Turns out, Easy was headed out with the rest of the 506th in two days. Thankful for small miracles, Evelyn slept through the next day, a Saturday, only waking long enough for Luz to force feed her every few hours.

"Take another bite," he insisted, pushing a roll towards her.

Evelyn curled her lip. "Jesus, George, enough! I ate two of those already."

He rolled his eyes. "Which is four less than you usually eat, even after a full plate. Eat, Evelyn, or I'll sic Doc on ya."

She glared at him before pouting and taking the roll from his hand. "Nag," she muttered.

Luz grinned. "Stubborn ass."

Truth was, she was starving, but the roll was tasteless. She felt better than she did yesterday, but her body didn't seem to want to do anything but sleep. She chewed on the bread anyway. "What time are we leaving tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "I only heard sometime in the AM, so I'm packing up tonight in case Sobel takes that as three in the morning."

Evelyn chuckled. "Any word on where?"

Luz shook his head as Perconte came by and sat down next to him. He handed Evelyn an apple, pushing it into her hand until she took it with a glare. "Johnny was just telling me he heard Nixon mention New York. That sounds like we're fighting krauts rather than japs to me."

The soldiers all figured in the beginning that they were headed to fight the Germans, but no one knew for sure. She thought with a pang of her brother, Jack, who had left for the pacific over a year ago. I'll see you on the other side, bro.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Guarnere stopped by and shoved a half of sandwich into her chest until she took it. His look held no opportunity for argument and she bit into it with a huff.

As Sunday morning approached, the soldiers were gathered into trucks before leaving for the train station. It took a few days to reach New York, but none of that mattered to Evelyn. She slept the entire way, causing Luz to whine when his shoulder fell asleep.

"Ev," he murmured, prodding her gently.

She groaned softly, sleep still heavy over her. "Quit bitchin', Luz. Your arm was meant to be my pillow."

Malarkey and Randleman chuckled next to them. Luz rolled his eyes before poking her harder. "No, jackass, we're rolling in now. Wakey wakey."

Evelyn opened her eyes a bit and looked out the window. He was right. They were inside a dark tunnel and the train was slowing. She sat up and yawned. "That was fast."

The men all snorted. "Says the comatose woman," drawled Randleman.

The soldiers were quickly gathered to next go to a bus before heading towards the port, where the ship awaited them. Everyone fell silent as they took in the huge city, most of whom had never seen.

Guarnere scoffed. "Don't get me wrong. New York is nice, but it's nothin' compared to Philly. Lacks soul."

Toye nodded. "And too many assholes here."

Evelyn giggled. "And Philly has none?"

Guarnere ruffled her hair, ruining her bun, and grinned. "You're looking at the biggest, baddest Philadelphian asshole of them all, doll."

"I had no doubt, Bill."

The ride to the port authority was quick and they were all quickly ushered onto the ships deck, standing in line for their area assignment.

To say the soldiers were packed in like sardines was a huge understatement. The entire underbelly of the craft was open and huge lines of hammocks and bunks lined up past where the eye could see and stacked up to the ceiling, at least five rows high. Easy was assigned a corner of the ship, and Evelyn quickly eyed a top bunk as private as she could find.

Being a woman in the Army had its advantages sometimes. She quickly climbed to the hammock of her choice before most of the men even thought to claim theirs. Her body was quicker than most.

She sighed as she sunk down into the bunk. She heard Luz climb in directly below her. "I could go for a nap."

He poked her rear end with his boot and grinned when she yelped. "If you sleep any more, sweetheart, I swear you'll turn into a goddamn zombie."

She wrinkled her nose. She had missed a lot since that brutal march. Her stomach growled angrily just then. "How about food? I'm starved."

He chuckled. "Finally, my girl is back!" Suddenly, another apple was tossed up and over, landing on her lap. "Too bad dinner isn't for another hour."

Evelyn grinned, biting into her snack. "Guess your job is entertainment until then."

Any good cheer the soldiers had on their first night on the ship soon disappeared after several days being stuck together with eight other companies. The huge ship felt suddenly small and confining.

Evelyn had just walked away from a fight between Guarnere and Liebgott, eager to get away from the raging testosterone. She was looking for Adrianna, a reprieve from the male madness.

She walked through the area of Able company as she made her way towards Dog. She didn't stop when the whistles from the nearby bunk started.

"Damn, honey. Are you looking for a transfer? I'll oblige. Just come on over."

"Did you catch that ass? We didn't get nothin' like that. Ain't fair."

"How about a kiss, sweetheart? I've got somethin' you need."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, unable to help responding. She turned and saw four soldiers leering at her. One younger one sat by without saying anything. He looked uncomfortable.

She cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure, soldier? I think if I blink, I'll miss it."

The other three crowed, but the last one stood up. She didn't back away, only looked at him in disgust. He towered over her. "Oh yes, intimidate me into sleeping with you. That's the way."

He sneered. "I'll have you begging for more, bitch." He grabbed her arm, and pulled her close. "Or begging me to stop. I'll take what I want either way."

