The seven weeks in Croft were up.
Winters and Holly were preparing to leave.
They were bound for Camp Toombs, Georgia, near a town named Toccoa. There, they would join the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. It was late in August and the couple silently packed away their things, while processing all they had done together in the past three years. Two best friends had fallen in love while spending almost every day together. They were only roommates once and now, they were Officers, about to embark on another adventure together.
Joining the Airborne Infantry was permanent.
With the 506th, they'd train together, earn their jump wings together and fight together. It was brand new and something that appealed to Holly. She wasn't worried or scared about what was to come, nor was she anxious about jumping out of a plane. Holly knew she would be just fine, with Winters by her side. And not only was Winters there but Nixon had also been accepted into the same Regiment. The three of them planned to stick together through the entire war.
Sometimes Holly missed the simple parts of life. Working a normal job, doing things without order. And waking up inside a flat with Winters. But Holly couldn't feel that homesick, not when home was standing right next to her.
Zipping up her duffel bag, she sat on the edge of her bed.
Winters turned around to face her and smiled;
"packed?"
Holly nodded;
"yeah". She whispered.
Frowning a little, he asked;
"are you okay?"
Smiling up at him, Holly reached for his hand.
Winters hand was placed in hers.
And she kissed his knuckles;
"I was thinking". Holly mumbled, "I'm not scared".
"Oh? Well, that's good, honey". Winters said softly, "why would you be?"
"Exactly". She said, "you're there, right by my side. Every step of the way".
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head;
"I'll always be by your side, Holly". He promised her, "I love you".
Smiling at him, Holly's arms reached up and went around his neck.
Pulling his face closer, their lips met.
"We have to be careful". Holly said, when the kiss ended, "the Army won't like us being together".
"We'll be careful". Winters said, "but also…screw them".
She chuckled softly and ran a hand threw his hair;
"don't be a prick, darling".
Smiling at her, he kissed her again.
It deepened and intensified.
And Holly ended up lying down on her bed, with Winters on top of her.
He carefully moved a piece of hair out of her eyes;
"I'll miss this a lot".
Holly frowned;
"me too". She whispered, "we better make the most of it".
A tiny blush reached Winters cheeks;
"yeah?"
Nodding, Holly smiled and placed her hand on the back of his neck;
"you're wonderful and we're great together. It's perfect".
That night, the men threw Winters and Holly a farewell party. Winters was presented with a gift from the men. It was a shiny new Schaeffer pen set. And Holly was given a gift from Burns' son. The boy had painted her a picture while in the hospital. It made Holly tear-up and she promised to keep a hold of it forever.
However, their greatest surprise came next, when a very familiar face walked into the PX barrack that evening. It was Ryan and he was sent to Croft as a sort of holding station with the rest of his Company. The man still looked the same, only, his hair was shorter, his beard was gone, and he wasn't wearing pyjamas and a housecoat. But Holly and Winters recognized their old neighbour instantly.
A rank didn't stand between the three of them, while Holly hugged their old friend tightly, relieved to see his face again after so long. Ryan awkwardly gave her a pat on the back, which made Holly chuckled;
"sorry, mate".
"It's okay". Ryan said.
Ending the hug, Winters shook his hand;
"good to see you again, bud". He said, truly meaning it, "have you got a date?"
Ryan nodded;
"I'm moving out soon". He told them, "Pacific".
He then added;
"never been on a boat".
"You'll be fine". Holly assured him, "it's not that bad".
"Heard from Martha". Ryan said, "she wants to see me before I leave".
"Will you?" Winters asked him with a smile.
Ryan shrugged;
"maybe".
"You should". Holly said to him, "she probably misses you, mate".
A sad look crossed Winters eyes;
"take care of yourself out there, Ryan". He told him, "just remember your training".
Ryan 's eyes caught sight of their ranks and he huffed;
"oh…Lieutenants?"
Winters smiled a little;
"yeah…it wasn't easy".
"He's being modest". Holly said, "Dick was born to lead".
The couple smiled at each other.
Ryan raised an eyebrow;
"is she your girlfriend, Dick?"
Smiling still, Winters nodded;
"yeah, Holly's my girlfriend".
