DISCLAIMER: I only own Maggie and Emily, no disrespect is meant toward the real men of Easy Company. Another song that I thought would fit. Also from the time period...sorry if I insult someone by not listing the singer or author...but they weren't listed when I found the sound.
Chapter 6
Maggie had snuck back into Nixon's room when she saw him cross the town square heading toward Regiment and grabbed her medical bag. By the time she was back downstairs most of Easy had loaded up in the trucks and Emily and Ron were standing off to the side talking. Climbing into the back of Dick's jeep, she watched the conversation between Emily and Ron with some interest.
From the hands on the hips stance that Emily had taken, she could tell it was a heated conversation. Emily turned to leave and Ron grabbed her arm. That earned him a finger in the chest several times to make some point. Emily then threw her hands up and headed for the jeep Maggie was sitting in.
Once her friend had settled beside her, "So, you want to…"
"No and don't ask again, the man is a complete ass and I hate him."
Maggie remained silent knowing that Emily was mad enough to tell the whole story without her asking.
"I mean, who does he think he is, first I travel for seven days in the back of a supply truck just to see him and let him know I'm safe, then he has the nerve to tell me get back in that same truck and head back. The man has lost his mind; really who does he think he is?"
Maggie bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Well I'm pretty sure he thinks he's the man who loves you and that he wants to keep you safe. Besides, you don't hate him; you're just frustrated with him."
Emily crossed her arms and dropped back into the seat to pout. Oh yeah this drive was going to be fun. There was nothing like sitting next to a pouting female all the way to Germany. Could this trip get any worse?
Maggie realized by the time they did arrive in Germany that it could get worse. She had really considered hitting Dick in the back of the head more than once, but concluded that men liked to hit the holes in the road. By the time Dick stopped the vehicle she wasn't sure what hurt worse, her butt or her ribs. Easing out of jeep, she leaned against the side in an effort to regain her composure.
"Maggie, are your ribs bothering you?" Eugene asked as he settled beside her.
"Yeah a little, I forgot to wrap them this morning and that was a mistake, but I'll take care of it later. I'll talk to you later Eugene."
When she entered the CP, all she was looking for was peace and quiet instead she walked into a screaming match between Ron and Emily. On the other hand, maybe it was more correct to say a screaming Emily, since Ron's voice never seemed to get that loud.
Stepping in between them, she pushed them apart. "Stop it right now. Both of you are acting childish. First, Ron she loves you and she's not going back behind the line just so you can feel better, so get over it. Emily, he loves you and wants you safe, so that's why he is being an ass. Now that's settled, both of you get the hell out of here so I can have some peace."
Both of them were still standing shocked into silence when Maggie sat down on the couch and looked over at Dick, who was currently doing his best not to laugh.
Maggie rolled her eyes as they two lovebirds left, "oh young love, they'll be a great couple if they don't kill each other first." Pushing off the couch, "Well if you'll excuse me I think I'll have Doc rewrap my ribs and possibly a little morphine and then I'm going to sleep for about twelve or more hours. Would you do me a favor and when Nix comes looking for me tell him I died."
Laughing at her own joke, she turned to expecting to find Dick laughing with her and found instead a very puzzled look on his face. "Okay, I know it wasn't that great of a joke, but still it was a little funny. What's wrong Dick?"
"Nixon didn't say anything to you before we departed this morning?"
Maggie shook her head not liking the fear slowly creeping up her spine. "I didn't talk him prior to us leaving and the last time I saw him he was walking to Regiment. What's happened Dick?"
"Sink reassigned him yesterday; he is jumping with the 17th Airborne as an observer. He should be back in a week or so. Maggie you okay?"
She realized that the shock she was feeling was probably showing on her face and that was why Dick asked if she was okay. Forcing a smile "Yeah, I'm fine, my ribs are just bothering me, I think I'll go find Doc, see you later."
An hour later with ribs rewrapped and just enough morphine to dull the pain Maggie was sitting alone in her room drinking what Nix would have called 'the local stuff.' A knock at the door brought her out of her drug-induced haze.
Dick stuck his head in the door, "Hey I just wanted to check on you, Colonel Sink would like you to come up to Regiment tomorrow and run a sick-call clinic now that we're going to be stationary for a few days."
"Sure Dick, no problem. Sink demoted him didn't he? That's the real reason he sent him to jump with the 17th."
"Yeah he did. Sink loves Nix, but the drinking just wasn't acceptable up there. So I took him as my intelligence officer."
Maggie laughed, "Yeah he'll do much better under you, you understand and accept him as he is."
"Get some sleep; he's going to be okay."
Maggie watched Dick desperately hoping he was right. After years of waiting on him, she didn't want to lose him now.
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Several days passed and Maggie kept busy doing minor medical checkups and keeping Ron and Emily from killing each other, which much to her amusement was almost a full time job. In one of the few quiet moments, Maggie asked Dick if he'd heard anything about the jump.
