AN: Another chapter :)
Raising hell in London was put to the back of her mind when the 506th stepped aboard the S.S Samaria. The ship could hold just one thousand passengers, however, it now held around five thousand. With its cramped conditions, men were forced to share a hammock with a buddy or, sleep upon the deck. If they chose a hammock, they slept in the belly of the ship, one floor up from the "mess hall". Robin didn't expect to feel sad when they watched the Statue of Liberty vanish in front of a setting sun. But America had been kind to her and her family. She would miss the country and hoped to see it again.
To make life more uncomfortable, men were ordered to keep their lifejackets on at all times. It was very uncomfortable sleeping with something rubbery around their necks. And down where they slept, there was barely enough room to move around. Robin and the men were constantly brushing shoulders with one another. After only one night of being on the ship, tensions were beginning to rise among the Companies. Unfortunately, Easy wasn't excluded. Guarnere made fun of Liebgott because of his Jewish background and Liebgott went for Guarnere. Before any punches were thrown in, a few guys broke the fight up.
Robin missed the fight.
She had her own problems;
"how much do you think?"
Dukeman whistled;
"Robin…I'd guess forty".
"Forty dollars?"
"Yeah". He confirmed, "no one wants to eat fish twice a day. They're 'gonna be keeping a close grip on Hershey bars".
"Fuck". Robin sighed, "well, I'm fucked, Buddy. I've only got two bars left".
Dukeman chuckled;
"stick to the fish, pal".
She paled;
"it's disgusting. They're stirring that shit around in an old oil barrel".
"Yeah, it's grim". He agreed, "unless you 'wanna starve for twelve days?"
"Fucking might as well, eh?"
Bob sat on the edge of Robin's hammock;
"what's up, dock?"
Dukeman smirked;
"Robin's decided to starve".
"Yeah, I don't blame her". He said, "Hoobs has got his head over the rails".
Dukeman looked amused;
"seriously? Thought that idiot would be used to water".
Bob grinned and looked up at him;
"it ain't the water, apparently. It's the fish".
Dukeman's head was hanging over the top bunk;
"poor kid". He still sounded amused, "someone with him?"
"Yeah, Johnny is". Bob said, "but Sarge don't 'wanna be there".
"Bowie!"
Sitting up, Robin's eyes searched for the voice calling her name;
"aye?!"
Sergeant Harris soon emerged from the crowd;
"with me. You're wanted up top".
Swinging her legs around, Robin pulled on her boots and got up from the hammock. She followed their Platoon Sergeant up the metal stairs and onto the deck. With the fresh air cooling her off, Robin breathed out a breath of content. It was night. The sky was clear, and the stars were out with a large pale moon shining down on the Atlantic. She spotted Hoobler groaning over the railings, with a reluctant Johnny Martin slapping and rubbing his back. Biting back a grin, Robin followed Harris further down the deck, until they reached Winters.
"Thank you, Salty". Winters smiled.
"Yes, sir".
When Harris left, Robin gave the Lieutenant a small nod and smile;
"evening, sir".
"Good evening, Bowie". He said, "enjoying the voyage across the Atlantic?"
"I'm – eh – I'm not sure what that means, sir".
Winters smiled;
"the journey, Bowie". He clarified, "are you enjoying the journey?"
Robin shrugged;
"it's alright".
"Yeah?"
"Aye, yeah". She said lightly, "meals are a bit pants but…got some chocolate to eat, sir".
"You seem to be doing better". Winters noted softly, "Lieutenant Welsh was concerned about your well-being in regard to combat".
Rubbing her lips together, Robin told him quietly;
"one day at a time, eh?"
He smiled;
"exactly. One day at a time. Try not to think too far ahead. Just focus on what's happening now".
"Guess I got hit with some facts, eh?" She mumbled, "wars shite and folk are 'gonna die".
"Yeah". Winters agreed quietly, "that's right".
With a tiny sigh, Robin faced the vast ocean and added;
"just feel a little lost sometimes…in an all man's world".
He frowned;
"you're never lost with Easy, Bowie".
Small smile playing on her lips, Robin looked up and stared into the night sky. It was quiet. She couldn't hear the yelling and laughs coming from the belly of the ship. And they were far enough away from anyone on the deck. Leaning against the railings, Winters soon joined her.
"You should show me Scotland". He said quietly, "I've always wanted to go".
"Alright, sir". Robin mumbled, "we can do that".
"Do they all wear kilts?"
Shaking her head with an amused snort, Robin told him;
"no, sir. Not unless we're fighting or getting married".
"What's England like?"
"Only ever been once, sir". She said, "we got the ship from Liverpool to America".
Winters sighed;
"I hope they're nice people".
"Aye, they are". Robin assured him, "you'd probably like them, sir".
