Catch Her If You Can | Band of Brothers

XIV. May 19th, 1944. Aldbourne, England.

May 19th, 1944. Aldbourne, England.

The pastures outside of Aldbourne were littered with clovers and dandelions, and flowers blossomed on trees all around. The bright green made Georgia feel surprisingly happy and alive. She'd always loved the color, especially when she wore it. It made her hair shine even brighter, and she'd always felt like the center of the universe when people looked to her because of it.

"So, we're moving out soon?" Dick asked.

Georgia nodded. She'd caught him leaving church with his host family a few minutes ago, and had elected to lean against the stone wall of the churchyard smoking whilst awaiting his company. He'd eventually spotted her, stating that the way the sun illuminated her brilliant red hair had captured his gaze.

"Yes," said Georgia, "to an airfield near Upottery."

"Upottery," Dick said, as though testing out the word.

Georgia nodded, and the two continued walking down the street. A pair of women a few years their junior passed by, looking at them - well, at Georgia - and whispering. She ignored, just as she'd done to every potential husband her parents had ever suggested. Dick had looked upset on her behalf, but Georgia didn't take too much notice of it.

"At least Sobel won't be there," said Dick, finally breaking the tension.

"True," Georgia said, nodding. "Meehan will make a good company commander."

"You think so?"

"I do. Do you disagree?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you did imply it," Georgia said.

Dick looked at her in slight exasperation and shook his head and Georgia just smirked. He wasn't as good at keeping his emotions a secret as he thought he was. But, the more Georgia thought about it, the more she realized that hadn't hit the nail on the head as she'd initially thought.

"No, it's not Meehan," she said, "Let me guess. New Lieutenant - Compton, right?"

"He gambles, Georgia," Dick said, starting to sound like a petulant child.

"So does Lew," she said with a shrug.

"Not with the enlisted. And he doesn't respect Army rules."

"In my experience, there are certain rules that shouldn't be respected," a woman's voice with a noticeable Philadelphia accent called out.

Georgia and Dick turned around and were met with a First Lieutenant in her four-pocket dress uniform. A blue combat infantry badge, purple heart, and parachutist's badge were the most notable aspects of her uniform alongside the All-American patch on her left shoulder. Her brown hair was tucked up neatly beneath her overseas cap, and freckles dotted her face.

"Marian!" Georgia exclaimed, rushing forward with a broad smile on her face. The two embraced, leaving Dick as a confused bystander. They laughed and smiled and swayed where they stood, reveling in each other's company.

"You to know each other?" asked Dick.

"'Course we do!" said the brunette, "We went through OCS together, back around spring of '41."

Georgia smiled, her head full of fond memories.

"Dick, this is -"

"Lieutenant Marian Singer, 504th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division," she said as she strode towards Dick. They shook hands. Hers were calloused and brash, much like her apparent mannerisms.

"Lieutenant Dick Winters," he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant."

Marian turned to look at Georgia. "Where'd you pick this one up, Amish country?"

"Are there Amish in Lancaster?" Georgia asked genuinely. Dick shot her a subtle glare.

"Lancaster? Oh, there's lots of them out there, or so I hear. I grew up in the Irish Catholic side of Philly, and I didn't stray too far growin' up."

Dick's eyes gave away a look of understanding that didn't appear on his face, as though Marian's being from Philadelphia was somehow the answer to all his life's questions.

He cleared his throat, then spoke. "You've been in combat," he said, nodding to her uniform.

"And you haven't, I can tell," Marian said, eyeing up his pristine uniform and jump boots. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, not noticing Dick's subtle change of posture the way Georgia as the smoke drifted past him.

Sorry, Georgia mouthed.

"I jumped into North Africa, Sicily, and Italy," said Marian.

Dick looked at her, impressed.

"You think you're ready for combat, kid?" Marian asked as she bumping her shoulder against Georgia's.

"Sure," the redhead replied, before suddenly looking at Dick. "Hey Red, tell Sink I'll be back later. I want to catch up with Marian."

Dick nodded amicably and watched as Georgia and Marian trekked off down through the quaint English arm in arm.

"I don't like him," Marian said, "he's too green to make a good combat officer if you ask me."

"I didn't ask you," Georgia replied tartly.

"Nah, but you haven't killed any Krauts either, and I have. Who's judgment do ya trust more?"

"I'll keep my own counsel," said Georgia, looking anywhere besides at her friend.

They continued walking down the main street, passing various men and women that Georgia recognized from the 506th and some civilians that she wasn't acquainted with.

"Do they ever trust you more?" Georgia asked suddenly. She was thinking about how even though Colonel Sink relied on her, Strayer and Sobel and other men still doubted her.

"Who, men?"

Georgia nodded, and Marian sighed. The latter glanced out at the grassy green hills, and eventually looked back at Georgia. They were alone now, at the edge of town.

"Doll, they're men. They're never gonna trust a woman in combat as much as a man. You and I both know that, and we have since basic training."

Georgia sighed too and stayed dejected as Marian planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Chin up, doll," Marian said, "or else -"

"Or else you'll miss out on life," Georgia said, finishing off Marian's catchphrase. "You've said that to me some many damn times."

"If it works, it works," Marian said, laughing as Georgia leaned up to kiss her on the cheek in return. The pair walked over to a fence and stared out across the landscape, just thinking.

Georgia thought about how if she'd first met Marian Singer in a different place in a different place than Officer Candidate School - however unlikely that might've been - that they could have been a great deal more than simply friends who called each other loving endearments and kissed each other on the cheek.