DISCLAIMER: No disrespect to the real Band of Brothers and what they accomplished. I own nothing except Alana and Sara
Big thanks to those of you who reviewed and put on alerts for the story. I hope everyone will be pleased with this chapter. Keep the reviews coming even if you didn't like the chapter I would still like to know.
Chapter 3
"Come on sweetheart, you know you want this you, feels good doesn't it." The hand was under her dress sliding up her thigh. "That's right sweetness; I'm going to make it feel oh so good. You and I are going to have a real good time." Looking over Davy's shoulder, she meets the eyes of her savior. The look of disgust was clear on his face. She watches in shock as he turns his back on her leaving her trapped with Davy. "No please, don't go, don't leave me with him…it's not my fault, I didn't do anything wrong."
Jerking awake from the dream she realized she was still sitting in the command post at her desk. The bone numbing exhaustion she'd been feeling had driven her to lay her head on the desk, unfortunately the nightmare hadn't let it stay down for very long.
Quickly glancing around, she released a shaky breath in relief that the entire place was currently empty. She'd already put up with several looks from the men not to mention some nasty comments about how she had gotten the job. If any of them had seen her jerk awake like that, she could only imagine what they would say.
Pushing away from her desk, she stepped out in the cool night and put her back against the closest tree. She'd learned her lesson about being out in the dark alone and had no intention of getting too far from the faint light coming through the open door.
"I thought I might find you out here?"
Lana tensed but didn't jump at the voice, only by sheer willpower.
"Gees Nix, could you give a girl some warning? You'd really hate to do all my paperwork and the paperwork that would be needed if I died."
Nixon's low chuckle carried in the dark, "actually the paperwork wouldn't be that bad for me."
Lana gave him a puzzled look.
"Oh no, you see if I killed you…Sink would kill me, so see no paperwork issues for me at all. Now Dick on the other hand…"
Lana laughed; leave it to Nixon to chase away the remnants of the nightmare with humor. "Okay, so what brings you out so late, I thought I was the only night owl?"
Nix lit a cigarette taking a pull then offering it to her. "I was actually just passing through on my way to bed. Had to go down and see that Sara was properly settled in." The lifting of one eyebrow told her it was more than friendly interest.
"Why Mr Nixon I never realized what a gentleman you are."
He laughed again before turning to face her, "sweetheart, the term 'gentleman' has never applied to me, besides, what fun is there in that." The smile that had been gracing his lips slowly slipped away, to be replaced by the serious intelligence officer frown she'd come to know so well over the last few days. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you what happened back in England. It wasn't like you to miss work and before you start the excuses, I know it was something more than just being sick."
"I'm guessing that Sara told you everything?"
Nixon smiled, "let's just say I found ways to convince her to tell me what happened. What can I say…I can be very charming and very irresistible."
Cocking her head to the side, she gave him an appraising look. Yep, he was too good looking for anyone's good. Lana was sure that it really hadn't taken that much to convince Sara to talk, she'd always been a sucker for a good-looking man.
"Look, it was a terrible misunderstanding that thanks to someone coming to my aid, only resulted in some scratches and bruises. No big deal, I promise."
The soft brush of his fingers across the fading bruises had her jerking back before she could stop the reflexive action.
"Gees, I'm sorry Lana, I didn't mean to hurt you or scare you."
Before he could step back, she grabbed his hand in both of hers. "It's okay Lew, I'm not frightened of you and you didn't hurt me, it's just…"
Pulling her into a hug, he whispered into her hair as he held her close. "It's okay, I understand. Now", kissing her on the forehead, "let's get you to a bed and get you some sleep."
Returning his kiss with one of his cheek, Lana pulled away and headed off to find somewhere she might catch a couple more hours of rest.
He was a masochist that was the only word to describe him right now. He hadn't slept in days, only catching brief naps when he could and now he'd walked back to the command post with the intention of just checking on her, only to have the shock of his life.
She'd come outside alone, you'd of thought the woman would've learned, but at least she'd been smart enough to stay very close to the entrance. He was almost ready to step out of the shadows, when Nixon had suddenly appeared at her side.
While it appeared they were only talking, he felt his body tense at her laughter. Why does Nixon get to make her laugh, but when she looked at him all he saw was fear in her eyes. He didn't have much time to think about it because Nixon was touching her, what fresh hell was this and where did Nixon get off thinking he could touch his girl.
