We had stopped for the night in a small town I couldn't care to remember the name of. I jumped from the back of the truck, suppressing a hiss of pain as the motion jarred my injured shoulder. It had been days since the battle in Noville and I was worried my wound was becoming infected. It stung like all fuck and hurt to move. I gritted my teeth as we were assigned sleeping quarters then nearly drug George along with me. I closed and locked the door and George said nothing, having read the pained expression on my face.
"I need you tell me what you see." I turned away from him and took off my jacket and shirt. "I think it's getting infected." I winced as I unwrapped the bandage that flattened my chest and covered myself with my arms.
"Jesus, Jo." George cursed as he removed the bandage on my wound. "This is bad."
"How bad is bad?" I hissed as pain shot through the wound.
"I'm not sure." He muttered. "It looks deep."
"How deep?" I turned my head, fruitlessly trying to see the wound.
"I think it might need stitches." He replied.
"Can you do it?" I asked.
"No," he stepped back and I looked at him over my shoulder. "No, no. No." He shook his head as all color drained from his face.
"George, I can't see it, you have to tell me what you see." I hissed in pain again. George paled even more, if that was possible, as he stepped back up.
"I don't know, Jo. This looks bad, so bad. Bad, bad, bad."
"I get it." I growled in pain and frustration. I turned my head back around and rolled my shoulders trying to fruitlessly stretch the pain out.
"Jesus, Jo. Do that again?" I felt him step closer, putting his face right up to my back.
"Do what?" I asked, looking back over my shoulder at him.
"Roll your shoulder again." I sighed and did as he said. "Fuck, JoJo. I think I'm looking at muscle here. I think I just saw your muscle move." He sounded sick.
"Shit!" I spat. "You'll need to put sulpha on it, George. It's too close to the spinal cord to risk infection." I hissed as the powder hit my skin. "Alright, now re-bandage it." I cringed and swallowed back a moan of pain. Once he was done I slowly wrapped my chest and pulled my shirt back on. George came around to lean against the dresser in front of me.
"What are we going to do?" George asked, worried eyes looking into mine.
"I'm going to have to go to Roe." I finally moaned.
"But what if he turns you in?" George was panicked.
"I don't know. I don't fucking know." I ground out, running my hand through my hair. "It's too deep and not healing on it's own. I have to do something." He looked down and toed at a knot in the floor. I stood up and took his hand.
"What am I going to do without you, JoJo?" He asked as he looked up and I saw the worry in his eyes.
"Whatever happens, happens. But no matter what, we're gonna be fine." I squeezed his hands.
"My mom, she'll take you in if they send you back. She loves you as much as I do." I gave a watery smile.
"I love you both too, but let's hope it doesn't come down to that."
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"Hey Gene, you busy?" I asked as I stepped into the makeshift infirmary. Gene looked over at me and set the box of medical equipment he was carrying down.
"Not very. You need something." He asked as he searched through the contents of the box, counting something and then marking it down on a clipboard and placing it in his medical bag. I winced as the wound on my shoulder caught in the bandage and a slight hiss passed through my lips. It was enough for Gene to set aside his clipboard and put his full attention on me.
"This ain't a social call, is it." He stated more than questioned in his Cajun drawl.
"Not really." I sighed. "Though we can pretend? Hey, Gene! How's you day?" I questioned with fake enthusiasm. He just huffed and rolled his eyes
"What happened?"
"Not a big deal… It just... I was... shot." His reaction was immediate and completely expected. He jumped up from the table he was leaning against and was at my side in an instant.
"Where were you shot?" He gently but urgently grabbed my shoulders and looked me over. I groaned in pain as he brushed against the wound.
"Uh, my back, right shoulder." He quickly glanced around at my back before looking back at me.
"I don't see any blood, when did this happen?" One of his eyebrows raised in confusion.
It might have been… a few days ago." I mumbled.
"What did ja say. Because it sounded like you said a few days ago." I was so close to his face that I could see the fire slowly lick its way into his blue-gray eyes. I winced and this time not from pain.
"I did." He cursed at me in French.
"Why the hell did'ja wait this long to tell me?" He practically growled. "You shudda come to me right away!"
