DISCLAIMER: I only own Maggie and Emily, no disrespect is meant toward the real men of Easy Company.

Chapter 5

Something very cold was dripping on her face. She didn't remember falling asleep outside, but the brightness mixed with the dripping made her think she might have dozed off on the back steps. Way to go Maggie, next time don't work yourself into exhaustion and then you'll actually make it to your bed. Wait, what's that noise.

Forcing her eyes opened she realized that what she was hearing was someone calling her name. Turning her head, she could make out Emily just a few feet from her pushing rubble off and getting to her feet.

"Em, what happened, where are we?"

"Maggie, oh thank God, you'd been still for so long and I've been calling you're name, I was worried I'd lost you. You don't remember anything?"

Closing her eyes again trying to think only created a worse headache. "Not really, I remember we walked back in and someone yelling about the Germans then nothing. Guess all the yelling was that we were being shelled huh?"

Emily was beside her pushing off the rubble and looking her friend over. Maggie's face was scratched and bloody, but it didn't appear anything was broken.

"We took a direct hit and I'm afraid everyone in here is dead except us. Come on we need to get out of here and let someone know we're alive."

Maggie tried to stand on her own but ended up needing Emily to get to her feet. The pain in her side when she tried to stand let her know immediately that she had probably broken one or more ribs. Once on her feet she actually looked at Emily and started to laugh. "You look terrible. I don't think you'll ever get all the dust and dirt out of your hair."

Emily started to laugh as well, "Sweetie, you look no better, we need to find Colonel Sink, or they are going to leave us. Not to mention we really need to get you cleaned up."

When they finally made it out and into the square, they didn't see any 101st patches. "Emily, how long do you think we were in there? I don't see any of the 506th this is not good."

Finally managing to grab a Soldiers attention they found out that 506th had moved out to Foy and we're probably on their way to France right now. The Soldier also provide the date, they had been unconscious for almost two days.

Maggie managed to pull herself together, "Look Soldier we need to get to the 506th Regimental headquarters where ever it went. Now go find us a ride."

After the Soldier had run off to do her bidding, Emily laughed quietly beside her. "Wow if you can inspire that kind of fear covered in blood and dirt, no wonder the other nurses fear you."

"Yeah, well have you stopped to think about what this has done to Ron, or the other men we support? We've technically been dead for close to two days, and right now, I have no idea how long it's going to take us to catch up with them. Right now, I feel like something the cat dragged in I personally don't look forward to showing up where ever they went." Smirking she patted Emily on the shoulder, "Hey, at least I don't have to face a man who thinks he lost the love of his life. Damn, if they are heading to France it's going to take forever to catch up."

"You really think they believe we're dead?"

Maggie looked back over her shoulder at the abandoned church, which was nothing but a pile of bricks and beams. The only thing that had saved their lives was the fact they had just stepped back inside and were closer to the wall that hadn't completely collapsed. Lifting an eyebrow at Emily Maggie cocked her head back at the building, "Oh I don't know, if I saw that…yeah I'd make the assumption we were dead. Also do you really think they've left us if they had thought there was a chance we were alive?"

Grimacing Emily agreed, "Yeah I see you're point. Come on we'll find the new aid station and get cleaned up."

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Dick kept glancing over at Nixon riding beside him. They had taken Foy and the issue of Foxhole Norman was solved with Speirs' suicidal run across an open field to take command. Dick was glad to have Ron as the new commander of Easy; they would be safe with him as the commander, much better than under Dike.

Speirs had taken the news of Emily's death about the way Dick thought he would, with the usual calm thanking Dick for telling him. Only someone paying close attention would have noticed the change in Speirs, if anything he had grown colder and was definitely taking more risks, maybe commanding Easy would settle him.

The person who had him most worried was Nix, the Vat 69 is his footlocker was disappearing faster than normal, not to mention Lew never joked or smiled any more. He wouldn't talk about Maggie other than to say he probably should write to her father, he just didn't know what to say.

"Dick you can stop staring at me, I'm not going to jump out of a moving jeep so relax. I'm okay, really."

"Nix I really want to believe you, but your Vat 69 stash is waning and you never talk about her, I think it would do..."

"Look you're my friend but drop it okay, I'll talk about it when I'm ready and this isn't the time."

Dick dropped the subject, maybe once they got into Haguenau he could try to talk to him again.

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Maggie looked over at Emily and grimaced yet again. They had managed to hop a supply convoy heading in the direction they needed to go, but riding in the back of a supply truck was pure agony, especially for Maggie whose two broken ribs grated against one another with every jolt.

They had shocked the doctor when they'd shown up at the aid station and told the story of crawling out of the rubble. They had been very lucky, but Maggie was beginning to wonder if their luck would hold. They had been on the road for a week and they hoped to make Haguenau by tonight, the best they could figure is they were about two to three days behind Easy.

