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Of course, I would also like to thank all the others who had read this story.

Coming up next... chapter 12 :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Band of Brothers. This is purely of entertainment. It is based on the HBO miniseries and no disrespect is meant towards the real men of Easy Company.

Chapter Twelve: A Hundred Ways

"Jess? Jess? Come on, look at me..."

Somebody's hand kept patting my cheek. When my eyes flickered open, I saw three worried faces, smeared in dirt. Eugene's was the closest, while Bill's was a bit further.

"How are ya feelin'?" Gene asked, scrutinizing me.

"Fine." I blinked a few times. "Or at least I think so..."

That was when I found out why Eugene seemed closer than Bill. The medic was sitting on the floor – and holding me in his arms.

I could feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment. But, everything went worse when I remembered how I got here. Frowning and closing my eyes, I wished to simply disappear. Unfortunately, my prayers were left unanswered.

"Oh, no..." I slowly sat up. "I passed out again, didn't I?"

Eugene pursed his lips and nodded. "You sure did."

I dug my beetroot-red face into my hands. "Oh, Jesus..."

"Jess, that wasn't that bad..."

"Aye, it is! Do you remember? I was a part-time nurse until I got here! And I faint when I see blood." I quietly sighed. "I must be the worst one on this side of the Channel!"

Bill smirked. "You definitely are."

"Well, thank you for the support!"

"Hey, I was just jokin'!", Bill exclaimed, "Anyway, at least nobody saw ya..."

"Except for the entire barn."

"Oh, well..."

That was when somebody shouted in the distance. I didn't recognize that voice. But, it must have belonged to someone who was used to giving orders.

"All right, you heard the word. Let's move! Let's move!"

As I stood up, I saw a group of men taking their things and quickly passing through the main door of the barn.

"What's going on?", I asked.

"Looks like it's time to face the Krauts." Bill swiftly stood up and grabbed his rifle from the floor. "The lieutenant ain't gonna forgive me for lingerin' again..." He glanced at me. "Wish us luck, Jess."

Before I managed to say anything, he turned around and strutted after the rest of the men. In just a matter of seconds, the entire barn was almost empty. The only people left were some lads at the door, Eugene and me.

"Gene, where are they going?", I asked.

"On a mission. There's sum trouble out there, on the beaches." When he saw the look on my face, he added: "Don't worry. They're gonna be back soon."

While he got up from the floor, I glanced through the open door of the barn. I had hardly seen the lads from Easy Company after my plane crash, and they already had to go somewhere else. But, that wasn't the most worrying part – some of them might not come back. The thought of it was enough to make me swallow hard.

With almost silent steps, Eugene came to my side. And then he stuffed his hand in his back pocket. My eyes became wider when he pulled out something long and bright-green.

"I found this last night." The corner of his lips slightly curved when he placed my shawl in my hand. "I think it belongs to ya."

I wrapped my fingers around it, almost bewildered by the soft material. By some miracle, it had remained in one piece. It was in the same condition when Mike had tied it up around my arm. The day when he wished me good luck seemed like a century away.

My heart sunk almost to my feet. Neve.

I had promised her that I would return in a day or two. However, in this moment, it was more than clear that I wouldn't keep that promise. I clutched the shawl in my hands, while my chest were becoming tight with dread.

"Jeez... she's all alone out there."

Eugene raised his eyebrows. "Yo sister?"

I slowly nodded. "And I'm stuck here. I have to get back to her somehow, Gene. But, how will I get out of this place?"

"Well, not so soon, that's fo sure." Gene eventually shrugged. "I guess you'll have ta stick with us for a while."

"Now, that's bloody brilliant!", I exclaimed sarcastically.

"I didn't mean like that! What I wanted ta say is... I'll find a way fo ya."

That took me aback. For a moment, I just gawked at him.

"You can?", I asked, "How?"

He sent me a short smirk. "First aid ain't the only thing I can do, Jess."

I looked at him in total surprise. I hadn't seen this one coming, especially not from a shy and quiet man like him.

"I have ta go now. Medic's duties." He smiled a bit. "But, as soon as I find out something, I'll let ya know."

"How will I repay you, Gene?"

"Just stay outta trouble."

That made a smile spread across my face. "I'll do my best."

Quickly nodding, Eugene turned around and went to the other end of the barn. But, a few moments later, I dashed after him.

"Gene?"

"Yeah?" He stopped and glanced at me.

"Since I'm stuck here... where can I find some clothes? I'm still wet, you know. And I'm also covered in mud."

He pointed a crate, placed against the wall. "We just got sum OD's. Hopefully, some of them are gonna fit ya."

"Okay, cheers!"

Leaving him to go to the wounded, I made my way to the place he had shown. It didn't last long, when I saw some clothes. After a short search, I picked up some things. I thought of taking a pair of boots that I had found – but, I discovered that they were too big for me. And so I decided to keep my old ones, after I clean them.

And now... the place to change. In the end, I found that place behind the barn. There was nobody there, except for some cows. And there were no doors, so nobody could accidentally stroll out.

