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Chapter 2
On the next morning I woke up when the sun shone through the window straight to my eyes and I had a killer headache. I looked around the room not realizing first where I was, but then it hit me. It wasn't a dream. I'm really in military hospital… In year 1943. I lied still for a moment thinking everything what had happened last night. Then I saw the pills which Doc Roe had given me and took one to stop the headache I had. I got up to sit carefully and sat on the edge of the bed. I still couldn't understand totally what had happened, but it was clear that I was in England, it was October 1943 and I had a brother. My thoughts were interrupted when the door was opened and the nurse, Helen, came in.
"You should lay down, Lara." She stated.
"I feel all right. I think I could get out of here already." I stated. I felt a little better, so I was telling the truth. I still had a headache, but I thought that the slight fever which I had last night, had gone already. And there were so many things that I had to resolve.
Helen put her hand on my forehead, and sighed then.
"I think that you don't have fever anymore, and you look better than last night. But if captain Hester sees you... He will blame me for letting you get up already."
"Don't worry, Helen. He won't blame you." I looked the nurse to her eyes. "He's my brother, I will get him convinced that you had nothing to do with this."
And how you will do that, Lara? You don't even know him, for heaven's sake! I tried to get the negative thoughts out of my mind, because I knew that I had to learn to know Clarence and fast.
I left the hospital building and stood out side for a moment. The truth was that I didn't know where to go. I guessed that I had to have a room on one of the buildings, but which one? I can't be staying on a tent, right? My brother is a captain after all. Wow, I'm getting used to that thought.
"Lara!"
I turned when I heard a male voice yelling my name. Then I saw three men approaching me, one of them was George Luz, but the other two didn't seem familiar to me.
"Hey." I said quietly when the men reached me.
"George told that he and Bill found you last night. Shouldn't you be in bed, Lara?" The other of the men, who I didn't know, asked. Actually he was rather handsome; he had piercing blue eyes and blonde short hair. I just stared him for a moment; I had never seen eyes like he had.
"I'm feeling better now... I wanted to get out." I explained then.
"Yeah, I see her point. Who would like to be in hospital longer than it is absolutely necessary?" The other man said, he looked a bit like an Italian and I thought that he was American Italian.
"She should be in bed, Perco." George stated then.
Perco? What kind of name is that?
"We all know her, George. I doubt that even you expected her to do like Doc advised." The guy who George had called Perco said.
"I guess I didn't. But her brother told her to take it easy." Then George looked at me "You should do like your brother told you to do."
"I'm all right, George." I smiled to him.
"So, what are you going to do now?" The blue-eyed guy asked. " Lieutenant colonel Strayer won't expect you in office for couple of days after captain Hester told him, that you were in hospital."
Office? Lieutenant colonel Strayer? Huh?
"I'll just take it easy..." I said avoiding. And try to find out, what I am doing here. And what are your names. Why me? Why this has to happen to me?
"All right then." George looked to the blue-eyed guy. "Sobel is expecting us, Buck."
So, he's called Buck. Probably a nickname, who would name his son Buck?
"Yeah. Have to go." Buck agreed.
George and Buck had taken few steps away already, when Buck turned back to my direction. The guy who George had called as Perco stood still there looking at me little smile on his lips, and I started to feel uncomfortable again.
"Are you coming, Frank? Sobel wanted you there too."
Ah, now it makes sense, Perco is his nickname. But how will I remember who is who?
"Yeah, coming. That knob on your forehead looks just nasty, Lara." He grinned before he followed George and Buck.
When the three guys had gone, I had still the same problem than before; I still didn't know which way to go. I decided to go on my left, and wandered aimlessly towards one of the buildings. I was almost on the building door, when couple of guys came out of the building and stood looking at my direction. It seemed like they were waiting for me, so walked towards them.
"Lara." The other one, a lieutenant who had almost flaming red hair nodded at me when I reached them.
"Umm... Yes, lieutenant?" Lieutenant who? Thank God, I know the ranks. Seems like the insignias haven't changed after the war.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" He asked. Why they all keep asking that? Seems like Lara Hester is really liked person over here... But how can I continue being her, when I don't know anyone around here? Damn, I don't know even who I am!!
"I'm feeling much better, lieutenant." I tried to give him a small smile. Then I looked to the other guy who stood next to him. He was also wearing the lieutenant insignias, and he was rather handsome too. Actually the fact was that most of the guys I had seen there were quite handsome. Even Clarence is quite handsome. Shit Lara he is now your brother, remember that!
