Little darker and broody than my usual chapter. Poor George :(

April 6, 1945

Thalem, Germany

Luz and a group of Easy were patrolling the forest outside their newest destination, Thalem. It had been ten days since Nixon announced that the Germans had taken prisoners at Remagen. Ten days since Luz knew in his heart that Jaclyn was a part of that group.

The men tried to keep his spirits up. Most of the time it didn't work, but sometimes, they were cheered when they saw his token grin.

"Hey George," said Perconte as they walked through the forest. "Don't this remind you of Bastogne?"

Luz pulled back from his dark thoughts and made an effort to be a human being. "Yeah, now that you mention it. Except of course there's no snow. There's warm grub in our bellies. And the trees aren't fucking exploding with kraut artillery. But yeah, Frank, it's a lot like Bastogne." So much for being a decent human being.

Perconte didn't catch the sarcasm. "Right?"

"Bull, can you smack him for me, please?" Before I crack.

Perconte yelped. "Thank you," said Luz dryly.

Luz tried to keep the humor inside him. He tried to crack jokes. It was all that he had left. Jokes and the guys. If he didn't focus on that, he was pretty sure he'd lose his mind.

And then, they came to the edge of the forest and found the concentration camp.

Whatever despair Luz thought he felt not knowing if Jaclyn was alive or dead, he realized it was nothing compared to that of the prisoners inside this camp.

After the gates were open, the withered men inside immediately began touching them, as if checking to make sure they were real. They murmured in German to them, their bliss evident, even in their sunken and dull eyes.

Luz didn't know what to do. Where to turn. How to help. Mack would know.

He took a deep breath, trying to envision what she would do in this situation. His heart burst at the thought, pretending she was at his side.

Luz opened his eyes and walked to the first man he saw. "These men need water," he called to the rest. And touch. Don't be afraid of affection. They need compassion.

He held the man in front of him, tipping the water from his canteen gently into his mouth. He held the prisoner to his chest, trying to tell him silently that it would be OK. It's going to be OK.

As soon as Easy had some control over the situation in the camp, it all turned around for the worst. A doctor arrived from battalion to inform them that the prisoners had to stay in the camp, to stay in their own personal hell once again until a better place for them could be found to provide treatment. To top it off, their food and water needed to be rationed.

Luz climbed back into the truck, his eyes not leaving the camp even as it pulled away.

"Jesus, I can't stand it," muttered Perconte. "I mean, to send them back to that hell?"

Liebgott hung his head, tears burning his eyes. He was the one that had to tell the prisoners that they had to stay. Luz placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort his friend.

"It was for their best interests, Joe," he murmured. "They'll be out soon. You did what you had to do."

Liebgott nodded, but didn't lift his head. Luz noticed tears dripping by his feet. He didn't say anything more.

When they got back in town, it took everything in Luz not to take his anger and disbelief out on the townspeople there. They've must have known. No way they didn't know.

Liebgott looked equally murderous. Nixon came up to them. "Stay calm, gentleman. They'll get theirs in the end," he said as he looked upon the town with them.

"Sir?"

"General Taylor has declared martial law. Any able-bodied German citizen ages 14 to 80 will be burying the bodies starting tomorrow," he said grimly. "They will have no choice but to realize what they ignored."

It was a small comfort, but not enough. Easy could only sit and wait, to see what horror they were led to next. Their combat on the line might be over, but the destruction of this war continued.

Luz, Nixon, and a few of the guys continued to look down on the townspeople as they attempted to clean up their ravaged town. Luz sneered at the sight. Fucking krauts.

Nixon cleared his throat. "Hitler's dead. Shot himself."

Luz turned with the others in shock. Perconte asked what everyone else was thinking. "Is the war over?"

Nixon shook his head, grimacing. "No. We have orders to Berchtesgaden. We're moving out in an hour." They were headed to Hitler's Eagle Nest.

"Why? The man's not home," said Webster. They all started to gather their packs, turning to go.

