Evelyn stepped onto the train platform in Atlanta. Many of the soldiers headed towards Charlotte since they were due to report in Camp Mackall in a week, or various other destinations, but she headed in the other direction to try and give her brother a break from his long drive from California. A few others joined her on the journey, on the premise to have a good time for a week in the city.
She smoothed her dress skirt down and looked around, but she didn't have to search for long. Henry ran up to her and immediately picked her off her feet and into a huge hug.
She giggled loudly as he swung her around and around, her arms tight around his neck. The majority on the platform turned towards them, but they didn't approach. Everyone was keen to see their own loved ones or go venture out with their temporary freedom. Liebgott watched as she kissed the man on the lips briefly before hugging him close again. He turned in the other direction and left the area.
Henry finally put Evelyn back down on her feet. His face hurt from smiling so wide. "Jesus, Ev. It's great to see you."
She wiped a stray tear from her eye before brushing her lips against his and hugging him once again. "I've never been so happy to see my annoying older brother."
Henry chuckled. "One of three annoying older brothers. But, don't forget, I'm your favorite."
Evelyn grinned as they each wrapped an arm around the other's waist. He picked up her bag and swung it over his other shoulder. "You each claim that, you know. I don't play favorites."
"You only say that because Mom is your favorite."
"Damn straight. She doesn't drive me up a wall."
Evelyn and Henry spent the day wandering the city until they could check into their rooms at a motel. They found a nearby pub to have dinner and catch up.
She closed her eyes in delight at the taste of real meat and fresh vegetables after months of Army slop. "How's Mom doing?"
Henry shrugged. "You know, missing you and Jack. Chris and I try our best to make sure she gets out of the house, but I can tell she's lonely. We are trying to get her to sell it."
She turned to him, surprised. "Sell the house?"
He nodded. "Think about it. We all have our own places now. Chris is reproducing spawn after spawn. I'm living the bachelor high life. And you and Jack won't be back for awhile. I think the empty space is making it worse."
Evelyn looked down at her plate, no longer hungry. She bit her lip to try and keep the guilty tears at bay. Henry grabbed her hand as if he could read her mind. "Don't go doing that, Ev. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. She is so proud of you. We all are."
She gave him a tentative smile. "You don't think I'm mad? Sometimes I think I must be."
Henry laughed, squeezing her fingers before delving back into his food. "Of course you're mad. You signed up to jump from a perfectly good airplane!"
Evelyn had a wonderful few days with her brother. It was as if the year apart didn't even happen. They stepped right back into their easy relationship, teasing one another and reminiscing.
Before she knew it, it was time to board a new train that would take her to North Carolina. This would be the last time she would see any of her family before she shipped out for war.
She was back in her dress uniform, which somehow felt more restrictive even after only being out of Army wear for a short week. She didn't try and stop her tears as she said goodbye to Henry - it was a losing battle anyhow.
He kissed her forehead and held her close. "Don't do anything stupid, OK?"
She gave a watery chuckle. "This is me you're talking to."
He didn't laugh. Pulling back to look her in the eyes. "I mean it, Ev. I know you. Please don't run towards the danger. Save us from the pain of losing you."
She clenched her teeth hard, trying to stop a verbal cry that was threatening to escape in her throat. "I'm too stubborn to die, idiot. Don't forget it."
Now she got the smile she was looking for. "As if I could."
Evelyn gave him one more hug before hurrying into the train car, knowing if she didn't, she might not have the strength to go. She found the compartment where she stored her pack, and immediately opened the window to peer outside again. The train began to whistle.
"Give Chris and Mom my love," she called. "And you can tell Jack in your next letter how badass I looked in my uniform."
Henry laughed. "You know I'm no good at writing to either of you, but I promise to make this one the exception."
"You'd better."
The train began leaving the station. Tears streamed down her face as she waved to him. She watched him until she couldn't see him anymore, and even then, she stayed in her position, pretending she could.
The door to the compartment opened and Liebgott stepped in. He stopped short, surprised at seeing her. "Oh. There aren't anymore seats available."
Evelyn was livid with herself for allowing him to see the wetness on her cheeks. She wiped it away before gesturing silently to the row across from her. "Be my guest."
He paused a moment before finally placing his pack above the seats and sitting down. They rode in silence for awhile, the air thick.
She sighed, unable to stand it a moment longer. "Was your leave good?"
His eyes flicked over to hers. "Yeah." He was silent once more.
She tried again. "See anyone from home?"
"Nope."
Evelyn rolled her eyes and huffed before leaning back into the corner. She closed her mind off, pretending he wasn't there, and attempted to sleep. She didn't get far.
"How was your leave?"
She opened her eyes and looked at him in surprise. "It was good." She paused. "My brother came to see me."
Liebgott's eyebrows raised and she thought she heard him mutter something along the lines of "her brother" before looking at her again. "He drove all the way from California?"
Evelyn nodded. It was common knowledge between them that they didn't live far from one another. Only a bay separated their lives outside the war. "Took him a few days, but he did it."
"Nice brother."
She smiled softly. "He is."
