Hello, everyone! I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year! :)

I'm terribly sorry for making you wait for so long. I updated a new chapter somewhere in November, but I wasn't quite satisfied with it. And so I deleted it and decided to write a new one. However, life (and studying) got in the way again… I hope that you'll forgive me.

By the way, I was thrilled to bits when I saw this story reaching more than 100 reviews! :) None of that wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for you. I want to thank all who found time to read this, as well all the reviewers for their kind words and support. I hope that you'll continue following this story and enjoy the upcoming chapters! ;)

I wish all the best for: beth-rodrigues.77 (Yes, what Denham did to Jess was a bit harsh… but, don't worry, I added a small surpsire for him in this chapter ;) Thanks for the lovely review! ), ilovemedia18 (It's wonderful to hear that you liked so many things in the previous chapter. As for Denham's fate, you'll soon find out what it will be. Speaking of the other episodes… I already have some ideas for Jess and the boys. But, I'll have to ask for patience until I write those chapters. Finding spare time to write is a bit hard these days… :) By the way, you're right – Jess playing baseball with the others in Points is an adorable idea! I think I'll add that scene in one of the chapters… Thank you for the big review! :) ), Dustori (I don't know how to thank you on your kind words. I'm surprised (and more than glad) to find out that someone likes this story so much. Don't worry, I'll keep on writing… :) ), imthebeginning (Hello! Your wish is coming true today, because Jess and Gene will have a special moment in this chapter. :) ), Hector Barbosa (Thank you for reviewing! It's always nice to hear from you again. ), Amanda (Thank you for your compliments. Denham will face revenge really soon. :) By the way, this isn't the only thing I'm writing. I'm working on my own book, too. But, because of all my exams and studying, I have very little time for writing it now. I'll hopefully finish it soon, though. :) ), Able Sierra (Thank you very much! I'll hope you'll enjoy the new chapter. ) and Cayendoenelolvido (Thank you for the lovely review! ). Each of your reviews makes my day (and motivates me to keep on writing )! :)

And now... here's the latest chapter...

Chapter Thirty-Two: Two Steps From England

This wasn't happening.

This couldn't be happening.

But, it was. Only a few hours ago, my three comrades and the man I loved had met in secret, plotting against their own superior. As if that wasn't insane enough, they planned to assassinate him right here, in Holland, just because of me.

Oh, God. Running fingers through my hair, I couldn't stop thinking about it. No matter how I tried to get it out of my head, I kept imagining what might happen if they rubbed out Denham. Perhaps, if they were lucky, nobody would suspect them. The regiment might eventually lay blame on a sudden German attack. However, things could also easily go wrong, and they might not see it until it was too late. Gene, Mike, Bill and Joe might find themselves caught, lined up against a wall and shot. It was only a thought, but it was so terrifying that it made my blood run cold.

What was worse from all, I had no idea what to do.

I tried to come up with something. I really did. But, nothing came to my mind, even when the night checked out of Holland and daylight filled the village again. To be honest, I was too afraid to make any plans. Having in mind that they could all die, I felt as if I were frozen. I felt cold and helpless, unable to think of my own plans. The only thing I managed was to glare at the rain, which was pouring outside.

"Care for some soup?"

Whirling around, I saw Ralph joining me on the porch. He brought two tin mugs with him, full of something hot.

"No, thank you." I plastered a smile as quickly as I could. "I'm full."

"Full of what? Fresh autumn air?" Ralph chuckled, but I couldn't force myself to do the same. That was when his smile slid from his face. "What's wrong?"

If you knew, you wouldn't believe me. "Oh, nothing."

"Nothing? You sure?"

"I just didn't sleep well." I moved my gaze back to the downpour. But, something made me turn around again. "I don't remember you being so protective before. Has Gene told you to keep an eye on me?"

"Something like that", he replied with a shrug, "Anyway, there's a good reason for it. You were shot, remember?"

