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

School and Snow

A/N: Hey guys, so sorry I didn't update yesterday. I was working and afterwards, I was just too tired and sore to do anything...

Please note that this chapter deals with PTSD.

Over the weekend, Ella showed her two friends around the city. They enjoyed themselves immensely, walking through the busy streets or taking a cab, joking and laughing.

Isabel, who worked early shift, smiled to herself when she watched her daughter and her friends interact. Her child was so at ease around the two men and she could see just how much Ella loved them. Bill and Joe accepted her for who she was and underneath the teasing and joking, there was admiration and a fierce protectiveness.

Saturday evening, they spontaneously surprised Johnny with a visit and the four of them went to a bar. There, they played pool and darts to their heart's content, heckling each other just like they had that one night in Aldbourne.

Bill was ecstatic to discover how Ella's darts skills had improved since their last game. "You practiced", he grinned, clapping her on the shoulder.

"Yeah, Bull and Johnny decided that I should beat you the next time we play, so they taught me", she explained, eyes fixed on the board on the wall.

He gave one of his typical short, sharp laughs and beamed like a proud big brother when the dart sailed through the air and stuck in the double 20, right where she had needed for it to land.

"Damn, Shorty, you're making us all look bad", Joe groused playfully, ruffling her hair. Even he couldn't stop a smile from spreading on his lips when the small girl's entire being lit up at the praise.

***

Monday morning came far too soon for Ella. Joe had suggested they drop her off at school since the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind whether it was supposed to be raining or snowing.

Pulling up in front of Grandview Heights High School, Bill parked the car and they all got out, the brunette slinging her book bag over her shoulder.

"Don't get into too much trouble, ya hear, kiddo?", Bill cautioned her with a wicked smirk.

She laughed. "You too, Bill."

He hugged her and made her promise to come to Philadelphia soon.

Joe also wrapped her in a tight embrace, his hand stroking over her caramel-brown locks. "Don't take shit from anybody", he whispered in her ear.

She smiled into his chest and murmured back: "Don't forget what I told you last night."

He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. "I won't", he assured her, a rare smile appearing on his face. Then, he gave her a friendly shove and said: "You'll be late."

"I'm fast", she retorted, chuckling.

Rolling his eyes, Joe looked to his buddy for help, who barked in his best Staff Sergeant's voice: "Get going, Shorty, or you'll have to double-time Currahee with full pack!"

Nearly doubling over with laughter, Ella snapped off a cheeky salute. "Take care, boys!", she called over her shoulder as she headed to the stairs.

***

The whispers followed her, a persistent background noise. They clung to her like gum stuck to the sole of a boot and they made her skin tingle. She did her best to ignore them or at least pretend not to hear them, but inside her chest, tension and unrest twisted and roiled.