1st December,1942
"Just look at those bastards rubbing it in that they don't have to march in this weather," Joe Toye was complaining in his gravelly voice to anyone who would listen, glaring at a group of third battalion men walking past them.
The entire regiment was finally leaving Toccoa and moving onto Fort Benning to begin the next phase of their training. However, it was only the first and third battalions who were going to get there in relative comfort. Apparently, Colonel Sink had read an article in Reader's Digest in which an entire Japanese battalion marched one hundred miles in seventy-two hours, creating a new world record. With utter confidence in his men, Sink had decided that second battalion could better that record and march the one hundred and eighteen miles to Atlanta in the same time as the Japanese. Which was why at exactly 0700 hours Easy Company, along with Dog and Fox Companies, were lined up in formation ready to begin their journey.
"They're just walking," Evelyn commented, adjusting the straps on her rucksack.
"No, you see it's the way they're walking, Ev," Joe grumbled.
"If you say so," she frowned at Bill, on the other side of her, who just rolled his eyes and hoisted his own pack onto his back.
"You know, Joe, if you're gonna complain the whole day, I might just have to accidentally punch you in the face," Bill joked.
"I ain't gonna complain all day," Toye glared. "But I just think it's fucking ridiculous that we have to do this while the other battalions get to take the train."
"Sink chose the best battalion so take it as a compliment," Evelyn answered. "Besides, this might even turn out to be fun.
"I'll ask you that later when your little feet are sore and bleeding, shall I?"
"Come on, it's not all bad, you get to march next to my beautiful face all day," she grinned, nudging him. He tried to scowl at her but she could see his grumpy façade threatening to crumble.
"As long as Luz ain't anywhere near you," Joe smirked. "If I have to spend a whole day listening to him jabber on, I might commit murder."
"Hey, what's wrong with me?" George's voice piped up indignantly from a few rows behind them.
"Where do I start?" Joe replied not even turning around.
"Hmm yeah," Evelyn concurred. "He is kinda annoying, isn't he? I just put up with him because he doesn't really have many friends."
"I heard that," George called out.
Turning around, Evelyn blew him a kiss and mouthed 'I love you really'. Smirking, George pretended to catch the kiss dramatically on his cheek and put it in his pocket. When she turned back around, Toye was shaking his head at her exasperatedly.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"You're just as bad as him, you know that?"
"And you're just jealous," she answered curtly.
"She always been this annoying, Bill?" Joe asked over the top of her head.
"Unfortunately," Bill nodded, ignoring the glare his sister sent him.
"I hope you both fall over," she stuck her tongue out childishly causing Joe and Bill to snort in amusement. Thankfully she was saved from any smart arsed reply from either of them when Sobel ordered them to move out.
… … …
After sixteen hours of marching in the pouring down rain and blustering wind, they were all exhausted when Major Strayer finally had them set up camp for the night. After a not particularly hearty meal of bread with jam and butter, they all climbed inside their tents listening to the biting wind howling outside and fell quickly asleep.
The next morning when Evelyn woke up, she could hear her brother muttering to himself angrily. Cracking open an eye she saw him unthreading the shoestrings on his boots.
"What are you doing?" she croaked, her voice groggy.
"Goddamn boots are frozen," Bill answered. Turns out their boots weren't the only thing frozen. Evelyn left the tent and was faced with the image of Smokey fighting with his machine gun, which was covered in a layer of white frost and stuck to the ground. If she hadn't been so tired, and cold, she would have found it hilarious to watch at any other time.
Another small piece of bread and butter for breakfast, and they were on their way again. The pouring rain became intertwined with ice cold sleet and they were all utterly miserable. Evelyn had decided to march beside George today as she had missed his incessant chatter the day before, but even he was miserable as sin. At noon, they finally stopped to rest.
"I'm cold and I'm wet," he complained, shaking his head, spraying rain droplets all over Evelyn who, at this point, didn't even care.
"I'm thirsty, and hungry," she replied. Her canteen was long empty of water and the chocolate bar she had stuffed into her pocket that morning was gone within the first two hours.
"You're always hungry," Skip commented, trying to light up a cigarette, but the wet weather was making it somewhat difficult.
"Would you like some water?" a voice called out.
Looking across the road, a woman stood outside the front of an old farmhouse with a large pitcher of water in her hand. Evelyn could have cried. She was so thirsty, but stupid Sobel and his even more stupid rules had decreed that they were not to cross any roads when they stopped for breaks. What kind of a rule even was that?
