DISCLAIMER: I still only own Nikki and David. Still no disrespect is meant.

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Chapter 6 Haguenau Continued

She had no idea how long she had been there, the cold didn't matter the passing of time no longer seemed real. Ever since she'd left Ron, time dragged but the sun had set and she could hear the noise of the men getting into position for the river crossing.

She had shown Nixon earlier in the evening where the shallowest point to cross was, just in case someone fell out of the rafts. How long ago had it been since she'd shown him the spot? Hour, two possibly, it had grown dark quickly.

"Nikki, are you okay?"

She lifted her eyes from the water to meet Nixon's. "I'm okay Lew, just thinking. Are the men ready?"

Nixon didn't immediately answer. She had her arms wrapped around her waist in a protective measure and had been standing in this same spot for hours.

"Nikki you don't have to do this, we can send Webster or Liebgott."

Her harsh laugh sent cold chills down his spine. "Do you think after all that's happened that I wouldn't go now? Nix, I screwed up and right now, I really need to do this. I think when I get back I'll talk to Dick and tell him I want to work at Battalion and let David take my place."

Nixon pulled her into his arms. "Nikki, he loves you that's why he acts so stupid. Have you ever known Ron Speirs to lose control or say anything that stupid to anyone but you?"

He felt the negative shake her head against his chest. "When you get back tonight you two have to talk. He's been threatening everyone who came in contact with him; it's bad for morale not to mention someone's life."

Nikki laughed. Yeah she would talk to him when she got back; maybe it all had just been a misunderstanding. "You're right; I'll talk to him when I get back. Come on, walk a lady to her boat."

When Nixon and Nikki arrived at the boats, Dick and Ron were already there. She saw Ron's expression when he saw Nixon's arm around her. She couldn't understand how he could be jealous, she could do nothing now; she'd talk to him when she returned.

When they had loaded into the rafts to cross the river, they were heading to the house that had been hers. She hadn't been in the house since 1939 and she was reminded that nothing remained of that life. Don't think about it, just do the mission, and get out.

They quickly made it up to the house and leading the men up to the door, she pointed out the steps that would make noise. There were three German Soldiers sitting at the table eating and drinking. The plan had been for her to knock on door and lure them outside, but a new Soldier had another plan.

Rushing past her, he kicked the door open and threw a grenade into the room. Unfortunately, in his haste he hadn't thrown it far enough and it explode right next to him, knocking him and her down.

Dragging herself up to her hands and knees, she was able to drag herself over to the Soldier. He had taken the brunt of the explosion and his condition was serious if they didn't get him back soon he was dead. The trip back to the rafts and then across the river for Nikki was a daze. She wasn't sure if it was the situation or the concussion from the explosion that had her confused.

The machine gun from their side was firing to keep the Germans off the opposite bank, the wounded Soldier with his head in her lap, and all around them yelling and noise. The entire situation had a nightmare quality.

While Doc Roe worked on the wounded Soldier, Nikki tried to hide in the shadows. Her ears were still ringing from the explosion and she was sure she looked terrible. Her uniform streaked with blood and mud and her shoulder was killing her. When she had reached up to rub the ache she had encountered a piece of shrapnel, pulling it out probably had not been a wise decision because the wound had bled even more.

She grabbed a bottle of wine and snuck off to Nixon's room. She knew he wouldn't be there due to the debriefing that was scheduled in an hour. They would live if she didn't show up. In addition, no one would look for her here; it would give her a chance to recover.

Sitting on his bed, she preceded to drink half the bottle in an effort to numb her body. Her head was pounding and her shoulder was agony. She really should get up and go find Doc Roe but she just couldn't manage the energy. Curling up on her good side, she decided to take a nap then go find Doc.

Nixon was exhausted, he had been up for the last twenty-four hours, and now all he wanted to do was catch some shuteye. Finding Nikki sound asleep in his bed was the last thing he expected.

"Come on brat, I need to sleep and you need to find your own bed."

Nixon shook her trying to wake her up but got no response. Spotting the half-empty bottle of wine next to the bed, he realized that she wouldn't be moving any time soon.

Sighing Nixon pushed her over slightly and climbed in next to her quickly falling asleep.

Winters was typing up his report on the raid from the night before, he was missing the intelligence portion. He was reluctant to go wake Nix, but he really needed to get the report done. Heading into Nixon's room, he found a sight he didn't expect.

Nikki was on her side facing the wall and Nixon had spooned behind her with one arm around her waist. Both of them were sleeping like the dead, guess that report would have to wait. Shutting the door behind him he decided to let them both sleep, morning would be soon enough to finish the report.

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"Nixon get up, I need you to finish the report for Sink."

Nixon opened one eye to see Dick standing over him with a smile on his face. Closing his eye he decided to ignore Dick and go back to sleep, the thought was quickly interrupted when he realized that he was curled around someone very feminine.

Jumping back from the person he was laying against caused him to fall out of the bed. "Damn it, what's going on?"

Dick laughed, "I've no idea, but you must be trying to commit suicide to have been in the same bed with her."

"Yeah well I'm just glad it was you who came in here and not Speirs. I probably wouldn't have stood a chance."

Nixon got to his feet and smacked Nikki on the leg, "come on brat it's morning, rise and shine."

Nikki hadn't moved through during their conversation or the hit on her leg. Both men traded looks. She slept heavy, but this was very strange.

When Nixon grabbed her shoulder to roll her over he found her body extremely hot and her shirt wet with blood.

"Dick, go get Doc, we've got a serious problem."

Dick saw the blood on her shirt. "Why didn't she say something last night?"

Doc Roe quickly grabbed his bag and followed Dick back to his room. The last thing he expected was to find Nikki in Nixon's bed. He could have sworn her and Speirs were together.

