Chapter 4

June 1944

"Medical doctors, nurses other medical personnel who are not to engage in any combat and the reserves are on standby until Operation Neptune. That would be all." The head medic implied ordering everyone to be prepared and ready for the imminent invasion.

"I don't see why everyone else needs to be in here, Lew, especially you. You need to be with your men, making sure they're all informed and ready."

"Boys are tired of seeing and hearing me repeat everything they know, besides I need some fresh air. Aldbourne feels so cramped up, I can't even breath." Whatever expression he and everyone else tried to put on changed upon receiving the final memo for Operation Overlord.

"Boys are tired of seeing and hearing me repeat everything they know; I need some fresh air. Aldbourne feels so cramped up, I can't even breath." Everyone was quite jumpy after receiving a memo about the impending Operation Overlord, including Lewis.

"I survived every hell thrown at the Pacific, I'm pretty sure we can all handle this new type hell."

"Oh.. I believe in you, kid. We both know that. Just, be more careful this time. You know how life works, you get 3rd strike and you're out." He smiled. "We never really got to catch up back in Aldbourne, did we? Your brothers never did visit."

"I apologize, we haven't got much time. Maybe next time." She shook her head. "Besides, it's getting pretty late. I need to head back to my barracks. Off you go then, Lew. I wish to see you alive and in one piece in France." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before heading out, never looking back. She was scared. No, being scared was an understatement, she was terrified. She wasn't ready to face her fear, wasn't ready to see those empty gazes telling her that she couldn't save them-that because of her, they'll never see their families ever again. She wasn't ready.

"You need to stay put, Al. Leave everything to the three of us. Besides, Elle was kind enough to write you off for the jump. Doctor's order!"

"Yeah yeah. Hey, Roe! Don't forget all those things she told the medics to prepare. I trust you boys to take care of all these jugheads." Al Mampre gave each guy a pat. "And I expect to see you guys in three days' time, all of you." Silence engulfed the four medics as they started to pack all the kits.

"Three day supply of K-rations, chocolate bars, Charms candy, powdered coffee, sugar, matches, compass, bayonet, entrenching tool, ammunition, gas mask, musette bag with ammo, my weapon, my .45, canteen, two cartons of smokes, Hawkins mine, two grenades, smoke grenade, Gammon grenade, TNT, THIS bullshit, and a pair of nasty skivvies!" An irritated Joe Toe stated as he paced around all the things they told him he needed for the jump.

"What's your point?"

"This stuff weighs as much as I do! I still got my chute, my reserve chute, my Mae West, my M1. What the fuck happened to Elle's 'make sure you don't weigh yourself down so you could move as fast as you can.'"

"I think that's her advice for the medics, Joe. Speaking off, I heard all doctors are on standby until Overlord."

"What are you yapping about? We got Roe, Pepping and Oats."

"They're combat medics, George. They're no doctor."

"Yeah but when you yell for a doctor, Medic's gonna be the first one to rescue your wounded ass."

"Now the Channel coast is socked in with rain and fog. High winds on the drop zone. No jump tonight!"

"What the actual fuck?! They rile us up like a hot welding rod then they tell us to sit still and relax?"

June 5, 1944

It was way past midnight inside the overcrowded and deafening C-47. Everyone's head was down, praying to sandman for sleep. Everyone knows that there's no turning back from what they're about to do. Lightning overpowering the sound of the engines as they opened their eyes just in time to see the red light come to life, hundreds of planes hovering above and flying below them as they look out.

"Stand up! Hook up!" Winters yelled as they all scrambled on to their feet.

"Five okay!" The men behind them yelled as they gave them the re-assurance that they're all going to make it out of this madness, alive. Everyone was on edge as they felt the plane tremble and tilt.

"If we go lower than this, we're not gonna need a chute." Skip yelled as he watched the scene outside; Troopers falling or flying, he didn't care. Crashing planes, and hundreds of thousands worth of German artillery blasting on them. As if on cue, the green light went on.

"Sound off!" Was the last thing they heard from Winters as they jumped. They were all in mayhem when they landed on land. Eugene was one, searching for his co-medics and other easy company men.

"Flash! Doc? Doc! Over here!" He heard someone yelling in front of him.

"Son of a bitch, we're 8 miles away from the drop zone. You okay there, Doc?"

"Where the others? Pepping? Oats?"

"We'll see them at Dz, c'mon! We need to be there by morning"

"Roe!" They were immediately swarmed by their nervous and ecstatic comrades upon setting foot in St. Marie Eglise.

"Pepping! You're a sight for the sore eyes." Eugene interjected, quite happy to see his old friend. "You seen Oats?" Ed Pepping's smiley face immediately changed to a frown as he averted his gaze from Eugene's expecting eyes.

"No one's seen anyone from Meehan's plane. They're probably on their way here." Eugene hasn't seen it before but Ed was a bit pale. "Listen, Winter's assembling the men for Brecourt Manor. I'm coming with them. Doctors and Aid station will be arriving soon, better get some stocks 'cos I'm running out." Ed pointed out on his supposed leg bag "This here is the 'supposed' station until they get here." He looked towards a dilapidated barn covered with the Red cross flag as if the little tarpaulin could save them all from this damnation. Inside was a pile of hay used as bedding for the injured, completely unsanitary.