"I'm going," Malarkey decided, jumping up suddenly and grimacing.
"Are you alright?" Evelyn asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he waved her off. "Just my legs are sore from yesterday."
Regarding him carefully, she made a mental note to check on him later when they stopped for the night. She got up and unhooked her empty canteen from her rucksack.
"Wait here and I'll get yours too," Malarkey offered, holding out a hand for the canteen. "If anyone sees us, you'll stand out like a sore thumb being the only female and all. At least if I get caught, it won't be as obvious who I am."
Reluctantly she handed him her canteen and watched him hobble across the road. The woman gladly filled the two canteens and as Malarkey thanked her, they got the call to move out again.
"Who is that man?" Sobel's voice suddenly shouted as they gathered back into formation. He had spotted Malarkey but was too far away to see who it was. "I want his name now."
"Oh god," Evelyn gasped, grabbing hold of George's arm. She bobbed up and down nervously, her gaze constantly shifting from Sobel, who was thundering down the road, to Malarkey who had managed to hobble back across it and weave into the crowd. "He's gonna get into trouble. What are we gonna do? What can we do to help him?"
"Calm down for a start," George answered. "You're cutting the circulation off to my arm."
Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief when Sobel reluctantly gave up in his pursuit as he could no longer see the man, nor would anyone in the company tell him who it was. A few minutes later when she felt a tap on her shoulder, she turned around with a huge smile on her face and flung her arms around Don's neck, almost tripping him over in the process.
"A drink for madam," Malarkey put on his best french accent as procured her canteen from behind his back. "That was close," he laughed.
"You're telling us," George commented, as they resumed their walking. "I thought Evelyn here was gonna wet her pants."
"Shut up, George," she said, unscrewing the cap and gulping the cool water down. She made sure to leave more than half and passed it over to George.
"Hey, if my mouth is touching the exact spot where your mouth has just been, then we're pretty much kissing, right?" George wiggled his eyebrows.
"Not really," Evelyn snorted. "But then again, it's the closest to kissing me that you're ever gonna get."
George laughed and handed the canteen over to Talbert who downed the last of it gratefully.
"So, if Tab is putting his mouth right where yours was, does that mean you two are pretty much kissing?"
Talbert wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as George grimaced.
"You're evil you know that?" George pushed her away from him in annoyance, and Evelyn just laughed wickedly.
… … …
It was late again before they stopped to rest for the night, and the first thing Evelyn did was to check on Malarkey. She had noticed him limping more and more as the day had gone on, but he had gritted his teeth and refused to complain. It didn't take her very long to find him the tent he was sharing with Muck and Penkala.
"I'm fine Evie, don't worry about me," Malarkey tried to tell her, but she wouldn't be dissuaded. She had already heard from Skip that Malarkey's legs had been hurting him so badly that at meal time he hadn't been able to even walk to the food line. He had actually begun to crawl on his hands and knees until Skip had told him that he would get his food for him.
"I'll decide if you're fine, Donald Malarkey. Now roll up your trousers and let me have a look," she demanded in a tone that invited no argument.
Trouser legs dutifully rolled up, Evelyn knelt down beside Malarkey and with gentle hands began prodding at his legs, watching his face carefully for any reaction. When she touched his shins, he hissed and immediately she knew what the problem was.
"I think you've got shin splints," she announced. She couldn't say she was entirely surprised that of all the people to get them, it was Malarkey. As part of a mortar squad, Malarkey had been forced to carry an entire mortar unit on the march which weighed at least fifty pounds more than the M1's everyone else had been carrying.
"Is that serious?" Malarkey asked, his eyebrows creased together in worry.
"It can be," Evelyn nodded. "You need to rest so they can heal, and I don't just mean for a few hours. I'm really sorry, Don, but I don't think you're gonna be able to finish this march."
Malarkey swallowed as Muck and Penkala glanced worriedly at one another. They all knew what that meant. It had been made very clear to them that anyone who couldn't, or wouldn't, complete the march by foot would be out of the training programme.
"Ev, just tell me what I can do for now to help them, and I promise you that once tomorrow is over I will rest properly," Malarkey said, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Don, no matter what you do, you're gonna be in even worse pain tomorrow than you are today. My job is to make sure you guys are fit and healthy, and if I let you carry on you could cause yourself some serious damage," she answered sympathetically.
"Ev please," Don begged.
"Fine," she sighed, his puppy dog eyes winning her over. "But you do not move for the rest of the night, got it?"
