Dana just stood there and watched the jeep disappear, warm tears started to run down her cheeks.
Had she made the right choice? Was she really ready to leave Ron? And cut him and of all the Easy boys out of her life?
She sighed and started to walk toward the officer's quarters, she had to pack up her stuff and move into the Brits billets.
Dana took one last deep breath and shook her head, it was too late to have any regrets now, she had made her decision, and now she had to make the best of it.
As she walked towards her quarters she waved to the people who greeted her. When she reached the building she had been billeted to she started to hum an Adele song and by the time she got to the chorus, she was crying her eyes out,
"Never in my life will I find someone like you" She finished her packing and sat down on the bed. She thought about the time easy had spent in Aldbourne after the Normandy campaign and how happy she had been at that time. She was looking forward to working with the Brits. It would definitely be interesting and David was a nice and kind man, even if he was a little mad and pulled some crazy stuff once in a while like escaping from the hospital and swimming the Rhine after being captured by the Germans. He was more like Ron than any of them knew, Dana wondered if she had switched one crazy ass tempered man for another.
Dana got up off the bed and walked over to look out the window. She looked at the American and British soldiers milling around, many of them replacements from the 17th Airborne. She could clearly tell the replacements from the veterans, they still had that innocent look in their eyes, they had never seen a buddy get killed or wounded, and they had never held the hand of a dying man while he was calling out for his mother to come and save him. Dana had never forgotten the look on Hashey's and Garcia's faces when Miller was killed in Holland. Hashey and Garcia lost a good friend and at the same time they lost their innocence, it was the day they became men, a day they would never forget and had to live with for the rest of their life. Heck she would never forget the day Market Garden fell on its ass, they had lost a few good men.
Dana picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder and took one last look around the room she shared with her friends, during their down time after Normandy, and turned off the light and closed the door behind her.
"Well, when the lord closes one door, he opens a window" Dana thought to herself and walked down the long quiet corridor. When she opened the door to the building and walked outside she was met by the British colonel.
"Ready" He said and took Dana's bag from her.
"Yeah, yeah I guess I am." Dana said and turned and took a last look at her old billet before she walked after Dobey, he held his hand out to her, when she took it she felt him squeeze it and he turned towards Dana and smiled.
"I managed to get you, a room at my billet" Dobey said
Dana smiled and looked down at her feet, the two officers walked hand in hand a cross the street and to the jeep Dobey had waiting for them where a chauffeur was waiting for them. He was leaning up against the jeep smoking and checking out the local attractions. When the private noticed the colonel he jumped to attention and saluted the Colonel and looked at Dana and saluted her,
"Ma'am" he said and took a step forward to help her into the jeep, Dobey quickly brushed past him and helped Dana into the back of the jeep. Dobey gave the private a stern glare to warn him from making any more mistakes, the young private blushed and started the jeep. Dana put a hand on Dobey's shoulder,
"Go easy on the kid, he was just being friendly." Dobey turned around and looked at Dana with amusement in his eyes,
"Well if you insist" he said. The private smiled to himself, it would definitely be interesting having the American captain around.
They drove in silence to the British officer's billet; the private stopped the jeep and tried to help Dana out of the jeep, but was once again intercepted by the colonel. Dana shot the young private a smile, she knew exactly what he was doing, he was required by regulation to offer to help her and by doing his duty he could irritate the colonel a little. This was one of the only privileges the privates had.
Dobey took Dana's bag and grabbed her hand and led her towards the estate house, the British officers were billeted to. Dobey opened the door and led Dana to one of the up stairs bed rooms; he opened the door for her,
"This is your room, and you have it to your self, for now anyway" He dropped her bag on the bed, "Come on then let me show you the rest of the house" Dobey led her through the house and pointed out the offices, the kitchen, and the dinning room. He led her back to her bedroom and opened the door.
"I … Dana will you have dinner with me tonight?" Dobey asked her. Dana looked at Dobey, of course she would, but she couldn't help but let him sweat a little. Dobey looked over her head and waited for her answer. He got nervous, had he been to forward? Should he have waited before he asked her out? He decided he had done the right thing. They didn't know if the would be redeployed tomorrow, so they had to live in the now.
