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They did PT every weekday morning at 0600 hours. And one morning, Nixon picked Buck to lead 2nd Battalion for a long run around the English countryside. Waking up at 0500, the men were all dressed in their jump pants and t-shirts for the run. However, Buck was the only Officer leading the run and he was dressed in different clothes. Standing near Toye and his squad, Buck sent the Sergeant a nod as a greeting.

"What the hell are you wearing, boss?" Toye mumbled.

"Oh, this?" Buck faked a smile. "Nice, huh?"

The Lieutenant was wearing olive drabs. A woollen shirt, woollen pants and a necktie. Toye had to try not to smile. "Nixon's got it in for you, huh?"

"Don't I know it...". Buck mumbled. He said, "According to Nixon, he doesn't find jocks useful. He finds them stupid".

Toye raised an eyebrow. "He said that to you?"

Buck gestured to his face. "Right to my face, Joe".

"Jesus...".

"He's a Goddamn highbrow...richest family in America, travelled the world and he loves to boast about those damn parties he's attended...with other rich jerks from Yale". Buck grumbled.

It seemed Lieutenant Shames wasn't the only Officer who had a problem with Captain Nixon. Nelly wondered if other Officers shared the same sentiment. Toye said, "You know, I don't get how Nixon and Winters are buddies".

"Right?" Buck said, "They're the complete opposites".

"You have more in common with Winters". Toye stressed quietly. "You both don't smoke or drink".

"Meanwhile, Winters's best buddy has a serious drinking problem".

Toye sighed and asked, "What're you 'gonna do, Buck?"

Buck shrugged. "Nothing". He said, "There's nothing I can do, Joe".

Toye told him lowly, "If it were me? I'd kick his ass...".

Buck huffed out a tiny laugh. "That's not my style, Joe".

Nelly thought it best to bring Shames up, "You're not the only one...".

Both Buck and Toye looked at her.

"What?" Buck asked.

"Lieutenant Shames...he doesn't like Nixon". She said, "I heard him talking to Ronnie".

Eyebrow raised, Toye looked at Buck. "Well, looks like you ain't alone there, Buck".

"What did he say?" Buck asked her.

"He has to...clean Nixon's house". Nelly said quietly, "And he thinks...Nixon is hard to work with because he's lazy and drunk all the time".

Buck shrugged and looked at Toye. "Sounds about right".

Quietly, Nelly added, "I'll bet...he's a Republican...".

Toye snorted out a laugh.

Buck grinned and ruffled her hair. "You're probably right, sport".

"Hey – don't say shit like that too loudly, kid". Toye warned her with a grin. "Most guys didn't vote for Roosevelt".

"I like your President". Nelly said, "I don't like Churchill...but I like Roosevelt".

"Are you talking about Roosevelt?" An eager voice asked behind them.

Toye, Buck and Nelly turned around.

"Oh, hey, Webster". Buck smiled.

"He's my hero". Webster informed them. "Roosevelt is – I've always been blue. He's the best we've had for a long time".

"What do you...think about Churchill?" Nelly asked.

Webster smiled with a huff. "Yeah...pretty conservative".

"He doesn't favour the working class". Nelly said.

"No, he doesn't". Webster agreed.

"At least Roosevelt sees...equality in everyone".

"He's a hero". Webster gushed. "And his wife as well – she's done so much for our country".

Nelly nodded. "Yeah...women are better...".

Webster grinned. "I'm not arguing there – you're right".

A tiny smile met the corners of Nelly's lips.

"I don't believe we've met". Webster held out his hand. "I'm David Webster, 1st Platoon".

She took his hand and shook it. "Nelly Murray, 2nd Platoon".

"I've heard so much about you". Webster smiled. "All good things – don't worry".

"You were...in Normandy, David?"

"Yeah, I was". Webster confirmed. "Ammo runner – Battalion HQ. I requested a transfer - I wanted to be more useful". He added, "It's amazing what you've done, Nelly. You've done something great for women".

Frowning softly, Nelly ended the handshake. "What?"

Webster smiled. "You don't know?"

She shook her head.

"Nelly, men are pigs".

Toye blinked a few times. "What?"

Buck chuckled. "I mean...". He shrugged. "He's not wrong".

"They enslave women to the kitchen". Webster listed, "To breed their children. And they keep them locked away inside a house. But not you".

