Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

Ill, Wounded, Still Fighting

A/N: Hi guys! Sorry for the very late update, writer's block has been a doozy... I can't tell you how many times I've written and rewritten some sentences and how long I sometimes got stuck trying to figure out how to transition from one scene to another.

I hope you like the chapter, even if it is more of an interlude. The next part is already in the works and almost finished (brace yourselves, friends, tissues might be necessary), so I'm going to do my best to upload that in one or two weeks. Or maybe a bit earlier, to make up for all the time I have to keep you all waiting.

Splash! The truck hit a fresh pot hole and the dirty mixture of snow and mud splattered out to the side.

"Hey!", one of the soldiers on the back of the truck hollered towards the driver's cabin. Turning to the men next to him, he grumbled: "They tryin' to bounce us off or what? Can you imagine, coming back from the hospital only to break your neck falling off a damn truck."

A broad-shouldered fellow with a fresh scar below his ear deadpanned: "Would give you another Purple Heart, Rios."

Their small group, clustered at the tailgate, chuckled.

"You came from the hospital?", a fidgety kid butted in. He and his buddies eyed them with interest. "How'd you get injured?"

The group of veterans traded looks, annoyance and a small measure of disdain settling on their features.

Heaving a sigh, Rios shrugged. "Ah what the hell, let's compare stories. I got a load of shrapnel in my leg in Bastogne." He pointed at his friend with the facial scar. "Moreira had a tree blowing up in his face" – The broad-shouldered man nodded, baring his teeth in a smirk – "and Nolan ..."

"... took a shot to the shoulder in Foy, ricochet from sniper fire."

Jaws dropped as the replacements realised that the third soldier was a woman. The excited whispers of "that's one of the women soldiers" were summarily ignored. Moreira and Rios snorted with laughter. Theresa rolled her eyes, but was spared further shocked and awed stares when the truck groaned to a stop.

"Anyone for 2nd battalion of the 506, get off!", a voice bellowed from the next truck ahead.

Grabbing her things, Theresa jumped down from the truck bed and turned to say goodbye to her travelling companions. "See you around, guys!", she called, receiving a jaunty wave from Rios and a dry "Look out for snipers" from Moreira.

A bunch of replacements got off the convoy, along with a small number of veterans from Dog and Fox Company she vaguely recognised. Nobody else from Easy had returned from the hospital with her, so she hiked her rifle strap up her shoulder and turned down the road in search of her company.

***

Captain Speirs pinched the bridge of his nose as he walked away from the riverfront, reining in his aggravation only with great difficulty. He had a company to run, a fool's errand of a patrol to plan, in Sgt. Field's words, houses to scout for more loot and a pair of unwell soldiers back at the CP to worry about. He didn't have the patience to deal with an upstart, green-as-can-be lieutenant, some private that had come back from the hospital after 4 months and the company clerk of all people wanting to join the prisoner snatch.

"Captain Speirs, sir?"

He held back a growl of annoyance and turned to glare at the caller, who jogged across the street to catch up to him. To his credit, the soldier didn't break his stride.

"Sir, I'm Sergeant Theresa Nolan", the non-com introduced herself without preamble. "I was wounded in Foy, I'm a squad leader in 1st platoon. Permission to re-join my men?"