Stepping onto a rubber boat, Dallin sat down in the front with McClung, Jones and Jackson behind her. Grabbing onto the rope above them, they quietly but quickly pulled themselves along the still river. Dallin could hear the men in the other boats doing the same and every so often, she looked behind her, checking in on them. All was going smoothly until one boat capsized. Dallin and her men stopped.

McCreary, Cobb and Winn were soon struggling to swim back towards the bank. Dallin had lost three from her security team. Cursing in her head, she tried to think up a new plan, while getting the rest of the men moving towards the other side of the river. Biting down on her bottom lip, Dallin's boat bumped against the bank softly. Standing up, she climbed out of the boat and helped McClung. Giving her lead scout a nod, he soon moved up from the bank on his belly, while she helped the rest of the men out.

Once the men were out of the boats, Dallin led them towards McClung.

On their bellies, they crawled through wet snow and mud. It was a cold and very quiet night. It unsettled Dallin with how quiet it was. However, seeing McClung put her mind at rest. Halting the men, she reached the lead scout who was a few feet in front of them. Dallin got behind the cart beside him. Peeking up slightly, she could spot the three-story building. It was forty yards away from where she and McClung sat.

Facing McClung, she whispered;

"stick to this path?"

He nodded;

"bring the fellas up to this cart and then behind that wall".

Facing the men again, she signalled for Jones to lead them up in twos.

McClung was already on the move, reaching the wall within seconds. Dallin stuck behind the cart and pushed the men forwards to the wall. It was a very quick but careful process. Dallin reached the wall last and tucked herself behind McClung again. They were closer to the house now and there wasn't any more cover standing between them and the German outpost.

Leaning forwards a little, Dallin gave Grant's arm a pat;

"take Sal, Vest and Garcia, secure the crossroads".

With a nod, Grant grabbed the men.

Carefully, they moved up to the crossroads.

Dallin then turned to Sergeant Rader;

"Rader, take Pat, Babe and Eddie, secure the right and left flanks".

Christenson, Rader, Heffron and Joint left the wall and got into position.

Dallin only had Jones, Popeye, McClung, Liebgott and Jackson to lead into the house. Security was down a few men, she figured Heffron was the best man to help them out. Licking her bottom lip, her finger touched her silver whistle, before she moved passed McClung. She'd rather lead the men to the house. If anything was to happen, the Germans would see her first. Her heart pumped with adrenaline. Quickly assembling her rifle grenade, she stayed low and moved towards the side of the house. Her team followed once she reached the damaged bricks.

Once Dallin set off the rifle grenade, the Germans would be alerted of their presence. Rubbing her lips together, her hands lightly pressed against the side of the rifle. Getting onto her feet, she turned around to face the ground floor window. Aiming her weapon towards the fragile glass, Dallin pressed down on the trigger.

Inside the house, she could hear German's yelling.

Dallin gave her team a nod.

McClung, Popeye, Jones and Liebgott headed for the house, while Jackson tossed another grenade. But the grenade didn't end up reaching the basement, it exploded where he sat. Blowing up in his face, the young man was soon screaming in agony. Racing to her friends' side, she rolled Jackson onto his back. His face was burned and badly cut up by shrapnel and he had a large piece of hot metal stuck in his head.

"Lieutenant!" Dallin called, "stay with Jackson!"

Jones quickly ran towards them;

"they're about to head in, Corporal". He informed her.

"Okay…stay with him, please, sir".

"I will". He promised.

Leaving Jones to look after Jackson, Dallin charged into the house with the rest of her team. Rifles in the air, she took in the three startled German faces. One of them was badly wounded from her rifle grenade. They raised their hands in the air. Dallin looked over to Liebgott;

"tell them they're surrounded…and they must surrender".

He translated.

But the wounded German started to yell.

Which caused his buddies to yell.

Liebgott was telling them to shut up, before informing Dallin;

"they want medical attention".

"Yes…they will get it". Dallin muttered.

Turning to Popeye, she told him;

"hide the chargers, Popeye".

And then told McClung;

"search the Germans…then we will leave".

Outside, their security teams started to fire.

