After her first day, things only got tougher for Layla. It wasn't long before Sobel had the entire company running Currahee in full, combat uniform. She didn't interact that much with the men and it's not like she had any time for that with the CO constantly breathing down her neck.
Once, he decided that she should run Currahee by herself a second time.
She recalls being in full combat gear just like the rest of the company, except instead of carrying an M-1. Layla had to carry a pouch over her shoulder filled with medical supplies. The red cross badge strapped over her right arm the only thing distinguishing her as a medic from the rest of the men. Other than that, she and the men were stuck in the same situation.
It was a clammy day the afternoon that they ran. Their combat gear was stuck to their bodies from the pouring sweat. It was twice as hard to catch their breaths with all the weight that is tugging down on them.
The relief that Layla felt when she finally got to the bottom of the mountain was practically radiating off her. Looking at the men beside her, she can see them hunched over trying to catch their breath. She can't really blame them since she was in their position too. They all desperately looked forward to a shower, dinner and some shut eye. However, Layla had something else on her mind that she wanted to do. She needed to go find hi-
"Easy Company, fall in!" Lieutenant Winters yelled. Her eyes roved over to him as the men groaned amongst themselves. They should already be finished with their training but Sobel was in a bad mood today.
"Jesus, are they tryna' break our backs before we can even jump?" She heard the recognizable voice of Bill "Gonorrhea" Guarrnere complain.
"I wouldn't put it past Sobel." replied the harsh voice of Joe Toye."but at least now, Luz can spend more time with his favorite medic."
"Ya better shut yar' dirty mouths right now before Winters hears you." Luz hissed at them.
"Which one, Luz? The lieutenant or the medic?" Bill asked, laughing at the horrified look George sent him. Layla could only roll her eyes as she walked past them to line up with the rest of the company.
Sobel stood still in front of the men in his pristine leather jacket. He usually paced as he looked at them but today it seemed he was just content with scrutinizing them. No one dared to meet his eyes. They stood at attention for more than ten minutes waiting for his dismissal. However, it seemed like he had other plans.
"Lieutenant Winters, I want the woman standing in front of me."
Layla noticed how her husband paused hesitantly for a moment before calling her out.
"Private Winters, stand at attention in front of the CO." Layla made her way to the front of the company, glancing at him briefly before falling to attention. She looked to the side of Sobel's head not daring to make direct eye contact with him.
"Medic" He began, "do you know what that is?" he pointed to a building behind him, wedged at the back of the mess hall.
"The infirmary, sir."
"Incorrect, Private. Your ignorance has caused the company to lose their weekend passes." He looked down on her with a sneer. Layla clenched her jaw. She knew this was another one of his manipulations. He's been trying from the moment she joined to make her out to be a pariah amongst the men. "That building over there is the aid station from now on. To get to the aid station, you will have to run up and down the mountain." He pointed to the top of Currahee. She immediately understood what he wanted from her.
"Yes, sir."
"You have 50 minutes to run Currahee. If you are late for even a second, you will be punished." He continued, looking down at her. "To make sure that you got through the run, Easy will stand at attention in front of the infirmary waiting for your return." Layla stood tensely, not wanting to glance at the men's reactions.
"Well. What're you waiting for, Private?"
Layla locked her jaw in anger as she turned and began her run. Being the only woman amongst men was hard. However, being the only female medic in a male company was brutal. Layla isn't blind. She saw how the men are already bonding in training. How they helped each other cross over the wall gladly. She couldn't help but feel left out. Nonetheless, she admits that it isn't all Sobel's fault. Layla knows that there will be a time when she can't save one of them. It would be much easier for her psyche to handle the passing of a soldier, then the death of a friend. However, it's not like the men themselves are trying. Most of them have given her a wide berth because of her relationship with their Lieutenant. This only made Layla push herself harder. She would show all of them that she was strong enough to save their lives. Strong enough for the time when he will need her.
With that in her mind, Layla ran faster up the mountain. She couldn't help but think of that time she told Edith that she was leaving to go join the war effort. The way she held her tears as she tried to convince her to stay. Thought of how the women of her town belittled her with their thoughtless remarks when they invited themselves to her house. She remembered passing by the neighborhood to see the men whispering among themselves while shooting her disbelieving glances.
She has a lot depending on her becoming a paratrooper. Not only the money, but also to prove herself.
Layla didn't allow herself to catch a break once on her run. At times, she felt like her lungs were set on fire and every breath she took felt like it was only adding fuel. However, she wanted to make it. If not for herself, then for him. She knew that this will be the fastest that she has ever finished Currahee.
By the time she reached the clearing that signaled the bottom of the mountain, she was breathing so hard, she was sure the men could see her wheezing from where they stood. Ever step she took felt as if it was weighing more and more on her body. When she saw him watching her, it didn't matter so much anymore. He silently encouraged her with his eyes as he held a stopwatch in his hand. This is what gave her the final push she needed, to stand in front of Sobel again.
"Lieutenant Winters, the time." He ordered while looking down his nose at her pathetic wheezing form trying to stand at attention.
"49 minutes, sir." He informed the CO, she let out a sigh of relief as she saw Sobel curl his lips in disdain.