"I was taking care of it myself." I answered, not going to back down to him. I wouldn't let him make me feel like I was a child who had done something wrong.
"Oh, you were, were you?" He glared at me. "Is dat why you're here now. Because you took care of it."
"No, I'm here now because it needs stitching and I can't reach it." I hissed back at him, returning his glare. "If it wasn't for that, then you would have never seen me here."
We both stood there, toe-to-toe, glaring at each other, neither of us backing down. He sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his thick black hair.
"Fine. Take your shirt off." He stepped back and crossed his arms. My anger suddenly dissipated only to be replaced with apprehension.
"Not… here." I looked around the open room.
"What?" He looked at me and narrowed his eyes. "Just take your damn shirt off."
"Not here, Gene." I growled.
"Are ya gonna take off your shirt or do I have ta cut it off?" He growled right back. I nervously glanced around before my eyes landed on a door to a room that sat off to the side of the makeshift hospital.
"Come on." I said as I made my way over to the room. I turned to see Gene glaring at me. "Just… Just humor me, Gene." I pleaded.
He sighed and rolled his eyes but followed me none the less. I stood inside the little room and waited for him to come in. Once he did I closed the door tightly, turned the key and jiggled the knob, making sure it was securely locked.
"What da hell is this about?" He crossed his arms and looked at me in annoyance. I sighed and ran my hand through my own black hair.
"I-" I hissed in frustration. "I-"
"What is it, Jo?" He grumbled. "I haven't got all day ta stand here and play these stupid little games with ju."
"Fine." I glared right back at him. "I can't take my shirt off out there." I finally sighed and sat against the small exam table that had been placed in there.
"Why not?" He leaned back against the wall opposite me.
"Because." I looked down, suddenly finding the dusty floor very interesting.
"Because why." He sighed the words, frustration evident in his voice.
"Because I have a couple of things that might not go unnoticed if I did." I answered.
"Couple of- Jo, what da hell are you talking about?" He nearly yelled and I winced.
Breathing deep I turned my head up to face his. His eyes betrayed his anger, frustration, and annoyance at me. Frustration because I was skirting around the subject, annoyance because I was talking in riddles and anger because I was hurt and I didn't seek his council immediately. I took a deep breath, wishing desperately for a cigarette.
"I'm a woman, Gene." I said with a sigh.
"What?" His arms dropped to his sides and his brow creased in confusion.
"I'm a woman." I repeated.
"Right." He huffed. "This is a waste of time, either you're hurt and you need me ta help you or you're here playing a prank on me when I can be doing something more important."
"Christ, Gene! I telling you, I'm a woman!Une femme! I am of the female persuasion." I stood up from the table.
"Quit wasting my time." He growled and made for the door. I stopped him, wrapping my hand around his as he grabbed the doorknob.
"Gene." I whispered desperately. He pulled his hand away from the knob and I dropped it as he turned his eyes to mine. "Just, let me prove it."
He sighed but nodded and gestured with his hands for me to continue. I took a deep breath and lifted my shirt, hissing as my wound pulled against the bandage. I closed my eyes as my shirt covered my face, then I pulled it off and tossed it to the side. There was a quick intake of breath from Gene as he came face to face with the bandage that I used to bind my breast. I sighed deeply before opening my eyes. As soon as they were open his blue-gray orbs met my own, nearly black with pain and fear.
"Jo…" Roe moved his mouth, but no other words formed. He stood there frozen and unable to speak, staring at me as I stared back at him. I felt the tears start to prickle at the corner of my eyes. I wasn't sure if it was from the physical pain of the wound or if it was from the emotional pain I felt at the look of utter confusion on his face. I turned around, unable to keep looking at him; afraid at any moment I would see a look of disgust pass over his face at the fact that I was a woman. I felt a small tear slip down from my eye as I thought of having to say goodbye to George, leaving him here in danger while I was shipped off to the states to a world I knew nothing about. After everything I had been through, everything I had done this is how it was going to end. Wounded by some German fucker with bad aim. I quickly reached up and wiped the tear off my face before it could reach the crease of my cheekbone.
