DISCLAIMER: I only own Maggie and Emily, no disrespect is meant toward the real Easy men. The song is "You'll Never Know" and was popular during WWII. I apologize but was unable to find the writer or singer. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful song and I take no credit for it.
Chapter 3
"Ow Doc, could you be a little rougher?"
Roe laughed and continued to clean the wound at the side of her head. It hadn't been deep, but like most head, wounds had bled heavily.
"Just be still, I'm almost done, but trust me, blonde hair and blood don't mix well together."
She just sighed and tried to divert her attention by thinking about the last twenty-four hours and what needed to happen tomorrow. Buck had dropped her off with Doc when they stopped for the night. They would be moving out in the morning and most of the men were off celebrating their survival. Sighing she shifted again and willed Doc to hurry up; she still had to find somewhere to sleep.
"Okay, you're good. Let me know if you have any more headaches or double vision."
"Doc, I'm a nurse remember. I'm very familiar with the signs of a concussion. Thanks for cleaning it up though." The smile taking some of the bite out of her words, she was tired and cranky, not a good combination.
Grabbing her kit and heading for the door, she ran into Dick who was just coming to look for her.
"Oh, there you are, hey I wanted to make sure you knew where the company CP is. We'll be sleeping here for tonight and well, I wanted the chance to talk to you."
Maggie followed Dick back to the house they were using for Easy, knowing what he probably wanted to talk about; he was going to want to discuss her and Lew. Well maybe it would be better to get it out in the open, that way Dick would know she was no threat to his friend.
Quickly scanning the room, she saw no signs of Nixon and visible relaxed.
"You can relax Maggie, he stays at Regiment."
Wow, it was creepy how he read minds. Now I'm even more nervous.
"However, that does lead me to the first question, how do you two know each other? Nix had told me you were good friends but that's about all, so I want to know the real story."
Maggie dropped down in a chair facing Dick. "Well he's right we were friends, since I was ten years old. That's when my mother went to work as a house cleaner for the Nixon's. Lew never cared that I was the house cleaner's daughter, and I was someone who didn't care how rich he was. It did however make a difference to the elder Nixon that I was just the child of a servant, but hey, that's the short story."
Dick said nothing for a moment, "Okay, but what happened three years ago that caused you to disappear?"
Laughing, "I'd have thought the answer was easy for a smart guy like you…he married another woman."
Dick jerked his head up, "you mean you were in love with him and that's why you left? Are you still in love with him?"
"Dick, I've been in love with Lewis Nixon since I was sixteen but he never saw me as anything but Maggie the brat. He broke my heart when he married her and personally, I'm tired of caring. It's better that he doesn't know how I feel, it'll just complicate things, so can we just keep this conversation between us…please?"
"Okay, I won't tell Nixon, but you know you could be wrong about him."
"How could I be wrong about him? The only reason he is upset is that I'm not following him around like a lost puppy any more. I'm not wrong, and besides, you heard him, I'm still the brat. No it was too late for us the day I walked out of the church alone."
Grabbing up her bag, "If you'll excuse me it's been a hell of a long day and I think share time is over. I'll see you in the morning."
Dick didn't comment on the fact that it wasn't too late, simply because he didn't think Lew would want him telling her he was getting divorced. Instead, he watched as Maggie headed off into the next room. He wondered how long it would take the two of them to come to an understanding. He could only hope it was before Buck and Nixon killed each other.
Maggie's shoulders were aching from holding the front end of a litter while Major Strayer decided if it was safe to cross the street. Gees, how in the world this person was ever put in charge is beyond me. Dick finally gave permission to proceed and as she crossed the road, she smiled at Dick and rolled her eyes as they headed into the nearest building to set up the aid station.
Doc Roe was just finishing up with Dick's leg when Maggie stepped out of the backroom. Looking over Doc's shoulder Maggie grimaced, "ouch, bet that hurt. You need to stay off that."
"I already told him that, you know he won't." Doc finished wrapping Dick's leg. "Sir you really need to listen, but I know you won't so just let me rewrap that tomorrow and you'll be okay."