"Maggie what are we going to do if we get there and they're gone."

Maggie shook her head, "I don't know, I'm just hoping they're there, not sure if I can take another trip that this. Don't worry though; I'm going to get you back to Ron, trust me."

Emily tried to smile just as they hit another hole in the road. "So help me I think this driver has hit every hole between Bastogne and Haguenau. Maggie, I may have to hurt him when we get there."

Maggie snickered, "No you won't. If we find Ron I have a feeling you won't be out of his sight long enough to eat, much less do bodily harm to a driver."

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Nixon was standing out on the balcony overlooking the river when Dick found him. "Sink wants us to send a patrol across the river to try and grab some prisoners."

A grunt was the only comment that Dick received. "Nix, I need you to give me a good intelligence update before we launch, think you can do that?"

"Sure intelligence update before you launch." Nixon's reply was automatic.

Sighing Dick turned back into the room, nothing he said or did had gotten through to Nixon so maybe he would just hide the Vat 69 at least that would get some kind of reaction.

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It was after dark when the trucks finally stopped. The driver came around to the back to drop the tailgate for them. "Ladies we're here. I'm not sure where you need to go, but this is the end of the line."

Maggie gingerly lowered herself to the ground and looked around the square. "Okay, well let's go see what we can find."

They wandered around the town for at least an hour until they found a Solider that pointed them toward a large building close to the river where Easy had set up their CP. Walking toward the building Maggie felt uneasy, she really wasn't sure what would happen when they showed up. She could only hope that Nixon would be happy to see her.

When they entered, the CP there was no one around. "Well not the welcome I imagined." The firing of a machine gun brought their attention to something going on outside. Maggie shrugged, "well that's more what I expected. Shall we go find out what's going on?"

Emily and Maggie stood in the shadows and watched as men scrabbled out of the rafts carrying one man while dragging another behind them. Tapping Emily on the shoulder Maggie motioned for them to head back to the CP.

Easing herself into a chair Maggie looked over at Emily. "I'm not moving, they'll come back eventually, and I'm tired and too sore to chase them all over town."

Emily giggled and dropped on the couch, "I agree they can come to us after seven days of us chasing them across Europe. Why don't you close your eyes and try to get some sleep, I'll wake you when they come it."

It seemed only a few moments had passed when Maggie was jerked awake by Emily squealing. The only thing she clearly heard was Emily screaming Ron's name. Maggie opened her eyes in time to see Emily launch herself into a very shocked Ron Speirs' arms. Her eyebrows lifted at the kiss he laid on her friend and as she watched Ron picked her up continued to what she could only assume was his bedroom. Passing he'd smiled and told her welcome back. Way to go girl, hope you have a good time you deserve it.

Pushing herself out of the chair, she gained her feet just as Dick entered the room. "Nurse Grayson reporting for duty sir."

Dick's head jerked up from the report he had been scanning to see Maggie standing in front of him.

"You're alive, but how, we saw the church, there was nothing left, where is Emily she's with you right?"

"Okay, take a breath Dick, yep Emily is safe and sound, and currently being occupied by a certain Captain, as for us being alive…miracles happen that's the only explanation I have. I don't look so great and have a couple of broken ribs, but nothing that won't heal." Putting her arms around his waist, she pulled him into a hug. She felt Dick wrap his arms around her and lay his head on top of hers.

"Maggie I can't even find words to tell you how happy I am that you're safe and here." Pulling back from her, he traced some of the cuts on her face. "Even if you do look a little banged up. I know someone who is going to be even happier than me to see you."

"Where is he?"

Dick shrugged, "Knowing Nix, sitting in his room drinking the same thing he has done every night since you died. Come on I'll show you where."

She was laughing when she said, "you know, that last statement is one I never expect to hear…since you died. That's really creepy Dick, just want you to know that."

Dick laughed, "yeah it does sound strange to say that when I standing here talking to you."

She followed Dick over to another building and up a flight of stairs where he stopped outside the first door. "Just go easy on him; losing you was rougher than he'd ever admit." Turning to go he paused again, "he really does love you Maggie, give him a chance."

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. A muffled 'go away' was the only response. Well if he wasn't going to invite her in, she'd just invite herself.

When she opened the door, Nixon was sitting with his back to her and his feet propped up on the table, a half empty bottle of Vat 69 sitting beside him.

"Damn it Dick, I told you to leave me alone. Can't a man drink in peace?"

Walking around to stand beside the chair Maggie tried to keep from laughing. "Well if you can find anywhere peaceful to drink in the middle of a war…please let me know?"

Nixon jerked his head up at the sound of her voice, the glass slipping from his hand. "Oh now I know I'm either really drunk or having one hell of a hallucination."

Laughing she knelt beside his chair, "Well could a hallucination do this?"