Luz didn't move. He continued to stare at the town below. Nixon clapped him on the back, in an effort for comfort. It didn't work.

"Should've killed himself three years ago," added Webster. "Saved us a lot of trouble."

"Yeah he should have," muttered Nixon. "But he didn't."

No, he didn't.

Luz didn't realize Liebgott had stayed behind until he turned and almost ran into his friend. Luz muttered an apology, but kept moving to follow the others before Liebgott stopped him.

"Hey George?"

Luz sighed, not sure if he could do words right now. He turned and saw his tired eyes and grey skin. Stop being so goddamn selfish and remember your friends, George. Your pain isn't the only out there. "Yeah Joe?"

Liebgott swallowed, thinking. "I really don't believe in destiny or God's will or any of that fucking bullshit." He paused, shutting his eyes tight for a moment before opening them again, anger glazing them. "I mean is it God's will for those people to have suffered by the damn krauts? To have died for no other reason than being a Jew?"

Luz stared at him for a bit, unsure what to say. "I can't imagine God willing anything that cruel."

Liebgott nodded. "Exactly." He stepped towards Luz, the anger leaving his eyes. "So it's not destiny or fate, but I do believe that Jackie and you will be together again." The breath in Luz's throat hitched at her name. Liebgott, seeing the pain, continued. "Somehow, you and she found each other after months apart. Somehow she was assigned to Easy company. Somehow, she is going to find her way back again."

Luz's mouth dropped open. "You knew we met before? Did she...?"

Liebgott smiled smugly. "You don't remember? I was in the bar that night too. Wasn't about to forget those legs of hers. But I didn't stand a chance. You had her hooked on that damn Luz charm."

Luz scoffed, smiling softly at the memory. It seemed so long ago. "I can still see her sitting at the bar. She turned down man after man without so much as a word. I was only trying to make her laugh at first. See if I could crack the tough girl." Luz paused before grinning. "You know she threatened me if I told anyone."

Liebgott grinned back, slinging an arm over his friend's shoulder as they began to walk out of the building. "I have no doubt. How did she do it?"

Luz chuckled quietly, happy for once that his mind detoured from his dark thoughts and to happier memories. "Knife to the balls. Man, what I wouldn't give for her to threaten me again."

Liebgott's laugh rang through the corridor. "You're a sick man, George. But don't worry. If you'd like, I'll tell her you spilled the beans about England when she gets back. Maybe she'll make good on it this time."

"Thanks, bud."

May 2, 1945

Berchtesgaden, Germany

Easy rode into the Nazi-central town in silence. White flags of mourning hung on each building. Swastikas peppered everywhere. There was no fighting. No resistance. They overtook the town without a shot fired.

Luz watched from the truck as a group of his friends ran up the drive towards Hitler's eagle nest, a mountaintop villa, 8,000 feet above sea level. He held no sense of happiness or victory like his fellow soldiers. Any effort the guys made to cheer him up fell on deaf ears. Routinely, Luz argued with himself, every now and then it came out verbally, causing his friends to look at him in alarm.

It had been over a month since Luz learned of Jaclyn's capture. It had been almost two months since he'd last seen her. Her face burned in his mind, every time he closed his eyes. The great debate looped endlessly in his brain.

She wouldn't want you dwell like this.

Luz opened his eyes. Stop thinking like she's dead. She's not dead.

He stood, exiting the truck, the last inside. How the fuck would you know?

He walked towards the building and towards the laughter of his friends. Because she can't be.

May 12, 1945

Zell Am See, Austria

No one wanted to leave Berchtesgaden. That was, until they arrived in Austria.

The picturesque scenery was only complemented by the rush of pretty girls when their trucks arrived. Each girl blew kisses to them, excited by the arrival of the Americans.

"Damn, I think I love Austria," drawled Randleman, chewing on a cigar.

Liebgott nodded. "Think I'll find me a nice girl here. Maybe two. Or three." He grinned happily.

