"Dear Soldier"

Note: Credits go to Nevermore_red who's amazing story 'Written In Ink' on AO3 has greatly inspired me to write this story of my own. Check out her story, you find it in the fandom of Game of Thrones.

I apologize for the delay in publishing a new chapter, but unfortunately real life got in the way. I promise you though, that I haven't forgotten about this story and intend to finish it. Also, many thanks for the lovely comments and favorites so far, they are a balm to my soul and I always love to read what you think about my work. I don't want to keep you from the new chapter any longer than necessary, so please enjoy. :-)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Band of Brothers' – mini-series or the book, nor do I mean ANY disrespect to the men of Easy Co. All that is mine are the OCs and a deep, profound respect for the real heroes.

After breakfast the next morning Ron made his way to the Battalion's headquarters, the letter for his unexpected pen pal in his breast pocket. He found the man he was looking for where he expected him to be, behind a counter minding the telephone for Colonel Sink, doing all kinds of paperwork for him and probably bringing him even his coffee and also sorting the mail for all the soldiers.

"Good morning, Lieutenant Speirs.", the Private was saying after he noticed Ron.

"Good morning.", Ron leaned against the counter after checking the room and to his satisfaction seeing that he and the Private were currently the only people present. He pulled the envelope out of his breast pocket and tapped it with the edge down on the top of the counter.

"Should I put this with the outgoing mail, sir?", the Private asked, pointing a finger at the envelope.

Ron stopped tapping it on the counter and looked at it, "No, but you can do something else for me. Vest, is it?"

Nodding, Private Vest replied, "Yes. Well, what can I do for you, sir?"

"Do you know the female photographer that got assigned to 2nd Battalion?"

A wide smile spread on Private Vest's face, "Yes, Lieutenant Nixon's cousin, Miss Judy Hyde. A lovely woman. Very nice."

So she's related to Nixon. He should have guessed this as she mentioned that her family has always been part of the upper class and everybody knew that Nixon came from a family of money. And her name is Judy. He liked it, it suited her. What he strangely didn't like was how Private Vest's face lit up at the mention of her, his cheeks taking on a faint red tint. Was that jealousy that stabbed him in the gut there? Now, that would just be plain ridiculous. He doesn't even now her, why would he be jealous when another man smiles like this because his still very much unknown pen pal provokes such a reaction by him when thinking of her?

Ron clenches his jaw and stares darkly at Private Vest, whose smile then faltered and eyes slightly widened, no doubt thinking of all the intimidating things he supposedly had done or not done. Ron quite liked the reputation he had, it made people do what he says without questioning him. He put the envelope flat on the counter and pushed it with a finger on it to the edge towards Vest, "Give this to her, but don't tell her from whom it is."

Private Vest blinked, looking at the envelope. Swallowing he raises his eyes, "Sir, Miss Hyde is currently with Colonel Sink in his office. I'm sure she should come out any moment. You could wait and give it to her yourself."

Ron looked down the corridor to Colonel Sink's door. Directing his gaze back at Vest, he pulled three packs of Lucky Strikes from his jacket and put them atop the envelope, "Give her the letter, don't tell her who it is from and tell her that if she has a response, she shall give it to you. You will bring her response to me and make sure that she doesn't see who you give it to. In the future you will continue doing this. Tell her, whenever she wants to get a letter to me, she shall just give it to you and that you will pass it on. Don't tell anyone else of this arrangement, don't ask questions and, again, don't let her see that it is me who writes her letters and gets her responses. Understood, Private?"

Vest looked a bit confused, but he nodded in understanding, grabbing the cigarette packs and envelope from the counter, "Of course, sir."

"Good.", Ron nodded and turned to go.

Before he had taken a step away from the counter a thought played in his mind and he smirked, moving his body back towards the counter. "Do you have a pen and paper, Private?"

"Ehm, yes, sir, of course.", Vest put a pen and paper in front of Ron, "Here you go, sir."

Ron just nodded and wrote down a short message, folding the paper and handing both back to the Private. "Add this to the envelope."

"Will do, sir.", he took the folded paper and pen from Ron's hand.

A curt nod and Ron turned around and walked towards the door that lead outside. Before he reached the door he looked back over his shoulder at the Private who looked puzzled at the folded paper in his hands, his eyes narrowed in warning, "It goes without saying that under no circumstances will you ever read what I or Miss Hyde give you, no matter if it's a letter in an envelope or just a folded message. And remember, this stays between us. Is that understood, Private?"

