The Red Cross tents stood out against the old buildings and the dark sand, the white walls and red cross providing a beacon for the crowd already forming outside. The German guards outside tensed at the sight of the Rat Patrol approaching.
"Sergeant Troy," stepping from the plaza, and raising his head, Dietrich returned Troy's sharp salute. "As you can see, there is nothing wrong with this station." He was accompanied by his usual team, and with him were two young women. A tall woman who looked so much like Sgt. Moffitt that she could only be the woman his spy had reported.
Dr. Moffitt, the archaeologist...and possible due to work in conjecture with his Park Ranger.
She was certainly bold enough, her eyes were focused and skipped over the people around them, and eventually settled on Dietrich. Meeting his eyes without an ounce of shame.
In the other jeep sat a young woman, her skirt tucked around her legs and a protective wrapping around her face prevented him from seeing the woman entirely. She wasn't as tall or lean as the doctor, but the pale blue eyes, oddly familiar, met his with equal gravity. He had the sense that, despite her covering, she was smiling.
Why had Troy brought them?
"Captain."
"As you see, Sergeant," he stepped down, coming on level with the man. "There are no troubles here, today."
"So you say." Their jeeps had supplies, which was a nice touch. It added more to their story.
"We've brought supplies for the doctors," Troy said, and he hummed. "So." Behind the man, the archaeologist and the covered nurse were climbing out of their jeeps. "There's a bit more."
"I am not certain your assistance is necessary, Stg. Troy," he told the man stiffly. Even knowing that this was a feeler mission, he wasn't happy to see the commandos out and about, or anywhere near his men. As he watched, the pretty nurse hauled a box of supplies onto one shoulder, and secured the other against her hip. Without another word, or any sign of assistance from the other rats, the nurse proceeded into the hospital tent.
Interesting . He would do his best to speak with both the doctor and the nurse.
"By all means," he conceded, "offer your assistance, Sergeant. Do well to remember that San Lorenzo is a neutral town."
"Neutral," Troy's voice was full of gravely promise. "Got it, Captain."
#$#$#
Miles didn't blink twice at the doctor standing at the back of the tent, taking inventory of the the supplies marked with the iconic red cross. He was tall, Arabic, with a lab coat over his usual clothes.
"Supplies," he told the man, who finally looked up from his clipboard. "Courtesy to the U.S. Army."
"Oh?" The doctor paused, and seemed to wait a beat, taking in the long skirt and Mile's face. "Nurse?"
"Miles," he said, holding out a hand. "Merry."
"Dr. Yusuf," the man answered, eyeing the handshake. "Thank you."
"Some guys snuck into my room last night and stole my pants," Miles told him, his own smile broadening as the man grinned without moving his mouth. "So, I'm dealing with it. I'll go get the rest from the jeeps." Ducking away from the man, he wrapped the scarf around the bottom of his face, and retreated into the heat.
As he emerged back into the sun, Hitch and Tully had taken all but the last of the supplies. They moved around him and into the tent, and Miles clocked the Moffitts in conferences, and Troy was nowhere to be seen. Which didn't mean he wasn't around, and as Miles reached for the straps on the case, another hand got in the way. Jerking around, he found himself nearly face to face with the tall captain. The man offered a polite node, and he was so surprised the invasion of his personal space, that he drew back.
"Frauline," the smooth voice wrapped around the bizarre word, only made Miles fall back even further. "Allow me to help."
He thinks I'm a girl! Miles realized frantically, and the theft of his pants, and the decision to protect his face in the absence of sunscreen meant that the tall captain was not eyeing him with the suspicion he was due, but with... interest .
"I have it," he blurted, pitching his voice, and avoiding looking the man in the eye as he hauled the box out of the jeep. ""Thank you...though." He moved toward the tent, pausing as the captain followed. "Do you...need something?"
"I am overseeing the Red Cross station and its protection," the man told him, tucked his hands behind his back, keeping easy pace with him. "I am making sure that nothing happens to the delicate neutrality."
