A/N Thank you for the new Follows and Favourites!
Nix moved onto the next building in search of Fin, he had been looking in unusual and obscure places, knowing Fin's talent for climbing. He had been getting strange looks off the men even though they had decided to try and not draw attention to the situation and kept the search party to just him, Winters, Harry, Buck and Doc. She was damn good at hiding, no wonder she was very good at what she did. Her performance in Carentan was exceptional and he actually agreed with her, telling the men would make things a lot easier, but on the other hand he thought it might cause problems, they were all getting so attached to one another. Regardless of his own opinions, the top brass were not ready to openly allow front line female combatants let alone Special Forces females. America didn't quite have the same issue as Britain, America was bigger with a much larger population, they probably wouldn't need women on the front line. He stepped over some rubble as he made his way over to the pharmacy. Arriving at the door he heard a noise coming from upstairs, it sounded like someone gasping in pain. With his side arm at the ready, just in case, he carefully climbed the stairs and walked along the corridor, carefully pushing the door of where the noise was coming from.
To his relief he had found Fin. "We've been looking for you!" he exclaimed quickly averting his eyes when he realised Fin was sat there with just her pants (trousers) on and her t-shirt only half covering her bra.
"I'm not hiding, I came to find a mirror Sir" Fin said turning slightly to show Nix the dirty, cracked hand mirror "I'm just sorting my arm out" she continued, re-positioning the mirror on the table against the wall, so she could finish.
Realising Fin obviously wasn't bothered that Nix could see part of her bra, he walked over to her "You shouldn't be pulling a bullet out yourself Fin!"
"I didn't need to, it had gone straight through Sir, more of a graze really"
Nix frowned at her blase response "What are your other injuries?" Nix asked trying hard not to stare at her bra.
"Bruises, maybe a couple of cracked ribs, sprained ankle, nothing serious Sir"
"You need to get over to the Aid station"
"I don't Sir I'm all patched up" Fin said securing the bandage round her arm and pulling her t-shirt down trying to not show she was in pain. Fin reached for her shirt and tried to hide her wincing as she did it up.
Nix held up her field jacket and helped her put it on and then passed her helmet. Fin held up the mirror and inspected her face, frowning at the bruises that were appearing. She patted down a few strands of hair that had escaped her plaited bun, turned to Nix and smiled.
"We've come up with a plan on how to handle the situation with you and the men"
Fin nodded.
"It just so happens that Lip has come forward saying that someone helped him before Tab arrived, I know it was you, he said that they had a scarf pulled up covering their face."
"Yes Sir, I know Captain Winters said to stay unseen, but I couldn't leave him and he looked dazed, so I thought I could get away with it Sir"
"It's ok, turns out it's going to work in our favour, Winters is briefing the men. He's telling them you broke orders and joined the assault from the front when he had ordered you to the rear. You arrived late to treat Tipper because you tried to cover your tracks by returning to the rear, but got caught up in gun fire. Winters has told them that you treated Lip first and that you took out some key positions from the enemy, which is actually all true, but... Winters is also saying that he might have to put in for a Court Martial for your insubordination. Now he's not going to, but you get the picture right?"
"Yes Sir all sounds very reasonable"
"Good, now come with me, we've told Doc the actual truth about you and he really wants to see you"
"Really Sir"
"Seen as though you like to collect wounds, we thought it would be best to have someone who didn't question"
Fin laughed "Yes Sir, ok!"
As they walked to the Aid station, Fin could feel all eyes on her, fortunately it was just from some Dog company troopers milling around and none of the Easy boys. Inside the Aid Station, Doc was treating Captain Winters.
"How is your leg Sir?" Fin enquired
"Minor" Winters smiled relieved that Nix had found her "Everything clear" he asked assuming Nix had filled her in.
"Yes Sir "
"How are you?"
"Just brilliant Sir" Fin responded trying not to sound too sarcastic.
Doc looked up at Fin worried, Fin was still a bit pissed with him, she always did hold a grudge a little longer than was necessary.
"Are you gonna be able to stay off it Sir?" Doc turned his attention back to Winters
" Doesn't look like it, we're expecting a counter attack, so prepare to move out, we're not staying the night" Winters instructed, sliding back onto his feet and limping towards Fin. He put a hand on her shoulder "Tell the men I was really scary when I shouted at you!" Winters joked as he hobbled off with Nix.
