Last Time: Easy Company arrives in Bastogne and endures new kinds of enemies that test even the strongest of wills.

"Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty." - John Ruskin

Now: The cold and severity of their situation begin to wear down on Easy Company more and more.


Chapter 24 - Serenity

Rebecca was losing her nerve. All she could think about was her father. According to Dick, it was Christmas Eve (it was very easy to lose track of the days while in combat) and she hadn't heard from him in a long time. Mail drop-offs had already happened and she received nothing from her father.

No news was good news, but Rebecca knew how serious liver damage was. The nurse in her was storming up every outcome of her father's recovery. It was driving her insane.

She laid awake in her foxhole, alone, while Roe was out doing rounds. Rebecca pleaded with God that her father would make it, he had to.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

Rebecca knew that whatever will be, will be, and there was nothing she could do all the way in Bastogne, so she prayed the Serenity Prayer. But, she was praying in vain. If something went wrong, her natural inclination was to deny and bargain and try to change the outcome.

"I like that prayer," Roe said, coming up behind her.

Rebecca jumped, stirred from her thoughts at Roe's return.

"My mom taught it to me."

Roe slid in the foxhole with Rebecca and wrapped the blanket tightly around the two of them.

"If you're trying to accept the things you can't change, what are you worried about?" Roe questioned, knowing she was praying for a reason.

"I never told you about my home life, did I?"

Roe shook his head and shrugged. "I never told you about mine."

"Well," Rebecca began, wondering where to start, "My mother died when I was a teenager, my dad turned into an alcoholic, now he's trying to fix his liver from permanent damage."

"So, you're worried he won't push through?" Roe guessed, pulling Rebecca closer for warmth

"Yeah, so, hence the serenity prayer."

Roe grunted, thinking about the prayer.

"It applies to all this too, you know. Sometimes we can't change what happens out there, no matter how hard we try. In the end, if we did our best then it has to be good enough. We can't dwell on it, we can't blame ourselves," Rebecca preached, "I know you blame yourself for what happens to the guys that don't make it. I know it's getting to you, but sometimes you just can't change what happens. You're a hell of a medic, Roe. No one tries harder than you."

Roe didn't say anything, pondering what Rebecca said. Rebecca closed her eyes and let him think about it. She hoped what she said was enough. She knew the deaths, the casualties were getting to him; eating him away. It was something Roe needed to square away with himself and with God.

There was only so much she could say to help him.

XXX

Roe sat awake next to sleeping, Rebecca. He thought about what she had said. Maybe she was right, maybe he couldn't change what happened to the men he cared for.

So, Eugene began mumbling the serenity prayer to him.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

XXX

The next morning, Roe and Rebecca anxiously waited in their foxhole as Easy repelled a German tank attack.

The smoke emitting from the giant metal monsters got closer and closer. Rebecca's heart was beating as fast a hummingbird's wings.

She looked at Roe. He was staring coldly out at the tanks, waiting for something to go wrong.

"Hey, docs, it's gonna get busy, guys," Lipton informed them, making a dash for the line.

Rebecca closed her eyes and breathed, praying that they could hold the Germans off. Her eyes snapped open at the first sound of German artillery. It was starting.

Without missing a beat, someone called out, "Smokey's hit, medic!"

Spina hopped into their foxhole, alerting them.

"Hey, Eugene, Cap'n, Smokey's hit!"

Rebecca grabbed her bag and looked back, Roe wasn't moving. He was frozen in place.

"Come on, let's go!" Spina pleaded.

Roe was finally stirred from his daze. "Okay, go!" He yelled, springing into action.

Moe Alley and Christenson hauled Smokey out of his foxhole and met Roe and Rebecca halfway. Smokey was limp, not crying about the pain at all. He had to be paralyzed.

"I can't feel my legs," Smokey moaned.

"My foxhole, get the plasma," Roe ordered Christenson.

The tanks characteristic click-clacking was getting closer. Someone yelled out and Easy opened up on the Germans.

"We got 'em, go!" Rebecca ordered for More to go ahead.

Rebecca ripped open Smokey's shirt and let Roe pour the sulfa. Judging by the looks of it, the bullet went straight through his arm, into his back, and out his other arm.

Christenson came back and placed the plasma next to them and scurried away to his foxhole. They both took a bandage a piece and wrapped it where the bullet entered and exited Smokey.