"Oh, Jo." Gene whispered. I felt the heat of his body against my back as he stepped up and gently placed his callused hand on my bare shoulder. "Look at me." He commanded gently. I shook my head and wiped away another small tear. "Look at me, Jo." He said more forcibly, gently turning me around to face him.
I sniffled and stared at his chest, refusing to meet his eyes. One of his hands left my shoulder and was gently placed under my chin, slowly lifting it so I was staring him straight in the eyes. I breathed in a shaky breath as I saw nothing but worry in his face. He gently brought his hand from my chin and wiped away another tear with his thumb as it fell from my eyes. He placed his hand against my cheek and I leaned in as the warm comfort from it spread through the rest of my body, drying up my tears and calming my shaking breath.
"Let's take a look at that wound, hm." He said and I managed a small, watery smile. He smiled back and then slowly took his hand from my face. "I'll go grab a few things while you take that bandage off."
I nodded and stepped back over to the table. He gave me one more smile before unlocking and leaving the room, making sure to close the door tightly behind him. I sighed and hopped up on the table, my back to the door and carefully unwrapped the bandages that both bound my breast and held the absorbent gauze in place over my wound. I pulled my legs up and rested my chin on my knees, staring blankly ahead at the curtain draped window. There was a gentle knock at the door.
"Jo, it's me." Gene called.
"Come in." My voice was harsh and raspy.
I felt the rush of cool air hit my back as he quickly opened and closed the door, causing me to shiver. I looked over my shoulder to see he had stopped at the door, his hand on the key and was staring at my bare back. He seemed to snap himself out of his own thoughts with a shake of his head and walked over to the table where he set his supplies down on the edge before looking over at my wound. I turned my head back around and placed it back on my knees. I hissed and winced in pain as he prodded at my wound.
"You're right, it needs stitching." He said, touching my uninjured shoulder in a sign of comfort. "But first I need to clean it." I nodded and he removed his hand.
I vaguely heard the pop of a cork from a glass bottle before the smell of alcohol assaulted my nose. The sound of sloshing tickled my ears and a cold cloth was placed against my wound. Almost instantaneously the burning sensation hit my nerves, sending fire down my back and up my spine. I groaned softly as he started to move the cloth up and down, thoroughly cleaning the laceration.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled, his hands working quickly. "It's almost over." He assured.
I nodded and bit my lip to keep from making anymore sounds of pain. Finally his movements stopped and it took a moment before the burning subsided.
"It's real deep." He told me. I heard him shuffle through his supplies. "I'm going ta give you some morphine so I can stitch it up." I nodded and felt a sharp poke just a little above the wounds as the needle pierced my skin. I felt it do its work as the pain from the wound on my back lessened, then disappeared completely.
"Is it working?" He asked.
"Yes." I nodded feeling pain free for the first time in days.
He shuffled through his things again before ripping something open. It took a moment before I felt a slight tug at my skin, then another and another. He worked in silence, the rhythmic tugging of my skin the only indication that he was doing anything. I continued to stare at the small stream of sunlight that flittered over the top of the curtains, lighting the room enough for him to do his job. I don't know how long it took, I didn't even realize when the soft tugging had stopped, but I felt a slight pressure as he pressed a clean bandage to the wound.
"I need ta wrap it around you." He informed.
I slid my legs down the table and allowed him to wrap his arms around my chest. He was very careful not to brush his hand against me as he wrapped the bandage around and tied it. Once he was done I pulled my knees back up to my chest and turned my head so that I was looking at him over my shoulder. He cleaned up the bloody, soiled cloths and placed them into a small bag before turning and meeting my eyes. We just stared at each other for a while, too many thoughts running through our minds to speak. I wondered what he would do now. Would he tell Winters and have me sent to the states? Would I be court-martialed? One thing was for sure, if I was going down, I was keeping my promise, I would go down alone. I thought of having to leave George and I could feel the familiar sensation of tears pricking the corner of my eyes. I turned my head back around to stare at the window, fighting back the sadness I felt.
"Jo." His voice was thick with an unreadable emotion. He sighed. "I brought you a new bandage for…" He trailed off but I got the jist of what he was getting at.
"Thanks." I rasped. We were both silent for a moment.
"Do you need help wrapping it." I could tell from his voice that he was uncomfortable with the subject.
"No, thank you." I replied.
