bob
Nelly ran the entire way. Her boots thundered against the battered streets. Panting, sweating and out of breath, she rounded HQ and found Winters and Speirs standing at the same spot by the sandbags – Lieutenant Jones wasn't there. Nelly thought she had run past the man, meaning she didn't have long to say her case. Coming to a sudden halt, Nelly pressed her hands against her knees and bent forward slightly.
"Sirs". She breathed out.
Speirs and Winters frowned at the girl.
"Are you alright?" Speirs asked – a little alarmed.
"I don't…have a lot of time…". Nelly was still breathing heavily. "The patrol, we – "
"Captain Winters, Lieutenant Speirs". A smooth voice soon greeted the Officers.
"Shit". Nelly cursed quietly. And she straightened herself up and looked at Jones.
His eyebrow raised. "Sergeant Murray".
"Lieutenant Jones". Nelly near muttered.
Jones said coolly, "Fancy meeting you here".
Winters and Speirs now looked puzzled at the cold and almost hostile interaction between Jones and Nelly.
"Yeah it's…random". Nelly concurred.
"Indeed". Jones said, "Some might think you were up to something, Sergeant".
"Oh, no, sir…". Nelly said, "Not me…are you?"
"Of course not, Sergeant Murray". Jones said – voice still smooth.
"Well…". Nelly gestured toward the two senior Officers. "Have at it, sir".
"Oh, I wasn't sure I required your permission, Sergeant". Jones raised his eyebrow. "But thank you, all the same".
When Jones faced the Officers, Nelly sent a glare to the back of Jones's head. She wasn't even aware that Vest was standing right beside her.
"Captain Winters". Jones addressed.
And Winters looked at him.
"About the patrol". Jones said, "I feel that I should go on the patrol, sir. I know I could use the experience".
"Denied". Winters said, "Anything else?"
Speirs added, "You're not 'gonna lead that patrol, Lieutenant".
Jones briefly looked over his shoulder and caught Nelly's stare.
She almost gave him a smug smile.
Jones faced the Officers again. "Permission to speak, sir".
Mildly surprised, Winters said, "Go on, Lieutenant".
"It looks like Sergeant Malarkey could use a break". Jones said, "I've discussed it with him, he said he didn't mind if I took his place on the patrol".
Nelly frowned softly – the conversation definitely didn't go the way Jones described it.
Winters almost found it amusing. "That was nice of him".
Vest stepped forward next. "Captain Winters".
"Yes?"
"I'd really like to be on that patrol, sir". Vest said, "If it's true the Krauts are finished…I haven't really done anything except deliver mail and type morning reports".
Winters nodded. "Absolutely".
Vest smiled small up at the Captain. "Thank you, Captain".
A few moments of silence went by. Arms crossed over his chest, Winters leaned back and said to Speirs quietly, "He's got a point about Sergeant Malarkey".
"Yeah, a point". Speirs cast a tiny glare toward Jones.
Winters stared back at Jones. "Fine, you can go".
Nelly's eyes widened slightly.
Winters said, "There'll be a briefing, CP, 1700".
"Yes, sir". Jones saluted and turned. And he cast a smug smile down at Nelly.
Nelly's eyes hardened. And even when Jones had his back to her and walked away, she didn't break her stare away from the Lieutenant. Nelly didn't like Jones. That much was clear. But she couldn't remember the last time, she disliked someone from Easy Company. Nelly didn't think she had ever disliked someone from Easy. Not as much as she disliked Jones, anyway.
"Nelly?" Speirs called.
She carried on glaring at Jones. And once he was about to round the corner, Jones met her stare, and he glared back at her. The two of them found themselves stuck in a staring contest. Both too stubborn to break away, they continued to glare at each other. Jones brought out a cigarette and lit it up, all the while, staring at Nelly.
"Nelly!" Speirs mildly snapped.
With a tiny sigh, Nelly broke the staring contest and turned around to face her cousin. Nelly missed the smug smile on Jones's face as he walked away. "Yeah?" Her tone was annoyed.
