DISCLAIMER: I still only have claim to Nikki and David. No disrespect is meant to the real Band of Brothers and this based off the mini-series. I've also taken a few liberties to make it fit my story
Thank you for the reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
Chapter 3 Carentan to England
Not even twenty-four hours after Nix had dropped them off, Easy Company was once again walking, this time headed into the French town of Carentan. The town was pivotal to the entire offensive as all the Allied Forces coming in from the beaches were to link up here, so the town had to be under Allied control.
This was how Nikki now found herself face down in a ditch with someone very heavy on her back. She ended up there when the road they were walking down started taking machine gun fire. Yep, they weren't easily giving up the town.
"Get off me Buck, Christ you're heavy."
Lt Buck Compton rolled off her to the side with a grin on his face. "Better me on top of you than hit by a machine gun bullet."
Nikki stuck her tongue out but had no further comment. What did you say when you knew the other person was right. However, she knew a certain Battalion Intelligence Officer who was going to pay dearly the next time she got close to him. Little resistance, ha, well if this was little resistance she would hate to see a full on fight.
Amazingly, she watched as Dick somehow in the middle of all the machine gun fire got the Soldiers out of the ditches and moving down the road. He was just a natural born leader that Soldiers seemed willing to follow, even into the face of the enemy. For her part, she decided to stay in the ditch and follow behind. She was confident they wouldn't need her skills right now.
When she finally made it to the edge of town it appeared, most of the battle was over and the Germans were running. As she started across the street to where the rest of the men were, the shelling started. Lip was yelling at everyone to spread out because the Germans had the town zeroed. She was running for a doorway when a shell landed behind her throwing her to the ground.
Oh yeah, that's good for bruised ribs.
Before she could get to her feet, someone pulled her up and pushed her into the doorway.
Bill threw Nikki into the doorway and turned to face her. "Gees Nikki, what were you trying to do, get yourself killed?"
Nikki's ribs were now aching so badly that she couldn't stand up straight, nor could she answer. Somehow, she managed to shake her head no.
"What's wrong, ya hurt?" Bill started pulling and twisting her to see if she wounded, but one good pull finally caused her to cry out and Wild Bill to turn white as a sheet.
"I didn't mean to hurt ya, come on and I'll get you over to Doc Roe."
With a negative shake of her head, she managed to squeak out a few words. "No, no Doc. Ribs were bruised in the jump and landing on them twice today was too much. Go on and help the others I'm okay."
Bill acted liked he didn't want to leave her, but when someone called for help he was off. That was good because if he had stayed any longer he would have seen her cry.
Yeah some tough girl you turned out to be. Sitting here crying over bruised ribs when men had died or been seriously wounded. I just need a minute and then I can make it to Doc Roe.
Finally pushing to her feet, she staggered off to find the aid station. Possibly, if Doc Roe were able to wrap the ribs they wouldn't hurt so badly. When she arrived at the aid station, she saw Dick sitting up on the table with his boot off.
"What happened, how serious is it, are you going to be okay?"
Dick laughed and showed her the piece of bullet Doc had just pulled from his leg. "Nothing serious but my ego is bruised, that will teach me not to show off."
"Well thank goodness that it's not too bad. Do you have any idea what Nixon would do to me if I let you get hurt?"
"Yeah I can see why you would be worried about that. Nixon can be a little over bearing sometimes. By the way, why are you here?"
Nikki looked at the ground and mumbled under her breath. "I need Doc to wrap my ribs, between Buck deciding to use me to cushion his fall and the German shells I think I bruised them even further."
Dick was putting his boot back on when Nikki stripped down to her t-shirt. If the bruises on her arms were any indication, that landing in the tree had been harder than she had let on.
"Nikki you sure you're okay? Those bruises look pretty nasty, how about it Doc, is she really alright?"
Doc Roe grabbed the bandages off the table and turned a critical eye toward Nikki.
"She's good sir, nothing that time won't heal up. I should've wrapped those ribs yesterday, but I can correct that. Care to assist sir?"
Dick came over and helped Doc Roe wrap the bandage around her. It took only a couple of minutes but already Nikki was feeling much better.
"Thanks Doc, I can't get a deep breath but hey they don't hurt as bad. So what's the plan Dick?"
Dick waited until she was dressed again then headed out the door. "The Germans aren't going to give up without a fight, they will counter-attack. As soon as I can get the company together I'll meet with Major Strayer but right now I think we'll move out to the trenches tonight."
Nikki grimaced, yep that would be fun, spending the night in a cold damp foxhole. Great that would make her feel so much better. How do I get myself into these situations?
