"Why we unpacking stuff?" grunted Liebgott, unloading a box of ammunition. "We either goin' home or we goin' to the pacific soon enough. What a waste of time."
Jaclyn sat on the side of the truck with her legs swaying over the edge while Liebgott, Luz, Randleman and Malarkey unloaded it. "Probably just to keep you from making a fool of yourself at the bar again, Joe."
The men chuckled, including Liebgott. He chucked his chin at her. "How come you ain't helpin' then, doll? I seem to remember you makin' a fool outta yourself too."
Jaclyn grinned, but held up her bandaged right hand. Innocently, she said, "Doc's orders."
Randleman grinned. "First time I ever seen you follow Doc's orders, darlin'."
"There's a first time for everything."
Jaclyn patted down the skirt of her dress in the wind. She was still rotating between borrowed ODs and a single dress until her pack arrived from the British.
She watched them unload some more, but her eyes kept straying to the company of German soldiers and their general. They were being shipped back to Germany as POWs.
Suddenly, she felt her friends freeze as an officer with a steward started walking by. His face held an ugly scowl. "Who's that?" she asked.
"Fucking Sobel," murmured Malarkey, quiet enough to make sure the Captain didn't hear.
"Jesus, we just can't get rid of him," added Luz.
Jaclyn's eyes brightened. She'd heard about Sobel from stories they've told her. She rubbed her hands together, forgetting momentarily of her bandaged hand. This is going to be fun.
Jaclyn gasped right as Sobel was passing by the truck, a sneer on his face as he was likely to start barraging her guys with something stupid. Her voice became light and breathy.
"Oh my!" she exclaimed. Sobel turned to her, seemingly unaware that she was even there. "Captain-" she paused, her eyes wide and clear. "You are a Captain, yes? I sometimes get so confused. All those dashes and chevrons."
Sobel cocked his head a moment before grinning to himself. "Yes, ma'am. I'm a Captain of the 101st Airborne."
Jaclyn gasped again. "Truly amazing. These men were just telling me that they are a part of the 101st as well. But a Captain!" She gave him a full smile, and batted her eyelashes.
Luz, Randleman, Malarkey and Liebgott had to turn away and focus on the boxes for fear of Sobel seeing their mirth. Luz stepped on Malarkey's foot to keep him from laughing.
Sobel's grin widened. "May I ask what you're doing at the airfield, ma'am? If these men seduced you to help in their duties…" His eyes flicked up angrily to the backs of the soldiers.
Jaclyn placed a hand on his arm. "Oh no, Captain. I'm here delivering some laundry when I felt suddenly faint. Your good men offered me a drink of water and a place to rest my tired feet."
Before Sobel could say anything else, Jaclyn changed the subject. "Now Captain...I'm so sorry, what's your name?"
"You can just call me Captain." Luz rolled his eyes.
"Of course," she replied. "I like saying it in any case." She giggled. Randleman chewed hard on his cigar.
She bent at the waist as she moved her hand up to Sobel's shoulder. She leaned her face closer to his. Loud enough for the men to hear, she said, "Now Captain, I know I am only a woman, but war stories seem to make my chest all aflutter. Such action!" Jaclyn's breath quickened. "Would you mind telling me about your greatest victory in the war?"
Sobel froze. The men behind her did as well, but in an effort not to laugh. "That's classified information, ma'am."
Her fingers played with the lapel of his uniform, caressing up and down. "Just one little story, please, Captain? I have a weakness for American soldiers and their adventures."
Malarkey couldn't take it. He snorted.
Sobel pulled back, the scowl returning to his face. "Sorry to disappoint, ma'am." And with that, he stalked away from them.
They watched him go, waiting impatiently for him to be out of earshot. "Wait, boys…" Jaclyn murmured. "Almost there…"
Sobel halted after Winters stopped him in front of his jeep. To their delight, he was forced to salute the Major before sulking away.
The entire truck burst into laughter. Malarkey had tears in his eyes, he was laughing so hard. Randleman threw back his head and roared.
"Nice going, Malark," Jaclyn said, smacking his chest. "I was going to ask him to show me the stars above his jumpwings next."