It was chaos, Easy was firing like mad trying to repel the German. Rebecca looked down at Smokey, they had to get him out of here.

"Sergeant Lipton," Roe called out as if reading Rebecca's mind.

Lipton came right to their side.

"Docs, we gotta get the hell out of here."

Lip placed a hand on Smokey's face trying to keep him alert, like a mother comforting her child.

"Stay with us, Gordon. Stay with us!" Lipton coaxed. "We gotta get the hell out of here." He pushed, yelling.

Lipton and Roe grabbed Smokey by his jacket and began dragging away from the fray. Rebecca trailed close behind, holding the plasma.

They dragged him as far away from the battle until the shots and artillery were just echoes in the woods.

"Stop! We gotta stop," Roe commanded.

They placed Smokey back down so Roe could get the plasma in him. Rebecca handed him the tube and held up the bottle.

"Come on, buddy," Lipton cooed trying to keep Gordon awake.

Roe started pulling up Smokey's sleeve, looking for a decent vein to put the plasma in. Eugene tapped Smokey arm to pop up the vein and stuck the needle in slowly.

"Come on doc, hurry I gotta get back to the line," Lip urged.

"Okay, okay."

Gordon raised his head looking around, trying to stay alert.

"Lip?" He called to the First Sergeant.

"Yeah, buddy?"

"You're standing on my hand," Smokey whispered calmly.

Rebecca's heart sank. Could he really not feel anything in that arm either? She hoped it was just because he was in shock, not because he was becoming a quadriplegic.

Lipton looked down at his foot and quickly stepped off of Smokey's hand. "Sorry, bud."

"Look, I'll get you another Purple Heart for it," Lipton promised.

The sound of a jeep buzzed behind them. Lip looked behind him and quickly got up to get the driver's attention.

"Good, he's all set," Rebecca confirmed, "You're gonna be just fine, Smoke."

Gordon met his glossy eyes with Rebecca. A languid smile crept over his lips. "Gosh Captain, you sure are pretty." He mumbled.

Rebecca chuckled, she knew he meant nothing by it. Smokey was in so much shock he didn't know whether to shit or wind his watch. At this point, it was just good that he was awake and somewhat alert.

"You can take me out once we get you fixed up, alright?"

Lipton came sprinting back, the jeep driver at his heels. Lipton and the driver lifted Smokey up from the ground and heaved him over to the jeep. "I got you a ride, docs."

With much effort, since Smokey was paralyzed and pretty much dead weight, they loaded him onto the hood of the jeep. Roe got in and let out a long breath, probably just as relieved as Rebecca that Smokey was stable for now.

"Captain, I'm good here."

"Alright, I'll stay," Rebecca said, clapping Roe on the back.

The jeep revved up and sped away with Roe and Smokey. Lipton and Rebecca ran back into the woods, ready to face the fray.

XXX

After the successful repelling of the German tanks, Easy Company gathered around to enjoy a Christmas Eve meal together. Even Dick, Nix and Colonel Strayer were there. Rebecca waited in the long string of soldiers, waiting to get her portion of Domingus' bean stew.

The food was a marked improvement compared to the scant rations they were eating just a few days ago. It was nothing compared to the Italian feast Rebecca's mom usually prepared for Christmas Eve but damned if it wasn't better than a boxed K-ration.

Rebecca got a hearty scoop from Joe Domingus, who smiled as he poured the stew from the giant cauldron and into her tin. There was always the same shared feeling that held the medics in high regard. Little signs of appreciation never went unnoticed with Rebecca.

She walked out of the line of soldiers, taking out her spoon, and began eating the soup. Rebecca watched Babe get a scoop for Roe, who clearly had no intention of getting it himself.

She looked on with worry as Babe placed down the tin on Roe's hands. He showed no signs that he would eat it, or that he was even aware it was out in front of him.

Rebecca walked over to Roe and sat down next to him. She knew exactly what was happening to the Cajun medic. He was slipping. Ever so slowly, but just enough that Rebecca noticed.

She saw it enough in the hospitals before. New nurses or doctors or even experienced veterans would see something that would just get to them in a way it never had before. In this case, it seemed that Roe was just getting tired of what he saw on the battlefield, and unfortunately, like a normal job, he simply couldn't take time off or float to another floor. Eugene Roe was stuck to face the very things that haunted his thoughts.

"Eugene, eat." She pointed to the tin in his lap.

