Again I own nothing, and know nothing about medicine!
After a few minutes, Wade declared Harper as ready as she would ever be to travel, and Miller quickly gave out orders.
"Horvath I need you on point. Reiben and Jackson, help Harper. Wade take Jackson's position and Reiben's weapon. Upham take Jackson's sniper and bring up the rear. Mellish, flank Reiben, Harper and Jackson. Everyone be alert. We are in enemy territory."
Everyone got into their positions, though Wade wished he could have been one of the ones next to Harper. Jackson reluctantly handed over his sniper glaring at Upham for only a second before turning to Harper. His look seemed to convey that if Upham so much as put a scratch on the precious weapon, Jackson would hit him so hard, his grandchildren would feel it. Wade snatched Reiben's weapon, ignoring the same look Jackson had given Upham.
Reiben and Jackson got on either side of their wounded and weak comrade and hoisted her up. It was gentle, but enough to make Harper moan. Wade's head instinctively snapped around hearing someone in pain. He saw the blood already seeping through the clean, white bandage on her shoulder. Reiben had put it around his shoulder, and it was ripping the stitches.
"Reiben find another way to hold her," Wade said turning and surveying the empty countryside.
Reiben looked down at Harper and realized what he was doing wrong. He gently put Harper's arm to her side as they began moving. The group moved out slowly with everyone taking up their positions around Reiben, Harper and Jackson. Miller and Horvath kept a keen eye on the trees in front of them looking for the distinctive flash of machine guns. Jackson's trained eyes scanned the tops of trees for the flash of the sniper rifle as it fires. Mellish and Upham had their backs to the procession watching the rear for advancing enemy, and Wade was doing a little bit of both, plus trying to keep a doctor's eye on his patient, who looked like she was getting weaker by the second.
They walked in silence for what seemed like ages. The only sound was the crunch of dry grass under their feet and cracking shells far in the distance. Also the occasional moan from Harper. As they progressed, however, her moans became few and far between, which worried Wade. There were many different things that could be causing her to stop feeling pain. One of which was her body probably going into shock. Wade tried to push the thought out of his mind and push the group faster. The tree line was still about 20ish minutes away. Wade didn't know if she could last that long, but at that moment they had bigger things to worry about.
Jackson had stopped dead. The squad all looked at him curiously, but they knew his keen senses to well to not follow his lead. They all stopped also and waited silently. Jackson's ears and eyes worked, both straining to catch what had made him become ridged, then suddenly he saw it. He dropped to his knees. Everyone followed suit and he whispered, "Upham give me my Springfield."
Upham immediately obeyed, crawling quickly through the grass to the sniper's side. He handed over Jackson's 'baby' just as Miller made his way through the 4 foot high grass.
Reiben quickly took his B.A.R from Wade who had crawled over to see to Harper. The squad circled themselves around the medic, translator and injured comrade.
"What is it?" Miller asked.
Jackson parted the grass with the barrel of his sniper and waited intently. The rest of the squad did the same, though they had nothing to aim at but air. Very soon though, they realized what Jackson had sensed. A single man in complete German soldier outfit came bursting out of the bushes. Reiben tensed to shoot but Jackson held up a hand. Reiben glared at him but loosened his trigger finger.
Once again, Jackson's feeling had been correct. About 25 seconds behind the single German, there was a pack of about 13 chasing after him. The squad glanced at one another wondering what to do next. Miller looked back at the German's in pursuit and immediately wondered why they weren't shooting at the one German. It suddenly came to him, but he didn't have time to explain it to the rest of the squad.
He stood up and aimed at the pack of Germans. He took his first shot and just as the man hit fell and the rest turned around the men in Miller's squad were up shooting to. With in 30 seconds all the Germans had fallen, and all that was left was the lone German who had been running. He tried to keep running, but Miller yelled, "Thunder!"
The surprise on all his men's faces were evident. Reiben almost dropped his B.A.R. The lone German stopped in his tracks and turned slowly. He looked at Miller for a long time then said quietly, "Flash."
Miller's men let out a collective sigh as the American ran over to the group.
"Captain Miller. Charlie Company, 2nd Rangers," said Miller nodding to the young man.
"Matthews, 1st of 506th," he answered.
"Weston?"
Everyone turned to see who's voice sounded so weak and feeble. They were all surprised to see Harper. She was struggling to sit up, but because of the obvious infection and blood loss, Wade was easily keeping her pinned to the ground.
"Harper you need to hold still," Wade said firmly. "I have to look at the wounds."
Harper wasn't paying attention. She was desperately trying to get to the newcomer. Matthews looked curiously at the soldier on the ground who knew him. He looked Harper over confused then it seemed a light bulb went on in his head.
"Harp?" he asked forgetting his soldier training and shoving past Miller. "Harp what are you doing here!?" he yelled apparently forgetting he was in enemy territory.
"Shut up soldier!" hissed Miller.
Weston looked back at Miller apologetically then quickly back to Harper.
"Now isn't the time to ask questions," said Wade who was checking Harper's shoulder wound.
"West… I haven't seen you in.-"
"Now isn't the time, Harp," said Weston interrupting her. "I'll talk to you as soon as you are better."
That seemed to satisfy her and she passed out. Her head fell back into Jackson's open hands. Wade finished re-bandaging and said to Miller, "We need to move fast. The stitches aren't doing what they are supposed to. They are actually doing more damage since we are moving so much. We just need to get to a safe place and let her rest."
Miller nodded and said, "get her up. Fall in."
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