Disclaimer: The Rat Patrol is not my property. They come out to play sometimes, then I send them home.

Author's note: tullyfan and churchlady63 have decided a sequel was needed.

The Day After

By Suzie2b

After leaving Fes, the Rat Patrol stopped at a battalion that was dug in about halfway to Ras Tanura. Troy and Tully went to medical to have their wounds checked out while Moffitt and Hitch report to Lt. Col. Westbrook, the battalion commander. However, his aide informed them he was "indisposed" and they would have to report to Captain Parker.

As Moffitt and Hitch followed the directions to the captain's tent, Hitch asked, "What did he mean by 'indisposed'?"

Moffitt smiled slightly. "Well, if you check a dictionary, the meaning of word is to be 'slightly ill'. But I have a feeling that in this case it's just that Lt. Col. Westbrook doesn't wish to be disturbed." They arrived at the tent and Moffitt asked from outside, "Captain Parker? Are you in, sir?"

"Yes, come on it." Moffitt and Hitch stepped inside. Parker looked up from his work and asked, "What can I do for you?"

"We've just arrived, sir, and wanted to report in and get a tent assignment for the night."

The captain questioned, "Where are coming from and where are you headed?"

Moffitt replied, "We just completed an assignment in Fes, sir, and are going back to our base in Ras Tanura."

Parker's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Just the two of you?"

"No, captain. There are four of us. Sergeant Troy and Private Pettigrew were injured. They're in medical now getting checked out."

"That would mean you're Sergeant Moffitt."

The sergeant nodded and indicated Hitch. "This is Private Hitchcock."

Captain Parker gave them a small smile and said, "What you did in Fes has been making the rounds via radio. It's a miracle you survived against those odds."

Moffitt said somberly, "Yes, sir, it was quite a fight."

The captain read the expression on both Moffitt and Hitch's faces and said nothing more about it. He quickly checked a file before filling out a short form and handing it to the sergeant. "Here's your tent assignment. Stay as long as you need to."

"Thank you, captain."

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The Rat Patrol spent the night and got some much needed rest. The next morning, as they prepared to leave, a message came that Lt. Col. Westbrook wanted to see them.

Troy looked at his privates and said, "Stay here and finish getting ready. Moffitt and I will be back as soon as possible."

In Westbrook's tent the Lt. Col. offered the sergeants chairs as he said, "I'm glad I caught you before you left."

Troy asked, "Is there a problem, sir?"

"I need you to go on a short recon mission. It should be overnight at best."

"All right, sir, what do you need from us?"

Westbrook handed Troy a marked map with notes. "I received a message that a German patrol of about ten halftracks, cars, and tanks were seen in the sector marked there. The report said it appeared they were scouting or perhaps searching for something." Troy handed the map to Moffitt and the Lt. Col. continued, "I just need to know for sure they're out there and perhaps what they're up to. I don't foresee in enemy contact. When I was told you and your men were here, I thought it would be easier for you and your men to keep a low profile."

Troy gave a nod. "I understand, sir. But one of my men took a bullet to the shoulder during our last mission. That's why we stopped here…"

"Yes, it was mentioned that both you and Private Pettigrew had been wounded. Could you see your way clear to send your other two men out on this?"

Troy looked at Moffitt. "What do you think? It's a recon mission. No contact is expected. You and Hitch can handle it."

Moffitt nodded. "I don't see why not." He looked at Westbrook and said, "Private Hitchcock and I will leave immediately, sir."

The Lt. Col. smiled slightly. "Thank you, sergeant."

Back at the jeeps, the situation was explained to Hitch and Tully.

Tully said, "Why don't we all go, sarge?"

Troy said, "The doctor told you to use that arm sparingly and to keep it in that sling. It's a simple recon mission. Moffitt and Hitch can handle it without you and me."

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After Moffitt and Hitch left, Troy decided to go to the mess tent to start the report he would give to Captain Boggs when they got back to base.

A while later, when Troy noticed the mess tent was filling and getting a bit noisy, he looked at his watch. It was noon. He went looking for Tully and found him relaxing on his cot with a book in the tent the four were sharing.

When Troy cast a shadow over Tully, the private looked up with a tired smile. "How's it going, Tully?"

Tully sighed as he set the book aside. "It's goin', sarge. How're you doing with the report?"

"Got it about half done before people started showing up for lunch. I don't remember the last time I had to write a report that's this long and detailed."

Tully sat up, put his feet on the floor, and adjusted the sling with a slight grimace.

Troy sat down on the cot across from his friend. "Your shoulder bothering you much?"

