't get caught', I was kind of hoping you'd leave it at that."

"Look, I don't want you to do something you'll regret. Being a woman on the front lines is already difficult, I know you know that. You need to be careful. If Speirs or Sink found out-"

"You really think the CO will give a damn? And I rarely ever see Sink." Marie interrupted, her tone so thick with skepticism she could laugh.

"He's really by the book, I'm not sure how he'd react but that's not something I think you'd want to find out. All I'm asking you to do is be careful and think about your actions and the consequences." Lipton stressed.

"Did it ever occur to you that I might actually be in love with Malarkey, huh?" She heard herself say before she could clamp her mouth shut. She drew back, astonished by her own words. Lipton's stern expression softened. Marie's eyes focused on the floorboards as she nervously tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She felt exposed under Lipton's affable stare, he understood how she was feeling, he was a married man after all. He'd crossed that bridge before.

"That's not all I came to talk to you about." Lipton replied, changing the subject. She still refused to look at him as he patiently waited for any sign to continue on. "Winters wants everyone to gather in the mess hall for a quick briefing before the second patrol."

Marie gave him a churlish look, not meant for him personally but for the very idea of the stupid patrol. He signaled for her to follow him out and she reluctantly did so. She was surprised that Winters wanted the briefing so early, the sun was still up and still had a few hours until it dipped in the sky.


Easy Company was crowded into the mess hall, waiting with ill-humored expressions before Winters, Nixon, and Speirs arrived. Webster spotted them first, alerting everybody so the room full of tired soldiers could stand at attention. "Sarge, they're on their way in." Webster said to Martin.

"TEN-HUT!" Martin ordered, raising his voice in a booming tone that quickly snapped everyone out of what they were doing to pay attention.

"At ease." Winters instructed as he entered the mess hall, the two other high-ranking officers right in tow. "This everybody, Grant?"

"Sir." Grant answered.

Winters took off his helmet, a habit of his whenever he was about to deliver news or give a strenuous briefing. "You men did an excellent job last night. I'm proud. I just saw Colonel Sink, he's proud too. In fact he's so proud that he wants you to do another patrol across the river tonight." Winters paused a moment, carefully observing the tightened faces of the soldiers cluttered in the eating area. "Any moment now the outpost we hit will go up in flames." He checked his watch, casting a glance over at Martin. "Martin?"

"Yes, sir." Martin confirmed the time.

"Which means we have to venture further into town this time. Captain Speirs, you have the map, please?" Winters continued, gesturing to the CO.

Speirs sluggishly handed Grant the folded piece of paper. "Yeah, sir." He said in a tired voice to Winters. Grant unfolded the map and held it up for Winters as a visual guide.

Winters pointed to the map. "We have enemy movement here, and here. Which means this is our new house target here. We recovered all the boats, so we'll be setting off the same place we did last night."

"We're not changing the plan any, sir?" Martin questioned.

"No. The plan is the same. Uh, it'll be 0200 hours instead of 0100. That clear?"

"Yes, sir." Everyone barked in unison.

"Okay, good. Because uh…" Winters paused a minute, struggling to keep his expression neutral for reasons Marie didn't understand. "I want you all to get a full night's sleep tonight. Which means in the morning you'll report to me that you made it across the river, into German lines, and were unable to secure any live prisoners."

Easy Company was trapped in a stupefied silence. Marie swore she didn't hear Winters correctly. She shot Malarkey an aghast expression, but he kept his eyes on Winters, his brows drawn in confusion. Winters' face remained serious as he scanned the crowd, making Marie feel even more befuddled.

"Understand?" Winters asked, his tone reflecting his facial expression.

The crowd was hesitant to respond, gripped with confusion. "Yes, sir." Everyone finally chorused.

Winters folded up the map, finalizing the short briefing. "Good. Look sharp for tomorrow. We're moving off the line." With that, Winters left the astounded members of Easy Company to digest everything on their own.

Right as the doors behind Winters closed joyous laughter broke out as shouts of equally voluminous glee erupted and echoed in the confined spaces of the mess hall. Marie could only blink, her mind still reeling with what exactly Winters had told them. She felt Malarkey pull her into a celebratory hug, which she returned. How could Winters have done that? Was that even allowed? She decided to keep her mouth shut and just react with the rest of the blissful company. At least there wasn't another patrol, and Easy would already be leaving Haguenau.

