Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

The Pub

A/N: Better late than never, huh? I was a bit under the weather last week and since school is already nearing its end (hallelujah!), we have a lot of work to do.

*!Warning for this chapter: Attempted sexual assault!* Nothing too graphic, but please proceed with caution if this is a sensitive topic for you!

On another note: I've had a few messages from some of you lovely readers, commenting how you ship one of the women with one of the guys. Now, I'm genuinely curious what your ships are, so if you have any, feel free to leave me a comment or a PM :) Who knows, maybe one or two might make it into this story?

The ships I already got are:

Maxine / Guarnere
Louise / Liebgott
Mia / Speirs
Mia / Roe

Do you share these? Do you have others? Let me know. Now I hope you enjoy the chapter and I wish you all a good night (or a good day, depending on where you are).

Frequently, when they had the evening off, the soldiers would go to the pub, have a few drinks, play cards or darts or crabs or dance with the local girls, nurses and Red Cross women.

Louise carefully made her way through the crowd, two drinks in hand, trying to reach the table where Frances was shuffling her beloved pack of cards.

"Here you are", the blonde said to her friend, setting a beer in front of her.

"Thanks, Louise. Want to join?", Frances asked with a smile that had a wicked edge. The occupants of the other chairs were Geraghty, Pace and Toner, three replacements.

She shrugged. "Sure, why not."

The grin on Frances' lips widened a fraction. Turning her head, Louise saw that she wasn't the only one who had noticed it. There were matching smirks of gleeful anticipation on several Toccoa veterans' faces.

"Alright then, ladies and gentlemen", Frances announced, cards blurring in her fingers, "we're playing Omaha, the ante is ten bucks or ten smokes, same worth."

Ramirez pulled up a chair and tossed in a handful of dollars. "Deal me in, too."

"Be prepared to lose, I smell a winning streak in the air", Louise joked, taking a sip of her beer.

He laughed.

***

The poor, unsuspecting replacements stood no chance. Frances was in her element.

Pace soon cut his losses, admitting defeat with a disappointed but good-natured "Seems like it's not my best night." He wished his buddies luck and excused himself, heading to the bar for a little pick-me-up.

"What a wimp", Toner snorted, shaking his head. "He only lost about 50 bucks 'cause he folded at the first sign of trouble."

Louise smirked and added another ten smokes to the pot. "Meanwhile, your brave refusal to fold has cost you 200 bucks already", she remarked drily.

Frances chuckled and called to Maxine, who was passing by: "Hey Sarge, want in? Ten dollars or ten smokes."

"No thanks, Frances, I prefer to keep my money", was the amused response.

"Aw, c'mon, it's not my fault the cards don't like you", the North Carolinian mock-whined, dealing a new hand.

Maxine waved off, laughing. "You guys have fun", she said, patting her on the shoulder. "Just try not to cause any financial ruin." Her tone was innocuous enough and her gaze included all participants in the statement, but she knew the underlying message had been received.