"Are you sure. I don't want you tearing those stitched." He said, his medical training outweighing his discomfort.
"I'm sure."
"Alright." I could hear him as gathered up his medical supplies. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He said before I felt the rush of cold air hit my back and the sound of the door being shut tightly.
I sighed and dropped my knees, turning so my legs dangled over the edge and grabbed the clean bandage that Gene had procured for me to bind my breast with. I winced as I carefully wrapped my chest, giving me a less feminine figure. That done, I stood up and gingerly pulled my shirt on not bothering to unbutton it, then I sat back on the table and waited.
"Jo?" He knocked gently on the door.
"Come in." I called.
Roe opened the door and came back in, shutting it tightly behind him. He crossed over to stand in front of me, leaning against the wall.
"So," I looked at him. "What now?" He sighed and looked down, rubbing the back of his head with one hand before looking back up at me.
"Well, I had some time ta think while I was stitching you up." He said, I nodded. "And-" He sighed and pushed against the wall, standing up and taking a step so that he was face to face with me. "You're a good soldier, Jo. You've done everything that was asked of you and more. You helped keep the men sane in Bastogne… you helped keep me sane." He managed a small smile and I returned one likewise. "You saved all those men in Bastogne, I'm sure you saved quite a few lives that would have been lost otherwise and you never complained, not once." He sighed deep. "You've been there since Toccoa, you're one of the few of us that have made it this. I'm not going to be the one to send you home." I took a sharp intake of breath. Could he really mean…
"You're not going to turn me in?" I whispered, gazing at him wide-eyed.
"No, I'm not." I couldn't help myself, I flung my arms around him and hugged him tight.
"Thank you Gene." I felt him still in shock a moment before wrapping his own arms around my lower back careful of my wound. "Thank you so much." I said as I buried my head in his shoulder in relief. I stayed like that for a moment so happy and relieved that my secret was safe with him and that I was going to get to keep fighting alongside George and the rest of Easy. "Thank you." I pulled back but my hands remained on his shoulders.
"Owe." I hissed as my stitches pulled and I had to drop my arms from him. I held my right shoulder and winced. His hands were immediately on mine, stopping me from touching the wound through my bandage.
"Are you alright?" He asked in concern. "Did'ja rip a stitch?" I shook my head.
"No, I don't think so. Just pulled at it." He relaxed and placed his hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eye.
"You need ta be careful, Jo." He said, meaning more than just not ripping my stitches. "Promise me."
"I promise, Gene." I said and he nodded.
"You should try and get some rest." He pulled back and dropped his hands to his sides. "Don't lift anything if you don't have ta. And don't get those wet." I nodded. He smiled and turned to leave, stopping as his hand reached the doorknob. "What's your name?" He asked quietly. He turned from the door to look at me. "What's your real name?"
"Jo." I replied. "My name is Jo."
He nodded at me in understanding and pulled open the door, motioning for me. I walked out the door and looked back at him as he went back to restocking his supplies before we moved out.
"Just, promise me this is it." He said. "Promise me there are no more secrets, Jo." He looked up at me. I bit the inside of my lip.
"A person has a right to their secrets." I replied after a moment of contemplation. "There are some things that people just wouldn't understand about me. There may be a time when I can tell you what that secret is. But it's not today." He knitted his eyebrows in confusion.
"Alright, but you're gonna have ta tell someone sooner or later." He replied. I gave him a small smile and a nod of my head.
"Thank you, Eugene." I met his eyes once more before stepping out into the cool street and shutting the door behind me.
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"Sergeant Banally." Speirs called out to me. I turned to look at him and he motioned for me to follow him. I chanced a glance at George and saw the apprehension in his eyes before I stood up and followed the Company CO out into the streets of the town.
"Sir?" I questioned as I stepped down the stairs, wincing as the stitches in my shoulder caught the gauze of the bandage and pulled.
"Walk with me, Sergeant." He said after a moment of careful study. I nodded and followed along behind him as we strolled through the town. We walked for a time, passing by soldiers who looked at me as if I were walking to my execution. I breathed deeply, trying to calm my racing heart as we came to the edge of town that overlooked a large lake. He stopped and stood beneath a winter-bare tree, looking out over the glassy surface of the lake before turning his attention back to me.
