Disclaimer: all the usual apply.
Chapter 13
Upottery Airfield.
Amelia POV
Walking up to the large tent where the briefing was set to take place Amelia saw Bill and George loitering to one side of the entrance. Seeing her approach, they waved her over and offered her a smoke.
"No thanks boys. You going in or what?"
The two men exchanged an odd look which made her eyebrows knit together, confused as to what she'd missed.
"Yeah, just now. We were actually waiting for you," George said.
"Oh now, that's very gallant of you." She tried to joke to hide the tension making its way up her chest.
George glanced around quickly and stuffed his hands into his pockets while shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Listen Em, we wanted you to hear this from us and not through the grapevine."
"Luz darling, you are the grapevine."
"We all have our talents," he retorted, looking rather impressed with himself.
Seeing the men file into the tent she tried to get her friend back on track. "OK, so what is it."
"Joe and that brunette from the pub, well, he snuck out to spend the night with her before we left Aldbourne," Bill blurted out the words, avoiding her eyes at all cost.
She braced herself for the harsh stab of pain, but it never came. In its stead there was only a dull sadness. "Oh, I see. Well, he can do whatever, or whoever he wants."
They shot her dubious looks.
"You can stop looking at me like that. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" George asked her.
"Listen, I get where you're coming from and if this had happened a month ago you would have had to deal with some tears." They both visibly cringed at the idea of having to deal with a crying woman.
"But now, I," she took a breath, a bit unsure of how to continue, "I still have feelings for him, those don't just vanish overnight. But where they were a ten out of ten they're now a five. And we talked when I got back to England, we both know where we stand. We both care about each other, always will, but he's unsure about what he wants and I'm not waiting around for him to make up his mind."
She placed one hand on each man's shoulder, gripping it firmly, trying to emphasize the next words. "We're good and I'm fine."
George smiled, evidently relieved that the news had gone down better than expected. "Well OK then. I still think it's his loss."
"George, you always do wonders for my self-esteem."
He gave her a cheeky wink and she couldn't help roll her eyes playfully.
"So, if I hear about any other guys that are interested I can send 'em your way?" Bill asked her, a knowing smile on his face.
Shaking her head, she said, "Bill, do the words war zone and bad timing mean anything to you?"
"What can I say? I'm a romantic."
"That's news to me," she retorted.
"Yeah-yeah wise-ass, let's get a seat," he said, leading them into the tent.
They were some of the last to enter, but luckily Don had saved them seats next to him and Muck. Squeezing past the men she plonked down next to him as Bill took the spot on her other side. Looking around she caught sight of Babe sitting directly behind her, deep in conversation with Hashey.
He glanced in her direction and meeting her eyes he held out his pack of smokes to her. "Hey Em, you want one?"
"Don't bother, she ain't being shot at so she won't take one," Don said, as he reached over and took one for himself.
Babe scowled at him, but Don just shrugged as he lit the stolen cigarette, Muck immediately stealing it from him in turn. She laughed at their antics, it was wonderful to see them just being young men, their worries momentarily far away.
"That true?" Babe asked her.
"Yip, so as soon as the bullets start flying you'd best hide those smokes," she teased.
He gave her a quick smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Ten-hut," Lipton said from the front of the tent as the officers entered.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention with absolute precision. The officers walked onto the raised dais and the men saluted them.
Winters returned the salute sharply. "As you were."
Taking her seat, she saw the knowing look Bill was shooting her way. "What?" she whispered.
"Shhh…Winters is talking," he replied, the look still there.
Narrowing her eyes at her friend she turned her attention to the front just as Winters started to address the room. "As you can see, this is called Operation Market Garden. In terms of airborne divisions this, this one's even bigger than Normandy. We're dropping deep into occupied Holland."
He turned to the maps pinned up behind him. "The Allied objective is to take this road here," he indicated a spot on the map which she was too far away to see in any detail, "between Eindhoven and Arnhem, so the two British armored divisions can move up towards Arnhem."
He paused, and his eyes met hers for brief moment, before he continued. "Our job is gonna be to liberate Eindhoven, stay there, wait for the tanks."
Winters stepped aside and Nixon stepped forward, clearly it was time for the intelligence portion of the briefing.
"The entire European advance has been put on hold to allocate resources for this operation. It's Montgomery's personal plan, we'll be under British command."
The men around her groaned, the British command was known for being overly cautious and she knew from personal experience that maneuvers which should take a day often ended up taking three.
"The good news is, if it works, these tanks will be over the Rhine and into Germany. That would end the war and get us home by Christmas."
She saw some of the men smile, nodding their approval, but she didn't share their optimism. She had a bad feeling about this, no way the Germans were going to make it this easy for them.
