A tiny bit of AU tie with my other BoB story, "Spirit and Spunk"

Luz sat with the guys, finishing up dinner and another requested impersonation of General Taylor, when Winters and Nixon walked into the hall. Winters called them to attention and he immediately nixed the joke. There were few people in this world that could stop George Luz mid-joke, and Captain Winters topped the list. In a good way, he added to himself. He thought for a moment of Sobel and shuddered.

"We have an addition to our company today," said Winters.

"Not more replacements," Toye muttered.

"Eh, they ain't so bad," Guarnere chuckled. He grabbed Garcia around the neck, rubbing a fist into his hair. "Right, Tony?"

Winters grinned but held up a hand. "No, we will be hosting a British Special Forces Officer until further notice." Luz groaned with the rest of them. They all hated to work with the British and all their stupid rules.

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

She? Luz thought. He looked around excitedly for a pretty face and a nice set of legs, but he couldn't find anyone. And Shifty doesn't count. Perconte and Martin next to him muttered their own bewilderment, their eyes looking around.

Luz heard someone stand up behind him. He saw Cobb and rolled his eyes. "Sir," said Cobb, his nasal voice even more so than usual. "You can't be serious. A woman can't handle herself in combat." Luz rolled his eyes again, mocking a noose around his neck, making Perconte and Martin grin. What a prick.

Winters replied cooly. "Cobb, I think Officer Mackenzie will prove you wrong there. She's seen her fair share of warfare."

Guarnere spoke up next. "So where is this broad? Is she cute?" Finally, a legit question.

Winters and Nixon stepped aside, and a slip of a woman in a British uniform stepped forward. Luz grinned at first when he saw her pretty face and striking blue eyes, but then he felt the smile fall from his face. His ears became suddenly blocked and he couldn't hear. He knew she said something, because her lips were moving and then the guys around him moved in laughter, but only one phrase played in his head over and over again in his own voice.

"A mystery maiden. I like me a bit of intrigue. That and the accent is hot."

The men around him stood up and started leaving the hall. Luz remained frozen in his seat, his eyes still on her face. Suddenly, she noticed him. His eyes widened, trying and failing to become invisible. He watched as she scanned his face with her cool glance. And then, the inevitable. She recognized him.

Luz took a deep breath and stood. Averting his eyes, he tried to walk from the hall while Officer Mackenzie was busy speaking with Guarnere and the others. He was almost at the door when he heard her voice.

"Soldier. What's your name?"

Luz tried to take a breath, but he found he couldn't get air in. He turned, forcing a smile across his face. "George Luz, ma'am. Welcome to Easy company."

Her eyes studied him while the others left the hall. "Thank you, Private Luz. I appreciate the sentiment."

They walked together silently towards the door, but very slowly, her pace dragging. Like a death march, he thought, jumpy. So slowly in fact, they allowed Liebgott to leave before them, and then they were the last inside.

As soon as Liebgott was gone and the door shut soundly, Luz felt himself pushed against the wall roughly. He was pinned in place by the throat with her forearm and a second later, he heard metal being unsheathed. His eyes widened when he felt a knife being held against his groin. Bad, this is bad. Very bad!

Jaclyn leaned her face in close to him. She may be at least six inches shorter than him, but she stood as if she was six inches taller. "If you breath a word that we've met before," she hissed. "Easy will have two soldiers without balls."

Luz's eyes widened to saucers and he gulped. He nodded. He shook his head. He would do whatever it took to get the knife off his junk.

Before he could say anything, she pulled the knife away and stalked from the room.

Always one for quick wit and a sharp tongue, George Luz was speechless.

Over the next few days, Jaclyn tried to keep to herself for the most part. In her experience, keeping a safe distance was best for everyone. But her attempt was failing miserably. She already liked these guys. Well, most of them, she thought bitterly, thinking of Cobb. And Luz, although that was for an entirely different reason.

On her third day with Easy, they were completing a standard physical exercise. Although the company was on leave, Winters made sure to keep them in shape. Today they were to jog a loop around the surrounding towns.

After a few miles, Jaclyn fell into stride next to Guarnere. Although uncouth, she gravitated towards him. I always did like the funny guys, she thought to herself.

Guarnere grinned when he saw her jog up next to him. "Getting tired, sweetheart?

Jaclyn smirked back. "You wish, Guarnere. I was just checking to see if you needed a break. Maybe a little motivational speech to keep you going."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "How about a motivational smack on the ass? I think that would work." She grinned, raising a challenging eyebrow.

He replied with an eyebrow of his own a moment before they took off. Sprinting towards the front of the pack, Guarnere easily outran her, her short legs no match for his longer frame. Jaclyn watched him go, ending up next to Winters, puffing.

"Racing Bill again?" he asked, a smile twitching on the left side. "I've read your file, Jaclyn. You should challenge him to a shootout. I'd bet on you."

Jaclyn smiled back shyly. "Thank you, sir. I'll keep that in mind."

They jogged for a while in silence. "I also read that you jumped with the 82nd in Normandy. That was quite a day."

Jaclyn nodded. "Yes, sir. A day of firsts."

Winters paused before continuing. "I know that the 82nd has a lot of troopers, but I was wondering if you have met one in particular during your time there." Jaclyn looked at him, interested. "Her name is Margaret Henry."

Jaclyn gave him a full smile. He was taken aback by the humor on her face. It was a rare sight. "Oh yes, Sergeant Henry is a hell of soldier." She paused, taking in the soft smile on his face. "Hell of a woman too. She's an amazing leader and all the troopers respect her. I'm lucky to say I can call her a friend."

