I'm soooo sorry I'm so late but I had so many things to do for University...I humbly apologize and I hope to fix everything giving you this looong chapter. Hope you'll enjoy ! :)

They exchanged an intense look full of meanings: lust, satisfaction, fear and a tad of confusion, but all these emotions were bounded by confusion. None of them knew what to do or what to say the moment their brief but intense contact ended. Bea, still on the top of him, looked instinctively down in embarrassment, which grew even more when she figured out he was still all out. She chuckled nervously while Dick was still recovering. His throat was still burning as result of trying to suppress the growls of pleasure; his hands were still quivering and forceless just like his legs; he could've bet his fatter cow that his cheek were red like the fire. Describing the feeling that came along with that was hard to him. He didn't know if he just and simply needed a woman's touch or her touch, but a part of him suggested he would've refused any other woman, especially after the day he had passed and the things he had seen. Anyway, it felt great. He could literally feel his blood rushing through his body, his blue eyes melting under her impassionate glance. When he knew he had lost all his forces, he just closed his eyes and instinctively opened his mouth a little and simply enjoyed the feeling. Sometimes, he would've forced himself to open his eyes, looking at her, at what she was doing to him and how secure she seemed to be. He could read in her eyes his same burning desire, which made him even more turned up than he was. He asked her for a kiss, twice or three times to suppress the growls, still trying to make their way through his throat: passionate and wet kisses. Now, the burning passion was leaving its place to comfort, when he noticed how Bea was…embarrassed?

He looked tenderly at her and asked ''hey, is everything alright?''

She looked blatantly awkward but she tried to hide it ''uhmm…No, no, everything alright'' she answered back trying to convince him.

''Really? You look ill at ease…which is, uhmm, I think it is justifiable…'' he tried to reassure her.

''No, no…I'm just…tired'' liar ''I'm tired. It was a long day and I have a briefing tomorrow morning, I think I'd better get some sleep.''

Ok, she didn't want to talk about it, which was understandable, but Dick had to admit he wanted her to stay just a little more with him, just to talk about what all this could mean to them. But she didn't want to talk.

She sheepishly chuckled at him and finally get up. She tried to collect herself as better as she could, said goodnight to her friend and made her way to the door. Before she could be completely out, she turned back.

''Hey Dick?''

''Uhm?''

''You're going to be a great commander. Have some rest'' and disappeared in the night, the weirdest night Dick had ever had in his whole life, and still the one and only that gave to him so many emotions.