He continued to stare out into space. Lord knows Roe wouldn't allow himself to get taken off the line. Rebecca sure knew she wouldn't if she was in his place.

Rebecca looked at him, her brow furrowing with concern. Roe didn't even realize she was speaking. She sighed, shoveling more of the stew into her mouth while it was still hot. She looked up from her meal at the sound of a jeep pulling up. It was the Colonel.

"Better than sitting down to a Christmas Eve dinner of turkey and hooch back at the Division CP. Damned if I don't like old Joe Domingus' rancid-ass beans better," Sink announced.

This has to be good, Rebecca supposed. Why on earth could the Col. give up a fine Christmas Eve meal to freeze his ass off with Easy Company?

"Hello, Easy Company."

Rebecca got up and joined Dick who was looking rather worse for wear lately. She guessed it had everything to do with the crippling shape Easy was in. The cold didn't help either.

His hands were shoved deep under his armpits and a scarf wrapped around his head. Everyone was inventing new methods to get just a little bit warmer.

Sink walked over to Dick and Rebecca, shaking both their hands and whispering what the hullabaloo was about.

"General Mcauliffe sent a message to the entire division. I thought maybe your people would like to hear it." He said, handing Dick a piece of paper.

"Oh, that should be your prerogative, sir," Winters gestured with a wave of his hand.

Colonel Sink nodded, probably looked forward to reading the message himself.

"Men!" He yelled, commanding everyone's attention, and gathering them around. "Captain Clark." he greeted Rebecca with a smile.

Rebecca smiled back, giving the Colonel a tip of her helmet.

"General Mcauliffe wishes us all a Merry Christmas. What's merry about all this, you ask? Just this. We've stopped cold everything that's been thrown at us from the North, East, South, and West. Now, two days ago the German Commander demanded our honorable surrender to save the USA from total annihilation. The German Commander received the following reply: To the German Commander: NUTS!"

A collective laugh rose, Rebecca chuckled for a second and looked to Dick, expecting him to be laughing too at the obvious morale booster, but instead, he was staring at Roe. He knew something was wrong with the Doc too.

Roe's oblivion was so deep, he didn't even seem to see Dick staring. He didn't seem to notice anything for that matter. Not the Colonel, not his dinner, not anything or anyone.

Rebecca's fussing was only becoming worse the more she looked at Eugene. She wanted to know desperately what was going on in his head. She wanted to help. Lord knows the woman had been through her fair share of struggles, from her mother dying of cancer to her alcoholic father, and often wished she had someone to talk to. But, men were different. For some reason, they had a hard time approaching others with their feelings, and Rebecca had a hunch that pushing him into talking wouldn't do any good.

"We're giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present, and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms, we're truly making ourselves a Merry Christmas," Sink finished folding the paper. "Merry Christmas to you all and God bless you."

The men said their greetings to the Colonel, others yelled "Nuts!" like it was some new battle cry. And there remained Eugene, lost in his own mind.

XXX

Christmas- Eve-Night came bringing the coldest temperatures Easy had experienced since they arrived in Bastogne. Rebecca sat alone in a foxhole, trembling, trying to wrap the wool blanket around her tighter. She brought it up to her nose, trying to capture the steam from her breath and warm her face up. No dice, the blanket wasn't long enough.

Rebecca let out a loud groan, frustrated. Sitting around shaking was only making her colder. She jerked the blanket off, irritated and got up. At least moving around would warm her muscles up.

She walked through the snow, her legs frozen stiff. It was becoming harder to move, the cold made every muscle in the body rigid.

Rebecca walked through the snow, trying to warm her muscles when out of the corner of her eye, she swore the glowing of a fire.

No way, she thought, no one was stupid enough to start a fire.

Out in the distance, the Germans were singing Silent Night. It pissed Rebecca off somewhat. They were over on their side probably well supplied, singing, while Easy was freezing their asses off and running on fumes.

Rebecca continued to follow the flicker of red in the distance and found Dick, Harry, and Peacock all around trying to get warm. The sight of something producing heat made her knees go weak.

"A fire, really?" She testified.

"Come on in and join there's room for you too, Becca," Harry welcomed.

Who was she to pass up some warmth? Rebecca squatted down and put her hands to the small flame. It was a sad excuse for a fire, but the warmth was warmth.

Lieutenant Peacock sat with them, prodding the fire with a stick, trying to keep it going. He looked up giving Rebecca a slight smile. She ignored him, still sore about the patrol a few days ago.