Speirs raised an eyebrow. "What's going on with you and Lieutenant Jones?"
"Nothing". She mumbled. "Why…does it look like we're angry at each other?"
"Yes". He replied flatly.
"Well…he's full of shit – "
"Nelly!" Speirs scolded. "He's your Platoon leader".
"Well, he is". Nelly quietly stressed. "Donnie does mind if Jones takes his place".
"We know that, trooper". Winters said to her softly. "Malark would never see you guys in the hands of a replacement".
The annoyance left her voice and Nelly lost some nerve. It was all well and good telling her friends she'd gladly lead the patrol. But after watching Jones get shot down for leading, she felt nervous the same would happen to her. "I'll…I'll do it…if you want?"
"Lead?" Speirs asked her with a small frown.
Nelly nodded faintly. "Yeah, I mean…yeah…I could do it".
"Nelly – "
"or not". She knew by the tone of Speirs's voice he was about to deny her request. "But…can I just say…if not me…then someone good, sir". She said, "I'd…I'd hate it if…if something bad…well, you know".
Speirs almost looked serious when asking, "Do you want a break from this patrol?"
"No, sir". Nelly replied. "I promised…I'd go".
...
Walking into a room, Nelly caught sight of the men Malarkey had picked, along with a few others – Shifty, McClung and Popeye. And standing at attention by the door, was Lieutenant Jones. Staring up at the Officer, Nelly stared up at him as she walked by. And she didn't break eye contact. She walked backwards. Of course, Jones stared back at her – eyes firm and hard.
Confused, Babe spoke up, "Bricks – "
Nelly held up her hand, "Hold on, Babe".
She continued walking backwards, hands feeling around for a chair to sit on. Nelly didn't break eye contact with Jones, and he didn't look away from her. The men found it strange but, slightly amusing. Especially when Nelly's hand brushed against Liebgott's cheek.
"Hey – watch it, Murray". He grumbled.
Still staring at Jones, Nelly apologised, "Sorry".
Letting out a sigh, Grant got up and pulled a chair out for Nelly. "Sit here, Nelly".
"Okay".
She eventually reached the chair and sat down – and continued to stare at Jones. Clasping her hands together, Nelly set them by her chest.
"Nelly?" Jackson asked her.
"Yes?"
"Is he leading?"
Her stare hardened into Jones's eyes. "Oh…I don't know".
"He can't be". Grant mumbled. "He's never led a patrol".
"Do you see any other Officer here?" Liebgott mentioned.
Before anyone could answer, more men flooded into the room. And it caused Jones to break eye contact with Nelly. She balled her hands up into fists triumphantly. Grant sent the girl a tiny grin and clapped her shoulder.
"Well done".
"I…won". She said.
"You did".
Cobb gave Nelly a nod before taking a seat in front of her. "Hey, kid".
"Roy". Nelly greeted. "You got asked to go?"
And while Cobb nodded, Alley muttered, "Who's in charge of this bullshit?"
A few eyes looked at Jones.
"He ain't". Grant said.
Babe said, "If he ain't, then, it's you Chuck. Or Shifty. Or Bricks or Mo".
"That'd be better". Liebgott said smoothly.
"Oh". Nelly faced Babe, "It's not me…I offered and…was denied".
Jones snorted at that. But he soon straightened up and called out, "Ten-Hutt!"
The men groaned and complained while rising to their feet.
But Winters was quick to tell them, "At ease".
Sitting back down again, Nelly's eyes wandered over to Jones once more.
"Gentlemen, Murray". Winters greeted with a nod.
"Sir". They politely greeted back.
Standing at the back of a chair, Winters proceeded with the briefing. "As you can see, we've assembled fifteen of you here for this prisoner snatch tonight, 0100". He said, "Just a couple of points. We've secured four rubber boats to get you across the river., Lieutenant Jones, here…". Winters gestured toward him. "Is the ranking Officer and he'll be along as an observer".
Sitting next to her, Nelly heard Grant breathe out a sigh of relief.
