"Flawless Abandon, Irrevocable Surrender"
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Band of Brothers' – mini-series OR the book nor do I intend ANY disrespect to the real men of Easy Co. All that is mine is Grace Grant and a deep, profound respect for the real heroes.
THANK YOU to everyone who read and reviewed! XOXO Thank you so much for sticking with me after another little break!
"I'm sure no one would have a problem with it, Lieutenant", Gene said, shaking his head.
"Exactly", Grace nodded, trying to remain cordial and understanding; they had been engaging in this 'debate' for twenty minutes now.
"No problems except for you", he clarified, his expression pointed, "it's only been nine days since you were shot in the abdomen…it's too soon."
"I'm not about to go and participate in the morning drills with the men for Christ sake".
"But you would go, right?"
"Well, yes…I mean, they're my men, I'd get up and get out there", she reasoned as his eyebrows rose, "…but I wouldn't do them."
"Grace".
"Gene".
"I don't want to argue about this", he sighed.
"Nor do I, doc".
"Yet…here we are", he gestured to them.
She suppressed a smirk, "I don't want to cause you trouble…I really don't, but I'm dying here."
"No, you were dying on that floor in OP2", he said seriously, "I saw it, your men saw it, and Captain Speirs saw it".
Sighing internally, Grace knew he was only trying to take care of her…but she had had enough of being a in the hospital. She wanted to be around her men for as long as she could. She knew she was not going to be deployed to the Pacific, not with this mending hole in her side, and she needed to be with her men and Ron while they were still here. "I'll do better if I'm at CP. I'm serious. I'm not getting deployed, I know that - not with this", she gestured to her side, "and we don't know when things will start to happen if you're all going to the Pacific. I hate that I'm just sitting here thinking…I hate it. Please. It's wrong of me to ask you to compromise, and I know that….but please".
A beat of silence passed between them as Gene gazed at her, contemplative. "If there's anything I can give to you before we all go…I suppose I can give you that". Grace's face erupted into a smile, "but don't get ahead of yourself, Lieutenant, let me go talk to Doctor Kemp…you'll hear back later".
"Thank you…thank you, Doc", she whispered.
He winked at her, smirking and walking out, "you got it".
As soon as Gene left, she heard masculine greetings and boot steps right outside her door. She frowned as the commotion stopped and the noise hushed.
"First Lieutenant Grant, what do you think you're doing in bed?!" a deep voice, sounding eerily similar to Captain Sobel, gruffed outside her door. Grace suppressed a laugh, knowing who was behind that voice. "So you were shot last week?...so what! Grab your M1 and go run Currahee in full gear. High ho silver!"
With that, in walked George, Tab, Don, Perco, Lieb, Johnny, Bull, Popeye and Babe, all laughs. Grace smirked tenderly at the sight of them all shoving their way into her room; they were all so big, they made her room immediately appear tiny. Even in an uncomfortable hospital bed, she suddenly felt at ease thanks to her men there with her.
"Don't dare me, George", she spoke to the man with the voice, "you know I could run Currahee right now if I wanted to".
"I wouldn't put it past you", he winked.
"She's done it before", Tab nodded, "ain't that right, Gracie?"
"I think I saw a training course by the lake…maybe later?" Johnny agreed.
"Looking good, Lieutenant", Bull assessed, chewing on a cigar.
"Thank you, Bull….likewise, all of you", she smiled.
"Jesus, it's good to see you awake", Don expressed.
"You bounce back good, Gracie-bird", Joe smirked.
"What do ya say, what do ya hear?" Babe snarked, smiles on all of their faces.
"What's going on, Gracie?" Perco asked, jerking his head towards the door, where they saw Doc leaving.
"Trying to negotiate my way out of here", she offered.
"Jesus, already?" Johnny asked.
"You alright for that?" Don questioned.
"I'm alright", she nodded, "bored and a little sore, but I'm alright". She looked them over, so happy to see their faces. She recognized their attentiveness to her and their protective stances they all held, and knew that they had to be thinking of the last time they saw her: bloody and shaking and dying on a floor. She remembered what happened, but the memory was tarnished by pain - however, for someone who had soberly witnessed the moment, it probably was a hard image to shake. She had been there with other men before; she had seen that too. She had to say something about it. "Thank you for taking care of me that night", they all shifted then, in their own ways - sheepish and shy with the praise, "you…you all did everything right…thank you".
