Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

Peacetime Attacks

A/N: *peeks around corner* Umm... hi guys. Gosh, I feel terrible for keeping you waiting for such a long time. Writing was going so well and then out of nowhere, I got stuck on a simple scene transition and didn't get anywhere for weeks. I'm so sorry.

On that note: The next chapter will not be up before mid-December. November is always a really busy month for me and even more so this year, so I have no idea how much time I will have for writing. I'm really sorry. I will update as soon as I can, but please please be patient. I hope you understand.

Alright, PSA over. Big shoutout to BrightShadowWolf31 for introducing me to Maori songs and providing me with lyrics and translations.

And as always a massive thank you to all of you for reading and commenting, I am thrilled that you enjoy the story and I love reading your thoughts about the plot, the characters and my writing.

Returning from town after running some errands, Audrey whistled a slow tune as she steered the jeep along the dark road. The mild night air tickled her nose, the wind tangled in her hair and even with the glare of the headlights, she could see the stars twinkling through the foliage.

"That's a pretty tune", Ana María spoke up from the passenger seat. "A song from New Zealand?"

She smiled. "Yeah. It's called Pō atarau. A farewell song for the Māori soldiers that fought in the last war."

"Oh yeah? Huh, I didn't even..."

Ana María trailed off as the headlights illuminated a solitary figure on the road.

Audrey slowed down and the two women traded a puzzled, clueless glance. The paratrooper – his uniform identified him as one of theirs, likely from a sister battalion since he didn't look familiar – came towards them, weaving on unsteady feet.

Her eyes catching on the object the man held in his hand, Ana María stiffened. Instincts honed from a full year of combat and three years of living amidst a huge crowd of men put her on alert. "Ray", she murmured from the corner of her mouth. "He's got his pistol out."

The minute nod she received was all the confirmation she needed.

They got out, Audrey's hand brushing casually past the holster of her own service pistol. "You alright, man?", she asked. "You lost?"

Wide, glazed eyes blinked at them. The man swayed as he looked from one woman to the other and back. Slowly, his lips stretched into a smile that raised the hairs on the back of Ana María's neck and arms.

"You gonna give me a ride?", he asked, shuffling closer. "My jeep's outta gas."

"What's your unit, Private?"

He didn't respond to Audrey's question, gaze flicking between them. "Didn't know we had nurses 'round here", he mumbled, more to himself, before he asked again, hand tightening on the gun: "You gonna give me a ride?"

Ana María tensed.

Audrey's hand came to rest on the grip of her pistol and her tone took on a firm edge. "Secure your weapon, Private", she spoke.

Tilting his head, he frowned at her.

She repeated the command calmly. "We don't want anyone to get hurt, that's all."

The drunk man fumbled the gun back into its holster and took another few staggering steps. "I gotta get my jeep." He was now close enough that Audrey could smell the sharp tang of alcohol on his breath.