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Dark had fallen and Nikki was sitting alone in Dick's foxhole. She had finally found a comfortable position and closed her eyes when the Germans across the field decided to start signing. She had to laugh; she could hear the men in the other foxholes asking what they had to be so happy. She knew why the Germans were so happy they had alcohol.
She was bored and since the Germans were singing, there was a good chance there would be no shooting so she decide to take a little walk through Easy's line.
Heading in the direction, she had last seen Dick go she didn't think it would be that hard to find him. Especially after the Talbert stabbing incident, she didn't think she had to worry. However, she forgot one rule; big girls have more to fear in the dark than little girls do.
"Well Ms Klemp, I just keep running into you in the strangest places especially in the dark."
Nikki visibly cringed, of all the people I could have run into why Lord, why did it have to be him. What is he doing stalking me. Gees.
Turning to face him, she found herself so close she actually had to look up to meet his eyes. "Lt Speirs, you're correct about one thing, we certainly keep running into one another. I promise you, it's through no fault of mine. I've gone out of my way to avoid you."
How did he manage to get that close without me hearing him?
Ron actually smiled. She was very uncomfortable with him being this close, so he decided to make her even more uncomfortable just to see what her next move would be.
"Actually I'll confess that I've been looking for you."
Before she could step away, he took her face in his hand and gently turned her head to the left so he could see her bruised face. It looked worse than it probably was, even in the low light; he could see that the bruise was now a deep purple-black extending from her cheekbone down to her jaw. He gently ran one finger over the cut that ran the length of her cheekbone from the edge of her nose to her hairline. The cut looked good, and showed no signs of infection.
When he released her face Nikki jerked back from him and right into a tree. Rubbing her face where his hand had just been, she was looking at him as if she had just come face to face with a dangerous animal.
"Look Lt…"
"Ron, my name is Ron. If you are going to yell at me don't I deserve to be yelled at using my name?"
Nikki let out the breath she had been holding. "Look Ron, I thought I made it clear how I, we, feel about each other and that we should try to avoid each other at any cost, now you're here telling me you were looking for me. I don't understand."
Ron took a step toward her, which allowed him to invade her personal space again. He saw her wariness in the way she was biting her lower lip and wouldn't meet his eyes. She was nervous…hmm, she should be.
"You know, you never asked me how I felt about you, you just assumed that because I didn't want you running off in the dark with my translator I didn't like you."
Nikki snorted, "Yeah well most people would take you attacking them personally as a sign of dislike." Finally raising her eyes to meet his, she asked the question. "Was I wrong?"
Ron leaned in closer to her, his lips next to her ear. He heard as well as felt her sudden intake of breath.
Ensuring he spoke low enough for only her to hear, "you couldn't have been more wrong."
Nikki gasped and a shiver went through her body. As he was speaking to her, his breath had caressed her neck. Oh hell no, this was not happening, was it?
Jerking her head around to face him brought her injured cheek into contact with his. The brush of his beard stubble rasped against her cheek eliciting another shiver.
Just as she was about to ask him what he thought he was doing, Ron pulled back quickly, and formal Lt Speirs was back in place. "You should get back to your foxhole miss; it's not safe to be wondering around in the dark. You never know who you'll run into."
Before she could respond, he disappeared into the dark as quietly and quickly as he had appeared.
"Nikki, what are you doing out here, I thought you were asleep."
As if coming out of some kind of trance Nikki turned to look at Dick. "Umm, I was… uh bored and thought I would come and find you for some company, but I guess you found me. Well good night."
Dick shook his head as he watched Nikki scurry back to the foxhole. What had gotten into her?
Nikki dropped into the foxhole and stared into the dark. What just happened? Was he flirting with me? Scary Lt Speirs was flirting with me, oh my God. This is when I really need to talk to David; there is no way I'm getting out of this foxhole. Well at least not until daylight.
Realizing that it was useless to try to rationalize what didn't seem rational; she found a comfortable spot and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, the feel of his hand haunted her dreams along with his breath on her neck.
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"Keep up the firing, don't let up."
Nikki kept her head low. The Germans were desperately trying to break through their line and retake Carentan. Right now Easy Company was the only thing standing between them and success. She had heard that both Fox and Dog Companies had pulled back. She found some strange sadistic pleasure that Ron, no remember his name is Lt Speirs, would not be happy having pulled out of a fight. Ha, the man got what he deserved.
Just as it was about to look hopeless, Sherman tanks broke through the trees off to their left, and the Germans went into retreat. The cheering from the men was overwhelming. Again Easy Company had survived to fight another day.
"Come on Nikki, we need to ensure that the Germans have pulled out and not just playing dead."