Fin turned her gaze back on Doc "Where's Lip and Tipper?"
"I put them on the jeep, they're gone, Lip wanted me to pass on his thanks to you, he said you threw yourself on him when there was gun fire"
Fin didn't respond, crossing her arms across her chest, before wincing at the pain and hanging her arms back down again.
"Look I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have thought what I did! I was under pressure and I really needed you and...and I'm just sorry!"
When Doc had entered the building earlier, he had seen that Winters was injured and once again laid into Fin.
"I feel terrible, did you save Shifty as well? He said someone took out a grenade for him and Liebgott said him and Lip saw a soldier fly out of an upstairs window, that was you too, wasn't it?" Doc asked.
Fin nodded, she could confirm this with Doc now and she actually felt quite relieved that someone other than an Officer knew.
"Shit Fin, let me look you over"
"I'm ok, I'm sorted," Fin said raising her hands up "I'd never abandon the men and my job would be a lot easier if I could do it with their knowledge and not have to hide from them, I wouldn't have had to run to the rear otherwise and could have been there for Tipper straight away"
"I know, I know now, I will never doubt you again."
Fin walked over to Doc and hugged him "I don't want any of you to ever think that I won't be there"
We don't and I can't believe what you do! How on earth did you get mixed up in all this?" Doc asked concerned.
"I'll tell you one day, when we're bored, stuck in a Foxhole somewhere!"
"They're in the building by the War monument, they're waiting for you, Winters briefed them" Doc said
"I'll go face them and then come back get this place packed up.
"Go find Vest too, change your BDUs" Doc said pointing out Fin's blood covered, charred uniform.
Fin nodded and left the Aid station, let's get this over with, not really knowing whether they would have accepted Winters explanation or not.
Fin saw Vest first as she passed the Company CP and he issued her with a new jacket but no trousers, my second jacket already Fin realised. She could hear Speirs talking to one of his men in the adjacent room, she was careful to stay out of sight and carried on down to where the Easy boys were would be. She found them all lounging around by a WW1 monument and not in the building as Roe had said, out in the open Fin thought not wanting a scene.
Bill caught sight of Fin first nudging the others who all looked up. Fin was unable to tell how they were going to react, they were all expressionless. She stopped just in front of them, Bill stood up. "What the hell Fin! You got a death wish?"
"You had us all worried!" Tab exclaimed joining Bill on his feet. "I thought you were yellow Fin, don't fucking do anything like that again!"
Fin lowered her head she couldn't believe it has crossed their minds that she may have been a coward
"Sorry lads, I thought I could help, I did help though!" she looked up hoping they were warming to her again.
"Yeah, but look at the state of you! You're a medic, what use are you to us if you get seriously wounded or killed?" Martin scolded Fin "I take it the British literally used you as a front line medic?" Martin added.
"Yes, I wasn't at the rear, always just behind the front runners, it's what I'm used to" Fin replied "I'm really sorry, I don't know what I was thinking disobeying orders" Fin replied feeling really quite low now, even though it was all a load of bollocks.
"Look, it worked out this time, but do us a favour next time and just be a medic!" Martin said with a smile.
"Lip told us you threw yourself on him to protect him from German fire" Luz said stepping down off the monument "Mind not doing that again?"
"What? Don't save one of you lads?" Fin questioned.
"No don't throw yourself on Lip, you're making us all jealous!" Luz cracked a smile and then laughter broke out.
Fin smiled.
Tab pulled her into a hug "You in much trouble?" he asked looking down.
"A little, should have still been there for Tipper"
"Nah! Doc Roe said he got it wrong and Tipper is going to be just fine" Tab said continuing to hug Fin.
"Winters putting in the court martial then?" Liebgott asked
"Don't know yet, he was pretty angry, gave me a right bollocking!" Fin replied as Tab released her.
"A right bollocking!" Luz laughed at Fin's expression of words.
"He's pretty scary when he's shouting" Fin added
Their conversation was interrupted by an imposing figure standing in front of them. "Get ready, we're moving out soon" Lieutenant Speirs said staring at Fin with his piercing eyes before he stalked away to a host of "Yes Sir"
"As scary as Sparky?" Luz asked when Speirs was out of ear shot.
"Sparky is a pussy cat compared to Winters!" Fin laughed.
"It's a good job Sparky ain't Easy's CO!" Malarkey said
"Why?" Liebgott asked
"Shot one of his Sergeants for not following orders I heard" Malarkey finished
"Shit!" Luz exclaimed looking at Fin.
