"Holy shit," breathed Nixon before engulfing her in a hug. He pulled back just to make sure she was there before hugging her again. "We thought you were a goner for sure."

"Doubting me, sir?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

Winters smiled hugely before giving her a hug next. "He'd be a stupid man if he did. Welcome back, Jackie."

She looked at Spiers. He smirked. "What took you so long?" he asked, annoyed. She smirked back.

"Christ, Ron. The woman comes back from the dead and that's all you can say? At least give her a hug," said Nixon, exasperated.

Spiers narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side while looking at her. "We don't hug."

Jaclyn nodded, agreeing. "Yes, that would be strange." They both laughed at Nixon's incredulous face.

"Well, come in, Jackie. We've got to hear this one," said Winters, walking back into his office.

Jaclyn looked behind her, out the window and into the town. I'm coming.

Noticing the stricken guards and Zielinski still staring at her, she gave them a wink before following the officers.

"What's with the dream team?" she asked, pointing a thumb behind her as she sat down.

"Security checkpoint," answered Winters. He grinned lopsidedly. "Supposed to keep intruders out."

"Yeah, well, I hope I taught them something today."

"Never underestimate a woman?" guessed Nixon.

Jaclyn nodded, agreeing. "That, of course, but also to protect their weapons. I was able to take the big one's knife in a second. It killed me to give it back to him after knowing I had no way to store it. This dress doesn't exactly scream useful." She looked down at the plain cotton dress.

"So come on, tell us," said Nixon. "Where have you been? Last we heard you were checked into POW camp in northern Germany."

Jaclyn nodded, the humor leaving her face, but she tried to keep her voice light. "I was captured by an SS Officer in Remagen. After the son of a bitch broke my arm, he bound me and had me travel back with him to his main office - the women's camp at Bergen-Belsen."

She took a breath. "Luckily for me, the main camp was over capacity. I was put in a small POW camp nearby. About 500 prisoners in all. Daily executions were a normal protocol."

The men remained silent, enraptured. Jaclyn gave them a grim smile. "Well, I wasn't going out like that. After holding me in a cell for a day or so, I was about to be processed. I knew what that meant - I'd be stripped of my clothes and hair. This moment was my only shot to use my weapon."

Winters stopped her. "Didn't they search you beforehand?"

Jaclyn shrugged. "They took my bag and they searched my pockets." A triumphant smile graced her face. "But those damn German manners didn't give them the idea to search my undergarments. I had gotten into the habit of hiding some brass knuckles in my bra."

Spiers and Nixon roared with laughter while Winters chuckled, bemused.

She shrugged again. "I've always worked well with the element of surprise. Certainly didn't hurt then."

Spiers grinned. "Told you guys not to worry about Mackenzie."

She grinned back. "I'd be more worried about the broken men I left behind, Captain." A humorous glint entered her eyes. "Including those that I had to beg, borrow and steal from to get here. And the occasional flirting."

Spiers' grin grew. "Don't lie, Mackenzie. You'd never beg."

Jaclyn walked outside, finally free from all their questions. She knew it was necessary. But, damn, did I have to do it first thing? It didn't escape her that after everything she had done in this war, two thugs and Zielinski were able to catch her when she tried to sneak into her own camp.

Losing my touch. At least it wasn't her mind just yet.

She couldn't help but take in the beautiful town, framed by mountains and a large, glistening lake below. Although her time at that camp was extremely short lived, what she found there would forever haunt her. The ugliness of the human race can be extreme.

She had hardly made her way into the center of town before she heard a gasp. "Jesus Christ."

A moment later, Malarkey barreled into her, forcing the air from her lungs. "God, Malark, you've look like you've seen a ghost or something," she said into his shoulder.

He pulled back, his face white. "That's because I'm looking at a goddamn ghost. Jesus, Jackie. When did you get here?"

She gave him a smile. "Just now. Winters, Spiers and Nixon found me first. Nixon's curiosity held me hostage for over an hour."

Malarkey opened his mouth again, but stopped when they heard shouts. In an instant, they were surrounded.

"Jackie!"

"Dear Lord, where did you come from?"

"Nice dress, doll. Did you clean yourself up for us? Took you long enough."

Jaclyn's face hurt from smiling so much. She took in the faces of her friends around her. Liebgott, Perconte, Martin, and Randleman took turns giving her huge hugs and kisses on the cheek. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotion.

"Hey guys, I guess you missed me."

Immediately, they all began talking at once, asking where she'd been, what she'd done, what she'd missed. She tried to keep track of it all, but she was in a tailspin. Luckily, her eyes found Roe a moment before he pushed through.

Roe couldn't believe his eyes. But when he saw that familiar smile on her face as she spoke with the others, he beamed. Running, he pushed through the men to get to her.

After a quick hug, he immediately began looking her over for injury, whispering hurriedly in French. "Eugene, I'm fine," she giggled.

He pointedly looked at her left arm in a cast. "That does not look like fine to me, Jaclyn Mackenzie." But he grinned, engulfing her in another hug, kissing her hair repeatedly, and whispered sweet French prayers in her ear.

Tears, stinging her eyes, she pulled back. Jaclyn got quiet, she looked him in the eye, a question in her gaze. He nodded, understanding. "I just saw him. Let me show you where he is." They both turned, but stopped before they started.