Okay man, you need to get a grip since when is she your girl. Okay, so maybe she really wasn't his but he did feel responsible for her and having some another man get close…well…that just defied explanation.
He actually groaned aloud when Nixon pulled her in for a hug and kissed her on the forehead and then she'd kissed his cheek. Maybe Dick had been wrong and Nixon was interested in both women. Typical rich boy thought he could have it all, well he'd find out differently.
As she walked away, he stepped from the shadows and approached Nixon from behind. If Nixon thought for one minute, it would be that easy to take her from him he was in for the fight of his life.
"Well I wondered when you would come out of the shadows and join us. Was there something you needed, or did you just feel the need to hang out and watch."
Tightening the grip he had on his weapon, he shrugged in an attempt to brush it off. There was no way he was going to let Nixon get to him.
"Actually I was here for a reason, but didn't want to interrupt such a touching moment. Who'd ever thought you were such a charmer."
Nixon pulled back on his temper realizing the man was trying to bait him into saying something stupid. So deciding to fight fire with fire, he sighed loudly in a show of boredom, "so get to the point, I'd like to sleep before the sun comes up, besides, so many ladies demand my attention it's just too exhausting for words."
He actually took a full step towards Nix before he saw the smile on the other man's face and just like that, he'd just stepped into a trap and it snapped closed.
Nixon's smile spread and if possible became smugger. "Well, well, well, of all the people it could have been that saved her it was you. Funny, but when Sara told me the things she'd said about her saviors eyes being cold and empty, I don't know why I didn't think of you first."
A deep growl was the only response he got, which made him laugh. "Oh I can't wait to get back to England and get you two together. This should be fun." Dropping the cigarette he'd been smoking, Nixon turned and headed off into the dark calling over his shoulder. "Hey, try not to get killed; I think she might like you."
Gripping the weapon tighter, with Nixon's laughter to torment him, reminding him of just how big of an ass he had almost made of himself. Damn, he should've had more restraint and not let Nixon know his interest, now the man would be impossible to deal with. However the idea that this might not all be bad suddenly came to him. It was now much easier to get closer to her and get an introduction that didn't start at the end of a gun barrel.
Whistling to himself, he headed back to the company and his men, confident that tomorrow would be a piece of cake.
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Her head was pounding and the paper in front of her was starting to blur. Lana just knew she'd read the same paragraph three times, but with all the noise in the area it was hard to focus. She knew that Carentan had been rougher than expected, simply because Nixon and Sink had paced and cursed for the last few hours, but they finally gained control of the town and they would be moving forward tonight.
Looking up she saw Nixon come back into the room, winking at her as he passed. He looked as tired as she felt. Sighing she refocused her attention on to translating some documents only to be interrupted by another stack of papers dropping on her desk.
"So now that I've got your attention guess what I know that you don't?"
Sara was standing beside the desk shifting her weight from one foot to the other, looking like a schoolchild coming to tattle on a friend.
"Sara, I've got no idea, all I know is I have to finish this, I'm exhausted and you just dropped a stack of something in the middle of my desk. But having said all that, why don't you just tell me and save us both the effort."
The pout that formed on Sara's face had Lana reconfirming the whole schoolchild analogy. Sometimes she really wondered what it was Nix saw in her friend.
"You know Lana; sometimes you are just no fun. Nevertheless, I'll tell you any way, we are pulling back to England in a few days word came down this morning. Come to think of it I'm surprised you didn't already know."
She had a good point, how did she not see something or hear about it when she worked for the Regimental commander. She must have been more tired than she realized or just hadn't been listening.
"That's really great news. I can't wait to get back and sleep, however having said that, what is this pile of paperwork you just dropped on my desk?"
Sara smiled sweetly, which gave Lana a slight warning of what was about to be said, "oh that, those are the reports on Brecourt and Carentan that Major Strayer wanted me to bring up, so now I guess you need to write whatever it is you do for Sink and finish them."
Glaring at her friend Lana scooped the papers off the side. "You know, I really thought you were my friend, but now I'm being to question that."
Sara laughed and headed for the door, but couldn't resist one more jab at her friend, "oh by the way, I've got a little surprise for you when we get back to England, just a little something courtesy of Lew and I."
Watching Sara leave, Lana had to stop herself from grinding her teeth. With Sara she could only imagine what adventures awaited her in England.
