Strawberry Red

Chapter 24 Ruby

She hadn't been able to sleep all week. During the nights she was awake and thinking about her husband and Bucky. In one day, she had lost her brother, Bucky who was a brother figure to her and her husband. It had taken a toll on her emotionally and physically. During the day she'd do anything to keep herself busy. She'd help in the hospital and at home. Flo was overwhelmed with keeping Albert and her father floating, so she occasionally needed help taking care of Selene. And Ruby was glad to be able to do something for her family.

She hadn't exactly told them of her wedding with Buck or that he went down. It wasn't the right time and her family had enough to deal with. Her father had to keep planning missions and Albert had to fly much to Flo's distaste. Flo had grown to hate her husband's profession. Whenever he was out, she franticly called Ruby. Ruby understood her fear and worries. She had always felt like that when Buck and Bucky were on a mission.

The base was moving on. It seemed as everyone tried to forget the crews which disappeared. It was their way of trying to be able to get up there again without breaking apart. Two days after they had gone down, Major Veal tried to move Bucky's things out of the pilots' sleeping quarters and asked Ruby to move out of her and Buck's room. They wanted to ship their stuff to America. She had caused a scene screaming at him for even thinking about moving their stuff. She had put her foot down and told everyone that they'd be back sooner or later. After that nobody dared to cross her again. Bucky and Buck got to keep their bunks and lockers on base.

Ruby often put on one of Buck's flying jackets to feel connected to him. At night she'd put it on and then she'd sit on their bed staring out of the window. She'd stargaze the entire night thinking about her husband. She hadn't heard from agent Smith about her brother or Buck and Bucky. The spies were having a hard time collecting intel and lost airmen weren't priority.

It was almost morning and per usual Ruby sat awake in their bed with Buck's jacket on. It still smelled like him, and it made her feel like he was still with her. She should've packed some of her stuff for a week of R & R at Coombe House which the airmen had nicknamed 'The Flak House'. Colonel Harding was sending Rosie and his crew there too and thought it would do Ruby good. Everyone could clearly see that she was suffering and not sleeping at all. Harding had hopes up that a week away would clear her head. If you asked Ruby, she thought it was absolutely bullshit. She needed to stay active and now she was sent away to relax. She didn't want to relax when there was a slight possibility that her husband was somewhere out there, fighting for his life.

The sun was already up when someone knocked on her door. Ruby was woken by the knock and sat up confused. She had fallen asleep in Buck's jacket.

"Come in," shouted Ruby and rubbed her eyes. The door was slowly opened, and Rosie entered.

"We are getting picked up in half an hour," informed Rosie. He was hesitant walking into the room. During the past week they had grown closer. They always had an open ear for each other. Rosie would ramble for hours about missions and Ruby would tell him stories of Buck and Bucky.

"I'll be there," answered Ruby. She stood up from the bed and grabbed her empty suitcase. Then she randomly picked clothes out of her wardrobe and put them in her suitcase.

"How are you holding up?" asked Rosie.

"Fine, you? I suppose you are as happy as I am about going to the R & R," responded Ruby and closed her suitcase.

"Yeah, I'm not looking forward to it." Rosie sat down on a chair. "I was in a rhythm, you know? Waking up, going on missions and going to sleep. On repeat. And now I feel like I'm losing myself to my mind. The memories are slowly coming back to haunt me."

"I get it," said Ruby softly. "But Colonel Harding is only looking out for you and your crew. Going on missions everyday changes you, you need to slow down and take a break."