"I swear," he smiled, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
"You need to put something cold on your shins to help with the pain and any swelling. Ice would be preferable but seeing as we don't have any right now then the best I can do is wrap some wet bandages around your legs. It's cold enough that they should help somewhat," she informed him, rummaging around in her bag for a pot of aspirin. "And I'm gonna give you a painkiller every few hours."
Fifteen minutes later, Malarkey was more comfortable than he had been all day and Evelyn left him to get some sleep. It was pitch dark outside and before heading back to her own tent, she realised that she needed to pee. Over on the other side of the campsite, there was a small clearing with trees.
"You're going the wrong way."
She turned around and smiled as Liegbott approached her, flicking his finished cigarette on the floor.
"You don't say?" she answered sarcastically. "I uh, have to attend to some, uh business, in private."
She was glad it was dark so Liebgott wouldn't be able to see the slight blush staining her cheeks. He frowned but then suddenly seemed to grasp her meaning.
"Come on then," he said.
"Excuse me?" she spluttered.
"You're not going over there by yourself. Not with those Dog and Fox company goons about. I wouldn't trust them," he answered, walking away without waiting for her to respond.
She was about to argue but then realised it was futile, and in truth he was probably right. Not that she thought any of them would do anything, but she didn't really know them and she was an easy target she supposed.
"Fine," she decided, catching up to him. "But you'll wait at the edge of clearing, yeah?"
"I have no desire to watch you pee if that's what you mean," he snorted.
With considerably shorter legs than Liebgott, Evelyn found herself almost running to keep up with him as he strode purposefully towards the clearing. When he realised, he slowed down and grinned. She narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to tease her.
When they reached the trees, Evelyn almost sighed with relief and hurriedly went about her business. When she had finished, Liebgott was waiting right by the edge of the clearing where she had left him.
"Been for a secret tryst, have we?"
Liebgott and Evelyn both turned to look at the smirking Fox company private smoking outside his tent as they walked past back in the direction of their tents.
"I knew there had to be a reason you all liked having a girl in your company so much," he nudged his friend beside him. "Can't say I blame you though. I've seen her in them shorts. That's a damn fine ass she's got there. Say, when you get fed up with her, wanna pass her this way?"
Spinning around, Joe marched up to the soldier and dragged him up by his collar. Evelyn rushed forward at the same time as the man's friends did, but he waved them off.
"You best shut your fucking mouth," Joe growled.
"Or what?"
Joe was physically shaking with rage and his brown eyes were darker than she had ever seen them.
"You're gonna apologise to the corporal here, and then fuck off back to whatever hole you came crawling out of," Joe gritted his teeth angrily, pushing his elbow into the other soldier's throat. "Are you listening, you stupid fuck?"
"Joe," Evelyn begged, placing a hand on his arm and trying to pull it away. "Let him go. Is he really worth getting a court martial over?
Indecision written all over his face, Liebgott glanced at Evelyn who looked at him pleadingly.
"Come on," she said as he reluctantly allowed her to pull his arm away.
The other soldier didn't say anything as they walked away. He just stood watching them and rubbing his throat with a sneer on his face.
"Are you alright?" he asked as they walked back towards their tent.
"I'm fine," she nodded. Although that wasn't quite true, she didn't want to tell Joe that. He was already wound up enough. The man hadn't actually done anything, but his words and the leering look in his eye had been enough to frighten her. She was utterly relieved that Joe had insisted on coming with her in the first place or the situation could have been much worse.
"Good," Liebgott nodded shakily, trying to light a cigarette, thinking more and more about what had just happened. "What a fucking bastard. I wish I'd have punched him in the face now."
"I'm glad you didn't," Evelyn smiled, taking the lighter out of his hand and lighting his cigarette for him. He calmed down almost instantly as the nicotine hit his system and gave her a grateful smile when she put his lighter back in his top pocket.
"He deserved it for the way he spoke about you."
"Yeah, but then you would have gotten into trouble. It could have been worse, he could have said I had a fat ass and I would have punched him myself," she joked trying to lighten the mood. It must have worked because Joe snorted, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a reluctant smile. Evelyn swore she felt her stomach do this strange kind of flip when he smiled at her.
They had reached her tent and she could already hear her brother fast asleep inside, snoring loudly and she scrunched up her nose. Looks like she wasn't getting much sleep tonight.
"Listen, you won't say anything to the others, will you?" she asked, lowering her voice. "I just don't want Bill to find out because he would be an absolute nightmare."
"What, even more than he usually is?" Joe smirked.
"You have no idea," she chortled. "I know it's just 'cause he cares but his over protectiveness has a tendency to drive me up the wall."
