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

A Day of Sadness, A Day of Joy

The morning of 7th May, the men noticed that their girl was quiet. At first, they didn't think too much of it, after all, everybody knew those days. But they still stayed close to her, letting her know that whatever was on her mind, they were there for her.

"You okay, Shorty?", Bull asked when they sat together after lunch, gearing up for a patrol through the beautiful and clearly empty woods.

The brunette sighed sadly, but her lips quirked up into a small smile. "I will be, Bull. It's just not a good day."

He nodded, understanding what she meant and not prying any further. She would open up when she was ready.

They were strolling through the forest, completely at ease. Some of the new kids had their guns clutched in anticipation, but the veterans just enjoyed the sun, bantering lightly back and forth with each other.

Ella threw in some playful comments here and there; otherwise, she was content to listen. The relaxed mood helped a little to soothe her inner unrest and the thoughts she was dwelling on turned warmer, conjuring a soft, if slightly wistful smile onto her face.

On their way back, Johnny moved up to his close friend and murmured: "You know what's going on with our girl today?"

The tall Arkansas man shook his head, but offered: "Might have somethin' to do with her brother, I think."

From what the brunette had told them, her beloved brother had been killed in action shortly before she had enlisted. It wasn't too far-fetched to assume that today might be the anniversary of his death.

Johnny dragged a hand through his hair, breaking up the mop of dark curls. "Alright." Nothing more needed to be said.

Not even a blind man could have missed the way Easy Company rallied around its ranking medic. The men gave her the space she so obviously needed, but they were intent on not letting her feel lonely. An arm slung around her neck, a hand tousling her locks or resting on her shoulder. It was all small things, but to Ella, it meant the world.

***

After dinner, a runner from HQ crosser her path. "Oh, good I caught you, Sergeant", he said. "Major Winters requests your presence at HQ, Ma'am."

Surprised and mildly intrigued, she acknowledged and headed towards the Berchtesgadener Hof, wondering what the Battalion CO wanted.

Knocking on the door, the young girl waited until a calm voice beckoned her in. She entered and immediately, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It wasn't uncommon that Lipton, Speirs, Welsh, Nixon and Winters were in an office together, they were friends, after all. But the expressions on their faces ranged from sympathetic to carefully composed.

"You sent for me?", Ella asked, if only for the sake of breaking the strange atmosphere.

Winters nodded. "Yes, ah...there is something we need to discuss with you, Ella." There was a slight strain in his tone that made her instincts go haywire.

"Is...something wrong?", she questioned cautiously. Her muscles unwittingly tensed a little as she braced herself for whatever was about to come.

"No, no", he was quick to assure her. He cleared his throat and he looked at her, deep compassion shining in his bright eyes. "It's about your brother." Seeing her confused frown, he continued: "First Lieutenant Nicolin A. Sawyer, was killed in action three years ago, wasn't he?"