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"Have you lost your mind! You want me to get dressed up and go to a dance with you and Nix tonight. Oh no, I learned my lesson there is no way you are getting me near another social function. Bad things seem to happen to me when I go to those or did you forget."
Sara cringed back in the chair as Lana yelled at her and paced the bedroom. She'd tried to tell Lew it wasn't a good idea to try to get them together at this silly dance, but Lew being Lew, had convinced her to try. Damn that man.
"Lana calm down, I've already said that Lew and I would be with you every minute and that it would be okay this time. Besides, Lew has someone he would like you to meet."
Lana stopped pacing and turned to face her friend, "so now you guys feel sorry for me and want to fix me up on a blind date? Do I really look that sad to you?"
"We aren't doing it because we feel sorry for you or that we don't think you can get a date, your beautiful and you know it. We're doing this because it is someone he thinks you'll like. Can't you just give it a chance, if you won't trust me, your best friend by the way, trust Lew, he'd never do something to hurt you."
Dropping on the bed Lana admitted defeat. She knew Sara would do nothing to hurt her, she'd just been hoping to see her savior again and find out what was up with his strange looks.
"Okay you and Lew win, I'll go to the dance and meet this mystery man. I mean, how bad could it be?"
Sara jumped up hugged her friend and was headed for the door all in one move it seemed. Grabbing the door she paused for a minute to look back at Lana, "you won't be sorry I promise. In fact, I think you're going to be very pleased. You can thank me by inviting me to the wedding."
Shaking her head at the now closed door, Lana was convinced her friend was suffering from battle fatigue or Nixon fatigue either way she was crazy.
"Lew it worked she's going to come with us."
Nixon caught Sara up in his arms for a hug and a kiss. "Great work, now I get the hard part of trying to convince Mr. Personality that he should attend as well. I really think I gave you the easy job."
Sara ran her finger down the front of his jacket looking up at him from under her eyelids. "Lew, when are you going to tell me who his is? You know I can keep a secret, please tell me who he is."
Lewis Nixon might have been many things, but a sucker he wasn't, he knew when she was trying to play him. "No way sweetheart, you'll find out when she does, let's face it, your track record for keeping a secret is not all that great. Besides, if I know you, as soon as I told you, you would be off trying to get a look at him. Trust me he's touchy enough about anything dealing with her as it is."
"Okay, we'll do it your way."
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He had no idea why he'd listened to Nixon. He'd been standing here for half an hour and Nixon had yet to show. If something didn't give soon he was going back and get some sleep, then when he was good and rested, he was going to kill Nixon.
He was starting for the door when he saw Nixon and his ladies come in. Stepping back in the shadows, he watched as Nix led them to a dark table in the corner then head to the bar to pick up something for them to drink. That would be the perfect time to talk to him without being seen.
"Alright Nix, I'm here, so when do you make the introductions?"
"Well and a good evening to you as well dear sir, you are looking very handsome tonight and I believe this has been a lovely day wouldn't you say."
Grinding his teeth as Nixon's comments, "cut the crap Lew. When do you want me to come over? Or do I get to spend the rest of the night watching her from the shadows as everyone else ask her to dance?"
"Oh no my good friend, as soon as I take these drinks back to the table, you can slide right up behind her and introduce yourself. I will take Sara for a spin on the floor, so make nice I don't want to hear any screams."
Nixon grabbed the drinks and headed back to the table leaving him to work his way over so he was in perfect position.
Nixon had watched the other man move into position as he sat the drinks down on the table. Keeping the smile from his face, he calmly offered his hand to Sara. "Come on, let's take a spin around the floor before everyone gets the same idea."
Lana watched as she was once again abandoned to sit at the table alone. Sighing she picked up her drink, well at least he brought me something before leaving me. For a moment, she sat and watched her friends, happy for them and lost in the sound of the music. She had exactly ten seconds warning when the smell of sandalwood hit her nose, followed by two warm strong hands dropping on her shoulders.
She could feel the heat of his body through her dress and he leaned over next to her ear, his warm breath caressing her ear and neck. The sound of his voice was exactly as she'd remembered, except this time there was something dark and sexy in it.
"I don't think we were introduced properly the last time we meet, I'm Lieutenant Ronald Speirs."
Ha, I gave you what you wanted, we all now know his name, but where shall we go from here?