As quickly as I could, I took off my ripped and dirty gear and chucked it on the ground. And then I slipped into the things I had found. Hand on heart, they were all made for a slightly bigger lad – everything was slightly hanging off me. But, this wasn't a place to complain, was it?

As I was rolling up the sleeves on my jacket, I heard Eugene's voice behind the barn wall. It looked like he was talking with one of the wounded. He sounded so calming, that a small smile grew on my lips. However, it soon started to fade away.

I had said that I would do my best to avoid trouble. But, I had a sneaking feeling that trouble would soon find me again.

XXX

"Excuse me, sir, have you seen anyone from Easy?"

"Yeah, they're just around the corner."

"Thank you." I sent the man a smile and went on.

After moving out of the headquarters – better know as the barn – the lads secured a small town called Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. For a short moment, I had expected that it would be just like the ones from books and movies. I imagined broad squares, charming houses, colourful flowers on the balconies and music in the air.

However, when we arrived, my heart dropped like a stone.

The once beautiful houses were now deserted. To tell you the truth, they looked more like ancient ruins than homes. Some of them had dozens of cracks, while the others had holes in their walls. The streets were riddled with chunks of concrete, rubble and craters big enough to make my stomach coil. What was more strange, everything was almost silent. It seemed as if the entire town was struck dumb.

Bloody hell... what happened here? Finding my way around a building, I spotted a large truck, parked on the edge of a square. A muffled voice was coming somewhere from inside. It took me a couple of seconds to recognise Malarkey's.

Picking up speed, I dashed to it. And then I climbed on the tailgate and moved the canvas that had been covering the truck.

That was when a rancid smell met my nostrils. It was so atrocious, that it made my eyes almost water. I blinked a couple of times, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Holy smoke, what died here?"

My shock doubled when Don turned around. "Hey, Jess!"

I kept gawking at him. He was cooking something. Actually, he was stirring something dark, soupy and steaming. What mattered worse, he didn't have a cooking pot. He was using an empty ammunition box instead.

"I've been explaining the guys for ages that Irishmen are good cooks." He waved around with his spoon. "Come on, tell'em, Jess."

I frowned a bit. "No, they're not."

He soon frowned, too. "Jeez, Jessica, you should help me here! You're Irish on your mother's side, aren't you? You must be cooking just as good as me..."

"I'm the worst cook in my street, Don."

When somebody burst into laughter, I leaned inside the truck and spotted more faces. George was fumbling with some playing cards, along with two men I didn't know. Toye was taking a swig from his bottle, while Bill was smoking his cigarette.

I shortly waved. "Hello, lads."

"Well, if it isn't the charmin' pilot! Come on in." Toye's face lit as I entered the truck. His kind brown eyes soon widened. "Oh, that gear sure looks good on ya..."

"Shuddyap, Joe", Bill muttered. And then he smiled and patted the empty space next to him. "Jess, you can plonk yourself right here."

As carefully as possible, I made my way to him and sat down. That was when he said:

"And now, Jess, I want to introduce ya to my bosses." He begun with a brown-haired man, who was sitting on the opposite side of the truck. "This is lieutenant Harry Welsh."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Welsh smiled as we shook hands. But, he also seemed a bit confused for seeing me in a place like this. Perhaps, if I were in his shoes, I would have been a bit confused, too.

Soon after, Bill showed at somebody behind him. "And this is lieutenant..."

"Compton", the stranger said, emerging behind Bill and shaking my hand.

I could hardly hide how surprised I was. Unlike Welsh, this man's hair was so blonde, that it seemed almost white.

Meanwhile, George put down his cards and asked:

"How we doing, Malark?"

Don turned around, still stirring his "soup". He took a spoonful of it and tried some. To my absolute horror, he grinned and nodded.

"Good."

Bill furrowed his brow. "Good? You serious?"

Toye glanced at Don's cooking. "Jeez, what's that nasty stuff?"

"Hey!" Don's cheeks became bright red. "If you have a reservation someplace else, I'd be happy to go with you."

After he decided that he had been stirring enough, he took the nearest plate and poured some of the soupy thing in it. George winced a bit when Don passed it to him. Judging by the expressions of the other lads, they had the same opinion about dinner.

As Don was pouring more of his delicacy on Bill's plate, a strange look appeared on his face. He begun staring at the canvas in front of him, as if he could see something on the other side.

"Don, what is it?", I asked.

"I'm just wondering…" He scratched his head. "Who the hell was our pilot? I mean, the one that dropped us to the wrong zone."

Toye placed his bottle near his feet. "When I find him, I'll bust his arse."

"That ain't gonna happen, Joe", George said, barely swallowing a bite, "If ya ask me, he's already back in England, drinkin' in that some goddamn pub."

I bit my lip again, looking at no one in particular. Although I would have to trust these men now, some things should better remain secrets.

While I was making myself comfortable on the bench, I took out my shawl from my pocket. In the sunlight that was finding its way inside the truck, the fabric had a lovely emerald shade. Neve had bought it for me because of that.