Footprints crunched in the snow behind them, rousing Rebecca. She looked behind her. Nixon came trudging through the snow, probably investigating what he either smelled or saw.

"I swear I thought I could smell a fire." He approached them. "I did smell a fire. Are you out of your minds?"

Despite his objection, he still crouched down with them, shoving his hands to flames to get in on the warmth too.

"Well, we're in a dell," Dick explained, "With fairies, and gnomes."

"Huh?" Rebecca and Nix voiced at the same time, confused.

Before anyone had a chance to utter another word, everyone looked up in a panic as the ground shook as mortars starting flying. The fire wasn't the only thing lighting the forest up now.

"Down!" Dick yelled, pulling Rebecca down to the ground.

A shell exploded near them, causing everyone to squirm out of the way. Unfortunately for Harry, he didn't move quite as quick. A mortar exploded just feet away from him, sending pine tree pieces and shrapnel into his leg.

"Oh, God, no!" He called out, gripping his leg.

Rebecca scrambled over to him with Dick. Harry was yelling in agony as Dick tried to pin him down and calm him. Moving around and flailing about like he was would only make the pain that much worse.

Dick locked eyes with Rebecca, a look of desperation on his face she had never seen before, silently begging Rebecca to help his friend.

"My stuff is back in my foxhole, go get Roe!" She cursed herself for being so unprepared.

Dick screamed out for a medic and Nix behind them called for a jeep. Rebecca looked at Harry's leg. It was riddled with tree bark and metal. Lieutenant Peacock stamped out the fire at Nix's command so Harry would accidentally roll over on it in his seizings. Everyone at that point was screaming for a medic.

Roe was taking forever to get to them.

Shit. Rebecca swore. She had to stay and hold the pressure, she couldn't go running looking for him now. Roe never took this long. She could bet what was happening, just like this morning when he froze in his foxhole during the tank attack.

Harry wouldn't make it if Roe didn't arrive soon. The shrapnel provided at least some sort of cap on the wounds, but they were still bleeding.

"Roe!" Winters called out again.

Rebecca turned around, her face panicked, but finally caught a glimpse of Roe running towards them.

Everyone was huddled around Harry trying to calm him down so Rebecca could keep the pressure. She expected Roe to be right by her side, helping, but he wasn't. Rebecca looked back at him, stunned. He was just standing there, frozen from shock.

Roe stood, eyes glazed over like he was back a few hours ago at dinner.

"Roe," Winters coaxed the man, trying to elicit a response.

Finally, he snapped back and came over to them. Rebecca elevated the leg for him so he could sprinkle the sulfur.

"It's just a scratch, Harry," Nix comforted, "You're not getting out of here this easy."

"Jeeps on its way, hang tough," Winters reassured his struggling friend.

Roe got out a tourniquet and gave the stick to Rebecca to tighten. She pulled it through and began winding the stick, cutting off the excess bleeding so Roe could work.

Welsh groaned with each tight twist Rebecca delivered, arching his back at the pain.

Rebecca held the tourniquet nice and tight and used a towel someone handed over to sop up the extra blood. Roe reached in his bag and whipped out a bandage.

Harry's breathing was getting more labored as his eyes glossed over with pain.

"I got morphine in my pocket, give it to him," Roe told Winters as angled the bandage to cover the wound.

"Where do you want it?" Dick asked.

"Opposite thigh."

Roe placed the bandage on Harry's thigh and Rebecca pressed down firm on it making Harry cry out in pain.

Dick jabbed the syrette in Harry's thigh a little too hard as Gene wrapped the bandage. The drug worked its way through his system, relieving Harry's pain and relaxing him. He let out a moan of relief as the pain washed out of him.

"Okay," Dick muttered, seeing his friend relax as the morphine worked its miracles.

"Elevate his head," Rebecca ordered.

Roe took his bloody finger and painted "M" for morphine on Harry's head. "Get him up."

Everyone helped Harry to the jeep except Roe and Rebecca. Rebecca got up as they hauled Harry to the jeep choking back tears.

"There you go, soldier, take that," Dick said to the jeep driver, giving his weight to the trooper.

Dick passed by Rebecca, placing a hand on her shoulder in solidarity, at the sight of her anguish. Rebecca tried like hell not to let any tears escape. She turned her back from the dreadful scene, not wanting to see anymore, and saw Dick approach Gene.

