Pitschen ma en gamba - Small, but powerful [A Band of Brothers Story]

Holland

It was about two weeks later when Ella ran into Lt Speirs. Literally.

She had been knee-deep in soldiers' guts all day with Operation Market Garden going about just as well as their battle at Nuenen: disastrously. The young medic had seen the result of the not-yet-declared-as-failed operation with her own eyes and she was still tussling with the Grim Reaper for the life of each soldier she treated, be it in the field or at the aid-station.

The girl had no idea what the town they had liberated was called and she frankly didn't care. She was too busy picking up the pieces during and after each fight, especially with them being one man short.

Spina was still at the hospital with the gunshot wound to his thigh and the remaining medics felt the strain. They kept up their rotation through the platoons so that each of them got a chance to stay in reserve or man the aid station and take a break from running around on active battlefields.

That morning, Ella stumbled out of the aid station after an exhausting, way too long shift. She had lost count of the number of casualties she had treated. She had sent Gene off to eat and sleep hours before and stayed behind to oversee the last evacs.

Now, she was hungry and in a desperate need for a dose of sleep that lasted longer than the 15- to 30-minute cat naps she had caught in between the arrival of two transports. As she turned the corner, she didn't see the person walking in the opposite direction and smacked straight into them.

The unexpected impact made her lose her balance and she would have fallen if it hadn't been for a pair of strong hands catching her by the forearms.

Her startled yelp attracted the attention of Johnny and Bull, who happened to be heading in the same direction as the brunette. When they saw that she wasn't in danger, they decided to hang back and watch the exchange, prepared to intervene at the first hint of distress from their girl.

***

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I didn't see you", Ella stammered, pushing a few strands from her eyes and waiting for her erratic heartbeat to slow again.

A small smirk curled Lt Speirs' lips. "That I could see."

His sharp gaze flicked to the red, still swollen scar on her head. Gene had taken out the stitches a few days before and the wound – which was healing nicely – was covered with dark scab. The bruises around the edges were slowly fading.

"Rumour has it you were killed in Nuenen, Sergeant Sawyer", he commented.

Her eyes twinkled as the corner of her mouth lifted to form a wry grin. "I don't make a habit of listening to rumours, sir", she replied. The young medic had noticed that most of the guys were scared of Lieutenant Speirs, but she found that his grim expression and intense stare didn't intimidate her in the least.

He hummed in acknowledgement. "Seems like this one was unfounded", he agreed before turning serious again. "You haven't been bothered again by anyone from my company, have you, Sergeant?"

She shook her head, swallowing. "No, sir."

"Good." The threat – though not directed at her – behind that short statement was loud and clear. Nodding at her, Speirs continued on his way.

Ella turned to watch him leave, thoroughly confused. Why would he care? I'm not in his company, why does he care if his guys bother me? As usual when the topic came up, she felt a restless unease settle in her chest.

***

"Hey Shorty. Everything alright?" Johnny's voice yanked her out of her thoughts and she jumped a little.