"Of course I will, but right now I need some rest so see you at seven then?" Dana said.
"Yes, nineteen hundred hours" Dobey said. Dana closed the door and started to unpack her bag, she had pretty much brought everything she owned with her, and Charlie had promised her she would ship the remainder of her footlocker to Aldbourne. There was a second door in the room and Dana walked over and opened it, much to her surprise the door led into a bathroom, in the bathroom was a big bath tub. She walked over and opened for the water and there was actually hot water.
Dana quickly filled up the tub and shed her uniform and climbed in, and she dosed off while in the bath tub. She woke up when the water started to get cold; she climbed out of the tub and dried of with an army issued towel she had found in the closet in the bedroom. She walked into her room, it was only four o'clock, so Dana decided to get a little sleep before she had to meet Dobey in the hall. She lay down and pulled the blanket up to her chin and she fell fast a sleep.
When Dana woke up she felt refreshed and she was actually looking forward to her date with Dobey. All she had to wear was her class A's, so she didn't have to worry about what to wear. She put on some make up and did her hair and by seven o'clock she was ready. She picked up her garrison hat and walked out of the door. Dobey was waiting for Dana in the hall; he was pacing up and down looking towards the stairs every five seconds, when finally he heard the door to her room close and the sound of her foot steps walking towards the stairs.
When she descended down the stairs she took his breath away. She looked amazing in her regular uniform, but all dressed up in class A's… she was absolutely stunning. He walked over to the bottom of the stairs and took her hand; Dana smiled and gave his hand a little squeeze. Dobey opened the door for her and led her out to a waiting jeep; he helped Dana into the passenger seat, he walked around the front of the jeep, got in the driver seat, and started the jeep. Dana looked at him,
"So you gave your driver the night of?" she said.
"I prefer to drive my date around my self" Dobey responded. They ended up at a small café in one of the nearby towns; they enjoyed some good food and each others company. They stayed at the café sharing stories about their respective companies, Dobey tried to give Dana some pointers about the men she would be serving with. She was looking forward to meeting them, they sounded like a great bunch of guys and she knew they were also a bunch of experienced men and she would be able to learn a lot from them.
It was late before they headed back to Aldbourne; they decided to swing by the local pub, so Dana could meet some of the men. Dobey parked the jeep in front of the pub and helped Dana out; he led her towards the door with his hand on the small of her back. When they walked in Dobey was greeted by his men, a couple of the officers came over and shook his hand. A captain came over and slapped Dobey on the back,
"So you finally talked her into joining us." the captain said. Dobey just smiled,
"Yes, I did. You know I can be rather irresistible when I have to" The Captain, Dana now recognized as one of the men they had rescued in Holland, held out his hand to her,
"Captain Hogben." he said in a Geordie accent.
"Captain Grey." Dana said.
"I know, this man here hasn't stopped chatting about you since the first time he saw you" the Geordie captain said. Dana turned around and looked at Dobey,
"Is that so?" she said and smiled, she leaned closer into Dobey and he put his arm around her waist. They talked with a few of the officers for a while. Later, Dana was dancing with a pilot from the RAF and Dobey hadn't taken his eyes of her all night. Captain Hogben slapped him on the back
"You got it bad don't you?" he said and grinned at his commanding officer.
"I suppose I do." Dobey replied.
"Ask her to marry you. Right now, right here, you know we are moving out again and you don't know if we are going to Africa or worse." Hogben said. Both of the officers had probably had a little more to drink than they should and in Dobey's fogged mind it sounded like a good idea. Dobey made a sign and had the music stopped. He walked over and pulled Dana out of the arms of the RAF pilot; he got down on one knee and took her hand. Dana looked at him, she wasn't exactly sober herself, and she smiled at him not exactly sure what was going on.
"Dana, since the first time I saw you I have loved you, so will you please marry me?" Dobey looked at her with uncovered hope and love in his eyes. Dana looked at him and in her less than sober mind it sounded like a good idea.
