Rain pattered against the ceiling of the mess hall. Alice watched with a loving smile as Eugene and other members of Easy played football. She was barely aware of a figure sitting down next to her.

"If he wasn't a medic, he would be a decent gunner." Came the voice of Leutenant Winters.

Alice looked at him in surprise.

Dick smiled at her and pointed out to the field where the men were playing.

"Look at him. See how closely he's watching the others. And now he's about to move in for the kill." Dick described.

Alice watched.

Gene had observed the silent communication between Johnny Martin and Ken Webster.

Martin threw to Webster and Gene sprinted and dove to successfully intercept. He ducked and dodged tackles while weaving through other men. Only to be plowed into by Bull Randleman.

"Ooof!" Both Alice and Dick hissed.

Shifty helped Gene to his feet, both laughing it off.

"Who's winning?" Dick asked after a moment.

"Haven't a clue." Alice giggled, "When they said football..."

"You thought soccer." Dick finished with a chuckle.

"Silly British brain." Alice nodded, sipping her tea. "Although, I must admit, this is much more interesting."

Dick nodded, sipping his coffee.

Gene looked over in there direction and smiled at Alice, then soluted at Winters.

Winters soluted back.

"How is he as a medic?" Alice asked. "The men keep telling me he's good, but perhaps you would be more honest." She winked with a smirk.

Dick smiled back at her. "Probably the best you could ask for. He even ran out in the middle of gunfire to save men."

Alice looked at him wide-eyed.

Dick bit his lip regretfully. "He's an angel, not a single scratch on him. Honest to God."

Alice's eyes blazed. "And 'ere I thought it would only be Bill I had to truly worry about being reckless."

"It's better than Malarkey going into the line of fire to get a luger..." Dick sighed and then closed his eyes, kicking himself.

"DONALD DID WHAT?!" Alice shrieked.

All the football players looked up at Alice. Unfortunately, one of them was Malarkey.

Both Donald Malarkey and Donald Hoobler looked at each other.

"I don't think it's about me." Hoob said with pity in his eyes, looking at Malarkey.

"I think Alice heard about your near-death mission to get a luger." Bill laughed patting Don on the back.

Don gulped.

"DONALD MALARKEY!" Alice shrilled, storming out into the field, Dick trying to stop her.

"I need him alive, Alice!" Dick pleaded.

Gene stood in front of Don. "Chérie, what's th' mattah?"

"Oh! Whit's th' matter? WHIT'S TH' MATTER?" Alice laughed angrily, causing everyone to step back. "YOU runnin' out with bullets flying past yer head, risking yer life. While it is noble, 'tis also indeed stupid and a bloody miracle ye are still alive. I can forgive ye for dat. But him!" She pointed at Don. "Doin' th' same FOR A BLOODY LUGER?!"

"Jeez, Alice!" Don sneered. "You're acting like you're my mom or somethin'!"

"Oh-ho!" Alice laughed. "Ye better be thankful I am not yer mam, lad! Yer hyde would be more tan than a pygmy on a sunny day. I better not 'ear anymore tales o' ye bein' a reckless yank, or I will write yer mam."

Bill gave a low whistle while there were small snorts of laughter from the other men.

"Alice..." Hoobler said calmly. "Don regrets what he did. Right Don?"

Don nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry Alice."

Alice let out a breath, looking at all the men. "It's bad enough worrying aboyt all o' ye, I don't need ye all bein' bloody idiots at th' same time."

"Sorry, Alice." The men said, looking down.

"Calm down, Gorgeous. I'm sure we all did stupid things while we was there." Bill chided gently.

Alice snapped her head in his direction with a frosty glare. "Oh really, Bill? Do ye mind sharing with me what you did?"

Bill pressed his lips together and shook his head.

"Do I want to know, William?" Alice asked.

Bill shook his head again.

"Boys, 'm gonna take my Chérie home." Gene said, pulling Alice away. "Smith, wanna take my place?"

Smith nodded from the sidelines and ran in.

Gene soluted Winters again as he led Alice away.

"C'mon Mama Bear, I'm gonna make you a cup of tea and we'll discuss some things at your flat." Gene burred.

"I don't need a cup of tea." Alice growled.

Gene smirked. "Ooo, feisty, are we?"

"Wind yer neck." Alice snapped.

"Yes, ma'am." Gene said, biting his cheek to keep from laughing.

--

Gene watched as Alice paced back and forth, lazily sprawled on her bed, smoking a cigarette.

"Has anyone told ya you are damn cute when you're angry?" Gene asked with a smirk.

Alice glared at him.

"These men jumped out of an airplane into combat, killed Germans and were shot at with guns, tanks, and other artillery. Yet you, a sweet lil' Irish girl, terrified all of them." Gene chuckled.

Alice's eyes sent daggers at him. "But not ye." She hissed.

Gene rolled his eyes, stood up, and walked over to her.

"Chérie," he began softly, placing his hands on her upper arms, tentatively kissing her head. "I love you, but the only woman who terrifies me is my mama."

Alice couldn't fight a smile.

"There she is." Gene whispered with a grin. "My douce fille."

"Do ye think you can sweet talk your way out of this?" Alice snarked.

Gene tutted with a smirk before bending down and kissing her.

"So determined to stay angry with me." He teased.

Alice felt a surge of anger rise again and shot daggers at Eugene again.

"Alice, I'm a combat medic." Eugene said seriously. "Running into combat to help the men is part of the job description."

"I know that. It doesn't mean I have t'like it. Alice snapped.

"I'm not askin' you to like it." Eugene replied with an even tone. "But ya can't jus' get angry with me for doin' my job."

"That's not what I'm angry about." Alice growled.

"Well it sure sounds like it is." Gene countered, backing away with his hands on his hips.

"It's not!" Alice shouted defensively.

"Then what is it? That I'm not out there with them on the front lines shootin' and killin'? Would that be bettah for ya? That if I died, I died with a gun in my hand?"

"No!"

"Well, tell me!"

"I'm angry that I know!" Alice cried. "I was better off not knowing what ye did. Now whenever you jump next, all I am going t'dream aboyt at night is you running in the blazes of gunfire and possibly gettin' shot or blown up!"

Gene rubbed his eyes, mentally cursing at Winters.

"Well you shouldn't have asked what I did!" Gene countered.

"I didn't!" Alice screamed. "All I asked was if ye did as good as the other men say."

"That's the SAME THING!" Gene barked.

"NOT EVEN REMOTELY!" Alice shrilled.

Gene sat on the bed and rubbed his face again. Alice stared at him, not quite sure what she was feeling in the moment.

He sat quietly for a moment before getting up and grabbing his jacket.

"Well then don't be angry with me." He grumbled. "Be angry with Winters. Even if all he did was answer your question." He said as he walked to the door.

"Where are you goin?" Alice asked with a shaking voice.

"Out. See ya latah." Gene said, reaching for the door.

"Gene." Alice rasped.

Gene stepped out into the fresh air, breathing in the soft scent of rain.

"Damn." He muttered to himself before turning around bursting back into Alice's flat.

Alice looked surprised before Gene grabbed her and kissed her.

"I almost broke my promise, didn't I?" Gene asked.

Alice nodded.

"I love you." Gene whispered, embracing her.

"I love you too." Alice murmured against his chest breathing him in, listening to his heartbeat.