I apologize for the wait. I had writer's block for a bit and I did not know what direction I wanted this chapter to go, so this one took a bit longer. I've got a bunch of little ideas. Piecing them together into something that makes sense takes some time. I appreciate your patience and any support. I think I've got a good sense of where the next few chapters will go. :)
Chapter Sixteen: Marksman
The following week in the infirmary passed like a snail on a blistering hot day. For the most part, Alice kept any extra remarks to herself and let Suzie rest. Alice even offered to let Suzie use the nurses' showers so that Suzie would not have to continue sharing with the men.
Richard visited every day and showed Suzie how to take apart and clean their issued guns. It gave Suzie something to do instead of lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling.
A letter from Becca arrived midway through the week talking about the horses on the farm and how she worried about her older sister. Suzie wrote back saying that she would return to training by the end of the week and to say hi to Shadow for her.
On Monday, Suzie moved back to the barracks. Only Richard expressed his excitement about Suzie returning. Stone gave Suzie a quick "welcome back" before ordering everyone to head outside for drills.
Again, Suzie landed in the back of the group. Being bedridden from illness for over a week knocked her physical capabilities down a bit. As much as she wanted to start training as she had done before, Alice had instructed Suzie to take it slow and Stone, oddly, enforced it.
Aside from the marching, Stone made Suzie perform fewer tasks, run a mile instead of two, and refused to let Suzie try the obstacle course again until Alice gave the "go-ahead."
Years of knowing Sarah Rogers made Suzie realize that jumping back into the swing of things could make the illness worse. Still, even if it prevented Suzie from overexerting herself and landing back in the infirmary, Suzie hated the joking and ridicules that the men made.
They called her a pansy and crude variations of "Bleeding Barnes." She hated the nickname the most and she hated that she could do nothing about it. And she thought the girls in her high school could come up with the worst, cruel nicknames. Some of the men in her unit outmatched the girls at her school. Of course, Lemay and Garcia came up with the nickname, "Bleeding Barnes," except they tended to stick another "B" word between the two.
Doing her best to ignore them, Suzie focused her attention on training. In the classroom-like training sessions, Suzie caught up. Now only if she could do the same with the physical training.
The week she spent in the infirmary did provide her with a jumpstart with gun care and safety. Between Alice's checkups, Suzied learned the inner workings of her issued gun and could take it apart and put it together again faster than anyone in her unit. Considering that she had never held a gun before in her entire life, Suzie prided herself on that accomplishment and reveled in the looks of jealousy from Lemay and Garcia.
She also excelled on the gun range.
Stone led the unit to the gun range for the first time during the last week of January. After a lengthy introduction, he let the unit shoot away at the targets lined up along the far side of the camp. Haybales with rings painted on made up the targets. A dusty hill sat behind them to block any stray bullets.
Standing in line, Suzie rested her rifle against her shoulder and stared down the sight. To her right, she heard Richard let out a little "ow" when his gun recoiled.
Richard rubbed his shoulder and frowned. "Why do they have to hurt?"
"Stone warned us about that," Suzie replied while lining up the target along the end of her gun's barrel. The instructions Stone gave scrolled through her head and she checked her mental list for the correct posture.
"They're no match for these guns, though." Flexing his scrawny arm, Richard kissed his left bicep and caused Suzie to laugh.
"I'm sure Helen absolutely loves those, you muscle-man," Suzie teased.
"Hey, I've gained muscle! With all those pushups Stone makes us do, I'm bound to gain something. Maybe I should drop out of law school and become a bodybuilder."
"Frankenstein built a better body than you'll ever manage. You look like a twig. Or a carrot." Suzie fired off a shot and gave Richard a sly grin, who sputtered in response.
"Well, you look like a ghost with how pale you are," Richard finally countered. He aimed at his target and winced again from the recoil.
"And I'll haunt you for the rest of your life, Richard Miller." Aiming again, she squeezed the trigger and moved the bolt action to slot another bullet into the chamber. The bolt action on the Springfield sprang with enough force to land a bruise on Suzie's thumb. "Son of a—"
"Stone warned us about that," Richard said.
Impressed at Richard's comeback, Suzie laughed and reloaded her Springfield, this time being more careful about the bolt action. Beside her, Richard chuckled and swiped a hand through his short hair.
"This is a serious training session, Barnes," Richard joked. "We're not supposed to laugh."
"We are being serious," Suzie replied and fired another shot at the target.
"Are we?"
"Always."
Richard snorted like a pig and copied Suzie's action.
A few minutes passed by, accompanied by the sounds of guns firing and Suzie and Richard stifling their laughter. Eventually, Stone called everyone to cease fire. The recruits stood at attention while Stone inspected the targets. He clasped his hands behind his back and leaned in close to each target. Although the targets stood a hundred yards away, Suzie could tell that Stone squinted at every target like an old man reading at night.
"Either he's really intense about the bullet holes or he needs glasses," Richard commented. He kept his voice low so that Stone would not notice them speaking. They were not supposed to speak when they stood at attention.
