...
October came around and before they knew it, they were halfway into the month. With golden leaves blowing past their feet, a group of enlisted and one 'Officer' took to a quiet part of the road to play a game of basketball. Finally, Nora was ready to play with the men and it was all thanks to Hoobler and his private lessons. To say Winters was surprised was an understatement, he didn't expect to find Nora playing basketball with the men that sunny afternoon. Leaning against a wall with Nixon, the two Lieutenant's watched the men and Nora dribble the ball around and practice moves. Soon, there was a tense silence when Nora had the ball…
"Shoot your shot, Nora!" Hoobler cheered with a grin. "Go on, pal!"
With a nod at Hoobler, Nora dribbled the ball and stood in position. Eyes staring up at the metal hoop nailed to the back of a garage, she imagined the ball going through successfully. Everyone was watching but Nora didn't feel nervous, she could feel their support and encouragement, and it washed away any anxious feelings. Taking in a deep breath, Nora threw the ball. It all went in slow motion. The ball went up, up, and up. It gently hit the top of the hoop. And it went through. Before the ball could touch the ground, Nora was hoisted up into the air and placed on Sergeant Randleman's shoulders. A wide grin met Nora's face. They were cheering and clapping. When Nora looked over at Winters, she saw he was beaming with pride. And next to him, Nixon was clapping and whistling. Nora had never experienced such a wonderful moment before, it almost felt like a dream…
"You're a pro, Nora!" Hoobler clapped her on the shoulders when Bull carefully set Nora back down on the ground. "Just do that again all the time, and you'll win every time".
"Yeah…". Nora stared up at him and smiled. "Thanks, Hoobs". Nora doubted she'd ever get the ball through the hoop again, but she didn't care…it felt great to do it, even if it only happened once…
"Nora, come here!" Nixon waved her over by the wall.
Hoobler gave Nora a gentle nudge toward them. "Don't let 'em keep you too long, huh?"
She snorted. "Yeah…". Cheeks red and face covered in sweat, Nora jogged over to the Lieutenants with a smile. When she reached them, Nixon gave her hair a ruffle.
"Good going". Nixon said, "Didn't know you had it in you, kid".
Winters smiled down at her. "Good job, Nora".
A bright smile met Nora's face. "Thanks, sirs". Taking a tiny step back, Nora turned around and watched Hoobler dribble the ball. Her back pressed against the wall, where she felt smooth and cool rocks touch her spine. Since slowing down now, her sweat had cooled, and Nora felt herself shiver against the sudden cold breeze…
"I'm pleasantly surprised". Winters told Nora. "I hope you'll try out for the 506th team, Nora".
Nixon added, "Because old Winters here is coaching it…".
Eyebrow softly raising with surprise, Nora stared up at Winters. "You are, sir?"
"I am". Winters confirmed. "Try-outs are in November. So, get practising".
Nora smiled. "I will, sir". She promised him. "I'll practice every day, sir". Nora hadn't had such a perfect day in a long time. She felt incredibly lucky. However, Sergeant Evans soon pulled up by Hoobler, Bull, Perconte, and Talbert in a jeep. The driver kept the engine running while Evans got out and headed straight over to Winters, Nixon, and Nora. When she was no longer leaning against the wall, Evans stopped in front of them and saluted the Officers.
1st Sergeant Evans handed Winters a sealed envelope. "With Captain Sobel's compliments, sir".
When Evans marched back to the jeep, Winters opened the envelope and brought out the letter from inside. Nixon peered down at the letter and read it along with Winters. Nora stared up at them, she couldn't see the letter because Winters held it up toward his face and it was too high for Nora to see anything. But judging by the expression on their faces, it wasn't good news…
Nixon scoffed and remarked, "He misspelt court-martial".
Winters sighed. "What a damn headache…". Lowering the letter, he stared down at Nora and sent her a smile. "Don't worry about this, alright? It'll be fine".
Nora asked, "What is a court-martial?"
"Nothing for you to worry about, Nora". Winters said, "Go back over to your buddies and finish the game, alright? I'll see you back home".
"Yes, sir". Still slightly concerned, Nora moved away from the Lieutenant's and rejoined the men for basketball. Stepping into their makeshift basketball court, Nora could still make out the tyre tracks from the jeep on the ground. Scratching a phantom itch on the back of her neck, Nora felt a bad feeling brewing in the pit of her stomach…
"What's up?" Hoobler asked with a tiny frown. "Are you constipated or something?"
Nora sharply looked at him. "Am I what?" She questioned.
Hoobler smirked and snorted out a faint laugh. "You just look like you've got some shit to unload, you know? Is there something on your mind?"
Nora gave a faint shrug. "I don't know…Lieutenant Winters said I shouldn't worry about it".
"Why'd he say that?" Talbert asked with a small frown. "Is something going on?"
Bull asked, "What'd Evans say to him, Nora?"
