The Pacific | AU Death Scene

Surrounded

Rock splintered as a bullet struck then ricocheted off with a whining sound. Hillbilly ducked his head uttering curses in a thick southern accent, Ack-ack chuckled at the Virginian's frustration. The fact that he was still able to laugh at the circumstances showed that he had maintained his calm level headedness that always carried him through combat.

"Dammit Hillbilly, just give it up."
The lieutenant turned at the mention of his name, scoffing at his superior.
"They got us dead to rights," the skipper continued "we're cut off and surrounded, if Burgin is smart he'll have led 2nd platoon back to HQ by now. Either way, no one is going to break through to us in time."
Hillbilly turned back, scanning the perimeter around their position he sighed, things couldn't look bleaker. They had taken shelter in a small circle of rocks; it wasn't a bad position for four or five men to defend, but not two who were both running low on ammunition. At the moment all was quiet, the japs knew they had them cornered and were in no rush. Haldane checked the loads in his carbine, then glanced up at Jones perched on the rocks above.
"Do you have something against me and want to make me suffer by watching you die?" Hillbilly frowned at the sarcasm in Ack-ack's voice. "Get back down here where there's more cover, no use looking for trouble I'd guess we'll have plenty soon enough."
Jones looked back over the rocks one last time before shimmying down to sit next to Haldane. Despite the joking manner that Ack-Ack had used Hillbilly knew what he meant by it, with only four clips of ammo between them there was no chance of holding out, all they could do is wait for the enemy to come.

Hillbilly squinted into the bright sun, it was getting hotter, drawing out his canteen he took a swig before offering it to Ack-ack, who's own canteen had been emptied by a stray bullet. "There's not much left." Jones said grimly "Not that it matters." He added with a shrug.
"I sure wish you had that old guitar of yours here, at least we could pass the time with some good music." Haldane smiled at the thought of Jones' beat up old guitar he loved so well. "What did you name it again?" Jones chuckled softly before replying. "Caroline, her name is Caroline." "Sorry, 'her' name." They both laughed, the sound echoed ghostly through the war torn hills, passing over holes blown by mortars and artillery like some strange recollection of humanity. The stillness that followed roused Hillbilly's ever suspicious worry. "Just going to check the perimeter." He explained in response to the scornful look given by Ack-ack when he moved towards the rocks. "We'll keep your head down, I don't want to end up here alone you know." Hillbilly scoffed at the Captain's remark before carefully climbing the low ridge, his keen eyes scanning the terrain with slow precision. "See anything?" Haldane's voice questioned from behind.

Even as Jones turned to speak the report of a rifle cut the stillness like a knife. The sound of a bullet whizzing followed by the sickening thud of lead slamming into flesh echoed in his ears as he helplessly watched Haldane's body jerk with the impact of the bullets. Hillbilly's own thoughts of safety gone he scrambled down the small hill in a cloud of dust, falling next to his wounded comrade he began ripping open the blood soaked shirt, his eyes blurred by the tears that had suddenly welled up. "You're going to be fine Captain, just fine." Grief choked in his throat so that the words were barley formable and tears slipped down his face to mix with the dead man's blood.
⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ "Andrew? Andy?"
⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jones placed his hand on Haldane's chest, there was no heartbeat. His own heart went hollow as the world came down around him, it no longer held life or feeling; only pulsing in a slow motion to kept his numb body alive. The ocean blue eyes of his beloved Captain stared lifelessly into the sky, Hillbilly didn't move his hand from Andy's chest, even as the crimson blood seeped from the bullet holes to stain his trembling fingers.
The sound of gun fire fell upon deaf ears, as his own sobs were the only thing Eddie heard. He finally moved his hand to close those kind eyes for the last time, when he placed it back on the dead man's chest he realized the cold of death had already fallen on the Captain's body, only finalizing his young passing. Edward's grief shook him to his core, and as he remembered Andy as he was his grief turned to anger, rage.
The sounds of war suddenly reached him as he picked up his rifle, heedless of the lead raining all around him the Lieutenant climbed to the top of their small fortress. Standing dangerously exposed on top of the rocks Hillbilly opened up on the advancing japs, killing three before a bullet slammed into his leg, causing him to fall back down the slope. With icy calmness he reloaded his carbine, pausing slightly to glance at the body of Haldane, as if to make sure he was still okay. Now nestled in the bolders he waited for the japs to come, picking them off as they scrambled down after him. The sharp "Cling" as he winged an over anxious jap, notified him that his last clip was spent. Haldane's rifle still had a full clip, but Jones found himself unable to retrieve it. Besides, perhaps Andy still needed his rifle, no, Hillbilly pushed this though from his mind, Andy was dead. But it still didn't seem right to take his friend's rifle. Eddie glanced down at his leg, he'd lost a fair sight of blood.
The Virginian rolled his head back, staring into the sky, the sun seemed so hot if only he could get water. But no, he had left the canteen with Andy, closing his eyes Eddie took a slow breath. Andy was only twenty-seven he mused over slowly in his mind, he was a couple months younger than Eddie himself. The sun was oh so hot, if only he could find some cool dark place to lay down.

Hillbilly didn't even feel pain as the bullets struck his chest, only relief. He didn't hear the sound of a rifle or the shrill cries of his enemy as the bullets tore through his body and his own life blood stained the same soil as Andrew's had. The burning sun wilted as a cool wave washed over his body, and Eddie's own blue eyes looked up lifeless at the sky.