Maggie propped her hip up on a table next to Dick and watched him put his boot on. "Seriously Dick, you okay?
"Yeah, just going to be sore a while, ego got the better of me trying to show off. Guess that will teach me."
Maggie patted him on the back, "Yep, pride goes before a fall, I should know." Winking she headed back into the other room leaving Dick to wonder what she was talking about.
Maggie came out to watch the Soldiers pull out of Carentan and move into the trenches to face the counter-attack they knew would be coming.
"Here Doc, take the extra morphine and bandages you might need them, send someone back for me if you need help."
"We'll do, see you soon."
Dusk was coming when Emily finally showed up at the aid station. "So this is where you've been hiding. I thought maybe that blonde hunk would have taken you with him but alas I see you are sitting here by yourself, so what's new?"
Reaching over and grabbing a pack of cigarettes, she handed one to Emily. Maggie lit one for herself then relaxed back in her chair to glare at her friend.
"Well, I'm safe and sound here by myself, but I thought Speirs never let you out of his sight. At least I'm allowed to roam around alone." Maggie blew a smoke ring and watched as Emily grimaced.
"Yeah well, I'll trade you him, for that blonde hunk. Anyway, we're stuck here till tomorrow so what'll we do."
"We wait and hope that we get no business that's what we'll do."
The next day after the fighting had ended Speirs had stopped by and taken Emily leaving Maggie by herself. Hearing the door open she came out of the backroom to find Nixon standing there looking lost.
"Well to what do I owe the honor Lt Nixon?" she said leaning against the wall. She did everything she could to maintain distance that was going to be the only way to prevent getting to close to him again.
Nixon crossed the room and sat down without saying a word. His dark eyes never leaving her. She had always hated the way it was impossible to tell what he was thinking; those dark eyes of his hid many secrets.
Finally unable to stand the silence any longer, "Okay Lew, what do you want?"
The look on his face never changed. "We're heading back to England, thought you might like to know. I was getting ready to go find Dick."
Finishing his statement, he stood causing Maggie to jump back from him. Damn it I've got to stop that.
Nixon shook his head, "Maggie, what's wrong with you? I would like to talk to you some time. Maybe when we get back to England, but we are going to talk count on it."
Maggie watched him leave with a shiver down her spine. When Lewis Nixon was that determined, there was no getting around him. Sighing she lit another cigarette and tried to calm her nerves. Yeah he says we need to talk, shows how little he knows, he missed his chance to talk to me years ago. So why would I talk to him know. Because you're curious, that's why. Ah, is that it, just remember curiosity killed the cat.
Shaking her head, I've got to stop arguing with myself.
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"Okay Doc that should restock all the medics and I'll take care of the nurses and final inventory tomorrow."
Roe grabbed his bad and headed for the door, "You coming Maggie?"
Maggie looked between Roe and the paperwork on her desk. If she stayed longer tonight, she could have it finished by tomorrow afternoon and since the dance was tomorrow night, she'd really like to have it done so she could go.
"You know, I think I'll stay a little later I'll see you tomorrow."
Getting comfortable in the chair, she started into the paperwork that would guarantee her a late night. However, by nine she had managed to cut the large pile in half. As she was reaching for another file, an envelope dropped on the desk in front of her.
"What the hell." She jerked her head up to find Nixon standing in front of her desk smirking at having caught her unaware.
"You know there was a time when I would've never been able to sneak up on you. I think you're losing your touch."
She leaned back in the chair to look up at him, "Nope I'm not losing my touch, just losing my interest. So get to the point, I've got work to do." Picking up the envelope, she waved it back and forth in front of her. "So what's this about?"
If possible, she watched his smirk grow even larger, "that is something I hope you will be pleased to see."
"Doubt it, but if it'll get you out of my office faster." Maggie pulled the stack of papers out and started to read over them. When she got to the last page, she quickly flipped back to the beginning and started again.
"You're divorced. How, when, why I don't understand. I thought everything was going well and now you're divorced?" Maggie was in shock that she couldn't think past the little voice chanting in her head, he's free, there are second chances, he's free, oh my God, yippee, he's free. Now what are you going to do?