"Well, it's a good job I'm a Corporal then!" Fin joked trying to lighten the conversation, the lads laughed until Perconte stopped them.
"Nah, you're ok, I heard he shot him because he was drunk!"
"Shit! That's crazy!" Luz said quietly "You need to stop drinking too Fin!"
"It's all hearsay" Fin said "I've got go help Doc pack up the Aid Station, she said turning to leave.
"We'll walk with you Fin, gotta make sure you doing as you're told" Luz said standing up and joining Fin with the Easy boys following.
"That's not all though is it Malarkey?" Skip spoke as they all headed towards the Aid Station.
"What more is there?" Fin asked looking at Malarkey.
"I didn't see anything, I just heard it" Malarkey answered.
"Heard what?" Fin asked with deep curiosity, looking at Skip.
"D-Day, Speirs comes across this group of Kraut prisoners, diggin' a hole or some such – under guard an' all. He breaks out a pack of smokes, passes 'em out, even gives 'em a light. Then all of a sudden, he swings up his Thompson and pfpfpfpfpfpfpf...He hoses 'em "
Fin raised her eyebrows
"I mean God damn, he gives 'em smokes first! But then, that's why I don't really believe it" Skip finishes.
"You don't believe it?" Fin questioned
"I heard he didn't do it" Bill said
"He did it alright, I heard it was like twenty guys or something and leaves one alive!" Toye finished.
"Take the stories with a pinch of salt lads" Fin stated. As they approached the Aid station.
"What do you think Fin?" Tab asked.
"I've heard loads of these type of stories over the years, just look at it this way, the Tommys do it , the Krauts do it, the Ruskies do it, the Canadians do it, apparently everyone has. Does anyone actually know the lad who saw it?"
The Easy boys shook their heads.
"Come on then, whose helping?" Fin said stepping inside the Aid Station. Who was she to cast judgement, she wasn't exactly squeaky clean herself.
...
"Come on we're moving out! "Harry shouted
"Corporal on me!" Harry added
Fin jogged up to him "Sir?"
"Just wanted to say that I'm impressed and you ever need a cover story, you just come to me"
"Thank you, just a shame a cover story might be necessary Sir" Fin replied
"I'm there if you need one, now get back to the rear where you belong!" he winked
Fin dropped back and found herself next to Shifty. "Hi"
Shifty looked up "If I ask you something, will you tell the truth?"
Fin didn't like sound of this "Maybe, a girl has to have some secrets" Fin said trying to sound light hearted.
"Was it you on the roof with the Kraut gun? I know you were up front when you weren't supposed to be"
"No it wasn't me, I was on the ground the whole time" Fin replied confidently.
Shifty looked disappointed, he was sure it was Fin and he was sure she was lying. "I like you Fin, a lot, but there is more to you than we know isn't there?"
"I like you too Shifty and no, I'm a front line medic who stupidly doesn't follow orders sometimes" Fin said trying to hide the disappointment in herself for lying once again. If these lads ever found out what she really does, would things be the same between them after all the lying she's done?
Just as Shifty looked at Fin, gun fire broke out and Shifty pushed Fin down the side of the road into a ditch landing on top of her.
"Ow! That really hurts!" Fin whimpered
"Shit sorry Fin" Shifty replied rolling off her and positioning himself with his weapon just over the top of the ditch to take a look.
"GET DOWN! GET DOWN!"
"TAKE COVER! TAKE COVER!"
The Officers were shouting
Fin crawled up parallel with Shifty and took a look too, as she did she saw a private go down as he tried to get to the side of the road, gun shot to his leg, without thinking Fin sprang to her feet, keeping low she slid in next to the private, blood spurting from just above his knee. Fin immediately applied pressure with her hand to stop the blood flow, scrambling around with her other hand for a tourniquet.
Fin blocked out the shouting.
...
She was too quick, Shifty tried to grab her as she sprung up over the ditch to the wounded soldier. Shifty aimed his weapon in covering fire for her while he shouted at her to get back.
...
Doc Roe appeared at Fin's side helping her to secure the bandage round the private's leg. Fin looked up at him and smiled a 'thank you'
"You're in trouble for this, so I thought I'd get in trouble with you!" Doc winked.
Together they dragged the private to the side of the road and into the ditch where they were safe from the gun fire.
