We Happy Few/// Band of Brothers fanfiction

Chapter 12: Bitter Sweet

Bill's POV
Bastogne

-

A couple more days passed and Gabi still hadn't been eating much. I made sure she got as much rest as she could, but somehow, every time food was served, Dyke sent her off to do some weird task behind Winters' hack. It was started to get on my nerves how Winters or Nixon hadn't noticed this shit, but Gabi made me promise not to do anything about it. Knowing me, I'd probably lose it on Dyke, get myself kicked out of the regiment. So I stayed out of it, just like she asked me to. But after seeing her go without food for four days and without proper rest for about a week, I was starting to draw the line.

Like usual, the cook hadn't made enough food or served too much of it to the rest of us that there was nothing left by the time Gabi got to it. If it was up to me, she'd be eating first, but there was really nothing I could do since she was sent out on OP more often than some of the replacements. Even Joe was starting to complain he had seen her on OP more times than any other Lieutenant. The odd time Buck would assign himself, Dyke never did anything and was treating Gabi like some disposable Private.

I watched from beside a tree as Gabi came back to the company CP from the OP, more exhausted than ever, and a squad was being assembled for a patrol in our area, securing the perimeter and looking for wandering Krauts. I couldn't hear exactly what Winters said to her, but Gabi nodded and turned back to follow the squad. I slung my rifle over my shoulder and threw my helmet on my head before approaching Winters, ready to take her place to she could rest for longer than a damn minute before being sent back out.

"Lieutenant Winters?" I said, stopping a good foot away from him.

"Yes, Sergeant?" he asked, turning to a trunk with papers on top.

"With all due respect, sir, I think Lieutenant Edwards should sit this patrol out." I told him before he turned back to me.

"I need an experienced Lieutenant to go with all those replacements, Sergeant. Everyone else I trust is on the line right now." he said, turning back to his papers.

"Sir, Edwards hasn't eaten in four days, hasn't slept for almost a week, sir. She's wasting away before our eyes and we both know how valuable a fighter she is." I told him, hoping to talk the man into letting her stay back.

"And who should I send it her spot Sergeant?" he questioned, obviously getting irritated with my constant nagging.

"You could send me, sir. I'm not Lieutenant, but I've got the experience, you know that." I told him. "Sir, I'm real worried about Gabi, is all." I added, hoping it would help my argument. Winters looked at me like he was thinking about something before turning towards the squad that was assembled.

"Lieutenant Edwards!" he called, waving her over. We both watched as she stumbled over, probably so tired she couldn't see straight.

"Yes, sir." she said quietly as she stopped in front of him. Winters lifted a hand to her face, almost like he was examining her before nodding. "Guarnere, take her place. Edwards, I'm sending you with Doc Roe back into town. Get yourself a hot meal and get some rest." he ordered. She only nodded before he walked away.

"I told you to stay out of it." she mumbled quietly, shifting her rifle strap off her shoulder.

"You haven't eaten in four days, Gabi. I'm doing this for you." I told her. "Now go with Doc. Get some rest. I won't do anything about Dyke until you come back." I told her before walking over to the squad. I guess you could say I broke my promise to stay out of it, but I'm sure she would thank me later when she didn't starve to death or work until she killed herself.