"It's not too bad, but I think I'm glad I didn't go on that recon mission."

Troy knew his men well and could read on Tully's face that that he was still disturbed about their last mission. "You know, Tully, maybe we should talk."

The private stared at his boots. "Talk about what?"

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Moffitt and Hitch got to the part of the sector where the Germans were last seen. There were signs that the enemy had been through the area, but that was all.

Moffitt scanned the horizon in every direction with binoculars. The desert was empty.

Hitch said, "From the looks of those tracks they were heading south."

"It does look that way. Let's get going. Hopefully we'll find them before sundown."

As Hitch drove, Moffitt plotted their course on the map. They didn't want to cover the same area twice if they could help it.

Eventually, the sand turned into rock and they found themselves in a dry riverbed. Moffitt had Hitch stop so he could go to the top of a hill to get a better lay of the land.

While the sergeant searched with binoculars Hitch got out of the jeep to have a look around. He found some fresh tire tracks and knelt down to inspect them.

Moffitt came off the hill and joined him, saying, "Find something?"

Hitch stood and said, "Tracks and they're pretty fresh."

Moffitt examined what the private had found. When he stood up, the sergeant said, "Good work, Hitch. The Germans have been through here all right. I know of a valley between the hills about twenty miles ahead. That could be where they are."

The jeep moved along the riverbed slowly to keep the dust and engine noise to a minimum. An hour later, both Moffitt and Hitch climbed up a hill that overlooked the small valley below. They looked at each other as they saw a German battalion laid out below.

Hitch said, "This must be their base of operations."

Moffitt nodded. "It would appear so. I'd wager Lt. Col. Westbrook wasn't expecting us to find an entire battalion out here."

"Wonder what they're planning?"

"According to the notes we were given this sector isn't held by either the Allies or the Axis Forces … at least not yet."

Hitch reasoned, "So the Germans are looking to claim it for their own."

Moffitt said, "That would be my guess. If they can take this sector, they'll have better access to supply lines, cutting the Allies off."

"Do we go back and tell Lt. Col. Westbrook what we found?"

"Not just yet. We have half a day and all night to watch them. We'll plan to go back in the morning."

So, the two Allies kept watch on the German battalion throughout the day. They saw patrols of various sizes come and go. And judging by the preparations being made it was obvious the Germans had something big in mind.

It was just after dark when Moffitt walked up the hill with two plates of food and coffee. At the top, he asked softly, "Hungry?"

Hitch half turned. "Starved. I'm surprised the Germans haven't heard my stomach growling."

Moffitt held a plate out. "Then let's eat."

They sat down side-by-side on a couple of good sized rocks to have their meal as they continued to watch the battalion below.

After a few minutes, Moffitt said, "I've noticed you've been a little pensive since what happened in Fes. Are you all right?"

Hitch hesitated in mid-chew a moment, then finished and swallowed before he said tentatively, "Yeah, I'm okay." He took another bite, chewed, and swallowed. "Well, maybe not completely."

"It might help us both if we talk about it."

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Troy carefully said, "I know what happened in Fes was bad, Tully. Hitler is a barbarian and has convinced too many people that his way is the only way."

Tully took a breath, then said, "Why don't people just stand up to him if they know he's wrong?"

"No one dares. He wants to think the believers outnumber the nonbelievers. Anyone who doesn't agree with him is sent to the front, shot, or thrown in prison to rot."

"I know that what happened in Fes really happens in other places. I can get away without thinking about those, but the thought of all those men, women, and children in Fes…"

Troy interrupted, "That's the problem, Tully. You're thinking about it. You can't dwell on these atrocities. It'll make you crazy."

Tully hung his head. "I can't help it, sarge. The crying women and children … I still hear it. I can see their faces."

"So do I."

Tully looked Troy in the eye. "You?"

Troy nodded. "Me."

"But you're always … like a rock. Not much seems to faze you. And that's what keeps me going sometimes. When something happens all I need to do is follow your lead to get me through it."

Troy smiled slightly. "I have this habit of being human. It's not that I don't care about what happens. I just try to keep it inside, push it away. I have a job to do and if I mess up because my mind isn't in the game, someone might die that shouldn't. I don't want that to happen."

Tully questioned, "So I'm not supposed to feel anything?"

"No, you need to feel those emotions. That's what keeps you alive."

"I'm confused, sarge."

Troy thought for a moment, then said, "You don't know how many times I've been alone at night on watch after a particularly difficult mission, or in a field hospital because you, Hitch, or Moffitt have been hurt … the times I've sat down and let some of those emotions out. And yes, that includes tears on occasion." He took in the look on Tully's face. "Talking helps with the emotions too."

