"Bar fighting, really girls" It was needless to say Colonel Sink was disappointed in his officers.

Welsh had a black eye, Amy had one bruised nose and Lane had a couple of brushed knuckles and two broken fingers.

"If we wasn't about to move out, you would have been lined up against the wall and shot," Sink said

"Sir, yes, sir" The officers said.

"Know get the hell out of here," Sink said

The officers saluted him

"Now get" Sink said.

The group walked out of the HQ, Amy sighed "Well that went better than expected, know all I have to do is avoid Sobel, Winters, and Speirs, then I am good" Amy said and looked around nervously.

"good luck with that" Lane said and walked back in to the HQ. Nixon winked at Amy and followed Lane in to the HQ.

Back in their office, Nixon turned and faced Lane; he still couldn't believe she had chosen him of all the men in the army.

"She is in big trouble isn't she" Nix asked Lane

"Yes she is" Lane said

She turned around and walked over to Nixon "I on the other hand have a very handsome and understanding boyfriend who is never going to mention this ever again" Lane said and kissed Nixon

"And I have a girl, who is usually more trouble than she is worth" Nix said and kissed Lane back.

"Get a room, there are some people here who are alone and miserable" Winters walked into the S2 office.

"Dick, what can we do you for?" Lane asked stepping away from Nixon.

"I was wondering if you could find out where the 326th is" Winters said

Lane looked at Winters, he looked like he hadn't slept for a while, he was more introverted than usual, and he scared the hell out of her, "Well, they are where we are heading, that's all I can tell you, sorry Dick,"
Lane said

Winters looked over at Nix, he just shrugged he couldn't tell him anything either "Sorry buddy, can't tell you anything either" Nixon said

Winters nodded and walked out, when he got outside, he put his garrison hat on and walked towards the mess, he missed Katie; he missed her company and their late night talks and feeling her next to him when he was sleeping. He missed the look on her face when she walked towards him after a long day at the hospital, and her incredible smile, a smile that stopped the whole world and sucked the breath out of him,

He heard someone calling his name he saw sergeant Lipton walking towards him.

"Sergeant" Winters said

"Lieutenant" Lipton said and saluted Winters

"I was just wondering sir, if you found out anything about captain Hendrick and lieutenant MacKall sir," Lipton asked

"No, Sorry Sergeant" Winters said

Lipton looked like he was about to he was about to say something, but changed his mind "Thank you for trying Lieutenant" Lipton said.

Lipton was going crazy, he hadn't seen Mia for what seemed like forever, he missed her, her wits, her spark, her good mood and the way she always smiled. She was friendly to everyone and her sense of humor was a perfect match to his.

He watched Winters walk away, and wondered if he was doing better than he was.

Lipton walked into Easy company's mess; it was empty except for lieutenant Hunt.

She was clearly hiding from someone; she looked up at Lipton, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Sergeant Lipton, sit down" Amy said.

"Lieutenant Hunt? are you ok?" Lipton asked

Amy blew on her coffee, she was hiding from everyone, including herself, she knew she fucked up. Ron was mad at her, Sobel was furious and she knew Welsh and her was going to have night guard duty from now one and until the war was over.

In addition, Amy just couldn't face Winters and the disappointed look she knew he would have on his face, when she next saw him.

"yeah just peachy, Lip I am in so much trouble and it's my own ding dang fault," Amy said.

"Now Hunt, I am sure it's not that bad," Lipton said

"I think it is, I beat the daylight out of a glider boy, Ron practically had to pry me of him, oh and he hasn't talked to me since, Sink is disappointed in me, Winters hasn't talked to me, and Sobel is just being a bastard" Amy said and sighed.

"Well I can't do anything about Sobel; I know Winters is miserable without Katie, so he just needs someone to talk to. And when it comes to Speirs, well he is just worried, he is worried you one day is going to wake up and realize you can do a hell of a lot better than him, which you can Tab cough Luz. I am just kidding, lieutenant all you have to do is find them and set things straight," Lipton said.

Amy sighed, she was scared of the two men for different reasons, Winters was her best friend, for a lack of a better word boyfriend or more like soul mate, and Speirs was hers.

Amy got up, walked around the table, and kissed him on the cheek, when she looked up and looked into the cold and angry eyes of Ron Speirs.

"Shit, here we go" Amy mumbled.

Speirs turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him, "Well, go get him Lieutenant," Lipton said

"Might as well get it over with" Amy said and walked out of the mess to find Speirs.