"Yeah, of course. I almost kicked the bucket. That's a bit hard to forget, don't you think?"

He smirked before he shoved a mug and a spoon in my hand. "Here. Eat this before it gets cold."

I glanced at the concoction inside the cup. I sincerely hoped that the weird things floating inside were vegetables. Taking a spoonful of it, I tried to guess what was inside. But, as I gazed at it, my mind wandered off and I was once again in that kitchen. For one more time, I was peering through the window, watching the secret meeting on the other side. The lads' voices seemed so close as if they were standing right beside me.

If she flies up there and we get attacked, she's dead, Sullivan.

There's only one thing we can do now.

There's no way we'll make this go public.

I swallowed hard when I remembered their words. Don't get me wrong, I longed to see Denham out of my life. And, yes, I wanted to get rid of him, but not if Gene, Mike, Bill and Joe were the price for that.

"You'd better finish that soon", Ralph said, bringing me back to the present. Taking a sip from his own soup, he added: "I bumped into a runner this morning. The kid was askin' for you."

"Really?"

"Yup. There's gonna be some sort of a meeting at HQ. And you should be there."

I felt my brow slowly furrowing. "Why?"

Ralph shrugged. "I'm not sure. But, I think it has something to do with some guys called Germans."

A faint smile tug a corner of my lips. However, I had no chance to say anything, because a loud, coughing sound came somewhere from the rain. It sounded like an engine, which was just about to fall apart.

It didn't last long when a silhouette rumbled through the rain, stopping just in front of our house. I blinked in surprise as I recognised Bill, who was grinning from ear to ear, with raindrops dripping from the rim of his helmet. But, that didn't shock me as the thing he was sitting on. It looked like a greenish, ancient…

"Motorbike?" Ralph got up and gawked at him. "Holy shit, where did you get that?"

"This here beauty?" Still grinning, Bill leaned in his seat and tapped the front wheel. "I borrowed her from one of them farmers."

"Oh, you borrowed?", I asked, tilting my head to one side. "Is that a new word for stealing in these parts?"

"Hey, I'll get it back!", Bill protested, "I promised to that guy. Anyway, this sure beats the goddamn Jeeps. I haven't moved around so fast in ages."

I didn't share his enthusiasm. The motorcycle looked as if it belonged to a museum, not on a muddy village track.

"Well, I should be on my way. I'll see ya later!" Bill prepared to twist the throttle. But, before he managed to move an inch, I heard Ralph saying:

"Hey, Bill, will ya drive past the HQ?"

"Yeah. Why? You need a lift someplace?"

"Not me. It's for Jess."

At that second, I was sure that my stomach dropped.

You have got to be kidding me. "Ralph…"

He turned to look at me. "It ain't a bad idea, you know."

"Aye, it is. I'd rather walk on foot to there than sitting on that thing!" I pointed a finger at Bill's beloved machine. "It looks like it was locked in a barn for a century and a half!"

"Well, as the company's medic, I declare you unfit for walking all the way there", Ralph said in his most serious voice, taking my soup away, "So, come on. Hurry up!"

Unfortunately, he was right. I wasn't quite in shape for passing miles on my own. Probably because I had a hole in my stomach, another one in my back, and a load of stitches keeping them closed.

"Remind me to pop a worm in your dinner", I muttered.

Ralph sniggered in return. He extended his free hand and pulled me back to my feet. I only stopped to pick up my jacket and fling it over my head. And then I hobbled from the porch and towards Bill's motorcycle.

"You holdin' tight?", Bill asked, when I sat right behind him.

I cringed slightly, feeling some of my stitches tugging. Damn you, Ralph for being right… "Aye, you can say that."

My friend from Philly didn't say anything else. Instead, the engine coughed and spluttered underneath us, making me flinch. As the whole vehicle vibrated, I already regretted climbing on this thing. However, it was too late for second thoughts. I tightened my grip around Bill's waist when, with a sudden jolt, the motorcycle sprang into motion, leaving Ralph and our house behind.