Marie left the mess hall, wanting to return to her room and catch up on rest like Winters had suggested. Mainly she wanted to find someplace private where she could have Malarkey to herself, but the commotion around Easy's quarters in the small French town was spiraling with too much activity for any intimate privacy. As she walked down the muddy, paved roads of the town she spotted a lonesome figure from her peripherals sitting on a stack of ration crates. She turned to see Talbert hunched over, his hands folded together solemnly. His somber appearance made Marie want to distance herself, but her heart ached for Tab knowing that he was still grieving for Emilia. She hadn't seen much of Tab since that day in Foy when he received the news of her death. He'd distanced himself from everyone, locking himself away and remaining as hidden as possible from coming into contact with anyone. Marie bit the inside of her cheek, contemplating whether she should approach him or not. Marie exhaled sharply, knowing that she'd be bothered all night if she left him sulking alone in the streets. She slowly approached him as if he was a wild animal, unsure on how he would react to her closeness. She waited for him to hear her tentative footsteps, but he never even moved from his slumped over position.

"Floyd?" Marie queried in a little voice.

A small and quiet croak came from Tab's throat, but he didn't lift his head. Marie stood before him, reaching her hand out to touch his shoulder. He didn't even have the energy to shrug her hand off. She steadied his slouching shoulders, trying to peer into his eyes that were hidden from his drooping head.

"Floyd."

Talbert raised his head at last in a stagnant motion. His apathetic eyes met hers, circled with deep shades of dark unrest. His mouth was fixed in what appeared to be a permanent expression of forlorn as the lines of being tugged downward clearly showed on his face. His skin seemed like it was graying, losing its fleshy and healthy color that once radiated off him, tying into his friendly personality. His brown hair appeared like it was dulling over, losing its sheen as the setting sun didn't leave any evidence of shimmer on the strands of his hair. His entire appearance was so pitiful and transformed from what she'd come to known, Marie almost gasped at how much he'd changed.

"When's the last time you ate anything?" She asked, looking over his body with worry. Talbert dropped his head down again, breaking eye contact with the concerned medic. He continued to be silent, not answering any questions that Marie was asking him. She let out a heavy sigh in frustration, knowing that Tab couldn't continue on like this.

"Just leave." He finally spoke, his voice unused and rough like sandpaper.

"If you keep going like this you're going to be pulled off the line."

"Does anything matter anymore?"

Marie searched for any words that she could say to him that would pull him out of his lethargic state. But she didn't want to push him too far, losing Emilia had been a heavy blow for him and she had to be delicate. Another part of her was irritated with him, he wasn't the only one that missed her and lost someone important that day. Marie could feel the cold metal of Emilia's dog tags that she wore, tucked under her BDU's as they pressed against her bare skin with her cross necklace and her own dog tags.

"You're not the only one who misses her, Tab." Marie respired. "I think about her every single day, and it hurts so much some days I can't even bare to get out of bed. Em wouldn't want you wasting away like this."

"Marie. Just leave." He repeated, his tone final.

She knew she wasn't going to reason with him today. Feeling defeated she left him sitting on the crates, heading back toward OP2. She stole a few glances back in his direction, only to see him slumping over again. Her gut twisted with guilt as her mind recalled Tab's sobbing and Emilia being shot. As Marie walked on she peered up at the overcast sky, watching the gray clouds roll slowly by. "Emilia, if you can hear me can you please send a sign to Tab? He needs something, something from you that I can't give him. Please, he's being torn apart, and… I miss you."

"Who you talking to?"

Marie snapped her head over to Malarkey, whom was leaning against the brick building of OP2, holding a package in his hand. Marie forced a smile as she made her way over to him.

"Nobody." Marie murmured, hoping he'd drop it. She glanced down at the packaged box he was holding. "What you got there?"

"Some late Christmas presents. Come here." He cocked his head toward the alleyway and led her around the corner. The two of them sat down together as Malarkey opened the box of goods. Candies and cookies were stacked inside, along with a package that was sent to Malarkey personally from Portland. Marie's eyes widened, stunned to see so many sweets. She wasn't even sure she remembered what such delicacies tasted like. Marie picked up a cookie, feeling it crumble in between her fingertips.

Malarkey chuckled at how Marie observed the treat. "You can eat it, you know."

Marie took a bite, savoring the sweet taste as long as she could. The two of them started to devour the goodies, relishing the downtime they had alone together before they had to pack up and rest to ready themselves for tomorrow. Malarkey pulled out his package, grinning to himself as he read who it was from.

"What's that?"

"From my Aunt Claudia-"

"Oh God, don't tell me she sent you sardines again." Marie interrupted, making a face. His aunt would occasionally send him Norwegian sardines, which the guys loved to eat, they'd wolf them down like they were All-American Hamburgers. The smell was just so pungent that Marie couldn't stand to be in the premises when he opened the case.

"Hell yeah she did!" Malarkey laughed.