It was silent for only a second as her cheeks grew warm and pink under their touched scrutiny. "Don't mention it, Angel", Johnny shrugged.
"You've done it for us", Tab nodded.
"Luz?" Don whispered.
"Oh, right", George smiled, pulling a large flask from his field jacket.
Lieb and Babe began pulling the wildflowers out of the little glasses on her table nearby. "Now we brought these here for you, Gracie, but they are no coincidence", Perco offered, dumping the water into the empty trashcan.
She watched, amused, as George poured amber liquid into each glass; Grace shifted in bed, pushing herself up further. Don and Bull inched towards her, "you need help, Gracie?" Don asked, his tone poorly hiding concern.
"You alright?" Bull questioned too, their voices overlapping.
"I'm ok, I can manage", she smiled, appreciating their gentleness with her as she took notice of all the men watching her like hawks. Don and Bull ignored her anyway and each put one warm hand on her back with one hovering out in front of her. "Thank you", she whispered.
George handed her the first glass with a wink and then handed the rest around the room, "we've been waiting for this day", he said. When he was done, they all held their glasses up, "Tab, buddy, you're up."
Tab stepped forward, his eyes on Grace, "to all those who we've lost, may we never forget them…and to the ones who are still here with us. We're damn glad you're here, Gracie…this is for you. Cheers". Grace's heart was in her throat as they clinked glasses and swallowed the heady liquid in one go.
"Gotta love whiskey", Perco whispered hoarsely, his nose scrunched up.
"It's an acquired taste", Popeye shrugged.
"He's had years to acquire it", Lieb snarked, "if he don't got it now, he'll never have it".
Grace watched them all banter, their conversation and masculine voices steadying her nerves. How was she going to say goodbye to them? They had become her family; she thought of them when she woke until when she fell asleep. It was going to be hard enough to say goodbye if the Japanese surrendered while they were still here, but she did not want to know the anxiety she would feel should Ron and her men be redeployed over there without her. She knew she would be absolutely restless and horrible should that happen. She'd not only worry about them every single day…but Lew, and Harry, and Dick…and most of all Ron. Deciding that she would cross that bridge should they come to it, she tried to banish it from her thoughts.
What would life be like without their continual presence? Grace surmised the majority, if not all, of her men would like to be home and away from this - all the protocol and ranks and patrols - they all had families to get back to. Lives to return to.
She had found herself here, with these men. But she also had found Ron - a hint of what her life would be like beyond the war lived in him. With that thought, her heart warmed. He was her future, her respite, her support; everything. Silently, she said a prayer for her life - that it had been spared, again, and for Ron.
"Wicked Witch of the West is about to make a landing", Babe hushed over the room from the doorway, walking out.
"God damnit", Johnny seethed.
Grace frowned in confusion as she heard an elderly nurse's stern voice call out to Babe; it was a voice she had come to recognize since she woke up. "We understand, nurse, we apologize and we'll be on our way…yes ma'am…thank you ma'am", he walked back in.
"What's the damage?" Bull asked.
Babe shrugged, "she says she's tired of reminding us that there's a limit of visitors…and that we have to leave now, sounds like some of the brass are on their way".
"You call Nurse Campbell the 'Wicked Witch of the West'?" Grace asked, amused.
"You can't blame us, Gracie", Don murmured, "she hates us".
"I wonder why", she winked at him, earning a smirk.
"We are an acquired taste", Perco nodded in their direction.
"Alright boys, flowers back and we're out of here", Johnny ordered, the men immediately refilled the glasses with water and replaced the flowers. Watching them, Grace had a sneaking suspicion that they had done this once or twice before.
"Flowers for the lady", Lieb winked at Grace, kissing her cheek gently as they all murmured their good-byes.
"We'll see you soon", Don grabbed her hand and smiled before following Bull out the door.
"Rest up, Lieutenant", Babe nodded as he passed her an envelope, "letter for you by the way".
Before she could question it, he winked and walked out with the group, leaving Grace with George and Tab.
"I've got to manage some supplies coming in today, Gracie, so I gotta go", George started, leaning down to her, "but you rest up and get better…there's talk of a baseball game between first and second platoon soon and you better be there".
"I wouldn't miss it for the world", she responded warmly as he grasped her hand.
"Back from the dead again, huh?" he muttered.
"Last time…I swear".
"It better be", he kissed her cheek, and pressed something into her palm, "Hershey Bar for luck." With that, he walked out of the room with a nod to Talbert.