"Eugene," Dick panted, "Get yourself into town, get a hot meal."

It came out more chastising than Rebecca had hoped, but something had to be done. Eugene just checked out in the middle of a crisis.

Roe practically dragged himself over to the jeep, like a marionette being tugged by the strings of a puppet master. Rebecca watched him go. She turned to Winters still trying her hardest to fight back her emotions that were bubbling over.

She brought a stained hand to her face and wiped away a stray tear, using a finger that wasn't covered in her companion's blood.

XXX

Dick walked over to Rebecca. The woman stood there listlessly, not knowing what to do. He didn't know how much further Rebecca had until she broke too. Having more experience in the medical field gave Rebecca stronger nerves than Eugene maybe did, but things added up and she just saw one of her closest friends get severely injured, not to mention watching Roe self-destruct before her eyes.

Dick approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. Rebecca quickly threw herself back together and gave a forced smile to Dick. He knew she was trying to hold herself together for the Company. They couldn't afford to lose another medic.

Dick took her hand a lead Rebecca to his foxhole. She was sleeping with him and Nix tonight.

XXX

Rebecca buried her face into Dick, her face contorting like she was going to tear up, but she willed herself not to. She had to be strong now more than ever.

Dick brought his arm around her shoulder, bringing her in closer.

"Harry will be fine, Becca," Dick assured, reaching for Rebecca's hand under the blanket.

It was a warm gesture that she gratefully accepted. Rebecca closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep.

No one was fine. We are all going to end up like Harry, Babe, or Roe.

Rebecca felt guilty for thinking such things but she couldn't help but feel right. In war, you either died or lasted long enough to see yourself self-destruct. She tried to push the thoughts as far back into her mind as possible. All she wanted at this moment was to sleep. But when sleep didn't come as easily as Rebecca wanted, she prayed instead.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

XXX

Unbeknownst to Rebecca, the Luftwaffe bombed Bastogne and a blue headscarf was left without an owner.

XXX

Roe returned at dawn the next morning from Bastogne. Renee was dead, but for some reason, he wasn't upset; the blue headscarf that Eugene found in the rubble of the church gave him strength. Maybe a part of him was relieved that Renee found peace. Maybe he felt strengthened by a new guardian angel.

Eugene trudged through the snow trying to find his foxhole buddy. By the time he found Babe, it was snowing again. Roe jumped into Babe's foxhole and got close to him, trying to get a little bit of warmth from the fiery Philadelphian.

"Everything okay?" Roe asked looking out into the line. "Babe?"

"Yeah," Babe mumbled, scratching his nose.

Roe looked at him and immediately saw the slash mark that was on his hand.

"Hey, how'd you do that?" He asked, taking Babe's hand, examining the gash that had crusted over with blood.

"You did that."

Roe looked at Babe, then at the gash mark, feeling a little bit of guilt. When the hell did I manage to cut him that badly?

"I'll fix it up."

He reached into his bag, trying to find something to wrap Babe's hand with. Roe was reluctant to use it when he was only able to find Renee's headscarf. But he figured Renee wouldn't want it any other way. She was known to use whatever she could find to treat the wounded.

Roe took the blue material and ripped it in half, still feeling the slightest bit of regret for doing so. But, he still had one piece to keep at least.

"Hey, Gene," Babe began, looking at the medic as he worked, "You called me Babe."

"I did?" Roe asked. "When?"

"Just now," Babe said, a little troubled Gene didn't remember.

"Babe," Roe repeated, "I guess I did."

Babe chuckled as Eugene sprinkled a packet of sulfur on Babe's gashed hand.

"Babe," He imitated in Gene's Louisiana drawl. He looked at Gene, roguishly.

Roe, however, wasn't amused. He looked up from his work and at Babe, petulantly. "Heffron, watch the goddamn line."

Babe chuckled again reveling in Roe's callous reaction.

XXX

Rebecca woke up alone in the foxhole she had shared with Dick that night. A chill shot through her body, it had snowed again, making the temperature that much colder. Word had it that this was the coldest winters yet. Impeccable timing on Mother Nature's end.

She looked around, the sky was clear and the sun was out. Rebecca sighed, closed her eyes, and soaked up the sun's glorious rays. The sun provided a welcoming warmth that had been absent most of the time in Bastogne.

Rebecca got up from the foxhole and went to the CP, figuring she would get some breakfast. She found Dick and Nix seeming much happy than when she went to sleep last night. They were sitting down together, enjoying a meager breakfast of K-rations, and shooting the breeze.

