I own nothing but Adriana! Thank you all!

As George and Adriana walked, they saw some Easy company men sitting in the town square. George turned them that way. They were wearily greeted by Muck, Penkala, Malarkey and Moor. Luz sat heavily next to Penkala who smiled at Adriana.

"How's that foot Rosie?" he asked mischievously.

"Its fine Alex," she hissed, but she was smiling too.

"So, as I was sayin'," Moor said. "Berlin by Christmas. That's how I see it"

"You're full of it," Malarkey said while Muck complained about the Kraut cheese.

"Yes sir, the way we came in town today. You know it doesn't seem like Jerry's got too much fight left in em'" Moor continued.

"Hey Moor, don't get hit in the face when Jerry throws in the sponge alright?" Malarkey said smiling.

"Mark my words Mal. Berlin by Christmas."

Malarkey shook his head and turned to Adriana, but his face turned stony. He looked rather frightened and Adriana followed his gaze over her shoulder. Spiers was standing right behind her.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," he said. "We'll be moving out soon."

"Out of town sir? Already?" Moor asked, disappointment easy to hear in his voice.

"That's right," Spiers answered.

Adriana glanced at the red headed soldier behind her. He looked disgusted with the Dog Company Cpt. After a second he looked down at her.

"You keeping up ok Sgt?" he asked.

"Excuse me sir?" Adriana asked.

"You keeping up with the men?" he asked just as bluntly before.

"I don't follow sir," she said looking at Luz for help.

"I just want to make sure you are doing alright with the men."

Adriana stood up.

"Sir, can I speak to you. In private?"

Normally if someone went to talk in private with Adriana, the men would hoot and cat call, but they all knew better than to do that. Spiers looked around at them, daring them to say anything. When they didn't, he strode over away expecting Adriana to follow. She did and they came to a bench a young private was sitting on. With one look from Spiers, the young man scurried away.

"Have a seat Sgt."

"I would rather stand sir," she said stiffly.

Spiers looked rather taken aback for only a second but didn't object.

"What do you need?" he asked.

"Sir I realize you don't know me very well," she paused to steady herself. "But I am a Sergeant in the United States Army. I made it through Camp Toccoa with flying colors. I went through jump training and completed all five training jumps. I got my jump wings with the rest of the company, and out did hundreds of men who were a hundred times more qualified than me. I jumped into Normandy on D-day, lived, re-grouped with Easy then took on the guns at Brecourt and now have successfully taken Carentan all while not only being an enlisted woman but leading enlisted men. Lt. Speirs, I have done everything to the best of my ability, and as far as I can tell, I have succeeded, so sir, unless you can tell me something that I have done wrong, please doesn't presume to know me or what I can do."

Adriana's voice was quiet and deadly, yet level and calm the whole time she was speaking. Spiers' face never changed as he listened to her.

"Dismissed Sgt." he said and turned on his heel and stalked away.

Adriana had the intense urge to punch him in the back of the head, but refrained and instead sighed and went back to her men.

"What happened?" asked Malarkey sitting up straighter.

"Nothing. He is just a sexist pig is all," she spat.

Luz frowned at her as she shook her head and made a mental note to explain later. Luz started to protest as Welsh came into view yelling for 1st platoon.

"Let's go! First platoon weapons on me! We are moving out."

The men grabbed their belongings and Adriana went to get second platoon. Luz followed her.

"Second platoon on me! We are moving out!"

The men of second platoon scurried to fall in as Luz pulled her to a stop.

"Hey tell me what Spiers said," he pushed.

"No Luz don't worry about it," Adriana said pushing him off her arm. "Get back with first platoon."

"Aww come on Bell!" Luz whined making Adriana smile.

"If we live through the next battle, maybe I'll tell you," she lied.

That seemed to satisfy him and with a kiss on the cheek, he darted back to Welsh. Warmth spread through her face from the place his lips had touched. She laughed out loud, causing Guarnere, who had just joined her, to give her a strange look. She glanced over and was overjoyed to see him.

"Bill!" she said happily throwing her arms around him.

He caught her and after swinging her around he set her down then looked at her.

"How are yah Rosie girl?" he asked gently patting her head.

"Never better Bill," she said. "Although my foot hurts a bit. Caught a bullet."

"In your foot?" Guarnere asked amused.

She nodded sheepishly and Guarnere laughed.

"Well at least he missed your big head," he said ruffling her hair.

She playfully pushed his shoulder but he didn't go anywhere.

"So how did yah fare in the taking of Carentan?" he asked.

"It was fine. I was with Shifty when he took that sniper, then I was clearing houses with Liebgott and Tipper when Tip got hurt. His leg almost got blown off, and he caught some shrapnel in his chest and face."

"I heard," Guarnere said sadly dropping his head.

"But he is alive. He is going home," Adriana said in a brighter tone.

"Lucky bastard," Guarnere said with a sad smile.

After a few moments of silence Adriana turned to him.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine Rosie. Why?" he asked.

"Remember how I said you and I were going to talk about your brother. Well I haven't forgotten."

Guarnere sighed and slid an arm around her waist.

"Rosie, my brother is old news. He is gone. I'm not and neither are you or the other guys."

"Don't do that Bill Guarnere. Don't you dare. Not to me. Don't hold all your emotions inside. It will eat you up, and I need you whole. Please talk to me."

Guarnere pulled his face back so he could look down at her. Her large eyes were pleading. He shook his head defeated.