As soon as the gun fire had started, it stopped. "He's got to go to hospital" Doc said sticking a syrette in.
"You take his legs and I've got his head" Fin said as they stood up and started to move the private down the line to the transport. Fin didn't dare look around, she knew she was getting a mixture of looks from the men.
Doc and Fin loaded the private onto the jeep and told the driver to get going.
"Finney! Roe! On me now!" Winters shouted.
Fin and Roe took the bollocking, defending themselves when allowed, Fin said she never heard any orders to take cover over the gun fire when she attended the private. After being dismissed, Fin avoided eye contact with anyone until she was in the safety of the Easy lads and they did make her feel safe.
"Shit Fin, stop disobeying orders!" Shifty scolded her as she re-joined him
"I didn't! I didn't hear any orders and I reacted like any medic would" Fin defended herself.
"You don't need to make anything up because of Tipper ya know"
"I know"
...
They were instructed to dig in for the night with the Germans still on the other side. Fin dug her Foxhole with Shifty who insisted she was to bunk up with him. Shifty insisted on doing the majority with Fin nursing her wounds still. Tab and and Luz conveniently turned up just as Shifty was finishing and joined them much to Shifty's annoyance.
"So Fin are you trying to get a transfer?" Luz asked
"No" knowing that Luz was referring to Fin's earlier stunt. "I did what any medic would do"
"You didn't even flinch, it's like you didn't have a care in the world that bullets were spraying all around you" Luz said seriously.
"I zoned out, concentrated on the job at hand" Fin defended herself. The truth was that she was trained to run into gun fire without a second thought, she didn't flinch because she didn't think about being afraid.
"Still, most of us would at least duck our heads down to, oh I don't know dodge the bullets!" Luz continued.
"If my time is up, it's up" Fin sighed "There's are bullets flying about all over the place, look at Winters, he randomly got hit by some ricochet, I could be hit anywhere at anytime, why try to hide from it?" Fin explained.
"That's really morbid Fin" Shifty said
"I've had so much luck, it's bound to run out any day now Shifty, I've come to terms with that" Fin said getting up.
"Why are they so fucking happy?" Shifty said referring to the laughing Krauts that could be heard, he was trying to ignore Fin's last comment, how could she say that!
"They're drunk" Fin said, which gave her an idea.
"Where you going?" Shifty asked.
"Stretch my legs and to see if I can scrounge any medic supplies off anyone"
"Don't be long or we'll come looking for ya" Tab warned.
Just as Fin walked away, Harry nodded acknowledging her "Talbert you're up, guard duty"
Fin walked the line asking in Foxholes for syrettes or anything spare. She managed two syrettes, three bandages and five marriage proposals which she was slightly disappointed with considering the number of men out here, she reached the end of Fox company, any further and she'd be in Dog Company. It had crossed her mind to go and relieve the Krauts of some of their alcohol, it wouldn't be difficult, she'd be in and out quickly. Fin stood there hesitating, she would have to get past Dog company first, which wouldn't be a problem, but a certain Dog company Lieutenant had the skill of sneaking around as well, probably better than her, but that's something she'd never admit out loud. Fin smiled to herself. She decided to turn around and head back.
"Flash"
Fin turned "Thunder" and there he is, how long had he been standing there?!
"What are you doing out of your foxhole?" Speirs demanded stepping out of the darkness
"Scrounging med supplies Sir, just on my way back now"
"And?"
"And Sir?"
"Did you get the med supplies?"
"Yes Sir" he definitely had two personalities Fin thought one minute he was cold and authoritative, the next he was warm and friendly, tonight he was cold. Fin turned to leave.
"Corporal Finney" Speirs called stopping Fin from leaving.
Fin turned around.
"You hesitated before turning away from Dog company, why?"
Did she dare tell him that she was considering stealing some of the Krauts alcohol?
"I was considering as to whether I should relieve the Krauts of their alcohol" Fin said confidently, what the hell, he wouldn't believe her any way.
Speirs stepped in closer "Is that so?"
"No Sir, I realised I should get back, I'll be up for guard duty soon"
"I'll escort you back" Speirs replied, thinking that she probably would have gone and stole some Kraut alcohol.
"I don't need escorting Sir"
Speirs cocked his head "I think you do"
Every now and then, Fin felt Speirs' hand on her lower back, guiding her, Fin's suspicious mind told her he didn't trust her to return to her foxhole by herself. She was also hating herself for enjoying his touch.