XXX

If two sentries hadn't been standing in front of the HQ, I would never have guessed that was the place. It was a plain two-story house, like many others in the village, riddled with cracked windows.

Well, my bosses, here I come. Carefully stepping on the ground, I trod towards the HQ. However, I didn't make it to the entrance. I stopped halfway to it, before I looked over my shoulder. In the meantime, Bill was just preparing to continue his journey near the line. He obviously felt my gaze upon him, because he soon moved his head and glanced at me. That was when I realised that I couldn't imagine him in any other way than alive.

"What is it, Jess?", he asked.

"Just don't do anything stupid."

His eyes widened in bewilderment. In the same time, I gave myself a mental slap. Holy smoke, did you actually say that?

"Whaddya mean?", he asked, almost as if he were suspecting something.

Oh, shit. Come on, think of something. Think! "Well… I mean, I want to suggest you being careful. This isn't a perfect place for a joy ride, you know."

I swallowed again, hoping that did the trick. And it did. Bill's look, which had become serious and a bit tense, relaxed again. Even a smile found its way on his face.

"Sure", he said, "No worries, I can take care of me-self. By the way, good luck on that meeting of yours."

"Thanks, Shakespeare."

That was when the motorcycle rumbled one more time. I jerked back, avoiding a splash of mud and water, while Bill stormed off. In a matter of seconds, he vanished among the neighbouring houses like a ghost.

I have to admit, as soon as he disappeared, I sighed in relief.

Jess… you can be really daft sometimes. I had almost told him that I had been spying on him last night. And, I wanted to smack myself hard for that. However, that wouldn't be too smart, especially with nearby sentries watching me.

Doing my best to look composed, I turned around and went towards the HQ. To my surprise, the blokes at the entrance, let me pass. Grasping the door knob and turning it, I carefully pushed the door open. And then I limped inside, wondering who had been so kind to invite me.

The first thing I saw was a wide room, with curtains on the windows and a fireplace on one side. Moving my gaze from left to right, I spotted chairs standing on a dirty looking carpet. There was an old desk as well, with a bottle of some bright beverage on it.

There was also Denham, sitting behind it.

Something suddenly clenched inside my chest. Meanwhile, Denham raised the bottle and poured some of the liquid in a glass on the table. With a motion that resembled a toast, he took one gulp and smiled in such a way that my stomach churned. My eyes darted to the other corners of the room, searching for other officers, like Winters, Nixon or Welsh. But, none of them were here. My only company was the colonel, with his smirk floating on his lips.

"A nice day, isn't it, Prichard?", he asked. His voice was completely calm, as if we were on a picnic and not with German artillery waiting for us nearby.

"It would be much better if you weren't in it", I retorted.

A small crease emerged on Denham's forehead, while his grin faded away. He placed his glass back on the table a bit louder than he should. And then he slowly got up from his chair.

"I wanted to have a word with you, now, that' you're back", he replied quietly, "I've heard that you went AWOL from the hospital." He stopped for a moment, thinking about something, before he smiled again. "You're really eager to get back to all the action, aren't you?"

I used almost all my strength to remain calm. "Actually, I've never liked hospitals."

"So, after a few days, you decided to pull an escape act. That's impressive." He made a slow nod as he approached me. "How are you feeling now, Miss?"

"Better than yesterday, that's certain."

He nodded once again, stopping only a couple of steps away. I scrutinized him, trying to guess what he was thinking about. But, his expression couldn't tell me anything.

"That's good to hear", he said.

All of a sudden, he moved his hand and pain seemed to have exploded in my head. The next thing I knew was that I was crumpled on the floor, bent almost in two, while tears were blurring my vision. Something warm was trickling down my chin and dripping on the carpet. But, before I found out where that was coming from, Denham's hand grabbed my hair. I yelped when he pulled me, forcing me to get up on my knees.