She found him leaning up against the flagpole, like the first time she talked to him at Toccoa, Amy walked up to him, she soaked him up, he was incredible handsome, he had that tall, dark and brooding over him, she knew he attracted a lot of attention when he was and about town. The sun was setting, and the sun last ray was hitting his dark hair and Amy felt the breath was sucked out of her; she did not intend to ever let him go; now all she had to do was to fix their relationship.

"Ron" Said and put her hand on his arm

Speirs just looked at her with an icy stare "Please don't pull away from me" Amy said

"What do you expect, first you pick some random bar fight, then you avoid me, and now I know why, you are hitting on your friends boyfriend, what the hell is the matter with you" Speirs spat out.

"Wait what? You think I picked a fight; I was just defending my honor, a long with captain Easterdays. I don't know what you think you just saw in there, but I know Lipton loves Mia and I know I love you, but you are just being an idiot Ronald Speirs, you know what you are so not worth it, stay the hell away from me. This, whatever this was, it's over" Amy said and stomped of

Speirs flicked his cigarette and looked after Amy, he knew it was going to be along war, if Amy was mad at him, he might as well follow her and set thing straight.

Speirs found Amy crying in an empty tent, when she saw him, she quickly dried her eyes and stood up; she just looked at Speirs with empty eyes scared of what would happen next.

"Amy" Ron said and pulled her to him, "why do you run every time things get rough, you always run from me, it scares the hell out of me" He said and kissed her on top of her head.

"I am sorry, it's just what I do, with my history it has always been the safest bet, the only thing I could do was run from everything, especially my feelings and my father" Amy said

"Well like I told you, don't run from me, get mad, scream at me, just don't run anymore, ok" Ron said and looked Amy in the eyes searching for her answer in them.

Amy nodded against his chest "I promise and sorry for being such a mess, with all my mood swings and problems, who would think I was a tough ass paratrooper," Amy said

"Me, look Amy we all have issues, you have some form of abandonment issue, I have a temper, Nixon drinks, Lane hates all men except Nixon, Katie thinks she has to be the best at everything and Mia is just too damn happy all the time, Dick I haven't figured out yet, so don't sweat it" Speirs said

"Just remember I get carried away by look, by the light in your eyes, before I even realize the ride I am on, baby I am long gone, I get carried away, nothing matter but being with you ok" Ron said.

That was a very uncharacteristic thing for Speirs to say, but Amy just took it all in and enjoyed being in his arms.

Mid-august they were all once again loaded into trains, and once again, the only two eEasy company members who knew where they were going were Lane and Nixon.

"Come on captain, you can tell me, I won't tell anyone" Bill was trying to get Lane to tell him where they were heading, so he could win a bet with Liebgott.

Amy was sleeping, it seemed like anytime she got into some kind of moving equipment, she fell asleep, at least she didn't have nightmares anymore, she had been sleeping like a baby since her resent talk with Speirs. Lane was happy, she knew they would be hooking up with the 326th soon and she would hate see Katie kill Speirs.

"Leave the pretty Captain alone" Welsh said

He was sitting beside Nixon, and the two of them was sharing Nixon' flask, which meant they would be plastered before they reached their destination, Lane sighed once again she would be the one to organize the S2 section, she was getting a little annoyed with Nix drinking.

Winters was writing a letter, no doubt to Katie, he usually handed them to Lane who send them to Katie, since she knew where she was.

Lane looked at Welsh "aww, thanks lieutenant handsome" Lane cooed to Welsh.

Nixon looked at Welsh "hey get your own girl" He said

"I got a girl, but she is not here so I have to borrow yours," Welsh said with a smirk.

Lane shook her head and left her seat, she wandered down to the part of the train where the enlisted men were, she wanted to find some sane company, seemed like all the officers was out of their minds these days.

She found Easy company, Bill was back there making bets about where they were going, Liebgott was taking his bet and they were both wrong, if they just had bothered to look out of the window, they would know where they were heading.

Luz looked up "hey Captain going my way" he said

"Depends on where you are going" Lane said

"I don't know, why you don't tell me," Luz said

"Cant do that, but I can tell you, that there once again will be pretty red cross girls there, for you lot to flirt with" Lane said and looked around the train.

She wondered how many of the cocky young men would make it through the war, how many would be killed or wounded.

Would the men she was close to make it? and would she make it home? she was an Intelligence officer, but that didn't mean she wasn't in danger, she would be the one walking the line at two in the morning, and swimming rivers to collect Intel.

Would she return from the war? Would Lew? she wasn't sure and it scared the hell out of her, all she could do was live in the moment, she never had any regrets.

"She knew, she would carry his love with her through the invasion, it would be her strength for holding on every minute she had to be gone, she would have everything she would need, carrying his love with her in her heart, a heart she had held on to for so many, many years.

