A new medic

Chapter 4

Dick could feel blisters start to form on his feet as Easy continued to march onwards into the pitch black night. His throat felt raw and dry; he found himself inwardly cursing Sobel and his rule that no man was allowed to drink during these marches. Behind Dick the men trudged along with zero enthusiasm, their main aim to make it out alive and awake. They were silent until Dick overheard Bull talking to Luz, "I'm gonna say something."

"To who?" asked Luz and then Dick heard himself being hailed.

"Lieutenant Winters." Bull called out to him.

"What is it?" Dick responded but with a pretty good idea of what Bull would be complaining about.

"Permission to speak, sir?"

"Permission granted."

"Sir, we got nine companies, sir."

"That we do."

"Well, how come we're the only Company marching every Friday night, twelve miles, full pack, in the pitch dark?"

"Why do you think, Private Randleman?" asked Dick with a sense of apprehension for Bull's answer.

"Lieutenant Sobel hates us, sir." Dick slowed down and turned so that he was closer to Bull. A joke popped into his head and Dick decided to try and lighten the mood. "Lieutenant Sobel does not hate Easy Company, Private Randleman." Dick then waited a moment before adding, "he just hates you."

"Thank you, sir," said Bull amid laughter from the men around him. Dick smiled as the boys began to argue about who Sobel hated the most. "Nah, Sobel definitely has a special hatred in him for old J," commented Guarnere. Jess, who was marching next to Bill laughed and jokingly slapped him on the arm. "Watch it Gonorrhoea," she replied, "you wouldn't want to anger your medic before you head off to war." Bill grinned and slung his arm around her shoulders. "Wouldn't dream of it J."

Dick felt a surge of gratitude towards Guarnere for making Jess' entrance into Easy so, well.. easy. It was true that Sobel seemed to have it out for the young medic but the boys had become incredibly loyal towards her and the way that she stood up to the CO. 

"Lieutenant Winters, I want canteens out of belts with the caps unscrewed," commanded Sobel once Easy was assembled in front of him after they completed the rest of the gruelling march.

"Easy Company, canteens out and open," Dick relayed. Jess copied the men and unscrewed the cap glancing at the precious water glistening inside. "On my command, they will pour the contents onto the ground."

"On the CO's order, you will upend your canteen."

"Now, Lieutenant."

"Pour 'em." Jess ran her tongue over her parched lips as she poured the elixir of life onto the ground in front of her. The only thought in her head was this is such a waste of water. She looked up briefly to see Dick scanning over the Company, no doubt praying that no one had drunk from their canteen. Their gazes briefly met and she gave him a small smile of reassurance which he returned.

"Who is this?" Sobel suddenly shouted as he spotted a soldier whose water had already finished pouring out. "Christenson. Why is there no water in your canteen? You drank from your canteen, didn't you?" Jess felt her heart ache with sympathy for Christenson but her mind couldn't help but curse him. Why couldn't he have just waited for a few more hours before drinking. Jess knew she was being unreasonable but she also knew that anything the Company did wrong would land the blame directly at the feet of her husband. Sure enough, after Sobel ordered Christenson to refill his canteen and retake the march he marched over Dick and began to reprimand him. Then Sobel stepped closer to him and began to whisper. Jess desperately wanted to know just what Sobel was telling her husband but knew that she would just have to wait.

"Easy Company fall out," Dick called once Sobel had finished berating him. Jess squeezed her way through the men as they headed for the barracks and walked over to Dick who stood with a frown on his face. Jess knew he was mulling over whatever task Sobel had just given him and felt hesitant to speak. Dick, however, turned his head towards her and smiled, all worries forgotten as he gazed at the woman he loved. "You ok Dick?" Jess asked. Dick nodded and the smile vanished from his tired face. Jess reached out and slipped her cold hand into his. He enveloped hers and began to rub circles on the back of it with his thumb, a sign to Jess that he was stressed about something. She didn't press as she knew when Dick kept something from her it was usually to prevent her from worrying or becoming angry and doing something rash. So instead they just stood together in silence, gazing up at the milky stars, each lost in their own thoughts until Nixon walked up to them and announced that curfew was about to start.

Dick nodded in acknowledgement to Nix and turned towards Jess again. "I'll see you tomorrow," he spoke softly and Jess gave a small smile in return. Dick kissed the top of her head and then left for the officer's barracks. "He seems off," commented Nix. "Did Sobel yell at him again?"

"Yes," Jess replied. "In front of the whole Company for apparently making him look bad." Nix scoffed and Jess laughed bitterly, her gaze still on her husband's retreating back. Nix noticed and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'll keep an eye on him for you, you know I will."

"Thanks Lew," Jess yawned, tiredness suddenly flooding her body. She gave Nix a hug, he bid her goodnight and then she headed towards her own barracks. The rest of Easy was already there and the majority of them were already asleep. Jess ducked behind the privacy curtains around her bed to change. When she emerged she then climbed under the thin blanket and sat huddling her knees for more warmth. As a medic for Easy, Jess felt it was her responsibility to wait for Christenson to come back from his second march to see if he was ok before she allowed herself to rest.

Many hours later the door to the barracks opened and Christenson came stumbling in. Jess shot out from her bed over to him and asked if he was ok. Once he assured the young medic that he was in fact fine, just tired, Jess gave him a consoling pat on the back and headed back to her own bed. She drifted off with only a few seconds thought on the trials that would await Easy the next day.