"Wait until I give the word." Bull said to me as I was still crouched behind him in the underpass of the small hill, the sun was long gone and the moon was over the town that was still in smoke and ruins from the battle that we lost in. It's been a few hours since Bull and I hid away from the Germans, and we still had no idea where the rest of our men were. They must be long gone now, if not in another battle. I felt useless then, being only with Bull and not with the men who needed a Medic. Was Winters freaking out over Bull and myself being missing? What about Doc? He would be having a field day with his co-medic next to him. And even worse: Joe. I need to start taking care of myself when it came to making rash decision and having my own life in the balance because of him. He would be having a heart attack by now as I peered over Bull's shoulder, looking at the vast area and seeing no one in sight.
We had to be sure, very sure, that we were not going to be seen. I trusted Bull though, he was a leader now with his own recited men under him that met him at the bar sometime before. I doubted they would be worrying about him right now, as the rest of Easy. Would they be worrying about the both of us though, still out in God knows where? Maybe they thought we were dead, but I doubted Bull wanted to keep them waiting for any longer. He wanted to find Easy again, as did I.
"Now!" Bull hissed, throwing open the gate and running with me behind them. I followed him as he ran towards a barn with an open door, the both of us crashing into the barn and me throwing it shut. There was no gunfire, no rustling of feet behind us, and no Germans yelling. We were safe. Both Bull and I looked out through the cracks of the wooden door, seeing nothing as the town was still falling to pieces. I sighed in relief, having me rest my forehead against the door, thinking that we had a personal victory. I heard an explosion go off, having both Bull and I look at the already dead tank, seeing more flames from it. It might have been from the equipment, having me see Bull look behind us that barn we were in.
It was medium sized, hay al over the floor with small compartments around the sides that were meant to hold cows or horses. The scent was of a barn for sure, having me breathe in the animals that once lived here and the hay, along with the wood and the smoke from the battle. Bull and I walked over to one of the compartments, Bull going to the corner and sliding down to sit as I did the same next to him. As he sat down, he grunted, a bit of pain showing in his face as he was still holding his gun. I threw off my helmet, feeling the soreness in my head and my eyes from the explosion that knocked me off my feet. My neck was stiff and my chest felt bruised all over.
Bull started to unloaded the things off his jacket as I took off the satchel, pushing through the equipment that I had left over from the Battle. It was only one roll of bandages, no powder for pain or sulfate, nothing really for cleaning blood. My pack was pretty much useless now, and it made me mad as I saw Bull put his American flag that on his other shoulder away in his pocket.
"You best do the same, Red. In case we run into some trouble." He recommended me, having me look at my own flag. I carefully took it off, folding it neatly and placing it in my satchel before looking at him.
"Give me your best bet, as to where Easy is?" I asked him, knowing that he would give me some kind of a rough estimate.
"I'm thinkin', they'd be around the farmlands by now with the counter attack going on. I doubt they'd stray far knowing that we're both missin' in action so to speak." Bull explained, having my eye go wide.
"MIA? Are we technically MIA now?" I asked in a hiss, having me watch his serious face as he nodded his head, still grimacing from a pain he was harboring. He took someone out of a compartment of his gun, giving it to me and having me take a bite: some kind of jerky.
"Holy Christ." I muttered, eating the jerky and the both of us having a calmness between us. I hated thinking that I was MIA, it sounded to reckless and too scary to go through as a soldier. Our moment of silence though was cut short when we heard someone coughing outside the barn. Bull got up, and as I was about it, he put his hand up to me to motion for me to wait. He faced me completely, signing Stay here and then looked around the corner, having me hear the door opening and someone coming inside. After a moment of two of the person walking, Bull darted out and grabbed what looked like a farmer, shoved him against the wall and placed a knife to his throat. I shot up as well, walking over to stop Bull from doing something stupid to a citizen.
"Bull." I hissed, seeing him first look at me and then at the doorway, the farmer as well. I did too, seeing a teenager there, a girl with blond hair looking at Bull with big petrified eyes and filled with fear. This was too much right now: they did nothing wrong. I placed a hand on Bull's arm, seeing him still stare at the girl as if he was waiting for her to do something, but she was too scared to even move from her spot. No, they were not the enemy, not to me.
"Come on Bull." I urged him gently, squeeze my hand on his arm as he took a long breath, slowly lowering the knife from the farmer's throat. I smiled at the girl who was looking at me now, showing both of my hands in a sign that I too was no threat. Before they could say anything, we then heard the commotion outside. Bull immediately grabbed both the farmer and his daughter, showing them in the same corner we shared moments before and I followed. Bull picked up his gun and crouched down in front of us, watching the door as I saw the farmer and daughter cower together, holding each other close. I stayed next to them, crouched low and waiting for something to happen.
