DICLAIMER: I only own Maggie and Emily and no disrecpt is meant.
Chapter 2 Normandy
When Sink arrived at his office the next morning he found Lt Grayson waiting on him. She was staring into the cup of coffee she was holding as if it would give her the answers she was seeking.
"Well Grayson, you have an answer for me?"
"Yes sir, I've enough nurses counting myself, that we can outfit every company as you asked. So tell me where you want us and we'll go from there."
Smiling Sink let her into his office, "Fantastic, I'll give you the units I want you in and you can place the nurses where you think best."
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"You know I don't get it Dick, she was one of the closest friends I had, and last night she treated me like I'd killed her dog."
Dick watched as Nixon paced back and forth across the office. He had never seen Nix this upset. Obviously, he was taking this thing with Maggie last night very serious, that was a first, Nixon getting upset over a woman.
"Nix, when did you say you'd seen her last?"
He stopped pacing and thought about it for a minute. When was the last time he had seen Maggie. "Uh, I think it was my wedding, yeah she was there because I saw her as I left the church."
"Okay, but nothing after that right?"
"No, nothing, in fact no one has heard from her in the last three years, I just don't get it. I was happy to see her and she…well let's just say I think I was the last person she wanted to see."
Dick picked up his hat and headed for the door. "Look, I'll drop by and see you later I need to meet with Meehan right now. But think about this, did you do something to upset her the last time you saw her?"
As he watched Dick leave, he couldn't think of one single thing that had happened that should have upset Maggie, or at least upset her enough to make her leave. The only thing that had happened that last year that was out of normal was his getting married.
Nixon shook his head and headed off for Regiment. Women could be so strange, he'd never understand them.
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"Oh Dick you're here, I'd like you to meet Lt Maggie Grayson our new nurse. She is going will be assigned to us and making the jump. I'd like you to oversee her training."
Dick shook hands with Lt Grayson. This had to be the female that Nixon had been talking about, the description certainly did fit, especially the eyes.
"Pleasure to meet you Lt Winters, I guess we need to get started quickly don't we. Where do you want me?"
"Call me Dick and I guess we can get started now." Dick led her out of the CP laughing quietly to himself. Wait until Nixon hears about this he'll never stay at Regiment.
It was nearly mid-night before Maggie managed to stumble back into the hospital and stumble was exactly what it was. She was so exhausted she couldn't lift her feet to walk. She had decided since she'd had no sleep the night before yeah well blame that on Lewis Nixon and had to be at the airfield early the next morning she would just sleep in her office instead of trying to walk all the way home.
However, when she opened the door she found that Emily had already taken the couch, which only left her office chair. Well, I've slept in worse places.
Sighing she grabbed a blanket and threw it over Emily; the other she grabbed for herself and settled into her chair for a few hours sleep. For the first time in years she fell asleep not thinking about Nixon.
She had only been asleep for what felt like a few minutes when, "Maggie, come on wake up were going to be late."
Maggie cracked open one eye to see Emily up and dressed, not looking any better than she currently felt. "Oh gees, what time is it?"
Emily groaned and stretched, "somewhere around five I think, whatever time it is it's too early. Come on we need to get going so they throw us out of an airplane remember?"
"Yeah I know, just having a hard time getting started. I'm personally not crazy about being thrown out of a plane, but I guess we need to know now who can and can't do it before the big jump. The last thing we want to do is put anyone at risk." Maggie stood and stretched as well. Holy cow do I ache and I thought Africa had been rough.
"So how are things in your company?" Maggie said as she grabbed her gear and headed for the door.
Emily shrugged but didn't comment. Being in Dog Company wasn't that bad as long as she stayed out of Speirs way…the guy was major scary.
Taking her silence, as things were not going that well, Maggie put her arm around her and headed for the door. "Come on Em, it won't be that bad, five jumps, and we'll be done."
"Easy for you to say now, let's see how you feel after that fifth jump." Smirking Emily shut the door behind them.
As Maggie hit the ground for the fifth time, she just laid there not moving. Thank you Lord that's over. I never knew I could hurt so bad, maybe if I just lay here they will leave me alone.
"Maggie, you alright?"
Opening her eyes, she met the worried blue ones of Buck. "Yeah, I'm fine if you don't count the bruises and the exhaustion…yeah I'm just great."
