Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ５６ － Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｓ】

Chapter 56 - Introductions

So Captain Winters had an office now. Margaret found out when a small man came asking for Watkins, nearly balked at her being a woman, and then led her to the attic of one of the buildings in the Schoonderlogt estate.

The small man left her at the door of the stairs and went up ahead of her.

"Sir, I found Watkins-"

"Great, bring her i- is there a problem?"

He hesitated, and opened his mouth a few times to speak before finally spitting it out.

"She's a woman."

"Margaret! You better come up!"

So she did. Hopping up the stairs two at a time, she came to a stop at the top and leaned against the balustrade. Margaret couldn't help but grin.

"Watkins, this is Zielinski, my orderly who seems to have an issue with your gender."

Margaret hadn't even looked at Zielinski since entering. She didn't now, instead raising a brow at Dick Winters. Never did she think she'd see the day where he sat behind a desk.

"I've already told Shifty off, multiple times, for calling me Miss Watkins. Don't you start doing it again." The captain tried to suppress a smile. Shifty was lovely, too lovely for them, they didn't deserve him. Then she finally turned to the orderly. "I'm Watkins, you didn't hear my first name. I'm British Intelligence, Easy's my way into Germany – which you also didn't hear. Should you have any concerns about my sex, please take it up with my mother if you can find her."

Then under her breath she muttered about only having been looking for 9 years. But after that she turned on a sweet smile and stepped out of the way after Zielinski was dismissed, and asked to find someone else.

"So you're headed to Germany now?"

Margaret shrugged as she stepped into the room.

"May as well, got nothing else to do, unless you've been given my orders?" Dick shook his head. "Ah,well. What's with the attic?"

"You haven't heard? I'm XO of 2nd Battalion, happened a few days ago, after the Crossroads. Have a seat."

Margaret practically fell onto the edge of a brown creaky sofa, opposite the desk where Dick was sitting.

"Well, I do remember hearing some buzz about it, but didn't catch most of it and believed it to be another accidental game of Chinese Whispers. Though Congratulations are in order, so Congrats Dick, you've won a shit ton of paperwork I'm guessing."

He leant back and scrubbed a hand over face, groaning as he did. She'd hit the nail on the head.

"Though, I do have a question," Dick put his arm over his eyes, but nodded. "Who's taking over Easy, and does he know already or do I have to give the talk."

She saw his smile, and smirked to herself.

"He's aware of you, I think."

There was a knock on the door, to which Dick replied with Enter and stood to greet whoever came up the stairs. The newcomer hadn't noticed her perched on the sofa.

"Captain Winters, you wanted to see me?"

Margaret chose to stand then, introductions were about to begin.

"Moose, this is...How'd you want to do this, Watkins?"

Dick turned to her, and so did...Moose... a nickname she presumed. He looked surprised. Yeah, he definitely hasn't noticed her before.

"Need I remind you we're on a first name basis?"

Margaret crossed her arms and let Dick explain that he didn't know how she wanted to be introduced, whether it was last name only, or full name.

"You know what, I'll introduce myself. Margaret Watkins," she stuck her hand out for Moose to shake. He did, a good solid handshake. "Now, how much do you think you know?"

The way she'd asked it threw Moose off, to the point where he almost forgot to introduce himself. After a delay, he introduced himself as Lieutenant Frederick Heyliger, Moose if she liked.

"You're British," she nodded, hands clasped behind her back. "Apparently we were your way into occupied Europe, that you'd leave to hook up with a resistance after we dropped, but that can't be right."

Margaret opted to lean against the balustrade again before replying.

"No, it's right. That is what the enlisted were told. So as far as they're concerned it was true. I'm British Intelligence. It would appear my boss wants me to spy on you. Not you specifically, the Americans."

"Which isn't confirmed yet!"

Rolling her eyes, she joked that she was getting to that bit. It was good to know he wanted Moose to have the best picture of her, that he had her back. But she could always count on him, so could the men. Dick Winters was dependable, to put it lightly.

"The last orders I received were to remain with Easy Company and await further orders. That was right after we got back to England from Normandy. But yes, I believe they're setting me up to spy on you. The officers of Easy know this. The enlisted don't. Don't believe anyone that tells you I'm headed to Germany. It's horseshit, but the current truth as far as the enlisted are concerned. Oh but don't show that you don't believe them."

It was quite a bit to take in. So she let him process, however long he needed.

"So why tell us?"

"Because, Dear Lieutenant Heyliger, thanks to Dick Winters and his band of merry men, it would appear I have grown a conscience. What the Service is setting me up to do is wrong."

After a little more thinking, he seemed satisfied with that, and shook her hand again. Margaret took that as her cue to leave.

"It was a pleasure, Lieutenant. Look after the men or there'll be hell to pay. Dick, have fun with your homework, but make sure you eat. I know the paperwork is exciting, but enjoy the...not cold food while it lasts."

And so she was stepping down the rickety stairs and out of the attic.

"She'd good Moose. Really good. The men like and trust her, she's a good shot, can play medic well enough until an actual medic gets there and as far as we know speaks two other languages. Just, you just sometimes need to be gentle with her."

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