"Well then, since Private Winters can easily run through Currahee twice then this clearly shows that I am not training the men hard enough." he paused with a glint in his eyes. "Dinner is canceled, Easy will undergo the 12 mile march tonight instead."
Layla's eyes snapped to his in shock. The men were worn out. They won't be able to march in the pitch black dark with full combat gear without something in their stomachs. They will all have to go through with it because of her.
"Understood, Private?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go back into formation" Finally satisfied with what he deemed a perfect punishment. She stepped away from him and stiffly walked to her position. Layla felt the stares of the men on her but she didn't have it in her to care about what they thought now.
As she settled in her position, she caught the eyes of her husband. Layla stilled. Richard looked beyond enraged. She noticed him trying to control the small tremors that ran through him, unnoticeable to anyone who didn't know where to look. He looked ready to rip someone a new one. She couldn't help but think that he was angry on her behalf. That's so sweet, she thought. She didn't linger in her thoughts for long before she was ripped away from them.
"Lieutenant Winters," Sobel finally broke the silence that descended upon the company, "you will lead the men in their twelve mile march. No one is to take a drink from their canteens. Make sure of that."
"Yes, sir." Richard replied with a strained voice. "Easy Company, fallout."
With his order, Layla and the men started walking to the path that they will begin their march from.
The men were mostly silent through the march. She was more than grateful for it. Layla didn't have it in her to to be able to continue any conversation that one of the men might strike up with her. Every once in a while, her eyes would stray to the back of her husband's head, still trying to process the fact that he had to see her go through what she did with Sobel.
It wasn't long before the day bled into night.
It wasn't long before the guilt settled upon Layla. She heard the growls of the men's stomachs. The smacking of their parched lips and it only made her feel more responsible for the situation they were currently in. When Randleman asked Richard why Sobel seems to have it for Easy, Layla couldn't even laugh along with the men at her husband's response. Their Lieutenant's answer seemed to liven up the tension that was like a dark cloud above them. Encouraged, the men continued joking among themselves.
"I bet Sobel loves Mrs. Winters." Layla tensed at hearing the unknown soldier's remark. The voice coming right from behind her.
"Shut up." His friend replied, letting out a chuckle.
"No, listen, I'm serious. Have you seen the way he looks at her?"
"You're out of your goddamn mind talking like that with the Lieutenant right in front of the company. You better shut your trap before you get in trouble." Layla found herself angry once again. Oh, so they can't say stuff like that in front of her husband but they think they can say it when she's right there in front of their goddamn faces? She clenched her fists before deciding to look at the men. She turned with a cold glare fixed on her face. They immediately stopped talking, blood draining from their faces as they realized the subject of their conversation was standing in front of them.
"You wanna repeat that for me again? Who loves Mrs. Winters?" Layla turned her ear to them waiting for their response.
"I- I- I, We were only-,"
"I- I- I- I" She mocked his stuttering, feeling the men around her start to notice the commotion. "No." Layla continued. "If I hear you spreading shit like this around again," She hissed, pointing her finger in his face. "I will end you." She sharply turned back to face up front. She knew the men around her had heard what she said clearly. They were marching silently through the night, after all. There was no way, they couldn't.
Layla felt an elbow shove her in her side. She looked to her left, ready to rip the man apart.
"Remind me not to get on yar bad side, sweetheart." grinned Luz. She could only shake her head exasperatedly at him before returning his smile.
By the time they finished their march, Easy company were dead on their feet. Their CO stood waiting for them impatiently to get into formation in front of him.
"Lieutenant Winters, I want canteens out of belts with the caps unscrewed."
"Easy Company, canteens out and open."
"On my command, they will pour the contents onto the ground."
"On the CO's orders, you will upend your canteen."
"Now, Lieutenant."
"Pour them!"
She could only stare guiltily as the elixir of life that was in her canteen is carelessly wasted. She felt the ache in her throat become an unbearable throb. Layla couldn't focus on anything happening around her with her whole body feeling like it was put through the wringer.
Private Christensen was severely called out by Sobel for drinking out of his canteen. He was commanded to repeat the march once again. Layla couldn't help but bitterly notice the difference. The difference between how the CO ordered the Private and how he ordered her. But hey, it wasn't like she could do anything about it.
She was so relieved when they were dismissed. She didn't even think about going to the showers, the bed immediately becoming her goal destination.
When Layla made it to the barracks after quenching her thirst, most of the men were in the process of changing their clothes. She didn't bother paying attention to her surroundings. She silently walked to her bunk, practically sleep walking.
She didn't bother with the whole ordeal of changing her clothes, immediately flopping on her bed and closing her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Layla was on the brink of falling into a sweet, peaceful slumber. Her body was heavy with sleep when she heard the men around her start to talk.
"I can't believe she pulled through."
"Yeah, I mean I knew Sobel was insane but what he told her to do was just..."
"And you heard what she said to Cobb?" The men hummed in agreement.
"I told ya that broad was somethin' else."
"Shut up, Guarnere. Ya didn't tell us shit."
Layla could only smirk before sleep took over.
In the morning, however she'll go, she thought. She'll go talk to him.
I know! I know!
I have literally been teasing this inevitable confrontation between Layla & Richard for like 3 chapters. I promise it will happen. Soon.
