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

The Women's Camp

A/N: Just like the last chapter, this one deals with some very sensitive and dark stuff, so please proceed with caution. I actually felt sick to my stomach writing this (and it wasn't due to the gastritis I am currently struggling with).

The ride to the women's camp was short and silent. They were all wrapped up in their own thoughts, bracing themselves for what they were about to see, struggling to make sense of what they had already seen.

Fox Company was waiting for them. Doc Oats, a former Easy medic, and Doc Byrant, Fox' ranking medic, met them halfway, their faces telling of the horror and disbelief the members of Easy Company already knew.

The women were more apprehensive of the strange men, but many of them slowly moved closer to the fence when they noticed the young girl among the soldiers.

Ella made her way to the front, her friends moving to flank her. They saluted the officers and the CO said: "I'll leave the briefing to you, Sergeant Sawyer."

She nodded, but didn't immediately face the men. Instead, she took a moment to survey the interior of the compound.

The women and children were a lot more cautious. Some, however, looked to be in slightly better condition in comparison to the men in the other camp. Some had half-way decent clothing and didn't have their heads shaved.

Her stomach turned as she realised why that was. Segner char. She briefly closed her eyes.

Clearing her throat, the brunette finally turned to address the men.

"Listen up!", she called, more to gain their attention than to make her voice heard over the eerie quiet. "These women and children need help. Give them blankets, give them water, give them any rations you have", she said.

"They will be scared of you. I will try to explain to them that you are all here to help, but it might not change anything. I expect you to be patient, gentle and careful with them."

She pinned them all with a sharp look which promised that they would live to regret it if they disobeyed that order. Several men gulped.

"Am I clear?", she demanded.

A chorus of "Yes Ma'am" answered.

***

They entered the camp barely a minute later, after the lock had been broken. It was a heart-breaking déjà vu for Ella, Bull, Luz, Malarkey, Babe and O'Keefe. The women slunk back as the men opened the gate, not needing any encouragement. They hovered a few feet away, eyes flickering back and forth, shying away as soon as they crossed a man's gaze.

Taking a steadying breath, the ranking medic stepped towards them, her hands held up in a pacifying gesture. "Wir sind hier um zu helfen", she spoke, keeping her voice calm and soft. "Sie werden euch nichts tun. Das schwöre ich euch."

A woman broke away from the slowly gathering crowd. "Hast du keine Angst vor ihnen?", she asked, anxious incredulity on her emaciated features.

Ella shook her head and smiled reassuringly, even though she rather felt like crying. "Nein", she said. "Sie sind meine Freunde. Ich verbürge mich für sie."

The woman took another tentative step forwards, reaching out to touch her. Her bony hand clutched at the shoulder of her jacket. "Versprochen?", she whispered, cautious hope filling her eyes.

"Versprochen", the girl replied, putting every ounce of sincerity into her tone, willing the prisoner to believe her.

The woman studied her intently, searching her face for any sign of a lie. When all she found was an earnest promise and strong, pure empathy, she burst into tears.