With an intimidated look Private Vest hastily replied, stuttering, "Per-perfectly, sir!"

Without uttering another word Ron left the building.

Judy,

Since writing the letter you just received I have learned your name. It suits you.

I have arranged for our correspondence to be given to you and me by Private Vest. Please give any letter or even just a short message you have for me to him. He will make sure that I receive it.

I also have found out that your cousin is Lieutenant Nixon. I don't envy you. While good at his job and a mostly agreeable acquaintance, I don't know if I could put up with being related to him.

I wish you a good day.

R.S.

Colonel Sink came across as a fatherly kind of person, kind, genuinely caring, but also stern and strict. Judy liked him, even though he was currently giving her a speech how she would need to conduct herself while being here. She knew all this already of course, having heard similar speeches during her rushed basic training, but she still listened smiling and nodded at the appropriate places.

"... and lastly, while you are not an actual member of the US Army it is not forbidden to you to have ... mh ... intimate relations with the soldiers. However, I discourage and urge you to refrain from entering such a relationship with them. The men don't need this kind of distraction. There are more important things that should be on their minds.", Sink said in a definite tone and looked her resolutely in the eyes.

"Of course, sir. I understand.", Judy replied, "And I assure you that you need not worry about it. I am here to do my job and not find a husband. And you also needn't worry about me behaving in any way that would bring shame upon the Army and the men wearing the American uniform.", she beamed a smile and pointed to her newly issued uniform she was wearing, which was the same as every soldiers in the Airborne, though with a shoulder patch identifying her as a photographer of the Signal Corps and not the Screaming Eagle of the 101st Airborne Division.

Okay, maybe she was laying it on a bit thick now, she thought and couldn't hide a slight cringe of her face, which the Colonel seemed to have noticed as he was chuckling a bit. "You certainly know what to say to please, Miss Hyde."

Judy let out a short light laugh, "Well, you don't grow up in the circles as I did and not know how to flatter and please people, sir. But I meant it. My father instilled my siblings and me with the respect and honour we should show those who serve or served our country and I would never deliberately disregard these things."

Sink nodded, leaning forwards and resting his forearms on the top of his desk, "Yes, I imagine your father did that. He participated in how many wars? Three?"

"Yes. He fought in the Negro Rebellion and served with the occupation force of Nicaragua once from 1912 to 1914 and later a second time from 1923 to 1925, from 1917 to 1918 he fought in the Great War and from 1918 to 1919 in the Russian Civil War.", Judy clarified, "He eventually retired in 1938."

"A great man, your father. Some would even call him a hero for what he did during the Great War. And not to forget all the other things he did for the Army. You could say he helped shape the Army to what it is today."

Judy huffed a laugh, "Oh, never call him that to the face, sir. In my father's eyes he did what he had to do and that was to get himself and as many of his comrades as possible through the war alive. For him there was nothing heroic on what he did to achieve that. The true heroes to him are those who didn't come home. 'Reluctant heroes' he calls them."

The Colonel nodded thoughtfully, "Quite humble, your father. But it is a fitting term ... 'reluctant heroes'."

Judy nodded, "That it is, sir."

After a beat of silence Sink continued, "How many siblings do you have, Miss Hyde?"

Surprised about the personal question, Judy answers nonetheless, "Two brothers ... one older and one younger ... and a little sister, sir. My older brother Andrew is a Captain with the 1st Infantry Division and my younger brother Richard has just finished basic training and is now on his way to the Pacific theatre where he will join with the 2nd Marine Division."

"And your cousin also serves his country.", Sink said and Judy wondered where this was going and nodded, "He was here this morning, wanting to talk to me about something important."

Judy's lips thinned and she made a sound in her throat, "I see."

She knew exactly what Lewis wanted to talk with Colonel Sink about. Even though he had let her explain everything the previous evening and even had understood why she wanted to be here, but still Lewis wanted nothing more than to see her on a ship back home ... well except maybe a lifelong supply of Vat 69. It felt a bit like betrayal for him to go behind her back like this, but damn if she didn't understood his reasons for doing it. Were she in his position, she probably would do the same.

"I believe I have never seen Lieutenant Nixon up that early if he didn't need to.", Sink said.

Judy chuckled, "No, I guess not.", then she turned serious again, "I believe I know what he wanted to talk with you about, sir. So, all I really need to know is whether I shall pack my things again or not."

