A new medic

Chapter 10

The train bounded along its tracks, the countryside flew past as a blur through the window. Jess was sitting with Guarnere, Malarkey and Luz, they were playing a game of cards while she sat watching, her head resting on the cool glass of the window. "That's right boys! Pay up," cackled Luz with glee as he displayed his winning hand. Grumbling, Guarnere and Malarkey chucked a pack of cigarettes each to Luz who pocketed them with a broad grin on his face.

"Playing cards huh?" Liebgott wandered over to them and Luz began to dissect his victory. As Malarkey joined in the discussion, Jess turned her head away and stared thoughtfully out of the train window, her hand reaching for the star around her neck. Guarnere noticed and asked if she was alright. Jess turned her head to face him and gave a small, tired smile. "I'm fine thanks Bill. Just tired." As Guarnere looked into her eyes he noticed that their usual sparkle had dimmed and he frowned in concern but said nothing more.

A few minutes passed and Jess stayed staring at the floor in front of her. Guarnere, who had spoken to her twice without getting a reply, gently nudged her arm to try and attract her attention. Jess shrunk back violently at the contact and looked up wildly. When she realised it was only Guarnere she relaxed slightly. "Seriously J, are you good?" Guarnere insisted on asking. Jess didn't know how to respond. Was she good? Not really, the train was too stuffy and she felt like she was overheating. That, combined with the concerned look on Guarnere's face, the apprehension of potentially seeing her family back in England and the worries of war caused several tears to silently streak down her cheeks and fall into her lap. The sound of Jess silently sobbing caused Luz, Liebgott and Malarkey to turn their attention to her and Bill as he looked helplessly at the sorrow she was feeling.

Nixon had had enough of sitting with the brass and decided he would go and see if he could find someone to annoy, preferably Dick. As he wandered down the length of the train his sharp brown eyes noticed a huddle of four men around what seemed to be another paratrooper. When Nix drew closer he could make out the small figure, stormy eyes and chestnut hair of his oldest friend. "What's going on here?" he asked, worry grew over his face as he realised that Jess was crying.

"No idea, sir. She spaced out for a bit and then when I gained her attention back she started crying," explained Guarnere. Nix barely heard him, his gaze fixated on Jess. He crouched down until he was level with her eyes and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. Jess' gaze shot up and she shrank back further into her seat. Nix sighed gently and took a moment to think. "Jez," he began as softly as he possibly could. "Can you look at me please?" Jess' hair fell into her eyes as she shook her head. "I'm heading to find Dick. Do you wanna come with me?" Nix rose slightly as he spoke but his eyes never left Jess' face.

Jess heard Nix's offer and slowly brushed the hair out of her eyes and looked up at his caring gaze. She nodded, shakily stood and followed him further down the train. He didn't try to start a conversation which she appreciated. The other men, who hadn't seen her before, stared as she walked past but she ignored them and kept her eyes focussed on the back of Nixon's head. She was concentrating so hard on blocking out her surroundings that she almost didn't notice when Nix sat down on a seat and struck up a conversation with the familiar red headed soldier seated in the next row.

Dick was busy scribbling a letter whilst Harry snored next to him when a familiar, sarcastic tone entered his hearing. "Going my way?" Nix asked from behind him.

"Wherever the train takes me." Dick rolled his eyes at his friend's joke.

"Where'd you suppose that might be?"

"I haven't got a clue." Dick finished writing a sentence as Nix leaned forwards. Dick braced himself for whatever Nix was about to hit him with but instead was greeted with more conversation. "Yeah, come on, take a guess. Atlantic? Pacific? Atlantic?" Nix kept pestering him. Dick shook his head slightly in exasperation. "I'm not the intelligence officer." He reminded his friend.

"Mm, well as such, I of course know, but, uh, if I told you, I'd have to kill you."

"So don't tell me," replied Dick as Nix stood and came to sit in the seat directly opposite him. His friend leant forward in the seat as though he was about to divulge a huge secret. "New York City. Troop ship. England. We're invading Europe, my friend. Fortress Europa." Nix took a swig from his flask which stank of alcohol and then offered it to Dick. As Dick declined Harry awoke and squinted against the light.

Jess watched as the three men talked easily with one another and considered turning away to find somewhere else to sit. 'Clearly Dick doesn't want to see me right now,' she thought. However, before she could leave, the officer that she didn't recognise, with curly hair and a mischievous smile, turned in his seat and spotted her. "Hey," he called out in greeting, his voice friendly and welcoming. She edged shyly forward and gave a small smile back.

Dick looked up in curiosity as to who Harry had spotted. When he realised that Jess was standing there he immediately put down his letter and stood to greet her. Nix remembered with a sudden jolt why Jess had followed him and also rose. "Yeah, Dick.. Jez was having a hard time so I said she could follow me to see you," he explained.  Sure enough, Dick could see the tear marks that were still lingering on her face and noticed that her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

"Do you want to sit down?" Dick asked Jess, his voice pleasant with no trace of worry or concern. Jess nodded and sat next to him on the edge of the seat. Nix sat back down as well and smiled reassuringly at her. "Jez, this is Lieutenant Harry Welsh," Nix introduced the man sitting on the other side of Dick. "Harry, this is Easy's medic, Jessica Winters." Jess gave Harry another small smile.

"It's nice to meet you," as she spoke Dick moved his foot ever so slightly until their boots were touching. The contact helped Jess to feel calm and less shy. "So, you're the medic who somehow fell for this saint-like creature," Harry joked, which caused Dick to roll his eyes and Jess to laugh softly. Nix watched his friends with amusement on his face and took another drink from his flask. "You ever been to England before, Jessica?" Harry asked.

"Please call me Jess," Jess requested warmly. Harry seemed like a real sweetheart and Jess couldn't help but feel safe around him. "Yeah, Jez really seems to hate her full name," joked Nix, "ow," he complained as Jess hit him across the arm playfully. She rolled her eyes at his protests and felt the sadness that had previously cloaked her leave in one huge wave. 

The train continued to rattle along the tracks as Jess explained to Harry that some of her family still lived in England but she hadn't seen them for years. Nix and Harry then changed the subject to try and annoy Dick which seemed to have become a new hobby for the pair. Jess laughed and smiled at the trio and thought how fortunate she was to be surrounded by the people she loved dearly. 'I don't know how I'd cope if Nix and Dick weren't here,' she thought. 'They always know how to cheer me up and make me feel at ease.'

Dick reached his hand out and took her own in his. She squeezed it to show that she was now feeling much clearer and calmer. He smiled at her; the smile that he only ever gave to her and she almost forgot that they were heading for England to embark on such a terrible war.