Perconte was busy blowing kisses back to the women until the trucks finally stopped. They leapt out and right into the waiting arms.

Luz took a long breath before jumping from the truck. He thought he'd waited enough for the crowd to disappear, but sure enough, two blonde girls came up to him, kissing his cheeks instantly.

"No, thanks," he murmured, brushing their hands away. He tried not to look at their clear blue eyes and long blonde hair. He was afraid to see any resemblance to Jaclyn. Afraid for his heart to drop dead in public.

Intent only on finding his bunk, he pushed through, idly wiping their lipstick from his face. Thankfully, the tent he was assigned to was mostly empty, the others were outside having a good time.

He sat down on his cot with a long sigh. Another useless stop along the crazy train.

He didn't hear or see Cobb sitting on the bunk in the corner. Luz jumped when he spoke. "Hey George," Cobb said quietly.

Luz thought briefly back to a time when he would have rolled his eyes anytime the man opened his mouth. He would probably smirk too. But that seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Hey Roy," he replied dully.

The silence stretched for a long time. Finally, Cobb stood up and walked away towards the exit. At the door, he turned. "Jackie is the strongest person I have ever met. She's going to make it."

Luz processed this, his hands clenched tightly together in an effort to feel something besides his constant grief. "But what if she doesn't," he whispered.

Cobb smiled softly even though Luz couldn't see it. "You obviously don't know your girl very well."

May 20, 1945

"Shit," muttered Winters.

"Well, shit," said Nixon. "You said 'shit.'" He turned to Spiers. "He said 'shit.'"

Spiers smirked and nodded. "Got that."

Winters rubbed a hand over his face. "Quit the games, Nix. Is this intel accurate?"

The grin left Nixon's face. He nodded solemnly. "Unfortunately, yes. Last report was that she was checked into a Bergen-Belsen subcamp outside the main facility. Mainly housed POWs. Date of admission was April 11."

"And the camp?"

Nixon looked at his notes. "Liberated by the British four days later. But no word of her since."

Spiers snorted. "I wouldn't worry about Mackenzie. She probably rescued the goddamn camp herself and then yelled at the limeys for taking so long."

Nixon grinned briefly, but it quickly fell from his face. They had all seen what a German work camp looked like. Even for Jaclyn Mackenzie, the situation was dire.

Nixon took a deep breath. "Well, I better go find Luz. I promised him I'd share anything I found out, good or bad."

Winters looked at him, confused. "George Luz?"

Nixon nodded. He took in his friend's puzzlement before shaking his head and chuckling. "God, I hope you are less blind in your own love life one day."

Spiers chuckled too. "Yeah, Dick, this one was pretty obvious."

Winters paused. It was clear once he thought about it. "Jackie and George? Huh."

The two men shook their heads at the clueless battalion commander. Nixon slapped him on the back. "Remember when Luz threatened to go AWOL last month to go find her? All in the name of love, my friend."

The men grew silent, taking a moment to think about the soldier's broken state. Even if their romance escaped Winters, he did notice Luz's change in demeanor.

Nixon stood and opened his mouth again when they heard a shout. "What the…"

The three left Winters' office hurriedly to the outside waiting area. To their surprise, both checkpoint soldiers were up against the wall, one on top of the other, with only a slim, bandaged arm pinning them in place. Zielinski, Winters' orderly, stood terrified on the intruder's other side, a knife pointed in his face.

"Be a good man, private, and let me on base," they heard.

Silinsky stuttered, "Ma'am, if you'd just take a seat…"

One of the soldiers on the wall tried to grab her arm. A moment later, the knife was glimmering at his groin. "Touch me again, and say goodbye to the frau." He froze.

Spiers reacted first. "Jesus, look what the cat dragged in."

Jaclyn turned to find two of the three men gaping at her. The guard audibly sighed in relief when the knife was tossed to the ground and away from his pants. Spiers grinned, hands in his pockets.

She grinned back. "I take a little vacation and you sic the Frick and Frack on me? This welcome back party is for the dogs."