Chapter 13: The Family Man's Choice

Summary:

the battle ends and Easy bands together

Notes:

sorry . kara's mental health shows in this one, some death and lots of sadness all around. it gets worse before it gets better i suppose. story is all edited and done now. should be all posted by the end of the weekend!

Easy sat together once again. Though unlike usual, they were quiet.

Kara was playing with his fingers absentmindedly

"Did he have family?" Kara asked

Surprisingly Mike spoke up

"a wife and a little girl he told me, back In Massachusetts. No one else i think.`` Mike was staring at the ground, not having looked up for some time.

James was standing with his arms crossed "Barry is heading home. They had to put him under when he found out about Oliver. He's going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, but hes alive."

Kara saw this as his first defeat. He didn't get Oliver home, there was a girl without a father, a woman without a husband. Barry would never go to the Olympics, his childhood dream. He couldn't help but feel responsible but the thought had to be pushed aside for now. Kara grabbed his mess cup, and raised it in the air

"To Arrow, may he rest easy, wherever he's at. Let's make his sacrifice worth something"

Easy raised their cups, and in unison called out "to Arrow!"

Kara was further pushed by Oliver's death. The Nazis were gonna pay for what they did to them. That was a promise.

A few days later, two Germans bearing white flags arrived to the allied headquarters in Bastogne. It was a request for an American surrender. Kara heard General Mcauliffe had only one word to say; Nuts!

Kara opened his eyes and realized he was no longer in Bastogne. He was standing in a bombed out city, rubble and dead bodies scattered around its streets. Kara moved through the city, looking around for survivors.

There were none. Though as he approached a dead end, a figure stood up from the ground. He was dressed in the German army uniform. Kara stopped in his tracks.

The figure turned, and it was the boy from Holland that Kara had killed, the one whose picture was still in his wallet. His eyes were sad, his face gaunt and pale. All of a sudden, he ran past Kara, going back into the main part of the city.

Kara couldn't help but follow, breaking into a run after him

"My mother was waiting for me. You've broken my mother's heart" he yelled at Kara in a heavy German accent.

Kara shook his head on the verge of panic

"No i didn't want to. I don't want to hurt anyone" Kara yelled, covering his ears and continuing his pace.

The figure continued running ahead of Kara, then changed.

The figure was now wearing an American uniform, the screaming eagle patch on their arm. The figure looked over their shoulder and it was Oliver. Karas heart constricted.

"You let me die Kara. What will my family do now!"

Kara's eyes began to water

"No Oliver, i'm sorry, i'm sorry." Kara called out after him

Kara was a step behind and reaching out to grab him, when he disappeared. Kara stopped and looked around, but Oliver was nowhere in sight. As the sound of an approaching tank could be heard nearby, Kara woke with a start.

Frantically looking around, Kara saw Winn sitting next to him, looking over the side of their foxhole. He was having a conversation with Mike.

"I'm just sayin Winn, baseball doesn't have much on basketball. It's just a superior sport" Mike talked to Winn from his foxhole. Since Oliver's death, Easy had come together more than before. Mike was actually bearable now.

Winn held a look of disgust on his face. "You can't be serious Mathews! Baseball is America's pastime. And last I checked, basketball didn't have Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig!"

Mike seemed ready to argue but stopped himself. "You're lucky it's Christmas Schott or i'd prove just how wrong you are!"

Kara laughed. The day had actually been fairly calm, at least, calmer than usual.

In the distance, Kara could just faintly hear the Germans singing a Christmas song, it almost made them smile, but then they could also hear gunshots in the distance, which brought him back.

Though the holiday still gave Kara hope, that maybe the world hadn't gone completely crazy, that there was still good to be found in the war.

Kara pulled out the letter he received from Lena this morning, the mail was taking longer to arrive due to the fighting. Hearing from her would definitely shake off that nightmare from earlier.