Nikki pulled herself from the foxhole and fell in with Buck's platoon that was in the middle of the company. This gave her good coverage to assist Dick if he needed her as well as staying safe.
This cross-country hiking business was for the birds. I really should have paid more attention to what the infantry really did!
The company stopped again as Harry and a small squad went to investigate a farmhouse.
Nixon came up beside Nikki and put his arm around her. "So how's my favorite girl today."
"Nix, I'm your only girl over here. However, to answer your question disturbed. You see something happened last night and I'm-."
The shot that came from the farmhouse and the cry for medic interrupted the conversation. One of the Privates she didn't know very well and been hit.
Nixon growled, "Figures, I was coming out to tell you the good news we are being pulled off the line and sent back to England."
Nikki couldn't believe it; they were heading back to England. They were returning to the land of hot showers and hot food. "Thank you lord, because right now all I want is a shower."
Nixon wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, "need someone to wash you back."
"Not you Nix…maybe someone tall and with red hair. Yeah, think Dick would do it?"
Nixon laughed and helped her to her feet. "You sure know how to hurt a guy and here I thought you liked the tall, dark, and handsome type."
Good thing Nix hadn't been paying close attention to her or he would have seen all the color drain from her face at the "tall, dark, and handsome" comment. That hit too close to describing a certain Lt who she was refusing to think about.
"So Nik, what were you trying to tell me earlier."
"Uh, nothing, nothing at all, guess I forgot in all the excitement." She gave Nixon her best smile, "Race ya back to England."
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Nikki had forgotten how wonderful it was in England. She had spent so long soaking in Mrs Stewart's tub that the poor woman had thought she drowned. It had been nice to have someone fuss over her, but poor Mrs Stewart had nearly fainted when she saw all the bruises.
The past week had been wonderful; she, Nix and Dick spent almost every day together in town or just lounging about drinking tea. At least she and Dick were having tea. She was sure that Nix was drinking Vat 69 in his cup. However, the week off had allowed the bruise on her face to fade to a faint yellow and she could actually breathe again without pain.
One night as they were walking back to the house she was staying in, Nixon with his arm around her and her head on his shoulder had their peaceful interlude disturbed.
"Lt Nixon, I'm glad I found you, Lt Winters wanted you to stop by and discuss the next mission."
Nix felt Nikki jump next to him when Ron had spoke. He thought it was a strange reaction, but didn't have time to explore it further.
"Hey Ron, I'll just take Nikki back to the house she's staying at and then I'll head over to the CP."
"Don't worry Nix; it'd be my pleasure to escort Ms Klemp home."
Before Nix could agree Nikki had his arm in a painful grip and when he turned to look at her she actually looked afraid. Pulling her off a little from Ron he asked her what was wrong.
Nikki was breathing so hard she thought she would pass out. What was he doing here? Not to mention that look on his face, there was no way she was going anywhere with him.
"Nix, please, just take me home. You can go see Dick after that it's not that much further.
Nixon looked between her and Ron and tried to figure out what had happened between them to cause her not to want to be alone with him. However, the look Ron was giving him right now was pure evil, what had he done?
"Nikki there you are, you know I've been walking all over this town looking for you and here I find you in the arms of another man. You're not even willing to wait on me love?"
Nikki felt her knees go weak. She had never been so grateful to see someone, as she was David. As far as she was concerned, he had just saved her from a fate worse than death.
"Oh David, I'm so happy to see you. See Nix you can go ahead and David can walk me home. I'll see you tomorrow, come on David."
David looked over his shoulder at the two men and shrugged as she pulled him down the road. Something very interesting was going on between Nikki and Speirs and he couldn't wait to hear the rest of the story.
Back at Mrs Stewart's house and several cups of tea, Nikki finally told the whole story. "So now you know the whole story. What is going on with that man?"
David started laughing. The pitiful look on Nikki's face only made him laugh harder. "Sweetie, he likes you, I mean really likes you. I thought what I saw on D-Day was a mistake but from what you just told me, I was spot on. He is jealous of you and Nixon."
Nikki dropped into the chair in shock, "why would he be jealous of me and Nixon. There is nothing going on we're just friends."
"Sweetie, he doesn't know that and based on what he saw with you on the tank and then again tonight, oh yeah, he's jealous and would probably do anything to get you away from Nixon."
Shaking her head, "please explain to me why the intense men are interested in me?"
David laughed, "Because you scare the nice normal ones off that's why.
Nikki just dropped her head on the table; this was going to be a very long war. Especially trying to avoid one very intense Lt, who just happened to give her pleasurable shivers?