"Alright Rosie you win. I miss him alright. Henry and I were… the closest out of my family. We were best friends. Always doin' everything together. I miss him. That's it."

"I'm sorry Bill," Adriana said putting a hand on his chest.

"It's alright. I'm alright," Bill answered covering her hand with his.

Adriana was about to say something else when Welsh called for her up front. She waved at Welsh then turned back to Bill.

"Go on," he said nodding toward Welsh. "Duties call."

Adriana squeezed his hand and jogged forward to Welsh.

"What's up Lt.?" she asked.

"I need to go up and talk to the Lt. from Fox Company. Can you hold down first and second platoon?"

"Yes sir," Adriana answered.

Welsh nodded and jogged off. Adriana looked back over her shoulder and marveled at the amount of Easy men trudging over the spongy grass. Officers were shouting orders and some men were talking among themselves. There was no smoking because the men had both their hands on their weapons, and eyes scanning the distance. As they walked, thunder could be heard above just before a torrent of rain burst forth and spilled down on Easy. Adriana cringed as the water pelted her face stinging her cheeks.

She was only a few paces in front of Easy so she could easily hear Luz, Perconte and Hoob bantering. She slowed so she was between Luz and Perconte so she could join the conversation. Luz was in the middle of answering Perconte.

"Aww Jesus Frank, I don't know. Until they tell us to stop."

"High ground," Hoob said. "There is high ground up ahead."

"Ok genius, answer me this then," Perconte said as Luz smiled widely. "Why is Easy company the only company who is either at the front of an advance, or, like now, exposed at the far edge of the line?"

"To keep you on your toes," Hoob said, obviously bored.

Adriana smiled at Perconte's not-so-good-natured complaining.

"No, that's not what I'm sayin'. I'm sayin' that we're never in the middle, and we are the fifth of nine companies in this regiment. Able to Item," Perconte said looking back and forth between Hoob and Adriana. "Think of it."

Hoob started to say something and point to the high ground, but was interrupted by the sound of an MG. Everyone dropped to their stomachs and tried to find better cover. Welsh could be heard shouting, "Contact right! Get into that hedgerow!"

"Let's go, let's go! Into the hedgerow!" Adriana hollered relaying the order to men down the line.

She jumped up and began to run pulling men along with her. There was always a trade off to jumping up and running rather than army crawling. The latter was safer, but very slow. Getting up and running when there was a machine gun in an unknown location was much faster. In this situation, it was probably better to crawl, but Adriana had men she had to get out of the open. She was up running around pushing men forward, shouting all the while. As she dashed through the bushes, a man next to her got shot in the chest and fell. Not even thinking she grabbed him by the vest and drug him with her into the hedgerow.

After what seemed like an eternity, she made it to cover. Men were yelling and bullets were flying around her. She dropped the wounded soldier and shouted for a medic three times and was afraid Roe might be wounded himself when he appeared out of nowhere. She already had his field jacket and shirt off and Roe was ready with sulfate powder. They worked together, easily filling in for the other without having to be told. When he was stable Roe told her she could go. She dashed off to find her to men.

She hit the ground as soon as she started running because Blithe was sprawled out covering his face and whimpering. She crawled to his side and smacked him in the back of the head.

"Get up Blithe!" she roared. "Fire your weapon!"

When he didn't respond she crawled up next Johnny Martin. There she stayed, firing across the grassy field into the next hedgerow where the Germans were hiding. They were there until the sun went down and the Germans stopped firing. Adriana slid down against the hill they were firing over and let out a slow breath. Johnny slid down next to her and patted her shoulder.

"You alright Rosie?" he asked.

"I'm just fine Johnny," she answered sighing.

Just as she answered him, the sky opened up and freezing rain poured down on them again. The wind picked up and whipped through the hedgerow, blowing the rain at an angle right into their faces.

"Damn," Johnny said quietly. "I guess we should start digging."

Adriana sighed and took out her entrenching tool and got to work. An hour and a half later Adriana and Martin had dug themselves into a hole Adriana knew she would never be able to get out of on her own, especially since the rain was making the sides muddy. She looked up at Martin who looked exhausted, but happy. She had to smile at his black face.

"What?" he asked.

Even under the mud, Adriana could tell he was confused.

"You're a little dirty," she said.

"Yeah well I'm not the only one," he retorted with a grin.

He reached out and wiped off her cheek. He pulled his hand away and showed her the mud caked there. Adriana shrugged and looked up out of the hole just as thunder crashed. Between the thunder, the Germans could be heard singing.

"What the hell do they have to sing about?" Martin grumbled sitting down.

Adriana didn't have time to answer. Someone was coming through the bushes behind them. They both raised their rifles and Martin yelled, "Flash."

Welsh rolled through the bushes and landed right next to the hole.

"Thunder," he said with a smile. "Catchy tune, ain't it?"

"Hey Lt. What's the news?" Martin asked relaxing and sliding down into the hole.

"Ehh same as it was this afternoon," Welsh said glancing out at the German side. "They're in their hedgerow and we're in ours." Then he turned his attention to Adriana. "Winters is looking for you Sgt."

"Right now sir?" she asked.

"Better get going," Welsh nodded.

Adriana sighed. She wanted nothing more than to fall into a deep sleep next to Martin, but Winters was the boss so she got up, and after a few tries and a boost from Martin she hauled herself out of the hole. She grabbed her M-1 from Martin and turned to find their CO

Please review! I love you all!