Chapter 2: Jacque d'Arc

Turning down from the highway, the minivan rode down another gravel road until it reached a quaint white farmhouse with a chicken coup and red barn whose white roof matched the paint of the farmhouse.

"This is it?" Artoria asked.

Jeanne nodded. "It is."

"A bit big for just you?" The soldier raised an eyebrow.

I parked the car and got out. "Oh no, my sister and parents are also staying here."

The stranger said nothing as if she were considering options and plans. Alas, she was interrupted by the slam of a screen door. Jeanne looked up to see her sister, no older than seven, jumped down the steps and sprinted towards the van, "Jeanne!"

The little girl, wearing a snow suit, ran up to her sister, her hazel eyes filled with joy at seeing her sister return. "Oh, hey, Cat." The blonde girl rustled the autumn hair of the girl who beamed with joy. You're missing lunch!"

"Uh, well…"

The van door closed. Her sister's face drained of color. "W-who is she?" her eyes looked up at Jeanne. " She doesn't look nice."

Jeanne looked at Artoria, who gritted her teeth, her face twitching ever so slightly with annoyance, suppressing the pain that she had been enduring for who knows how long. "It's alright, Cat, she's a friend. Go inside and tell Dad."

The girl looked at her older sister, then at the stranger, then back. "But…"

She clasped her younger shoulder, "It's alright, Cat. Please."

As the girl returned to the house, she turned to face the wounded soldier. "Sorry about that…"

"I'm used to it…" she grimaced in pain. Rushing back, Jeanne helped the stranger with the heavy duffel bag and rifle and helped the newcomer walk.

"I don't want to cause a problem." The soldier grunted through clenched teeth.

"It's fine." Jeanne smiled, but the door slammed. An older man with the same autumn hair waited for the two, clutching a hunting rifle.

"Jeanne. What are you doing…." He said as he shouldered his weapon.

"I found her, she's hurt."

"Get away from her." His voice said calm and cool as he cocked the rifle.

"But…"

"Now!" The harshness in her father's voice straightened her up. "She's the enemy."

Jeanne's eyes flickered to Artoria, and she noticed the Union Jack on her shoulder. Artoria's eyes met Jeanne's with a slight nod. "I am."

The girl frowned and turned back to her father. "No. She's hurt."

He readied his rifle, lifting the barrel. "She's the enemy." He repeated. "Get away from her. Now."

"Dad, wouldn't you want someone to help me if the roles were reversed? Especially if I was wounded."

Her father's rifle lowered. "You… why are you here?"

"I got separated from my squad," Artoria stated as a matter of fact.

"Please, Dad! She's lost a lot of blood. You used to be a surgeon.'

Her dad placed the rifle down, "fine. But we are going to have a very long discussion. And you, once you are healed up, you are out."

Artoria nodded. "Yes, sir, I don't want more problems for your family."

With the agreement made, her father rushed down and helped the newcomer up the stairs, then ran her into the kitchen. Jeanne followed behind, placing the rifle and duffel down in the hallway following the blood trail.

Her father cleaned off the table in the kitchen. "Jeanne, go up, get me a pair clean pair of sheets and my surgical bag." He said as he started a pot of boiling water.

"Yessir." She rushed upstairs to see her little sister hovering Behind the Bannister.

"Hey, Cat."

"I don't like her. She needs to go."

Jeanne paused and placed a hand on her cheek. "I know you don't like her, but she hurts bad. Don't you think we should help her?"

The girl pauses as if she were considering it. "Do you think she would help Pierre?"

That was a good question… "I think so." But there was still that doubt in her mind.

"Okay… then…"

Jeanne smiled as she climbed up the stairs. "Go to your room. We need to help her, and it won't be good for you to watch."

Catherine's look soured before she accepted silent resignation. After the door click, Jeanne grabbed a clean pair of sheets and the surgical bag and rushed back downstairs.

When she arrived, Artoria was out of her combat vest and plate carrier, boots off, and Pants rolled up as she held a bandage, trying her best to stop the blood.

Jeanne puts the bag on the counter while her father puts the scalpel and other tools in the boiling water with twine.

Without saying a word, she draped the table with the bedsheet. "Your mother is going to kill me for ruining these sheets."

"I'll buy a new set," Jeanne and Arroria said quietly, causing the two to look at each other.

"Help her up."

Jeanne nodded as she approached Artoria and helped her to the table. A snap of the latex surgical gloves could be heard as her father moved next to Artoria. And inspected the leg with the utmost care.

"Well… no exit wound." He hummed.

"That means?" Jeanne asked.

"I need to get out, or there will be infection," he looked into the wound, "Well, you would be dead if it nicked a major blood vessel…. But you lost a lot of blood."

Jeane's father looked up, "How long?"

"One week." Artoria winced in pain. "Maybe two..."

His frown only deepened as he shook his head. "You should be dead. Let alone not awake."

The soldier said nothing. "Well… can we help her?" Jeanne asked.

Her father nodded as he stood up And grabbed his tools of the trade. "I can… but it's going to hurt. A lot. I don't have an anesthetic."

"Go ahead," Artoria said.

"Jeanne, hold her down."

She moved to Artoria, who shook her head. "That won't be necessary."

The surgeon and patient look at one another. "Are you sure?"

Artoria nodded.

Thus the operation began as Jeanne watched her father get to work, blood began to pool from the wound he dug into the wound. The patient gripped the table, her eye twitching as she sighed slightly.

"Almost…"

In utter amazement, Artoria didn't even wince when the bullet was pulled out. Her father stitched up the wound, cleaned it, and dressed it. Falling back on the table, Artoria let out a small sigh. "Thank you…" She breathed.

"Don't thank me, Thank my daughter."

Artoria's eyes flickered to the side, "Thank you."

Jeanne smiled as her father pulled out an IV line, "Jeanne…"

"Hmm..?"

"You're universal blood type. Would you mind…?"

"No," Artoria said resolutely.

"But you've lost a lot of blood." Her father protested.

"No. Blood transfusion." Artoria stated firmly as she tried to set up. "I'll be fine…"

"But…"

"Trust me."

Jeanne ne frowned, torn between the two. Artoria lost a lot of blood, but Artoria seemed so resolved at this particular point.

"Dad," Jeanne spoke up with a shake of the head.

He relented and pointed at Artoria, "Fine, but if you die, don't tell me I didn't warn you."

"If I die, it won't matter." Her calm tone chilled both of them as Artoria lay back down.

Within a few minutes, the soldier closed her eyes and drifted to sleep as Father and Daughter looked at one another. Then, to the surprise of Jeanne, her father scooped up the soldier into his arms as if Artoria was one of his own children and gently laid her out on the couch, propped her head up on a pillow, and draped a blanket over him.

"Jeanne, we need to have a serious talk."

That was when the front door opened. "Jacque, why is there blood and a rifle…"

"Isabella…." Jacque turned to his wife.

"Mom," Jeanne peered over her dad's shoulder. "I can explain…"

A/N

Good luck trying to explain it to Mom... Anyway, fav, follow, review etc.

God bless