A very rare and genuine smile reached Ryan's lips;
"that's nice". He said softly. "I always thought you'd end up together".
Holly smiled at Ryan;
"you look good, Ryan". She told him, "has everything been okay?"
Ryan shrugged;
"fine". He mumbled, "it was hard but…it's fine".
The couple felt reassured and their previous worries about Ryan, were pushed to the side. While the enlisted men drank their weight in beer, Holly and Winters simply watched over them and watched the men joke and laugh about. It was almost like being a parent, Holly would often think. Watching over fifty men's health and well-being, it was almost like playing mother-hen. She loved her job, however. Holly wanted the men to be healthy, both physically and mentally. And she hoped to give the same care and guidance to the men in the 506th.
With the radio on, an all-time favourite soon came on.
Winters smiled at Holly;
"shall we? For old times sake?"
"Your graduation party, eh?" Holly said fondly.
Putting down her drink, she nodded and took his hand;
"let's show these kids how it's done, Dick".
Clearing a space, Winters and Holly danced to "In the mood", by Glenn Miller. The enlisted men did a great job in cheering and clapping them on. Even if the couple weren't the greatest dancers, the men were too drunk to notice. When the song ended, the couple took a bow and left the dance area. With the men well and truly happy, Winters and Holly left the PX barrack and decided to call it a night, seeing as they had to get up early in the morning for camp Toombs.
"Why are you different?" Holly asked him, completely without context.
Winters frowned;
"what?"
She shrugged;
"you – you're different". Holly said, "in a good way".
He felt a little relieved;
"well…that's good".
With a tiny smile, she explained further;
"David…that lad who got locked up because he was gay. Not everyone would have reacted the way you did, Dick".
Winters shrugged;
"I 'dunno, Holly…you shouldn't throw stones at good people. And I'm sure David is a good person".
"Thought you would have been a bit more…thingy about it".
"Why?"
Licking her bottom lip, she said;
"because of that man in the car…when we were hitchhiking-"
"which we promised never to mention again". Winters cut her off.
Holly grimaced;
"sorry". She mumbled, "but can you see where I'm coming from?"
"I do". Winters said quietly, "however, it's completely different. I wasn't mean towards that man, I simply let him know that I was highly uncomfortable. And it was inappropriate".
Looking at him, she nodded;
"you're right, it was, Dick".
Sighing, he then added;
"David's different, Holly". He said quietly, "he was…sad within himself. And that's partly our fault. If we were more accepting, then David wouldn't have felt so ashamed".
Holly felt herself smile again;
"you can't be this good".
Frowning he looked at her;
"what do you mean?"
Shrugging, Holly said;
"you're good, Dick but not a lot of people would share your opinion".
"Oh, I plan on keeping that between us".
Holly took his hand, while they continued to walk to their barrack;
"one day". She said, "you should preach what you just told me, to all those arseholes who 'wanna lock people like David up".
Winters nodded slowly;
"not a bad idea". He mumbled, "I think I'd like to give that a try one day".
"Preaching?"
"Yeah". Winters confirmed, "would you watch me?"
Holly shook her head;
"nah, it's not really my thing".
"Holly!"
She chuckled;
"I'm kidding, you softy".
…
Bright and early the next morning, Holly and Winters were preparing to leave Camp Croft.
There, to bid them farewell, were the men they had spent the past seven weeks training. It was a little emotional, seeing them all salute the two Lieutenant's, while they walked towards the entrance. Holly and Winters decided to walk to the train station and from there, the train would take them to Georgia.
As soon as they stepped out of camp, Holly felt her stomach twist with nerves. All of a sudden, she felt nervous about what was to come. Because now it was definite, that they'd fight in this war. And it all felt so sudden. Quietly and lost in her own thoughts, she walked beside Winters and headed to the train station. They didn't talk much along the way, Winters mentioned the sunny weather and Holly agreed that it was hot. That was as far as their conversation went. And by the time they reached the station, the train was already beginning to pull up by the platform.
They quickly hopped into the train and walked down the corridor, until they located a compartment. Sitting themselves down, the door slid open and they were both surprised to see Nixon there. With a grin, their friend sat himself down next to Winters, after putting his duffel bag up on the overhead compartment.