It was clear Webster was very passionate. But Nelly liked that. "Not me...". She said back to him quietly. "I am...chained to the army".

Webster let out a quiet sigh. "We all are, Nelly". He said, "And when the war is over, I hope a man doesn't imprison you to a house".

"I can...still have a house?" Nelly asked.

Toye rolled his eyes and sent Webster a tiny glare. "You're confusing my kid, Webster".

Webster smiled almost sheepishly. "Sorry, Sarge".

But Nelly smiled small at Webster. She pointed to his chest. "Liberal".

"Yeah". Webster confirmed.

"That's nice...David". Nelly said softly. "But...they won't save them".

A frown met Webster's face. "Who?"

"Roosevelt...Churchill...all the leaders". She said quietly, "They won't save them".

"They won't save – "

Buck sharply blew his whistle. "Get into formation!" He ordered, "Let's go!"

...

Nelly later learned Webster was in Hoobler's squad. They had a few replacements. One of them was only a little bit older than Nelly. Clancy Lyall joined the 2nd Battalion when he was sixteen – he was transferred to Easy after Normandy. Talbert became a big brother to Clancy – much like the man were toward Nelly. Webster had settled in well with Easy and made a few friends and one enemy – Lieutenant Peacock. For whatever reason, Peacock didn't like Webster. Nelly often found Webster cleaning the stables or the latrines. Peacock wasn't following the schedule – that annoyed Nelly. He was breaking their routine. And she brought her annoyance up with Buck.

"I can't help you there, sport". Buck said, "The man's got it in for Web".

"Right". She said, "But...he's not following the routine".

"I get it, you're annoyed". Buck said kindly.

With a sigh, Nelly gestured to the schedule. "Tomorrow...is Babe's turn – it's always his turn on a Wednesday".

"I'm sure Babe isn't complaining". Buck joked lightly.

Nelly didn't look impressed. "Which means...it all gets mixed-up. And my day – it will not be on a Friday...it'll be on the Sunday. And that's not...it's different...it's not good, sir".

"Well, I'm sure – "

"he's messing it up!" Nelly's voice rose an octave higher.

Buck pressed his lips together to stop himself from smiling. "You're right, he is". He kept his voice serious. "You know, I think you should tell Captain Winters".

Nelly nodded firmly. "I will, sir".

"Right now". He said, "The man's in his Office at the farmhouse".

Standing on the balls of her feet, Nelly took the schedule off the wall. "I will...show him these errors...as evidence".

"Hm". Buck hummed – still trying hard not to sound amused. "God speed, sport".

With the schedule in her hands, Nelly left the stables and made the short walk to the farmhouse. The good thing about Winters, his door was always open. Men from Easy were free to walk in at any time if they should ever need him. So, Nelly walked into his office. Winters wasn't sitting at his desk, he was standing and looking out of the window.

"Sir".

Eyes leaving the window, Winters looked over at Nelly and smiled. "Murray".

Taking in a sharp breath, Nelly slammed the schedule onto his desk. "I am...stressed".

His face formed a small frown. "What's wrong?"

"Lieutenant Peacock...". Her voice rose again and sounded emotional. "He's messing it all up, sir. I can't handle it anymore...I have...sat on my toe for too long".

Winters noticed she said the saying wrong – sat on her thumbs, is what Nelly probably meant. But he didn't mention that. "What has he done, trooper?" Winters kept his voice calm and soft.

Nelly gestured at the schedule. "We had...a routine". She stressed, "And he is...not following it".

Deciding to take this seriously, Winters approached his desk and stared down at the schedule Nelly slammed on his desk. He pulled a face. "Private Webster seems to be a favourite...".

Nelly huffed. "Yeah – well...Babe won't be cleaning the latrines on Wednesday, and I won't be on Friday...we always, always do that...and I want it back to how it was, sir".

Nodding slowly, he asked, "So, it's not because Webster's been taking up extra shifts, it's because Lieutenant Peacock has changed things?"

"Yeah". Nelly confirmed with a firm nod.

"Because...you like cleaning the latrines on a Friday?" Winters questioned gently.

"I'm...used to it, sir". Nelly explained.

"Oh, I see, okay". Winters was very patient. "Well, how about I talk with Lieutenant Peacock, and we can get things back to normal. How does that sound?"