Smiling shyly, he looked at her;
"well, I like you, Bowie".
Biting down on her lip, she looked down and mumbled;
"aye, well…'am 'no from England, eh?"
"I still like you".
…
Making her way back down to the hammocks after her talk with Winters, Robin felt lighter somehow. And her heart and stomach fluttered, with alien feelings. Closing the door, she headed for the metal stairs. Usually, Robin would grab a hold of the rail because the stairs were slippery and thick with grease, but her mind was occupied, and she forgot. Halfway down the stairs, her boot slipped against the grease and she started to fall. Headfirst, she could feel her skull crash onto a stair, before her back bumped against the rest. Robin landed in a heap at the bottom. Soon, laughter came from behind her.
With a tiny groan, Robin slowly sat herself up.
Hand going to the back of her head, she mumbled;
"fuck sake, chocolate cake…".
"You stupid bitch". A voice taunted.
Robin sighed;
"would be you, eh?"
Davidson and his two buddies walked down the metal stairs;
"did that knock some sense into you?"
Rubbing her lips together, Robin took a look at her hand and noticed blood;
"I'm bleeding".
Davidson shrugged;
"so?"
Sighing, she pushed herself up and got onto shaky legs;
"alright, fine". Robin mumbled, "just 'gonna see the medic or something".
"You're such a stupid-"
"bitch, 'a know". She cut him off, "you keep telling me, man".
Grabbing hold of the large door, Robin pulled it open and stepped into their billet. Hand covering up the small gash in the back of her head, she pushed her way towards Easy Company and felt a sense of relief when seeing her friends. Talbert was the first man she came across and decided to ask him;
"you seen the medic, Floyd?"
He looked up from his book, eyes looking her over;
"what's wrong?"
"Fell down the stairs".
Talbert barked out a laugh;
"really?"
Robin sighed;
"aye, really". She mumbled, embarrassed, "is he about?"
Talbert nodded down the narrow strip;
"five hammocks ahead of me, Robin. Don't trip now, huh?"
"Aye, cheers".
When Robin reached Eugene Roe, the man was reluctant to take a look at her, considering what happened last time. But Robin stressed that her head was cut open and the young medic sprang up to his feet to take a look. After a few moments, he informed her;
"it's 'gonna need stitches".
Robin nodded;
"right".
"So…I'll need to touch your head, Bowie". Roe warned her, "don't push me now".
"I won't". She promised.
"Sit down". He instructed her calmly, "someone's 'gotta assist me".
Sitting down on the barrack, Robin got herself comfortable. Roe came back to her with Bull in tow. The medic handed Bull a torch, who turned it on and shone the light towards the back of Robin's head.
"Keep it still, Randleman". Roe warned him, "don't 'wanna dig into her brain".
Robin paled;
"eh?"
"You keep still too, huh?" He said, "can't do nothing if you're jumping around".
Letting out a shaky sigh, Robin gripped onto her trousers tightly;
"right".
Roe sat beside Bull and took out his aid kit. Very gingerly, Roe dampened the thread with his lips and stuck it into the needle. He then moved the short strands of hair from the wound and dabbed the blood away. Robin grimaced with discomfort but never moved or made a sound. Warning her, Roe said;
"this is 'gonna sting".
Bull added;
"best brace yourself, boy".
Taking in a deep breath, Robin tensed up and gave a firm nod to start. As soon as the needle pierced into her skin, her body broke out into a cold and clammy sweat. It was a sickening pain. Closing her eyes, Roe then pushed the needle into her skin again and dragged the thread up. When she exhaled, she whispered;
"feel sick".
"Relax, you're doing fine". Roe murmured, "four more times, then we're done".
She could feel her eyes sting from under her eyelids. Robin bit down on her bottom lip hard, until she tasted blood. Drawing in another deep breath, Roe continued with his job. Robin didn't open her eyes when the hammock dipped, signaling that someone was sitting in front of her.
"You're an idiot". Despite the insult, she was glad Hoobler was there, "what the fuck did you do?"
Opening her eyes, Robin looked at him;
"fell down the stairs".
Hoobler shook his head, with a soft chuckle;
"you fucking idiot, pal".
Letting out a shaky sigh, she admitted to him quietly;
"this hurts, Hoob".
"I'll bet it does". His voice softened slightly, "you getting some stitching done?"
"Aye, he's sealing me up".
"Like an envelope?" He joked gently.
Robin snorted;
"'dunno…something like that".
"You're 'gonna be fine". He said, "for being such a good sport, I'll give you my candy bar".
Her eyes lightened;
"seriously?"
Hoobler nodded;
"yeah…you got forty bucks?"
A tiny smile met her lips;
"you're a wee fanny, Hoob".