Taking his face in her hands, she leaned in and kissed him. She loved every minute of it, his lips were warm and soft, and while she would never admit it, she loved the taste of Vat 69 especially when it was on him. His low moan and his hand going to the back of her head let her know he was enjoying it as much as she was. Slowly pulling back from the kiss with a nibble to his bottom lip, she waited for him to open his eyes.

She watched as he licked his bottom lip and the smile spread before he opened his eyes. "You look like hell brat, but I guess coming back from the dead can do that to you. You're really here aren't you?" He gently ran his finger over the cuts on her face.

"Yeah Lew, I'm really here and I think I owe you an answer from that day in Bastogne." Nixon gave her a puzzled look, "you don't remember…I love you Lewis Nixon and have since I was sixteen years old, so if you aren't serious about us…"

She never had a chance to finish her statement because Nixon pulled her in for another kiss. Guess that's my answer.

Breaking the kiss Nixon pushed to his feet and pulled Maggie flush against him. Maggie had to look up to meet his eyes and when she did, he began to kiss and nibble down her neck. Her fingers were in his dark hair pulling him closer.

"Lew please, I…I have no idea what I need but right now I need you."

"Brat you got me, for better or worse I'm yours."

Pulling his mouth away from her neck for a moment, she met his eyes, holding him in place with her hand in his hair. "You better be sure, because once we start there will be no stopping and I'm not going to regret this tomorrow."

"I promise you'll never have a reason to regret this."

Freeing her hands from his hair, he kissed her again and pushed her back toward the bed.

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The pounding on the door woke Maggie the next morning. Her first reaction was to yell at whoever was on the other side to stop pounding, but then she realized that Lew had his head on her shoulder and they were both a little under dressed. She ran her fingers through his thick black hair and smiled. He had been so gentle last night, but if that was him drunk…wow she couldn't wait until he was sober to do the whole night again.

He had been worried at first that he would hurt her ribs, but by that time, she'd laughed and said 'what broken ribs'.

Deciding one of them needed to move and since she thought he was still asleep, she made an effort to slide out from under him only to have him grab her around the waist and pull her back close. "Let 'em knock, I like you right where you are." His beard rasped over her chest causing her to shiver in pleasure. Oh, you've to get out of this bed or you'll never get out. The man was too sinful and if she weren't careful, she'd spend the whole day in bed, in his arms.

"I like it here too Lew, but since neither of us needs to get caught with our pants and everything else down, let me up."

Placing a kiss on her chest, he let her go. "Just for the record I'm not getting up."

Grabbing his shirt and throwing it on, she looked over her shoulder at him and gave him her sweetest smile. "Lewis, if I tell you to get up, you will, trust me."

The only response from the bed was his deep chuckle. The man had a laugh that made her weak in the knees.

Jerking the door open, "this better be good."

The expression on Doc Roe's face made getting out of bed worth it. The swarthy Cajun lost all his color and had to put a hand on the doorframe for support. "Maggie, I thought they were pulling my leg about you being alive." Before she could speak, Doc had pulled her into a bear hug, which caused her to moan in pain.

"Oh gees, I'm sorry Maggie, what did I do?"

Finally getting her breath back, she patted him on the back. "It's okay Eugene, two broken ribs you didn't know. What are you doing here?"

Looking over her shoulder at the bed, "I usually come and check on Captain Nixon every morning. He's not been the same since you…"

"Enough Doc, go tell Dick I'm fine," came from the bed behind her.

Eugene winked at Maggie and headed back down the stairs. Shutting the door, she turned to face the bed. "You are not a very nice man."

Again the deep chuckle, "Well why don't you come over here and teach me to be nice."

Sighing, "I would if we had more time but I think you need to get up and get dressed, we can continue this later."

All she heard was the mumbled 'you're no fun' as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

Maggie left Nix to get dressed on his own, because if she'd stayed in the room he had no intention of letting her get dressed. Walking into the CP, she was greeted by Lip and several other Easy men that had heard she was back. Dick had stepped between her and them before they could hug her, "guys, two broken ribs, so no squeezing the nurse."

Maggie laughed and poured herself a cup of coffee. She hadn't seen Emily yet, but Ron had passed her on the way into the CP and winked at her with a wide smile. She had nearly tripped having never seen Ron smile in public before, but at least now, she could see what her friend saw in him. If she didn't belong to Nixon she might have had to reconsider Ron, he was gorgeous when he smiled.

Before Maggie could get the cup to her mouth, it was snatched out of her hand. "Hey that was mine!"

Emily gave her a sweet smile. "Sorry, but I really needed a cup of coffee. What was this one yours? So how was your night? Mine was absolutely wonderful he was very happy to find out I wasn't dead and he decided to show me exactly how happy he was all night." Sighing she dropped down into a chair and savored her cup of coffee with a smile on her face.

Rolling her eyes Maggie turned to pour another cup of coffee, "So Dick, before I hurt my little friend here, where are we moving out to next."

Dick smiled, "we're going to Germany where else."