Bill looked over to her, his lips pursed into a thin line and arms folded over his chest. He obviously wasn't buying it either.
"It'll be a daytime jump; intelligence doesn't expect much opposition. They think the Krauts in Holland are mostly kids and old men. And we should take them by surprise."
Oh yes, because nothing says surprise like thousands of men falling from the sky in the middle of the day, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the mixed up logic.
"In any case, say goodbye to England, I don't think they're gonna call this one off." Finishing Nixon looked around the room as the men fell into a contemplative silence.
Winters stepped in beside him after a few beats. "Study the maps and sand tables. Know them off by heart." Looking over to where she was sitting he continued, "Amelia, you and Derek stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed."
As the men started to file out she made her way to the front of the tent where the officers were standing in a little group, talking amongst themselves.
"Sir, you wanted to see me," she addressed Winters.
"Yeah, you and Derek have specific orders." As he spoke the remaining officers left the tent, with the exception of Nixon and Derek.
"Once we reach Eindhoven you two need to set up positions to defend against enemy snipers. The local Dutch resistance will help us wherever they can, but I'd rather have our own eyes looking out for us."
She frowned, a city like Eindhoven was heaven for a sniper, protecting her friends wasn't going to be easy. "Yes sir, I'm sure we'll be able to come up with a sensible plan."
Winters and Nixon shared an anxious look. "Say what you want to Amelia," Winters said, nodding to show that she could freely speak her mind.
Letting out the breath she'd been holding she took the plunge. "I have a bad feeling about this. The intelligence from Holland is notoriously shoddy and there's no way the Germans are going to allow us to waltz into the Father Land."
As she was talking she could feel her heart pick up pace, her emotions getting the better of her she decided to lay it all out there. "And where everyone sees old men and kids, I see experience and youthful resilience, and both can still point a gun and pull a trigger. As for the element of surprise, we're jumping in the middle of the day. Any small delay and the Germans will see us coming from miles away." Finishing her little rant, she almost felt a little out of breath.
All three men were silent and for a moment she was worried she'd spoken out of turn and was in for a stiff reprimand.
Winters took a deep breath and let out a sharp huff of air. "Yeah, it's a risky plan."
She nodded, there wasn't anything else she could do. She'd said her peace and now they had to prepare as best they could. As simple as that.
"OK, the jump is close, so get yourselves ready." With that Winters dismissed them.
XXXXXXX
Exiting the tent, she wasn't sure where she wanted to go since she had an hour to kill before she had to meet Derek to start their planning. She knew some of the men would be at their barracks while she could see others loitering around, just waiting for the officers to leave the tent so they could go back inside to study the maps.
She was still worked up, and she didn't want the men to be around her now. It wouldn't do them any good to see her this tense, it would only stress them out unnecessarily. She didn't feel like being alone with her thoughts either, knowing that she needed some form of a distraction to help calm her down. That's when she spotted Gene walking towards the storerooms carrying three large boxes of medical supplies.
Perfect.
She jogged towards her friend and reaching him she grabbed the top box from the stack he was carrying. He shot her a grateful smile and led the way into the storeroom.
Entering the small room, he placed his boxes down on a wooden table set against the furthest wall and she followed his lead.
"Thanks chérie." He wiped his brow with the back of his hand and lit a cigarette.
"Sure thing Gene. You need some help unpacking these?" She waved at the boxes.
"You sure?"
"Yip."
"OK, you take this one. It's bandages so they need to go onto that shelf." He pointed towards a low shelf on the left side of the room.
Picking up the box she started to unpack the bandages, stealing glances at her friend.
He'd always been quiet, keeping himself slightly distant from the other men, but since their time in Normandy she'd seen him retreat into himself even more. She was worried about him; this war was difficult enough to get through surrounded by friends. Trying to survive it alone while maintaining some shred of your sanity was nearly impossible. She didn't want to lose him to his demons any more than she wanted to lose him to a German bullet.
Leaning against the shelves she played absentmindedly with a bandage, thinking of the best way to broach the subject. "How are you Gene? And if you say fine, I will throw this bandage at your head."
He stopped what he was doing and turned around, mimicking her pose he leaned against the table. "I'm OK chérie " His lips twitched upwards and he ducked the bandage that she aimed at his head.
"Hey! I didn't say fine."
She raised an eyebrow and quirked her head to the side. He wasn't going to get away that easily.
He folded his arms and looked down at the ground. "It's hard. Being a medic isn't what I signed up for. Treating dying men, it takes something from you."
Her heart went out to him. He had an incredible burden to bear, one she knew she wouldn't have the strength to carry. "I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through Gene, but you have to know that all the men feel better knowing you're there for them. I know that, if I get hit, there's no one else I'd rather have looking out for me."
