Hey guys! Sorry again for the delay, I'm in over my head with work right now. Next few months will be tough, but I try to keep up regular updates.
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing and hanging tough: Crazyforkasey (Thanks! Hehe, if you love Welsh, then you might like this chapter, too... :-))), Beth-rodrigues.77 (Yeah, you're right, it was about time to send Dick back to Easy, I'm glad about it, too. :-)) Yes, of course there will be more trouble on the way for Dick and Lizzie, but they'll also have some nice time together. So glad you liked the chapter and thanks for your support! :-))), ScarletLeon (Hehe, I loved that you liked Greta waking up and telling off Dizzie, I had hoped it would be funny. Yes, definitely poor Dick, but at least he's not alone in this, he's after all finally back with Easy. :-))) Thanks so much for your review, loved it!), Lia (So happy that you loved the last chapter. And yeah, of course Sobel will be booted off and yes, it won't be too long until that happens and yes, I'm looking forward to it as well. :-))) And yes, there's a bit more Dick and Lizzie time in this chapter, I really hope you like! :-) Thanks so much for your reviews, I truly love them!), MichelleLenoire (Thanks for your review, I really loved it! :-) Yes, you're right that we're hardly moving on with the plot right now, but I promise that we'll pick up speed soon. ;-) Well, about posting longer chapters, I can't really promise anything right now, but I do try to move on as quickly as I can. ;-)), ChocAndSnow19 (Hehe, I loved to hear that you liked that Greta is alright and I confess that I couldn't actually hurt her, I really like her too much for that by now. ;-) Yes, Sobel won't stop being irritating anytime soon (but at least his time with Easy is running out...), but Dick has some support in Easy now. So happy to hear you don't want this story to end! :-))) Don't worry, the end is still rather far away. ;-) Thanks so much for your review!).
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The rhythmic pounding of dozens of running boots reverberated in Dick's ears. His rifle chafed on his shoulder and he tried to concentrate on the regular beat to keep his heavy feet from dragging across the ground. Sweat was trailing down his back in small rivulets and he regretted his decision to have chosen his winter coat today, instead of the lighter jacket he usually wore for outdoor training that involved physical exertion. But then again, how should he have known that his CO was truly so mad as to ground them all in total exhaustion with an exercise like this?
Beside him, Hoobler was puffing like an old engine and suddenly fell back to a walk. Dick knew this was his cue to spur the soldier on and get him running again, but there was no breath left in his lungs to speak aloud the order.
"No lagging behind, Hoob!", Lipton commanded, coming up from behind and appearing beside Dick. "Move your ass!"
Groaning, Hoobler made another effort and fell back into a jog with the the other men. Dick only had the strength to give Lipton a thankful nod, everything else seemed to require too much effort. The sergeant understood the message all the same and quirked a short smile. Although Lipton's voice had sounded out of breath as well, he seemed still quite fresh, as Dick noted almost enviously.
The miles dragged on, it felt like they made no headway at all. Dick was sure they were not even halfway through yet. His right side had started hurting after the first fifteen minutes, but he was unsure if it was the almost completely healed wound acting up or just a stitch from running too fast and too long. Well, he had to admit it, he was badly out of shape, especially for a training like this. And worst thing was that he noticed his platoon slowing down with him, so he would not fall out of position. He tried to move faster, but his legs were starting to disobey his wishes and snagged on every stone and root in his way. Just as he was sure he could not run anymore and would have to drop back to a walk in a minute or two, Sobel suddenly lifted a hand and came to a halt.
"Ten minute break", the captain panted out, the running not leaving him unaffected either.
Most of the men just groaningly dropped to the ground and refused to move even one more muscle. Dick pretty much felt like following their example, but such behavior was out of question for him. Propping up his arms on quivering knees, he instead tried to get his breath and bearing back. His heart was hammering in his chest and there was the metallic taste of blood on his tongue, probably from the rough breathing of cold air. A bout of queasiness was suddenly on him that showed him that he was definitely overtaxing his body.
Eyes still fixed on the ground, Dick saw a pair of boots appearing beside him and he straightened back up to find Lipton next to him.