Tab and Grace looked at one another, smiles on their faces. "Floyd", she whispered as he leaned to her, cautiously placing his arms around her and sitting on the side of her bed.
"Grace", he whispered back, hugging her gently.
"Thank you for coming…it's so good to see you".
"Of course I was gonna come see you…I was so happy to hear you were awake, all the guys were", he soothed. "I've gotta tell you…you scared the hell out of me. I mean, I thought Bastogne was bad, but Jesus, girl, you've got to stop this".
Grace hushed a laugh and nodded, "I know, I know, believe me. I'm so sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about; that replacement has everything to be sorry about, though".
"I was told one of my men found him that night", she probed.
"Lieb, Don, Bull and Skinny", he answered. Grace closed her eyes and sighed, wondering what that looked like, and also knowing Lieb's temperament. "I know", Tab chuckled, "it was not pretty…but that fucker got what was coming to him".
"Did you…"
"George and I got one hit in each, just one…we sat outside the room he was being kept in, waiting for Speirs, waiting to hear about you".
"How long did that take?"
He shrugged, "I couldn't tell you to be honest…it was a surreal night."
"Tell me about it", she deadpanned.
Tab smirked and laughed lightly after a minute, "I gotta say it, while we're alone…um", he grabbed her left hand, his fingers on her ring, "I think congratulations are in order?"
Grace smiled and Tab laughed again, "thank you". She felt her cheeks burn and she didn't know what to say, "thank you, Floyd."
"George told me he noticed the ring that night…", he told her in a serious tone, "I don't know what he would've done if you didn't make it".
"Ron?" she whispered and Tab nodded. "I don't know", she confessed but then changed her mind, knowing exactly what he would have done; "no…he would have killed that replacement. Without a doubt…regardless of what I had requested."
Tab shook his head, "you should have seen everyone's face when he lowered his sidearm…they couldn't believe what they were seeing".
"Sidearm?" she murmured.
"Shit", he realized what he had just done.
"It's alright, I'm not surprised." Shifting slightly in bed, Grace ignored the aching from her side.
He breathed a sigh of relief, "ok good, Jesus".
Grace interrupted him easily, "but you're going to tell me what exactly happened".
Smirking, he nodded, "…he came stalking in, and it was fucking terrifying. I had never seen him look like that; I mean, I knew there were rumors about him, but shit…seeing that, now I know why. He yelled at me…"
"He yelled at you?"
"He asked where he was - the replacement - his sidearm was already drawn, so I stalled him", Tab explained, "I asked about you, how you were…and he exploded. That's when I pointed to the next room. He walked in there, where the rest of the men were, and asked the guy where the weapon was. That piece of shit had the nerve to say 'what weapon'."
"Jesus", Grace whispered, her gut tightening.
"That's when Speirs hit him with the butt of his gun, wham…right across the face."
"Fuck", she breathed, feeling the sudden desire to kiss Ron.
"He deserved it, Gracie. I mean, no one flinched when he did it. He fuckin' deserved it. But then Speirs got mad…you could tell….just seething." Tab's eyes glazed over, recalling it, "he pointed the gun at his face, held it there for a minute, but then lowered it…then ordered for the MP's".
Breathing in and out quietly, Grace's heart was pounding, "I don't know what to say", she hushed after a minute.
"There's nothing to say", he confirmed, speaking frankly, "…in that moment, there were no rules or ranks…it was a man protecting the woman he loves and keeping his promise."
Grace held Floyd's gaze, so incredibly grateful for his honesty and candidness, "thank you for telling me…and thank you, for everything else. Jesus… 'thank you' is not enough. I love you, Floyd".
His eyes crinkled at her as he smiled, "love you too, Gracie". He gestured to the letter in her hands that Babe had given her, "who's the letter from?"
She read the return address' name on the envelope, smiling, "it's from Bill".
"Holy shit", Tab grinned, "well I'll leave you to your letter. You call on me if you need anything at all".
"Thanks Floyd, I will", she promised.
"Rest up, you'll be out of here soon enough…in fact, Speirs had your things already put in your room".
"He did?"
"Yep", Tab nodded his head, "saw it myself. Now rest up…I'll talk to you later".
Grace smiled at him as he walked out of her room. She turned her attention back down to the letter from Bill in her hands. Smiling fondly at his neat script, she read;
'Gracie-bird,
First things first - Babe told me you got shot.