"Oh," he blinked, trying to think of what he could say or do that wouldn't blow his cover. Not that it was cover, but if the man knew he was flirting with another man, he might get trigger-happy. "Well….is it a hard job?"
"Only if people insist on making it so," the captain held the flap to the tent open, and Miles met Dr. Yusuf's eyes frantically. The man blinked a moment. "Doctor?"
"Captain Dietrich," the man straightened, sealing his box and making a last check on the inventory list. " I had no idea you were coming, Captain. "
Miles glanced between them, gently pulling away from the man's side as he brought the last crate to the doctor. He didn't know Arabic, and he was a little surprised that Dietrich did know.
" The same could be said for you, Doctor." Dietrich eyed the man , "Surely the Red Cross has enough help ."
" In such dangerous times," he answered plainly. "A doctor is due to help . Thank you, Nurse."
"No problem!" Miles chirped, brushing down his front, and the doctor paused.
No problem. Not you're welcome. No problem. Miles busied himself with checking the inventory, peering around the fabric around his face at the two men as they exchanged brittle niceties.
No problem .
He'd noticed it, he'd paused. How could he know? Was Dr. Yusuf Number Four? The long-distant descendant of Private Pettigrew?
No problem. Not exactly a millennial identifying feature, but he'd been scolded and yelled at by enough older people telling him that he was being disrespectful for saying no problem instead of you're welcome.
"Doctor?" He took a steadying breath, "does this town have…freesh," He paused, feeling unbelievably dumb. "Freesh ava... ?"
"Fressh avakadoo?" The doctor paused, eyes going wide. "Ah, fresh avocado!" Miles hardly dared to breathe, and only his years of acting saved him from. "No, there is no fresh avocado in San Lorenzo."
OH MY GOD! Miles kept his free and clear of the incredulous shock stealing over him. "Well, I suppose if I did find one," he shrugged. "It might be too expensive to afford a house afterward."
Dietrich was looking at him like he'd lost his mind, probably torn between wondering at the insanity or if it was some sort of code. If Miles weren't so caught up in just how bizarre it was to find someone who understood 21st century Vine references, he might have laughed at the polite confusion on his face.
"They are expensive," the doctor agreed, face blank and returning to his work said nothing more on the subject.
"Avocados?" Dietrich asked politely, and despite the fact that his heart was racing, Miles stood properly and stepped around the crates.
"Alligator pears," he told the man as they emerged into the sunlight. "Originally from Puebla, Mexico. I love them." Emerging into the sunlight, he caught sight of Troy and realized that both Moffitt's were gone.
"Captain."
"Sergeant." Dietrich straightened. "I trust you are satisfied with your inspection."
"Mostly." Miles, despite having acted like Troy before, uniform and swagger and all, wasn't sure he could manage to make himself half as intimidating as the cowboy. "Everything delivered?"
"Yes, sir." Miles prayed he could get an escape from the captain.
"Good, go help, Tully." Nodding, he ducked away from the captain and scurried to where the moonshiner was.
" He thought I was a woman. " He hissed at the man, climbing into the jeep beside him. Tully's face didn't crack, but he caught the air of amusement. " Unbelievable. "
#$#$
Yusuf stared at the boxes of supplies and considered the man who had been here. The man in the skirt, the man who knew the reference…a man from the future. Handing the clipboard to a Red Cross nurse, he ducked out of the tent and found Dietrich and Troy engaged in what he could only assume was brittle diplomacy. Sighing, he pushed his sleeves up to his elbows and set his hands on his hips.
"Gentlemen," he barked and both turned towards him. "Unless you are bleeding or dying, kindly remove yourself from the temptation to inflict such states on the other." The American's eyebrows rose, and Dietrich considered him. "As stated, this is a neutral town, and this is a Red Cross station. It is wildly inappropriate to have a Mexican standoff in front of a hospital." The American was smiling now, and Yusuf forced himself to ignore how handsome it was. "Cowboy, please thank your….Army for the supplies. They will be useful."