Pushing Nixon aside, he quickly assessed the situation. Probing the shoulder caused Nikki to moan but not wake up. Laying his hand on her head, he turned and faced the two officers.

"She was hit last night and now she has a high fever, I not surprised that infection set in. I need someone to grab hot water and some bandages. I've got to clean the wound and try to get the fever down."

"How bad is it Doc?"

Doc wiped his forehead. "If I don't get the fever down very serious, so one of you two officers going to get the stuff I asked for or keep asking me questions?"

Dick left to grab the items Doc needed while Nixon stayed to help Doc Roe.

While the Doc was cutting off Nikki's t-shirt, she actually woke up and looked at Nixon.

"Mon amour, je vous ai manqué si. J'ai su que vous me trouveriez. S'il vous plaît ne pas me partir encore."

Nixon traded looks with Roe, "you got any idea what she said?"

"Yes sir, she said; my love, I've missed you so. I knew you'd find me. Please don't leave me again. I don't think she knows where she is, the fever can make someone delusional."

Nixon sat on the bed next to her and held her hand. She was awake but her eyes held a crazy light, it was obvious she thought he was someone else.

"Non, je ne veux pas rester ici sans vous. S'il vous plaît ne pas aller." (No, I don't want to stay here without you. Please don't go.)

Before Nix could move, she had grabbed him and kissed him. Dick and Ron were coming in the door that same time.

"Nixon, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ron made a move to grab him just as he pushed Nikki away.

"Non je pas le souhaite. Johan, je vous aime, s'il vous plaît le séjour !" (No I don't wish it. Johan, I love you, please stay!)

Dick quickly stepped between Ron and Nixon. "Lew, go get David and don't come back for a while."

Nixon quickly left leaving Dick and Doc to deal with the situation.

Ron looked between Roe and Dick, "what is going on here? Why was she kissing Nixon, or better yet, who the hell is Johan?"

"Sir, she is delusional, she had no idea who she was talking too. She's been speaking French ever since she woke up. I promise you, she has no idea she was kissing Lt Nixon."

Dick tried to bring the focus back to what's important. "Okay Doc, what do you need us to do?"

Roe quickly explained that he was going to have to cut the wound open and wash it out. "She's not going to like it and it's going to hurt like hell. Just hang on to her because I don't want to hurt her any further."

Doc worked quickly trying not to hurt her any more than he had too, but even with her unconscious, she fought both of them. Once he had the wound cleaned and bandaged, he told them they could relax.

"Someone needs to stay with her; I'll be back in a couple of hours to check on her."

Before Dick could even speak, Ron had volunteered. "I'll stay with her." His tone didn't allow for debate. Dick patted him on the shoulder and left the room.

Ron had been sitting beside her for the last hour making sure that the cool rag on her head stayed damp. Right now, he wasn't sure what he was feeling. The fact that he had wanted to kill Nixon was still strong, but now this Johan person had him concerned. He knew she thought she was kissing him, so who was he.

He was so lost in thought he never heard someone come in until David spoke.

"How is she doing?"

Ron sighed and rubbed his face. Man, he needed a shave. "I guess she's doing okay. She hasn't woke up and actually she feels a little cooler. Can I ask you something? Who's Johan?"

David sat in the chair next to him. "That is a name I've not heard in a few years. Johan was her fiancée; they were to be married the same month the Germans invaded. Johan went with the German army and sent to fight. The letters came for about 3 months then stopped. Right before they fled France she'd heard he was killed somewhere in the east. Part of reason she fights you so much is she's afraid you'll be killed as well. She really does love you. So when she recovers from this and she will take it easy with her."

Ron listened to what David had said. That would explain why she was calling for another man, but part of him couldn't help but wish it were his name she called.

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The sun in her face was what woke her. Cracking her eyelids open see glanced around the room. Wow, she must have slept though Nixon coming in; he was going to be upset she took his bed. Moving her hand to her shoulder she found it bandaged. Oh, that can't be good.

"Love, we are never letting you out of our sight again. You've succeeded in scaring ten years off my life."

She turned her head to see David smiling at her from his position next to the bed.

"How long have I been out?"

"Well this time, two days. Dick held us here in Haguenau until you were well enough to travel. Guess this means we'll be leaving today."

"Help me up please."

David helped her into a sitting position. He had to admit she did look a little better, pale but much better. "So I can tell you that Nixon will be happy that you're better. You nearly got the poor man killed by sleeping in his bed."

Nikki groaned, "Ron found out didn't he?"

David laughed, "Sweetie, he has been by your side almost non-stop. He just left to go get the company ready to move. Of course there are a couple of things you might need to know-."

Before David could finish Nixon stuck his head in the door. "Is it safe to come in?"

"Come on in Lew, I'm up and alive. Why do you want to know if it's safe?"

Nixon came into the room and gave her a critical eye. "Well you are looking better. Glad to see you up and awake brat, you had me worried."

"Nix, you're avoiding the question, why do you want to know if it's safe or not?"

David sighed, "I was trying to tell you before he came in. Nixon has had to avoid Ron over the last couple of days."

"What do you mean avoid him, what did he do?"

Nixon gave her a sexy smirk, "well sweetheart, I can tell you one thing…you can kiss."

Nikki was looking extremely confused between the two of them. "Okay what are the two of you talking about? What do you mean I can kiss I've never kissed you. Have I?"

"Love, you were delusional with the fever and you thought he was Johan. Well about the time you locked lips, tall, dark, and brooding walked in."

"Oh my God, well what happened then."

Nixon smiled, "I left the area very quickly, and I've been sneaking in to check on you when he goes to eat."

"David, has he really been that bad?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

All three turned to face the door where Ron now stood leaning against the door jam.