You could imagine my reaction to that news. Toye is still here with me and he was not happy either. We both thought of you, prayed for you. Babe managed to send us a telegram with the news a few days later that you were stable. I hope by the time he gets this to you, you're awake and fending off all the attention I'm sure you're getting from the boys…and a certain Officer that will remain nameless.
I also heard someone spotted a ring on your finger. He's finally making an honest woman out of you, huh?'
Grace rolled her eyes at that sentence….of course the men had noticed and written about it. She smirked despite herself - they wouldn't be her men if they didn't notice.
'He's a strong man - and I'm sure if you're marrying him then he's a good one. I'll trust your judgment on this, but he will catch all sorts of hell from me and the rest of the 101st if he doesn't treat you right.
You are one hell of a woman, Grace, and one hell of a Lieutenant and platoon leader. I'll be damned if you don't get to live your life in peace after this is all over.
I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. Jesus - as I write this, I can imagine you trying to interrupt me and saying that I'm the one who needs to be thanked. But I'm gonna say it first: I would have been different had I not met you, Gracie. And I'm thankful for that.
I'm taking the responsibility of making sure everyone gets together after you all get home. Most of us should be staying on the East Coast for a little while - I say we do it.
You'll be hearing from me, Angel - I can't wait to see you in a dress state-side.
Say hello to the boys for me.
Love,
Wild Bill'
After procuring paper, a pen, and an envelope, Grace had written him back. She had sat there for twenty minutes thinking of what to say besides the obvious. How to do you write to someone when you have been through the unthinkable with them? Still, she had managed to do it without shedding too many tears. She had to remember to request a painkiller when the nurse made her rounds - her side had begun a dull ache since her men had left.
"Lieutenant Grant". Grace turned toward the door. Standing there was Colonel Sink, Major Kemp, Dick, Lew, Harry, Lip, and Ron, who winked at her from the back of the group. She made to turn and stand, thanking herself for brushing her hair earlier when Sink's hand shot up, "please don't get up. May we enter?"
Her heart clenched at his politeness, "of course you may, Colonel. How are you?"
"Good God, Grant - I should be asking that about you first", he declared. Behind him, Lew chuckled. "I hear you've been getting a lot of visitors. The nurse outside had a mouthful to say about how many men have been here every day." Grace took a breath to explain when Sink interrupted her, "you're popular - no need to make excuses for your men."
"Thank you, sir", she responded.
"In fact, I can tell you that many of us in this room have been to visit you since you were wounded…and we are all incredibly happy to see you awake now."
"Thank you again, sir".
"Absolutely Lieutenant Grant", he nodded, bringing a small velvet box in front of him; it was then that she noticed they were all dressed in their dress greens. "As soon as I heard you were awake and responsive, I gathered everyone here." Grace looked to Ron, who was positively beaming at her, along with the rest of the men in front of her. Colonel Sink stepped forward and opened the box, "Lieutenant Grant, I am honored present you with the Distinguished Service Medal, which you have earned one hundred times over for your achievements and accomplishments, and your numerous contributions to the United States Military."
Immediately choked up, Grace got chills over her entire body as she listened to Colonel Sink then looked upon the medal nestled in the velvet box. On the medal, there was a golden eagle surrounded by a blue ring with the words 'For Distinguished Service' engraved in gold. She took a breath and gently accepted the box, "I…uh…thank you, Colonel Sink". Taking the medal into her hand, she was breathless, "thank you".
"You earned it, Lieutenant", Sink confirmed, "every man here and in the entire outfit thinks so. General McAuliffe would have been here himself, but you and your men have helped to end the war - and that's what he's dealing with right now; though he does send his deepest regards." Grace nodded in thanks, speechless. "One more thing, Lieutenant. With your wound healing and the end of the war within reach, it is befitting to me to give this to you now." He handed her a crisp paper that she recognized with a pang. "This is your honorable discharge." She fought the negative reaction, knowing that this was expected, and now that the war was over in Europe, it would be common. "It states that you will be stationed here with us until we deploy or the war is over - whichever comes first".
She breathed a silent sigh in relief. She wasn't ready to leave her men yet - to go home without Ron, "thank you, sir. It has been an honor to serve under you, and to serve with all of you". She caught Dick's eye and he winked at her, Lew beside him grinning.