"It is a big brother's prerogative to be over protective," he answered with a grin. "I'm the eldest of six, trust me I know."
"Do you miss them? Your family?" she asked, knowing she should try and get some sleep but at the same time not wanting the conversation to end.
"All the time. As soon as we get some leave, I can't wait to get back to Frisco to see them all. One of my sisters just got engaged, and she's waiting to throw her engagement party until after I've passed out," he smiled fondly. "What about you? As annoying as your brother is, it must be nice having him around when you're away from home?"
"Yeah it is," she nodded. "He's a pain in the ass but growing up, we are always really close. There's a six year gap between Bill and our older siblings, but then only two years between me and him, so we've always been together. Oh I'm sorry, am I boring you?" she teased when Liebgott let out a huge yawn.
"No, no I'm just-"
"-Tired? Yeah, I'm not surprised," she grinned. "Go and get some sleep. We've got a whole war to talk about our families."
"That's true," Joe grinned back. "Well, night then?"
"Night," she answered but then as Joe began to walk to his own tent she called him back. "I forgot something."
Taking him, and herself, completely by surprise she kissed him quickly on the cheek and smiled meekly.
"That was to say thank you," she told him and without waiting for his reply, rushed back into her tent, leaving Joe grinning from ear to ear as he put a hand to his cheek. God, he really was turning into a sap.
… … …
"Where was you last night? And where the hell are you going now?" Bill asked, watching her grimace as she pulled on her frozen boots. Her toes were covered in blisters and she wanted to cry as her boots rubbed sorely against them. It was early and barely anyone was awake yet judging by the quietness outside of the thin tent walls.
"Malarkey hurt his legs," she explained. "I need to go check on him again before we set off for the day. Get me some breakfast, will you?"
"What did your last slave die of?" Bill grumbled.
"Not doing as he was told," she grinned, swatting him playfully on the head. "See you in a little while."
Throughout the night, Malarkey had kept on re-soaking and reapplying his bandages and he was adamant that they were feeling better. Evelyn didn't believe him in the slightest but there wasn't exactly much more she could do if he wasn't going to listen. She gave him another aspirin and told him to try and walk around just a little this morning to loosen his legs up somewhat before the long march.
"You two are up bright and early," Nixon commented as Evelyn decided to try and help Malarkey walk to the food line, which meant going straight past the officer's tents.
"Everything alright?" Winters asked quietly, noticing Malarkey's limp. "Malarkey, what have you done?"
"I, uh, nothing Sir," he tried to smile.
"Corporal?" Winters directed the question at her now, seeing as Malarkey wasn't forthcoming with an answer.
Evelyn looked at Malarkey, who just sighed in resignation and gave her a slight nod.
"Shin splints, Sir," she answered with a compassionate glance at her friend.
"Shin splints," Winters frowned. "Shouldn't you be resting? From what little I know of them, they can cause serious damage if left untreated, no?"
"That's correct, Sir," Malarkey answered.
"I must insist then, that you ride in the ambulance today," Winters answered sympathetically.
"With all due respect, Sir, I'm going to finish the march today."
"And what's your opinion, Corporal?"
Evelyn wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want to lie to a superior but nor did she want to get Malarkey kicked out, which is exactly what would happen if he set foot in that ambulance.
"Sir, Private Malarkey has assured me that he feels able to complete the march today. Whilst it is not ideal with his condition, I believe that so long as he is able to rest fully once we arrive at Fort Benning then he shouldn't suffer any irreversible damage." She didn't believe most of what she was saying, but she hoped Winters would. Personally, she thought Malarkey was crazy to take such a risk but she completely understood his determination.
Winters seemed to ponder her statement for a moment before replying, glancing at Nixon beside him who just shrugged and lit up a cigarette.
"Very well then," he decided. "But Corporal Guarnere is to stay with you at all times during the march, and if, at any point, she deems it necessary, you will have to ride in the ambulance."
Evelyn and Malarkey both let out breaths they hadn't realised they had been holding.
They saluted their CO's and then continued on to the food line.
"I get up early to get you breakfast and you're already here," Bill complained as they approached. "You could have got me breakfast and let me sleep in for ten more minutes."
"Oh quit your whining," Evelyn stuck her tongue out at him.
"One day, you're gonna do that and I'm gonna cut it off," he narrowed his eyes.
"You'd be doing us all a favour," Malarkey joked. "At least then she wouldn't be able to talk so much."