Buck gave her a hand getting to her feet. He wasn't crazy about the idea of females jumping into combat. Especially Maggie, she looked so fragile and delicate he wasn't sure how she had made it this far.
"Maggie, you sure you want to do this? I mean this isn't exactly the normal thing for females to do." Reaching out to brush some dirt from her cheek, he changed tactics, "I just don't want to see you get hurt is all."
Maggie smiled and reached for his hand. "Buck it's nice that you're worried, but I made it through Africa and the invasion of Sicily. I'm pretty sure I'll make it through this. Besides, my job is to ensure all of you get home again."
Buck put his arm around her shoulders and walked off the drop zone that way.
Nixon was standing beside Colonel Sink watching the final jump. It was easy to pick Maggie out of the jumpers; she was a little taller and definitely more fragile looking. Hmm, looks can definitely be deceiving because Maggie the brat was tough as nails. He had watched with his hands clenched in worry when she hadn't moved after the final jump. Sink beside him had expressed their worry best with a muttered 'ah hell'.
He had relaxed marginally when Buck appeared to be talking to her and finally got her on her feet, only to have his hands clench again when he brushed her face and she smiled at him.
What's wrong with you Lew, she smiled at him why are you acting like it's a big deal. Oh now what's he doing, why does he have his arm around her, that's my girl.
Nixon released his clenched hands and blew out a long breath. Maggie hadn't been his girl in over three years and he'd let her go, why was seeing her with Buck such a problem. Unsolicited the little voice made another appearance, because you idiot, you married the wrong woman and now the right one is out of reach. Oh yeah, he was in serious need of a drink.
Maggie slowly lowered herself into the chair in her bedroom. Her movements were small and painful. Dick had told her they had lost three nurses, which considering what they were being asked to do really wasn't that bad. Now that she had finally slowed down and sat down, she realized just how bad she hurt. After the final jump, Buck had walked back to the hospital with her and kept her and Emily company as they packed up bags they would be taking with them.
Finally managing to get her boots off, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Maybe I can just sleep in the chair because beds are so over rated. She cast a glance at the distance between the bed and her chair and quickly agreed with the voice. Beds were over rated, but then again this might be her last chance to sleep in one.
Managing to push herself out of the chair Maggie did nothing more than drop face first onto the bed and was asleep almost before she could move her head to the side.
Nixon quietly opened the door and let himself in. Okay Lew, this goes beyond crazy, you are now breaking and entering just to see a woman. Nixon shook his head and continued to the back of the house where he knew Maggie's room to be. Dick had told him she was fine and he'd tried to catch up with her earlier today, but Buck was stuck to her like glue and he really didn't want another confrontation like the other night. So being the good intelligence officer he was he decided to do a little investigative work.
Pushing the door to the bedroom open he could barely make out a figure laying across the bed. She must have been exhausted because all she had done was take off her boots and drop on the bed.
Easing onto the bed to sit next to her, he gently brushed the hair back from her face. Why had he never seen how pretty she was, could he really have been that blind? Probably, but hell wasn't he paying for it now, Kathy was making him crazy and his marriage was quickly headed for a divorce, what did he care, he had the money to pay her off and then he could be free. Yes, but free to do what?
Leaning in to kiss her cheek he finally knew what he wanted to be free to do, he wanted Maggie. Yeah, but she probably doesn't want you. Guess you'll need to prove yourself.
Easing back off the bed, he realized that a plan had formed. As long as everyone survived the jump into France, he would be free to win her back. Yeah Nix, but like every good plan, it briefs well let's see if it survives first contact.
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Maggie glanced at Doc Roe who was sitting beside her. He looked calm, and collected. She only hoped she appeared to be the same, but inside she thought she was going to be sick. Glancing at the back of the plane, she could see Buck sitting in the door and he would be the last jumper out. Please Lord, let us all get out and land safely.
The anti-aircraft fire had started about the same time the light inside the plane went yellow, just as they were standing up the entire plane shook violently and all the men began pushing for the door.
Doc Roe gave her a hard push, "Get movin' Maggie, we have to get out before the plane blows."
With one hard shove from Buck and Maggie was airborne. She couldn't really see who was around her, but the plane they had been in was going down, she could only hope that the pilots had made it out as well.
When she looked down, she really couldn't see the ground, but kept chanting to herself to keep her knees together. Yet when she hit all of that was forgotten when the impact was harder than any training jump. Her last conscious though was the hope that Nixon was okay.
