The plane jerked violently causing several of the soldiers, including Elsie, to be thrown from their seats. Her helmet fell off and she hit her head on the floor of the plane but got right back up, placing her helmet back where it belonged. They were soon given the order to hook up, and then Meehan gave the order to sound off for equipment check. She was first to jump after him. The green light came on and Meehan jumped, shortly followed by her and then Evans. Something was wrong. Evans chute was on fire and she watched as he plummeted towards the ground. She saw another ball of fire fall past her. It was the plane. The plan she was just on and that still had men on it. She watched as it hit the ground in a fiery crash. Evans had the same fate, and she wondered if he was dead before he hit the ground.
She detached herself from her chute as soon as she hit the ground. She lost her leg bag in the jump, but at least she still had her weapon. She crouched down clenched her fists and took several deep breaths. She felt something warm trickle down her face, when she wiped it away she noticed the blood on her hand- she must have hit her head harder than she thought. She stayed quiet and listened for the enemy. It was quiet enough around her so she decided the move on. Lieutenant Meehan should be close by and she didn't want to be alone. She clenched her fists again, as she walked through the woods. There was a chute tangled in the bushes and she could make out a body still hooked up. As she got closer, she saw it was her CO. He had multiple bullet holes covering his body and his parachute. His eyes were open but there was no life left in them. She could look at him like that. She closed his eyes and took his dog tags in her shaking hands. She stood there for a moment staring at him before she grabbed his ammo and crammed it in her pockets. She took his map and compass and covered herself with his chute before she turned on her light. She had no idea where she was but was thankful she had studied the sand tables.
Gunfire exploded around her as she made her way through forest. She'd been walking for thirty minutes before she found someone. She heard the cry of pain before she saw the body.
"Flash." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"Thunder." He groaned. He was laying on his stomach and was still attached to his harness.
"Where are you hit, sergeant?" She asked when she was beside him.
"My shoulder and my lower back. I.. I can't move my legs."
She grabbed her bandage and quickly went to work on his wounds.
"what's your name sergeant?"
"Parks. Edward Parks." Edward. She though of Tipper and wondered if he was okay.
"I'm Elsie Montgomery." She wanted to keep him talking. "What company are you with Edward?"
"Dog company. You're in easy?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Jesus, which one of us is in the wrong drop zone?"
"I think maybe both of us."
The shot in his shoulder had gone straight through and didn't seem too serious. The one on his lower back was another story, but she bandaged him up as best she could. She folded over his chute several times and rolled him onto it.
"Where's your weapon?" She asked.
"I lost it in the jump."
"Can you still shoot?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Good," She said and handed him her weapon. "Take this and if you see any kruats, shoot them."
She grabbed the rope from the chute and tied one around her waist and held the other in her hands and began walking. She stopped every so often to check on Parks. She found railroad tracks and sighed with relief. She was going in the right direction.
"We should be there soon." She said.
"How do you know?"
The tracks."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Runs parallel to the river."
"How do you know that?"
"I Studied the sand tables."
She'd been walking for at least two hours and was exhausted, dehydrated, and the rope had started cutting into her hands. She cut up some of the parachute and wrapped it around her hands and then continued. They came across a small farm that had bodies scattered around and despite the tragic scene, she decided to take a short break. A dead paratrooper hung in a tree by his chute. He looked like he'd been stripped of any supplies he might have had.
"How you doing sergeant?"
"Still alive." He replied, but his voice was quieter. He looked paler and she knew he wouldn't make it if they didn't get back soon. She didn't want to move. She wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep. One glance at the man beside her changed her mind. Meehan's lifeless body popped into her head. She wasn't going to let Parks die to, so she got up and kept walking. She was getting dizzy but didn't stop. They walked past a group of dead kruats and she averted her eyes. Again, Meehan's dead body crossed her mind. She saw a barricade of dead horses up ahead with guards who looked American and she let out a sigh of relief.
"we made it sergeant." She exclaimed. He just grunted. He's still alive, he's going to make it- she thought.
A few soldiers spotted them walking down the trail. Her vision was getting spotty and she hoped that she wasn't walking into kraut territory. She stumbled but regained her footing.
"Medic!" She heard someone shout. She fell to her knees not able to go any further.
"Come on private." A strong pair of arms picked her up and carried her over the barricade. Her adrenaline was wearing off and she realised how much her head hurt.
