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

Going home

It took a while until everybody had their papers in order and got their discharge. After all, they weren't the only soldiers eager to go home as quickly as possible. But by mid-September, they were all set.

Saying goodbye was hard and more than a few tears were shed. But the words exchanged were heart-felt and the promises to write and stop by if one was in the area were genuine. In the end, all that was left was saying goodbye to the officers.

"Sir."

Major Winters looked up from the paperwork he had been filling out to see his ranking medic in the doorway, uniform cap in hand.

He smiled and motioned for her to enter. "Come on in, Ella."

The young girl obliged, returning the smile. "I wanted to say goodbye, sir", she said. "And I wanted to say thank you, for everything you've done." She cleared her throat and he could see the tell-tale glistening of tears that began to gather in her eyes. "It's been an honour to serve with you, sir."

She straightened and gave him an impeccable salute, meeting his gaze openly.

Winters accepted the salute, then held out his hand. "You are an extraordinary young woman, Shorty", he spoke. "Without you, Easy wouldn't have been the same."

Ella chuckled, self-consciously scratching the back of her neck.

"And I am honoured to have served with you."

Sniffling slightly, she shook his hand, a faint blush colouring her cheeks. "Thank you, sir."

***

Captain Welsh hugged her tightly and made her promise to come to his wedding. "Kitty would love to meet you", he stressed.

She smiled and replied sincerely: "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Harry."

He beamed and clapped her on the shoulder.

Captain Nixon studied her with an unreadable look in his eyes, almost as if he were trying to figure out a puzzle. Eventually, he shook her hand and said: "You're one hell of a girl, Ella."

She chuckled. "Thanks, sir. You're not too bad yourself."

He barked a laugh, tousling her unruly locks. As he gave her a hug, he added: "I'll miss you, kid."

Her eyes started to sting again. "I'll miss you, too, Nix", she murmured into his shoulder.

He was a cynic, he was a drunkard, and he didn't really care about rules and regulations. He had sat with her in Toccoa, striking up conversation simply because he wanted to, completely ignoring the fact that the Army thought officers and enlisted couldn't - or at least shouldn't - be friends.

Out of all the officers, saying goodbye to Lieutenant Lipton was the hardest. Ella was closest to him, simply by virtue of him having started out as an enlisted man.

There was so much she wanted to tell him, but as soon as she was wrapped in his strong arms, she realised that he already knew, like he always did.

"If I'm ever in West Virginia, I might stop by some time", she spoke, emotions making her voice raw.

Lip smiled that soft, kind smile of his. "I'd like that", he answered, handing back her journal where he had written down his address. "I'll be sure to look you up if I'm in Ohio."

The brunette grinned despite the tear rolling down her cheek. She didn't bother wiping it away. "I'll never forget you, Lip", she professed.

He nodded and returned her kiss on his cheek with one to her forehead. "You too, Shorty. You too."