"Alice said his eyesight's failing so he's staying here to train recruits instead of going overseas," Suzie replied in the same hushed tone.
"How's she know that?"
Suzie shrugged. "Dunno." That was a such strange detail that few would know, let alone Alice. In all honesty, though, it would be Alice if anyone knew something like that. She had eyes and ears everywhere, which she liked to remind Suzie about every time Suzie came to shower. At least Alice decided to help Suzie; otherwise, Suzie would already be back at home if Alice ever chose to snitch on her.
His inspection completed, Stone walked in front of the line of recruits and gave feedback to each man. When he reached Suzie and Richard, he stopped and stared at both of them with a raised eyebrow. Either displeased or impressed, Stone's expressions stayed the same. Nobody called him "Stone-Face" (behind his back, of course) for nothing.
"Privates, have either of you ever shot a gun?" Stone asked.
"No, sir," Suzie admitted. Her father owned a gun but Ma kept it locked up and away from the kids. Not even Bucky could touch it and they never had to use it.
"I went hunting once, sir. Never shot anything, though, sir," Richard said.
Judging by the question, Suzie assumed that they were in trouble. Perhaps Stone heard them laughing and talking instead of focusing on the gun range.
"Well, Privates," Stone drawled, "you both have a knack for shooting. Keep it up."
"Thank you, sir," Suzie and Richard chorused. They looked at each other once Stone continued down the line. Once finished with the line, Stone let everyone inspect their targets.
"I didn't know you could shoot," Richard said as they walked over to the line of hay bales. The faded paint peeled against the hay. Tiny holes from the bullets clustered in the center of the inner rings on Richard's target similar to Suzie's.
"I didn't either." Suzie traced a trio of holes punched through the bullseye on her painted haybale. "I guess it runs in the family. My oldest brother always had a good aim in whatever he did."
Richard hummed in response and turned to look at Suzie with a grin. "I think we just impressed Stone. And that never happens."
"Yeah, I think we just did."
The clatter of metal utensils against metal trays rang through the air of the mess hall. Supper tonight consisted of a baked potato, chicken, and green beans. Suzie and Richard sat in a corner of the mess hall, digging into their food.
After the morning spent at the gun range, Stone ran the unit through several drills. Including a three-mile run and an hour doing calisthenics, Stone led a drill where each soldier climbed a vertical wooden post. The climbing left Suzie's arms shaking like jelly and Richard rubbed his biceps to ease the pain.
The day wore everyone down enough that the mess hall lacked conversation. Even Richard sat shoveling food into his mouth instead of talking. Too exhausted to think let alone talk, Suzie did not mind the relative silence.
The moment of peace, however, lasted only a few minutes before Lemay and Garcia ruined it.
"Hey, Bleeding Bitch Barnes!" Garcia called out. He strode over to Suzie and Richard's table. The tray of food clutched between Garcia's hands made him look like a regular lunchroom bully at school. And if it were not for the large Lemay standing like a brick wall behind Garcia, Suzie would have sworn she had not left high school.
"Leave us alone," Richard muttered and glared up at the duo.
"This ain't about you, carrot-top." Garcia stepped closer to the table while Lemay cracked his knuckles behind Garica.
"Hey, nobody calls him carrot-top other than me," Suzie snapped. "What do you want?"
"You think you're better than us?" Garcia questioned. His dark eyes narrowed as he frowned. "Stone said that you two had the best shot in the unit. I ain't gonna have a girlie-boy and a leprechaun show me up. Now, if you don't want more trouble, then you'd better—"
"Leave before I call Stone," Alice's voice interrupted out of nowhere. She stood with her hands on her hips and glowered at Garcia. Both he and Lemay towered over her, but Alice's piercing glare matched their intensity. "I heard you two already have permanent bathroom duties, so don't make it worse."
Garcia scoffed and glanced between Suzie and Alice. "I ain't scared of no bitch and I don't mind fighting here. We could take this somewhere else, though. I've got a nice warm place for you in my bed."
Reaching out to trail a finger across Alice's cheek, Garcia grinned and stepped closer. Before he could touch her, Alice snatched Garcia's hand and bent the finger backward. The motion caused Garica to flinch and he tried to yank his hand away.
Keeping a tight hold, Alice leaned in to whisper in Garcia's ear. "Unless you want a broken trigger finger, I suggest you pack up and go before things get messy. Keep in mind that I know where to cause the most pain on a human body." To prove her point, Alice bent Garcia's finger to point of almost snapping before releasing her hold and shoving Garcia's hand away.
Garcia scowled and led Lemay away from the table, favoring his uninjured hand. Alice glared at their retreating forms and turned toward Suzie and Richard once the duo left.
"What are you doing here?" Richard asked. He sat with wide eyes and a matching shocked expression on his face.
"Other than saving your asses?" Alice retorted. She slid Suzie over on the bench to make room for her to sit. "You're welcome—again."