"Yes, I will marry you" she said. Dobey got up and took her in his arms and lifted her of the ground and gave her a big kiss. Dana didn't notice in her current state, but the kiss didn't give her the feeling of fire works Ron's kisses gave her. The two of them staggered out of the pub and ordered a passing private to drive them back to the officer's billet. The next morning Dana woke up and looked at the man in the bed next to her and then looked at her hand and sure enough there was a ring on her finger. So it wasn't a dream, Dobey had proposed to her and she had accepted. She was actually happy; she knew Dobey could give her the stability she so desperately needed. He was a kind and handsome man, so all in all not a bad catch.
She put on her uniform and staggered towards the kitchen, she needed coffee and now. Dana found the kitchen; she dismissed the privates when they tried to salute her and insisted on serving her coffee in the dinning room. She took her cup with her outside and sat down in the garden on a lawn chair, and she closed her eyes and soaked in the peace and quiet. It was cold, but the fresh crisp air felt great. Dana opened the eyes when she heard steps, which stopped in front of her and a shadow fell over her. Dana opened her eyes and saw Major Hamlin looking down at her and smiled.
"So you decided to stay here, and you got engaged" Major Hamlin said.
"Yeah it was about time" Dana said.
"Well I won't try and talk you out of it, just be sure it's the right thing for you and not just for the Colonel." Major Hamlin said. Dana looked at the major, she looked tired, but she had a goofy grin on her face. Dana noticed the ring on Ella's finger.
"I am not the only one who got engaged, do tell." Dana said.
"Bob asked me last night and I accepted." Ella said with a big grin on her face
"Well congrats Major." Dana said.
In Paris Winters and Emma was honey mooning, which meant they hadn't left the room the first twenty four hours. When Emma woke up on the morning of their last day in Paris, she turned to her side and studied the man lying next to her.
He was utter perfection to her, she had always admired him. At West point he had been the subject of her research paper and now she was here with him. How many girls could say they married their hero? Winters slowly opened his eyes and noticed the way his new bride was looking at him, he smiled and reached for her, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a passionate kiss.
"Good morning," he said when they pulled a part.
"Good morning to you too" Emma said.
"We best get up and get ready for breakfast." Winters said and push the cover of his naked body.
Emma looked at him like a child in a candy store, Winters noticed and looked at her and started to put on his boxers "No, no, don't look at me like that. That look right there is the reason we have been stuck in this room for the past twenty four hours." Winters said and walked into the joining bath room.
Emma stayed in bed and looked at the door when she heard Dick turn on the water she imagined him naked under the hot steaming water, she had to stop herself from running in there and do him over and over again. Winters appeared in the door wearing nothing but a towel and a smile. Emma could feel her heart jump out of her chest. Underneath his uniform, Winters hid a great, awesome, and amazing… Emma's train of thought was stopped by Winters calling her name.
"You need to get out of bed and get ready so we can check out and get some breakfast." Dick said.
Emma sighed and kicked off the covers; she reluctantly walked in to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
When Emma had finished her shower, she dried of and walked back into the room. Winters was already dressed in his class A's and he was, as usual, strikingly handsome. Emma got dressed and hand in hand they walked down the hall towards the elevator. They had gotten a little carried away in the elevator and didn't notice the elevator stop and a major stepping in the elevator. The major had to make himself noticed with a cough, Winters and Emma jumped to attention, but the major just laughed and told them to relax. He had after all been young and in love once.
They left their bags with receptionist and walked down the street to a small bistro not to far from the hotel. They sat down and a waitress came over and took their order, and the two of them started to make a game plan for the rest of the day. They decided to go sight seeing and they wanted to see the Notre Dame first. Then they wanted to walk to the Eiffel tower and, if they had time, the Louvre. While they ate their breakfast they talked about the war and the men. Dick was dying to ask Emma about what was in store for them, but he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't do anything to alter the course of history.
There was a bunch of young NCO's sitting behind them bragging about how tough their basic training had been. One of them claimed to have been forced to eat rats during his time at basic training. Emma and Winters just smiled, they knew he was lying, Easy had the toughest training in the entire airborne division and they hadn't been forced to eat rats. When Emma and Winters were ready to leave, the young hot heads behind them were getting ready to leave as well, not seeing the two officers behind them, they accidently pushed Dick so he stumbled and almost fell down.
Emma got rather upset and decided to address the NCO'S.
