September 6, 1944

Aldbourne, England

"Officer Mackenzie. Please come in."

Jaclyn walked into the office and stood at attention. Colonel Sink waved her down. "At ease, Officer. Please sit down and make yourself comfortable."

Jaclyn sat stiffly, silent. Sink studied her hard eyes and rigid demeanor a moment before continuing. He looked down at the paperwork in front of him. "Officer Jaclyn Mackenzie of the Royal Air Force." He put the paper down and looked up. "From my recollection, the Brits had its own division for women. What are you doing with RAF?"

Jaclyn swallowed, trying and failing to coat her dry throat. "Sir, I was initially assigned to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, but I was determined to exploit my talents for better use than preparing parachutes and maintaining plane engines."

"The WAAF is an excellent regiment and a great asset to this war, Officer. You shouldn't demean their good work."

Jaclyn bit down hard on her bottom lip. Nice going, dummy. "No, sir. I meant no disrespect. I was the one that didn't fit in. Those women are much better soldiers than me."

Sink smiled slightly before looking back to the papers. "Air Chief Marshall James speaks most highly of you. It seems like you are a good soldier as well, Mackenzie." Jaclyn didn't respond.

"I see here that you were a pilot starting in 1942 until earlier this year." Sink studied her hard at this point, perusing the detailed notes in front of him. He noticed a twitch in her cheek as she clenched her jaw. Pretending not to notice, he moved on. "Since then, you've become a tool for British Special Forces, excelling in undercover missions for Britain, France and the U.S."

Jaclyn only nodded her affirmation, returning a small smile. "Says here you jumped on Normandy with the 82nd and successfully infiltrated a German camp near Utah beach with the French. Well that seems like a real doozy of a mission. How'd it go?"

"Jumping on Normandy or the infiltration, sir? Both I would consider doozies," she replied dryly.

Sink laughed, happy to see a bit of life from her. He stood, causing her to stand at attention once more. He handed her a paper. "I think you'll fit right in with Easy company. They're on leave in town for the next week or so. I'm sure you'll receive details from James soon, but we jump on Holland next."

Jaclyn nodded, taking the paper. "Anything else, sir?"

Sink paused but then nodded. "All men of the 101st Airborne are fine soldiers, but Easy company is made of tougher stuff. They've seen more than most. I'm sure you'll see for yourself soon enough."

With that, Jaclyn saluted Sink. He saluted back, nodding towards the door. She left without another word.

Jaclyn hauled her pack onto her back and left the headquarters. After reading the paper in her hand, she left to find Captains Richard Winters and Lewis Nixon. Nerves began to eat her insides, causing her to squirm uncomfortably. Deep breaths, Jackie. You've done this before.

She knocked on the door after weaving her way through town. She caught a few curious glances from soldiers walking by, but she looked straight ahead, ignoring them. A few even whistled in appreciation. She held back a snarl, but it was really hard. As if they hadn't seen a nice ass before.

"Come in."

Jaclyn opened the door to find two men reading a large map of Holland. The dark one rolled it up without another word, unsure about her. She looked to the other. "Sir, my name is Officer Jaclyn Mackenzie. I'm looking for Captains Winters and Nixon to report for duty."

The tall officer smiled and offered his hand. "Officer Mackenzie, of course. I'm Dick Winters. A pleasure to meet you."

She gave him a small smile back, relieved at his kind attitude. During her time in this war, bouncing from regiment to regiment, she had experienced every type of male personality there could be. She was happy to find a commanding officer that seemed to immediately accept her. "Thank you, sir. Likewise."

The other held out his hand. "Lewis Nixon. Glad you could join us." He motioned to the map on the table. "Sorry about that. You can never tell who may be a spy these days."

Jaclyn smiled shortly, but it fell from her face quickly. Her heart thrummed in her throat. "Mark of a good spy. That's why I'm here. I was due to continue my rendezvous with the French, but they retreated a few weeks ago. Then I got the call from Colonel Sink." They both nodded, unsure on how to reply to her cool demeanor. Her short and slight frame was stiff and unwelcoming, but her blue eyes were sharp. Nixon noticed a slight tremble of her fingers as she spoke.

Winters placed his hands in his pockets, taking a breath. "Well I think I should introduce you to the men."