"Doc Roe has told me of a rather interesting development concerning you." He said as he looked at me for a reaction. I felt my stomach drop to the floor. I had trusted Roe with my secret, and he had said he wasn't going to tell anyone. Now Speirs was dragging me out here far enough away so that when he shot me, there would be no witnesses and he could dispose of me in the lake.
Okay, so might have been overreacting, but I felt as if the world around me had come crashing down. I forced myself to put up a façade, letting nothing of my true feelings of fear and anxiety show through.
"Sir?" I question with a raised eyebrow as the storm swirled deep in my chest.
"He says you were wounded a few days ago and didn't come to him until today." I let a whoosh of air and struggled to keep my jaw from dropping to the muddy earth beneath my feet. I was so sure my time here had come to an end, but at that moment I could kiss that dark-haired little half Cajun.
"Yes, sir." I answered and forced the smile of relief from appearing on my face.
"When were you wounded, Sergeant?" He asked.
"Noville, sir. When we were clearing houses," I answered. "It was a ricochet that tore through my shoulder."
"You fought through Rachamps with an untreated shoulder wound." He raised an eyebrow at me but otherwise his expression was carefully schooled.
"I did, sir. But if I thought for one moment that I was putting the men in danger, I would have pulled myself off of the line." I quickly explained. "I know my limits, and I know how much pain I can take before I need to seek help, sir."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Sergeant Benally." He said, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. I was… confused to say the least. We could have had this conversation in front of the men, there was no need to pull me off so far from town, and Speirs wasn't one to waste time and energy on something as whimsical as a quick stroll around the lake.
"With all due respect sir, is that it? Is there another reason for this hike around the lake or did you just need some fresh air and decided to take me along with you?" I asked. He studied me a moment.
"You're a good Sergeant, Benally." He said.
"Uhm, thank you?" Confusion creased my brow as I tried to figure out what he was getting at.
"It's no secret that Sergeant Lipton is going to be promoted to 2nd Lieutenant soon." He stopped and gauged my reaction before continuing. "We're gonna need a good 1st Sergeant to replace him when that happens."
"Yes, sir."
"You want the job?" I was momentarily stunned.
"Why me, sir?" I finally asked.
"You've proven yourself to be a capable leader, Sergeant. The men know and trust you." He paused and looked me over. "I trust you, Sergeant." I was taken aback by that. I couldn't believe what he was saying to me. I was overwhelmed with pride at his praise and knew I would never receive a better compliment in all my life.
"Thank you, sir." I said in more than a little reverence. He nodded at me, the corner of his lips twitching up slightly.
"So, you want to position?" He asked. I chewed my bottom lip in thought for a moment before answering him.
"If Lieutenant Dike was still our CO sir," I said, picking my words slowly and carefully. "I would have said yes in a heartbeat, if I was still that is. But since you're in charge of the Company now, sir, I'd have to say… no."
"No, Sergeant?" There was no shock or surprise that was betrayed on his face, merely a look of curiosity. "Why?"
"You're a leader, sir, a real leader" I answered. "Everyone knows Dike couldn't have lead us out of a wet paper bag and if he were still our Company CO I would have gladly step up into that role for the men. But we don't have Dike anymore, sir, we have you. They don't need me."
"It's a pay-grade increase and a higher rank." He challenged.
"I know sir, but 2nd platoon has lost a lot of good men in the past two months. We have no platoon officer to lead us and with Lipton's promotion, he'll be moved to another unit. Second platoon will be looking to Malarkey and I for leadership and guidance now more than ever. Second needs me and I can't abandon them." I answered.
"And if I offered the position to Sgt. Malarkey?" He raised an eyebrow.
"He would deserve it more then I would." I shrugged and he tilted his head. "If he took it I would be happy for him, but it's not where I'm needed, sir." He studied me a moment before a strange light I had never seen before came to his eyes.
"Good answer, Benally." For the first time since the aloof officer and I had our brief exchange during D-Day and every subsequent run in I had with him in the months since, he smiled a genuine smile. No smirk, no sneer, just a smile. I couldn't help but return it with one of my own.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Speirs. For trusting in me enough to offer me this opportunity."
