I looked around the parade ground at Fort Bragg, It was clearly a staging area, the division prepared to get shipped over sea, not that anyone was complaining, the food was better.

I sat down on my bed, and pulled of my boots, I was waiting for the boys to get back from the firing range.

I had just come of guard duty, which had been very awkward. The private who had been her guard buddy, had tried to ask me on a date and the CO on guard duty had been Welsh. So it had been a long day and on top of that I now had to march down to the firing range and sight in my new M1.

Most of first platoon walked thru the door and Talbert walked over and sat down next to me "So how did it go with Welsh"

I looked at Talbert "It didn't, I still haven't talked to him and he treats me like the dirt under his Cochrane's" Welsh hadn't talked to me since the night in the club when they were stationed at Breckenridge, and I wondered what I did wrong.

I had thought it thru a million times, but I couldn't figure out what I did wrong. Sure I told him to back off, but Welsh had been downright mean tome, so where the rest of the boys just had to deal with Sobel, I had to deal with Sobel and Welsh.

At first I had been upset and had cried when I was alone, from hurt and exhaustion and then I got pissed off, so my infatuation with now Welsh was gone and now I just hated him.

Talbert gave me a sideways hug "Don't sweat it, he'll come around"

I looked at Talbert and raised an eyebrows "I doubt it, guess he doesn't take rejection well"

Welsh walked into the officer's barracks, Nixon, Winters, Hester and Matheson were all there they went silent the minute Welsh walked in to the barrack.

Welsh looked around his fellow officers "What?" he looked at Hester

Nixon stood up and walked over and closed the door to the barrack "We were just talking"

Welsh looked at Nixon, this wasn't good Welsh could feel his Irish blood boil "About what"
"Sergeant Christenson" Hester lit a cigarette

"What about her?" Welsh said and opened his foot locker

"You and her actually" Nixon said and waited for Welsh reply

"What about me and her, she made it clear she wasn't interested, but you knew that already didn't you Nixon" Welsh turned and stared at Nixon

"What the hell is that supposed to mean" Nixon took a step, so he was toe to toe with Welsh

"Come on I saw the two of you at Breckenridge, don't tell me that was nothing" Welsh spat out

"I don't know what you think you saw, but Harry I have no interest in Lauren, she is not my type, she a little to…" Nixon didn't get any further, Harry took a swing at him, Nixon blocked the blow and pretty soon the two officers were fighting.

Winters stepped up and stopped the two "That's enough, now Harry you have somewhere to be and Lew I expected more from you"

Welsh went for Nixon one more time "Harry shooting range, NOW" Winters pointed at door

Welsh picked up his Thompson and walked towards the truck waiting to take DOG Company to the shooting range. Welsh noticed Chris trying to make herself invisible, he also noticed her facial expression when she noticed him approaching the truck, and it was one of utter disgust.

Welsh walked over and talked to Speirs, who was sitting next to the driver. They exchanged pleasantries and then Speirs smirked "Chris is in the back, so I figured you wanted to sit back there"

"I don't know, she'll just push me off the truck if she gets the chance" Welsh mumbled

Welsh climbed in the back, the driver closed the tailgate and the truck started to move.

I, was daydreaming about a hot shower and my bed, I was lost in thought, so when the truck started I jolted and almost fell down from the narrow bench. I hit her head and wished I had worn my helmet.

I thought about why I had joined the army in the first place. I was starting to regret it. I knew I couldn't leave her brother and the 50 other brothers I had acquired during the last 10 months, so no matter what they threw at me. I would just keep my head up and keep smiling.

The truck stopped and the Dog Company boys jumped down. I was the last on the truck, before I could jump down a strong pair of hands grabbed hme by the hips and lifted me down from the truck. I looked down into the eyes of Lieutenant Speirs. I just looked at him, what the hell was he doing?

As if Speirs could read my thoughts, he leaned in and whispered in my ear "Just messing with Harry a little" and then he walked of.

I followed the rest of the soldiers to the range, since I wasn't a part of Dog Company, Captain Gross told me and Welsh they could use the Far East corner of the range.

I sat down and aimed at the targets lined up. Welsh was next to her firing away. After emptying my clip and making sure everyone had stopped ceased firing, I got up and walked over to the targets. I hated her new rifle, it hadn't been sighted in yet and I had missed most of her marks. Welsh walked over and stood next to me, he had hit all of his marks.

"I thought you were the next best marks man…woman in the company, guess not, you can't do any better?" Welsh smirked and walked back. I shot daggers at his back if looks could kill welsh would have been dead.

I walked back and sat down with a huff, I knew I was better and if looks didn't deceive the Thompson Welsh was carrying was the one he had showed up with at McKall.

They fired one more round and I did a little better, but not much.

Welsh looked at me "Maybe you should just stay home with the rest of the women and cook and clean"

I just looked at Welsh and walked of, when I reached the truck she climbed on board and waited for the men. Why were Welsh so mean to me, it couldn't just be the fact I rejected him could it? No one was that mean. But then what was it about me that had pissed him of so much.