It was a tank, having me make no noise at all as it rolled by the front door, giving me the feeling of pins and needles all along my skin and down my spine. Once it rolled away, Bull sighed in relief and walked over to us, about to sit down when I saw the pain in his eyes.
"Here." I said, grabbing his arms and helping him down, hearing him grunt as he made contact with the hay floor. I analyzed him, seeing the torn jacket on his shoulder and the crimson there. I moved between him and the farmer with his daughter, both of whom looked just a concerned as me as I saw the wound on his shoulder. It seemed bad, having me see the sweat on Bull's face and the pain there in his eyes. He was too stubborn to try and show it: typical Easy man.
The farmer pointed to the wound, as if he wanted permission to help. Bull looked to me, clutching his gun as if it was his life source and his way or coping with the pain. I nodded my head, having me see him show his wound to me and then I looked to the man. How was I going to talk to him now since I didn't know a lick of German or even Dutch for that matter. Why couldn't he be French?
"Scissors?" I said aloud, thinking that he knew. He shook his head, having me try making my two fingers look like scissors. He shook his head, patting the pockets on his jacket to show he had none. I sighed, going to the jacket shoulder blade and ripping it open slowly. The blood was there, tainting my fingers and making me looking around to see what it was. Something was in there, and it was too stubborn to get out by itself. I had to force it out, but with what? I had to think, really think since Bull was here in front of me struggle to get through the pain in his shoulder blade.
The farmer then dug something out of his jacket, having me look to see that it was a flask. He knew what I was about to do and he was trying to help, having me want nothing more than to try and communicate with him in order to thank him. He gave me the flask, having it open the top and pour a bit on the wound. Bull hissed, closing his eye briefly before I motioned for him to drink. Bull shook his head, having me grimace as I handed the flask back to the farm who placed it back in his own pocket. Okay, what was this going to look like. I patted down my now jacket to see if I had anything else to work with besides my fingers, but Bull beat me to the punch. He was holding out his knife for me to use, having me take it and start the process.
Blood pouring out and onto my fingers and his jacket, Bull grimacing every once in awhile with a new angle that I was using. I was trying so hard to be careful and not give him more pain, almost being down with the whole thing. The farmer and daughter were looking over my shoulder at the process, more intrigued by it and less scared of us. I could even feel the farmer placing a hand on my shoulder to somehow let me know that he was there for me if I needed help.
I got the piece of metal out from his shoulder, sighing in relief as I there it on the hay floor. Bull was satisfied, breathing out slowly and leaning against the wall that we were near. I then looked around for my bag, but I did see it. The farmer spoke something to the daughter, whom got up and moved over to the other side of Bull, grabbing my Satchel that I left there and handing it to me carefully. I smiled at her, seeing her nod at me and I went for my last bandage. Before I knew it, he was bandaged up and fine. The farmer then handed me a spare handkerchief to dab out the blood, having me then smile at him and dab it away from on top of Bull. There was a sense of peace then, the four of us there. I was forever grateful for this father and his daughter, saving us from what could be out there and not turning us in.
"Thank you," I said to the both of them, knowing that they cannot understand me, "Danke?" I tried with the one German word I knew. They both still didn't understand, having me just smile at them. Of course, they wouldn't know German They only knew Dutch since we were in Holland. We then heard another noise outside, Bull shooting up and the farmer with his daughter towering together once more. I waited with them, having me watch Bull and his new bandaged shoulder as he peered out into the darkness. From what I could hear, more Germans were there and it did not look good.
"They're coming." Bull whispered in panic as he then bolted back to us. I grabbed the daughter as Bull grabbed her father, having us usher them over to the door on the side of the bar. We needed to get them out of there and not get hurt because of us. As we reached the door, the both of them smiled and patted us on the shoulders.
He kept talking to us over and over as Bull looked out the window to the door to see if it was safe.
"Go! Go!" He urged, having me nod my head in agreement. But someone opened the main doors and we all fell to the floor within seconds, having us all freeze and watch as four men come in, laughing and talking. They were searching the place, Bull crawling up to a part of the side compartment and me right behind him. I looked behind me, seeing the Farmer and daughter go to another hiding spot, the Germans were still talking and then three of them left after a moment to looking around. I thought we were in the clear, having me look over Bull briefly and see the four look down at the floor, seeing something on the ground and then squatting to grab it. Bull's bloody Handkerchief.
