DISCLAMER:

I don't own any Saving Private Ryan characters, OR Tim McGraw's song, If Your Reading This

Thanks!

Harper awoke laying on her side with someone's arm wrapped around her waist. For a split second she thought it was Reiben, but as soon as she felt the hands clasped in hers, she knew it wasn't Reiben. The fingers were to long, and oddly calloused on the fingertip of the pointer finger on his right hand. She smiled rubbing her fingers across the same callous on her finger. One of the hands slowly pulled themselves out of her hands and gently let one long finger run the length of her neck.

"Good morning," came a quiet whisper in her ear.

She shivered from the breath on her neck and rolled over to have gray blue eyes meet hers.

"Hey," she said touching his face softly. "How did you sleep?"

"Like a baby as soon as you were next to me," he said his voice full of joy.

The memories of the night before came back in a flood and despite her best efforts to hide the guilt about her's and Reiben's intimate moment, Jackson seemed to notice something was wrong.

"What is it?" he asked worry etched in his face.

"Nothing," she lied. "I'm fine. It's nothing."

He looked at her hard. He was not convinced. All the rumor's she had ever heard about country boys being a bit slow were defiantly untrue. But he let it go, for the moment anyway.

Harper smiled feebly and sat up. She looked around the room and her eyes caught on Reiben, who was sitting on his bed of hay, watching her and Jackson. He nodded once when he locked eyes with her, his face not changing at all. She tried to smile back, but all that came was an awkward face. She turned away from him as the rest of the squad began to wake up.

"Your sure your alright?" asked Jackson laying his hand over her's on the ground.

"Yeah," she said. "Didn't sleep well I guess."

"Reiben, you ok to walk?" asked Miller rolling his blanket.

"Yes sir," said Reiben standing easily.

"With all due respect, sir. I don't think Reiben is qualified to make that decision," said Wade taking Reiben by the shoulder and shoving him back onto the pile of hay.

Harper was surprised at how strong Wade was for his size.

"Watch it doc!" Reiben yelled.

He didn't appreciate being shoved down by the small medic. It didn't help his super inflated ego. After a few minutes, during which Wade determined Reiben's ankle was in fact fit to walk on, they set off. They fell back into formation easily, though Harper couldn't get over the fact that they were missing one. She hadn't thought about Caparzo since the night he died, and she had been hoping to keep it that way, but it was not to be. All she had to do was look at Mellish. He hadn't been as happy or joyful since before his best friend had died. Harper sighed and without thinking about it, started to hum, then sing aloud.

"If your reading this, my momma's sitting there. Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here."

The squad turned around to stare at her, wondering what on earth she was singing about, until they heard the words. Harper continued.

"I sure wish I, could give you one more kiss, and war was just a game we played when we were kids."

Her voice gained more confidence as she hit the bridge.

"Well I'm laying down my gun. I'm hanging up my boots. I'm up here with God and we're watching over you."

Her voice caught on the word 'watching' and tears began to blur her vision, but she continued into the chorus.

"So lay me down in that open field out on the edge of town. And know my soul is where my momma always prayed that it would go. If your reading this, I'm already home."

Harper let her head fall as emotion overcame her, but someone continued the song. Harper looked up to see Mellish singing quietly. He glanced back at her and she gained her voice back and joined with him.

"If your reading this, halfway around the world. I wont be there to see the birth of our little girl. I hope she looks like you. I hope she fights like me. And stands up for the innocent and the weak."

At the beginning of the next verse Mellish and Harper were joined by Jackson's southern drawl singing voice. He had even discreetly slipped his hand into hers. She smiled up at him as they continued.

"I'm laying down my gun, I'm hanging up my boots. Tell dad I don't regret that I'd follow in his shoes. So lay me down in that open field out on the edge of town. And know my soul is where my momma always prayed that it would go. If your reading this, I'm already home."

As they sang, Harper looked around at the troop, who all knew exactly who they were singing for. They were remembering Carpy and his funny, outgoing nature. Harper remembered specifically how he used to call her 'darling,' and she hadn't minded at all. She actually thought it was almost sweet. As they came to the next verse Harper's emotion threatened to overtake her again, but a quick squeeze from Jackson's hand brought her back.

"If your reading this, there's going to come a day, that you'll move on and find someone else and that's ok. Just remember this. I'm in a better place. The soldiers live in peace and angels sing amazing grace!"

The last words caught in everyone's throats. No one really knew what Carpy had believed, but they all hoped with everything they had that he was up there watching over them, and waiting for the day he would see them again, because god knows, that's what they were waiting for.

"So lay me down in that open field out on the edge of town. And know my soul is where my momma always prayed that it would go. If your reading this, I'm already home."

There was silence as the last note hung in the air above the private's heads. They were all remembering their moments with Carpy. Some remembering the odd quirks he had like only smoking a cigarette halfway then giving it to someone else, or how he had little nicknames for all of them, and he was the only one who was allowed to call them that. Whatever they were remembering, they all knew they were going to miss him.

I know that this was a short chapter, but it seemed like I had to leave it on this note. The next one will be longer!

Thanks for reviewing and reading!