Dear Kara

I've started to show. People have noticed i'm pregnent and would rather i take a step back, maybe let Sam or Jack run things for awhile. Alex has been watching me non stop and Eliza is going to make me gain weight if she keeps trying to feed me like she is. I went to the theater the other day. They played a new reel before it started. I saw you in one believe it or not! I won't lie, i've been to see that movie 4 times, just for the reel at the start. I miss seeing your face. I hope you're well. The fighting looks intense and i can't help but worry. But on a lighter note, ive been wondering what our baby will look like. I hope they have your eyes. And you're sense of humor. Luckily if they inherit your appetite, ill have the ability to afford it. I can't wait to start out life. Be careful . Send Winn and James my best regards

Love

Lena

P.s. happy Christmas! I can't help but play I'll be home for Christmas, wishing you were here.

Kara sometimes had a dream of a little boy with hair like Lena's, with bright blue eyes and that smile that Lena only gives when its them. A life away from war, where they can just go live out on a farm in Midvale and forget this ever happened. If Kara had anything to say about it, he would live the rest of his life in peace, never to touch a gun again. That would be the dream but they still had a way to go. Bastogne was a good way away from Berlin.

Kara couldn't help but hum i'll be home for Christmas, it was by far his favorite tune for the holidays.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

1944 quickly turned to 1945 and it seemed that they would be fighting in Bastogne for the rest of their lives. The winter was getting harsher, if that was even possible. By late January, Easy was running out of steam.

After heavy casualties, the company was full of replacements who didn't know up from down. Tons of young 18 -19 year olds who a few months ago were playing hooky from school and going on dates.

A kid named Dick was drafted only a few months previously. He was sharp but untested, and obviously nervous.

He was the son of some circus trapeze artists, though he was friends with Bruce Wayne who took him in before the war.

Kara liked him right away. He was going to do everything in his power to get Dick out of Bastogne and back home, no matter what.

Kara and Dick sat together in Kara's foxhole. He didn't want Dick out of his sight for long. The pair talked about their life before everything and what they wanted when it was all over.

Dick held his rifle close to his chest, like a child would hold their blanket. I suppose that is who he is still

At merely 18, Dick had not gotten to do much just yet. He just graduated high school, and had his eyes on a girl he called his Starfire . High school sweethearts apparently. His two friends Garfield and Victor were both 4-F, unfit for service. So Dick had to come on his own.

And it turns out, he had quite a knack for whistling. The birds loved him in the Ardennes so, Easy had decided on his new nickname; Robin. Now he was really apart of the company.

As the pair walked out of their foxhole for their meal, Clark and Bruce walked over. The pair saluted, as Clark stopped in front of them.

"Captain, we're pushing forward today, when you're done here, get your men into position. We attack at 14:00" Clark saluted and walked away.

The men were all gathered, ready in their foxholes to make the push further in, closer to Germany than ever before.

At 14:00 exactly, smoke grenades were tossed into the clearing between the two sides, and the 101st took that as their sign to push forward. With bayonets fixed, Easy

ran across no-man's land, right onto the German trenches.

Kara found himself with Winn, James and Dick. The group pushed forward, using their bayonets to kill in close quarters. At some point Winn and James had gotten separated from the other 2, leaving Dick and Kara to fend for themselves. As the pair fought their way through the trenches, the sound of an artillery gun could be heard over the shooting and yelling.

"Take cover!"

As shells fell, the men of both sides scrambled to find anywhere they could get some protection.

Using the barrage, the 101st pulled out, but the artillery followed them to their half of the front. Kara and Dick ran as hard as they could, but it seemed no use as a shell headed right for them steps away from a foxhole.

Im sorry Lena

Kara grabbed Dick's hand and pulled him forward, into the foxhole. Kara was sure this was it until he felt a hand shove him, and he fell on top of Dick. Kara stood up and peeked over the foxhole.

James was spread eagle on the floor, a shattered tree branch pointing out of his stomach

"James no!" Kara attempted to run out but Dick pulled him in, artillery beginning to slow down.

Kara cried for the first time during the war. First it was Oliver now James was potentially gone.

When the shelling stopped, Kara burst out from the foxhole, getting on his knees next to James. He was looking around, his breathing uneven. He put on a smile.