Only moments later, I heard his voice. Denham was so close that I could literally feel his breath tickling my ear.

"This is for your little suicide flight back in Nuenen", he said, "Who the fuck told you to turn around and fly back there, huh?"

I soon realised that the warmth on my face was blood. It was coming from my nose. Holy mackerel...

"I see you didn't understand a few things", he continued in the same low voice, "Let me enlighten you, Prichard. You're here for a reason. Actually, I got YOU here for a reason. And that is achieving air supremacy above this goddamn area. Your job is helping us fight the Krauts, not playing a fucking guardian angel for your buddies. Got that?"

I groaned when he tightened the grip on my braid. But, I went quiet when his face appeared in my view.

"They can be replaced", he said, "Randleman, whom you saved… there's always a trooper that can step into his place and finish his mission. That also applies for every other man from Toccoa. But, you…" I blinked a few times, feeling tears leaking down my face. "You can't be replaced. You are MY investment, and I'm not going to see you getting killed because you have a soft spot for someone!"

My vision was so blurred that Denham's face looked like a pale smudge. In spite of that, I sent him the most piercing glare I could make.

"You son of a…" The rest of my sentence got lost as he tugged on my hair, making me shriek.

"If you were from the States, Prichard, I would have you shot here and now. Nothing, and I mean nothing, would save your little backside. But, you're Easy's wild card, too valuable to be spent like that. However, it's high time somebody taught you a lesson. I hope you finally learnt it."

I took a few deep breaths, trying to somehow ease the pain in my nose. But, it refused to cease.

"We've gone too damn far with this war to screw things up now, Prichard. You can tell that to your pals when you see them."

My hand, which was halfway to my hair, stopped with no warning. I turned around as much as I could and gawped at him, while my heart began falling towards the floor. I had thought that things couldn't get worse. But, I couldn't be more wrong. He knows. Holy Christ, he knows!

I didn't dare to say anything. I just knelt there, waiting for Denham to continue. He eventually did that, leaning a bit closer to me.

"I know that you made friends with some of the men, especially Roe. And let's not forget Guarnere, too…" With each name, more cold chills crawled up my spine. Aye, he knew well whom I was mostly spending time with. "Well, since you spend quite a lot of time with them, I suggest you telling them not to do anything reckless these days. We could be attacked at any moment here. I need their focus to be on enemy lines and not something else. Perhaps you could kick some sense back into the boys, 'cause…"

I did my best not to let out a sigh. It seemed as if a huge burden had just fallen from my back. It looks like he's still clueless… thank goodness.

"Is that clear?", he asked.

I didn't say anything, which made one more crease appear on his forehead. In a voice slightly lower than usual, he added:

"Is that clear, private?"

"Aye", I replied, "It is…"

He cut me off by jerking my hair again. He did it so suddenly, that he pulled my head back and made me stare at the ceiling.

"I am not your friend here, Prichard. When you address me, you should say 'sir'."

"Yes…" I gritted my teeth, struggling with the last word. I thought of saying a word which was much more appropriate for him, but my head throbbed too much. All I wanted is to make it stop. "…sir!"

The next moment, the grip on my hair vanished. Without Denham holding me, I had to stick out my hand and prop myself against a wall. Reaching to my face with my other hand, I touched my nose and winced. It didn't hurt much, but the feeling of something warm and wet under my fingers made me shudder.

Looking back, I saw Denham strolling back to his desk. In that moment, I felt a strong urge to grab something big and hard and smack him in the head with it.

"But, bear in mind what I said", he added, stopping for one more time, "I don't want any problems in this company, not while a recon is being organised." He turned his head towards me, glancing at me only with a corner of his eye. "Dismissed."

There was nothing left for me to say. Hauling myself off the floor, I picked up my jacket and stumbled through the door, not giving Denham a second glance. No sooner did I step off the porch than rain greeted me again, pouring over my head.