The silence began again, but the tension in the air seemed to dissipate a bit. That was until she tried to push her luck a little too far. "Thanks for asking."
Liebgott snorted before leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "You say that like I care. Just bein' polite."
Evelyn watched him silently, hoping he could feel the heat of her glare. Giving up, she closed her own eyes and tried to rest.
It turned out she was stuck with Liebgott all the way to the base. After getting off the train at Hamlet station, they shared a Jeep alone for the next half hour until they got dropped off at the barracks. Liebgott jumped out immediately and walked in without saying a word.
Evelyn thanked the driver before heading in herself. She was immediately bombarded by Luz.
"Ev!" he cried, engulfing her in a hug. The similarities between him and Henry always managed to surprise her. My fourth annoying older brother. He made the sting of missing her family a little less. She laughed loudly until he finally let her go.
"Good to see you too, George. I assume you made plenty of trouble and got away with it as usual?"
Luz grinned mischievously. "As always, sweetheart. The entire family surprised me and came down. We met halfway in DC. Ma loved it. Well, until Eddie and I got us kicked outta the Smithsonian for trying to ride the woolly mammoth like a horse. She didn't like that too much."
Evelyn's smile broadened. She could only imagine the huge clan of Luzs making their way through the nation's capital. And if his brother was anything like him, they made a huge ruckus.
The group spent the rest of the evening catching up and telling stories about their leaves. Evelyn's face hurt from smiling so much - she had missed them.
The next day, Easy was thrown immediately back into training. Along with tactical field exercises with Sobel, Roe was to begin a rigorous course in advanced medical training. Although Evelyn was given a little leeway in order to assist him when needed, Sobel insisted she stay with the soldiers for the most part. If he couldn't fail her before becoming a paratrooper, he sure as hell was going to do everything in his ability to keep her from training with Roe and Spina, because he could feel how much she wanted it.
But, as usual, he underestimated her. The medics were about to undergo fourteen weeks of daily training with only Sundays off. Evelyn was allowed to join them on Saturdays only - her weekday field training would not be interrupted. But Sobel didn't say anything about prohibiting her from the aid station at night.
Every day after dinner, Evelyn would leave to go study and practice. At first, Roe tried to talk her out of it. He was afraid that she'd finally push Sobel to the edge and he'd get her kicked out, but that argument was short-lived. Nothing was going to stop her from completing what she came into the Army to do.
On Saturdays, she hardly rested. She took in everything she could with Roe and Spina, and enjoyed practicing with the pair. Often, she would skip lunch to keep going, making sure she didn't fall behind. If the instructor noticed something was off when she kept up with everyone, he didn't say anything. She was a model pupil and he couldn't complain.
On Sunday, Evelyn spent her day and night practicing and studying, until Luz finally stopped her after a few weeks of seeing her glazed eyes and dragging body. Finally, she agreed to take Sunday nights off to rest before beginning all over again Monday.
Before she knew it, August was beginning to come to an end and the medics only had two weeks left of training. The soldiers could feel the coming end of their time in the States. Nervous and excited chatter began to fill the barracks hall.
Evelyn poked at her dinner one Friday night. Her fork stirred the mush around, her appetite long gone. Luz and Martin watched her silently, their faces etched with concern. The woman always ate with gusto.
"Not up for tonight's meatloaf, darling?" asked Randleman, spearing his own and looking at it critically. "Or is it salisbury steak?"
She grinned. "I wouldn't guess, Bull. Takes away from the intrigue." She sighed before pushing her tray aside. "You can have mine if you'd like." She stood and looked at the men surrounding her. "I'll see you guys later."
Luz studied her pale face with a scowl. "How about you take the night off, Ev? I can clear the bunks for a few hours. Guarantee you some shuteye."
Evelyn's smile grew. "You're sweet, George, but I only have two weeks left to complete everything, and I'm behind." With a wave, she left quickly before he could say more.
Martin snorted. "Our medic is gonna need a goddamn medic if she continues like this."
Liebgott sat down in her empty seat. "I wouldn't worry about Cassidy. She..."
Luz sneered and cut him off. "Yeah, you wouldn't worry, would you, Joe? Bet you'd love to see her drop like a fly."
Liebgott raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I was going to add that she is a tough son of a bitch. She knows her limits."
The three men blinked at him. He shrugged, his brow furrowing. "Quit looking at me like that. It's a general observation, not a marriage proposal."
Luz stared at him hard before cracking a grin. "Finally woke up, I see."
Liebgott rolled his eyes. "She's still a damn pain in my ass, don't get me wrong."
Randleman chuckled. "But she's our pain in the ass, and you're right, Joe - a goddamn tough son of a bitch. I'm not worried about her. If we're headed to Germany, those krauts don't stand a chance."
September 1943
It was close to dawn when Evelyn collapsed in her bunk. She was beyond exhausted but she couldn't sleep - her heart thumped with pride. She grinned into her pillow - she had done it. She had gotten past Sobel and completed the medical training alongside Roe and Spina, although not officially.