"Sergeant Martin here…". Winters gestured toward Johnny Martin. "Will lead the patrol in Sergeant Malarkey's place".
Nelly's eyes shifted toward Martin and when catching her stare, Martin gave her a friendly wink.
Winters continued, "The whole Battalion will be covering your withdrawal. We've identified targets. We've planned fire for 'em". Winters held up a few whistles and handed them over to Martin. "We hear these whistles, we open fire. So don't blow them 'till you're back in the boats with your prisoners".
Martin tossed a whistle over to Grant, who caught it with a tiny smile. Martin then turned to face Winters and asked, "If the house turns out to be empty, sir?"
"It won't". Winters replied, "But in any case, we know it's an outpost, we want it destroyed. So, you have to lay some demo on a time delay. You have to move fast, but carefully. Put a perimeter around the house. Once in place, get the rifle grenade in the window. Get your assault team in quick – "
Arms crossed over his chest; Martin gave the Captain a nod.
"Okay, good". Winters said, "Remember, it's about prisoners. Don't pop the first thing that moves. Clear?"
"Yes, sir". They replied.
"Good". There was a spell of silence before Winters asked Martin, "Picked your assault team?"
"McClung, Sisk, Cobb, Garcia, Murray and Webster…as translator". Martin said – with a small edge to his voice when he mentioned Webster's name. "The rest of you guys, a base of fire with Sergeant Grant". Martin's firm stare fell upon Webster. "You speak German, right, Webster?"
Webster shrugged one shoulder. "Yeah, a little bit".
"Good". Eyes no longer hostile, Martin looked at Winters. "That's my team, sir".
"Questions?" Winters asked.
Liebgott's eyes briefly looked toward Nelly – he reminded himself of the patrol she led back in Holland, with himself, Lesniewski and Alley. Nelly sure had a lot of questions that night. But the girl didn't raise her hand.
"No, sir". The men replied.
Winters sent them a nod. "Good luck". Clapping Martin's arm to follow him, they made their way toward the door.
"Ten-Hutt!" Jones called.
But Winters said to the men, "As you were. Carry on".
As the men began to file out of the room, Nelly heard complaints about Webster. She always heard complaints about Webster – ever since he got back. Nelly picked up Jackson's helmet, he had accidentally left it behind. She followed the rest of the men out of the room and through the back entrance to reach the cold and fresh air outside.
"Jackson". Nelly handed him his helmet.
"Thanks, Nelly". Jackson said with a small smile.
Standing at the top of the steps by the door, Nelly watched Webster walk down them and approach Speirs, Winters and Martin. With a small sigh, she stared at her hands. "You know". She began to tell the men still standing around. "We should…be nice to David".
"I'm surprised to hear you say that". Liebgott remarked while walking down the steps.
Frowning, Nelly followed after him. "Why?"
And as they began walking past the Officers and Martin, Speirs stopped Liebgott.
"Liebgott. You 'wanna sit this one out?" The Lieutenant asked.
Smiling, Liebgott nodded. "Yes, sir".
Webster caught his smile. But didn't smile back.
Liebgott winked at him. "Thanks, buddy".
Casting a confused frown between the pair of them, Nelly continued to question Liebgott on the matter, "Why…are you surprised?"
Sighing, Liebgott stopped walking and turned to face her. "It was Webster who told Jones to tell Malarkey to sit the patrol out".
Nelly continued to frown, as she tried to piece the information together.
"Face it, Murray". Liebgott even sounded apologetic, "He's not who you think he is".
"Why?"
With a small frown, Liebgott clapped Nelly's shoulder. "He'll do anything to get out of anything, Nelly". He said, "I'll bet he told Jones to keep him off the patrol – I'll bet he just tried to do that right now, but it backfired".
"You're…lying". Nelly quietly accused. "David is…not like that, Sonny".
Liebgott squeezed her shoulder gently. "I'm not lying, Murray. But I am sorry".
The conversation with Liebgott left Nelly feeling foolish.