Lane had once decided never to fall in love, her dad been a notorious cheater and her mom had been putting on a brave fac. Lane knew her mom knew about the affairs and a long time ago Lane had decided that love was not for her, and that most men in her circle was not to be trusted, and lord behold here was Lewis Nixon sweeping her of her feet.

Well you only live once right? and who knew how long her life would be.

"hey Captain, you in on a poker game" Talbert asked her

"Cant, I have been told that I cant gamble with you guys anymore, Sinks order after I cleaned you out last week, and somebody complained to Winters" Lane said

There was a low mumbling about who the culprit could be, but no one knew.

"But I will stay and bull shit with you guys, if you will let me in on the latest gossip around the barracks" Lane said.

"well rumor has it Lipton is in love with Mia, but she isn't answering any of his letters, so he is acting like a complete bear" Liebgott said he wasn't afraid Lipton wasn't his platoon sergeant.

Amy had said that Lip had changed since Mia and Katie had left, it was strange about the letters, Lane had send the letters herself, who was keeping Mia's letters, Lane could only think of one person, Sobel, he had to have a hand in this.

"So are you telling me, that he hasn't heard anything from Mia, what about Winters has he heard from Katie" Lane asked

"Rumor says no" Tab said

"Hm, Maybe I should have a little talk with Evans" Lane said

"What else give me something" Lane said

"Well rumor says Speirs is going to propose to lieutenant Hunt, once we get to where we are going" Luz said

"What, no way" Tab said

"True, heard from a sergeant over in D. company" Luz said

"That rumor I know is not true, Someone is getting proposed to, and the old Sparky did help pick out the ring" Lane said

"Well who is getting hitched then?" Luz asked

"McMillan, he proposing to that field nurse they have tacking along with them, as soon as we hook up with the 326th" Lane said.

"Good, made me feel a lot better" Talbert said and let out a breath.

"Well what about you Nixon?" Luz asked Lane

"We are just taking one day at the time, no hurry who knows next year at this time I could be six feet under" Lane said.

"cynical much Captain" Luz said

"Realistic, dear Luz" Lane said.

Lane noticed Evans walking towards her, she stood up and grabbed him by his collar, "Where are they" She asked him and pushed him up against the wall

"Where are what?" The scared sergeant said, he was Sobel's right hand and he was hated by most of the men.

"The fucking Letters from the 326th, don't even try to deny it" Lane spat out

"I don't..." That as far as Evans got, before Lane slammed him up against the wall once again

"Once again, where are the letters Evans?" Lane said through her teeth

"Sobel got them in his footlocker" Evans said

"Thank you, oh and this stays between us, got it?" Lane said

Lane walked back to the men "I need a couple of volunteers who wants to mess with Sobe,l and I will take all the blame" Lane said

Guarnere, Toye and Luz were on their feet in no time.

"Rumor has it Sobel is keeping Lips and Winters letters in his footlocker, so let's go find the cargo wagon" Lane said

The group walked thru the train, and when they walked past D, company Speirs looked up, he had questioning look in his eyes "She is ok, we are just on a mission" Lane said and smiled.

They found the cargo wagon, and found Sobel's footlocker, Lane who was the only one who carried live ammunition considered for a brief moment shooting the lock of the thing.

Instead Bill picked the, lock and inside they found what they came for.

They gathered the letters, and got the hell out of there.

Lane held all the letters in her hand, she was beyond pissed off, what kind of person did this, she ought to have Sobel court martial for this.

Thinking about the amount of paper work a court martial would land her, she dropped the idea; she knew she would get the bastard back soon enough.

Back with Easy Lane dropped Mia's bundled letters up in Lipton's lap and smiled, "Don't ask, just read them" Lane said.

Lipton opened the first Letter from Mia.

Dear Lip

I can't believe we were separated only hours after finally finding each other.

The jeep ride to, well I can't tell you where I am, security reason, was long and boring.

I was thinking about you the whole way here.

When we arrived we were quartered in a barrack with a bunch of new nurses, the only exception is D companies field nurse, Sophie she is as miserable as Katie and I, she is apparently involved the XO of D. company.

The barrack here are nice, hot water for showers and good chow, I still haven't figured out the idea behind sending us here.

Katie has more skills in her pinky, than any of the regimental surgeons, they look like freaking idiots compared to Katie, and Sophie and I are more experienced than the head nurse, so the three of us tries to be polite and nod when needed.

I miss you, especially at night, I can hear the young nurses talk about their boyfriends, I miss our talks and the feeling of your arms wrapped around me and the scent of you, I cant wait till you finally get here, that's what gets me through this.

