Charade (Band of Brothers)

" ENGLAND "

Easy Company had been one for more than a year and a half, and Kate was more used to being called James Nicolli than her real name by now. The company had recently been billeted in the quaint town of Aldbourne, England to prepare for the possible invasion of Europe. The day of the offensive was undetermined, and most of the details about their mission hung in the air. The soldiers of Easy company could only speculate and place bets on what their first taste of combat would be. Until they were briefed, Kate and the boys would just have to keep obeying Sobel and following orders.

"Hey, Nicolli, swell new look! Or should I say, Corporal?" A voice called out from behind. Kate turned to see Webster advancing as they lined up for their meal, pointing at her newly earned chevrons.

"I'm thinking you'll soon get one too, at the rate you're going." She replied. Webster was one of the men she got on exceptionally well with lately, as he was less 'macho' than the other guys. A good man to discuss books and poetry with, some of Kate's favorite topics, they had started to spend a considerable deal of time together.

"I'm not sure about that. I prefer lying low, seeing the war from a humble perspective. Through the eyes of the common man, if you will."

Kate had to refrain from snorting. "Alright, professor. I'm hardly being awarded my oak leaves." Looking down at her new rank, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. As she had seen herself as an outsider, Kate never thought she would get the promotion. However, since arriving in England, she spent most of her furloughs on base, reading up ahead of lessons and keeping herself in tip-top shape even outside the company's PT sessions. Plus, since she gained more confidence, she always put herself forward when they asked for volunteers in exercises, for good and bad tasks alike. As hard as she found it to believe, she was no less deserving of those stripes than any of the others.

"Don't you love it here?" Webster took an exaggerated breath of the crisp air. "The South didn't agree with me so much, whereas here... All these old Georgian buildings remind me of college."

Kate had to admit, even though they were 'across the pond,' this place was a lot closer to home than all the sweaty army camps in Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas. "You're not wrong there. The scenery is like living in a novel - not to mention how friendly all the locals are."

Casting a contented glance back at the church spire above the town behind them, Webster seemed to focus on the task at hand. "Well, as much as I'd like to reminisce, Sobel will make sure we grow to hate this place too if we're late to training." He began running backwards, facing Kate with a smile. "Don't dawdle now, James!"

Kate picked up the pace and jogged towards the company's next lesson in the field, close on Web's heel.

The men lined up double-file, each facing a partner as their overzealous instructor barked commands at them. Captain Sobel overlooked the exercise from a safe distance, bearing his usual sour, defensive expression. Gripping her bayonet-equipped rifle, Kate squared her shoulders as she prepared to spar with Bull Randleman. She had to admit, she was a little uneasy about having him as her opponent. Bull was a gentle, wise man of few words, but he also towered over Kate, probably amounting to almost twice her weight. His fatherly disposition wouldn't help her any when she'd have to flip him in hand-to-hand combat. 

The men in the line opposite Kate lunged forward, pointing their bayonets just inches to the sides of their partners. Unlike the other men, Bull didn't partake in the battle-cries, obviously sensing Kate's nervousness. He even gave her a reassuring smile as he pulled back. Now it was Kate's turn to aim with the blade. She pushed the rifle forwards, quivering a bit as she tried to keep it steadily poised by Bull's ear. 

"Not bad, son," He nodded as she drew the bayonet back. Loosening up a bit, in the following rounds, Kate tried different attacks with increasing confidence. Just as the instructor began to berate some of the men down the line for not being aggressive enough, fat droplets of rain began to fall from the sky. She looked up as one hit her nose. Great, of course it couldn't have rained yesterday when we were doing map bearings inside all afternoon.