"I knew it when I first saw you, Grace - you are one hell of a paratrooper", Sink gruffed out. Before she could thank him again, he gestured to Major Kemp, "now Doctor Kemp here has something to say".
Kemp nodded to her, "congratulations, Lieutenant".
"Thank you, Doctor", she smiled.
"I'm allowing you to be transferred to Easy Company CP", he explained to Grace's delight, "you can leave now, right after we conclude here. But you know the rules - take it easy, take your medication, and change your bandages."
"Absolutely, sir; thank you", she nodded.
"Alright Grace, before you leap out of bed, we'll leave you to gather your things. We'll send orderlies here to grab what you'll need." Sink nodded, "congratulations, Grace, you made an impact on our efforts - and we couldn't have done it without you".
He held out his hand and she took it, shaking, "thank you very much, sir. I wouldn't have been here without you." Sink winked at her and left the room, Kemp following behind.
Left in her room was Dick, Lew, Harry, Lip, and Ron who all immediately congratulated her and hugged her. As they were leaving, about an hour later, Lew stayed behind with Grace and Ron and turned to them.
"I've got something for you", he explained, handing over a large envelope, "consider it an engagement gift", he winked and left them alone.
Amused and opening it, Grace pulled out the paper that was inside. It was a photograph from Toccoa; Grace recognized the barracks. It was of her and Ron. They were leaning against the wall of the barracks; she held a cigarette to her side, looking outwards towards Currahee, and he stood gazing at her, a contemplative and intense look on his face. "Oh my god" she murmured, she had no idea that anyone had taken that picture of them.
Ron was stunned looking at the intimate photo. It had been taken in Georgia when they were still getting to know one another. "This is amazing", he whispered.
"I had no idea that this existed", she laughed.
"Neither did I, but I'm glad it does", he agreed, "You look beautiful, as always…you always looked so beautiful". Grace scoffed but he shook his head adamantly, "I'm serious - after running Currahee, after the obstacle course…before jumping on DDay, when you're firing your weapon…beautiful." He regarded her face thoughtfully, "you are the perfect woman for me."
"I love you", she whispered.
"I love you too", he responded. "Congratulations on your medal, Grace. I'm so proud of you".
"Thank you", she breathed as he leaned forward and kissed her reverently, his hand dragging down her neck gently. "Where should we put the picture?" she asked.
"We'll have to frame it when we get home", he said simply.
"I adore the sound of that", she smiled.
Oooooooooooo
A couple hours later, Grace was standing in her room in CP. Her things had already been taken there, overseen by Ron days before.
"We should change your bandages", Ron insisted, grabbing the kit Grace had been given from the hospital.
"You don't have to, I've got it", she said as he reached for her shirt as she sat down on her large bed.
"I want to take care of you", he maintained, "let me take care of you". Grace nodded and watched as he gently lifted up her white paratroopers t-shirt. He unwound the bandage around her waist, exposing the dollar-sized patch that directly covered her stitches. Grace reached for the aid kit, "I've got it, love", he stopped her. He readied a new patch, tape, and a new bandage and then softly peeled away the patch on her abdomen. He hissed at the stitches quietly, taking care with pressing the clean patch to the area and taping it down. He wound the new bandage around her waist, and then he tenderly placed his hand over her injury.
Grace watched his face with affection, grateful he was here with her, "I'm so happy that you're here with me".
He looked at as he stood up, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else". He walked over to a table nearby that had a record player resting on it. Ron lifted the needle and placed it, turning around, "don't ask me where I found any of this", he grinned to her. Walking forward, he held his hands out to her and helped her up. He wound an arm gently around her waist as his other held hers, "you're still healing and I need to be delicate with you, but because I want to be near to you - I figured this was the next best thing".
Moonlight Serenade rang through the speakers of the record player and Grace's heart skipped a beat, "Ron…"
"This song was playing when I danced with you the first time", he whispered, "I was so nervous that night. I knew it then…I had known long before that, that I was meant for you", he confessed. "I love you, Grace", he sighed. They smiled at one another, and he leaned down to kiss her softly. "It's taken me a while to find this record", he admitted, breathing her in, "God, it feels so good to hold you."
They stood there, barely dancing, simply holding one another in contentment as the music twirled around them. They kissed, drowning in one another slowly as the sun went down outside her window.
Thank you so much for reading! We've got ONE MORE CHAPTER to go. Please let me know what you think!
Love to you all! XOXOXOXOXOXO