"Montgomery?" She heard a familiar voice. "I need you to open your eyes."
"Roe?" She asked.
"Yeah it's me." She opened her eyes and saw his faint smile. They weren't exceptionally close, but he was part of easy company, part of her new family. She smiled back at him. He handed her some water which she drank greedily. She noticed her hands were properly bandaged.
"Where's Sergeant Parks?"
"He's being takin care of." A handsome dark-haired man said from behind Roe. It was the man who carried her to the aid station. Lieutenant Speirs, she realised. "You saved his life private."
"Good." She said dosing off again. They let her sleep, but Roe checked on her often.
"Elsie, wake up." Roe patted her cheek. "C'mon Elsie open your eyes."
"Hmmm?" she asked still half asleep.
"It's Roe." She recognised the Cajun drawl. She opened her eyes then tried to sit up. "No, don't get up."
"I'm okay, doc." She said after a moment. She pushed herself upright despite his protest. He gave in and handed her a canteen of water. He checked her over, and rebandaged the wound on her head. "how long was I out?"
"about five hours."
"Shit that long? What did I miss?"
"Easy took the guns at Brecourt," he said. "Popeye got shot in the behind."
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's going to be fine, headed back to England though."
"And the rest of easy?"
"We're missing about eighty-fiver percent." He said solemnly. "Including the rest of your stick."
"I have to talk to Lieutenant Winters." She thought of Lieutenant Meehan, realizing no one else knew about her plane. Roe tried to stop her. "Do I really need to stay here?"
"No, I guess not." He said and let her get up. "But take it easy okay? Looks like you hit your head pretty hard."
She found Winters and Nixon easily enough. It was Nixon who noticed her first.
"Princess, glad to see you're okay." He said putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you, sir." She then turned to Winters and handed him Meehan's dog tags. "I'm pretty sure he was dead before he hit the ground sir."
"Thank you." He said somberly.
"I don't think anyone else made it from my plane either sir." She explained what happened. Her eyes were starting to burn but she refused to cry. This was war.
"I heard what you did," Winters said. "You did good today." He then pointed her in the direction of the easy company men.
"Thank you, sir."
She walked around the corner of a two-story building and let out a sigh of relief. Easy company, at least the ones that made it so far. It looked like they were greeting Tipper and Grant. The sun was setting behind her as she walked towards them. It was Tipper who noticed her first.
"I thought you said she was at the aid station." He said pushing his way past everyone. As soon as he reached her she threw her arms around him. He was her best friend, her brother.
"I told ya I'd see you over her." She laughed.
"Didn't doubt ya." He smiled.
Liebgott was next to hug her. He held her so tight she thought she'd stop breathing. She didn't care, she just buried her face into his neck.
"Eh, quit hoggin her." Guarnere said smacking Liebgott on the shoulder.
"You scared the shit out of us." Liebgott said before he let her go. She just smiled sheepishly and turned to hug Guarnere who squeezed her just as tight. She made her way through the rest of the men there, hugging each one and making sure none of them were hurt.
"Jesus, you're an idiot Malark." She exclaimed. They told her how Malarkey ran into the middle of gunfire because he thought he saw a luger. "What in the hells the matter with you?"
"I promised my kid brother I'd bring one back for him." He defended. The rest of the men were laughing.
"You can't really bring one back if you get shot in the process." She argued.
"Good point."
"Hey easy company." They all turned to see five men walking towards them. It was Luz who had shouted at them. He was with Perconte, Hoobler, Martin and Lieutenant Welsh. They all greeted Elsie with a hug or a pat on the back.
"Am I ever glad to see you princess," Hoobler said when he let her go.
"Worried about me Hoobs?"
"Not at all, I just want a chance to win my money back."
"That'll never happen." She smiled.
Throughout the next day more easy company men had showed up. Elsie was greeted with hugs or pats on the back. She was sitting with Tipper, Malarkey and Liebgott on some stairs that lead to an empty building when she saw Penkala and Skip coming down the street towards them. She stood up immediately and ran towards them. She threw her arms around Skip first and then Penkala. Marlarkey was next to greet them followed by Liebgott and Tipper.
"I'm glad you two are okay." Elsie smiled at them. "You run into anyone else on your travels?"
"Yeah," Penkala said but his smile had faded. "Alley landed on some broken glass."