"Sergeant, please apologize to the captain," she ordered the Sergeant. The NCO'S immediately jumped to attention when they heard the order.
"Sir, sorry, Sir." they said, Emma just gave them a glare,
"I didn't see a salute there, sergeant" she said. The NCO'S saluted the officers and held it until the officers saluted them as well. "Now, go on and don't give me any reason to regret letting you go with out any repercussions. Go make your outfit proud and sergeants, no fighting." Emma said. Winters had never been prouder of his wife. The way she handled those young men, getting her message through without any yelling. He heard the sergeants mumbling something about her being one tough dame and Winters felt it was his turn to stick up for Emma.
"That's my wife you are talking about, sergeant." he said.
"Sorry sir."
"Just get out of here," Winters said and dismissed the sergeants. They walked to the Notre dame and walked around the plaza before entering the church. Emma felt the peace and quiet, and sat down on one the pews and bowed her head and prayed for her family, her men, and for the safe return of the people who were in the hospital in England.
After taking a few pictures with a camera, which Emma had commandeered from one of the battalion clerks, they walked to the Eiffel tower and got in line for the elevator. They took the elevator to the second floor and walked around; they decided to walk up to the third deck to take in the sight of the city. On the third deck they stood side by side and took in the sight, there were still buildings damaged by the fights in the streets. Emma turned and looked at Dick,
"Promise me, we'll come back after the war."
"I promise." Winters said. Walking towards the elevator Winters stopped Emma and pulled her towards him, he put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her, "Thank you for marrying me." he said and kissed her. Emma smiled and kissed him back. In the restaurant on the first deck, they sat down and ordered lunch. Winters had no idea it would be the last decent meal he would have in months. Winters looked at his wrist watch, "Its time to get going" he said At the hotel they picked up their holding bags and flagged down a Taxi, which took them to train station. The Taxi ride was silent, both Winters and Emma was thinking about what they would return too. While they were waiting on the platform, Emma kissed Winters on the cheek,
"Thank you, this have been the best honey moon ever." She said.
The Jeep ride from England and back to France had been unpleasant to say the least; Speirs had been creepy quiet, so Charlie and Nix had been real quiet as well. When they arrived back in Mourmelon, Charlie let out a sigh. It was nice to be back amongst the men. Speirs just jumped out of the jeep and disappeared towards the Dog Company's barrack. Nix and Charlie looked at each other, the Dog men were in for a real treat, a pissed off Speirs. Nixon and Charlie were greeted by a smiling Camilla, when she noticed Dana was absent her smile faltered,
"Where's Dana?"
"In England with Dobey." Charlie said and tried to pull her holding bag out of the back of the jeep.
Nixon pulled it out and carried it toward Battalion CP; Charlie just shrugged and followed Nixon.
Camilla was stunned, why would Dana stay in England when Speirs was here? What the hell had happened in the last forty eight hours? Camilla decided to go find Lipton, maybe he had some info, the men were worse than women when it came to juicy gossip. Camilla found him, Tab, Guarnere, Toye, Percoente and Malarkey in the mess. They were, as usual, bitching over Dike and Lipton, always being first sergeant and not one of the guys, was trying to get them to stop. Camilla smiled; she loved that man more now than ever.
"Hello folks." She said and sat down next to Lipton. The men gave her a mumbling hello and returned to their previous conversation. She waited for them to finish before asking if any of them knew why Captain Grey had stayed in England. None of them knew for sure, but they all had different theories all of them containing the sentence, Speirs had fucked up.
In England Dana was training with the Brits and she was enjoying it, she missed her Easy boys and now that Compton had returned to France as well, she was the only Easy member left in Aldbourne.
She was going to marry Dobey the next day, she was nervous and she was getting cold feet. Ella and Strayer had been married the previous Sunday, and they were disgustingly happy. Dana squared her gear away and got ready to meet Ella, they were going to check on Dana's dress and make the last few arrangements for the reception which was going to be held at the officer's billet. Ella noticed Dana was a bit quieter than she usually was.
"Ok what's going on? You aren't acting like a giddy bride." Ella said.
"It's wrong ok, I can't marry David. This is a mistake." Dana said.