Jaclyn's eyes found his across the town. She saw them widen a moment before she started running towards him.

Luz had gotten into the habit of visiting a quiet garden every day. He'd sit there for a few hours, deep in thought and memories. Most likely chain smoking. He'd given up trying to be everyone's comedy hour. He only wanted to be left alone.

Roe had just left him. The medic made sure to check on him every few days. Probably to make sure I won't jump in the lake. He sighed.

Luz stood up before tightening his belt again. Even after the availability of hot meals every day, he knew he wasn't taking care of himself. His clothes hung off him. What would Mack think of me now? He grinned to himself. Probably yell at me for losing the ass she admires so much. He often answered his own questions, picturing what she'd say.

He walked out of the garden and into the town. His eyes downcast, he didn't hear it at first. A moment later, he looked up quickly, his neck snapping. He swore he had heard her voice. Not unusual, Georgie. You've been hearing it every day.

Walking again, he stopped short only a moment later when he looked across the square. He blinked several times, sure his eyes were deceiving him. It's because you were thinking of her just now. She's not really here.

And then she was running to him. Her long blonde hair whipping behind her, tears streaming down her face, and he could see her smile a moment before she collided with him.

Luz felt her arms around his neck. He could hear her voice saying his name in his ear, but he grasped her waist to pull her back. He had to look at her. He had to know she was real.

His brown eyes met her blue ones. All at once, he felt like his knees were about to give out and his stomach would hit the floor. "Jesus Christ," he whispered.

"Hi, handsome," she murmured.

It took a moment for the shock to wear off, but when it did, he couldn't stop touching her.

His hands kept stroking her face, mesmerized. "Mack," he croaked, his voice cracking. "God, I can't…" His stomach decided to move straight into his throat. Instead of words, he began kissing her face. He didn't want to miss one freckle. His lips moved in whispers and prayers, but he knew he wasn't making sense. How could he when he felt senseless?

"You missed a spot, George," she whispered, her voice shaky but her smile wide.

He opened his eyes before grinning slightly. Her smile helped him form coherent thoughts again. "I have to tell you something first." His voice was raspy, but it had nothing to do with the pack of cigarettes he just finished.

Jaclyn reached up, covering her hand on his mouth. Her fingertips played with the soft skin there before grinning again. "I know, George. Girls always know."

And then she removed her fingers and kissed him like she had never done before. He gathered her closer, determined never to let go again. She felt his fingers clench her dress, deadlocked in the fabric.

She pulled back, a soft smile on her face. "And I love you, too."

Jaclyn surrendered.

As word got around of her return, more and more Easy men flocked her, demanding to know how she got back to them, how she survived once again. After hearing the same questions for the dozenth time, she gave in.

Practically the entire company surrounded her in one of the barrack tents. Luz quietly reminded her that she didn't need to do this, but she reassured him with a kiss. He sat now, next to her, holding her hand in his. They hadn't broken contact yet.

"When they brought me into the shower room to strip me of my clothes, that's when I acted," she said. "There were only two of them, and I had Toye's brass knuckles."

"Joe is going to be so proud," said Perconte, beaming.

Jaclyn grinned. "They saved my life. After the two women inside the showers, I was able to sneak up to the guard outside. The rest was a little more difficult."

They pressed her for more, and she gave in again, laughing. She told them about taking the guard's gun and knife, and taking out the rest of the officers one by one.

"There weren't many where they held me. It was a small sub camp," she added when they whooped.

"Still, those camps are like from a nightmare," said Liebgott solemnly. "Taking one from the krauts must have nearly killed you. We saw for ourselves what they look like."

At that, Jaclyn smiled. "I wasn't alone then. The prisoners caught on rather quickly. We overtook the camp together."

She turned to Luz, her eyes shining with tears. "I made sure to get them out this time. Made sure they were free." He smiled back proudly before leaning in and kissing her cheek.

She cleared her throat, attempting to lighten to mood. "Of course the goddamn Brits claimed they liberated us. Bullshit, we liberated ourselves."

"Jackie, you're a Brit."

Jaclyn laughed. God it felt good to do that again. "And here I thought I was an honorary member of the best damn group of Americans soldiers the world had to offer." The men around her hooted and cheered, but her eyes only looked to Luz.

"Tell them how to got back to us, Jack," said Malarkey, his pride already evident.

Jaclyn didn't pull her eyes from Luz when she replied. "Took a page from Guarnere's book and went AWOL. Had to steal a dress and a jeep, but I made it eventually. Would have gotten here sooner if you stayed put long enough."

The men whooped again, cackling with glee. She felt terrible, but she didn't want to see her friends anymore, no matter how much she missed them.

Luz seemed to read her mind. "Mack, didn't Doc need to look at that arm of yours? You know, make sure it's OK?"

Immediately reading the lie, she turned to the medic. Roe narrowed his eyes at them, but he saw the plea on her face. He coughed. "Yeah, I want to make sure it's setting properly."

The three of them stood to go, Jaclyn taking the longest as the men kissed her cheek goodnight.

Finally, they were outside. Roe stood next to them, awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. Jaclyn had mercy on him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Eugene." They grinned at one another.

Luz gave Roe a smile of thanks, before he took her hand and they ran together away towards the center of town.