Warning: Blood and guts

Warning: Blood and guts! Along with swearing again…

"What the hell?" Colonel Romano looked at the dead German sergeant before him. Half of his head was blown in from a gunshot wound and he sat, slouched against the outside wall of what had been a livery stable with a pistol in his hand.

"Looks like suicide…" Carter whispered.

"Well," Romano looked about. "If he's a sergeant I suspect there aren't anymore around here. Probably all ran away." Romano lied out loud.

"Sir?" Benton questioned the short, stalky man.

"A soldier's job is to follow orders Benton. I'm not about to go searching through the rubble and loose more men looking for a few piss poor Gerries. Greene!"

The major looked up. Romano pointed to the weak man Benton supported. "Kill him."

All eyes darted to Romano for a moment. "Now. We can't afford to have his buddies following us around. Kill him now."

Major Greene readied his rifle.

Malucci was now much more aware of his surroundings and spotted the dead sergeant. But before he could even feel the wave of shock that began to creep into him Benton began to pull him away.

"Put him on his knees," Greene looked at Benton.

"Get down on your knees," Benton locked eyes with the uncomprehending Italian. "On your knees!" he kicked the back of Dave's legs to force him to kneel.

Greene readied his shot. He aimed, then looked up to Benton who was backing away from the prisoner. Malucci's eyes watched Benton back away, knowing what was happening. Peter Benton never enjoyed locking eyes with one who was about to die… especially one so young…

"Benton," Greene looked up from his rifle scope. "A few words. Please."

Romano shifted his weight and rolled his eyes. "Oh please… just get it over with…" John, who was standing guard spared an disapproving glance in Romano's direction.

Benton bowed his head and made a quick cross across his chest. "Oh Father who art in heaven…"

Dave's mind raced with possibilities. Unfortunately he didn't have many options. But he couldn't die; not like this. He refused to. He felt his throat tightening and tried to push back his tears. In a last, desperate effort he looked up to Benton, who was still rambling in English with his head bowed. He looked back to see the colonel in the background, kicking some rocks. He saw Major Greene, aiming his rifle at his head. For a moment Greene looked out of his scope again and locked eyes with Dave. He could tell he didn't want to pull the trigger. But Greene looked back into his rifle scope and told him to turn around while he made a motion with his hand to do so. Not knowing what else to do, and hoping that soon he would rejoin his father, he slowly did so. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and hoped that he wouldn't feel much pain.

He heard the gunshot but didn't feel anything. He momentarily pondered reasons he may not have felt the bullet when the Americans around him started running and shouting. He opened his eyes and spun around to see Major Greene on the ground while his comrades shot into the distance. Someone yelped in pain and as quickly as the shots had erupted, they stopped. Dave didn't dare move. He remained on his knees, watching what was going on.

Carter ran to Greene's side and began to help him. He jumped up again as Romano called an order and he and Benton jogged behind a shelled-out building. Romano disappeared in the opposite direction and came back with Luka Kovac at gunpoint. Dave was grateful that Luka was alive, however his arm was stained red. Romano pushed him down next to Dave and stood guard, calling to the other two soldiers. They emerged, each with a German in front of them. The two soldiers joined David and Luka.

"The other one's dead," John jerked his head in the direction of the building he'd come from. "Took one to the chest."

"Is that all of them?" Romano looked at John convictingly.

"Yes, Sir. All here, at least."

"Good."

Benton was bent over Major Greene, applying pressure to his wound.

Dave looked at the faces of his fellow soldiers. There were only traces of fear, overridden by disappointment and anger.

"I guess we'll have to go one at a time," Romano raised his rifle again.

"Carter, you take the little one last. Let him see what trouble he's caused for his friends now."

Carter knew this was going to be one of the moments he'd push back into his mind, hoping it would never resurface. Damn, he had too many of those all ready.

Romano was interrupted in his aiming by the sound of a honking truck. He looked up to see a lorrie with nurses coming towards them.

One of them stood up and looked out impatiently. "Mark!" her British voice cracked the stillness. "Where's Mark?!"

As soon as the truck had pulled to a stop she was out and running towards the fallen soldier.

"Oh God! Mark! Can you hear me?!"

"I'm fine Elizabeth… just a flesh wound."

"What do you mean 'just a flesh wound'? You're bleeding aren't you?" She suddenly turned condescending. "Abigail! Get me a medical bag!"

One of the nurses raced forward with a black bag. "How bad is it, ma'am?" the young Irish girl looked up to Elizabeth.

"I don't know…"

"Hey! You boys were supposed to be back an hour ago! Looks like you ran into some trouble!" The slim nurse with frizzy black hair who'd been driving showed off her New York accent. "Whaddya got here? Gerries?" She chuckled to herself.

"This area's not safe, you shouldn't be here," Romano looked down at Elizabeth who was trying to help the man she loved. Having bandaged him up she turned to the other nurses.

"Hathaway! Start up the damn lorrie! We need to get him to the clinic!"

"Cool it Corday! Let me take a look at him first," She strolled over to Mark and Elizabeth, muttering "… talk about being emotionally involved…"

"These prisoners?" The slight Asian nurse sidled up to Colonel Romano. John gave him a look. "Yep," he said, with fake cheer, his eyes locked on Carter. "They are now." He couldn't possibly shoot them all in front of the women, even if they were war nurses. "Round 'em up!" Romano yelled to John and Peter. "Put 'em in the damn truck! We haven't got all day. And make sure their hands are bound!"