Glancing at the nurse out of the corner of his eye, he could see what the stress of Nixon being gone had done to her. She looked completely exhausted. "Sorry Maggie, no word, I'm sure everything is okay."
Shrugging she didn't comment. She was just too tired. She had had almost no sleep since finding out he was going to do another combat jump. Maybe he would make it to the next place they stopped. She only wished to that he had a least told her.
They were due to ship out to Landsberg the next day, but right now she still had patients to treat, including one silly Major at Regiment that managed to cut a gash in his leg.
She'd asked him how he'd done this much damage and he'd just shrugged. It never failed that when officers did something stupid they rarely wanted to admit it. She was just finishing the twenty-five stitches and wrapping his leg when Luz showed up looking for her.
"Maggie, when you're finished Major Winters needs you back at the CP."
Looking up from what she was doing, "Sure George, what's the problem? Is someone hurt?"
Luz gave her a strange look, "No, no one's hurt, but Winters told me to tell you that you need to hurry."
Maggie dropped her equipment in the bag and ran after Luz back to the CP, to find Dick walking back into the main room. "Okay Dick, what's wrong?"
Dick glanced back at the room he'd just left. "Nix came back."
Dropping her bag she started into the back, but Dick grabbed her arm. "He was only one of three people who made it off the plane before it blew, so he's a little…well let's just say he started drinking the local stuff."
Maggie raised her eyebrow but only nodded in response to Dick's statement.
The large back room was where all the officers got together at night to play poker or drink but the room was currently empty save for Nixon who was sitting with his feet propped up on the table drinking whatever was handy. The glassy look in his eyes told her he was feeling no pain.
"Hi brat, did ya miss me?"
The distinct slurring of his words told Maggie everything she needed to know. Nixon was too far gone to try to have a serious conversation.
"Actually I did miss you and it might have been nice had you told me instead of leaving Dick to do your dirty work."
He swung his feet off the table and stared at her with his coal black eyes, "Wow, I would have thought you would be a little nicer to me since I'm the man now stuck writing all those letters. Hell, I'm lucky to even be alive and you are yelling at me."
Bracing her hands on the table, she leaned in and dropped her voice. "Let's make one thing clear, I'm not yelling, you just need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Damn it Lew, you told me I'd not regret loving you…well when you're like this I find myself seriously regretting it."
She didn't flinch when he threw the bottle in a fit of temper. "You know what Lew, I'll be around when you calm down, and Dick knows how to find me."
She had just laid her hand on the door handle when the chuckle came from behind her. She'd almost went weak in the knees until he spoke.
"Figures Dick would know where to find you…I'm sure he was right there to comfort you when you found out I was gone. Yeah, he would be a better man for you any way. Always doing the right thing, the supportive thing, I just don't know why I didn't see it sooner."
Taking a deep breathe and reigning in her temper, she turned to face him, "Lew, sometimes you can say the most stupid things. Dick Winters is your best friend and for some damn reason he honestly cares for you and for you to say anything to dirty about his motives…I really feel sorry for you. Oh and I guess the most important part, you should have trusted me. I waited years for the night we had, so you know there was no one else before you…so why would there be anyone else but you now. Think about it and when you're sober come find me."
When she entered the room that served as the CP to find only Dick was present, which meant he'd cleared the room. She knew he'd heard the glass shatter and was waiting to see if she was okay. Saying nothing, she walked into his arms and cried until she had nothing left.
Deciding to hide, like the chicken you are she was sitting in Emily's room. Not like Emily was going to be there any way, she'd spent every night with Ron and right now Maggie wanted to be alone. From somewhere down the hall she could a record playing.
I'll walk alone
But to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely
I don't mind being lonely
When my heart tells me you are lonely, too
I'll walk alone
They'll ask me why
And I'll tell them I'd rather
There are dreams I must gather
Dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight
Please walk alone
And send your love and your kisses to guide me
Till you're walking beside me, I'll walk alone
I'll always be near you wherever you are each night
In every prayer
If you call I'll hear you, no matter how far
Just close your eyes and I'll be there
Please walk alone,
And send your love and your kisses to guide me
Till you're walking beside me, I'll walk alone
I'll walk alone
Maggie was beginning to wonder if she wasn't meant to be alone, she really did think it was easier sometimes. She knew when he sobered up he would be sorry, if he remembered, but right now…alone was better.
Maggie and Eugene were loading a truck with extra medical supplies when she caught sight of Nixon come out with dark glasses on. Yep, someone has a hangover. She allowed herself a little pleasure at the fact his head was probably pounding. She caught him looking around and quickly stepped out of his line of sight. She really didn't want to deal with him right now.
So to avoid a fight she climbed in the back of the truck with Eugene, who raised an eyebrow when she sat down beside him but said nothing. Smart boy. As the truck passed, she could see him and Dick talking. Dick waving at her as the truck passed caused Nixon to look up. She noticed he watched the truck until they moved around the corner.