"Good God, Jackie. I love you," said Randleman. "If only I could have been trusted to see his face."
"It was everything you'd imagine it to be."
A minute later, Winters called to Liebgott. The German general was about to address his men.
They watched quietly as the general turned to the German soldiers. Jaclyn listened at first, before translating for everyone else.
"Men, it's been a long war. It's been a tough war. You fought bravely, proudly for your country. You are a special group. You found in one another a bond. That exists only in combat."
Jaclyn felt Luz beside her before he took her hand. Then Malarkey took her other. "You are brothers. You've shared foxholes. Held each other in dire moments. You've seen death and have suffered together."
Randleman came up behind her, placing a hand each on Luz's and Malarkey's shoulders. "I'm proud to have served with each and every one of you. You deserve long and happy lives of peace."
As July turned into August, the men finally bullied Jaclyn into playing the all American pastime - baseball.
"Guys," Jaclyn whined. "I'm British. The closest thing we have is cricket. I have no idea what I'm doing."
"What the hell is cricket?" asked Perconte.
She huffed. "Nevermind."
They gathered in the field, electing Randleman and Liebgott as captains. Surprisingly, Liebgott chose Jaclyn first. She looked stunned. "You remember what I just said about not knowing what I'm doing, right?"
She walked over to stand next to him as Randleman chose Martin. Liebgott grinned, "Jackie, you're a trained sniper. I have every confidence that you're going to humiliate us as usual. No way I'd let you be on the other team."
She grinned, but started feeling guilty. Do I really humiliate them?
Liebgott next chose Shifty. Randleman chose Luz next.
"What gives, Bull? Breaking up the lovebirds?" called Perconte.
Randleman chuckled. "And have them neckin' in the outfield? Hell no."
Luz gave Jaclyn a wink before standing next to Martin. He mouthed to her, you're going down. She grinned, winking back.
Jaclyn watched as her teammates came up to bat while Perconte pitched. Seems simple enough. It was her turn.
Perconte whistled to everyone behind him. "Push out! Jackie's up to destroy us!"
Her smile faltered a bit before making a decision. Hell, I've got to give them something. She picked up the bat awkwardly, holding it with both hands on the very end.
Liebgott's eyes widened after she swung at the first ball, well high. He jogged up to her. "Jackie, here let me show you." After a guilty look to Luz, he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her, trying to show her how to swing. "Just nice and easy. Think that it's a kraut's head or something."
Jaclyn tried hard not to roll her eyes. "Thanks Joe." But two swings later, she struck out.
Switching, she was placed in centerfield. "Just zero in on the ball if it comes to you, doll!" called Liebgott from the pitcher's mound. She nodded. Obviously.
The other team soon found out that she couldn't catch the ball. After watching another hard hit from Bull land next to her feet, she pathetically threw it to Perconte. She saw in the corner of her eye when Liebgott and he exchanged a glance.
They were annihilated. Randleman and his team cheered loudly, slapping each other's back. Jaclyn smiled, happy for them, but made sure to look forlorn to her teammates.
"Make sure you play tomorrow, sweetheart!" called Martin with a smirk.
She narrowed her eyes at him before Luz jogged over to her. "Sorry that you didn't have a good time, doll. You don't have to play tomorrow if you don't want to."
She walked to home plate with him. "I had a great time, but I guess baseball just isn't my sport."
Luz nodded. "I guess. Thought you'd be great at it. Hitting the target and all that. Pretty surprising how terrible you were."
He watched her roll her eyes and huff. A muscle clenched hard in her cheek. He stopped her with a hand. "Mack." Jaclyn sucked her teeth, trying not to look at him. "Mack, you are terrible at it, right?" He tried to catch her eye. "Right?"
Jaclyn huffed again before crossing her arms, her competitive spirit winning out. "Well, I'm certainly not that bloody awful. I can at least hit the ball if I tried."
Luz's eyes widened. "You weren't trying?" She shook her head. "Why the hell not?"
She took a breath before looking at him again. "I felt guilty," she whined.