In the morning of June 5th, all medical personnel was ordered to board a ship running across the English channel towards France. Elle was wide-awake during the first bombardment from miles away. 'Breath' she told herself as the blast sounded to be coming nearer and nearer to where she was. She couldn't move nor breathe as she solely focused on the noises of the guns firing.

"Lieutenant? Are you okay?" One personnel asked in concern after seeing Elle's rigid and motionless form. The young fella got no answer as Elle ogled at the empty space in front of her and then the ship started to tremble making her jump.

"Little edgy?" A young man beside her gave a kind smile holding out a chocolate bar. "Here, this might help you relax." She shook her head, shutting her eyes.

"When this ends, I'm gonna have some helluva time back in Philly but only a brief one because waiting for me in Los Angeles are my wife and daughter." The young man heaved a sigh as he started breaking the chocolate bar in to tiny pieces. "Private Ralph Spina." He offered his hand together with the chocolate to which she could only stare. He raised his eyebrow in question as he watched her rigid form.

"Slaughter. Elizabeth Slaughter." Elle stated with a thick British accent, taking some of his chocolates.

"Nice name. Ya ain't from America, Lieutenant?" He laughed as he chomped on to his. "What brought you to the American Medical team? Shouldn't you be with your own?"

"Here they come! Grab and assist however you can." The men from the shore were pleased to see the arrival of the medical team.

"Took you long enough! Everyone's dying! We need medical surgeons, asap!" Someone cried as they started taking down the supplies from the ship.

"Okay! Move your ass off! We need to get set, asap! Move! Move! Move!" She was lost amongst all soldiers as she descended from the ship. "Lieutenant Slaughter!" Moving her head she saw a familiar face amongst the sea of unfamiliar faces. She started to walk towards his direction, coming upon the tumble-down barn coming face to face with the nurses and doctors who came in before she did looking all dumbfounded as they saw the condition unfold before them. A total SNAFU. Bleeding men lying on the ground in catatonic state, some are breathing while some, barely-calling out the names for their mothers and sweethearts' in vain. It all came crushing inside Elle.

Eugene was busy patching a soldier who got his ear blasted off the side of his head and a broken arm when he heard someone organizing every medic, doctors and nurses around; getting the whole shebang in place. That was the first time he ever saw her since Aldbourne. Going all over the place, fixing anyone or anyone who needs aid; her petite figure not giving enough justice to the autocratic manner and domination that she's implementing inside the make-shift aid station.

"Hey Fella, your shift's over, I'm doing this one. You better have it before she sees you." He gave the other guy a nod as he started off towards the back to have a light, listening to the banters of the other medic near him.

"I tell you fellas, that woman is in her time of the month! Gave me helluva scare after I tried having some light inside the aid station. Damn limeys!"

"Well it's better to have someone in control than running around not knowing what else we need to do." Eugene was brought out of his thought as someone pulled at the back of his uniform, looking up he saw Ed looking at him grimly.

"No Oats yet?" He shook his head in reply. "Heard we have a small tyrant inside." He shrugged flinging out his cigarette. Eugene couldn't sleep that night, not after the bloodbath, he knew something inside him snapped. Walking around, he could make out the whimpers and cries of the injured making him scuffle off towards the supply station. It was dim due to the light discipline imposed encase of the Luftwaffe. Walking inside, he saw a squatted figure at the back mounding supplies in deep concentration, watching her engulfed on the task at hand not even noticing the growing height of the pile of supplies cornering her inside.

"Lieutenant?" He whispered, cringing as he saw her shoulder stiffen from the sound of his voice.

"Eugene Roe." She said softly as she took in his familiar form. "You should be asleep." Elle stated as she looked at the current dilemma at hand - her stacks was way above her shoulders, she was trapped inside.

"Can I be of any help, Lieutenant?" She gave him a pleading look before turning her attention back at the stacked supplies. Eugene decided to remove some to give her a way out when he felt all the materials slip from his clutches cluttering on the floor. Try as he may some were way too heavy while some where too delicate to move, frustrating him every time he tries to do a new trick.

Elle was watching him in amusement as he failed every now and then. "Roe, if it's not too much to ask. Would you give me a boost, instead?" She queried with a deadpanned expression, holding her arms out for him to take making poor Eugene blush beet red; holding on to her arm he tried heaving her up in vain making her giggle. Glancing at her in questioningly, 'The first one he's ever heard from her.' He thought.

"I didn't mean to be rude." She looked down as she tried suppressing her joy. She reached out to his hand, making a bold gesture of placing his hands down on her hips. "Now in three, you yank me up and I'm out of this mess. Not a word about this, Roe. One, two!" She was yanked up high above the supplies laughing her heart out as she stared down at the man holding her high and mighty. For the first time, she saw him from a different point of view, mysterious dark eyes, pale complexion, his strong jaw and his lanky but strong arms. He was something new.

"You can put me down now. Thank you, Roe." She gave him a pat at the back as she crouched yet again amongst the cluttered supplies on the floor, leaving a blushing Eugene in silence.

"Would you like me to leave, Lieutenant?" He asked as he stared at his feet bashfully.

Giving him one of her biggest grin, she shook her head. "Please stay."