"He's going to be okay," Skip added quickly. "He lost a lot of blood before we found him though."
"Doc said he's going back to England, but he'll definitely make it." Penkala added. Elsie took a deep breath, then proceeded to tell them what they had missed.
Elsie had just come from aid station where she saw Doc Roe, who wanted to check the wounds on her head and hands. Her hands were mostly healed and her head healing nicely. Roe told her to keep it as clean as possible. She paused and leaned against a wall to watch the men. It had been two days since the jump into Normandy and half of easy company was still unaccounted for. Talbert was one of them. He had become a close friend over the last two years and she was worried about him. She kept picturing Lieutenant Meehan's dead body, but his face was now replaced with Talbert's. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to shake the picture away.
"Get a hold of your self woman." She scolded herself. "This is war."
She opened her eyes and watched the men compare their souvenirs with each other. She smiled when she saw Liebgott hold up a nazi flag. The man he showed it to was holding up something camo and got a few pats on the back for it. He lowered the sheet of camo and she finally saw his face. Talbert! She ran over and her arms were around his neck before he even saw her coming.
"Miss me?" He laughed as he hugged her tight.
"Course not." She smiled as she pulled away. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"You to princess," he said. He draped his arm over her shoulder and went to say hello to the other men, taking her with him.
Liebgott frowned as he watched Elsie walk away with Talbert. Tipper saw the look on his face and when he caught Liebgotts eye, he smiled at him.
"What?" Liebgott raised a singe brow- a habit he didn't know he had learned from Elsie. Tipper shook his head and walked away smiling.
"Let's go, first platoon! Easy's moving out, on your feet." Lieutenant Welsh shouted. "Listen up! It'll be dark soon, I want light and noise discipline from here on. No talking, no smoking and no playing grab fanny with the man in front of you, Luz."
"What if it's Elsie?" Luz joked.
"Definitely not if you want to keep your hand." She retorted with a smile.
"So where are we headed to Lieutenant?" Someone asked.
"We're talking Carentan." He replied.
"That sounds like fun." Hoobler said.
"It's the only place where armour from Omaha and Utah beach can link up and head inland. Until we take Carentan they're stuck on the sand." Welsh explained. "General Taylor's sending the whole division."
"Remember boys, give me three days and three nights of hard fighting and you will be relieved." Luz impersonated the general.
"Lieutenant. Lieutenant, I'll take point." Hoobler said excitedly.
"Corporal Hoobler will be lead scout. Blythe, glad you could join us." Welsh shouted. "First platoon fall in behind fox company, you people from second and third platoon, follow us. Shake a leg."
They were crouched down in a ditch outside of Carentan waiting for orders from Lieutenant Winters. First platoon was running up the center of the road when gunfire erupted. Elsie looked up from the ditch and saw Welsh and Luz pinned down by machine guns. The rest of first platoon was back in the ditch looking for cover.
"Go! Go!" Lieutenant Winters was shouting at everyone to get out of the ditch. Elsie was up as soon as she heard him. He was still shouting when she ran past. "We have men getting killed out there."
Tipper was right beside her as the reached cover behind a building to the left of Luz and Welsh. She saw Welsh run towards the window that held a German with the machine gun. It's them or us- she thought and proceeded to help Luz give covering fire. The three of them caught up to Welsh at the same time Liebgott reached them.
"Tipper, take Liebgott and Montgomery and start clearing these buildings." Welsh instructed.
They followed Tipper and cleared a decent amount of buildings with little problems. She had no time to think about each shot and it got easier and easier to pull the trigger. The next building was a pharmacy, and Tipper gave the order for Liebgott to cover him and Elsie as they went inside.
Tipper went in first, Elsie right on his heals ready to shoot. He headed to the back door and she went in the direction of the stairs. The second floor was empty so she headed back downstairs to Tipper.
"Clear up stairs." She informed him.
"Backs clear too." He replied. "How you holding up princess?"
"I'm fine." She answered honestly. They walked back to the main room, but she stopped when he spoke.
"Glad to hear it." He smiled as he walked past her. "So, uh just out of curiosity, would you ever consider one of the men?"
"Consider them for what?" She raised a single brow.
"You know, to be with?"
"Tip, you know I love you but…" She started but Tipper cut her off.
"Not me." He said. "Just any of the others?"