"Sir", the sergeant said hesitantly and offered his canteen to Dick.
"Thanks", he replied breathlessly, still winded, but accepting the canteen and drinking from it. He gave it back when a sweaty Harry joined them.
"I'm a bit surprised you didn't overrun us yet with your boys, Dick", his friend commented easily and wiped the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. "With second platoon consisting of such good runners and all. I know you used to beat me every time."
Dick winced to himself, since he knew that the slowness of second platoon was due to his personal struggle to keep up the pace, then replied tiredly, "Not today, Harry."
"What?", his friend challenged with a quick grin. "You lost your touch? Man, time for lying around is over, you should get back in shape. How long is it since you've been cleared for regular duty?"
Dick stayed silent and looked away, while Lipton beside him shuffled his feet uneasily.
"Wait...", Harry tried again, quickly sobering up. "You're not yet cleared at all, are you? Why in God's name did Sink let you get back?"
"Because I asked for it", Dick replied wearily. His clothes, damp from sweat, were quickly growing cold and he suddenly felt chilly.
"You should tell Sobel", his friend suggested worriedly.
"He knows", Dick answered, then added darkly, "That's probably why we're doing this."
A long silence followed, before Lipton spoke up, "Sir, you should let me carry some of your gear, I got..."
The sergeant trailed off as Dick motioned for him to be silent. Quiet as a shadow, Sobel had approached them and joined their circle.
"Dick, you're a bit on the slow side today", the captain commented slyly and looked him up and down. "Are you getting tired? You just need to say the word and I can have someone drive you back to the base. Maybe you're not yet ready for this. I told you to take your time."
Dick could practically feel his backbone grow rigid. Oh, how he hated Sobel's little games.
"No need for that, sir", he replied impassively. "I was just getting warm."
The captain gave him a look of barely disguised contempt, before he turned his back on them and shouted, "Break is up, back on your feet! Go, go, go!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Walking out of intelligence, Nix lit himself a cigarette when he saw Easy company get back from their training. Since he had only learned about Dick's reassignment back to platoon leader this morning (although he had expected it after his friend had told him that he had another talk with Sink), he decided to wait for Dick to join him and ask him about his day with Sobel.
Curiosity – after all – was part of Nix' job description.
Nix watched the Easy men trail slowly out of the trucks. Exhaustion was deeply writ in their pale faces, their shoulders were drooping and their clothes muddy. God, what kind of exercise did they have behind them for these well-trained and tough boys to look so worn out?
Nix' eyes instantly started to look for Dick and he finally saw his friend getting out of the jeep, moving with the grace of a nonagenarian. Nix winced in sympathy, then watched Dick wearily dismiss second platoon, then finally Sobel dismissing his lieutenants with a brisk movement that even from afar suggested irritation. Dick did not wait to stay around, but immediately turned around to walk hastily in Nix' direction.
"Hey Dick", Nix greeted his friend as he came closer, wondering at Dick's sudden revival and his swift pace. "How was your..."
Nix could not finish his sentence because his friend was rushing past him, eyes fixed on the ground, and disappeared in the latrines behind him. It was only a second or two later when he heard him retching. Nix winced again. Well, that was a way to answer his question, too. Turning back around, he saw Harry approaching him with a limp.
"Looks like you had a lovely day", Nix commented sarcastically instead of a greeting. The sight of his two friends worried him, but there hardly ever was a point in fretting.
"Yeah, wonderful", Harry replied and wearily sat down on the steps of the latrine. He slowly loosened his shoelaces and gave a slow moan of relief. "I swear my feet are just one giant blister."
Behind them, even more retching noises could be heard. Harry just lifted his eyebrows, then started inspecting his feet.
"You really make me ask, huh?", Nix said long-sufferingly. "What happened? You two look like you've been to hell and back."
"As a matter of fact, we have", Harry replied and quirked a wry grin. "Sobel let us run a fucking marathon in full gear. Twelve fucking miles."
"Oh, that sounds like fun", Nix commented and shook his head. "Is he now completely mad?"