Maggie pushed herself up to a seated position. The side of her head was pounding and she had no idea where her helmet was. Quickly she disconnected her chute and let her eyes adjust until she could see her helmet. Gently putting it back on, she grabbed her medical bag and made it to her feet. The wave of dizziness nearly put her back on the ground. Okay then, must have hit my head. Need to meet up with someone from the company and soon. Okay so which way is North?
Maggie managed to make it to the rally point by daybreak and quickly found Roe and some other medics.
"How ya doin' Maggie?" Roe asked without looking up from the stitches he was currently doing.
"I'm good, have you seen anyone else from the company?"
Tying off the last stitch Roe finally looked up from his task. "No, but that really doesn't mean anything. I heard the chalks were scattered. Now we just wait. Care to help me out?"
Maggie moved among the wounded who ranged anywhere from cuts and bruises to bullet wounds. She was cleaning up one Soldier's head when she heard someone call her name.
Emily had finally arrived, dirty but here. Maggie hugged her tight. "I'm so glad you are okay. What about your company, everyone make it?"
"We don't know yet, looks like most did, I had the unfortunate luck of being policed up by Mr. Happiness." Emily shrugged and laughed, " Anyway, here I am, what do you need me to do."
Maggie quickly walked Emily through the make shift hospital and what needed to be done. Now that she had someone to replace her, she decided to step outside for a few minutes and take a breather.
She saw Buck across the compound talking to Dick and other than looking tired, they all were in one piece. The voices of some Soldiers beside her drew her attention as they talked about four German guns that had been taken out by Winters and Speirs. Only one person from Easy was injured and that was the million-dollar wound, shot in the ass, Wynn would be back in the fight in no time.
"Maggie, grab your stuff we're moving out." She waved at Dick to let him know she'd heard him and went back inside.
"Em, we're moving out, I'll see you soon." Maggie grabbed the medical kit and headed for the door.
When she found Winters on the side of the road he grabbed her face and turned her head. "Why are you bleeding, have you been looked at?"
Maggie reached up and removed her helmet to let Dick have a better look. "Is it still bleeding?"
Dick reached up to touch the cut, "No it's not bleeding any longer, but you probably need Doc to clean it up when we stop again. But for the record you look terrible."
"Ha ha, just what a girl needs to hear."
Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of tanks. "Well I see the beach landings were at least partly successful."
"Going my way."
Both Maggie and Dick looked up to see Nixon riding on the tank. Beside her Dick smiled and threw his weapon up to Nixon. "Sure, I'll take a ride. Maggie, you want to join us."
Maggie didn't say anything she was too busy giving Nixon a quick once over. He appeared to be okay, she didn't see any obvious injuries. She was still staring at him when he broke her train of thought.
"Brat, what the hell happened to you, you okay?"
Shaking her head she just sighed, some things would never change. "Yeah Nix, I'm fine. Apparently I'm too hard headed to do any real damage."
"Yeah well, I think you should get up here and ride with us till we get you looked at."
Maggie's retort was cut short by Buck's arrival.
"Look Nixon, why is it every time I let Maggie out of my sight I find you trying to steal her away." Buck dropped his arm around her shoulders and stared at Nixon.
Maggie was looking between the two of them unsure where this was going, but Nixon almost looked jealous. Ha now you know you've really fallen and bumped your head. Lewis Nixon jealous, right and the war will end tomorrow.
Maggie decided to speak up for herself, "You know, I think I'll just go with the men, I'll see you later Dick."
Dick had also been watching the staring match between Buck and Nixon. "Yeah, I think that's for the best I'll see you later, remember have Doc take a look at that cut."
Maggie nodded and waved as the tanks moved on. Buck watched them go as well and then turned Maggie to face him.
"Yeah that's a pretty serious cut. Doc will be along in a minute and we'll have him look at it before we move out. You know I've been meaning to ask, I know that you and Nixon knew it each, but is there something between you two that I should know about. I mean I don't want to mess up anything."
Maggie felt like her heart was breaking all over again, what she wouldn't give to say yes, but instead she smiled and shook her head. "We're friends from a long time ago, there is nothing between us." Liar, you love him as much now as you did three years ago. Yeah well, that may be the case, but he doesn't love me, so shut up!
She dropped her head into her hands, great, now she was arguing with herself; maybe she did hit her head harder than she thought.