Bloody hell, will this ever end? Swallowing thickly, hobbled behind the nearest corner. And then I raised my face towards the sky, so that the raindrops would wash the blood away. When the throbbing in my head faded slightly, I wiped my nose with my sleeve and kept walking. I didn't care for the rain which was soaking me. I just wanted to get back to my billet and try not to think of strangling Denham myself.

It didn't last long when I heard something in the distance. Turning around, I spotted a truck moving down the village road. It was about to rumble right past me. I raised my hand high, hoping that the driver would see me and give me a lift.

That was when it hit me.

Did Denham mention a recon?

Bringing myself back to the past, I recalled those words. Almost in the same time, I remembered one more thing, and that was Mike's words. Although I hadn't seen him in the darkness of that kitchen, I could see the glow of his cigarette and hear him saying:

I heard that the second platoon will be sent somewhere. And Denham will be there, to supervise them or something. Expect some action coming this way…

I instantly froze, staring at blank space. I hadn't the foggiest idea where that recon would be. But, I could imagine it. I saw Bill, Don, Lieb and the rest of the platoon walking through tall grass and thick, dark mud. Denham would be there, not too close if the Germans decide to attack, but not far from the lads. That was how he had done things back in France. He would be observing the mission, making sure that it would end according to plan.

If something happened to the colonel, Bill and the others would have a convincing explanation. They could say that the Germans had found him. That the ground, soft and muddy from the downpour, silenced the enemy's steps. That he had no idea what was coming for him. But, there would be doubts after that. A person as important as the colonel couldn't be taken out like that. That might lead to an investigation, which might even lead to… I pushed that thought away, not daring to go further.

They needed to be stopped.

To be precise, I needed to dissuade Mike from this.

But, where in the bloody hell could I find him? Moving out of the truck's way, I tried to imagine the map of Randwijk and where Mike's billet was. Unlike the one Ralph, Gene and I shared, his was not so far from the HQ.

It was only two streets away.

Hopefully, Mike hadn't left yet. Biting my lower lip, I went down the track as fast as my wound allowed me. My stomach soon ached again, but I couldn't stop. I placed my hand on the side, where the bullet hole was, and kept walking.

After I hobbled to his street and passed a group of lads, I saw him and sighed in relief. My Wingman was standing in front of his house, chatting with Malark. Hand on heart, I had never thought I would see Mike with a cigarette in his mouth and an M-1 in his hands. But, there he was.

I didn't approach him at once. I waited at a distance, until Malark gave Mike a nod and went on his own way. That was my queue to jump in.

"Mike."

He turned around and saw me. Almost in the same time, a worried expression appeared on his face.

"Flygirl? What are you doing here?"

"Don't 'Flygirl' me, Sullivan", I deadpanned, which turned his look into a bewildered one. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to be tactful. Glancing left and right, making sure that nobody was nearby to hear us, I said: "I know about your meeting last night."

He furrowed his brow at me. "What meeting?"

"The Gene-Bill-Joe-and-you meeting, last night." I quietly sighed when my wounds began stinging. "Don't insult my intelligence, Michael. I know what you lot came up with."

His expression changed in a matter of seconds. His smile seemed to have slid from his face. I noticed his jaw clenching slightly, while his eyes became darker by one shade. They now looked as if a thin shadow had fallen over them.

"Whatever you planned with them, Mike, you've got to stop it. Now would be a good time."

He stared at me, as if I had lost my mind. "Why the hell should I?"

"Because I don't want to see the four of you ending up six feet under. I think that's a very good reason to postpone everything."

"So… you want me to leave Denham alone?", he asked, almost in disbelief.

"For now."

"Jesus, you can't be serious!"

"Yes, I am! I'm know that something has to be done. But, definitely not this. As soon as we get out of this godforsaken place, we'll find some other way to solve things."

"But… I don't think we will, Jess."

This time, I was the one frowning. "Why do you say that?"

He looked at me in such a solemn way that I froze. That was when he said:

"It's too late."