His eyes shot up and she saw his mouth set in a thin line as his face held a pensive quality. They stood like that for a long time, neither one saying anything or looking away. Finally, he spoke, "The day we found out you were joining us, all I could think was that I wouldn't be able to help a dying girl. Now that I know you, I really never want to find out if I was wrong."
She crossed the small space to him and came to stand against the table to his right, their shoulders just touching.
Turning her head slightly to look at him she said, "I'll be careful Gene. But only if you promise me you'll take care of yourself. You won't be able to help anyone if you're not OK."
He met her eyes and said, "I promise chérie. So, how are you?"
She turned away from him, starting at the door of the storeroom as if it held all the answers to life's great questions. "I still have nightmares, but they're better, it helps to be busy again, have something to focus on. I'm worried about the mission, but I'm sure it's just the usual jitters."
"M'hm….and how are things with you and Joe?"
"You know what, surprisingly it's fine." She broke her staring contest with the door and turned back to him. He was looking at her, his soulful eyes putting her at ease. "Even though it hurt, he was just being a good guy, which makes it kinda hard to stay mad at him. So, we're good, we've found a way to make it work."
"That's good. You deserve to be happy and have someone that knows what he has in you."
She smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Let's make it through this mess first and then we can worry about my love life OK?"
"Deal."
After that they spent the rest of the hour in companionable silence, unpacking al the boxes. By the time they closed the door behind them Amelia felt like a new person, her frayed edges once again neatly smoothed over.
XXXXXXX
Bill POV
The announcement had been made during dinner that the jump into Holland was going to happen the next day. Everyone knew it was coming, but it still felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over him. All the men seemed to lose their appetite and the guys returned to their barracks to double, triple check equipment, making sure they had everything they would need.
The veterans had learned some hard lessons during the Normandy jumps which they applied religiously this time round. Where they saw a replacement making a rookie error they intervened, pointing out the mistake before turning their attention back to their own preparations.
When he saw Babe check his kit for the fourth time he decided to help him get out of his own head for a while. Walking over to his bunk he told Babe to join him for a smoke. Really it was more of an order than a request, but he complied happily enough.
He'd done his best to keep all the replacements at a comfortable distance, but through the grapevine he'd heard that Babe came from the same neighborhood so he already had a soft spot for the kid. Then he'd noticed the death stare Babe shot the private from D Company that gave Amelia grief and his mind was made up. Any guy that got that worked up over his friend being insulted was good in his books.
Turns out that once they started talking they had even more in-common than he'd thought. So what started out with him taking Babe under his wing quickly turned into a close friendship.
They were each on their third smoke already, having spent the past twenty minutes walking around the base, talking about mutual acquaintances and favorite hang-outs from back home.
They were nearing the barracks and he wanted to give his friend one final piece of advice.
For what it's worth.
Finishing his last smoke, he said, "Listen, just keep your head down and do your job. You'll be fine."
"That's almost the same advice Amelia gave me once," Babe replied through drags.
"What can I say, great minds."
He'd noticed Babe and Amelia talking on more than one occasion, often seeking out each other's company. He'd also seen the way the man looked at her when she wasn't paying attention. Like she was this perfect little mystery he couldn't quite wrap his head around. He'd thought about calling him out on it, but decided against it because of the whole Joe situation. Now that Em seemed to be moving on he didn't see the harm in prying a little.
"So you and Em, you're friends?"
Kicking a loose stone with the toe of his boot Babe replied, "Yeah, I suppose so."
"That's good. She's one hell of a dame that one." He placed more emphasis on the second half of the statement than was strictly necessary. He liked Babe, but he loved Em. He was going to make damn sure the other man knew what he was getting into if he messed around with her.
"Tell me about it. I've never met anyone like her. She sure ain't like the girls back home."
Bill shot him a sideway glance, jaw clenched in case his last statement was anything other than a compliment.
Babe picked up on the silent threat because he quickly added, "Hey, don't look at me like that. I meant it as a compliment. Like you said, she's one hell of a dame."
Relaxing his jaw Bill nodded in agreement.
"So umm….I heard rumors she and Liebgott got something going on," Babe asked, the hesitation and nerves evident in his tone.
"Nah, something almost started but it didn't work out. Ended before it even began really."
He saw the smile that crossed the other man's face and he felt his own lips turn into a grin. The thought of his two friends being something more than just friends made him happier than he'd thought it would.
A soldier exited the main tent a few feet ahead of them and he instantly recognized her. There was only person on the entire base that filled out a pair of OD's like that. "Speak of the devil. Hey Em! Wait up will ya."
Amelia turned around at the sound of this voice and greeted them with one of her dazzling smiles, her dark eyes crinkling in the corners just a little bit.
When they stopped next to her she said, "Shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep before tomorrow?"