"Please don't eat those around me. I swear I couldn't stand to kiss you because of the smell."

He raised his eyebrows skeptically at her. "That so?" He planted a kiss on her cheek to tease her, which made her burst out in a fit of giggles as she playfully pushed him off her. It wasn't long before he playfully tackled her, grabbing a hold of her as the two of them chortled until they couldn't breathe and had tears of laughter pouring from their eyes. She rested against his chest, staring up at the sky again and wishing that this happiness would last forever. "Hey, I need to get back soon." He brought up.

She looked up at him as he stroked her hair, peering down at her. "Can't you stay a few more minutes?" She despised how desperate she sounded, but she didn't want him to go.

"Sorry, honey." Malarkey replied, kissing her lightly on the lips. He shifted so he could sit up as Marie moved off of him. The two of them stood up as he picked up the package, giving her a sad smile. "We have an early start tomorrow. There's going to be promotions and readying everything to leave and head for Mourmelon. We'll be taking a train instead of the trucks this time, that'll be nice." Marie nodded in agreement, though everything felt like it was too much to process. Were they really getting relieved? It felt almost too good to be true. The two parted ways as Marie made herself go to bed, wanting to fall asleep before the sun set too low.


The next day had been filled with hustling to pack and ship out, and some much needed promotions. Lipton was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, Jones was promoted to 1st lieutenant and moved from Easy Company, Barbara was promoted to corporal, Nixon wrote a bogus report about the fake patrol, and Winters was promoted to major. As Easy Company pulled out of Haguenau in high spirits, boarding the trucks that would be driving them to the train. They all waved goodbye to the dreary French town, glad to turn their backs on a town that had brought them pointless deaths and bitterness.

The train ride was pleasant. Easy Company was suited up in their dress greens as they sat and watched the scenery drift by from the windows. Marie sat beside Malarkey; she listened to him hum a Glenn Miller tune to himself, occasionally tapping his foot to the beat. Malarkey's face became tranquil with a faint of troubled as something came to his mind. He stopped humming as Marie looked at him expectantly.

"Do you think Faye knows about Skip now? I'm sure she heard about him by now." Malarkey interjected.

Marie's expression grew stony. "I suppose so."

Malarkey was silent for a moment, scratching his beard as his face was laced in deep thought. He glanced over at Marie, feeling bad that he'd brought it up. Her eyes were downcast at her boots, her lips slightly parted as she imagined Faye back in New York getting that dreaded telegram, the telegram that would make all her fantasies about marrying Muck and honeymooning with him come crashing down.

"You know what all that patient waiting back home reminds me of?" Malarkey suddenly piped up. Marie looked at him, her eyes asking for the answer. "Milton's poem: "On His Blindness."

Despite herself, Marie smiled. "I love that sonnet. How does it go again?"

"You're the bookworm, not me." Malarkey joked.

"Do you remember how it goes?"

Malarkey nodded, his lips tugging in a tiny smile, knowing what she was going to ask. She rested her head on his shoulder as he cleared his throat.

"When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He returning chide,

Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?

I fondly ask: But patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: God doth not need

Either man's work, or His own gifts, who best

Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state

Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait."

He concluded softly, his words trailing off, though he was happy his memory didn't fail him.

Marie listened to the poem while watching the fields roll by outside of the train. The landscape of France had changed how she remembered it. The atmosphere outside was still cold and winter-like. Spring was approaching but the nippy air and cloudy skies didn't show any signs of warmth. The poem only deepened her thoughts on Skip Muck and Emilia Valdez, pondering if those waiting for them back home knew about their deaths. Marie could picture Emilia's family waiting back home for her in Miami, enjoying another day in a sunny paradise. Her large family would be gathering together, eating dinner when that horrid knock would rap at the door. A uniformed official would be standing on their steps, his very presence an omen to the neighborhood. Everyone knew what it meant when a military man appeared at your doorstep with a telegram in their hands. Marie imagined Emilia's short and stout mother answering the door, seeing the man and instantly collapsing to the ground. She would start wailing in agony as Em's father would come to her aid while she shouted obscenities at the deliverer in Spanish. Weeks later whatever Emilia had in her footlocker would be sent home for the parents to sort through.

Marie pressed her eyelids closed to the point where it hurt. Why did she paint such vivid pictures? It only made the loss worse. The last time they had been in Mourmelon was December, a week or so before they'd be shipped to Belgium. Muck and Emilia were alive and they were all ignorant to what they were going to face in the future. Silent tears slid down Marie's cheeks. That's exactly what they were, ignorant and still clinging to their last ounce of innocence and sanity.


On His Blindness by John Milton