Two weeks later, she stepped off the troopship and was back in America.

It felt like coming home. And she was welcomed home with open arms. Hopping into a cab on a Friday evening, Dallin told the cabby where to go and he gave her a ride for free. It took them two hours to reach New Jersey because of the traffic but she had reached Woodbridge Avenue without any hassle. Leaving the cab, Dallin made her way into the "Nixon Post Office", where she was kindly greeted by a middle-aged woman.

"Can I help you, hon?" She asked Dallin, with a welcoming smile.

Clearing her throat, Dallin nodded and asked her;

"I am looking for…Nixon or Winters, please".

She smiled;

"well, the Nixon's don't really show their faces around here, hon. But Winters is here every weekday. Never misses a day of work".

Dallin's eyes widened with hope;

"he is…here right now?"

She chuckled;

"oh, he clocked out hours ago, hon. He'll be at his apartment now".

Processing that information, Dallin nodded slowly;

"yes, thank you…I go there now. Where does he sleep?"

She chuckled again;

"you're not from around here, are you? You some distance relative?"

Dallin shook her head;

"no…we are good friends, ma'am. And, I have not seen him in two years".

She frowned a little;

"where'd you meet him, hon?"

"Toccoa, Georgia".

Her eyes widened;

"you're…you're Dallin Gorski, ain't you?"

Dallin smiled and nodded;

"yes…I am her".

She barked out a surprised laugh;

"oh…he never shuts up about you, hon!"

"So, I see him, yes?"

She got up from her seat;

"I'm Blanche…Blanche Blaine. And I'll take you to him, right now. I'll drive you there".

Dallin smiled;

"thank you very much, Miss Blaine".

"Oh, call me, Blanche". She said, "hell, I feel as if I already know you, Dallin".

It was strange, talking to an American woman again after so many years. But Blanche Blaine was kind and enthusiastic. It was clear she cared about Winters a lot. During the car ride to his apartment in New Brunswick, Blanche told Dallin that she was Winters secretary. And she didn't have anything bad to say about Dallin's former commanding officer. It sounded as if the man hadn't changed much.

Dallin only hoped he'd be happy to see her after two years.

Stopping outside a large building, Blanche informed Dallin;

"second story, first door to your right".

"Thank you, Blanche". She whispered.

The older woman smiled;

"you nervous, hon?"

Nodding, Dallin faced her;

"yes, very".

Blanche's smile softened;

"well, don't be, Dallin. Because that man has prayed, you'd come home for the last two years".

Rubbing her lips together first, Dallin grabbed the handle and opened the door. Stepping out into the dark, she closed the car door and headed inside the apartment building. Dallin slowly walked up the stairs, thinking of what to say. And by the time she reached his front door, she was clueless. Taking in a deep breath, Dallin knocked on his front door and waited.

After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened.

And they were both shocked to see each other.

Winters was wearing civilian clothes.

And Dallin was standing outside his house.

But soon, he had his arms wrapped around her, holding her in a tight embrace. Closing her eyes, Dallin's head fell into a familiar chest. Warmth pooled in her stomach; tears flooded behind her eyelids. Her hands gripped his shirt tightly, just to be sure she wasn't dreaming. At last, she was safe.

She was home.

Kissing the top of her head, Winters opened his eyes.

And spotted the box by her feet.

Inside that box, he heard a meow.

Letting out a tearful chuckle, he asked;

"Felix?"

"Yes". Dallin whispered, "I bring my cat".

Nodding, he told her;

"you and Felix are welcome to stay for as long as you want".

"Thank you, sir…because we don't have a house".

Pulling back from the hug, Winters kept his hands on her shoulder.

Smiling softly, he noted;

"you made Lieutenant".

"Yes". Dallin mumbled, "a lot…has happened, sir".

"It's Dick". He corrected her kindly, "call me Dick".

Stepping into the apartment, Dallin let Felix out and allowed him to roam and get used to the space around him. It was a small place, with one bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen/living area. Dallin made herself a bed on the couch, despite Winters trying to convince her to take the bed. He made them both a hot drink and Dallin told him everything.

Lieutenant Jones was dead.

And she was almost executed in Poland.

She kept it brief and didn't plan and left out a lot of details;

"and you?"

Shaking his head, Winters mumbled;

"just trying to live in this…weird world".

Clearing his throat, he added;

"and -uh – my father actually passed away last year".

Dallin frowned and placed her hand on his arm;

"I am very…sad about that, Dick".

"Thank you, Dill".

Giving his arm a squeeze first, Dallin then took a drink of her hot milk. Winters watched her quietly, with a small smile on his face;

"it's good to have you back, trooper".

She smiled back at him;

"good to be back, Dick".