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He could barely believe he survived Day of Days. His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Meehan, was lost somewhere with the his entire platoon, and down at the battalion thought they were all dead, which was not simply a guess: Dick saw so many aircraft fall that night, burning in flames; he could only hope his Lieutenant and men did not suffer too much. Now, he was the only First Lieutenant in E Company, and that meant he was the new Company's CO. His baptism as leader measured up to his personal standards and, at the same time, he was so proud of his men. He had lost a man that night, the first of probably a long series he thought, and he didn't know if he could stand it. How could a farm boy, who belonged to a Mennonite background, handle all that? He had to. Sun was about to rise. The day coming would be as tough as the one he had passed. He closed his eyes, trying to catch some sleep, effortlessly. Discouraged, he gave a look to Lieutenant Harry who was sleeping on his right; he could see Buck Compton sleeping candidly as a child in the bed right in front of his. The bed on his left was empty: it was Lewis'. His best friend, he thought, would never participate to a crossing fire, but this didn't make his task safer. Nix had to renounce to his dear sleep and to get into the enemy's lines before everyone else to get to know how things were going to the Krauts. He wondered if they had already met, Bea and Lewis; maybe she would've told him what happened, and Lewis would've put him under sixth grade as soon as he could. There was a time, when he was attending College, when he had had a girlfriend: her name was Eliza, she was petite, fair skin, red cheeks and brown long hair in contrast with her bright green eyes. Their story was innocent: they could not spend a lot of time together, because of their studies, but he remember borrowing his roommate's car on Saturday to pick her out; they saw a movie, had dinner out and when it was 11.30 p.m. , he saw her home and kissed her goodnight, sweetly. Did he love her? Probably not, but he liked the way things were with her. Another woman was in his life, but Bea was totally different from his last sweetheart. That gold, blond hair made her look like a lioness; her small and red lips usually drew a sly smile. Above all, he adored her icy eyes that attracted him so much and, at the same time, made him scared. She was not a woman. Nor a man. Simply, she was programmed like a robot to apply all the things she learnt at the College. Fierce like a lion, cold as the snow, she had their relationship in her hands, or whatever the thing they had it was. How could he define her now? His lover? Girlfriend? Just friends? He remembered once again the time he shared with Eliza, where everything had a name, a definition, a place, a time; he knew exactly what he had to do to be a good boyfriend, and Eliza did too. Things were not so simply with Bea: she gave everyone the impression to be secure, strong, and everyone thought she could've been a great general. Everyone knew she had her small but solid world of securities, and she was incapable of errors: instinct and reason perfectly coexisted in her mind and this was what made her a great Intelligence Officer, and a great person too. Nevertheless, she had made a fall. They didn't really talk about it, but Dick often wondered what made her fall into Sobel's arms. Sobel! Sobel. How bad, he was. Dick wondered if he was guided by exceptional leadership skills or luck during the Assault at Brecourt Manor. He wondered if there was something in Sobel that Bea loved, those kind of things that in her opinion made a boy a man. Flashbacks to the night spent with her, in the middle of the street, brought his mind to what she had said that night: Dionysian. ''Destructive power. The Overman embraces his destiny, destroys, gives space to his passions.'' He had killed, that day, he had destroyed lives. He had given space to his passion. Being an Overman was the only way to conquer her heart? Maybe Sobel was. He regretted the time when good manners and some flowers were enough to make a girl happy. Above all, he missed the time when everything was pure, innocent, but he knew that innocence was an absurd concept during a war. He had to get used to violence and vulgarity since the only thing the world they were living in knew was destruction, a clear expression of an animal instinct repressed for too long.

Clearly unable to catch some sleep, he decided to get up to have a walk.

''Ouch!'' he cried, awaking Harry while Buck was still under his covers.

''What?! Who?! When?!'' asked an alarmed Harry Welsh.

''Ouch…nothing…I hit the bed, sorry Harry'' Dick said back to his friend, still trying to suppress involuntary curses.

''Where the hell are you going at this hour of the night for Pete's sake!''

''I can't sleep, I think I'm going out for a walk.''

''Ok do whatever you want'' Harry said, clearly upset ''and pay attention at least.''

Yes, Dick: you should pay attention.

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In the early morning, Bea briefed the whole second battalion to their next mission in program, and Lewis did the same with Easy company's officers. Carentan was a crucial point to the Allied's advance and it would've linked all the other divisions. Intelligence knew German paratroopers were holding the town, but had no idea about the real number of soldiers they would've met.

Reaching Carentan was a big deal. In the night, companies or even platoons lost contact among each other. For this reason, Lewis and Bea kept controlling all the 2nd battalion's companies to assure they were all united. Bea and Dick gazes' had met only a few time. He smiled tenderly at her while she answer back with a chuckle that meant ''I'm here with you, but don't try to talk to me''. There was no time to think about it. Dick was pumped and scared since he would've guided his company into fight as a commander. He talked to Nix, in order to have an idea of what the battlefield would've looked like so that he could start to think how to take advantage out of it.

''The first thing you're going to see is Café de Normandie'' Nix said ''but before Easy enters into the town, there's a field with no protection.''

''So we have to move fast.''

''Yes, I guess'' Nix said, and noticing the look on his friend's face he knew Dick had already an idea ''what are you going to do?''

''I guess I'll send Harry with first platoon ahead while a base of fire from our lines will cover it in the case Germans notice us. Then I'll follow with the second and third. ''

''This is going to be easy, trust me. We've studied Carentan's maps: once you get into the town, you're going to have a lot of protection.''