"Don't worry this is just a case of cold feet, you'll get through it." Ella said.
"I don't know." Dana said. The two young women arrived at the seamstress house and knocked on the door. A young blond woman opened the door, she was the best dress maker in town and David had donated some parachute silk for her to make Dana's dress out off. It was gorgeous, but Dana knew it was wrong. It was wrong for her to marry David.
In Mourmelon the rumour about Captain Grey's non return had spread through the camp like a wild fire. Compton was back and he told everyone about the engagement, which made it even more miserable to be a member of Dog Company. Speirs was furious, he knew it was partly his own fault, but he still felt betrayed by Dana. Most of the men were assembled in the mess, which had been made into a make shift movie theatre, and Camilla was snuggled up next to Lipton. Luz was making cracks and imitating John Wayne and Malarkey was bragging about his latest winnings when the door slammed open. A couple of men walked in,
"Lights!" one of them yelled, and the men started to complain.
"Quiet!" one of the men said, "I said quiet!" he repeated, "Elements of the 1st and 6th Panzer division has broken through in the Ardennes forest. Now they have run over the 28th infantry and elements of the 4th. All officers report to their respected HQ's, all passes are cancelled." the tech sergeant said. There was a collected NO moaned out by the assembled men.
"Enlisted men report to barracks and your platoon leaders." the man said and walked out.
The Mess cleared out and Camilla got on her toes and kissed Lip,
"Guess I have to go pack up an aid station." She kissed him and walked off towards the aid station. Lieutenant Peacock was running after Emma and Winters,
"Sir, Ma'am." he said.
"Lieutenant Peacock." Winters said.
"Have you seen Colonel Strayer?" Peacock said.
"Where is your company commander?" Emma asked.
"Well I been looking for him all day, how is it that the 4th army's problem get dumped on the airborne?" Peacock asked Winters. By this is time they had reached an old oil barrel with a fire in it. Dike finally appeared and greeted his fellow officers. "Ah Lieutenant Dike, I have been looking for you." Winters told him
"Sir we have a problem colonel Strayer has not yet returned from some wedding he is attending in Aldbourne, can you believe that? We are going to the front and our CO isn't even in the same damn country." Dike said
"First of all that wedding is a fellow officer's big day and you have a bigger problem than that lieutenant Dike; you have men returning to action with out proper winter clothing and not enough ammunition." Winters said
"Sir?" Dike said
"I suggest you take a look around the base and get what supplies you can or have you done that already?" Winters asked him
"No sir." Dike said.
"K-rations, as many as you can scrounge. We don't know if we will be resupplied or not." Winters said.
"Yes Sir." Dike said in a small voice.
"What about ammunition?" Peacock asked.
"There is no more ammunition. Distribute it amongst the men so a least everybody has some" Winters said.
"Lieutenant Peacock, lieutenant Compton inform lieutenant Shames of the situation, get your platoons as best equipped as you can an report back to me immediately. Understood?"
"Yes sir." the two officers mumbled Emma looked at Dike, he had to be kidding. Did he just delegate the task without doing anything himself?
"You get of your damn ass lieutenant Dike and help your men." Emma said. Dike looked at her and then at Winters expecting some sort help, Winters just looked at Dike,
"Well get going then" He said. Camilla was in the back of one of the trucks rumbling down the roads towards Bastogne. The pitching dark was only disturbed by the headlights from the trucks.
"I guess the black out is not in effect, Luftwaffe must be a sleep." Compton said.
"What a difference a day make?" Garcia said Camilla was squeezed in between Guarnere and Lipton, her head was resting on Lipton's shoulder.
"Christ I miss those C47's." Guarnere said.
"We got a tailgate jump here" Talbert replied. Camilla smiled and yawned, she heard the guys mocking the new man, and finally conning him out of his smokes. The truck stopped and they all jumped out, one of the guys asked where the hell they were and the reply he got was that they sure weren't in hell it was to damn cold. Camilla kissed Lipton,
"I have to go and find Roe and Spina, don't go into that forest with out me." She said and kissed him again. Charlie came and found Camilla. They were talking about what would happen from now on, they had been hording winter clothes and blankets. Their holding bags were filled and they hoped their supplies would last. Suddenly a column of "ghosts" started to appear from the forest, it was the remainder of the 4th army. The men all looked at them with shock in their eyes. The "ghosts" told them to get out of there and someone made a crack about them just arriving. Charlie walked over and told the men to leave them be and just get what ever ammunition off them they could.
