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

Getting "Rescued"

Christmas Day came and went just like the days before. They cleared small sections of the forest, they patrolled, they got shot at. In the meantime, they slept and ate and tried to keep warm. Since the supply drop, they actually had ammunition to fire back at the Germans, which was a big relief.

For the medics, though, the conditions hadn't changed all that much. They still had no morphine or penicillin and the men around them were falling ill by the dozen, coughing and sniffling. They had to send man after man to the aid station to get treatment for trench foot and other ailments common for their situation.

Ella rubbed her forehead and stifled a sigh, eyes roaming the monotonous scenery. The lukewarm mug in her hands was untouched and had since gone cold. After a week of dealing with a persistent and deep-sitting cough that had nearly made her pass out on several occasions, she wasn't too sure anymore that she could fight off the approaching illness long enough. I can't get sick, I can't do that to Gene and Spina. She kept repeating that thought in her mind like a mantra.

The three medics were burning the candle at both ends, the ranking medic even more. When she wasn't out with a patrol or racing around answering cries for medics during the latest attack from the Germans, the young girl was constantly walking between the foxholes, shooting the breeze with the boys, trying to hold the company together and keep morale up.

In addition to that, she did rounds at least three times a day to check on the men's health, physically and mentally speaking. She reported to Captain Winters down at the CP every day. She scrounged, begged and stole rations and supplies whenever she had the chance; though to be fair, Luz deserved the biggest part of the credit for that.

And when she wasn't doing any of the above, the brunette was either trying not to freeze to death, coughing her lungs out, eating or sleeping, in that order. In short, Ella simply didn't have time to be sick.

***

"You okay, Shorty?"

The brunette raised her head to meet Bull's concerned gaze. "Hey Bull", she greeted him with a sincere smile. "Sure, you know how it is: A little hard to sleep when the neighbours are so noisy."

He studied her sceptically for a moment. When she remained unaffected, smile never wavering, he nodded. "Yeah." He sat down next to her and pointed at her food. "Not hungry?"

She shook her head and offered it to him. Food was still pretty scarce, so Bull took it gratefully.

They sat in silence for a while; the tall man eating, the small girl staring out into the woods, deep in thought.

Suddenly, Ella snorted and a big grin spread on her face.

Bull frowned. "What is it?"

She giggled, obviously trying to contain herself. "Just a silly thought. I just wondered if the Germans would settle for a snowman-making contest. Best snowman wins the war. And now I can't get the picture out of my head." Another series of giggles slipped from her lips before she started chuckling in earnest, hand clamped firmly over her mouth to muffle the laughter bubbling up from her chest.

Bull began laughing as well. He shook his head in fond amusement and clapped the young medic on the shoulder. "Only you, kiddo."

***

Johnny spotted them after he had grabbed his portion of the daily slop. "What are you two laughing about?", he asked as he plopped down next to them.