It was a humid, blistering day in Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Easy company stood at attention waiting for their commanding officer to show up for the inspection. An hour has already passed as they stood.

A fly can be seen buzzing in the men's faces the whole time they have been standing in the intense heat. It was a mystery why it hasn't been killed yet. However, the men knew the usual drill. No one moves an inch until Sobel arrives.

Most of them have sagged in their posture, including Lieutenant Nixon himself. Stances becoming more relaxed as all they could do was look at the other companies finishing their training and heading to the mess hall for meals that will fill the emptiness in their stomachs.

This day is going to be Layla's first day in Easy company. The company that he's in. The company that her husband is in. She could feel the tension coil below her stomach. It's ridiculous how nervous she is to meet the man she's married to, she thought to herself. However, the pressure that is on her shoulders isn't because of her husband but due to the stories and rumors that she has heard surrounding Lieutenant Sobel. If anything she heard about him is true than that will mean her very presence in the company will not be welcomed.

She remembered the day she told her mother in-law about her involvement in the military's experimental program. She had been fraught with fear over the possibility of not only losing her son, but also her daughter in-law. When the news of her volunteering got around to the people of her town, most of them were adamantly against her involvement. They didn't like the idea of "a delicate, gentle woman" being so close to the war. Many ladies of her town came over to her house trying to convince Layla to not continue with her "mad" decision. However, she would only thank them for their concern and send them off on their way.

She continued to watch from the sidelines as Lieutenant Sobel finally arrived.

"You people are at the position of attention!" He turned to the private that is nearest to him.

"Private Perconte, have you been blousing your trousers over your boots like a Paratrooper?"

"No sir."

"Then explain the creases at the bottom?"

"No excuse, sir." Perconte replies.

"Volunteering for the Airborne is one thing Perconte, but you got a long way, before you can prove you belong here. Your weekend pass is revoked." The private could only swallow briefly before standing at attention once again.

Sobel continues down the line tormenting the men and revoking their passes on the smallest of infractions. From microscopic dust to invisible lint found on a chevron.

He stops in front of a gangly private with dark hair and dark eyes. He takes the private's bayonet for inspection then hits his helmet with it.

"I wouldn't take this rusty piece of shit to war and I will not take you to war in your condition!" Sobel yelled , holding the bayonet high within his hands.

Private Layla walked behind Colonel Sink as they made their way to Easy company. A soon as Sobel noticed the shift in his men's focus, he turned and immediately stood at attention at the sight of the Colonel.

"At ease, Lieutenant."

The Colonel walked to the center of Easy's formation, taking Sobel's place. "Now, men. This is a completely new concept in our military. Today, a female combat medic is going to join your ranks." He addressed the men with a steely look in his eyes.

Layla could feel everyone's eyes on her before Colonel Sink began speaking. She could also feel a piercing stare and she knew who it belonged to. Layla refused to show a single reaction in public. She would have to wait for the precious sanctity that privacy would provide for her later on with him.

"This is Private Layla Winters. She will be sharing your barracks and I expect from you to treat her with the same respect that you give to your fellow privates. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated in this company. It will get your asses court martialed!" He emphasized whilst pointing at them.

"Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good, as you were." He turned to walk away.

Layla could feel the men sharing side glances whilst looking at her. Already put off with her presence. She couldn't help the slight upward quirk of her lips at their obvious discomfort. She will not be shamed for her decision to serve her country. She will not move just because a few small men can't handle the idea of a woman training alongside them. She let her gaze wonder over to where she knew he would be standing, but before she could make direct contact Lieutenant Sobel stood in her way.

"Private Winters"

"Yes, sir." Layla snapped a quick salute which he didn't return it.

"Do not think for a second that you will have it easy here because you are the wife of one of the officers of my company." He seethed. "You will be expected to train as much as the men before you have. You will be put through grueling tasks and mercy will not be shown if you fail. Understood?"

He spoke very clearly for the men to hear. Layla glanced briefly behind him to see them make the connection between her and their red-haired Lieutenant. She realized that it was Sobel's intention for them to hear him. He wanted to alienate her more than she already is from the men. Layla was a fool for not expecting something like this from him.

"Yes, sir." she said as she waited for his dismissal.

The CO stood there for a moment staring at her before turning to the rest of Easy company.

"Change into your PT gear. We're running Currahee." He ordered before taking his leave.

Layla could see Lieutenant Nixon turn back to the men. "Second platoon, fallout, you have two minutes!"

It was like watching puppets being cut loose. Everyone dropped their stiff postures and turned to their barracks. Hurrying so that they won't invoke their CO's outrage. Layla tried to look for him but he was nowhere to be seen. Is it possible that he's avoiding her after all this time? She thought. Never mind, Layla would have to get a move on if she wants to survive. She scurried to the barracks along with the men. Ignoring all the looks pointed at her, she took her PT gear and went to the latrine to change into them privately. When she came out, Layla could feel the the leering of a couple of men at the sight of her in shorts along with disapproving looks sent her way. Ugh, men. Layla rolled her eyes as she quickly walked out of the barracks wanting to avoid any conversations that could take place between her and them.

