Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ５０ － Ｃａｒｅ】

Chapter 50 - Care

"So, uh, I hate to interrupt whatever this is, but Captain Winters would like to see you Margaret."

Oh Welshy's smile, there was just something about it that made you smile back no matter what.

The pair got up quickly, and saluted – Margaret's a little delayed as she didn't realise she needed to.

"At ease, come on then."

He gave Margaret a hand up, and then the same to Bill to get them out of the ditch they'd been sitting in. Harry Welsh led them through the streets of Eindhoven, which were much quieter now. The whole way, Margaret held a small amount of Guarnere's ODs between her fingers, and her feet dragged but a little.

Captain Winters was stood on a corner waiting for them, with Captain Nixon leaning against a lamppost and Lieutenant Compton leaning on the wall. Well she wasn't expecting all of them to be there.

Guarnere saluted, which resulted in yet another late salute from Margaret, something that made Nixon chuckle.

"Miss Watkins, I'm glad to see you're alright."

She rolled her eyes.

"We're back to Miss Watkins? Really?"

"See. She's fine Dick."

God, what was she going to do with them?

Then Buck piped up, and she really wished he'd stayed quiet.

"Good to see you haven't killed each other yet."

All Margaret could do was gape at him, utter disbelief written all over her face.

"There was never any danger of that!"

"Oh, I dunno, there was a minute back there Peggy where ya were out fo' blood. Mine."

Groaning, she took the hand holding his ODs and scrubbed it over her face, before moving it up into her short hair.

"Christ, and I tried to apologise for that but you fucking told me off!"

"Look, ya see where she punched me?"

He was pointing at his face, showing off his bruise like it was something to be proud of. Meanwhile, Margaret was dying on the inside, waiting for the ground to swallow her up.

During all of this, Winters came and stood in front of her.

"Hey, you are alright though, aren't you?"

"I don't know sir. Seeing those... women..."

Her eyes began to glaze, so Dick just waved a hand in front of her face to bring her back.

"Luz already told me. We aren't going to let that happen to you, okay?"

Margaret nodded with her eyes screwed shut, willing the tears to go back in. It was a miracle there were any tears left to try and come out.

"You'll find the guys bedded down around outside that way, go let Luz know you're okay. And get yourselves something to eat."

Margaret smiled at him after opening her eyes, and saluted on time. As they walked past, Buck patted her shoulder and she smiled a tired smile at him too. Then off down the road they went, Bill with his arm around Margaret.

They did indeed find Geogre Luz with a bunch of the others.

She was holding his sleeve again.

"There she is! How're you feeling?"

Margaret offered a gentle wave to the group before admitting she was really tired, feeling sleepy is what she'd said to them.

"Hey princess, saved some food for ya."

Settling herself beside Liebgott, she blinked at him for a moment.

"What is it with you guys and nicknames?" she mumbled, "first doll and now princess. You guys do know my name, right?"

There was a chorus of affirmation, and she quietly thanked Liebgott for handing her food. Guarnere asked for some, to which he was jokingly told there wasn't any for him. He wasn't best pleased. But eventually they gave in, and he got some food too.

"Hey, Margaret, I just want to let you know who knows."

Luz stood off to one side, and she sighed before heaving herself up again. Taking her food with her, Margaret ate as she listened.

"So Captain Nixon was there when I was telling Winters, Welsh and Buck sorta just came across us as I was saying it so they know too." She nodded along, chewing as she did. It made sense for them to know. "Lieb knows, Tab knows, Martin does too because he and Bull were asking after you when we got settled – I managed to get Bull from his squad and tell him." He stopped and thought for a moment. Margaret shifted her weight. How much longer was this list gonna be? Was there anyone he hadn't told?! "Uhhh, Lip overheard me telling Bull, wanted to make sure you were ok when he heard your name. Doc saw you go off in a panic and wanted to know you were alright, Grant was there when I told Tab..." She was opening frowning now as she chewed her lip. "Malarkey, Muck and Penkala were after you, they wanted to celebrate you getting your wings, which reminds me. Congrats on that. I think that's it."

"Jesus Luz, was there anyone who doesn't know?!"

He gave her such a deadpan look she almost faltered, it was just so shocking on him.

"Well, yeah. I'd say...most of the company."

"That isn't what I meant."

They started heading back over, and she saw that Guarnere had gotten himself situated and was munching on...whatever it was in her cup. Margaret had given up trying to guess what they were being fed long ago.

"Think about it this way, there's a lotta people here who care about you. Most o' the people I ended up telling were asking after you, wanting to know if you were ok and where you were. I had to tell 'em."

There were some general grunts of agreement from their little circle.

"I know. Thank you. I...I don't think I could've."

Margaret sat back down, in-between Liebgott and Talbert.

She was having a hard time keeping her head up, so Liebgott offered her his shoulder. She thanked him, and watched as her NCO friends came and went, checking on their men.

Yeah. They were her friends. And they cared about her. She cared about them. Life was good.

"Watkins, feelin' better?"

She hummed sleepily.

"Yeah, thanks Doc. Outta my system now. Just need to sleep "

"Hey Doc, wanna check out my bruise?"

She didn't need to see Roe's face to hear his confusion.

"She punched me, t' 'get it outta her system'."

"You know what, Bill, I've had it with your whining. Yes I punched you. You don't need to remind me, I was there. Now shut up and let me sleep."

There were a few laughs, and some gentle goodnights.

"Night princess."

"N'night Lieb."