"That is good, Lara." The brown eyed, dark haired lieutenant stated.
"Are you going to headquarters?" The red haired lieutenant asked and added. "Strayer wants you back as soon as possible, but I guess that if you go there now, he will send you back to bed."
And there he is mentioned again, lieutenant colonel Strayer. Who is he?
"Actually I'm going to my room..." I said hesitating; the fact was that I had no idea where my room was.
"You're in wrong direction. Your room is in that building there." The other lieutenant smiled pointing the building just in another direction.
"Ummm... Yes. Thank you, lieutenant. I think it's the knob on my head, which makes me a little dizzy." I muttered. Bloody hell, I'm coming well with the excuses!
"We heard that you got quite a hit to your head. Maybe we should accompany our good miss Hester to her quarters, Dick." The lieutenant looked to the redhead.
"Yeah." The redhead, who seemed to be called Dick, agreed.
I followed the two lieutenants to the building where my room seemed to be. Dick, and the other lieutenant who he had called Nix, led me to my door room, so I didn't have the problem to figure out which one of the rooms was mine. I said good-byes to the lieutenants and entered the room. It was actually rather nice room with two beds, and it didn't take long to realize that I was sharing it with someone.
I saw rather large sized clothes on the other bed and because figured out that the other one was mine. I searched the both wardrobes and found out the one that belonged to me. I also found some kind of uniform; a dark blue jacket, white collar shirt and a dress, which I estimated to be little over knee length. I also found out that on the jacket was attached a nametag and my name was written to it, or actually the name on it was Lara Hester, but apparently that was me. Fortunately everyone called me Lara back in home, so I didn't ignore that name, if I had it would been rather weird for others point of view, I suppose. Then I took a good look to myself on the full body mirror that was on the wall. Lara Hester – who I apparently was – was a tall young woman. She – or I, I had to get used to that fact – had a mid back length, blonde hair and nice, beautiful facial figure. I saw immediately similarities with Clarence Hester; besides the color of the hair, we both had piercing green eyes. When I was Larissa Brownes I was a brunette, but I had as long hair, but my eyes had been blue, now they were green. Actually the truth was that Lara Hester was more beautiful than I had been before this strange happening, which had occurred.
After my little search in the room, I lied on the bed, and I guess I slept for a while, because I woke up when the door was opened. I opened my eyes and saw a young woman entering the room.
"Are you sleeping, Lara?" She asked and I guessed that she was my roommate.
"No." I rose to sit on the bed and looked at the woman.
She was wearing a similar uniform as I had on my closet, so I figured that we were doing similar jobs there in Aldbourne. Now I was sure that the place where I was Aldbourne in England. She wasn't tall, about 5'5 and she was a bit round, like I had thought when I saw her clothes on her bed. She wasn't exactly fat, but round. She had a mid back length brown hair and kind green eyes. I also saw a tag on her jacket, and found out that her name was Alice Keeton. Thank God for nametags!
"I heard that you went AWOL." Alice grinned when started to change her clothes. I knew what she meant when she said that, thanks to my military father again.
"Yes. I didn't really enjoy staying in hospital." I replied trying to hide my bafflement.
"Who would? But the main thing is that you are all right."
"I am."
"Good. You caused quite a havoc here in base last night though." Alice grinned and looked at her in amaze. I hadn't heard anything like that.
"Clarence went nuts when you didn't come back from village before the dark. Christ, he was just crazy." Alice sighed and sat on her bed.
"He was?" I wanted to hear more, maybe I could learn about Clarence and other guys more on this way.
"Yeah. He practically ordered lieutenant colonel Strayer to gather searching patrols to look for you. And Strayer did it happily, he is your boss after all."
Finally some clearance to that matter! But what I'm doing for him exactly?
"Half of the Easy and Dog companies went to look for you. Lieutenants Winters and Nixon went to the upland with couple of guys from D. Liebgott, Webster and Christenson walked towards the village, and Luz and Guarnere drove there, like you know, after all they found you. Some other guys from D and E searched the surroundings and your brother..." Alice grinned. "He stayed here and drove everyone crazy until he heard that Luz and Guarnere had found you."
I knew what Easy and Dog companies were, but Alice kept throwing me with names, which I didn't know and I got a little overwhelmed again. Maybe I had met some guys who she mentioned already, but I knew then only by first name of nickname, so I had no idea of who she was talking about.
