Band of Brothers || To Hell And Back

Chapter Seven: Contradictions

When Elle finally headed back in the barracks, she was surprised to find out Dick still awake. It was very late and they all had had a rough day, like every day at Camp Toccoa was, and she had expected everyone to be asleep. Somehow, it was kind of touching that Dick had waited for her to show up even though Elle knew for sure he was exhausted.

"Everything alright?" he asked and Elle wondered what she was supposed to say. She could not come up with any believable reason why she had been outside for so long and besides, she was certain Dick could see how shaken up she was.

Yeah, I just found out I have a taste for violence since I threatened to kill Sobel and now he might be trying to kill me to protect his dignity, but expect for the fear of myself and getting killed, I'm perfectly fine.

For a moment, Elle thought about, or more like fantasized, actually saying it out loud. She felt she needed an advice more than ever and even worse, a shoulder to cry on. Though, she would never, ever admit she had actually thought about the latter. What she wanted did not matter since Elle knew she could never tell anyone what she had done. 

"I'm fine", she said forcing a smile on her face, "you shouldn't have waited for me. I was just having a walk, you know." Elle knew that Dick knew there was more to the story but she was glad to see him accepting her story without further questioning. 

***

The next day lightened way too early, again. Sobel had haunted Elle's sleep and she was now probably more exhausted than she had ever been and that was a lot to say. However, as soon as she remembered the events of last night, she did not feel that tired anymore.

Elle had always had a slight taste for violence. She had broken a reporter's arm, hit more than once the agents who had been keeping an eye on her especially when she had been young and she was intrigued by guns and explosives. She had always told herself the only reason she had joined the military was to stay hidden but deep down, Elle knew the idea of combat fascinated her. She was not sure if she had actually killed Sobel if he had not agreed to her terms but the fact was that Elle had strangled her CO threatening to kill him for nothing but personal gain.

Elle got up in silence. She had slept again in her uniform, she did it so often no one questioned it anymore and therefore she had time just sit on her bed when the others were dressing up. Elle was not feeling very lively and the same went for Dick. Both of them had slept probably less than six hours and Elle felt bad that Dick had waited for her at the cost of sleep. He and Nixon both were the best friends she had ever had and Elle had done nothing to deserve them.

Eventually Elle's true identity would be discovered, it was certain. Her father would never give up on finding her and with the kind of resources he had, Elle would not be able to stay hidden forever. Her only hope was that she would not be found until she had turned eighteen, though a part of Elle knew legal adulthood would not probably help her enough. Though, that was a problem for another day.

Would Dick and Nixon hate her when they found out her true identity? Would they hate her if they knew what kind of a person she exactly was? Elle was not sure what she would do if they started hating her but she was pretty certain it would crash her. 

"Ed, you coming?" Dick called her and Elle woke up from her thoughts. She nodded hastily and followed her friends, friends who she loved so much, to the mess hall. She listened to Nixon's angry complaints of having to wake up so early and Dick's responds and without really listening to them, she knew what they were saying since this happened every single morning. 

***

The day passed by almost like every other day. Elle paid attention how Sobel avoided her as much as he could and seemed to fear her. It was liberating to be without Sobel's constant mocking. Of course, Elle was sure he was still hazing everyone when she was not around but Elle would not push her luck by asking him to stop even though she had always been disgusted by the way Sobel treated everyone beneath him. As long as she was staying in the company, she would leave Sobel alone.