That night after taking a shower I was alone in the barrack. I started to cry and I absolutely hated myself for it, it seemed like it was all I was doing these day, and I couldn't believe I had let Welsh get to me again. What was it about that bastard that made her so emotional waggy?

Pat walked into the barrack the moment I saw his face I knew he heard me cry, he walked over and sat down on the floor next to my bed "Hey what wrong are you hurt, did he do something to you?"

"No and No, I just tired and I fucking hate the god damn prick" I sobbed

Pat held her my for a minute "You know what? Enough of this, Guarnere, Malarkey Luz, Tab Chuck, Toye, Bull and I are going to Fayetteville and you are going to help us prime the pump"

"I don't know Pat, I don't think I am going to be very good company" I sighed

"Come one sis, get up and at 'em" Pat slapped me on the leg, Pat shook his head and walked over to his own barrack and put on his Class A's

A half an hour later there was a knock on the door "You guys decent?" I opened the door and walked into first platoons barrack.

"No, but I am sure you are going to come in here anyway aren't you" Chuck sniggered and I rolled my eyes and laughed

"How come you don't bunk with us anymore? suddenly too good for the good old first platoon" Luz asked

"Believe me, I would rather bunk with you than the bunch I am bunking with now, you know I am bunking with a bunch of girls" I laughed and shoved Luz

"Yeah that's got to be hell for yah" Talbert smirked

"Jealous much Tab" I asked

"YES" the entire platoon said in unison

The men and I walked out of the camp and caught the bus to town, they got off at the town square and walked over to the Town Pump.

Talbert opened the door for me, the bar was crowded, it smelled like stale beer and cigarette smoke. Talbert put his hand on the small of my back and escorted me up to the bar and ordered them a drink "So did you talk to him yet?"

"Nope" I said popping the P

"You know he is only that mean to you because he is jealous and don't know how to talk to you, I think he is waiting for you to flip a lid and yell at him so you guys can clear the air" Tab smiled and turned his back to the bar.

"Yeah Tab, because this is the eighth grade and Welsh is just pulling my piggy tales because he likes me" I downed my drink and motioned for the bartender to pour me another.

"I am right" Talbert turned around on the bar stool and noticed Welsh and Nixon walk thru the door, this was going to be good.

I was talking to Grant, we actually had a lot in common and Chuck was a nice guy.

Nixon and Welsh walked up to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks. Welsh noticed me smiling at Grant and when I put my hand on his arm Welsh snapped. Lucky for Welsh someone else were out looking for a fight. a company of glider borne walked into the bar and started a fight. Welsh dove in head first, Nixon was to drunk so he just watched while glider boys and the airborne fought.

I tried to stay out of the fight as well, I saw Welsh get decked, I pushed thru the crowd and went over and picked him up "Come on handsome, let's get you out of here"

I got Welsh outside and then started to go back into the bar, but the MP's showed up and a few seconds later the guys all ran out of the bar.

I found my brother and Guarnere around the corner from the bar, they helped me pour Welsh into the back of a cap and jumped in after. The cap took them back to the camp and Pat helped me get Welsh to his barrack.

The day after the fight Welsh sought me out "Sergeant, thank you for you know…"

"Don't mention it" I just said and walked away, Welsh didn't move he looked at me and shook his head.

Mid-August 1943

The division had been moved to camp Shanks 30 miles up the Hudson and the guys was in a class room getting lectured by Sobel on preparation for Overseas Movement.

The Camp was dubbed Last stop USA and housed 50.000 troops at the time.

Sobel was boring as heck and I was sleeping on Pat's shoulder when I felt someone starring at me

"Wake up sleeping beauty" My brother shook me of his shoulder and I tried to hide a yawn

I turned around and noticed Nixon standing behind me leaning against the wall looking just as bored as the rest of them.

I rubbed my eyes and straightened up, I looked around the class room, but I couldn't couldn't find what I was looking for.

Pat noticed me searching for someone and he knew who "He is not here, he's on guard duty"

I rolled my eyes "for your information I was looking for Tab"

"Ah ha, sure you were" Pat smirked and got on his feet. He held out his hand to me, I was so transparent. I still had a thing for Welsh and after the night in the bar Welsh had stopped harassing me.

We walked over to the infirmary, it was time to get the inoculations they needed for deployment.

I was first in line and I took it like a pro, but her brother and fifty percent of the company whined and moaned.

I was waiting for my brother outside. Pat walked out rubbing his arm "Shit that hurt, my arms feels like two limp robes just hanging from my body"hris laughed "I got something that will make you feel all better"

I hooked my arm thru Pat's and together we walked over to first platoons barrack, I pulled a bottle of Whiskey out of my footlocker

"Look what I got" I showed my brother the bottle. Guarnere, Toye, Malarkey, Grant and Talbert walked thru the door and joined the party.

I held back I just had a sip of the whiskey, I didn't really like it I was more of a Vodka girl, but the boys seemed to enjoy it.