Dallin could hear the familiar rumblings of incoming shells. Sighing, she lowered her rifle and looked out of the window, only to see her friend's weapons coming to life outside. Giving her head a shake, Dallin faced her team again, informing them;

"we are under attack…we leave now, very quick – Popeye! Are you ready?!"

Popeye was soon running down the stairs;

"ready when you are, Dill".

"Yes – follow me! Keep prisoners' heads down!" She ordered, "let's go!"

Leaving what safety they had inside the house, Dallin soon entered a fierce firefight. Jones had Jackson over his shoulders, ready to move back to the boats. Looking at the Lieutenant, she told him;

"get them back to boats, sir! I will get security!"

"Okay!" Jones faced the team, "come on, let's go!"

Watching her team go, Dallin then headed for the crossroads. Seeing Grant first, she told him;

"back to the boats! Get the men, Chuck!"

"What about you?!" Grant asked.

"I need to get the rest! Go now, quickly!"

The Germans started shelling them.

Mud, snow and stone spewed up from the ground and came pouring down around them. She could hear Jones, encouraging the men to keep going. Dallin ran towards the left flank;

"Back to the boats!"

Christenson and Heffron turned from their position and ran by Dallin, who was already heading for the right flank. She grabbed a hold of Rader and Joint, pushing them in the direction of the boats. Dallin couldn't blow the whistle until everyone had reached the boats. As it happened, she was going to be the last. But by the time she reached the men, a few had already gotten into the boats and were pulling themselves across.

Dallin blew on her whistle and covering fire answered.

She was the last to get on a boat with Rader and Joint. The prisoners were upfront with a wounded Jackson, Jones and a highly traumatized Vest. She could hear him yelling but also heard Jackson screaming words she never wanted to hear;

"kill me! Kill me! Christ! I can't stand it!"

Dallin balled her hand up into a fist.

She was angry.

Angry that Jackson was badly hurt.

Angry that his life was on the line for prisoners.

They only managed to get two, having left the wounded one at the bank.

Dallin couldn't look anyone in the eye once they reached the bank. Roe had rushed to help Jackson. He stuck a syrette of morphine into him, hoping to numb the pain while carrying him back to Dog's outpost. But after twenty feet, Jackson had stopped screaming.

Eyes widening, Dallin pushed her way to the front. Roe and Jones were gently lowering Jackson to the ground. She fell onto her knees beside her friend. She could feel wet mud and cold snow sink into her skin. Dallin took Jackson's limp hand into hers.

She pressed his cold knuckles against her lips, while tears flooded in her eyes.

Jackson had joined them in Fort Bragg, after serving in the Pacific front. When he got home, he wanted to see more action and signed up for the Paratroopers. They were lucky to have a friend and a soldier like Jackson. He was a great man, and he should have had his whole life ahead of him after the war.

A hand fell on Dallin's shoulder.

Closing her eyes, she felt a tear roll down her cheek.

"Guards took the prisoners away". Jones informed her lowly.

"We 'oughtta cover him up now, Dallin". Roe added softly and quietly.

Taking in a shaky breath, she nodded.

Roe handed her a blanket.

Her bottom lip trembled once the scratchy fabric was placed in her hands. Staring down at Jackson, she took in his face one last time, before covering him up. Dallin wiped the tear off her cheek and rubbed the tears out of her eyes.

The patrol had ended tragically.

They lost Jackson.

And the enemy was shelling their position.

But with a quick radio call, artillery soon bombarded the German's front. Dallin sat, still next to Jackson, Jones and Roe, and watched the fire show start and quickly end. She felt a lump in her throat. Tears reached her eyes again. The patrol was over, she got Division their prisoners. But she was furious. She was frustrated with the order. Without the nerves and the patrol on her mind, Dallin wondered just what Division needed those prisoners for. They all knew the war was winding down now and that the enemy was losing. What else was left to ask?

"What now?" Jones asked her once the firing had stopped.

Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she whispered;

"get the men inside basement at our OP…I will inform Winters".

The pair of them got onto their feet.

Jones looked down at her;

"if you want company…I'd come with you, Corporal".

Shaking her head, she mumbled;

"the men…they need comfort, sir. I will be there soon".

"Alright, Corporal". Jones said, with a firm nod, "I'll meet you there".