At that moment, the exchange was witnessed on one side by Liebgott, whose eyes widened before blazing with anger. On the other side stood Lieutenant Speirs of Dog company, his expression blank, but deadly. Before either man could step forward and rip the private from Evelyn, he was on his stomach, his arm bent awkwardly behind him. He was pinned down by her knee.

Sobel might be Evelyn's least favorite person this world currently had to offer, but in that moment, she thanked him for those endless fight training exercises. When the A company private grabbed her and implied what he was going to do, she reacted instantly. After twisting his arm back, she knocked his feet from beneath him, and landed on his back hard with a knee, pushing the air from his lungs.

She leaned down to his ear and said loud and clear, "Beg me to let you up."

"Get off me!"

She dug her knee in harder into his shoulder blades, leaning all her weight on him as he struggled. She twisted his arm tighter, causing him to grunt in pain. "Beg."

"Private Cassidy," said Speirs. He stood over them, his eyebrows raised.

Evelyn looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "Yes, sir?"

"Is this soldier crossing a line?"

Her smile broadened. "No, sir. We just had a misunderstanding." She turned back to the man on the ground. "Isn't that right?"

Both she and Speirs waited. He gave in. "That's right."

Appeased, she stood and let him jump from the ground with an angry glare her way, but then he saw the look Speirs was giving him. "Private, show me to your CO," he murmured. The man nodded curtly before leading Speirs to the right, his friends quickly disbursing. Speirs looked at Evelyn and gave her a small nod. "Private Cassidy." And then they were both gone.

Evelyn didn't know Liebgott was there until she turned and almost ran into him. She jumped a mile. "Christ, Joe. You just about gave me a heart attack."

Liebgott looked at her hard for a long time. She waited expectedly. Finally he opened his mouth. "I'd ask if you were OK, but…"

She gave him a sarcastic smirk. "But then it would sound like you care. Don't worry, I won't make that mistake again." She walked away, leaving him to his thoughts.

Evelyn and Adrianna stayed together as much as possible. Although they weren't desperate enough for female company to seek out the Fox women or the scary soldier in I, they were in need of a break from the men.

"If I have to treat one more man for seasickness, I'm gonna throw him overboard," Evelyn sighed. Still unsure how she managed it, Adrianna found a small, empty compartment that they frequented to shoot the shit.

Adrianna snorted. "Since you're not an official medic, can't you pick and choose which cases you want? Send that shit to the others."

Evelyn giggled. "I could, but you know I won't. I have to look out for my guys. Just wish they'd stop whining long enough for me to remember why I love them so much."

Adrianna grinned. "But you don't love them all. Pitch those losers overboard."

Evelyn thought briefly of Liebgott and sighed. "Tempting. Very tempting."

Suddenly, the door sprung open and to their horror, the I company woman busted in, kissing another soldier passionately. He was half her size, but their embrace looked familiar. They stopped when they noticed the two women.

Evelyn and Adrianna blinked several times as the woman stared them down. They jumped to their feet.

"Our mistake."

"We'll just get going then."

They hurried out until the door slammed shut and the lock audibly clicked. Grasping each other's arms, they scurried away to a safe distance until busting out in loud laughter. Unable to catch their breath, Adrianna fell to her knees while Evelyn bent at the waist, tears streaming down both their faces.

"Can you...can you imagine?" she gasped out.

Adrianna tried her best not to roll on the floor. "Do you think she can even feel it?"

They roared together, finally moving on to go outside now that their hideaway was no longer available. It was a long time until they calmed down.

"Christ, that's something I can't unsee," drawled Adrianna. "My fucking eyes."

Evelyn smiled softly. "I'm glad she has someone." Adrianna's jaw dropped. "Come on! We have each other and our friends. I always thought she was lonely, but I was too afraid of her to say hello. That didn't look like a first time thing."

Adrianna winced at the image in her head again before nodding. "Yeah, yeah. Glad she has someone too. Can we change the subject now? My eyes."

After that incident, the days seemed to go by faster. Every now and then, Evelyn would catch sight of the woman. She tried to communicate silently that she wouldn't say anything, but the woman always just stared her down until Evelyn looked away again.

Finally they landed in England, where they were due to remain until further notice. Training would begin tomorrow after everyone had settled in.

To their delight, Adrianna and Evelyn would be bunking together, even though they didn't share the same company. They were billeted to the same two family house, the Army keen on keeping the women together as much as possible. This, unfortunately, meant they were also staying with the women from Fox and the woman from Item.

Luckily, "those wily bitches" were in the other apartment, but the I company soldier was to stay in the second bedroom of the family home Adrianna and Evelyn were assigned to. They watched as she walked silently into her small bedroom as they sat on the large bed they were to share in the neighboring room.

"Do you think she hates us?" whispered Evelyn.

Adrianna shrugged. "Only one way to find out. Hey! Private!"

"Anna!" Evelyn hissed, swatting her, but the woman showed up at the door, the top of her head grazing the frame.

"What's your name?"