Colonel Sink regarded her for a moment with pursed lips, his greying moustache twitching, "No, unless you want to grant your cousin his wish then you can stay where you are and start your work in a weeks time when the men are back from their leave."

She breathed a sigh of relief, "I will have to deny him this wish. My mind is made up and I won't let anybody tell me otherwise."

Sink nodded, "Very well. I expected nothing else.", he stood up and walked around the desk, "I think this concludes this meeting for the time being, Miss. As you'll be spending a lot of time at headquarters, and in turn with me, once we're on the front line again I wanted to see what kind of person you are. I think it will be a pleasure to have you around."

Judy stood up from her chair and faced Colonel Sink, who was offering her his hand, with a smile, "I always aim to please, sir!", she replied and shook his hand.

He chuckled and lead her to the door, saying, "Don't we all?", to which Judy joined with a chuckle. With a hand on the doorknob Sink was looking at the uniform she wore, "By the way, Miss Hyde, you do know that you're only required to wear the uniform when we're on the front line. When on base you are allowed to wear your civilian clothing."

"I know.", she nodded, "But it felt right to wear it for the meeting and I also think that it will help me blend in more. It lessens the risk of me causing distractions.", Judy added with a cheeky smile.

With an approving look Sink opened the door, "Can't disagree with that."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, sir. And thank you.", she said, the thanks for not agreeing with Lewis and sending her back to the states.

"Nothing to thank me for, Miss Hyde. And don't be too hard on your cousin, he just worries about you."

"I know and I'll try my best. Good day to you, sir."

"Good day, Miss Hyde.", Sink said and closed the door once she left.

Judy was intent on seeking out Lewis to give him a piece of her mind and just smiled at Private Allen Vest as she walked by the counter in the foyer of the building. Under different circumstances she might have stopped to talk with him, but she needed to get the simmering anger over Lewis' betrayal out of her.

"Miss Hyde!", Vest called and Judy stopped.

"I told you to call me Judy, Allen.", she looked at him, "What can I do for you?"

Allen Vest blushed and he smiled shyly at her, "I- I have something for you, Miss Hy- Judy."

"Oh?", Judy walked to the front of the counter and waited.

Allen cleared his throat and held an envelope and a folded piece of paper up and towards her, "I was told to give this to you."

Judy's smile widened and she grabbed the two things from Allen's hand. She could guess who they are from and is suddenly excited. She had hoped he would write back even if there was a possibility that he didn't want to meet her, but to hear something so soon after she and he too got to Aldbourne was a surprise.

"I was also told that ...", Judy heard Allen speaking, but didn't understood the words. She was enfolding the piece of paper and read it with a smile. Her smile widened when she read that her mystery soldier thought her name suits her and she felt warmth rushing to her cheeks. She laughed about the part of Lewis and with a happy feeling over having heard from her new pen pal she folded the note again and looked up into the confused face of Allen.

Still laughing a bit, she asked, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Blinking, Allen repeated, "I was told that whenever you have a response for ... well for..."

"Let's just call him Lieutenant.", Judy helped and continued, "And I know. He mentioned it in the note. Do you by chance have a pen and paper?"

"Ehm, yes, Miss H- Judy.", still confused and wondering what this was all about Allen gave Judy the same pen as Lieutenant Speirs and a new sheet of paper and watched her write down something.

"Thank you, Allen. Can you give the Lieutenant this?", she gave him back the pen and now folded paper.

"Of course. If you don't mind me asking, do you ... well, do you know Lieutenant S- ... I mean the Lieutenant?"

"We exchanged letters before.", Judy answered, "And thank you for playing personal mailman between him and me."

Allen nodded, relief flowing through him at knowing that she seemed to know Speirs ... at least somewhat, even if it's just through letters and not knowing his name, "Oh, okay. That's good ... I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing this if you had no idea who he is."

"Technically I don't know who he is, but he's not a complete stranger to me. And you need not worry, I feel quite okay with receiving letters from him.", she assured him, finding it cute that he worried.

"Well, that's ... good.", Allen said, not really sounding if he was sure about it.

Judy laughed lightly and patted his hand, "Don't think about it too much. I wish you a good day and thank you again, Allen.", she said and pocketed the envelope from her mystery soldier in her uniform jacket, turning around and walking to the door.

"Good day to you too, Miss Judy!", Allen called after her and before leaving the building Judy smiled at him over her shoulder.