Winters smiled again, lost in thought, processing this news. Jaclyn continued, "How do you know Margaret?"

She watched as a soft blush cropped into his pale cheeks. "Margaret and I met in Upottery right before D-Day. We've been exchanging letters since."

Jaclyn looked ahead, pretending she didn't notice the slight tone of affection in his voice mingling with a touch of worry. "She's one tough son of a bitch, sir. She's going to survive, and if we are stupid enough to get ourselves killed, I'm confident she'll find some way to give us hell in the afterlife."

Winters chuckled, the worry leaving his face. "That sounds like her."

He glanced at Jaclyn, reassessing her. His initial impression of her had begun to evolve. Maybe her cool personality was a only layer that needed to be cracked.

Jaclyn tried to remain distant, but it was becoming increasingly harder. They were a tight knit group, and as one of the members of Easy, even if only temporarily, being a loner wasn't a possibility.

Almost immediately, Guarnere became her closest acquaintance. They would banter back and forth, matching insult for insult like brother and sister. Their good-natured bickering seemed to thaw her stiffness a bit, and one day Liebgott swore that he made her laugh.

Luz chewed on a roll. "I highly doubt you made the ice queen laugh, Joe." He miserably tried to swallow, but the bread was tasteless. Disgusted, he threw the offending food onto his tray.

Liebgott snickered. "You're just jealous that I've taken over as Easy's token funny guy. Move over, Georgie. New king of hilarity in town."

Luz sneered but didn't reply. Guarnere eyed him, a bad taste in his mouth unrelated to the food. "You got a problem with Jack, Luz? Too female for ya?"

Luz looked up, his nose wrinkling. "Fuck you, Bill. You know I ain't like that."

Guarnere shrugged, nonchalant. "Then what you got against her, man? She's a cool broad."

Liebgott nodded. "She's seen a lot of action too." Luz almost spit out his coffee. They didn't notice and continued. "She won't go into much detail, but I think she's seen some crazy stuff, even before Normandy."

Cobb sat down next to Luz. Perfect, Luz thought, grimacing.

Cobb grabbed the roll from Luz's tray. "I call bullshit. That skirt ain't seen half what we have. I bet she didn't even jump on Normandy. Probably made her way across the channel in the Queen's personal barge or something equally as ridiculous."

Guarnere's lip curled. "You ain't jump on Normandy, Roy. Don't pretend otherwise." Luz nodded in agreement, batting the roll from his hand. They stood, leaving Cobb there, muttering to himself.

Guarnere nudged Luz in the ribs. "For real though, why don't you like Jackie? I know she's a little cold at first, but the girl is a firecracker. I'd think you two would hit it off."

Just then Jaclyn appeared before them, about ten yards away. She was speaking to Roe, their faces both stern. Luz studied her, really looking at her for the first time since he felt the sharp edge of her knife. "I don't know. It's like she's a robot or something. Have you even seen her smile? I mean, who doesn't smile?" Luz asked exasperated. Human beings smile. Ice queens threaten to cut off your balls.

They watched her look up. Seeing them staring at her, her eyes narrowed. Guarnere shrugged. "Give her a chance. I know she's got her guard up about something, but did you see her shoot yesterday? Better get that girl on your side or suffer the consequences, Georgie." He slapped a hand on his shoulder and walked away.

Realizing he was alone and with Jaclyn still staring at him, he turned to walk in the other direction. Hearing her run up beside him, he groaned internally.

Jaclyn's eyes caught Guarnere and Luz across the way, their eyes on her while they spoke. She felt her stomach drop as she finished up her conversation with Roe.

Roe surveyed her hardening face with his eyes, silent. His serious expression turned stony. He nodded, answering her question and then turned to leave. She hesitated when she saw the unwelcoming look in his eyes, a little confused. Another Cobb?

She saw Guarnere leave Luz's side. She's have to talk to Roe later and find out what's up. She ran up to Luz.

"Luz," she said, making her voice hard.

He nodded without looking at her. "Mackenzie."

Jaclyn put her hands in her pockets, hiding her clenched fists. "Threat of castration not enough for you?"

Despite himself, Luz shivered, but he angrily turned towards her trying to hide it. He jut out his chin and gestured towards a private corner, the muscles in his jaw tight. He stalked away.

Jaclyn bit her cheek, but she followed him. She crossed her arms across her chest, her posture defensive. "Listen, Luz, if you think you can…"

Luz turned towards her, an uncharacteristic angry glare in his eye. He pointed a finger at her. "No, you listen Mackenzie. Get off my back. I wasn't saying shit to Bill about our little fling, which, by the way, I really regret, because if I knew I'd have to deal with Europe's greatest bitch for the rest of this war, I would have kept Georgie Jr. in his home."

Jaclyn raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth, but Luz continued. "And before you try and add some sexist bullshit, I ain't Cobb. I don't care if you have tits or sticks as long as you can hold your own on the line. I just want you to either leave me the hell alone or pretend for real that we've never met."

Luz finished, his chest heaving in frustration, his jaw still clenched. He waited for her to say something, or at the very least, take out her knife again. But she smiled instead. Way worse, he thought, his eyes widening.

Jaclyn felt the smile start at the left corner of her mouth before spreading across her face. She held out a hand to him. "Officer Jaclyn Mackenzie of RAF."

His eyes remained guarded for a moment before he slowly unfroze. He took her hand, shaking it. A reluctant grin on his face. "Private George Luz of Easy company. Pleased to meet you, Mack."

Her eyes narrowed at the nickname, but she took a breath. Play nice, Jackie. She grinned back at him. "Pleased to meet you, too, Luz."