"Looks like it", his friend answered and spit on the ground. "Dick said Sobel did it because of him. To force him to give up."
Now Nix could not quite hold back the frown of worry.
"It didn't work, right?", he asked hesitantly.
Harry first laughed, then answered, "Of course not. You know Dick. You sooner get a stone to weep than him to give up. Stubborn as a mule, really. Sobel was quite pissed off it didn't work and he'll probably try again tomorrow. I have this feeling that the next few days or weeks will be a clash of wills between Dick and Sobel. They won't just set aside their differences and carry on, one of them will have to give way."
"Well, but it doesn't sound like Sobel was too far away from breaking him", Nix pointed out with raised eyebrows and motioned to the latrines.
"Yeah, true", Harry conceded. "He was pretty much on the verge of collapse. It wouldn't have taken much longer." He paused for a moment while the noises died down behind them, then could not keep himself back from adding with an undertone of reproach, "But then again, how smart is it that you return back to duty when you're not yet cleared for it? If he..."
"I didn't have any choice, Harry", Dick spoke up from behind them, appearing in the latrine doorway and leaning tiredly against it. His face looked grey and haggard, and there was an uncharacteristic stoop to his shoulders. "It was now or never. This was my only chance to get back to Easy."
"Will you complain to Sink about Sobel?", Nix asked.
"No", Dick replied and sighed. "Sink asked me if I was ready, I said yes."
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head, but remained silent.
"Could we go back to the Barnes, please?", Dick suggested wearily and pushed himself off the doorway with some effort.
"Yeah, sure", Nix replied.
They slowly walked (or more like limped and shuffled in Harry's and Dick's case) to the jeep, when Nix noticed Dick pressing a hand to his side.
"You alright?", he asked his friend quietly and motioned with his head to Dick's side.
"Yeah", Dick replied, almost sheepishly. "It hurts and twinges and does all sorts of funny things, but the wound is still closed and healing. Don't worry, I'm fine, just worn out."
"I'm not worried about you", Nix denied immediately, then switched back to joking that seemed to help in all situations, "I'm just worried you'll puke in the car."
Dick just frowned at him and refused an answer.
In a weary silence, they got in the jeep and Nix drove them to Harry's billet, that was not too far away from the base. Harry took his leave when Dick held him back and said quietly, "Thanks again, Harry. I'm not sure I'd have managed without you today."
As if this had not already piqued Nix's interest, Harry replied with a smirk, "Ah, don't mention it. It's not every day that I get the opportunity to save your ass." He paused, then added with a more sincere smile, "I knew you'd have done the same for me."
With that, Harry limped to his billet.
"What was that all about?", Nix asked curiously.
Dick blinked tiredly, then answered, "Whenever I thought my legs were about to buckle underneath me, Harry slowed down third platoon and since he was up front and the path was too narrow for one platoon to pass the other, I had to reduce speed with second platoon, too. Gave me time to recover somewhat. Sobel was furious, but you know Harry, he always has an excuse at hand. Still, as disciplinary measure third platoon'll have to run another few miles tomorrow evening."
Nix had to smile at that. This was so like Harry. He could be a big mouthed cranky midget most of the times, but he had a heart of gold and was loyal to a fault. That he would take all the punishment on himself just to save a friend did not surprise Nix at all.
"I'm not sure I deserve all their loyalty, Lew", Dick suddenly said with a voice that turned into a murmur while he rubbed his eyes. "Not only Harry's but Lip's as well. Lip was great, he practically led the platoon today. And the boys... they never behaved so well as today. I'm not sure I can live up to their expectations, it's not like I'd know how to get them to do their duty and protect all of them from death on the battleground."
Nix smiled faintly at that. Where Harry was loyal to a fault, Dick had the habit of carrying the responsibility for everything and everyone on his shoulders, including the punctual rising and setting of the sun.
"But you would do everything in your power to protect the boys from death?", Nix asked and looked to his friend.
"Yes, of course", Dick replied with a vehemence that came quite close to indignation, which made Nix smile even wider.