"Tipper we are in the middle of a war." She stated. "I didn't come here to find romance, I came here to fight."
"Why can't you do both?" He smiled cheekily.
"Tipper, I'm not interested in the fairy tale romance," She said, "Besides, I'm not the kind of girl guys fall for."
"You're wrong about that princess."
She let out a loud laugh that was silenced abruptly. Everything exploded around her, throwing both Tipper and her backwards. She was blinded by the light from the blast and all she could hear was unendurable ringing. Her head pounded and it was hard for her to breathe, like there was something weighing her down. It was Tipper.
"Tipper? She shouted as she shook his arm. He tried pushing himself up but couldn't do it on his own. She managed to get out from under him and pull him to his feet. The room was full of smoke and the floor was littered with debris, but Elsie managed to get to the door with Tipper's arm slung over her shoulder.
"Elsie? Tipper?" Someone shouted. She could barely hear, but she knew it was Liebgott. "Elsie! Tipper! Answer me."
Elsie leaned against the door frame as Liebgott ran up to them. He stared at them momentarily before setting his gun down.
"Joe?" Tipper asked shakily. "Is that you?"
"Take him." Elsie said to Liebgott as he took a step towards them. Her words were almost frantic. "I'm fine, take him."
"Looking good Tip, you're looking real good." Liebgott said calmly to Tipper, but his eyes lingered on Elsie a moment longer. "come here buddy, you gotta sit down. Easy, easy. There ya go."
Liebgott sat beside Tipper and soothed him. Elsie was amazed at how calm Liebgott was. She hadn't realized how panicked she was until she heard his voice. She looked from Liebgott to Tipper. It was the first time she really saw what a mess he was. Her stomach twisted and she felt vile rising in her throat. She pushed it back down but couldn't take her eyes off her best friend. His right leg was badly wounded and there was a hole in his right foot. But it was his face that really broke her heart. The left side of his face was torn up, including his eye, and blood pooled down what was left of his cheek.
"You hang in there buddy, okay, we're gonna get you fixed up, alright." Liebgott said. He turned his attention to two soldiers who stopped when they saw Tipper. "hey guys, you wanna give me a hand here?"
After helping the two soldiers get Tipper up, Liebgott went to Elsie. She was staring after Tipper as the two men carried him away. Her eyes were wide and she didn't notice Liebgott in front of her.
"Elsie, we need to get you to a medic." There it was again, Liebgott's calm voice. She looked him in the eyes and she new she would be okay.
"I'm fine, Joe." She said, but still didn't move. Her head was spinning and ached.
"Let Doc tell me that." He put his arm around her waist and led her in the same direction the soldiers took Tipper.
"Thanks doc," Elsie said when Roe finished cleaning another cut on her head.
"You're welcome." He said. "Try not to come back with another head wound."
"I make no promises doc."
She got up and went to table that Tipper was laying on. The morphine had long kicked in and he was sleeping peacefully. Doc had told her he was going to live, but he'd be out of the war for good. Despite the awful circumstance, a part of her felt relieved- her best friend was going home. The other part of her was sad that he wouldn't be by her side anymore. She was afraid of going on with out him. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. Half his face was covered in bandages and he was barely recognisable.
"You hang in there, Tip," She whispered. "I'll see you again. Even if it's in heaven with the angels, I'll see you again. I promise."
Despite how hard it was seeing her best friend like that she didn't let any tears fall. This is war- she reminded her self- These things are going to happen. Deal with it now, grieve later. She raised his hand to her lips and softly kissed it.
"Goodbye for now brother." And with that she left the aid station.
"You mark my words Mal, Berlin by Christmas." Moore declared as Elsie sat down. He was sitting on some steps with Malarkey, Skip, Penkala and Blythe.
"Hey princess, how's the head?" Skip asked.
"Just fine." She said as she leaned her back against Malarkey and lit a smoke.
"enjoy it while it lasts," Speirs said walking past them. "We'll be moving out soon."
It was the first time Elsie had seen him since D-day. His eyes met hers, but she looked away. She passed out and he had carried her to the aid station, she felt weak under his gaze, like she didn't belong there.
"Out of town Lieutenant, already?" Moore asked with a hint of annoyance.
"That's right." Speirs replied before he continued on his way.
"Don't they know we're just getting settled here?" Moore mumbled. Speirs turned around and fixed him with an irritated glare before walking off.