"But why two companies?" I managed to ask surprised about the fact that Clarence had insisted to put so many men to look for me, he really had to love his sister – I mean me.
"Clarence is in Dog Company himself, and we all know that for some reason you are popular among the Easy's men, and for some strange reason you like them." Alice looked at me a little weird look on her face; I guess she thought that she was telling me the obvious.
"Yeah..." I muttered. Then I rubbed my forehead, because it was aching again.
"That has to be sore." Alice stated looking the knob on my forehead.
"It is, but Doc Roe gave me painkillers." I replied.
"That's good. Do you want to sleep, or are you hungry?"
"Actually I am bit hungry." I replied. It was the truth actually I was starving.
"All right, let's go get something to eat." Alice said and stood up.
I took a painkiller and after that I followed her out of the room and out of the building. I followed her to the canteen, and found out that there were a lot of soldiers eating on that moment.
I looked closely what Alice did when she took the food, and did exactly same after her. When we both had gotten our food, Alice led me to the table, where were some guys sitting already. I recognized Doc Roe and the guy who Buck had called Frank, but other two I didn't know. I gave Doc Roe a weak smile when I sat down.
"You seem to be better, Lara." He commented.
"I am. I don't have fever anymore. My head is aching a little, but the pills you gave me seem to work." I said.
"Good. I won't say that you should be in bed, because I know that you wouldn't listen to me anyway." Doc smiled a little and I just flashed him thankful smile before I stuffed food to my mouth.
"I guess you have heard already that half of the base were looking for you last evening." Other of the guys who I didn't know stated. He was quite cute; he had green eyes, a blonde hair and very gentle smile. The problem was, that I didn't know his name.
"Yes, Alice told me." I admitted.
"Damn it was crazy... Your brother was all over the place and colonel Sink did his best to calm him down telling him that you were probably just late." The blonde cute guy told me.
"What happened last evening, Lara? We heard that George and Bill found you laying on the middle of the road." The guy who looked like a Latino asked. He wore a similar red cross on his sleeve as Doc Roe, so I figured that he was a medic too.
"I slipped on the road and hit my head." I felt that it was best to go with the old, safe explanation.
All guys nodded agreeing, but then they all tensed. I felt that someone was standing behind me, and I turned my head expecting to see Clarence, but I looked straight to hard, green eyes that didn't belong to him.
"So, you seem to feel better, miss Hester. You caused quite a havoc here last night." He stated.
I just looked at him. Damn, who is he? And why he is looking me like that?
I saw that he wore lieutenant's insignias, and realized that he was the first guy to call me miss Hester.
"I do, lieutenant. Yes, I'm sorry for that." I replied quietly. Every guy in the table were silent, and even Alice seemed to be little starlet. I felt a little scared too, mainly because everyone else in the table acted like this man had scared the shit out of them.
"Good." With that the lieutenant was gone.
"Damn, the way he just pops out of nowhere gets to me every time." Frank sighed.
"Lara, you know that lieutenant Speirs is scary as hell, right?" Alice whispered to me.
If that was lieutenant Speirs... He was quite handsome, but yeah, he was scary. Actually very scary.
"I know." I whispered back.
"Maybe you shouldn't stare at him like you did just a moment ago. Not even when your brother is in same unit with him." Alice advised and I decided to take her advice.
"By the way Lara, does your brother know that you left the hospital before you should had?" Doc Roe asked suddenly.
"No."
"You're in so much trouble, girl." He grinned then.
"Stop scaring her, Doc. I guess her brother will do it later on."
I looked up and saw the striking blue eyes looking down at me. I smiled to Buck, who had appeared to our table.
"Move, Popeye. I'll sit between you and Ralph." Buck said looking to the cute guy.
"Yes, sir." He grinned and moved so that Buck could sit down.
So, the cute blonde is called Popeye and the other medic is Ralph.
"Alice." Buck nodded to the young woman next to me.
"Lieutenant Compton." Alice nodded back to him, and I was sure that I saw a slight blush on her cheeks. Ah, am I sensing a little crush here?
We talked while we were eating and I got the feeling that these men who belonged to Easy Company, and with who I was close to – or at least Alice had said so – were actually quite nice people. I learned a little more about them, and I hang on every word which was said there. The Latino, Ralph, was a medic indeed and Popeye seemed to be quite a funny guy.