Damnit.
I sighed in pain, Bull closing his eyes as the man looked around more to see what else was there. We left something out in the open, and now we could be dead. I looked again, seeing him slowly start to go out of the bar after peering around closely. A noise was there suddenly, from behind the both of us and the man shot back around, gun out and ready as he started speaking out in German.
Bull was taking out his Bayonet, getting it ready on his rifle and I tapped him, seeing him look over at me. I signed to him, What are you doing? I was scared, thinking that he was going to go out there and get himself killed. He sighed, signing back to me We need to stop him, Red. He looked back out to have me hear a plane going over us, which was perfect for him since he was slowly getting up when the German's back was to us. Within a moment, they started to fight.
Chaos was loose.
They were fighting as if they were holding swords, trying to swipe at each other. I watched as the German was stabbed, but then he stabbed Bull back in the arm. I shot up then, not wanting him to get hurt once more and I ran over to the German soldier. I found myself still holding the knife that Bull gave me running at the German in a bolt and then getting him in the rib below his arm before he could even see me. There was no way I was going to let him hurt Bull, but after all that he did for me now. He grunted out in pain, throwing the gun at my face and hitting me hard in the cheek. I screamed out, being thrown back and hitting the back of the column behind me.
"Marley!" Bull yelled in both concern and panic as he got the German's attention once more. I shook off the massive pain in my face as I saw the German now being thrown to the ground and stabbed by Bull's bayonet. I could hear Bull grunting through every thrust and having me see the blood pour out of the now the dead body. After a moment of stabbing him, I saw him look up and over at me, though I stayed still from seeing him kill a soldier in front of me. I knew he was doing that to both protect me from getting even more hurt, but to stop him from getting other soldiers to get to us. He looked like he was in the zone there, still a soldier in his own mind, but it took him a moment before me moved the bayonet from the man's chest. He walked over to me, helping me up and looking at me with his intense eyes.
"You alright there?" he asked me, pointing to my new bruised eye and cheek. I nodded my head saying nothing as we are both done and ready to go find Easy company again. This was close, too close. We needed to be safe and away from harm, it was no joke.
We needed to go home.
"Why did you come after me, Red?" Bull asked me as we were both sitting again in the barn, alone and side by side after Bull buried the German in hay to not be seen. It must have been early in the morning now, and neither one of us wanted to sleep since we were paranoid about the Germans coming again. I looked ahead, my cheek must of been now black and blue and my neck was still stiff.
"What?" I asked him, not understanding what he meant.
"Earlier today, when I was running, you came after me. Why?" He asked, looking over at me and having me see his sweaty and almost bloody face that was also exhausted. I thought about it for a moment, but knowing what to precisely tell him.
"You looked like you were in trouble." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.
"So you just ran, without even thinking about it?" He asked with skepticism in his voice. I shook my head, now giving him demanding and determined eyes.
"I thought about how I wanted to make sure you were safe Bull," I explained to him, seeing him go silent as I went on, "It's one thing being a nurse and waiting for someone to get hurt, but it's another stop it before it happened. I wasn't going to watch you get killed in front of me when I knew I could have prevented it." He said nothing after I explained what I was feeling. I would never sit and watch someone in my Company, someone whom I considered a friend, get hurt. Bull was almost about to be killed and I had to save him somehow. I had too big of a heart to let someone I know get hurt without me stopping it.
"You were trying to protect me?" he asked me, having me smile and feel the pain of the bruise tearing into my face as I saw him watch me.
"We're in this together." I only said back to him, something Buck told me before when he save my own life on my first night in Normandy. I wanted to say the same to Bull, who did defend me and saved my life from the German. There was a part of me that did not want to be seen as a liability, someone who needed saving. No, I wanted to be the one saving people's lives. Bull skilled finally after a few moments looking at each other, having me see that all was well between us. Even though we were MIA and not knowing if we were going to find our men again, I was glad to be there with Bull.
We were at a good place for once that day.
Bull and I walked out of the barn in the daylight, having me squint and look around me. There was a sense of silence around us. No one was around, having me see the town was still in ruins as we walked together, staying close in case of something happening. Where was everyone? Why did I have a sense of peace over me now more than before? I could feel the bruise on my cheek growing now to almost touching my jaw and eye as I watched Bull stop in front of me. He was looking down at a body, an American body. He looked do young, so young and innocent as I watched Bull squat down to grab his dog tag. Looking around, thinking that we might need to move soon, I had to figure out how we were going to find our men again and where they would be. I was no good with navigation, I had to remember where we came from before we had the battle, which direction was it?
