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

Into the Ardennes

The men stuck close to their girl. Ella was still a bit withdrawn and quiet, but thanks to her friends, she soon returned to her lively, easy-going and caring self. Her smiles regained their warmth and brightness with each minute she spent with them. They were glad for it because seeing her so scared and defeated had frightened them quite a bit.

Lieutenant Speirs approached her in the evening. The young medic had just delivered her incident report to Captain Winters – it had taken her all day to write it – and was walking towards the mess hall with Smokey and Popeye when the platoon leader from Dog Company came their way.

"Sergeant Sawyer?" His dark eyes were studying her intently, seemingly watching her every move. They flickered to the deeply purple bruise on her cheekbone, to the scabbed cut on her lip.

"Sir?", she inquired. Already knowing what he most likely wanted to talk about, the girl glanced at her friends, communicating loud and clear without uttering even a sound.

They nodded in understanding, patted her on the shoulder and retreated to a distance out of hearing range.

"Corporal Michaels will be detained until his trial, where he will be court-martialled for assault and insubordination", Speirs informed the girl. His expression shifted to something darker. "It shouldn't have happened."

Ella sighed and ran a hand through her locks. "To be honest, I should have seen it coming, sir", she said. "He had it in for me in high school and in basic. It was only a matter of time."

Something dangerous flashed in the lieutenant's eyes before it faded. The corner of his lip curled up in a sharp smile. "From what I hear, you put up quite a fight."

The brunette chuckled bitterly. "Which ended with me on the ground, trying not to pass out", she finished.

He raised an eyebrow and offered: "I would say it ended with him in stockade, nursing a broken nose and a bruised jaw." His look told her that he thought Michaels had gotten off far too lightly.

***

"I guess you're right, sir", she admitted after a small pause, a soft smile tilting up the corners of her mouth. Michaels was no longer a threat to her and that realisation alone lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.

Speirs nodded. "If you ever have any more problems with soldiers from Dog Company, you come to me, am I understood?"

"Yes sir", Ella responded.

His intense gaze scanned her for a moment. "Good", he then said before turning to walk away.

"Sir?"

He stopped and turned.

The small medic had a sincere, warm smile on her face. "Thank you", she spoke.

He nodded at her, then took his leave.

Smokey and Popeye came over to the girl.

"Everything alright?", Popeye asked, casting a critical glance at the lieutenant's retreating back.

"Yeah." She looked at them. "I'm okay." And oddly enough, it was true.

Jostling her amicably, Smokey said: "Good, let's get some food."

Laughing and shoving back, Ella agreed.

***

Joe Toye had an arm wrapped around the girl. She was snuggled against his side, her head resting on his shoulder while they watched the latest USO movie. The bruise on her cheek still made anger boil in his stomach. Luckily, the offender had been caught and was awaiting trial.