Grant and Talbert came over and sat down on each side of me "So, What's up with you and Welsh" Talbert asked

"Not that again Tab, nothing is up and nothing ever will be up with Welsh and I, he is and officer and I am a Noncom, end of story" I shrugged

"Well that's not exactly what I heard" Grant smirked

"What, yeah whatever Grant" I shoved Grant

"No seriously, I might have been standing outside the officer barrack and I overheard Nixon and Welsh talk about you, and Welsh likes you, like really likes you" Grant looked at me.

"ok, I like him, but I am not going to do anything about it, I like how it is now, he looks at me and I drool over him from a distance" I laughed

Chris noticed her brothers facial color turn green "Excuse me guys, Pat needs my assistance" I got up and helped pat to the latrine, Pat was making out with the toilet for the next few hours and I had Bull carry my sweet drunk brother to bed.

The next morning there was quite a lot of moaning and cursing and most of the guys blamed me and the whiskey, it only got worse when they were told they had to take the screaming eagle patch of and that they couldn't wear their jump boots, because the enemy might know that an airborne regiment was shipping out.

….

On board the Samaria

The Indian mail carrier had been fitted with cots in the cargo bay and two men shared a cot, so they had to take turn sleeping.

Pat and I shared a cot, which unfortunately for Pat meant he had to find somewhere else to sleep. I refused to leave the cot since the first awful day when we had walked down what seemed like miles of stairs to the good awful mess and was served boiled fish and tomato. I had of course gotten sick and I was pissed, now the whole company experienced one my major weaknesses... sea sickness.

Talbert and Pat was worried about me, I refused to eat, they practically had to carry me up onto the deck and when they got here there I got sick again. After a few excursion to the deck they had to leave me. I was tired and wanted nothing more than for the endless journey across the sea to come to its end.

Pat had enough and decided to have Roe check up on me. later Pat told me he found Roe with Spina and Al Mambre the three medics were sorting thru their medical supply.

"Doc, Doc" Pat called out and pushed and shoved his way thru the mass of soldiers.

"Christenson, what can I do for you?" Doc asked

"I need you to come and check out Chris, she won't eat or drink" Pat told Roe

"And you are just telling me this now, we left New York five days ago" Roe was ticked, he had failed, it was his job to make sure the men and in this case woman in the company was fit for fight.

Pat led Roe to our cot and Roe took one look at me "Well she dehydrated and sleep deprived and she needs to go to sick bay"

"You tell her that" Pat took a step back he wasn't going to be the one to tell me, that I had to go to the infirmary.

Roe took my hand "Lauren, you need eat and drink and I am going to transfer you to the infirmary"

I turned around and looked at Roe "No please don't, I can handle it, just don't tell any of the officers I am going be ok once I get of this damn ship"

Roe looked at me to reassess the situation "Ok, Ok I won't, but only if you promise me to drink some water"

"Fine I will just don't say anything to Winters or Nixon" I pleaded

Roe just patted me on the arm and turned and tried to locate Pat, he found him three rows down talking to the machine gunner from Speirs platoon.

"Christenson, I took a look at Chris, she promised me she would start to drink, water that is, if she starts to drink she should be fine"

Christenson thanked Roe and Roe returned to his cot.

Speirs was standing listening to the conversation between the two Easy company men and he couldn't help but over hear what Roe was telling Christenson, it had to do with Chris and apparently she wasn't handling being on board the ship to good and if he was Welsh he would want to know something was wrong with Chris.

Speirs walked up to the deck, he found Welsh talking to McMillan and Winters. Speirs walked over and put a hand on Welsh shoulder "Harry a word"

Welsh and Speirs stepped away from the two other officers. Speirs scratched his neck "Harry I don't know what, if anything is going on between Chris and you, but I heard Roe talk to Christenson and something is wrong with Chris"

Harry looked at Speirs and without saying a word he turned and walked below deck, he found first platoon "Grant, Grant, where is Chris?" Welsh asked Grant

"Two rows up" Grant pointed to the third row of cots.

Welsh climbed up and found me, he told me i looked like I had been to hell and back "Well you look like hell" Welsh said

I opened my eyes "Now I know I am hallucinating"

"Ah no, come on we are going up on the deck" Welsh pulled my to her feet

"No not again" I whined

"Yes and this time you are staying up there" Welsh pushed me up the stairs to the deck

We sat down and Welsh pulled out his canteen and handed it to me "Drink"

I looked at him "I rather not"

"Drink or I am telling Sobel" Welsh smirked

"Fine, whatever" I mumbled and took a small sip of the water, I felt the cool water slide down my throat and I concentrated on the horizon, so I wouldn't throw up, it worked

"See you are going to be ok" Welsh tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Well let's see" I said and turned and looked at Welsh

"Chris I am sorry for being a prick to you, I was jealous, I am sorry" Welsh looked at me waiting for my response

"Well you are forgiven, but Harry it isn't forgotten" I looked at Welsh

Welsh bit his bottom lip and looked ashamed "I know and I will do my best to make you forget it"

I gave Harry a small smile and nodded.

Welsh helped me on the rest on the journey and when the ship docked in Liverpool the two of us were up on the deck. was leaning against the railing looking down on Liverpool, Welsh was behind me with his hand planted on the railing on each side of me, the two of them were finally friends again.