"I said I got your back right Kar?"

Kara couldn't help but smile "yeah pal. I wish you didn't right now." Kara grabbed his hand and called out for a medic, but James shook his head. Winn ran over now, wearing a panic stricken face.

"No need" James coughed, blood coming from his mouth.

"We both know how this ends. Its the end of the line for me" James was talking more slurred now, eyes drooping.

Winn grabbed his friends shoulder "no, no buddy. You're going home, you'll get to meet that daughter of yours, and we'll all be together again and it'll be like old times"

Winn was hysterical now, tears and snot running down his face "where's a damn medic!" he cried out.

James reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small envelope. He put it into Kara's hand and looked right into his eyes.

"Get this to Alice and Lucy. Please. Both of you just live well for me. And take care of my family please"

Kara and Winn nodded "We promise" Kara whispered

James smiled and put his head back down. Winn's cries could be heard across the battlefield, as a medic finally approached them.

Kara could see a Panzer unit approaching the front line but he couldn't move from the spot. As Kara watched the group of panzers approach, planes could be heard in the distance. A P-51 dived, hitting the panzer with its machine guns. As the tank blew up, a whole fleet of American planes arrived.

The Battle of the Bulge was just about done, but reinforcements were only about 10 minutes too late to save James Olsen.

James died on a Saturday. Kara and Winn kept anyone from taking his clothes or his boots. They went to the back of the front line and spent their meals digging a 6 foot deep hole. They wrapped James in a spare blanket, and with some of Easy's help, lowered him down.

Kara took part of his dog tag and kept it in his hand. Winn and Kara began to cover him back up. Once they were finished, they made a cross from some sticks, then put his helmet on top. Winn wrote down their position so that when everything was said and done, they could find him again.

Kara covered where his body was with some stones. As he did this, Mike walked over with Brainy and Dick. together they finished covering the grave.

Kara stood, James' dog tag clenched tightly in his hand, his letter to his family burning a hole in his pocket. How do i ever face Lucy again? Could I ever look his daughter in the eye?

As Kara contemplated this, Winn walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. Slowly, he pulled Kara away and back to their foxhole. Kara felt numb. This death was on him. If James had not come to save him, Kara would be the one in the hole. But Lena would be the one mourning.

It felt wrong to be glad it was Lucy who was mourning. It felt terrible really, but they all lost someone now. Kara had been staring at the ground until that moment. Looking up into the sky, Kara was utterly convinced of one thing; Fuck Nazis.

The Germans surrendered a few days later and the 101st was pulled from Belgium. The damage was done though. Easy was tired, angry and the fact they didn't defeat the germans here alone stung.

They would get a few days rest, then they would be headed to Germany. The fighting was getting intense. with the Nazis running out of their veterans, they resorted to using junior high and high school aged children. In a small German town, Kara stumbled upon a unit of Hitler youth manning an AA gun.

More replacement arrived, though it was hard to accept them after losing so many friends in Bastogne. Kara finally mailed James' letter, hoping it would reach Lucy before she heard of his death.

After James' death, Winn was off for a few weeks, then eventually back to whatever normal could be found in these odd times.

Kara's only solace was Lena's letters. Word had finally reached them about James

Dear Kara

We heard about James. Everyone met at the Olsen's house. General Lane came himself to comfort his daughter. Kelly hasn't come out of her room in days. His mom and dad are silent. Little Alice is confused what's happening to everyone. Life has been turned upside down here. Please be careful. I hope you're handling everything ok. I know he was your close friend. Just please, please, don't do anything foolish. I couldn't bear to go through what Lucy is going through. Remember Kara, some sunny day. But on a lighter note, i'm definitely pregnant now. I feel like a whale even though i know i'm only a little heavier than before. Hormones are kicking in too. I'm afraid I might drive Alex insane. I'm simply rambling now. Be safe.

Love

Lena

Ps. I almost forgot. I'm gonna love that gal by perry como.

Oliver, James, and so many other faceless soldiers on both sides had lost their battle with death here in Bastogne. The stakes are high, and no one understands that better than E company.