She nodded. "Less stressful, sir".

For most men, it was a slight inconvenience. But for Nelly, it was a big deal. She did so well in the army because soldiers got into a strict routine and Nelly liked routine. What she didn't like, was when someone changed the routine. Luckily, Winters was there to lend a hand.

"Are you excited for the dance next week in Swindon?"

Nelly appeared confused. "A dance, sir?"

Winters smiled, amused. "You didn't know?"

"No, sir".

"Major Strayer has organised a dance for 2nd Battalion". He said, "At the same hall. It's another Red Cross event. But I'll allow a trooper to take off their sweaters should they get warm".

Nelly almost smiled. "Tommy took off his...".

"I remember". Winters chuckled. "Sobel made him wear it for the entire week as punishment".

Feeling a tearful lump form in her throat, Nelly looked down at the schedule. Her eyes got lost in the names and times, as she heard Leonard's words in her mind – playing over and over again like a broken record. She got stuck inside a trance for a minute, unaware that Winters was even talking. But then he waved his hand by her face.

"Nelly?"

Blinking out of her trance, she looked up at him. "Sorry".

Winters frowned. "Are you okay, kiddo?"

"Yeah, sir". Nelly said quietly.

Every day felt like a battle in her head. Guilt was constant. Feeling tearful often happened at night while everyone around her slept. Dark thoughts swirled in her head like a black cloud. It was like she couldn't escape. She had no escape. No ways of shutting her brain off. Nothing that could distract her. It was exhausting.

Winters's head tilted to the side, in a compassionate manner. "Are you sure?"

Lips pursing together, Nelly looked up at him.

"You can tell me if something is troubling you, trooper".

"Do you ever...". Nelly cleared her throat – her voice sounded croaky. "Do you ever feel...like sad sometimes?"

"Yeah, I guess". Winters said, "If I have a reason to feel sad". He asked softly, "Do you ever feel sad, Nelly?"

Tears reaching her eyes, Nelly ducked her head and nodded.

"Okay". Winters said quietly. And he leaned on his desk beside Nelly. "What makes you sad?" It was important for Winters to be honest and admit to sometimes feeling sad. Because it left an invitation for Nelly to share. He led by example, after all.

And Nelly gave him an honest reply. "Tommy".

He nodded – showing Nelly he was listening.

"I feel...guilt". Nelly admitted quietly. "And...sad...all the time, I...". She exhaled shakily and had to swallow down another tearful lump. "It gets...too much...". Her voice cracked.

Feeling his heart pang with sympathy, Winters placed a hand on her shoulder.

Nelly couldn't swallow down that tearful lump. And fat tears reached her eyes. Her breath hitched when she told him, "I don't know...what do to...".

"Oh, kiddo...". Winters murmured gently. "How long have you felt like this?"

Nelly shrugged one shoulder. "Enough".

He nodded with a frown. "Kiddo, you have nothing to feel guilty about". Winters stressed to her gently. "I've sent you all in a lot of sticky moments. Men get injured. My men die. But if I sat with that sense of guilt, I wouldn't be able to do my job. I understand why you feel like this, but it is not for you to carry". He said, "You are a smart and brave soldier. You did what you thought was best. And it's unfortunate that two men got hurt but trooper, you didn't do anything wrong".

A knot behind her chest lessened. Nelly let out a long breath. And felt tears silently roll down her cheeks. With a gentle sniff, she gave her Captain a nod. Before she could wipe the tears off her face, Winters handed her a tissue. A tiny smile met her lips. "Thank you, sir".

"You're very welcome, trooper". Winters pushed himself off his desk. "Now, do you – "

But he got cut off when Nelly's arms wrapped around his middle, and she pressed her cheek below his chest. Huffing softly, Winters placed a hand on her back and smiled small. "Any sticky situation...I'll follow you there, sir".

Feeling a tiny lump form in his own throat, Winters cleared his throat. "I know you would, kiddo". He gave her back a gentle rub and pat. "I know you would".

She whispered, "You're my hero...".

Eyes stinging, he blinked and looked up at the ceiling.

Smiling, Nelly let Winters go and took a step back from him. Standing before him and at attention, she saluted the man. Winters saluted her back. "See you soon, sir".

"See you, trooper".