"Are you ok now Corporal?" Speirs asked
Guessing he was referring to Carentan Fin replied "Yes Sir, I was always ok"
"How are your wounds?"
"Fine Sir"
As they reached closer to Easy, Lieutenant Speirs placed a hand on Fin's shoulder stopping her and turning her to face him "I don't take advantage of vulnerable women, I was merely offering comfort to a soldier."
"Vulnerable!" Fin hissed quietly "I'm not vulnerable Sir, far from it!"
"I felt an explanation was needed Corporal"
"Loud and Clear Sir!" Fin seethed
Speirs looked down at Fin, he could just see that she looked upset, not angry, angry words, but her expression was sad before he could say anything else...
"MEDIC!"
Fin took off.
Speirs chased after her.
...
"Tab! Hey Tab!, it's Fin!" She said gently bending over him as he lay on the ground.
"What happened?" Fin asked not taking her eyes off Tab, while she checked his breathing, smiling as she quickly found the wound, removing the God damn Kraut poncho and ripping open his jacket.
"I'm sorry! I thought he was a Kraut! I... I poked him with my bayonet" Smith replied in shock.
Fin got her supply of sulfa powder and a bandage, quickly applying it and wrapping Tabs chest to stem the blood flow. "Hey Tab you daft bugger, what are doing playing dress up in that Kraut poncho?"
"Fin?" Tab coughed Fin's name in pain
"I'm here concentrate on my voice Tab, look in my eyes, everything is fine"
"I...it hurts" Tab coughed once more
"You'll do anything to get my attention won't you!" Fin joked
"Yes" Tab struggled.
Doc arrived just as Fin was finishing off "let's get him moved" Doc said observing everything was in order. Fin quietly heaved a sigh of relief as Tab relaxed after she administered the morphine.
...
Speirs left, Fin certainly put him in awe at how she just switched into the professional soldier that she was. She had this ability to block everything out to concentrate on where she was needed, running into danger to help that Private earlier today, proved that. He was troubled over some rumours he had heard from Carentan that weren't about him for once. Some of the Easy boys had talked about a soldier in American BDUs jumping out of an upstairs window and getting up as if it wouldn't have hurt. He had overheard Shifty saying he was saved by a sniper on the German side, he was unsure what to think, he was more troubled after he had gone to speak to some POWs they had captured. One who spoke broken English had managed to tell him that there was an American there before the rest of them had arrived, but they covered their face with a scarf. It couldn't have been Fin could it? She wasn't where she was supposed to have been, they all knew that, she was also still limping slightly and had bruises on her face as well as her wounded arm.
"Flash" Speirs said upon hearing a noise and taking him away from his thoughts.
"Thunder, thunder. Lieutenant Spiers, sir." Blithe said
"Where are you going, private?"
"Check out the noise, sir."
"I just came from there. Everything's under control."
"Yes sir." Blithe replied.
"You got some nervous privates in your company" Speirs stated
"We do, sir. Yeah we do. I can vouch for that."
"They just don't see how simple it is.
"Simple. What is, sir? Blithe asked
"Just do what you have to do." He said turning to walk away.
"Like you did on D-Day, sir?" Blithe asked pricking up the ears of Martin who was pretending to be asleep beside him in their foxhole. "Lieutenant. Sir, when I landed on D-Day, I found myself in a ditch all by myself. I fell asleep. I think it was... it was the air sickness pills they gave us. When I woke up I really didn't try to find my unit... to fight. I just... I just kinda stayed put."
"What's your name, trooper? Speirs ordered
"Blithe, sir. Albert Blithe."
"You know why you hid in that ditch, Blithe?
"I was scared."
"We're all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier's supposed to function. Without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends on it." Speirs stated staring at Blithe before stalking off, only to stop when he heard Martin speak up.
"Do you think Fin's been hanging out with Speirs?" Martin asked quietly to Blithe
"Why?"
"They're both so morbid"
"What did Fin say?" Blithe asked
"I overheard her and Shifty talking, she said she's had so much luck that it's bound to run out any day now, she'd come to terms with it"
Speirs scowled, that was not what he wanted to hear. He was battling himself over his concern for Fin as it was, she was the soldier he wanted to hope for the most, but to hear she had none for herself angered him. She had been getting under his skin and he didn't want that kind of distraction.