Soon enough, the men started coming out and lining up outside. She put herself at the end hoping that no one would pay attention to her. The gangly private she saw earlier, Liebgott was the one leading the run. In front of them were men from another company wearing their dress uniforms looking ready to go out. These men soon noticed Easy as they ran.

"Ah, Easy Company. Hey, while you're running, don't worry. We'll take your dames to the movies for ya." One of them goaded.

"Yeah good," Liebgott shouted back, "they need some female company."

One of the other men turned around to say something, before noticing Layla. He looked shocked for a moment before a grin split his face, "Hey there, doll, whatcha doing hanging out with these Easy men?"

It wasn't long before the rest of his friends noticed her.

"How about coming to see a film with us, darling?"

"We'll treat you right."

As they continued to speak, Layla clenched her fists in anger. She's only joined the men and already she was singled out by everyone.

"You better watch yar' fuckin' mouths before I kick your asses," threatened a man with a strong Phillie accent from behind her. She turned to look at who it was, and came across a man with a strong jaw. The man caught her gaze and winked. Layla ignored it and continued to walk. However, she couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips.

"What'd ya fuckin' say, buddy?" one of the men shouted back, but instead of responding, the men of Easy picked up their pace and started knocking off their hats as they went. Layla started to run, too, and before she knew it they were at the bottom of Currahee.

Layla was more than relieved when she started running up the mountain. She hoped it would keep her mind of him. However, it wasn't long before her gaze wandered to the back of his head. Why isn't he acknowledging her being here? Why isn't he paying any attention to her? Look at me! Almost as if sensing her, he turned to glance over his shoulder briefly before looking ahead again. Layla let out an exasperated sigh whilst shaking her head. It's not like she could say she was definitely not expecting a reaction like this from him.

Layla was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the man that started running at her pace beside her. Looking at her side, she saw a man staring at her with a wide grin.

"Hello there, fine lady. Whatcha doing running on such a lovely day like this?" he asked

"Oh, you know. Training to jump out of a perfectly working plane, you?" Layla nodded back at him. The man looked taken back that she has decided to continue along with his gimmick. He quickly recovered as his grin got even wider.

"Well, would ya' look at that? What're the chances that we would be out here doing the same thing?" Layla let out an unintended huff of laughter that seemed to encourage the man.

"Name's Luz, George Luz." he said, sticking his hand out. Layla shook his hand firmly before introducing herself. " Layla Winters."

"Yeah, everybody in this company knows your name by now, doll"

She gave him a side way glance as she continued to run. However, before Luz could open his mouth again, he was interrupted.

"Private Luz," came the serious voice of her husb- No. Lieutenant Winters, "get back into formation."

"Yes, sir." shouted Luz as he started to run ahead. Before he settled upfront, though, he looked back at her and mouthed "See ya".

Layla smiled whilst shaking her head at his antics. She was, however relieved to know that her husband was aware of her even if he didn't want to admit that. It seemed that she would have to find a way to talk with him in private. It wasn't soon before she was cut off from her thoughts by Sobel's shouting.

"What do we run?"

"Currahee!"

"What does Currahee mean?"

"We stand alone!"

"How far up? How far down?"

"Three miles up! Three miles down!"

"And what company is this?"

"Easy Company!"

"And what do we do?"

"We stand alone!"

As they ran up, the company continued chanting. Layla tried to shout as loud as some of the men. She hope she would be able to catch his eyes but he seemed intent on not looking her way. The run was tough but she kept pushing through. As they continued up the mountain, a man got a sprain. Layla went to help him but she was harshly berated by her CO. She was enraged by the way he treats the men and at his refusal for her to do her job. It was her damn job to help them. Regardless of that, she pushed herself to finish the run.

Layla wasn't one of the firsts to reach the top but at least she wasn't last and that was more than fine for her. However, when she finally touched the plaque, she briefly locked eyes with Sobel. What she saw in his eyes was nothing short of contempt.

"You're not gonna serve in the paratroopers with this time, Private Winters" He called out.

She only muttered a, "Understood, sir," before turning to head down the mountain. She rolled her eyes as she heard him shout at the men behind her.

'We are coming on 23 minutes! That may be good enough for the rest of the 506, but that is not good enough for Easy Company!"

She soon stood stock still as she lifted her gaze from her feet to see her husband looking at her. For a moment, it was just them in the world. Layla and Richard. She doesn't know for how long they have been looking at each other. It didn't matter to her, anyways. He broke contact and gave her a firm nod that she was more than relieved to return. She got the message. Richard turned to walk back to the plaque to wait for the rest of the men.

They'll talk soon, Layla thought to herself. She felt some of the tension she wasn't aware of leave her body. She got to the bottom of the mountain at an alarming speed feeling lighter than she has felt in a long time.


I hope to do this story justice because I truly love this community and I want to contribute to it.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter. Any constructive criticism is appreciated and it will be turned into fuel to write the next chapter.