Saluting the Lieutenant, Dallin turned on her heel and headed down the road.

It didn't take her long to reach the house. And she passed many men from Fox and Dog Company along the way, who gave her nods while she walked by. It was a comfort, knowing those men understood the pain of losing a friend to what seemed like a useless patrol.

Entering Battalion HQ, Dallin quickly found Winters waiting for her inside the entrance. He was flushed, probably from pacing back and forth. But he was relieved to see Dallin. His shoulders dropped and he closed the distance between them. Dallin ran a hand through her hair. Her eyes quickly looked around the entrance, which wasn't as grand as Speirs's hotel. But grant, nonetheless.

Eyes lowering, she informed the Captain;

"we capture two prisoners, sir. The guards take them away now".

He nodded slowly;

"good".

Winters knew there was more.

And it took Dallin a few seconds to tell him;

"we lost…Gene".

His face dropped;

"Private Jackson?"

She nodded;

"yes…his own grenade…it went off…very suddenly".

He said the first thing that came to him;

"it's not your fault". Winters whispered.

Closing her eyes, her chin reached her chest;

"it…I should always be watching…".

"I watched the whole patrol, Dill". Winters told her, "you did great".

His hand fell on her shoulder;

"I'm proud of you".

Dallin didn't want to hear that he was proud. She wanted him to have a different reaction, one which she thought she deserved. Dallin excused herself to tend to her men. She didn't want to stand around to try and justify her guilt. Leaving the large house, Dallin walked along the now quiet streets of a banged-up French town. She stepped over puddles and holes, which were created by shells. Above her, the sky was filled with smoke but as it started to clear, she could spot the pale moon.

Dallin stopped walking.

Her head was tilted back, eyes staring up at the moon.

A cool breeze stung her cheeks and watered her eyes.

Dallin breathed in that moment of fresh air. It filled her lungs. And put colour back into her face. She still felt guilt. Dallin knew she could have done better at keeping Jackson out of harm's way. Like all the friends she had lost, Jackson would always be missed by Dallin. Her heart was full of loved ones she had lost from war.

But her heart also felt extremely heavy with grief.

Lowering her head, Dallin faced the front and continued her walk back to their house. She was almost dreading seeing the patrol again. Dallin wouldn't blame them if they were angry at her and she was expecting them to be. She could imagine their frowns full of hatred and disgust. She could almost hear them yell and accuse her of being a terrible leader.

However, when she reached the basement, McClung handed her a cup of coffee.

Heffron, though his eyes were a little tearful, gave her a tiny smile.

Dallin sat down at the table, sitting between Jones and Grant.

"What'd Winters say?" Grant asked her quietly.

"He is…very proud of you all". She reported back, "very proud".

Vest raised his head, tears filled his eyes again;

"what for? We lost a guy".

Grant sent him a stern look;

"we could have lost everyone".

"No…he is right". Dallin mumbled, "it was…very useless patrol but…we are soldiers, we do as we are told always".

"Even if the fellas up top are wrong?" Bellino grumbled.

"Especially if they are wrong". She said.

That earned her a few snorts of amusement.

Cobb, Winn and McCreary were in the basement with them. Clothes still drying from falling into the river. Cobb, who had a bottle of Schnapps, took another drink before hissing;

"well, that don't make a lick of fucking sense".

Shaking her head, Dallin muttered;

"nothing…makes sense, Roy".

"They don't give a shit about us". Cobb said, "how come we follow their stupid orders?"

When Dallin didn't respond, Jones turned to face Cobb, asking him;

"are you drunk?"

Winn snorted;

"yeah, he is, Lieutenant".

"Put that bottle down, Private". Jones ordered Cobb. "You've had plenty".

Dallin's eyes flickered towards the young Lieutenant.

Going up against a man like Cobb wasn't always the best idea. Mostly, he could be very friendly, but after a drink, he turned mean and bitter. Dallin gave Jones a tiny smile, assuring him;

"Roy is fine…Lieutenant".

"He's breaking orders". Jones pointed out.

"Yes…he is". Dallin agreed, "because it is very hard…for us all sometimes".

He didn't look impressed with her excuse.