Love

Mia

There was a whole stack of letters and Lip couldn't wait to read them, but he would wait until he was somewhere quieter.

Lane had dropped of Katie's letters and Winters was now reading the first one.

Dear Dick

So here I am, surrounded by incompetent morons, I don't know where they recruited these morons, just be glad second battalion has Mia, Sophie and I.

I watched one of the doctors kill a man today, thank god he was only practicing on a dummy, I had to show a major how to do his job.

It's like I am in a special kind of hell designed just for me.

Enough complaining, I do miss and I wish you were here with me, I miss sleeping next to you and listening to your heart beat in your chest knowing that it beats in sync with mine.

See you soon.

Love you

Katie.

Ps: tell McMillan he better come bearing an engagement ring for Sophie, she cries at night, when she thinks everyone is a sleep, she really, really miss him.

She loves him, that's all that went through Winters head after reading Katie's letter, she really did love him, a stone fell from his heart, he loved her too, he just hadn't told her, he was saving it for a special occasion.

The train slowed down and finally came to a stop, the men was herded out and the climbed into the waiting trucks.

They were taken to camp shanks 30 miles up the Hudson river from New York city.

Easy company jumped of the truck and was called to attention, Sobel was conducting an inspection, when two girls came running a cross the parade ground, coming to a screeching hold behind him.

He could hear some laughing behind him and the men's attention wasn't on him, he felt like he had no choice, but to dismiss the men, when he saw Captain Easterday looking at him with her ice cold eyes. Evans had told him about their run in on the train, and Sobel knew that the letters, which used to be in his footlocker, was now in possession of their right full owners.

He wanted to avoid any trouble with Lane. After the incident where he had caught her fooling around with Nixon, he had complained to Sink about her behavior, only to find that Captain Easterday was Sinks niece, and if he knew what was good for him, he would stay on her good side, Sink adored his niece and protected her against any wrong.

"Dismissed" Sobel said.

The platoon leaders dismissed their platoons, Amy had a strong urge to keep third platoon in formation a little longer, just to mess Lipton, but she let them go find their quarters.

Hearing a loud cry she looked over at Mia and Lipton, they were currently trying to fit into one set of clothes.

Winters was standing facing Katie, smiling and holding both her hands.

Lane saw the two of them walk off towards the officer's quarter, knowing Katie she was going to make the lieutenant snuggle with her; she had been in scrubs looking very tired, but really happy.

Lane felt a hand on her shoulder, she put hers on top of it and smiled, Nixon put his arms around her waist "Are you happy now" he said

"I am very happy, I got a good feeling about this" She said, when she saw McMillan drop to one knee in front of his field nurse, of course Sophie accepted and she started to cry.

A few shots later and with arms that felt paralyzed the men boarded a troop transport ship, to cross the ocean.

The ocean liner was designed to carry a thousand passengers, but was currently carrying 5000 soldiers.

The officers were quartered in cabins above deck and the men were in bunks below deck.

It was crammed and any attempt to do PT had to be stopped, Lane, Mia, Amy, Katie and Sophie, shared a cabin. Sophie was a welcome addition to their little group, she was a smart, and sassy girl from Ohio, with green eyes and ginger hair, her parents had immigrated to the US from Ireland when Sophie was ten years old, and she still had a bit of an accent, which was what drove McMillan absolutely up the wall.

The girls weren't all ways where they should be at night.

Amy was with her men most of the time, the close quarters was getting to them, they were getting tired of playing poker and craps and there were a sudden amount of tension rising.

One of the men was making a crack about, that right now some lucky bastard was heading to the pacific, with flamingoes and naked native women.

Domingus said that Flamingoes are mean, they bite and someone said "so does the naked native ladies"

One day Liebgott and Bill got in a fight over Sobel and Amy tried to separate them, and got hit by Bills elbow, right in her temple, everything went black, right before she hit the deck a pair of strong arm caught her and carried her back to her cabin.

When she came thru she looked into a pair of green eyes and Sophie smiled at her and said "Welcome back, someone has been pacing the hall waiting to see you"

Sophie opened the door and a very angry Speirs walked in the door.

"You Ok?" he asked

"I am fine, what did you do Bill, and how did you know about the fight, I assume you were the one who caught me" Amy said

"Well I threatened to rearrange Bills face, I was actually below deck when the fight broke out, and that's how I made over in time to catch you" Ron said.

After Speirs little pep talk there were no more fight for the duration of the trip, the troop ship arrived in England and the troops was shipped off to Aldbourne.