"Glad to help."
"Captain, the presence of your men is making patients frightened. If you must be here, please draw them further away from the hospital."
"As you wish, Doctor." Dietrich nodded slowly, and staring at Troy, barked out his orders for his men to remove themselves from the plaza.
"Thank you," Yusuf gave a sigh of relief. He was a doctor, his duty was to help, and he couldn't help when soldiers were having a pissing contest. Casting a glance around, he caught the eye of the mystery man, whose face was obscured behind fabric. The man in the jeep beside him, a brown-eyed figure that seemed…familiar. The languid look on his face, perfectly at ease with everything going on around him, entirely without concern. It was too familiar, and Yusuf knew he'd stared too long when the American tilted his head.
Tully was from the future. The mystery man was from the future. Who else?
"Is your man sick?" He asked, instead, nodding to the unconcerned man. His eyes were a little bright, and Yusuf wasn't sure if he was laughing or near fainting.
"Sick?" The cowboy turned, facing the man. "Why do you ask?"
"Perhaps it is from this distance, but I believe I see the signs of heat exhaustion."
"Really?" the cowboy and the captain both stared at him.
"I suppose," Yusuf heaved a put-upon sigh, "that you are like all Americans. Entirely unconcerned with your health in the fact of your objectives. If he feels unwell, send him to me. Dietrich's eyes tightened faintly, pursing his lips, but made no objection as Yusuf turned back toward the hospital tent.
Whatever they were going to do, he had only one shot to speak to one of the Rat Patrol about the Park Ranger.
#$#$#
Dietrich was about to voice his concerns about the prince and the Tully when a furious voice erupted from the side of the plaza.
Mayor Banderas had arrived, backed by two of his own guards, and being followed by Sergeant Moffitt. Steaming furiously, he paid no mind to the tense situation. The doctor paused, turning to observe the scene.
" Where is Senor Agawa?" The man demanded, spittle flying about as he confronted Sergeant Troy, bypassing Dietrich entirely. "If you Americans have had anything to do with his disappearance, I will have you shot by."
" I say ," another voice interrupted, just as Dietrich was getting annoyed by the man's interruptions, his attention was caught by the woman who could only be Jack Moffitt's sister. "What's this?" Standing beside, sword at his hip and his fan lazily waving through the air was an entirely unbothered Isshiki Agawa.
Mayor Banderas blathered furiously for a moment, and the poet tilted his head to the side, gesturing vaguely at the archaeologist. After he spoke for a moment, the mayor's face fell, and he frowned at the woman.
"Senor Agawa," he hesitated, and the man nodded. "Wishes to ask your permission to capture your likeness. He says he has never met an Englishwoman."
Troy snorted, and Dr. Yusuf held up a hand. "Capture her likeness?" He asked, giving the Japanese man another look-over.
"Senor Agawa," Mayor Bandera puffed up his chest, "Is a guest of Spain. He is a poet of great renown from the University of Tokyo and Madrid. He has already been beset cruelly by these Americans! I will not have him bothered further."
"Beset?" Troy wondered, visibly insulted, and as bemusing as the entire scene was, Dietrich watched the comedy between the poet, the prince, and the archaeologist.
"He was lucky to make it to me alive ," the mayor told Troy. "You Americans are a cruel people to your enemies."
Dietrich would attest otherwise, but given the deeply insulting look in the man's eyes, decided to stay silent as the doctor faced the Englishwoman. The man was quiet for a long moment, observing the tall woman with something close to bemusement, he gestured for her to lean close and lowering his voice, said something that Dietrich couldn't' catch. Whatever it was, caught the woman by surprise, and she blushed faintly before nodding.
"That's a bloody good idea, doctor," she said, and as she stepped away, Sergeant Moffitt straightened, alarmed. "Don't worry, Jack." She gestured, and he blinked. "Jack…it's a woman's private business."