Nixon was enjoying a speechless Maggie, it rarely happened but when it did, it was worth it. "I wanted you to know because, well I think there were some things between us that should have been talked about and never were and well, I'd like that chance now."
Before Maggie could find her, voice there was a knock at the door. Oh crap, just what I need, two testosterone-fueled men…where were the two of you years ago.
"Hey Maggie, Doc said you were working late so I thought I'd stop by to walk you home. Nix, you really do have the strangest way of showing up alone with my girl."
Maggie watched Nixon's eyes, this time they were giving him away. She could tell he'd really like to say something but held back. "Yeah well I just stopped by to tell Maggie something. I'll see you guys around." He picked up the paperwork and left.
Buck looked between Maggie and the door, "did I just interrupt something?"
"No he was just leaving, so you came to walk me home, that's sweet of you Buck, I was just finishing up."
"Well that was just part of the reason, I'm sure you've heard the boys are having a little dance tomorrow night and I thought…well that maybe you'd go with me?"
Smiling Maggie took his arm and switched off the light. "I'd love to."
The next might Buck arrived right on time to escort Maggie to the dance. Emily had left with Speirs earlier, causing Maggie to have a laughing fit. Come to find out the man who didn't let Emily out of his sight did it because he liked her. That had also caused Maggie to tease Emily mercilessly, "Gees, and I though blondes were dense. I can't believe you couldn't see it." Emily had said nothing but had thrown a pillow at her.
When they arrived at the dance, Buck led Maggie over to a table and went to get them something to drink. Everyone looked wonderful and she had never realized just how handsome the men were in their uniforms. She was so lost in watching the crowd that she didn't hear him sit down beside her.
"You look beautiful Maggie; I don't think I ever told you how beautiful you really are."
Looking around she meet his eyes and realized he was serious and before she could stop herself, she said the same aloud.
He just laughed at her. "What, do you think I never noticed you are beautiful, I'm just real bad about saying what I think? Come on brat, dance with me."
She only nodded and let him pull her out of the dance floor. When she tried to keep her distance, he laughed again and pulled her closer, whispering in her ear, "relax Maggie, I rarely bite on the first date."
Finally, she did let herself relax and laid her head on his shoulder. The man should not smell this good, nor should he feel this good. Oh, I could quickly get addicted to being held by him.
Nixon kept Maggie pulled close to him, laying his head on top of hers he closed his eyes and listened to the music.
You'll never know just how much I miss you
You'll never know just how much I care
And if I tried, I still couldn't hide my love for you
You ought to know, for haven't I told you so
A million or more times?
You went away and my heart went with you
I speak your name in my every prayer
If there is some other way to prove that I love you
I swear I don't know how
You'll never know if you don't know now
You'll never know just how much I miss you
You'll never know just how much I care
You said good-bye, now stars in the sky refuse to shine
Take it from me, it's no fun to be alone
With moonlight and memories
You went away and my heart went with you
I speak your name in my every prayer
If there is some other way to prove that I love you
I swear I don't know how
You'll never know if you don't know now
When the music ended, Maggie raised her head and met his eyes. Unconsciously she licked her lips wanting to say what she was feeling, but before she could, he laid his finger against her lips.
"It's okay you don't have to say anything, but know that the song said more than I ever could. Think about it. Here comes you date."
Nixon quickly kissed her on the forehead and handed her back to Buck. "You kids have a good time and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Smirking he walked off to join Dick and another officer at their table.
"What did you do Nix?"
Smiling he picked up his glass and tried his best to give Dick an innocent look. "Who me, I didn't do anything but dance with her. Why does it look like I did something?"
Maggie danced with Buck the rest of the night, but she could constantly feel Nixon's eyes on her. Yet when they left to go walk home, he was nowhere in sight, but she was still humming the song they'd danced to as she let herself into the house. Well Maggie, way to keep your distance…did he really mean what he said?
Maggie was still smiling as she drifted to sleep with the feeling of Lew's arms around her.
Thanks to everyone who is reviewing...I had hit writers block and those comments good or bad really help.