"Donald Malarkey, I can easily go back and tell Winters that you can't march today if you'd like?" she raised an eyebrow warningly.
Malarkey shook his head and pulled her into his side for a hug, but she pretended to still be mad at him.
"Just you wait," she said. "I'm gonna talk your ear off for the whole day now and there's nothing you can do 'cause I've gotta stay right by your side."
"Lucky me," Malarkey muttered, ducking as Evelyn pretended to cuff him on the head.
… … …
As predicted, Malarkey struggled profusely but Evelyn didn't hear him complain once. True to her word, she had talked and talked for two hours straight, but even then, she had become too tired herself and had given up.
When they were about a mile from their destination, they could suddenly hear music and they all looked at each other, wondering what was going on. Then they saw it. The streets were lined with people, young and old, waving flags and cheering them on. The music was coming from a brass band not too far in the distance. Suddenly, these tired and aching soldiers felt a huge sense of pride that these people had come to support them. Looking at Malarkey beside her, she saw that he was no longer limping as noticeably, and he had stood up straight with a huge grin on his face.
Looking out into the faces on the crowded street, Evelyn wasn't sure if she felt embarrassed or empowered when the people started to notice a woman in the formation and began pointing. However, when none of the smiles turned into frowns or jeers, she felt herself stand up a little taller too. Seeing young women and little girls waving at her and the others, she hoped that by seeing her they would be inspired, and as they marched their final mile, she had never felt so proud to be a part of anything in her life.
… … …
Apparently the 506th was in much better shape than predicted, and if the rumours were to be believed, first and third battalions had been running rings around the PT instructors at Benning. So when second battalion finally arrived, Easy company was delighted to find that they were moving straight onto stage two of jump training.
Every morning for a week, they spent their time learning how to correctly fold and pack their parachutes, which Evelyn actually found to be quite therapeutic once she got the hang of it. She was also more than a little smug that she could pack her chute much quicker than her brother, which irritated him profusely. Their afternoons were spent jumping from doors of mock up airplanes in harnesses that were attached to a steel rail above them. Evelyn had thought jumping from a thirty foot tower had been high until they had moved on to towers that were two hundred and fifty feet tall. And with the taller towers came no steel rail. They were free falling instead. The instructors also had great wind machines that were designed to simulate the struggle they would all have trying to control their chutes after landing.
"Fucks sake," Evelyn muttered to herself as she got tangled up in her chute again, and one of the instructors had to help her get free.
"That's three times now, Corporal," Sobel shouted, and she swore she could hear the glee in his voice. Really? I can count, you know, jackass.
"You'll get the hang of it, Ev," Smokey walked over to her. "If I managed to do it, so can you."
Evelyn chuckled despite herself. They all knew how much poor Smokey had struggled. Even jumping off the smaller towers back at Toccoa, Smokey had managed to fail time after time. But he had persevered even when Sobel had relentlessly hounded him and questioned his dedication.
"Thanks Smokey," she smiled, suddenly feeling a little better. She could do this.
She re-packed her chute and climbed the tower once more, gritting her teeth in determination, ignoring the off putting smirk that Sobel sent her way. This time when she jumped she showed that chute who was boss.
… … …
The day had finally arrived. Today they were going to jump out of an airplane for the first time, and Evelyn was already dreading it. She had known this day was coming and had genuinely thought herself ready for it. She couldn't have been more wrong.
"Are we ready to be Army Paratroopers?" the jump instructor asked them, as they sat gathered outside the hangar.
"Yes Sergeant!" No Sergeant!
"I hope so. This will be the first of five exits from a C-47 aircraft set for today. Upon completion of your final jump, you'll be certified paratroopers," the instructor continued. "There'll be many men jumping today, hopefully under deployed canopies." Oh great, Evelyn thought not finding the sarcasm humour in any way, shape or form. Beside her, Bill squeezed her shaking hand reassuringly. "You'll be jumping from 1000 feet AGL, in sticks of twelve jumpers per aircraft. You just have to remember what you were taught, and I guarantee gravity will take care of the rest. Gentlemen," the instructor cleared his throat and glanced at her. "Rest assured, any refusals in the aircraft or the door, and I guarantee you will be out of the airborne."
Inside the airplane, Evelyn was as nervous as hell. Her knee was jerking up and down like it was its own separate entity. Her hands were shaking and she was convinced her heart was about to burst out of her chest at any moment. The higher they went, the more nervous she got, until she suddenly felt her breathing coming fast and shallow. Glancing around, the other men looked strangely calm, which made her feel worse. She was a medic for crying out loud. Wasn't she the one who was meant to give off a calm demeanour? Instead she was behaving as erratically as a bird on a shoot.