"He handed him a letter…it was from Captain Sobel". Nora explained. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed Nixon and Winters were no longer by the wall. Facing the men again, Nora decided to ask, "What's a court-martial?"
Perconte's eyes widened. "Winters got a court-martial?"
"Holy shit…". Talbert appeared shocked. "The fuck did he do…the fella ain't done nothing wrong. He doesn't even drink!"
Nora said, "Lieutenant Nixon mentioned Sobel misspelt court-martial. He didn't say anything about Lieutenant Winters getting one…". She asked quietly, "Is a court-martial bad?"
"You ever been inside a courtroom?" Hoobler asked.
Nora shook her head. "No…like with a judge and a jury?"
"Just like that, yeah". Talbert said, "Except it's the army".
Nora's eyes softly widened. "Lieutenant Winters might end up in jail?"
Bull mumbled, "Let's not worry the kid, huh? We don't even know what's going on".
Hoobler tossed his arm over Nora's shoulder. "Winters said don't worry, right?" He mumbled to her softly. "So…you don't have to worry, Nora".
But Nora's head was already spinning. She couldn't imagine not being Winters's shadow. They were so used to having each other around now, Nora hated the thought of being away from him. Since joining Easy, Nora hadn't spent a night away from Winters – they shared a room together, they always had done. Winters was the first person to make Nora feel safe since Boris and her mother. Being safe, was a feeling Nora had grown very comfortable around and the thought of having that taken away from her, made Nora feel sick…
"Seriously, it's 'gonna be fine". Hoobler said while giving her arm a squeeze.
However, Nora's head was still spinning. Because if Winters did end up in some military prison, then he wouldn't jump into combat with Nora and Easy Company. And they couldn't go into war without Lieutenant Winters. Without Winters as Executive Officer, they'd be stuck with Captain Sobel, and they'd crumble without Winters there to talk some sense into Sobel…
Hoobler interrupted Nora's dooming thoughts once again. "Seriously…stop thinking about it. It's 'gonna be fine". He sounded firmer that time.
Exhaling, Nora stared up at Hoobler and gave him a faint nod. "Okay".
He snorted with amusement. "Like hell, you believe me…".
"Sorry". Nora didn't sound very apologetic. She added, "This isn't good, Hoobs".
Hoobler let out a sigh. "Yeah, you're right". He said, "If this goes to shit, we're fucked".
"You never know". Bull chimed in. "It might be alright…".
…It was just after dinner when Nora watched Winters pack up his belongings in their shared bedroom at the Barnes's. Sat on the edge of her bed with a glum expression, Nora could only helplessly watch their Lieutenant leave home for Major Strayer's quarters where he stayed with his staff. Bull's optimism played a cruel joke – it was far from alright.
Winters came to the bold decision to trial for court martial instead of taking the punishment of a revoked pass. It was down to the principal – Winters never left Aldbourne, he didn't care about a weekend pass getting revoked, but he'd rather not give Sobel the satisfaction of a revoked pass. Sobel's reasons for punishment were terrible. Well, it made no sense to Nora, anyway…
Earlier that morning, Winters was ordered to inspect the latrine Private Dittrich had worked most of the morning on. Orders were, that Winters was supposed to reach the latrines by 1000 hours but unknown to Winters, Sobel changed the time to 0945 hours. Sobel claimed he had tried to reach Winters, to tell him the time had changed. But Winters didn't receive the message. There was no runner, no letter, and certainly no telephone call. In Nora's eyes, she didn't see a problem or any need for punishment. She was mad. Mad at Sobel. Mad at military laws. And mad at Winters for picking trial by court-martial.
Zipping up his duffel bag, Winters drew out a sigh and turned to face Nora. "You're quiet". He pointed out; quietly. "I get it…you're mad at the world. I am too, but this won't last forever".
Nora shook her head and stared down at the floor. "Pride is stupid". She muttered.
Winters shrugged. "It's what makes us good Paratroopers…it'll probably stop us from getting killed out there".
Nora argued, "You should know when to give up, Lieutenant Winters".
"You're mad at me". Winters came to realise. He drew out another sigh. "Okay, fine. If it makes you feel better, you can stay mad at me".
Nora repeated herself, "Pride is stupid, sir". With that said, she raised her head and stared up at Winters. "It was only a forty-eight-hour pass…".
"Sooner or later, this was 'gonna happen". Winters told her calmly. "One way or another, Sobel was 'gonna find any excuse to get rid of me. He saw his shot and took it".
"Then fight back". Nora got off the bed. "Fight back, sir".
"That's what I'm doing, I…".
"Not very well". Nora cut him off. "You don't need a stupid jury to see how much of a great leader you are, sir…".
Winters frowned softly at the girl when she said that.
"…we're screwed if we don't have you". Nora continued to tell him. Taking in a deep breath, she added, "I'm screwed without you, sir".