Nixon nodded, motioning for the door. The three walked together down the lane. "They should be in the mess for dinner. We can find them there."

Jaclyn nodded. "Of course, sir."

Nixon glanced at Winters over her head, giving him a concerned look and mouthing, Yikes. Winters shrugged slightly, but he silently agreed. He wasn't sure how Jaclyn would fit in with Easy. They may eat her alive.

They entered the mess hall together, but Winters and Nixon stepped forward. Their tall frames easily blocked Jaclyn from view, but she didn't mind. In her experience, the element of surprise worked not only for undercover missions.

"Hey guys, listen up. Quiet for a moment," Winters called. The room became silent almost instantly. She could feel the respect for him from every man. She always noticed that you can judge a man based on how his subordinates react towards him. "We have an addition to our company today."

"Not more replacements," someone muttered.

"Eh, they ain't so bad," one man said with a thick East Coast accent. He wrangled another man's head under his arm and ruffled his hair. "Right, Tony?" The soldiers around them laughed.

Winters grinned but held up a hand. "No, we will be hosting a British Special Forces Officer until further notice."

Groans went through the room as soon as they heard "British." Jaclyn allowed herself a small smile. The feeling was the same no matter which American regiment she fought with. Luckily, they eventually looked past her accent and respected her based on her performance. Well, most of them did. Her hands started to shake again.

Winters quieted them down. "Officer Mackenzie will be working with Easy as an undercover operative when called for. Although she will be working with us, she reports directly…."

Winters was cut off as every man perked up. "She?" They all whispered to each other, a few aghast. It took several minutes before they calmed down again. Winters nodded, a stern look on his face. "Yes. Officer Jaclyn Mackenzie will be joining us as a spy when the opportunity presents itself," he repeated. "I expect each and every one of you to give her the respect that any soldier deserves. Under no uncertain terms will she be disrespected. Understood?" The men nodded, grumbling.

"Sir," a young trooper called out with an upturned nose. Jaclyn could see his sneer from the gap between Winters and Nixon. "You can't be serious. A woman can't handle herself in combat."

Winters raised an eyebrow at him. "Cobb, I think Officer Mackenzie will prove you wrong there. She's seen her fair share of warfare." Cobb sat back down with another sneer.

"So where is this broad? Is she cute?" The man with the thick accent called out.

Winters opened his mouth again, but Jaclyn walked forward. She caught his eye and nodded. He raised his eyebrows but understood. He stepped back to give her the floor.

Jaclyn came forward, straightening her back in a failed attempt to seem taller. She clasped her hands together to try and stop any trembling, but feared her voice may reveal her nerves. Clearing her throat, she looked to the soldier. "I'll leave the determination of my level of cuteness up to you, sergeant. And I'm sure that I'll determine soon whether you're man enough to keep up with 'this broad.'"

The man around her whooped and clapped. Jaclyn returned a small smirk as she stared down the mouthy sergeant, her nerves abating somewhat. She saw Cobb in the corner of her eye frown miserably. Winters and Nixon caught each other's eye and grinned. She may fit in after all.

"Ok men, move out to training exercise," Winters called, trying to contain his laughter.

The men rose, still chatting excitedly. Jaclyn was immediately approached by a small group of men, led by the sergeant. He stared her in the eye for a long time, assessing. She raised her chin a bit, defiant of whatever he and his friends may say to her. Thankfully, he smiled before holding out his hand. "Bill Guarnere. Pleased to meet someone that can hold their own. I've been surrounded by these idiots for too long."

Jaclyn immediately smiled, relieved. "Jackie Mackenzie. Glad I could rescue you."

A slender man beside him scoffed before turning to her. "Joe Toye. Don't listen to old Gonorrhea here. He'd be lost without us. Welcome to Easy."

Jaclyn smiled again, tentatively at first, but she could feel it growing by the second. Man after man came forward to welcome her, each with a little humorous spunk or jab. I'm going to have my hands full with these boys, she mused. But a handful of rowdy boys was much better than the egotistical meatheads she's had to deal with in the past.

As they began to file out, she caught sight of one soldier still sitting at a table, staring at her with a strange look on his face. Jaclyn's eyes scanned his handsome features and dark hair for a moment before she felt her stomach drop. She could practically feel his hair in her hands again and his lips on her neck. The soldier from the bar.

And he recognized her as well.