"That's why you deserve their loyalty, Dick", he answered long-sufferingly after a minute or two, because his friend seemed right now too dim-witted to realize it himself.
A long silence followed. Nix expected Dick's contradiction at every second, because modesty was another character trait that his friend possessed in abundance. A virtue that made Nix' skin crawl even at the thought of it. But no answer came and when Nix finally lifted his gaze from the road to look at Dick, he saw that his friend was fast asleep where he sat, his chin sunk down on his chest.
Nix just shook his head to himself and tsked his tongue.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Do I look good?", Lizzie asked self-consciously and made a half-turn where she stood.
"Yes, you look lovely", Greta replied from where she lay in the hospital bed, leg resting in a cast on three pillows. "You know you look good, you never had any qualms about your appearance when you were dating men back in Boston."
"I know", Lizzie replied and brushed down the front of her dress uniform. She had hardly ever worn this uniform before, but since regulations were getting stricter and she was forbidden to wear civilian clothes, she had decided to wear it this evening. "But this is different. This isn't just some random date that I accepted because I'm bored."
Greta laughed quietly, then winced a bit as she shifted her big belly and her cast in a more comfortable position.
"True, he's your officer in shining armor, coming straight out of your dreams", Greta said teasingly. "Don't let him escape."
Lizzie tried to pout, but it could not quite ruin her good mood. She had looked forward to seeing Dick again for the last two days and she had also decided that things between them had to pick up speed a little. Of course she loved to talk to him and just be around him, but then she longed to be closer to him than just the occasional kiss or two. But since he had made no attempt so far to heat up things between them and had comported himself like a true gentleman all the time (not counting their very first kiss), she had decided to take matters in her own hands. Her first step was the good old dressing up. However, this dress uniform just could not get the job done the same way as the short black dress she had left back home.
"I don't intend to let him escape", Lizzie replied grinningly, then asked again, "Do you think I wear too much make-up?"
It was the first time she had worn any cosmetics in months, she had to admit that she was slightly out of practice. But the bulge on her forehead from the accident was now shimmering in every possible color of the rainbow and when she had started masking it with make-up, she had spontaneously decided to get the job fully done.
"No, Lizzie, your make-up is fine, it's discreet and you look stunning", Greta answered with a good portion of exasperation. "If he even now manages to keep his hands off you, then he's truly a lost case."
Lizzie could not help but smile at Greta's choice of words, because her friend usually had the most well-mannered way of speaking. Maybe she had annoyed her friend a bit too many times with Dick and his problem of 'keeping his hands to himself'.
"I would just love to go out with you once more", Greta then added with a sigh and a frown at her belly.
"We'll catch up on everything when your baby is here", Lizzie replied warmly. She came closer to sit down on the edge of the bed and laid a hand on her friend's only thinly clothed belly. Every once in a while she felt movement under her hand.
"It'll never be the same again", Greta replied almost wistfully, but then suddenly smiled when she looked at her belly. "But at the same time I'm starting to look forward to this new life."
Lizzie returned the smile. Greta had never displayed a huge, exuberant joy at the prospect of her motherhood, since it had all happened very unexpectedly. However, this car accident and the fear of losing her child had somehow pitted her friend closer to that unborn child that grew in her and that she loved with all her heart. For the first time, Lizzie could actually envision her friend as a mother.
"So, little Clothilde", Lizzie spoke to her friend's belly. "Your godmother now has to leave and meet a certain breathtaking and amazing red-head with a penchant for platonic love. Maybe she can convince him of the wonders that are the bodily assets of a woman."
Greta rolled her eyes, but smiled nevertheless.
"You'll totally ruin my child, Lizzie. Don't you dare speaking of such things to my child before he or she is eighteen years old."
Lizzie just laughed, then waved one last time to her friend before she left the ward. Looking at her watch, she saw that she was already running a little late. It was shortly before seven in the evening and Dick usually got out of intelligence at half past six. They had arranged to meet about ten minutes away from Aldbourne, on a little hill with a view that was quite nice. Ever since the incident with Shames a few days back, Dick had gotten slightly more paranoid when meeting up with her. She was not even sure if he had chosen that hill as a meeting place because of the romantic view or because of the tactical advantage to see people approaching from afar.