I hoped that he had said that just to make me angry. But, his eyes were telling me a completely different story. Serious and decisive, they gave me no room for doubt. All of a sudden, I felt my stomach twisting inside me. God, no.

"What have you done?", I asked. He didn't say a single word about that. I tried to wait, but I had already reached the end of my tether. Grabbing the collar of his jacket and pulling him closer, I shouted: "MICHAEL, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

He tried to say something. However, he suddenly trailed off, leaving everything to silence, because a shout came from behind us. Before I knew it, someone ran to us and skidded to a stop, gasping for breath. It was most likely one of the runners.

"Where… where's the medic?", he rasped.

"Down the street." Mike pointed behind his shoulder. But, then he became even more serious. "Is someone hit?"

"Nope… it's Denham." The runner took another deep breath. "He just collapsed in the HQ… cap... captain Winters found him."

Shit. I wanted to say something, but my voice seemed to have moved out somewhere. All I could do was watch the runner dashing past us and running through the village, looking for help.

"I'd better go", Mike muttered, grasping the strap of his rifle, "The recon won't wait for anyone."

"You're not going anywhere."

He didn't answer. My eyes widened when he simply turned around and started walking away from me.

"Hey!", I shouted after him, "Mike! MIKE!"

I knew that he could hear me. But, he didn't turn around. Not even for a second.

XXX

Denham was brought to the Aid station minutes later.

He was now lying in a cot in a corner, clutching his stomach and moaning from time to time. The medics, stretcher-bearers, and even the wounded lying nearby would take quick, bewildered glances at him. It wasn't every day that a colonel found his way in this place, in a condition like his.

I can't believe it. I can't fucking believe it. Peering behind the tent flap of the Aid station, I bit my lip so hard that it hurt. Denham looked so ill that it was almost terrifying. He was as pale as a ghost, as if he was minutes away from meeting his maker. I didn't have the faintest idea what the lads had done to him, but I already began imagining all the consequences this would bring to them.

I bit my lip even harder when I saw Eugene standing not so far from me. He had gone outside a while ago to wash his hands and he was now wiping them with a mop. But, instead of his hands, his eyes were fixed on Denham, who was now quietly whimpering in his corner. Gene's expression was calm, which used to fascinate me. But, now, it made me more than angry. Letting out a short, irritated sigh, I trod towards him.

"Are you completely mad?", I hissed, "You…"

Before I could finish my sentence, Eugene suddenly pushed me against a nearby garden wall and clapped a hand over my mouth. A couple of seconds later, captain Winters himself dashed out of the Aid station and went past us. But, he didn't seem to have noticed us. Gazing somewhere in front of him, he went down a track and disappeared behind a corner.

Bloody hell, he could have heard me shouting. I realised that when Gene moved his hand away, giving me a warning glare.

"Come with me", he said.

"What?"

I raised an eyebrow, but he gave me no explanations. Not knowing what else to do, I nodded. That was when he pursed his lips into a thin line. He carefully wrapped his arm around my waist and moved, leading me down a village track. I wondered where he would take me when that familiar pain burnt under my bandages. Doing my best not to groan next to him, I gritted my teeth, placed my arm around his shoulder and hoped he wouldn't mind me using him as support.

He didn't mind. Instead, he kept walking, until we found ourselves in a small orchard, not too far from here. The orchard's owners had been evacuated a long time ago, leaving the trees to take care of themselves. Their leaves were dense enough to keep the rain from falling on us. Raising my head, I noticed a few apples shining on the highest branches, which the lads didn't manage to reach.

When we stopped underneath one tree, I quickly glanced around. There was nobody else here, except the two of us. That was good enough for me.

"Look, I would understand Bill and Joe for doing this", I said, "I could even understand Mike… but, how on earth did you agree on all of this?"

"I had ta", he said simply.