"Where the hell did you come from, Nix?" Winters asked, while shaking his hand.
Nixon shrugged;
"I caught a train…which happened to be the same as you two".
With a tiny snort, Holly shook his hand next;
"you dreading this?"
Nixon shook his head;
"no way, Holly". He said, "this is 'gonna be great…my wife ain't so thrilled though".
"What did Kathy say?" Winters asked, "it's too dangerous?"
"Something like that". Nixon mumbled, while bringing out his flask.
Holly raised an eyebrow;
"it's eight in the morning, mate".
Shrugging, he said;
"it's five o'clock somewhere and besides, we're celebrating".
Winters looked over at Holly;
"I don't think we're in the celebrating mood".
Nixon pulled a face;
"why?"
Holly shook her head;
"I'm fine, Dick".
"You're not". Winters argued softly, "you've been quiet all morning".
Rubbing her lips together, Holly looked out of the window.
She watched the world whiz by her, in silence for a few moments.
Eventually, she admitted;
"okay…I'm bloody nervous".
Again, Nixon pulled a face;
"why?" He asked, "you've done this before, Holly".
"It's different now". She mumbled, "what if I screw this all up and give the wrong advice? Or, what if I get scared in front of the men". Holly paled at the thought, "they'd have no bloody faith or trust in me if I ever get scared. And Dick, you know how bloody scared I am of spiders. How the hell can I face a bunch of Jerrys', if I'm afraid of spiders?"
Winters could hear her start to panic.
Leaning forward, he quickly took her hands;
"honey, you're 'gonna be great". He told her confidently, "you know what you're doing, you've trained for this. And if you get scared, then you can always tell me about it. Even if it is just a damn spider".
"Besides". Nixon added kindly, "the Krauts don't have eight legs, buddy. You'll be fine".
Holly felt her lips twitch.
Winters smiled;
"we'll stick together". He added, "most of these men are 'gonna be fresh-faced and new to the Army way of life…we've 'gotta turn them into soldiers. I'm pretty sure we can do that, don't you, Holly?"
Looking at him, with soft eyes.
Holly nodded and felt her smile widened;
"we sure can, Dick".
However, to brighten up her mood further, Winters surprised Holly with snacks. He had brought along chocolate bars, gummy snakes and, best of all, a bag of grated cheese. Holly almost cried from happiness. Taking the grated cheese first, she began to stuff her face with the cheesy goodness.
"Holly, you're eating cheese at eight in the morning?" Nixon teased.
Holly shrugged;
"watch me eat this damn chocolate bar in ten minutes, mate".
"You'll never finish all that cheese in ten minutes".
With a smirk, she challenged him;
"'wanna bet?"
Nixon nodded;
"how much?"
"Twenty".
"Deal".
Winters chuckled;
"better get your wallet out now, Nix. Holly has eaten a whole lot more in five minutes".
For under ten minutes, Nixon watched Holly finish off a bag of grated cheese.
And she sat back, looking happily satisfied.
Shaking his head and cursing under his breath, Nixon brought out twenty dollars and handed it to Holly, who now looked far too smug. And, to tease him further, Holly started to eat the Hershey's bar. Shaking his head, Nixon crossed his arms over his chest;
"you're unbelievable". He muttered.
Winters chuckled;
"you shouldn't bet on Holly when it comes to food, Nix".
"Yeah, lesson learned".
It was over one hundred miles to Toccoa from Croft. And time seemed to pass them by quickly. When the train stopped at the station, the three friends grabbed their duffel bags and stepped off the train. Holly was met with rain. Thick and warm, drops of rain. Soon, Nixon and Winters left the train and sighed at the weather;
"some welcome, huh?" Nixon mumbled.
"We should be getting picked up". Winters said, "one of the men is coming to get us".
"Then let's go". Holly urged, "and get out of this rain".
They met a man waiting by a jeep. He was a young Private, who was given the order to pick up the three new Officers. Winters, Nixon and Holly gladly got into the jeep and were thankful for the roof over their heads for the time being. The Private started the engine and drove them onto a road.
Taking in a few deep breaths, Holly grabbed a hold of her nerves.
Pushing her fears aside, she tried to prepare herself for Camp Toombs.