"Nice groucho," Skip chided.
"What?"
"Real smart. You know you're taking your life in your own hands." Skip continued, then asked Malarkey, "Aint that right?"
"I told you, I didn't actually see it." He answered.
"What? Speirs shooting the prisoners or the sergeant in his own platoon?" Penkala jumped into the conversation.
"Sergeant?" Moore questioned.
"What? I didn't hear that one." Skip said astounded.
"Wait, wait, he shot one of his own guys?" This from a shocked Malarkey.
Elsie closed her eyes and tuned the rest of the conversation out. Like her Blythe hadn't contributed to the conversation either, so she was surprised when she heard his voice.
"I donno. Gonna have to take everybody's word for it," He said. "I didn't see any of it."
"Hey Luz, how far are we going?" Elsie heard Perconte ask from ahead of her. She understood why he was asking. Her feet were sore and she was exhausted, not to mention it had been raining for the last half hour.
"Oh Jesus Christ Frank, I don't know." Luz said exasperated. "Until they tell us to stop."
"High ground." Hoobler added. "There's high ground up ahead. "
"Okay genius, answer me this then," Perconte insisted, she couldn't help but smile. "Why is easy company the only company who's either at the front of an advance, or like now exposed at the far edge of the line?"
"To keep you on your toes." Hoobler replied.
"No, that's not what I'm saying." Perconte continued. "I'm saying that we're never in the middle. And we're the fifth of nine companies of this regiment. Abel to Item, think of it."
"You see there?" Hoobler pointed up ahead. He was cut off by gunfire and they all dove to the ground. Guarnere, who was next to her, had pulled her down and was practically on top of her. She narrowed her eyes at him but he didn't notice.
"Contact right!" She could barely make out Welsh's voice. "Get in the hedge row!"
It was still raining but the gunfire had stopped. Easy company had dug their fox holes and settled in, as did Dog and Fox company whom flanked their left. Elsie was sharing a fox hole with Guarnere, which annoyed her. He had been hovering over her since they left Carentan. She stayed quiet though and was happy he didn't push for conversation. They didn't speak until they heard someone cry out, followed by moaning and whimpering. Elsie stood immediately and was about to jump out of her fox hole when she was yanked back down.
"What the hell are you doing?" Guarnere chided.
"I'm going to check on the noise," She shot back.
"I'm not letting you go out there princess."
"Bill, you can't hover over me like this, it's going to get us both killed." She growled before jumping out of the hole. She headed towards where the cry came from. She shouldn't have been so harsh with Guarnere, he was her sergeant and she knew he was just looking out for her. But her nerves were a bit frayed. When Tipper got wounded, he was between her and the explosion. She didn't want the same thing to happen with anyone else, especially another one of her closest friends.
"Flash." She heard from the cover of a tree.
"Thunder." She replied quickly. Someone walked out of the darkness towards her.
"Lieutenant Speirs." She greeted with a shaky voice when he was in front of her.
"What are you doing out her private?"
"I came to check on the noise, sir," she replied.
"I just came from there." His voice was cool and calm. "Everything's taken care of."
"yes sir." She turned to leave but stopped and face the lieutenant again. "Sir, I never got to say thank you for getting me to the aid station on D-day."
"You saved the life of one of my men." His eyes were puzzled when he looked at her. "You don't owe me any thanks."
"Anyone would have done the same." She replied.
"You're wrong private. What you did was remarkable." His eyes bore into hers with such intensity. His demeanour was calm but his eyes were wild, like there was a hurricane that constantly stirred inside him. She understood then, why all the men believed the stories about him. He was unpredictable and it showed in his unruly eyes.
"Thank you, sir." She shifted her feet, and he dismissed her back to her fox hole.
"What happened?" Guarnere asked when she got back, like she hadn't ripped his head off before she left.
"Don't know, I ran into Speirs and he sent me back here." She said sitting down next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Bill, I'm sorry for before. I just hate feeling that I'm not good enough. How many times do I have to prove I can handle myself?"
"I know you can handle yourself princess." He looked down at her. "It's just, I lost one of my brothers and I don't wanna loose you to."
She tilted her head upwards so she could look at him. Their faces were only an inch apart, she felt comfortable with him, even in close quarters.