"You earned it, even if you don't want it." He said and made to go back to the town. "Oh and Sergeant."
"Yes sir?" I asked.
"Roe says you need to take it easy, let yourself heal up for a while. Lipton is sick so I want you to help him out, run his errands until Doc clears you for duty." He ordered.
"Yes, sir." He nodded at me and walked off back into the town.
Once I was sure he was far enough away, I turned to face the lake and mouthed the words, 'OH MY GOD!' That man, he knew how to play with emotions so well I doubted that even he knew when he was doing it anymore. I went from being terrified, to offended, to completely confused, then to… ecstatic. I had never felt so many emotions in such a short amount of time in all my life, and speaking with him left me feeling more than a little weary. I sighed and lit as cigarette before slowly making my way back into town and up to the CP to play errand boy for our sickly First Sergeant.
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"You're shittin' me." George said as he took a puff of his cigarette.
"No, I'm not. I thought I was dead for sure." I took the cigarette from him and drew deep. "I thought he had found out and was going to kill me." I said as expelled the smoke from my lungs.
"Jesus, Jo. You are one lucky son of a bitch, you know that?" He stole the cigarette back.
"Tell me about it." I scoffed. "I thought I was going to drop dead right there."
"First Sergeant Benally… it has a nice ring to it." He said and grinned at me. "Can't believe you turned it down."
"I've been company leader before. I don't wanna do it again at least not right now. Second needs me, it's where I belong." I shrugged.
"Yeah, but you said no to Speirs." He grinned. "You really do have a death wish, JoJo."
"I must." I laughed as I slid into the small twin bed that was mine for the night. "There's no other explanation for why I do the shit I do." George laughed as he stubbed out his cigarette and slid into his own bed.
"Yeah, there is." He reached over to the small lamp that illuminated the room.
"And what's that?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You're fucking bat shit insane." I laughed as he turned off the light and our little room was thrown into darkness.
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So, that was just sort of an interlude chapter between the end of The Breaking Point and the Beginning of The Last Patrol. I hope you all liked it.
Wow! 100 plus reviews! My lovely reviewers, you are the greatest! I would like to thank cHoCoLaTe-RuM for being the 100th reviewer. As a prize for being lucky number 100, cHoCoLaTe-RuM's likeness will be featured in a future chapter! I would like to thank all my lovely reviewers! EmmyMK, britt, cHoCoLaTe-RuM, CP2girls, Azrael's Darkest Secrets, Ashlynn, ally leigh, and my newest reviewers Jaina87, Harlequin Sequins, and Asphyxiating Elgar. You guys are the best, thank you for all of your support!
britt- Yes, the blanket giver was Roe. You're not the only one who thought it was Speirs. It will be a little while before I reveal who, as you put it, l'amour de Jo is. Well, someone else found out Jo is a she, but it will be awhile before anyone else finds out. I watched it on Spike as well, the editing cracked me up. But it wasn't the worst I'd ever seen. I watched this one movie once where I swear they were just screwing around and editing in the weirdest things. Like instead of fucking they'd put duckling, it was hilarious. I hope this update was worth the wait. Thank you for the review!
Ashlynn- I'm glad you liked the added battles. And yes, Roe was the blanket giver. Everyone thought is was Speirs for some reason. You weren't the only one who was surprised it was Roe. I'm glad you liked the ending, it was one of my favorite things to write. Thank you for the review!
As for everyone else who has read the story and not reviewed, please let me know what you think of this story, good, bad, not so bad, just let me know what you like or don't and any suggestions for improvement you may have!
Please take the time to leave me a review, it is always greatly appreciated!
Amanda
P.S. - I have several other nondescript female parts that I have written in a later chapter. I think, as a thank you to all you who have reviewed, I would like to place your likenesses in place of the ones I have there now. They won't have as many parts as cHoCoLaTe-RuM's likeness will have, but I want to do something special for all you gals (and guys?) who have read and reviewed my story. Just a big thank you for letting me know what you've thought about these chapters I've been working so hard on. There are a limited number of spots available and it's only fair that those of you who have reviewed the most get first dibs. If you're interested, let me know!
Edited 7/22/17