When I had eaten, I stood up, and Alice looked to me.
"Are you going already?"
"Yeah. I have a little headache..." That was the only excuse what I came up at, I felt like I needed to be alone for a moment. When I saw Doc Roe's worried look that he gave me, I knew that I should had come up some other excuse.
"Don't look so worried, Doc. I'm all right." I flashed him a smile.
"You're sure?" He asked.
"Yeah, I just need to lay down for a moment."
Doc Roe just nodded and I glanced to Popeye, who was looking at me too. He is really cute, but I guess George would be more of my type. Gee, Lara, you aren't here to find a boyfriend to yourself!
"See you around, guys." I said before I left.
"See you, Lara." Buck and Popeye said in unison.
I wandered out of the canteen and stood on the yard for a moment. The truth was that I had no idea which way to go. Why didn't I pay attention which way I and Alice came here?
"Lara, I told you to rest couple of days."
I turned fast around when I heard the voice of Clarence Hester. I took a deep breath and looked bravely to his eyes. I had noticed that with him were two other men too. Damn, where did they come from?
"I know. But I'm feeling much better and I didn't really feel comfortable in hospital." I explained.
"I should have known it." Clarence sighed desperation in his tone, or at least I thought it was desperation, I didn't know him so well that I would been sure about it.
"Don't be too harsh on your sister, captain." A man standing next to him stated.
I looked to the both men, who were with Clarence, other one I recognized as the captain who had been in hospital with Clarence last night, but the other one I didn't know. He was older than Clarence or Salve, and he had colonel insignias on his uniform.
I felt like my knees would let down on any second and my heart was beating fast. The three men had given me a scare and I got flustered when I saw the expression on Clarence's face. Seems like he really loves his sister – me. Breathe, Lara. For heaven's sake, breathe!
"She should know that I'm just thinking what is best for her, sir." Clarence stated.
"I understand that, but even I know that she can't stay put for long, and I've known her less than two months. You should know it too, you have known her for whole of your life." The colonel stated.
Actually there the colonel is wrong, but they can't know that...
"Are you really feeling better, Lara?" Clarence looked at me closely. Probably he had noticed that my eyes did wander from man to man.
"I am. I swear." I tried to give him a weak smile.
Clarence, Salve and the colonel looked to me like they didn't really believe me.
"The knob on your forehead looks quite bad, Lara." The colonel stated.
"I know, sir. But it only aches every now and then." I said.
"Everyone are happy that anything worse didn't happen to you, though." The colonel stated then smiling ever so slightly.
I just nodded, I got again the feeling that Lara Hester was very liked person and actually it made me to feel better, only God knows why though.
"You should take it easy for few days, Lara." Clarence stated then.
"I will…"
"Good. Because the knob on your forehead looks really bad." Now Clarence had a more gentle tone on his voice. "Did corporal Roe give you painkillers?"
"He did."
"You should listen what you brother says, Lara. Thought lieutenant colonel Strayer is waiting his secretary to be back as soon as possible." The colonel stated. "You have been gone a day but there is everything in disorder on his office already."
So, am I a secretary to lieutenant colonel Strayer? But I don't know what a secretary actually does and now is a wartime, bloody hell!
"I think he will manage without me few days…" I said quietly. Actually I knew that it was better for lieutenant colonel Strayer – who ever he was – to be without me few days. I would make just worse mess in his office.
"He won't." Salve stated and all three men started to laugh. I looked at them in amaze.
"We just came from his office and there is a mess. A total mess." The colonel laughed.
"You are the heart of his office, Lara. You have been here only six weeks, but you are the one who makes sure that everything goes smoothly." Clarence stated.
I didn't know what to say to him, I was so overwhelmed about all this, and all I could do, was to nod at him.
"But we have to go now. Go to your room, Lara and take it easy." Clarence advised.
"All right then…" I took couple of steps towards one of the buildings.
"Lara, you're going to wrong direction. You're staying on that house." I heard Clarence yelling after me.
"Not again." I sighed quietly when I turned to look to the three officers.
Clarence pointed to the building just on the different direction, and trying to hide my confusion, I headed towards that house. Actually it seemed more like the building where I had come out from an hour earlier, but everything was just so messed up in my mind on that moment. I heard the three officers laughing after me, and when I turned to look at them, all three waved after me grinning.
I'm in trouble. I' m in so... Much... Trouble.