The woman glared at Adrianna until Evelyn sighed and stood up, offering her a hand to shake. "What she meant to say was, I don't think we've ever properly met." Evelyn gestured to her side. "That's Adrianna. I'm Evelyn. What's your name?"

The woman paused a moment before grasping her hand and shaking it. "Judy," she said simply. Her voice was surprisingly soft.

Evelyn smiled. "Good to meet you, Judy. I've been…"

Adrianna cut her off. "Did you really make your CO cry?"

Judy turned to her and narrowed her eyes. "Did you really threaten to cut off the balls of your first sergeant?"

A grin spread across Adrianna's face. "Hell yes. He touched my ass."

To their surprise, Judy grinned back. "I didn't really make him cry. Maybe whimper a bit."

The three women chuckled together, quickly sharing more stories about the men of their companies and how they dealt with them.

The women had to pull away in the morning from the fuss that their adopted family made over them. The three of them were billeted to a lovely old couple, Terrance and Lena Davies. Lena fawned over the women - after her initial shock of not receiving the men they had expected - she was keen on fattening them up, even with the small rations they had during the war. Terry only watched and grinned, but made sure to relieve them of Lena's efforts every so often so that they could breathe and go to work.

"Let them get going, woman," he called from his spot in his chair.

Lena muttered under her breath in Polish, as she brushed invisible lint from the shoulder of Adrianna's ODs. "I am letting them go, you anglik."

"You know, after fifty years together, I've picked up on a few words."

Lena gave the girls a wink before finally allowing them to go. "Only a few words, love. The rest passes him. Go on then. We'll see you tonight."

Judy immediately left to join her company, but Evelyn and Adrianna walked together until they had to separate. They laughed softly about their new English family.

"Christ, fifty years," said Adrianna. "I can't even imagine sticking with one man that long."

Evelyn smiled. "They're adorable. Yeah, they might bicker, but did you see the way Terry looks at her? Get me someone that looks at me that way, and I'll give him fifty years and more."

Adrianna rolled her eyes. "Fantastic. I'm surrounded by romantics. If Judy brings that soldier back to the house, I'm out. I swear to God."

It turned out they hardly saw Judy. Although Lena was disappointed that one of her girls disappeared almost every night, she concentrated her efforts on the other two. Evelyn felt the weight of her ministrations being added back onto her body. Along with the physical training she was undergoing with Easy, her body felt stronger than it ever had.

Sobel had Winters and Welsh lead combat training, something Evelyn was eager to learn. She knew the basics, but if she ever got into a real battle with a German, she wanted to know everything possible to give the best fight she could.

Day after day, the soldiers trained with their rifles, bayonets, bazookas, and more. It took awhile, but eventually she was able to take down a man twice her size without a weapon at all. The whistles of appreciation that day from the men still rang in her ears. She grinned every time she thought of it.

When they weren't training their bodies, Sink was training their minds. He went over countless tactical exercises and examples, until it was ingrained in their heads. Evelyn's brain swam with strategies and maps.

Finally, whenever possible, Evelyn helped Roe and Spina in the aid station. Granted, there wasn't much to deal with at the moment, except sprains and cuts, and sometimes the odd cracked rib.

Evelyn was just finishing up wrapping Muck's wrist after he fell awkwardly, when Lieutenant Meehan of Baker company walked in, a wounded private around his arm. Muck and Evelyn jumped up to help him place the soldier on the examination table. The man's right boot was off and his sock was bloody.

She immediately squatted down to her haunches to get a better look. "What happened, sir?"

Meehan sighed. "Tom got a bayonet to the foot. Think it stabbed right into his heel a few inches."

Tom groaned. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to fuck up." His eyes widened when he looked at Evelyn. "I'm sorry for cussing, ma'am. Shit, I really done it now."

Meehan shook his head. "You did nothing of the sort, private. Accidents are bound to happen." He turned to Evelyn. "We would have gone to our aid station, but they haven't set it up completely yet. I'm looking forward to having a word with my lead medic on that."

Evelyn grinned, but she didn't look at him as she carefully peeled off the soaked sock. "I'll be sure to let our medics know that you're pleased with ours, sir."

Meehan narrowed his eyes. "You're not a medic?"

She froze, cursing herself for her slip. But Muck jumped in, saving her. "Cassidy just completed her medical training, sir, back in the Carolinas. She's going to take excellent care of your soldier."

Meehan seemed appeased and nodded. Silently, the men watched as she cleaned the wound until she could see it better for examination. Evelyn smiled and looked up to Tom, who was still wincing. "You're in luck, trooper. The wound may be deep, but it didn't hit bone. And it's a very clean cut. A few stitches and you'll be good as new." She turned to Meehan. "He will have to stay off this foot for the next week or so, sir."

Meehan nodded. "Of course. Thank you for taking care of him, private."

"Of course, sir," she replied calmly, but her heart danced inside her chest. Albeit small, situations like this was why she was here. She bit her lip to stop the wide smile that threatened to surface. This is why you are jumping out of a perfectly good plane.