Dana was almost dressed when Ella walked through the door; it was almost time for her to marry Dobey. Dana was fidgeting like crazy, cursing and swearing at the ding dong dress, Ella walked over to help her.
"There you go" Ella said. Dana was wearing the beautiful wedding dress and was looking at herself in the mirror. Who would have thought that underneath the entire tough ass soldier was a beautiful young woman. There was a knock on the door and Strayer walked in,
"Good you are dressed" he said. Ella looked at him
"Did you want something darling?" she asked him.
"Yeah can I see you in the hall for moment?" He said. Ella and Strayer walked out to the hall and Dana could hear a soft mumbling and Ella who let out a sigh. When Ella came back into the room she was pale and quiet, she helped Dana get her bouquet and did her hair but she was distant.
"Ok what's up?" Dana said.
"Nothing for you to worry about." Ella said.
"If it affects you, it affects me, now tell me." Dana said. Ella let out a sigh,
"There has been a breakthrough in the Ardennes, the Germans have run over an entire brigade. Bob and I are leaving right after the ceremony." Ella said. Dana went pale,
"I have to... I have to go, I have to get to my men." Dana said. She started to peal of her wedding dress.
"What are you doing? They're not your men anymore." Ella said and tried to put Dana's dress back on her.
"No, I am going. You know what is going to happen in Bastogne, I can't leave them." Dana said. She put her uniform on, "let's go." Dana said and slung her holding bag over her shoulder. Ella and Dana walked out of the room, Strayer was in his dress uniform waiting in the hall, and he looked a little startled when he saw Dana in her uniform.
"Don't ask." was all Ella said. They got in the jeep and Dana noticed Ella and Strayer's bags were already in the back. Strayer stopped the jeep in front of the church,
"You have to tell him why you are leaving." Strayer said. Dana looked at the church and climbed out of the back of the jeep. he opened the door to the church, the only ones there was David and Captain Hogben. David swallowed hard when he noticed Dana coming through the door; she was in her uniform so it had to be bad.
"Dana, sweetheart, why are you not in your gown?" he asked her.
"David, I am leaving. I can't leave Easy and I know this is the worst thing I could ever do to you, but I have to go back." Dana said.
"It's him, isn't it? You can't leave him." David said.
"It's not because of Ron. This is about me not being in love with you." Dana said. She took off the ring and kissed David on the cheek, "Goodbye David." she said and put the ring on the pew next to them. Dana walked out off the church; she couldn't bring herself to look at David. She just went back on a promise and she felt ashamed. She was a horrible person, but she was looking forward to seeing the Easy boys.
"You sure about this?" Strayer said.
"Yeah I am." Dana said and jumped in the back of the jeep. The jeep ride was a long one, and when they arrived in Bastogne the 101st was already assembled there. Sink, Winters, Emma, Charlie and Nixon was looking at a map spread over the hood of sink's jeep. Dana, Strayer and Ella walked over to them,
"Thank God, we barely made it." Dana said Sink looked at Dana with a small smile and then looked at Strayer,
"You better get some OD's Bob and you to Major Hamlin." Sink said to Ella.
"Ok." they said and walked off. Sink told Emma her third battalion was in reserve,
"Permission to stay with Second battalion out on the line?" Emma asked. Sink looked at her and the at Winters,
"Permission granted." Sink said, "Good to see you again captain Grey. England didn't agree with you?" Sink asked.
"No sir." Dana said. Dana looked around and locked eyes with Speirs. He looked at her with a mixture of emotions in his eyes, most of all confusion, but also anger and hurt. He nodded toward her hand and Dana held it up so he could see the absence of a wedding ring. Speirs just looked at her and then turned away. Sink got in his jeep,
"Now, you beg, borrow, or steal ammunition, but you defend this area." Sink said and drove off.
Easy company walked into the deep frozen forest which would be their home for the next month.