"Oh, you had ta?", I scoffed, imitating his Cajun accent, "You just had ta rub out Denham like that? Well, that explains everything…"

"Hey, we didn't kill nobody!"

"What is Denham doing in bed, then? Having an afternoon nap?"

"Jess, nobody mentioned killin'!" With bewilderment spreading over his features, he grasped my shoulders. "Denham's jus'… incapacitated."

"Wow, that's a word I'd really…" All of a sudden, I went quiet. "Wait a second. He's not dying?"

"Nope."

I blinked a few times. Something was very wrong here.

"But, last night… you and the lads… Mike said 'we gotta take him out'. I know he said that. Damn it, I heard him!"

Eugene sighed. "Sullivan meant 'takin' out' as in 'someone's gonna carry 'im out'. Literally." His dark eyebrows started approaching each other. "Jesus Christ, didya really think we'd kill someone like that?"

Frankly, didn't know what to say. Eugene quietly sighed.

"Liebgott went inta da HQ this mornin'. And he added somethin' ta his drink while Denham was outside."

It took me a second to recall my meeting with him. When I had seen him inside, he was taking a sip from some beverage. I swallowed thickly when I found out the truth. Could it be?

"But, what he feels now will be jus' da beginnin'", Eugene said quietly, "As we're talkin', he's havin' nasty stomach cramps. But, in a few days, he's gonna get sick. Really sick, Jess, enough to be evacuated from here to a hospital. I'll tell 'im that he's gonna need serious surgery, so he won't be able to get away."

"So, he's going to Paris?"

"He's goin' to da States."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "The doctors aren't stupid, Gene. They'll find out that this is a scam, sooner than later!"

"I know. But, by da time they find out, you'll be long gone from here."

I blinked again. I wasn't sure if I had heard him right.

"You mean…?"

He slowly nodded, more serious than I had ever seen him. "Yeah. You're goin' back ta Aldbourne."

A short chuckle escaped my lips. I had heard those words too many times. And I would believe in them every time, until I got called to the battlefield again. But, this wouldn't happen today. I knew this was a joke, so I brushed it aside.

"Jess, this is doable", Gene said, looking at me intently. He was tired, I could see that clearly. But, there was something else on his face. Something that looked like determination. "I mean it. And, with da colonel outta da way, there's nothin' that can keep you 'ere."

While I was staring at him, trying to decipher what he had said, I found out that my mouth was hanging open in disbelief. I had never imagined that the quiet Gene Roe was capable of participating in something similar to this. I pressed my lips quickly and tightly while his curved into a faint smile.

"Da only thing left for us is ta wait until they take 'im away and ship 'im home", he said in his southern drawl, "You could say that you're two steps from England now."

"Those are two risky steps."

"They are." He looked somewhere down, letting his pale hands slide down my shoulders and stop on my arms. When he moved his gaze up again, I could have sworn that his cheeks were turning red. "But, they're worth it."

To tell you the truth, I wanted to smile, to grin from ear to ear. However, I couldn't. There was something else on my mind which couldn't let me.

I swallowed thickly. "What about you?"

"What 'bout me?"

A corner of my lips curved. "You and the lads… well, since you'll be here for a while, you'll need your air support. When I'm gone, who'll replace me?

"Don't think 'bout that. We'll manage somethin'."

Call me insane, but that didn't comfort me a bit. In fact, I felt something stinging slightly in my eyes. I moved my head to one side, so that he couldn't see my face. I know I should be happy for leaving Holland and, to be honest, I was. But, I was also scared. The lads were depending on me here as much as they did on each other. And now I was about to leave all of them here.

However, leaving him was what hurt the most.

So far, at least I had Gene in my sight. I only needed a brief look over my shoulder to convince myself that he was alive and well. But, how would I do that at home, miles away from him? I didn't know how I would put up with all the waiting, expecting letters from him, not knowing what was going on where he was.

"Hey." Gene's two fingers grasped my chin and made me face him again. "Nobody's gonna blame you fo leavin'."