But that moment of thought was gone when we heard a vehicle coming our way. I tapped Bull on the shoulder, seeing him get up and push me behind him, thinking it was a German vehicle. HIs rifle was in one hand and the other was shielding me from what could come. But it was an American vehicle, a small one. I sighed in relief and joy as Bull held the gun over his head to show that he was okay and that he meant no harm. I was glad they found us, the worries were far gone now and it was peaceful again in my brain.
We were safe.
We rode in the small car that was taking us back to our men, having me feel the wind against my battered face and in my hair as we drove on the pace road, away from the town. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the wind soak over me like water as if I was going under and being clean again. After I opened my eyes, I looked over at Bull who looked worn out, but none the less happy. We were heading back to our men and no longer in danger, so I would feel the same. Hell, I was. I could see us slowing down when we spotted a soldier no too far off from the road along a hill. The soldier raised his gun over his head, showing he too was not harmful or a threat, another American solider.
We stopped the car, Bull looking over the side and the men rushing over to us, as if they knew him. I didn't know any of them personally, all but one: Webster. He was with them, and as soon as he saw me, he went to me as the others went to Bull and smiled, as if they were children seeing their father after a long day at work. They must be his recruited men under his leadership.
"Where the fuck have you been?" One of them asked as Webster rushed over to me with a big grin on his face. I hopped off the car, seeing him and hugging him close. It was good to see his face again, at least someone from the Company whom I knew and cared for. His hug on me was gentle, not fierce, but kind.
"We thought of the worst with you two," Webster said to me in the hug, pulling away and seeing the bruise on my face, "What happened with this?"
"German hit me with his gun, Bull took care of them." I explained, having Webster grin at Bull, who smiled back at him with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I don't expect anything less from Bull." Webster commented, having Bull shake his head.
"She saved me from an amputated arm, this one." He explained, pointing to his shoulder blade as Webster then looked back at me in amazement. I only shoved my hands in my pockets and shrugged, thinking about it. It was nothing to me, only trying to help him. Webster nodded his head, as if he was giving me his approval for doing such a thing.
"Come on, I know a bunch of guys who are looking for their favorite redhead."
I hopped out of the car, Bull following and the other five soldiers including Webster as we were back in a clearing, being back with American soldiers. I sighed, looking around to see whom I knew and I was just glad to be back around Americans, since I had too much time around Germans for me. Some of the men were pointing and smiling as they saw both Bull and myself alive and well. But it was Guarnene and Lipton, who saw me first, smiled and yelled out to me.
"Marley! Bull and Marley are back!" I smiled from hearing the sheer joy on their faces. The men ran over to the both of us, having me see their familiar faces and then they all hugged us close, a massive group hug. There were at least 30 of them hugging us very closely, having me loose air, but not caring about that. I hugged as much as I could with anyone that was close enough. To hear their voices and to see their faces, it made my own heart explode inside of me and made me want to cry from just being happy and safe with them. Luz was the last to hug me, then giving me a stern look on his face and jabbing me lightly with his finger.
"Don't ever do that to us again, you hear me?" Luz said to me as they all crowded around me, having me smile as he looked so serious at me as a father would to a child, "Both of you! We thought you were dead, or worse."
"No way, not me." Guarnene reassured me, winking at me as the men laughed, having me smile next to Bull.
"Who gave you that shiner?" Muck asked, pointing to the bruise on my cheek. I was about to say it, but Toye beat me to it.
"Some Kraut I bet." He replied, having me smirk at him.
"We'll get them back for ya, Red. Make no mistake, not one messes with an Easy member. If one of us gets hurt, we all hurt them back." Guarnene said in a vow, having the rest of the men cheer in agreement. I felt more hugs around me and men telling me that they were glad I was back and alive. But then the men parted for the both of us, having me see who was on the other side of the men looking at me in such shock and joy on his face. Joe Liebgott, the one person whom I was fighting to get back to. He was frozen in his spot next to Nixon and Winters, both of whom looked very relieved to see me.
But my mind was in Joe, and I rushed over to him. I literally jumped in his arms, feeling him hug me back and not say a word to me. There was nothing to be said, not one thing. I knew he would be and at me for making him worry or be in fear and that he was happy see me again alive and unhurt. I just closed my eyes, drinking in the fact that I was back with my men and with Joe, whom hugged me tightly and tried to hard not to kiss me in front of the men. All was well with me.
All was well.