Confused, Luz motioned with his hands to continue. She sighed. "I don't want to emasculate anyone. You know, with my training."
Luz grinned, finally understanding. "You mean your super secret spy ninja training?"
She frowned, embarrassed. "Yeah. I sometimes think I overdo it."
Luz chuckled before wrapping his arms around her. "Yeah, you do. But that's because you never give in. One of the many reasons why I love you."
Jaclyn grinned shyly. "Even when I kick your ass?"
Luz chuckled. "Especially when you kick my ass. It's hot." He gave her a chaste kiss before grinning again. "Now let's see what you got."
Jaclyn and Luz hit a few balls after everyone had left. She was a natural as a hitter and outfielder. It was all just a matter of focusing on the target.
The next day, Easy gathered into the field, baseball becoming a daily tradition to pass the time. Luz pulled away after speaking to a grinning Liebgott. "All right, me and Johnny gonna be the captains." Martin nodded.
Luz and Martin chose teams. Randleman, Perconte and Liebgott came over to Luz before he chose Jaclyn.
Jaclyn saw Randleman and Perconte exchange a look before Liebgott whispered something to them. She grinned. Penance for yesterday, boys.
"Now I know you must like the girl, George!" called Martin, cackling. They finished picking the teams.
Before Luz's crowd moved to the field, he paused and turned to Martin. "I am a man bound by love. But you know, you're right. We're a little lopsided, but I have every confidence in my team," he said.
Jaclyn noticed the evil tone slipping into Luz's voice even if Martin couldn't. Luz continued, "I think it's only fair if we wager something."
Martin shrugged. "I think that's a great idea. Boys?" He turned to the men next to him, who nodded happily.
Luz turned to look at his team, who, he had to give it to them, gave him a look of pure misery before nodding. "All right. Let's do it."
"To Jackie Mackenzie!" cried Liebgott, holding a pint of beer in the air. "The best damn broad Europe has ever seen!" Cheers erupted around him, beers flying into the air.
Jaclyn giggled at the still shocked look on Martin's face. She walked over to him from her place between Malarkey and Luz. "Forgive me, Johnny?"
Reluctantly, he gave her a cross between a grin and grimace. "Of course, Jackie. You're hell of a woman. Just wish I picked you for my team after all. Who knew you just needed a little practice."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek before he handed her a pint of beer. She sank down onto a stool next to him. "Cheers, Johnny," she said before finishing the pint.
Malarkey shook his head in awe. "That woman never ceases to amaze me."
Luz cocked an eyebrow looking at her. "You said it."
"Damn, she's frightening. Good luck to you, George."
Luz snorted. "Thanks, I'll need it."
The next day, Jaclyn watched from the sidelines. As Perconte ran the bases, a jeep pulled up next to her. Winters, Spiers and Nixon stepped up.
Jaclyn stood, saluting them. They saluted her back with a grin. "Not playing today, Jackie?" asked Winters. "I heard you're quite the slugger."
Jaclyn grinned and shrugged. "Thought they could use a break, sir." They chuckled and shook their heads. She caught Spiers' eye. After a moment, he nodded to her and turned with his usual smirk. Guess he doesn't hate me after all.
Spiers called Easy to them. She looked to see a piece of paper in Winters' hands. Oh shit. The men jogged over. Jaclyn stood behind the officers, naturally hidden from view. Better this way. I can hide my reaction.
After they settled, Winters took a breath. "Listen up, got some news."
The tension in the air was thick. Jaclyn was sure no one even dared to breathe. Winters paused. "This morning, President Truman received the unconditional surrender from the Japanese. War's over."
The silence continued for a moment as everyone digested the news. And then the cheers broke out. Jaclyn stood still as a statue, her eyes wide.
"Mack!" called Luz.
The cotton in her ears finally started to fade. "Mack!" he called again. "Where the hell did she go?"
Jaclyn took a breath and then stepped from behind the officers. When she saw Luz, her face broke out into the biggest smile he'd ever seen. Luz ran to her and engulfed her into his arms. They both shouted together in joy with the others. They were going home.