Sat beside her and sensing her panic, Luz placed a hand on her trembling knee and squeezed it reassuringly. She smiled gratefully and took a deep breath to try and calm herself down.
"Get ready! Stand up! Hook up!" the instructor shouted over the deafening noise. With shaking legs, Evelyn stood up along with everyone else. "Check equipment!" They checked their own and then the man's, or woman's in front of them. When Evelyn felt George squeeze her ass, she turned around and glared at him but he just smirked and gave her an innocent look. Patting down Skinny who was in front of her, he turned around and winked.
"Least if my canopy doesn't deploy, my last memory will be getting touched up by you, Ev," he grinned, and Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"Sound off for equipment check!"
"Nine okay, eight okay, seven okay," it carried on down the line until she heard her brother shout last from the very front of the plane, not sounding the least bit perturbed.
"Stand in the door!" the instructor shouted, and Evelyn was glad she couldn't see her brother as he was about to jump into the air because she was almost certain she would have tried to stop him if she could. "Go! Go!"
And with that, he was gone. Oh God, oh God, was all Evelyn could think as the line got shorter, until finally she was the one standing in the open doorway. The second the instructor yelled at her to go, she took a deep breath and shut her eyes before taking that leap of faith. Literally.
Screaming, her stomach almost came out of her mouth as she free fell down the ground with her eyes still squeezed tightly shut. The force of the wind was unreal as she counted to four and felt her canopy deploy, lifting her up with a tug. Suddenly, she felt a calm come over her and she opened her eyes, as the descent became slower and calmer. She had never felt so free in all her life as she floated effortlessly through the air like a bird. As far as she was concerned, the ground came close far too soon and she was disappointed when she landed.
"Woohoo!" her brother came running over to her once she had detached herself easily from her chute. He picked her up and spun her around, his twinkling eyes mirroring the elation in her own. "How amazing was that, eh? Told you there was nothing to be scared of, didn't I?"
"I just wanna get back up there right now and do it again," she giggled wildly, her cheeks rosy red from the wind and her falling out of its bun.
"Well you get to do it four more times so don't worry," Bill grinned.
Each consecutive jump was just as thrilling as the next and by the end of the day they had made it. They were fully certified paratroopers.
… … …
"6000, 7000, 8000, 9000…"
Evelyn shook her head as her brother downed his pint of beer, encouraged enthusiastically by everyone else, and grinned revealing his silver screaming eagles badge held precariously in between his teeth.
"Hi-yo silver!" he shouted as they all cheered him on and downed their own drinks. Evelyn took a sip of her cola and felt like a baby. When they had first gotten drinks in, Malarkey had bought her a gin and tonic, but the second she put it to her mouth Bill had yanked it away, declaring that she wasn't old enough to drink.
"Neither are half the guys here," she had argued.
"Yeah well they ain't my baby sister," he had answered firmly and warned everyone else against getting her anything alcoholic. Not wanting to create an argument in the middle of something that was such a celebration, she had decided to leave the matter for the time being.
"Say pretty lady, you gonna dance with me or what?" a hand tapped Evelyn on the shoulder and she turned around to grin at George Luz.
"Why I suppose so, handsome Sir," she answered, standing up and allowing him to take her hand.
As he led her to the dance floor, Chattanooga Choo Choo began to play and she laughed remembering the time at Toccoa when he had woken her up with his drunken singing out on the porch. When the dance finished they were both breathless and went to the bar, where George went behind it to get them both a drink. Joe Toye came wobbling over, already drunk and George took the opportunity to rib him a little.
"Corporal Toye, there will be no leaning in my company," he smirked, putting on his best Captain Sobel voice. Joe stood up and wobbled slightly but Evelyn steadied him. "Are those dusty jump wings? How do you expect to slay the Huns with dust on your jump wings?"
"Luz," Toye grabbed Luz gently by his jacket. "Just get me a drink."
"Hell of an idea, Joe," Luz grinned widely, handing him a beer and then placed a gin down in front of Evelyn, who frowned. "Your brother's over in the corner playing darts with Malarkey with his back to us," he winked. Evelyn grinned wickedly as she took a small sip. She screwed up her face as the bitter taste hit her tongue but after the second sip it didn't taste half as bad. In fact, the tartness was actually quite nice.
"Ten hut!" Sobel suddenly ordered. Immediately, they all stood to attention as Colonel Sink entered the room and stood on a small platform before them all.