However, when Lizzie arrived in her car at the hill, running almost ten minutes late, no one was awaiting her. Frowning, she got out and looked around. Although it was already dark, she could make out no car and no other sign of the presence of someone else. Just the trees rustling around her in an evening breeze. She again checked her watch, but she was sure she had the time right.
But it was very unlike Dick to be late. She frowned and lit herself a cigarette, resolving to wait until he showed up. The minutes passed without anyone coming up the road. After she had smoked her third cigarette with her feet slowly turning into icicles, she decided she had had enough. He was now more than half an hour late and she doubted that he would show up at all this evening, so she got back in her car to drive back to the hospital.
Had he walked out on her? Maybe his conversation with his colonel had ended with Dick promising he would cut off any ties to her. The thought made her swallow heavily and she instantly tried to shake off this unwanted train of thoughts. Maybe something unexpected had come up for him to be late. Whatever it was, she just hoped he was fine.
On this anxious note, the base came into view and after a moment of hesitation, she turned the car around at the last moment and drove back to the village. The heck with it, she had to find out what was going on! This could get really embarrassing in case he had actually wanted to end their relationship, but she had to see him right now.
His billet soon came into view and she parked the car behind the house, then made sure no one watched her before she swiftly climbed the stairs. Maybe Dick's paranoia about being caught together had already rubbed off on her. She knocked and waited. She could hear steps, then the door opened and Nixon stood grinningly in the doorway.
"Florence!", he drawled, looking her up and down, "What a nice surprise! How are you doing? Almost didn't recognize you under that make-up. You're going to a party?"
For a moment Lizzie could not decide if she was annoyed at Dick's friend or just relieved that he was in the mood for joking, since this meant that she could scratch the worst case scenario in her head.
"Yes, it's called a wait-out-in-the-cold-and-freeze-your-butt-off-part y", Lizzie replied with a sigh. "Are you asking me to come in or not?"
Nixon opened the door wide and made a sweeping gesture with his arms.
"My home is your home. At least it's my home this evening because the Barnes are out."
"Thank you, how kind of you", she replied sarcastically and stepped in, before he closed the door again. "You wouldn't know where I can find Dick, would you?"
"You two have a date?", Nixon asked with a smirk.
"No, we just exchange cooking recipes once a week", Lizzie answered, dead-pan, making him snort.
"Oh, then maybe the chef was just done in from cooking all day", he drawled.
"Lieutenant Nixon", she tried again, getting tired of the game, "can't you just tell me where he is?"
"Where would be the fun in that?", he asked with a grin, but then finally decided to take pity on her. "He's upstairs, sleeping."
From all the possible answers, this one really took her aback. She had frozen her feet off waiting for him because Dick had overslept?
"No need to gnash your teeth, Florence", Nixon said with raised eyebrows. "You can't blame him, he's got one hell of a day behind him. His CO made them run a marathon in full gear."
As soon as her temper had come, it abated again, leaving behind only confusion.
"Captain Norton from intelligence?", she blurted out in bewilderment.
"No, no, you're not quite up to date, Florence", Nixon replied patiently. "Dick's back with Easy. As of this morning."
"Oh", she just said, trying to process the news. "This is great, he must be thrilled."
"Yeah... well...", Nixon began, then motioned for the stairs. "Just go up and see for yourself."
She decided to follow his advice and walked up the stairs to Dick's room, where she knocked on the door. No one answered and since she wanted to make sure Nixon was not fooling her, she just stepped into the room.
What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks. Dick was sprawling on his bed, still in full, mud-splattered uniform, completely dead to the world. A peacefulness and innocence that only came with sleep lay on his face and made him look very young. One of his arms was dangling over the edge at an uncomfortable angle, but he did not seem to mind. The way it looked, he did not seem to mind anything right now, including her knocking and entering his room. The sight of him, ranging somewhere between adorable and pitiable, soared straight to her heart.