"Hey, what's going on?" Curious at the sudden mood change.

Dick and Nixon looked up, happy to see the young nurse feeling better after last night's chaos.

"Patton broke through the German line. He 'rescued' the surrounded paratroopers," Nix informed Rebecca, a smirk on his face.

Rebecca snorted, indignation lacing her voice. "Rescued?"

"That seems to be the general reaction."

Did Patton even know what a paratrooper was? Being surrounded was in the job description. She couldn't wait until the rest of the guys found out about Patton's "rescue" of the paratroopers.

"That's cute. He bring any supplies?"

Dick and Nix both chuckled. Obviously, everyone was feeling the same way. The situation may have seemed dire, but that was only because they were undersupplied. Easy would have managed to fend off the Germans come hell or high water, with or without Patton's little rescue mission.

"Oh, yeah, aid kits, rations, mail, the full monty. Winter clothes too apparently. Although, I've yet to see them."

Rebecca looked at Nix broodingly. "Mail?" She managed to croak out.

"Yeah, letters from home and stuff," Nix revealed.

Dick's eyes shot to Rebecca's panicked ones.

"Did I happen to get anything?" Rebecca asked.

"Nope, not that we know of," Nix informed, taking a sip of coffee.

"Okay, just let me know."

Rebecca quickly left the CP, her nauseous stomach suddenly not in the mood for food. Her heart pounded from the evasion of a possible disaster. She walked back to her foxhole and sat down, sighing in relief.

XXX

Dick and Nix were still in the CP hashing out plans and reviewing intelligence. Dick glanced at his watch; he had been looking at battlefield reports, looking over maps, and writing for over two hours now. His eyes physically hurt from staring at the small text on the papers for so long.

He looked at Nix, who was showing no signs of stopping or weariness. Intelligence was his job after all. Dick grabbed his pen and continued to write when a figure at the entrance of the CP rendered him to stop.

"Excuse me, are you Captain Winters?" He asked, looking down at a piece of paper.

Dick looked up from his work, not recognizing the young man in front of him. He was from the Red Cross. "Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Sir, I'm looking for Captain Rebecca A. Clark."

Dick's body stiffened.

Nix looked up from his work, peering at their visitor. He glanced at Dick wondering what was wrong.

XXX

Rebecca was with Roe taking inventory of the new supplies. The one good thing about being "rescued" by Patton was the supplies. It was a mix of everything, ammo, medical, food, even clothing; though many had yet to receive their new clothes. There was even penicillin for the guys with pneumonia.

Footsteps crunching behind Rebecca prompted her to turn around. It was Liebgott, Winters' runner for the day.

"Cap'n? Winters needs to see you at the CP."

Eugene looked at Rebecca, just as confused as she was. She shrugged her shoulders.

Roe thought about it for a second and then it dawned on him. His stomach did a nervous flip.

Rebecca parted with Gene, following Liebgott to the CP. As they walked, she thought maybe winter clothes had finally arrived and Dick wanted her to pass them out. Maybe more supplies came in. She squashed that thought, it was doubtful since they received medical supplies already.

They arrived at CP, Liebgott, with his task finished went back to his friends.

Rebecca walked, seeing Dick and a man in a Red Cross military welfare uniform.

The man caught sight of her and removed his cap, reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

Rebecca's heart dropped to her feet and her body went stiff. She glared at the piece of paper like it was plagued.

"Ma'am," He began handing over the letter, "With the deepest commiseration."

Rebecca forced herself to take the piece of paper. It felt as heavy as a rock in her hands. The private put his cap back on and left.

She slowly opened the telegram, like every move her fingers made, was painful. Rebecca finally opened it and glanced over the words. Her hand slowly rose to her mouth, trembling, her eyes welled with tears. The tears rolled down her cheeks,

Rebecca fell to the ground, dropping the letter. Dick rushed to her side and took her into his arms, rocking her back and forth. She clenched her chest as if it hurt to simply breathe and let out a long sob.

He looked down at the letter, picked it up and read it.

Her father had killed himself.

"Oh, Becca, no.


A/N: Okay, I know this chapter was a lot all at once. Things are going to continue to get crazier from here. Nonetheless, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I'm going to try and keep getting chapters out as the semester begins to unwind for me. Your support means the world, so, please let me know how I'm doing! :3