For the first time in years, Dallin woke up to a normal sight of a man wearing his pyjamas in his kitchen. Winters was cooking breakfast. Bacon, eggs and toast. Dallin couldn't remember the last time she had eaten bacon. And she had forgotten how delicious it smelt. Sitting up on the couch, Dallin yawned and stretched her arms over her head. She was about to greet Winters, but the sound of the phone ringing cut her off.

Winters left the frying pan to answer it;

"hello?"

Pulling the blanket off, Dallin got onto her feet.

"Yeah, Blanche's correct, Nix". Winters said, "Dill's home".

With a tiny smile, Dallin leaned against the counter and looked up at Winters, who was grinning;

"fine, yeah. We'll come by tonight – no, she doesn't need all that alcohol, Nix".

Dallin's smile widened.

It seemed Nixon hadn't changed.

Sighing, Winters mumbled;

"alright, see you then. Bye".

Hanging up the phone, he informed Dallin;

"hope you don't mind…we're seeing Nix and his wife tonight".

She shrugged;

"I don't mind".

"I usually watch them get drunk and when I get bored, I go to bed". Winters said, "but feel free to celebrate, Dill. Nix certainly hopes you do".

It was beginning to sound a little odd.

Making normal plans.

Having breakfast inside Winters's home, Dallin half-expected a Sergeant to come barging into the house, claiming the Company were needed out front for assembly. But the house remained quiet and still and outside, Dallin could hear cars passing by and people yelling out greetings to neighbours and friends. It was fine yesterday because it was dark. Now that it was light, she didn't want to face normality.

Serving up breakfast, Winters frowned;

"you okay, Dill?"

Clearing her throat, she nodded;

"yes…I am fine, Dick".

He smiled small;

"one day at a time". He said, "there's no rush. You just take your time and get settled in".

Nodding, Dallin picked up her fork and knife;

"this looks nice".

"Thank you, Dill". Winters smiled, "listen, I'm not working today. How about we pop to the store, get you some normal clothes?"

Dallin shrugged;

"yes, okay".

However, that was easier said than done.

Putting on her uniform and boots, Dallin followed Winters to the front door. She could hear footsteps walking down the apartment building and people talking. When Winters opened the door, she pushed in front of him and slammed the door shut, keeping them both inside. Raising his eyebrow, Winters asked her;

"something wrong?"

"We…we should not go". Dallin whispered, voice sounding on the verge of panic.

Nodding slowly, he asked her;

"you 'wanna tell me why?"

"It is not safe". She whispered, "very…very unsafe outside".

"Dill, this is America". Winters reminded her, "we're very safe here".

Shaking her head, Dallin whispered again;

"what if…if they capture me?"

He frowned;

"why would they do that?"

"Because…I am Polish Jew". She said, "and…and they don't like me".

Winters crouched in front of her and placed his hand on her shoulder;

"you met Blanche last night, right?"

Dallin nodded;

"yes…she is very nice lady".

He smiled small;

"she is". Winters agreed softly, "and she likes you, Dill. And I bet, everyone else in New Jersey will like you too".

Shaking her head, Dallin whispered;

"but…but not everyone is you, sir…what if…what if they capture me again and lock me inside cupboard".

"Why would they do that?"

"Leon did".

Winters's frown deepened;

"what?" He whispered.

Dallin told Winters last night she had almost died in Poland, but she didn't tell him how or why. Tears filling her eyes, she whispered;

"the Polish people…they are killing Jews because they blame us…and Leon gives them my life for money".

"Oh, trooper". Winters mumbled sadly, "I'm so sorry".

When a tear rolled down her cheek, Dallin croaked;

"we stay inside tonight, sir?"

Nodding, he pulled Dallin into a tight hug;

"that's fine, Dill…Nix and Irene can come around to ours".

"Thank you, sir".

Winters smiled sadly and rubbed her back;

"hey…it's Dick now, remember?"

"Yes…it feels strange".

"You'll get used to it". Winters assured her, "I get a call from some of the fellas three times a week and they sometimes call me Sir".

Pulling back from the hug, she looked at him;

"you…telephone them, sir?"

Nodding, he smiled;

"yeah, I've got their numbers. You should call Joe".

Her eyes softened;

"my…my Sergeant?"

Winters chuckled;

"technically, you outrank him now, Dill".

"Where does he stay?"

"Reading, in Pennsylvania". Winters replied, "if you wanted, we could see him".

Shaking her head, Dallin whispered;

"it's…it's scary out there".

"I'm here". Winters reminded her, "and Joe Toye wouldn't let anything happen to you, Dill".

Rubbing her lips together, Dallin looked at the front door;

"promise, sir?"

Winters smiled kindly at her;

"I promise, trooper".

Wiping the tears off her cheek, she told Winters;

"we will…go and see Captain Nixon and Irene at his house tonight".

His smile widened;

"good idea, Dill. I think they'd prefer drinking in their own home".

"And we should…go to store".

Winters let go of her shoulder and took her hand;

"I won't let you go, alright?"

Dallin's lips twitched;

"yes…thank you, Dick".