She had a feeling if the instructor was in charge of her position, he would have taken her hard work to Sink. It was a nice feeling, although it didn't do much but perk her up. She still wasn't a registered nurse, having never completed her education. She was female. And she was kept back per the Army because of it. But in the end, she was going into war with priceless knowledge and skills. She felt strong, and, in that moment, it was enough.
As soon as she closed her eyes, the doors to the barracks slammed open, pink light from the rising sun peeking in. Sobel began to shout. "To your feet! Get up! At attention!"
Evelyn immediately jumped up, the first to line up as she was the only one previously awake. She snapped to attention, staring straight ahead to Shifty.
Sobel walked in, still shouting. Winters and Harry Welsh, their newest Lieutenant after Nixon was transferred to battalion, came in on his heels. Everyone was lined up within seconds.
The captain walked slowly down the line. "This company - my company - consists of only the strongest, toughest and most resilient of all paratroopers." He paused, scanning their faces. "My soldiers also are the most respected." He stopped in front of Evelyn, his eyes on her face and he sneered. "Revered for their pride, patriotism and honesty."
Evelyn stiffened, but tried not to let anything show. He knows.
He turned back to shout down the hall. "As a reward for such behavior, we will begin marching immediately. Until I say stop." He began to walk out the building and towards his jeep. "Lieutenant Winters. Prepare my soldiers."
Winters bit the inside of his cheek before stepping forward. "Easy company. PT gear. You have two minutes." He left to also change along with Welsh.
Easy was marching. And the sun was now setting. There was no end in sight. Sobel cruelly had them pass by the camp several times as a tease, but, each time, they went right by it.
Without anything in her stomach since lunch the previous day - she had forgotten to stop in her studying for dinner - Evelyn was having an out of body experience. She knew her legs were moving, and she could tell air was coming in and out of her lungs, but she didn't know how. She certainly wasn't in control of her body any longer. She only had her mind left - or what was left of it.
Suddenly, she tripped over her own feet and pitched forward. Able to stop herself from falling, she straightened again, but she moved out of line enough for Sobel to notice.
He ordered his jeep driver to slow enough for him to jump out. He immediately got in her face by her side. "Private Cassidy, are you ready to stop? Just say the word, and it ends."
"No, sir!" Her voice cracked.
"Another lie, private!" he yelled. "After all, you're the reason why we're here. You disobeyed a direct order, and now the entire company suffers."
With the confirmation of his knowledge of her late night medical training, Evelyn straightened her back further. Knowing Sobel, he had already complained to Colonel Sink about her, but yet she was still here. She wouldn't allow him to win, even if it meant her heart stopped in the process.
He cursed her when he saw her resolve hardening before turning back to the men. "Private Cassidy is the reason why you're hurting. She is a mockery of this company. She will only bring you down. Remember that when she sheds her clothing and you're distracted."
Evelyn took a quick breath in through her nose with a hiss. The men around her stiffened, and she wished she was near Luz to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. She prayed he kept his mouth shut.
At the reverberating silence, Sobel scowled and returned to his jeep. The stars were now out and the forest around them was quiet and inky black. With a murmured command to Winters, who continued to march alongside the soldiers, the jeep sped away.
Easy marched for another hour until they rounded a familiar bend and the camp came into sight. Winters cleared his throat before shouting, "OK, off to the mess. Move out!"
Half of the soldiers immediately began jogging towards the food, their stomachs aching. The other half were too tired, but were still keen on some nourishment for the first time that day. Evelyn, instead, made her way to the showers. Luz stopped her with a hand.
"Ev, where are you going? You need food, sweetheart," he said, his big brown eyes full of concern.
Evelyn tried to give him a smile, but found the muscles in her face stopped working. "I need a shower first. I can hardly think, I'm so tired."
His eyes scanned her strained faced and red eyes. It didn't escape him that she had lost weight over the last several weeks. He nodded. "Grab a shower and I'll grab you some food. Meet you back at your bunk, OK?"
She nodded and tried to yawn. "Yes, sir." And with an attempt at a wink, she made her way to the empty showers.
She washed quickly, thankful for the searing hot water, something she usually didn't have since she normally showered after the men. The room filled with thick steam. After pulling her sticky clothing back on, she began to walk from the structure, but had to stop. She leaned a hand against the concrete wall and closed her eyes, trying to stop the ground from moving.
"Alright there, Cassidy?"
Evelyn winced. Not him. She took a deep breath and then opened her eyes with a nod. Liebgott stood just outside the building, his towel over his shoulder. "Yes, I'm fine." She tried to take a step forward, but her knees buckled underneath her.
Before she hit the ground, his hand found her elbow and supported her weight. Silently, he led her outside until the cool night air hit her face. She gulped it in. After a moment, she turned to him, curious and confused by his help. "Thanks."
He looked at her for awhile, and she felt as if he could see through her. Finally, he smirked. "Can't have you dying on me, Cassidy. They'll court martial me thinking I did it."
She couldn't help it; she smirked back. "I wouldn't doubt it, Liebgott." And with that, she turned towards the barracks, collapsing immediately into her bunk and falling into a dead sleep.