He understood as quickly as the rest of the men, and Dietrich felt heat crawl up his face and averted his eyes. The only one unconcerned was Sgt. Troy, who squinted at the woman and jerked his head to the side.
"Good idea," the pretty nurse with the alluring blue eyes scrambled out of her jeep, joining the doctors, and as a group, they moved back into the hospital tent. As they vanished, he eyed the American.
"I will be seeing you, Sergeant."
"Captain," Troy had an unsettling smile on his face. "Trust me…she's not your type."
#$#$#$3
"What is the meaning of this?" Helen demanded, scrunched next to the strange man and her friend in a hospital. He was a tall man, handsome, and it hadn't occurred to her that he couldn't be a doctor.
"He's from our time," Miles hissed, pulling his scarf down. "He knows Vine!"
Helen surveyed the man, blinking. "You…don't look like a man from the 21t century."
"I am trying not to," he whispered, going through some of the boxes and pulling out products for her period. "But who the hell are you?"
"Do you have someone who fought in the desert?" Helen asked, "are you the descendant of Tully Pettigrew? "
"No," the doctor paused. "I am their fifth man. But…are you related to?"
"Jack Moffit," Helen told him, "is my grandfather. Isshiki is Troy's great-grandson, and."
"The swordsman is Troy's great-grandson?" He paused, blinking. "And you?" He gestured at Miles.
"The blond out there, Hitch, is my great-grandfather." Miles answered, "if you're not Tully's then."
"Tully's is Dietrich's prisoner," the man shook his head and laid out two packages. "She is called Tulip, and she is a park ranger."
"A park ranger!" Helen brightened, thinking back on the book. "Bloody hell!"
"A park ranger on the trail of an ancient waterway," the man paused, his handsome face twisting into a smile. "Dietrich is keeping her separate from the Rats so they did not try to take her back. We need to help her escape, as well as get you away from the Allies because I have been told that if we do not return home soon,...it will be impossible for us to do so."
"How impossible," Helen asked, holding the package of menstrual materials, and trying to parse through the information she'd been given.
"Absolutely impossible, but we cannot leave without Tulip." Drawing up short, the doctor squinted at Miles. "Do not flirt with Captain Dietrich."
"He flirted with me first," Miles retorted, "and he's very handsome."
" Stop ," Helen sighed, "You realize that this is basically a conspiracy. For whatever reason, something dragged us all 80 years into the past."
"Yes, I will engage with…Agawa to speak to him. Does he…speak English?"
"Yes," Helen nodded, "he's just pretending otherwise. If you want to tell him that you're from the future, use the code "There is no war in Ba Sing Se."
"That little show?" Yusuf brightened. "I love that show. Oh, I'm glad he knows Avatar. That will make it easier. Alright…are you ready?"
"Pretending nothing happened!' Miles shot him a thumbs up, and re-wrapped his face. As a group they emerged into the sunlight again, Dietrich curiously absent, and Troy and the other waiting impatiently. Isshiki had vanished too, and she wondered what would happen with him.
"If you experience undue discomfort." Dr. Yusuf told her and Miles, "then seek medical attention. Sharp pain is not natural and should not be ignored."
"Thank you," Miles cooed, and for the first time since she'd met him, Troy seemed to be laughing.
The man nodded and left, and Helen watched the American duck his head. "Sergeant?"
"For a doctor, he didn't notice much," he directed at Miles, who shrugged.
"At least he didn't flirt with me," Miles said, "but where is Isshiki?"
"He left with Dietrich. We'll leave him be. We're camping on the outskirts of town. Close enough to be in the neutral zone, far enough away for some privacy."
Tonight would be perfect to try and sneak out and speak to the other boys.
And maybe work out what the fuck was going on.
And tell Troy about their park ranger in need of rescue. But, Helen considered the entire situation and hoped to hell that this mystery Tulip was safe.