Fumbling with it, I wondered when she was doing. Was she preparing to got to bed now? Was she outside with her friends? And was Mike nearby? Trying to imagine her at our home, in Aldbourne, I slowly folded the shawl. And then I wrapped it tightly around my right wrist. That way, whenever I looked at it, I would always think of her.

"Hey, Jess, care for a walk?", Bill's voice made me snap back to France.

I blinked, slightly confused. "And where would that be?"

He shrugged. "Anywhere. The day ain't over yet."

"Well... all right."

Trying not to step on anyone's toes, I weaved my way to the back of the truck. As I jumped from the tailgate, I heard Welsh's voice shouting behind me:

"Don't stay too long out there! You have about twenty minutes before we move out to Culoville!"

"Okay!", Bill replied as I moved away.

The air was a bit cold, but it was also fresh – unlike the hot and humid air inside the truck. Enjoying in it, I slowly went along the edge of the square. Bill went after me, while pieces of rubble cracked under his boots.

It looked like we weren't the only ones outside. I saw Winters and Nixon talking near a cracked wall. A few meters further, Ralph was sitting and trying to light his cigarette. But, when the wind blew, his lighter suddenly went out. I couldn't help, but snigger as he begun swearing.

"You know, I heard of a hundred ways to get into the Airborne." Bill smiled in his usual, cheeky way. "But, I've never heard of yours, that's for sure."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "No red-head pilots falling from the sky?"

"Nope."

I grinned a bit, too. We continued walking along the square, until we stopped under a stone arch. In spite of everything, it had remained almost intact, with beautiful lines carved on it. Wondering who had made it, I slid my fingers down one line.

"Speakin' of pilots, how did ya fell in love with planes?", Bill asked, leaning against one side of the arch.

The thought of it made me snigger. "That was a long, long time ago."

"Oh, come on. You can tell me."

I did my best not to laugh. But, that was far from easy with the look on his face. He arched his dark eyebrows, waiting for me to begin.

"All right, all right..." I eventually caved in. "I was about eight, when my dad went to work. He was working on an airfield near Newcastle. Anyway, I really wanted to spend time with him, so... one day, I followed him to work."

Bill looked at me, almost completely bewildered. "You what?"

"That's right, I went after him to the airfield. But, he soon caught me."

"What did he do?"

"He asked me to stay." When Bill gave me a more than a confused look, I added: "No, I'm not joking. He didn't send me home. He let me sit nearby and watch him work. I spent almost whole morning there, watching him fixing an old plane."

"So, you fell for the wrenches and the screwdrivers?" Bill took a long drag from his cigarette. And then he blew a puff of smoke into the chilly air. "That doesn't sound so romantic."

"I've just started."

"Okay, okay..."

"Well, my dad fixed the plane in the end", I continued, "And then the pilot came. Dad and I watched as he got inside and turned the engine on. I jumped almost a foot in the air when it roared to life." I couldn't hide my little grin. "If you were only there, Shakespeare... it was amazing. It sounded like he had woken up an old, bad-tempered dragon in his cave."

Bill chuckled. "Dragon, huh?"

Leaning against the warm stone, I went on with my story.

"And then the propeller begun spinning like mad. You could barely see it. Anyway, I also saw the pilot inside. He gave me a wave, before the plane went down the runway." I stopped for a moment. "But, then it started to pick up speed. It begun running louder and faster until..."

I soon trailed off, imagining that old plane separating its wheels from the ground. Although years had passed, that memory would always make me excited.

Bill gazed at me. "Until what?"

"Until it just took off into the clouds. In a few seconds, the huge plane in front of me became a small greenish smudge in the sky. Can you imagine that?" All of a sudden, I noticed that Bill was sniggering. "What's so funny?"

"Just your face. It's beaming."

That comment made me blink. "What?"

He grinned. He took out his cigarette and begun spinning it between his fingers. "The way you talk... somebody would say that you're in love with your job."

"Perhaps I am."

"And now, you're here."

While his look became a bit more serious, Bill took another drag. The tip of his cigarette glowed almost orange in the shadows. Soon after, he raised his head and let out one more puff of smoke. That was when he spoke again. But, this time, his voice sounded almost solemn.

"I think we just survived D-Day, Jessie."

My hand stopped on a curve in the stone arch. "We did?"

"Yeah." He chucked the cigarette on the ground. And then he glanced sideways at me. "So, now, that you're with us... what are your plans?"

"Well..." I looked at the sky, which was becoming darker by the minute. "I'll try to keep a promise or two. And I'll try to survive somehow and get home."

To my surprise, Bill raised two small bottles. "Let's drink to that."

I hesitated a bit. The liquid inside them seemed a bit suspicious. But, after so much time in that humid truck, I was almost dying for something to drink. I eventually took one bottle from Bill's hand and pulled the cork out.

"Cheers, Jess."

"Cheers, Shakespeare." I clinked with Bill and took a long swig.

Holy mackerel and cod almighty! The taste of it was so terrifying that I jerked, turned around and spat out almost an entire mouthful. That was when I froze on my spot.

Speirs had been sitting right next to me.

He was now glaring at me, with booze dripping from his face and hair.

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