"This is war Bill, it might happen and we have to face that. We have each others backs. You need to trust that I can do this the same as anyone else here." She said calmly.
"I know you can." He smiled at her. "But you gotta know you're not like anyone else here. You're much prettier."
"you're such a charmer Bill Guarnere." She smiled back and elbowed him in the rib playfully. He removed her helmet and kissed her on the forehead before putting her helmet back in place, which caused her to giggle. She soon drifted off into a light sleep.
It was the crack of dawn and Elsie was sitting against a tree while Lieutenant Welsh was talking to some of the NONCOMS. Her and Hoobler had tagged along and were listening to the conversation. She didn't feel like sitting alone in her foxhole after she heard Talbert was the one who got hurt. She didn't want to think about it.
"We don't know what to expect. We may be attacking a weaker force." Welsh explained. "Possibly more paratrooper."
"And you know how they can be." Hoobler interrupted which caused Elsie to let out a small laugh. He just smiled at her elatedly.
"Fire and maneuver, that's the name of the game." Welsh continued. "Fire and maneuver. Dog and Fox companies will be on our left flank moving with us. Any questions?"
When no one answered him, he said, "Let's make 'em holla."
And then the mortar fire started. Everyone took cover where they could, Guarnere was right beside her. He smiled sheepishly at her before turning his attention across the line. She did the same. She heard Winters shouting orders to keep firing, so she did just that. Aim and fire, aim and fire- she repeated in her head.
"Cover the crest of that hill!" She heard Guarnere order a couple of the men next to them.
"Where the hell did they come from?" Welsh shouted when German tanks appeared. Elsie froze but one look at Guarnere who was still shooting brought her back to reality and she continued to fire her weapon. These guns aren't going to do anything to those tanks she cursed in her head. She looked back towards Welsh who locked eyes with her, she looked towards a bazooka laying next to a dead soldier then back to Welsh. She ignored the look he gave her and went for it. It's not like he ordered her not to. He was right by her side with the ammunition, as they ran into the field to stop the tank headed their way. She knelt down and positioned the bazooka. The first shot bounced off the turret of the tank, which then turned its cannon towards them.
"Wait till I tell you Montgomery." Welsh shouted as he loaded the weapon again. He mumbled something else that Elsie barely heard but it sounded like "Your uncle's going to kill me!"
"What?" She questioned but didn't take her eyes off the target. The tanks gunner fired but because the tank was climbing over a hedgerow the shell flew over head and crashed behind them.
"Fire!" Welsh shouted in her ear. They hit their target and she couldn't help but grin. He tugged her shoulder, "Let's go."
They ran back to the safety of their line and jumped into the hedgerow. She had a huge grin on her face.
"Hit a home run eh guys?" Liebgott smiled at the lieutenant. His eyes lingered on Elsie a moment longer before he returned to firing his rifle. After that everything started to look up. Second armored showed up with sixty tanks that plowed into the German hedge row. And then it was quiet. The shellings and gunfire stopped- It was over.
"You're a fucking nut case ya know that?" Guarnere said throwing an arm around Elsie's shoulder. She was watching Welsh as he spoke to Winters and Nixon. She rolled her eyes and turned to scold him but noticed the smile on his face.
"Careful what ya say now, she might blow you up too." Bulls southern drawl chuckled. He was standing with Liebgott- who was once again smirking at her- and Toye. She smiled sweetly up at Guarnere who chuckled at her.
"Don't do that again." He warned with all seriousness.
"You gonna stop me?" She goaded.
"I'll sit on ya if I have to." She just snorted at him and excused herself when she saw Winters and Nixon leaving.
"Lieutenant Welsh?" She called out and he turned to face her. "What did you mean my uncle's gonna kill you?"
"I think you miss heard me princess," He said, but the look on his face said he knew he was busted. She raised and single brow at him. He stayed silent.
"Sir, with all due respect, I know you're lying." He let out a laugh at her comment.
"You're too damn ballsy you know that?" He smiled. "I know your uncle Tony. Well I've met him a couple times anyway. I'm engaged to his friend's daughter."
"Kitty!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, Colonel Sink had me transferred to Easy company to help keep and eye on you." He said sheepishly.
"You mean to spy on me." She huffed.
"To look out for you." He assured.
"I can take care of my self sir."
"I can see that." He smiled a genuine smile, and a contagious one at that.
