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

Resignation

When Captains Winters and Nixon entered the room, the young medic immediately knew that something was up. Winters had been promoted to Battalion CO after Foy when Colonel Strayer had moved up to Regiment.

The look on his face spoke volumes, so Ella sat up and focused on him.

"Listen up", Winters spoke, drawing all attention to him. "Regiment wants a patrol for prisoners."

He glanced at the brunette and saw her shoulders slump as an invisible weight slammed back onto them.

"This one comes straight from Colonel Sink", Nixon piped up, "so it's not my idea."

Oh super, Ella thought to herself. It sure wasn't a good sign if Nix was passing the buck. Grandios, usgrechnet jetz.

Winters stepped into the room and continued: "Since the river is the main line of resistance, we're going to have to cross it to get to them."

"What do we need to do?", asked Speirs, eyes riveted to the redhead. He, and nearly everybody else in the room, knew that Winters had a plan. He always did.

"There's a three-story building on the enemy side, up the embankment", the Battalion commander explained. "We know it's occupied. You can have fifteen men, think very hard who you want to lead the patrol." His sharp gaze added weight to his words. "You'll need a lead scout, a translator", he listed before trailing off.

He knew that Speirs knew what kind of men were needed for such an operation. They had run enough of them. To finish his outline, he added: "I've got the entire battalion on covering fire."

"When?", Speirs inquired.

"Tonight, 0100."

"Yes sir." His mind was already sifting through the possibilities, thinking over who he wanted for the job.

Winters spoke up again: "Speirs?"

The CO raised his gaze.

"I want this one to be as fool-proof and as safe as possible", the Captain insisted.

"Yeah, don't take any chances on this one", Nixon added seriously. "We're too far along for that."

Winters and Speirs stepped into a corner to discuss who should go on the patrol.

***

Ella shared a long look with Lipton, then twisted to peer over the backrest when her name was called. "Yes sir?", she asked, sliding out from under the blanket and joining the two Captains.

"I need a medic on this patrol", Winters informed her, a silent apology in his tone. "Who you send is your call."

The brunette sighed. "You already know who I'm going to send, sir", she replied, resignation filling her voice.

Speirs frowned in concern. "Are you sure you're up for this?", he wanted to know. "By rights, you should be in bed."

"By rights, we should all be off the line in Mourmelon", she retorted wearily. "I'm fine, sir."

Both officers still looked unconvinced, studying the small girl and taking in just how ill and exhausted she was. Her beautiful orbs only had a dull, dim glimmer in them.

Finally, Captain Winters nodded. He knew that glint of stubborn determination which grew in her eyes the longer he looked at her. She would not be swayed.

Seeing Winters' nod, Speirs also relented. "Alright, Ella. But you sack out until it's time to assemble, understood? Do what you have to, then come back. If you're not back in an hour and I don't get a report that you're asleep on a bunk somewhere, I'll come and drag you back here myself. Briefing's at 1700 and you will get some sleep before that."