"Thanks," Suzie muttered and pretended her heart did not hammer like a trapped rabbit. The ghosts of Garcia's arms wrapped around her neck brushed her skin like Death's reminder of her mortality. Pushing the image of the fight in the showers away, Suzie turned toward Alice, who plucked a green bean from Suzie's tray and popped it into her mouth.
Oblivious to Suzie and Richard's expectant stares, Alice wiped her hand on Suzie's napkin. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."
"I already asked that," Richard pointed out.
Alice held up a finger to hush him and stared at the duo. "You'll hear about this on Monday but I decided to be nice and give you the heads up. There's a boxing tournament going on throughout February."
"What?" Suzie asked. Out of all the things Alice could have said, that did not even make the list.
"How do you know that?" Richard added.
"'Cause I know things and Stone told me." Alice ignored the confused glance Suzie and Richard shared and plucked another green bean from Suzie's tray.
"Why would Stone—"
"Let me finish," Alice interrupted and held up a hand to stop Suzie from continuing. "Each nurse will pick a soldier to join the tournament. Commanding officers will approve the soldiers and the approved ones will fight. At least two from each unit will join, but more can join."
"Do the soldiers get a choice to join?" Suzie asked.
"No." When Richard and Suzie shared another concerned glance, Alice added: "It's an honor to fight in this tournament. If you're chosen, it means you're good and the nurse and officer have faith in you. There's a chance of promotion if you impress your officers with your skills. So be a man and suck it up for the ladies."
"Is there a prize?" Richard asked.
"Honor, dignity, bragging rights," Alice listed. She paused to scan Suzie's unamused expression and Richard's concerned face. "Of course, there's a prize! They haven't decided yet but it'll probably be some a week's vacation or something else."
"I'm assuming you already picked your soldier, and that's why you're telling us this." Even though she already knew what Alice would say, Suzie braced herself for Alice's response.
"Well, originally I was just gonna tell you but I might as well tell your ginger friend while he's here. Although, I doubt anyone would pick a twig like him."
"You said I almost died!" Suzie protested, drowning out Richard's "hey!" from Alice's jab.
Alice rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "Did you die? No, because I saved you, and if you let me help you with this, you're not gonna 'almost die' again."
"Why'd you choose me?" In any other circumstances, Suzie would not mind a boxing tournament. After the confrontation with Garcia and Lemay and the week and a half in the infirmary, Suzie lacked the confidence to fight in a tournament. No doubt, the whole base would know about the tournament and would want to watch. If failing in front of hundreds of spectators did not scare Suzie, the thought of being at the center of attention did.
Uncle Henry warned Suzie from standing out in any way. Any attention, whether good or bad, only brought more awareness to her and increased the risk of someone finding out her identity.
"Because I wanted to choose you before anyone else did. And you know me, I'm a bit protective of my idiot patients." Reaching out for another green bean, Alice winked at Suzie. "I'm doing you a favor. If you get hurt, I'll take care of you, no one else."
Alice locked eyes with Suzie, her unspoken message successfully reaching Suzie. She finally understood. Every nurse chose a soldier and that nurse would take care of any injuries the soldier sustained. It meant that the nurse and the soldier would get to know each other up close and personal.
From what Suzie understood, Alice picked Suzie before another nurse got the catch to do so. Suzie could not risk the chances of a stranger choosing her. Alice would take care of Suzie and keep Suzie's identity secret, doing her a tremendous favor—again.
Once she realized Alice's plan, Suzie nodded and Alice smirked. "You're welcome, by the way."
"What if he doesn't want to fight?" Richard interjected on Suzie's behalf.
"Stone already approved, so too bad. You're not getting out of this, Barnes." Alice snatched another green bean so Suzie slid her tray over to her.
Sighing with reluctant acceptance, Suzie rested her elbows on the table and rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. Why did she keep failing at remaining anonymous, another face in the crowd?
"How's your fighting skills?" Alice asked and picked up Suzie's abandoned fork.
"Eehhh," Suzie vocalized. She swore after the lack of response and rubbed her eyes again, trying to ease the headache pulsing behind her eyes. She really did not want to do this.
"Whelp," Alice said, accepting Suzie's not-answer and dug into Suzie's leftover food, "you're gonna need 'em soon."
For one of my classes, I wrote a short story about George and Winnie Barnes meeting and falling in love. Let me know if you want to read it and I'll figure out where I want to post it. Should it be a separate story or should I add it to my A Thousand Little Things short story collection? (If you're a bit confused about the short story collection, feel free to check out my collections and works for a little more clarification or you can ask me directly and I'll try to explain the best I can.) I've also got a few more short stories but they're not fanfiction, so if you're interested, should I make a new short story collection? I want to share them but I'm not sure if fanfiction websites are the best place for non-fanfiction.
Also, Suzie is using the same gun as Bucky in WW2. The Springfield gun is listed on Bucky's fandom wiki if you're interested.