"And you?"

"'Specially not me."

Nearly whispering the last word, he made one step closer and enveloped me into a hug. I realised that the stinging in my eyes were actually tears coming this way. I had to cough a few times to stop them from reaching the edge. And then I leaned my head on Gene's firm shoulder. I closed my eyes shut, feeling his one hand on my back, and the other one sliding down my hair.

"Jus' be ready", Gene whispered in my ear, "When Denham leaves, you'll have ta be ready to leave, too. Pack yo things tonight, jus' in case."

"That won't be hard", I replied, just loud enough for him to hear me, "I'm wearing the only things I have."

I heard his quiet chuckle. But, he swiftly became quiet again. "When you get ta England, find yo sista an' leave. Get outta Aldbourne as soon as ya can. Hide somewhere where nobody's gonna find you."

I moved my head in order to frown at him. "And where would that be, huh?"

"That's gonna be yo choice. Whereva that is, take Neve with ya and stay low."

"You mean, we'll have to hide until we're both old and grey?"

"Until Denham receives a discharge because of his 'condition'", he replied, adding a special emphasis on the last word, "The second he gets that, there's nothing' he can do. The war's gonna be over fo him." Noticing the frown deepening on my face, he said: "You gotta trust me. You'll be free befo you know it."

I slowly nodded, hoping that he was right about this. Actually, I longed to believe in that. In the meantime, he let out a sound similar to a snigger.

"What?", I asked.

"I told ya you shouldn't be 'ere."

"Aye, you did."

A pale hue of pink crept up his cheeks again. "Well, da four of us should be doin' this while you're evacuated ta England. But, then we found out that you went AWOL. Someone would say that you like makin' things complicated…"

I couldn't help but chuckle. Smiling in return, Gene let me go and offered me to escort me back. When I leaned against him again, he slowly went down the narrow track we had come from.

"Gene, may I ask you something?"

"Okay."

"I know what Lieb did. But, what part did the others have in this plan?"

"I took sum things from the medicine locker an' made somethin'. Liebgott brought that ta da HQ an' added it ta Denham's drink. Meanwhile, Sullivan made a diversion fo da sentries at da door, so Liebgott quickly sneaked in and out."

"Hold on. How did you know when the HQ would be empty? And who told you that only Denham would be there at the time?"

"Gettin' da information was Guarnere's part. As a NCO, he could ask around without being too suspicious."

My eyebrows arched in surprise. "Oh."

"Jess, you speechless?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

"That might be yo first time."

I playfully slapped his back, which teased a smirk from him. Limping slightly, I tried to keep up my pace with his as we went out of the orchard. However, after a few steps, we received company. A jeep appeared not too far from us, screeching to a halt and chucking up mud behind it.

"Could ya get back ta Spina alone?", Gene asked, suddenly becoming solemn.

"Sure."

As soon as I said that, he let my arm go and ran towards the Jeep. I guessed that someone had been wounded, because I saw two silhouettes carrying someone out of the vehicle. Gene was already at the man's side, checking his condition. Feeling a lump forming in my throat, I prepared to turn around and leave. I didn't have the stomach for coming closer. But, that was when I heard someone saying:

"I ain't sure Doc, but I think his leg is broken…"

Joe Toye. That was undoubtedly his voice. But, what was he doing here? Squinting and taking a closer look, I realised that he wasn't the only lad from Easy here. There was Bull Randleman, too, more worried than I had ever seen him.

Time seemed to slow down as I rushed to them. Gene, Joe and Bull seemed to be moving strangely unhurried while I hobbled fast. With every step, I had a feeling that someone was clutching my heart tighter, not giving me time to breathe. I was terrified of finding out who had got hurt, but the urge for discovering his name was stronger. When I finally came closer, Gene was running to the large tent, while Bill and Joe were following him in hot pursuit.

I stopped to my tracks, staring at the lad they were carrying. Oh, my God.

It was Bill.