DISCLAIMER: I do not own or profit from the Rat Patrol but enjoy hanging out with them whenever possible. I was intrigued by The Sailing Rabbit's "Sicktember" stories and decided there is never a time whenever a member of the Rat Patrol or their extended families isn't nervous or worried about something. Thus, the idea of Nervember was born. The real challenge for me will be writing a brief story to share each day for 30 days straight AND learning how to post chapters! So here goes.

Chapter 1: Troy's Dilemma

Mail call always brought an enjoyable few minutes' respite from the terrors faced by the Rat Patrol and today was no exception. Tully had picked up the mail which included letters for each of them and they sat at a table in the mess hall reading their correspondence. Troy and Hitch were sipping strong black coffee while Moffitt and Tully took pleasure in their tea. Occasionally one would laugh or smile at something they read while savoring their letters from home.

"Something wrong, Sarge?" Hitch asked as he noticed Troy scowling over his letter.

"I'm not sure," Troy admitted. "It's from my mom," he sat lost in thought.

"Bad news?" Moffitt looked up.

"I'm trying to decide," Troy was uncertain. "She says she's thinking of selling the ranch."

"Why would she want to do that?" Tully joined the conversation.

"She wants to know if I'm going to return home and run the ranch when the war is over or do I have other plans," Troy continued. "I guess my brother David has said he intends to continue flying when the fighting's done, maybe staying in England. He doesn't intend to be a rancher, not that he ever showed any interest before."

"What will your mother do, if neither of you wants to take over the ranch?" Hitch asked.

"She says she'll sell it and move someplace warmer if I don't want to take charge," Troy answered.

"What do you want to do?" Moffitt asked.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." Troy responded. "With everything we've been through, I don't know if I want to return to the life I previously had or not. I'm worried I won't be able to settle down into the regular ranch routine."

"I believe we all have similar thoughts," Moffitt replied. "We don't know how much longer this war will last and when it's all over, will we want to go back to the lives we left or has the war changed us so much that we envision a different future." Hitch and Tully nodded thoughtfully in agreement.

"Exactly," Troy concurred. "I've been thinking I might stay in the army as a career, but I haven't made any decisions.

"Do you want to go back to Colorado?" Hitch asked.

"I'm not sure about anything except getting through this war together," Troy responded. "It's hard to think of the future when we don't know what tomorrow will bring."

"What would she do if something happens, God forbid, and you don't make it home," Moffitt asked.

"I guess she'll sell it and move to a warmer climate," Troy answered, "although I can't recommend North Africa. It's a lot warmer but not much else going on." He gave a small smile.

"Do you feel responsible for taking care of her if David has already passed on helping with the ranch?" Tully asked.

"Some," Troy replied. "It's been hard on her since my dad died and she had to raise the two of us by herself."

"I can just imagine the merry life she led with you two. Not an easy task, I'm sure," Moffitt flashed a smile.

"You're right about that," Troy agreed with a return grin.

"Maybe you should let her do what she wants to do," Hitch suggested. "You can't live your life by someone else's plans." The others knew the younger Rat was thinking of how his father had tried to dictate Hitch's future until the private had enlisted in the army as an act of defiance, refusing a commission to be an officer.

"Still, she's my mother and I'm nervous about what will happen to her if both of us abandon her."

"You're not abandoning her, old man," Moffitt said. "You just have other plans for your life."

"Sarge," Tully spoke softly. "Your mom is a strong woman. She had to be as a widow with two pig-headed sons and a ranch to run. She can take care of herself. You don't need to be worried about her."

"I guess," Troy reluctantly agreed.

"But you're still going to worry about your decisions," Hitch smirked. "It's a part of who you are." Moffitt and Tully grinned and nodded in return.

"Yeah," Troy sighed.

A private approached their table, "Sergeant Troy? Captain Boggs want to see your patrol in his office."

"Let's go," Troy spoke to his team. "Guess I'll have to stop worrying until a later date. They stuffed their letters into their pockets and once again prepared to put their lives on the line for whatever mission awaited.