"Well at ease paratroopers," he smiled. "Good evening, Easy Company."
"Evening, Sir!"
"Parachute infantry is a new concept in military history. But the 506 will forge that new concept into victory."
"Yes Sir!"
"I want you to know that I'm damn proud of every one of you," he smiled again when his gaze caught sight of Evelyn still at the bar. She nodded and smiled back. "Now, you deserve this party. So, I want you to have fun, and remember our motto; Currahee."
"Currahee!" they yelled in chorus raising their glasses in salute.
"Ready for another dance?" Skip asked, walking over to them and holding his hand out to Evelyn. "I wouldn't usually ask anyone to dance other than my Faye, but for you I'm willing to make an exception."
"Well how can I refuse such an honour?" Evelyn laughed downing the remainder of her drink.
The rest of the night passed in a blur of dancing with intermittent breaks where George and Malarkey would ply Evelyn with drinks when her brother wasn't watching; which was quite often, seeing as he had spent most of the night playing, and winning, at darts. She danced with just about everyone in the company, aside from her brother, who had never really been one for dancing luckily. Even Winters had been cajoled reluctantly into a dance with her by Nixon.
Towards the end of the night, Evelyn had cried off from any more dancing and had just sat at the bar chattering drunkenly with George. When Liebgott had come over to the bar sometime later for a drink, he had taken one look at Evelyn who was practically asleep sitting up and decided she'd had enough for one night.
"She's plastered, George," Liebgott scowled, propping Evelyn up. "How much has she had to drink?"
"I dunno," George shrugged, his eyes wide. "I only gave her a few when Bill wasn't looking and so did Malarkey, I think."
"Fucks sake," Joe sighed running a hand wearily through his dark brown hair. "If Bill sees her like this, you're in for it and so's she."
"You don't think I know that, Lieb?" George snapped. "I'll try and find somebody to watch the bar while I take her back to barracks."
"No, you stay here. I think you've already done enough damage for one night," Liebgott glowered. "I'll take her back."
He gently shook Evelyn, who had started to nod off against his shoulder and she sat upright with a start, her bleary eyes wide.
"Come on Ev, I'm taking you back to barracks," he said gently as he helped her down off the stool. Her legs wobbled but she leaned most of her weight onto him to keep upright. She blinked as though she couldn't quite comprehend what he was saying but then she suddenly smiled.
"Do you hear that, Georgie Porgie? Liebgott's taking me back to barracks," she slurred, patting Joe on the chest. "Aint that nice?"
"Yeah, real nice petal," George smirked. "You gonna be alright on your own with her, Lieb?"
"We'll be fine," he nodded, downing the remainder of his drink and grasping her gently under the arm. "Catch ya later, Georgie Porgie."
The walk home from the bar was proving to take a lot longer than usual with a drunken Evelyn who, even with Joe's help, could just about stagger slowly. At one point, she had taken off her heels and they were now swinging from one of her hands as she teetered along the road, humming a Glenn Miller song. Joe thought maybe losing the shoes might have helped but he had been wrong.
"Come on Ev, just a little while longer and we'll be back," Joe encouraged her as she swerved from one side to another. It was like her feet had a mind of their own and refused to walk even remotely in an attempt at a straight line.
Suddenly Evelyn tripped and landed on her hands and knees before Joe could stop her.
"Shit," Joe muttered when he saw that she had ripped her stockings and cut both of her knees open. She snorted and started giggling like a mad woman when Joe pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at her knees. It was so dark he couldn't see properly to try and wipe any of the dirt out of the cuts, but he knew Doc Roe was already back at the barracks and he would clean her up when they got there. He pulled a still giggling Evelyn up onto her feet and led her again down the road towards the barracks. After only a few minutes, she almost fell again.
"Fucks sake," Joe sighed. They were never going to make it back at this rate. Without thinking, he swept her up into his arms, one around her body and the other under her dangling legs. She stopped giggling and stared up at him in shock. Her pouting lips were opened slightly and all he could think about was how much he wanted to kiss them. But she was drunk and he was a gentleman; well at least with her he was.
"What ya doing, Joe?" she asked.
"What does it look like?"
"I can walk you know," she slurred, her bleary eyes struggling to focus properly on his face. "Just put me down and I'll walk the rest of the way."
"I know you can," he lied with a wink. "But how about you just humour me, yeah?"
She nodded and flung her arms around his neck. Joe almost groaned as he felt her soft body pressed against his chest. God, I deserve a fuckin' medal.