''Protection. Protections may mean death, too.''

''Dammit Dick! Think positive !''

He couldn't. he had to be realistic. Everything may be a danger in war. A building, that should offer cover to his soldiers, maybe be hit and it could turn out to be a mortal trap. He knew he had a job to do, he knew his men accepted his same task and knew about the risks when they entered the army; nevertheless, Dick wished he could avoid as many deaths and wounded as possible.

They didn't find a lot of resistance in their way to Carentan. They reached the town in the morning, and took cover for a while so that they could elaborate a plan. Dick confirmed the one he had explained to Lewis and sent Harry and first platoon ahead.

''Move fast. This is the key.''

Harry nodded and made sign to his men to move. The moment they had almost reached the town, a sniper started to shoot at them. First platoon managed to reach the town and took cover, but they could not attack without the other platoons that didn't dare to move.

''For Christ's sake Winters, make them move!'' Lieutenant Colonel Streyer yelled.

''Move, move! Buck! Make them move! Get out of here! Our men are dying ! Move, Move! '' Dick was shouting to his men but none of them listened to their CO. Dick was even stronger, blazing with anger and fear for the first platoon. Now he was exposed to the snipers, standing with no cover, trying to get his men out of the foxholes, kicking their asses and screaming. Everyone was astonished, since nobody believed that shy and temperate Lieutenant Winters capable of such fervor. Finally, they went down the hill and reached their buddies.

From the top of the hill where Streyer, Nixon and Laurenti were, they were able to check the whole situation down the town: their men were doing great but they noticed there some men down.

''Let's go'' Streyer said ''we're going to help the losses.''

Being so close to action made Bea's adrenaline pump in her veins as much as in the other soldiers. What a great Company Sobel had built: fast as the wind, they moved together as an unique war machine. They were doing a great job. Then , they heard a deafening hiss, and a man yelling '' They got us! Spread it out ! Spread it out!'' and Bea felt panic take over her. Their men were now on the run, trying to get away from the town they had courageously taken. But the number of losses kept growing, and Bea thought she was in hell. They managed to take as many wounded as possible.

Dick was standing in the middle of the street, checking the maps, when Colonel asked if it was safe to cross so that they could bring the wounded away. Dick gave him a questioning look. I'm in the middle of a street, completely at ease: what do you think?''

''Yes sir'' he only answered. Streyer, Bea and other men made their way out, carrying the wounded while Nixon gave Dick a knowing look. In the moment Lewis left him alone, Dick was hit by a sniper in the ankle.

This is comic he thought. Stupid, pay attention !

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It was just a ricochet; that's what Doc Roe said. It was nothing at all, but he felt his leg sore and stiff and could not walk properly. When Eugene extracted that small, almost invisible, piece of metal out of his ankle, he thought humans' lives are so weak. He felt so vulnerable for a moment. Then he noticed something queer.

''Hey, what's up with Blithe?''

Eugene turned around to look at him for a moment. ''Nuttin, except he can't see.''

''He can't see?''

''So he said.''

Dick nodded at Eugene, then tried to get up to reach his man. No, he could not really walk, and this made him feel so useless. Trying to sit right in front of Blithe was a big effort.

Blithe was blind. How could it be possible? He said he didn't know, he said it was all white. Dick noticed a tear falling from his wide open, but ill, eyes. He tried to reassure him, since Blithe didn't want to let anyone down, and Dick could not trust what he had heard: this man, this boy, came from the other part of the world was now blind; maybe he would've never got to see again a beautiful sunset, or the smile of a woman, and he was not concerned about that; no, he didn't want to let anyone down. He was sorry. Dick felt the urge to make him feel that he was there for him. He put a hand on his shoulder, speaking to him reassuring words, calling him ''son'' and, at last, giving him a smile that Blithe could not see. When he managed to get up, putting all his forces in that insignificant action, he heard Blithe's trembling voice calling his name.

''Sir, thank you, I'm alright'' and Dick watched him getting up. He was now able to see again. Dick and Eugene exchanged a questioning look, and Dick figured out that all that Blithe needed was just someone to be close to him.