Tully thought for a moment, then began to open up about what he saw in Fes. The death and carnage. The way the Germans appeared so cold and callous about what they were doing to the Jewish population.

And Troy listened and added his own feelings to the conversation. By the time they had talked themselves out, it was dinnertime.

Troy stood up. "Feel better now?"

Tully stood as well. "Yeah. How 'bout you?"

Troy smiled with a nod. "I do feel better. Thanks." He looked at his watch and said, "We missed lunch. Let's go get some dinner."

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Hitch thought about it, tried to get his thoughts together, then simply asked, "Why do they do it, sarge?"

Moffitt knew what Hitch was asking, but wanted to know how much the young private knew and understood. "Do what exactly?"

"I mean not just what we witnessed in Fes, but throughout the war. The Axis Forces commit massacres, looting, forced labor … all of it. How can they get away with it? Especially with the Geneva Convention."

"The Geneva Convention was signed by Germany in 1929 and ratified by them in 1934. It is thought by the Allies that Germany was willing to abide by these rules until Britain and France declared war on them in 1939."

Hitch said, "But Germany started it when they invaded Poland."

Moffitt nodded. "Yes, but Germany didn't look at it that way. To them it was a double standard." Hitch looked as if he didn't understand, and the sergeant said, "I mean to say that the German's feel it's all right that we attack you, but you can't attack us."

"Yeah, I know what a double standard is. I just don't understand why the Germans want to be so cruel and coldblooded. No one in Fes retaliated or fought back until they knew we were there. And then it was the Arabs that came in to help us. You'd think they'd at least try to protect themselves."

"Since Hitler declared that the Jewish people are inferior the Germans have been systematically trying to wipe them out. At first the Jews did fight, or at least made an attempt. However, they were normally outnumbered and nothing was accomplished other than death. After a time, the Jews stopped fighting back for the most part and either accepted their fate or went into hiding."

Hitch frowned. "I never gave it a lot of thought before. The Jews in Fes were herded out of their homes like animals going to slaughter. The Germans saw nothing but a target."

Moffitt nodded. "The SS are bound to do Hitler's bidding. Feeling don't enter into it. The colonel was most likely only thinking of the praise he and his men would receive when he could report the extermination of the Jews in North Africa to the Führer."

"I can still see them, sarge. Men, women, and children led away to be murdered, their bodies dropping into a pit … could we have done more?"

"I'm afraid not, Hitch. We're lucky to have gotten out of there with our lives."

Hitch squared his shoulders and said, "But we did stop them, didn't we."

Moffitt smiled slightly. "Yes, we did. Thanks to our Arab friends."

"Sarge, will I ever be able to forget what I saw in Fes?"

"I doubt that any of us will ever forget. In time it'll be pushed into the back of our thoughts, only to be dredged up at some inopportune time."

Hitch set his empty plate aside and said only half-jokingly, "Gee, that makes me feel a lot better."

Moffitt sighed. "The war isn't over yet. There will be other things to take the place of what happened in Fes."

"Hopefully, next time it'll be something a little more pleasant."

"Yes, let's hope for that. Now, since we're finished with this glorious meal provided by the army, go get some rest. I'll take over here."

Hitch stood and stretched, then picked up his plate and took Moffitt's. "I'll just clean things up first." He started to walk away, then stopped to look back at his friend and said, "Thanks, sarge. Talking really did help."

Moffitt gave a nod. "It helped me as well, Hitch. Good night."

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Moffitt and Hitch arrived back at Colonel Westbrook's battalion in the afternoon on the next day. Hitch dropped Moffitt at the colonel's tent to report in while Hitch took the jeep to the motor pool.

When Moffitt exited the tent after his report, he found Troy waiting for him. "How'd it go?"

Moffitt smiled. "It went well actually. We got the information Colonel Westbrook wanted. He has the coordinates as to where the Germans are and he can act accordingly."

Troy fell into step next to Moffitt and said, "So you didn't run into any problems?"

"No, nothing. In fact if it weren't for the talk Hitch and I had, it would've been down right boring."

"What'd you talk about?"

Moffitt said, "I could tell that what had in Fes was still bothering him. I asked him if he wanted to talk about it and he opened up."

Troy admitted, "Tully and I had a talk too."

"About Fes?"

"Yeah, and I think it helped both of us."

Moffitt nodded. "I agree. My talk with Hitch did me some good too."