Dallin rubbed the back of her neck, telling him;

"we are all…very young, yes? Early twenties…and we deal with stressful things. Before the war, we all think the same…we will work, go to college and get married in our twenties. But here we are, fighting and watching friends die. We did not ask for this, older men decided it for us".

Cobb placed the bottle of Schnapps on the table in front of Dallin.

Taking the bottle, she had a hard sip of the strong alcohol.

"Thank you, Roy".

Cobb clapped her shoulder before taking the bottle back;

"I don't have a problem with you, Dill". He said, "what I know, is that you did good tonight, kid".

Dallin didn't look convinced.

Shaking her head, she mumbled;

"always room for…improvement, Roy. But I am very proud of you all".

Looking down at the table, she repeated thickly;

"very proud".

The men were soon settled in their beds, hoping to catch a few hours of sleep but Dallin was summoned to Easy Company CP, where Speirs and Winters wanted a word. The German OP had exploded five hours after they returned from the patrol. It was loud. And the building burst up into furious flames. Keep her head low while crossing the road, Dallin soon entered the hotel.

Lipton gave her a small smile;

"in the dining room, buddy".

Nodding, Dallin didn't even knock first, she pulled those doors back and stepped into the room. The doors shut loudly behind her, Winters and Speirs looked her way. And, judging by the look on their faces, she knew it wasn't good news. Sighing, Dallin placed her hands on the back of a chair and mumbled;

"what is…happening now?"

Clearing his throat, Winters first told her;

"spoke to Colonel Sink half an hour ago…said you all did good work, he's proud".

Dallin's eyes stared up at the Captain;

"but?" She questioned.

His face almost dropped, when telling her;

"he wants another patrol across the river tonight…he wants more prisoners".

Dallin reacted very quickly to the news.

Her face scrunched up in anger when she snapped;

"cat shit!"

"Dill-"

"no!" Dallin cut Winters off, "we do not need to!"

"It's an order". Winters told her calmly, "they want more prisoners".

"So, they get them!" She yelled, "they get them! But I will not! And my friends will not!"

She was panting.

Frustrated tears reached her eyes.

Dallin chocked out a noise which almost sounded like a sob;

"not us!" She yelled, "not us!"

Running a hand down his face first, Winters walked over to her.

Standing before Dallin, he placed his hands on her shoulders;

"I know, Dill. I don't want it either".

Still staring up at him, she hissed;

"and does he know…about Gene? That he was our friend?"

Silently, Winters nodded.

"So, why?" Dallin muttered, shaking her head. "Why does he need…another one?"

The Captain knew the reason, but he couldn't tell Dallin.

A look of defeat reached her face.

The tears were still there but the anger vanished.

Dallin's shoulders sagged, almost dropping to the ground.

It was an order, they had to do it.

And Winters had his orders as well, it wasn't his fault.

Nodding, she whispered;

"I have to…tell my…my f-friends".

Winters crouched down a little, so they were eye-level;

"they won't be happy…they'll yell, curse and scream…but they'll follow you again, I can assure you of that".

She could feel a tear roll down her cheek.

Sniffing, Dallin croaked;

"I do not blame them…if they do not want to come".

"I don't either".

"But…we have to". She whispered, "and I…refuse to lose another".

Winters tilted his head to the side, eyes softening.

Taking in a deep breath, she wiped the tear from her cheek;

"so…we change plan, yes? We have to…Germans will expect us now".

"Yeah, we will". He murmured, "we'll need to head further up the river, maybe start the patrol later on".

Rubbing her lips together, she then said;

"and I will bring him prisoners but…I will keep my friends safe. More than me. They have families…waiting for them…I do not".

Winters frowned.

Swallowing back the lump in her throat, Dallin whispered;

"I fight…to free my people, sir, but…I fight now to save my friends. I will not see another friend close his eyes for the last time…take his last breath. I always want to see the end of war, to see my people finally liberated and free. Perhaps, someone else might do that for me now".

She was met by silence.

Dallin placed her hand on Winters's arm;

"I know…what it is to feel happy now because of all of you…if I die tonight, to save my friends, then…I die with heart full of love".

Winters blinked a few times.

Dallin shrugged;

"well…someone will die tonight. And it will not be them".