"Nora…". Winters called out to her softly…
But Nora continued to vent, "I cannot do this without you, Lieutenant Winters. I will not do this without you, sir".
There was a pause. Nora had finished her rant. She no longer appeared angry, but she did look sad. Nora's shoulders dropped and her head bowed. Heavy eyes stared down at her boots, while the wind outside rattled the window. The silence lingered for a few moments. Winters was soon crouched in front of the girl, where he tried to catch her eyes…
"Look at me, Nora". His command was gentle, soft. And Nora obeyed the order. A tiny smile met Winters's lips, partly to assure Nora everything would be okay. He said, "You've done amazing without me so far. And you'll be fine until I come back".
Nora weakly argued, "I was nothing before you, Lieutenant Winters".
"You're a mother's daughter, Nora". Winters said, "And I'll bet, you were a great sister".
Nora sighed. She said, "I can't remember me before the war, Lieutenant Winters…but I feel a lot closer to myself since coming here, sir".
Winters smiled small again. "John Wayne movies…Billie Holiday, right? Hopscotch…".
Nora said, "I don't think the men will play hopscotch with me, sir".
Winters chuckled quietly and said, "How very boring of them, Nora". He joked.
Nora faintly smiled. "Yes, sir".
Reaching over, Winters gently ruffled Nora's hair before standing up. He reached for his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. "You'll be Lieutenant Welsh's shadow until I get back, Nora. Don't worry, he'll take good care of you".
Nora followed Winters toward the front door. Mr and Mrs Barnes were down at their store, closing up for the night. While she stood inside the entrance hall with the front door opened, Winters stood outside, with the sun setting behind him. They said a final goodbye before the Lieutenant began walking away from the flat above the Barnes's general store. Nora watched him leave, and she didn't look away until Winters disappeared into the setting sun…
…
Easy Company's morale was unsurprisingly low the next morning. There was a sense of dread and foreboding now, when they thought about jumping into combat with Sobel and without Winters. But there was nothing they could do. Nora's suggestion of begging was quickly shot down by the men. She even threatened to beg Colonel Sink to give them Winters back, but the men wouldn't allow it to happen. Apparently, Paratroopers didn't beg, and no one would dare beg at Colonel Sink's feet. A lot of Nora's ideas got shot down. She even suggested writing Sink a letter, explaining why they needed Winters back with his Company…
"Nora, a letter wouldn't work". Joe Lesniewski said. "You're better off going with this other plan we've got going".
"To leave?" Nora shook her head. "Joe, you want to jump out of planes".
"But I don't 'wanna die because of some idiot leading us". Joe argued. "Malark, Skip, and Alex are heading out of Aldbourne tomorrow to sign up. You should consider it, Nora".
But she refused. "I cannot jump into the Pacific Front, Joe. It's a stupid idea and they wouldn't let me join even if I wanted to".
"We ain't jumping, actually…". Joe reminded her. "It's submarines". He added, "And we ain't the only ones who are thinking of leaving".
"What?"
Joe lowered his voice and told her, "I heard the Sergeants are 'gonna turn in their stripes".
Nora bit back a gasp. They were out in the open, sitting by the Nissan huts on the grassy field. It was clear Joe wasn't meant to hear that piece of information. Nora whispered, "What does that mean? They will leave?"
Joe said, "They'll only leave if their demands aren't met".
"Blackmail?"
Joe shrugged. "Sure…I'd say more mutiny, though".
Nora asked, "What are the demands?"
"On the lines of…if Sobel don't leave, we will". Joe summarized. "Something like that".
"They don't mention Lieutenant Winters returning?" Nora frowned.
"I don't think so…". Joe stared down at her and said, "Maybe that's something you can come up with?"
Nora snorted softly and shook her head. "I am not that smart…and I'd just screw it up".
"You really think that?" Joe gently nudged her side before bringing out a cigarette from his front pocket. "We could always think of something". He mumbled while lighting his cigarette up. Once the end was set alight, Joe pocketed his lighter again. "The truth's always a good place to start". Joe told Nora.
She cast him a tiny frown. "What is the truth?"
"You work better under Winters and no one else". Joe said while blowing out white smoke. "He's a great leader…a good man…all that stuff".
Nora admitted quietly. "I haven't met Colonel Sink".
"A lot of us enlisted haven't, Nora". He said, "But you're an Officer and the only girl in Colonel Sink's Regiment. He'll hear you out for a meeting".
Nora asked, "I have to get a meeting with him?"
Joe shrugged. "I assume so, yeah. He's a busy fella, Nora".
With a sigh, Nora's back pressed up against the side of a Nissan hut to lean against. It was nearing dinnertime; Mrs Barnes would soon have her cottage pie out of the oven to cool down before serving it. But Nora hated the thought of eating a lovely homecooked meal without Winters to enjoy it with. Sleeping alone in their bedroom last night was hard for Nora, but it was something she'd have to get used to until Winters returned…