A short time later when they arrived back at barracks, Joe kicked open the door with his boot and turned sideways as he walked through the doorway so as not to bump Evelyn's head on the wooden frame. Evelyn's arms were still wrapped tightly around his neck but had somehow managed to nod off, and her warm even breath tickled his neck.
Eugene was awake and looked up in concern when he saw Evelyn in Liebgott's arms.
"What's the matter? Is she alright?" he jumped up from his cot.
"She's fine," Liebgott answered, laying her down gently on her own cot. "Well, she's not gonna be in the morning. I'd have some aspirin handy if I were you, Doc. Oh, and she's managed to scuff up her legs pretty bad, but I think she'll live."
Evelyn stirred suddenly and opened her eyes.
"Eugeeeeeeene, my favourite Cajun," she grinned sitting up, and then frowned. "How did I get here?"
"Liebgott brought you back," Eugene answered, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he realised Evelyn was stinking drunk. "You don't remember?"
"Hmm," she answered vaguely, rubbing her eyes drowsily and yawning, as Eugene grabbed a pitcher of water from by his cot and some tissues to clean her cuts with. Suddenly she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Oh god," she moaned. "I'm gonna puke."
As fast as lightning, Joe raced for the metal bin where they all discarded their cigarette butts and shoved it hastily in front of her face just as she retched. In her drunken stupor, Evelyn was vaguely aware of Joe pulling back her hair from her face and holding onto it while she vomited the contents of stomach into the bin. As the waves continued to roll and her stomach clenched viciously, she could feel his firm yet gentle hand rubbing her back soothingly. Every time she thought there was nothing left to come up, that bitter taste would appear in her mouth and before she knew it she was retching again, her eyes watering and her nostrils stinging with the stench.
"You're ok," Joe was murmuring softly. "That's it, get it all out and you'll feel better."
When the nausea finally subsided, even in her completely drunken state, she knew she must have looked to be in a complete state, and she wished that any other guy in the company had been the one to witness that moment. But no, it had to be Liebgott, didn't it?
Joe placed the bin on the floor, by the head of her cot in case it was needed again, and then reached out for the canteen Eugene was holding out.
"Just take small sips," he encouraged, tipping the canteen up gently to her lips, taking it away when she started gulping it down. "No, no, not too much else you'll be sick again."
When she'd had enough, he wiped mouth tenderly with a handkerchief and tucked her long hair behind her ear.
"Better?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded groggily. "I would be if the room would just stop spinning."
Joe and Eugene both laughed at that, as Evelyn groaned and lay down on her side squeezing her eyes shut. Within seconds she was fast asleep, snoring softly. Smirking to himself, Liebgott grabbed her blanket and then grimaced when he saw that it was covered in vomit. Throwing it to the floor, he walked over to his own cot to get his blanket which he draped gently over her.
"Guess you'll have to wait to clean her up until the morning, Doc?"
"Yeah," Eugene nodded, watching him carefully. This was a side of Liebgott he hadn't seen before. He wasn't exactly renowned for his caring personality, but perhaps it was just a part of him that he didn't like to show in front of everyone else. But Eugene was convinced that he had seen something in Liebgott's eyes that was… what was it? Oh heck, he didn't know if he was being truthful. But there was just something there.
"Something wrong, Doc?" Liebgott asked when he caught sight of Eugene staring at him.
"Is there something going on with you and Evelyn?" he asked, either bravely or stupidly.
"Why the fuck would you say that?" Liebgott all but denied, his eyes flashing with temper. He had been trying so hard to pretend that he didn't have any feelings for Evelyn and had been doing alright. Well, he thought he had been. But if Eugene had noticed something then it was only a matter of time before the others did. Or worse, Evelyn.
"I just…" Eugene wasn't sure what to say. He could see that Liebgott was wound up about it, but he got the feeling that it was only because Eugene's suspicions were founded. "Does she know how you feel?"
"No," Liebgott glowered. "And she's not gonna, ok?"
"She won't hear it from me," Eugene promised. "But how do you know she doesn't feel the same?"
Without replying, Liebgott stormed off to his own cot thus ending the conversation. Eugene sighed and with one last look at Evelyn, who was still sleeping soundly, slid back into his own cot. Neither of them were asleep when the rest of the guys returned, all very noisy and drunk. But unsurprisingly, Evelyn managed to sleep right through the noise.
When she awoke the next morning with cut knees, a headache from hell and a dry mouth, with no recollection at all of the night before, she vowed to herself that she would never ever drink again.