"Oh, baby!", it quietly escaped her lips and she went over to sit on the mattress beside him. "What did they do to you?"
A soft sigh from his lips was the only answer she received. It made her heart want to flow over with compassion and affection. She softly stroked his face, then pressed a kiss to his lips, which roused him a little.
"...what?...", he murmured and struggled open his eyelids only to blink sleepily up at her. She smiled at him and it took another few long seconds, before he suddenly took a double look at her and instantly snapped up to heave himself on his elbows. "Lizzie! What are you doing here? How late is it?"
"An hour past the time we were supposed to meet", she replied, but without holding a grudge.
"Oh no... I'm so sorry, Lizzie", he said with a grimace of apology and heaved himself under a small moan into a sitting position. "I just wanted to lie down for a minute or two."
She watched him rub his eyes in exhaustion, then run a hand through his messed up hair. A huge yawn escaped from his lips that he tried to hide behind his hand. Lizzie smiled a bit at his sleepiness, then snuggled closer to him, despite his dirty clothes. He lay one of his arms across her shoulder and drew her close, resting his head against hers.
"It's no problem, Dick", she said and really meant it. "So what happened today?"
A short silence followed and when she turned her head she could see that he had closed his eyes again.
"Dick", she repeated more forcefully and gave him a nudge with her shoulder.
"Hmm?", he asked sleepily and watched her from under heavy eyelids.
"Your day?", she sighed with slight exasperation.
"I'm back with Easy", he murmured and gave her a weary, but content smile.
"I know that already, but congratulations anyway", she replied, then started to frown. "But why did you have to run so far today?"
"Because my CO is a flayer and he hates me", Dick mumbled tiredly and slowly lay back down on the bed.
"Okay", she said in a drawn-out voice and shook her head when she noticed him drowsing off again. "Let me see your side."
"It's fine", he replied without opening his eyes.
"Yeah, you always say that, makes it quite hard to believe", Lizzie countered and started to unbutton his shirt when he made no move to comply. This step of hers, however, roused him a bit more and he watched her from tired eyes that suddenly started to look a tad hungry. She had to bite on her lips to keep from smiling and at the same time had to tamp down on her rising excitement. When his shirt was fully open, she slowly pushed up his white undershirt to reveal his belly. Although she had seen him like this a dozen times before when he had been in hospital, she could not quite keep her unruly eyes from noticing the muscles on his abdomen and her mind from imaging how wonderful his warm skin right there would feel to her lips. It took all her will power to focus on the scar on his belly. To her relief, it did not look any worse than last time she had seen it.
"Told you it's fine", he murmured when no reprimands from her side were to be heard, then suddenly watched her more closely and asked quietly, "You did that all for me? Clothes and make-up?"
She sighed, then nodded her head.
"Yeah, I planned to seduce you", she offered in such an offhand tone that he might interpret it as joking.
He chuckled a bit, then replied, "You do that all the the time, you know."
A warm feeling spread in Lizzie's chest and she lay down next to him and gave him a short kiss on his lips. He smiled at her and pulled her close to him, sighing with content. She relished in his closeness, but then could not keep herself from pointing out, "But I don't see my attempts at seduction getting me anywhere."
He chuckled a bit more, the sound rumbling in his chest close to her ear.
"I try to behave, as hard as it is sometimes", he replied in a voice that was again heavy with sleep, "for your sake as well as for mine. There's no rush, Lizzie... We got time... we should wait..."
His breathing evened out and she knew that he had fallen asleep. His body was warm against hers and she could not quite resolve to move out of his arms yet. It was clear that she would not get him to move again this evening. Every other attempt to get him out of bed would just feel totally heartless in the face of his exhaustion.
Finally, she managed to leave the coziness that was his arms, which provoked a grunt or two of protest without him actually waking. She pressed another kiss to his forehead, then got up and switched off the light when she left the room.
She just hoped his last sentence before falling asleep had not been incomplete, because if he had wanted to add 'we should wait until marriage' or 'we should wait until we're back home in the US', she was sure her patience would slowly but surely come to an end.
-tbc-