"I needed a smoke and Babe here offered to keep me company. What about you?"
"Oh, I just finished going over the aerial photos and available intelligence on Eindhoven with some of the officers. Trying to identify positions where snipers would be hiding and the ones we could use."
"And, how's it looking?" Babe asked.
She gave a small shrug. "It's an ideal environment for a sniper, but hopefully the Dutch resistance will smoke them out before we even get there. It should be fine."
"Huh, OK," Bill said, there really wasn't anything else to say on the matter. Nothing they could do about it now anyway.
"Anyway, I'm gonna turn in for the night, got an early start tomorrow," Amelia said, casually waving her hand in the general direction of the tent she shared with Derek.
Seeing an opportunity, he said, "Yeah, we'll be heading back as well. Babe, will you walk Em to her tent?"
"Bill, that's really not necessary."
"Do it for me Em, it'll make me feel better knowing you're not walking alone by yourself in the dark."
She sighed, but caved none the less. "Alright, you win." She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you in the morning Bill."
Looking her dead in the eye he replied, "See you in the morning beautiful."
Watching his two friends walk away from him, their bodies instinctively turned towards each other, a smiled crossed his face.
Maybe I really am a romantic.
XXXXXXX
Amelia POV
Running into Bill and Babe had been a stroke of good fortune. She'd wanted to see both men before the jump, but knew the morning was going to be hectic and she may not have the opportunity to say her farewells to either one.
When Bill had suggested Babe walk her back to her tent she'd protested because she knew that's what he expect her to do, but in truth she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop the smile from spreading across her face.
She'd spent the last few days trying to decipher her shifting feelings for Babe. Finally, she'd come to the frustrating conclusion that she had one hell of a crush on the man, made even more confusing by the fact that she still had some lingering feelings for Joe.
Stealing a glance at him now she couldn't but curse her luck. As if jumping out of a plane and fighting Germans wasn't enough, now I have to deal with this.
She wanted to tell him how she felt, blurt it all out in all its chaotic glory and hope for the best. But her own uncertainty as to what outcome she was actually hoping for and their impending jump made that impossible.
She fidgeted with the the tip of her braid, trying to think of a way to tell him she cared for him without actually telling him. Seeing her tent approach, she knew this would be her only chance, so taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she said, "Eddy, considering where we're going, I can't ask you to be safe or careful. We have a job to do and I understand that. But just, please try not to get killed." She bit her lip nervously and refused to make eye contact with him.
Coming to a stop outside of her tent he took a step closer to her, forcing her to look up and meet his dark brown eyes. He reached over and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear, his fingertips skimming over her cheek, sending a bolt of electricity running down her spine.
Dropping his hand from her face ever so slowly he said, "I'll do my best, if you promise me you'll do the same."
"I promise." She reached into her pocket and took out a neatly folded square of white paper. Turning it around in her hand she weighed up whether or not to give him the note. Making up her mind she held it out to him. "Read this when you're alone."
He took it from her, an adorable little frown on his face.
That was it, there was nothing more that she could say. Not now and not here. Bridging the small distance between them she stood on her toes, lightly pressing her body against his, relishing the feeling of his strong chest, and softly kissed his cheek. "Sweet dreams Edward," she whispered against his cheek.
His strong hands came to her shoulders and he held her in place, the action and his closeness making her breathing speed up as her heart started to pound. She felt his muscles tremble as if his mind and body were fighting over what to do next. Kissing her gently on the forehead he spoke in a hushed, deep tone. "Good night Amelia."
For a beat they stood like that, both unsure over what to do next, and then the moment was gone. His hands dropped from her shoulders and with a faint smile he turned and walked away.
She watched him leave and waited for her heart rate to return to normal.
XXXXXXX
Babe POV
Walking away from Amelia was the single most difficult thing he'd ever done. Every part of his being had demanded he pull her to him and bury her lips against his. The way her body felt pressed against him ever so lightly and the smell of her hair nearly drove him to do something reckless.
He needed a moment to collect himself before going back into the tent where he'd be surrounded by dozens of prying eyes. So he lit a cigarette with trembling fingers, allowing the familiar action and smooth smoke to settle him.
Finally feeling back in control of himself he unfolded the note she'd given him.
Edward
My life is better for having you in it. So please take care of yourself.
Amelia.
He read the words over and over again, trying to commit each one to memory. Tucking the note into the inner pocket of his jacket he shook his head in disbelief.
When it came to Amelia it felt like he was on a rollercoaster, climbing to the top, with a sharp drop into the unknown waiting for him. He couldn't stop it or get off, and wasn't sure he'd want to even if he could.
For the briefest of moments, the coming fight was the furthest thing from his mind.
XXXXXXX
Hope everyone is having a good week so far. See you again soon!