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The door of the aid station opened and Bea got in.

''Hello Doc!''

''Hello, Captain. Do you need something?''

''Uhm, no, I was just looking for our bad off Lieutenant.''

''He's in the room on the right, helping me with the wounded.''

''Thank you, Eugene.'' She chuckled at him and made her way to the room where Dick was. What she found inside, was a man collapsed all alone on the dirty ground, one of his ankle boot missing.

''Here you are. How's our reckless Lieutenant ?'' she said wryly.

Dick snorted. ''Reckless? It was a stupid action of mine, standing in that way in the middle of a street during a crossing fire.''

She noticed how frustrated he was. ''Hey, it's ok. You could not foresee everything, you know? Anyway, you and your men did a great job today.''

''Did I? The number of wounded in the other room makes me think I was not so great.''

She sat right next to him and put her hand on his shoulder, cuddling him. '' As I said before, you can't foresee everything, nor can you prevent the men to get killed or wounded. You're just a man, Dick, a man trying to do his best, and you did.''

A man. A man was not good enough. The Army didn't want a man, they needed a capable, brave and wise Officer; Bea didn't want a man, she needed a…

Dionysian. Destroy. Conquer. Conquer. Conquer lands, conquer hearts. He turned to see her: she looked so human now, trying to take care of him. Tenderness and concern in her eyes, and he could've bet he had never seen them in that way before. She was vulnerable too, just like he was. His skin could be hit by a ricochet, his heart could melt under hey gaze, his body could burn under her touch. The Overman embraces his destiny. Dick knew his destiny was being hit by a lot of things, or people. And he could embrace it.

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Dick knew they had to expect the Krauts to make a move. Carentan was important also to them. They were attacked in the middle of the afternoon and luckily found cover behind the woods. When the night came, they could hear the Germans singing in their zone, while they were all quiet and covered. Dick checked the men, but he felt so tired dragging his heavy body on one leg only and decided to head back to his foxhole. An helmet was visible.

''Nix?''

''He went checking out the line. Said he could not sleep. I've got to say your foxhole is more comfortable than mine'' the helmet turned around, and Dick was able to catch her face. He slipped into the foxhole, close to her.

''So, how are the men doing?''

''Fine. We're moving at 05.30.''

''Ok. And how are you doing?''

'' It hurts. A lot.''

''You'll be fine. It's nothing. ''

They stayed in silence for some minutes, then Bea turned around and met Dick's eyes.

''You got me'' Dick said chuckling.

''What does it mean?''

''I mean, you got me as the sniper who made this to me did. You make me feel so small, and invisible, as a single move of yours could literally shoot me down. At the same time, I feel so strong, because I manage to survive, to resist. And to keep fighting.''

''You're fighting me?''

''With all my forces. Although you make it quite impossible sometimes'' he chuckled.

She made her hand slip on his thigh and she grabbed it tight. He didn't know what could've happened. Stroking his thigh, she got closer to his face and started to kiss his cheeks, his lips and then started biting his ear, a gesture that brought Dick's mind back to their very first physical contact. She blew into his ear sending shivers all along his body, now ready to burn. He knew it was not the right place, but he couldn't stop her.

''So…I have control over you, haven't I?'' she softly whispered in his ear. He growled in return.

''Say it'' she now ordered.

''You have control over me'' he managed to say, and she chuckled impishly.

''Oh, but I already knew it, you know? And you know why?'' she paused, waiting for his answer which didn't come.

'' I'll tell you why: because you're a Lieutenant, and I'm your Captain.''

A laugh escaped from his lips ''so, is this the game you want to play?''

She chuckled, but didn't answer. She pulled her hand away from his leg and tried to catch some sleep.

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Germans attacked prior to them. When Fox and Dog retired Bea and Nixon thought the end had come but when the Shermans came to help, they knew they had won that one too. Losses kept growing, but they finally got retired from the front and a dream called England, where hot food and showers were waiting for them, was a great price for what they got into during those first days of fighting.