" It takes strength to be gentle and kind."
- Steven Morrissey
***
Liebgott walked over to the girl, pointing up to the speakers in the room at the jazzy, swing tune that was blasting from the speakers.
" Hey, sunshine. Care for a dance?" Liebgott asked, holding out a hand to the girl. The entire company knew how much the girl loved to dance. And anytime she could to dance with her boys and be happy, she was willing to take it by this point. She glanced at Chuck who nodded. She grasped Liebgott's hand and let him guide her to the dance floor. There were already a bunch of other soldiers and woman out, but it was clear that Liebgott and Charlotte were the one's everyones eyes were focused on. They began dancing, hips swaying, feet clapping over the entire dance floor in unison as they moved together like they had been doing it for years. Other members of Easy noticed the braided hair medic on the dance floor and immediately rushed to the side, hopping to steal a few dance moments with her. Liebgott twirled the girl into his arms, before she rolled out and hopped into the air at the same time, with a huge finish. The cheers erupted for them around the hall for their 'rather outstanding performance' as many of the men would later say. She danced with Malarkey next, then Luz, Gene, Skinny, Shifty, Chuck, Christenson, Johnny and Bull. She even pulled Babe out to the floor once and then Webster shortly after. Sure, Webster was not that much of a dancer and kept stepping on her feet, but she was glad as the two laughed along with the mess they were creating as Webster twirled the girl and she nearly fell over. Webster pulled the girl up as a slow song started playing. She only gave a lopsided grin to the man, before looping her arms around his neck, only after placing his hands on her hips. " For such an intelligent man, when it comes to dancing, that seems to be your downfall." she said softly with a smile. The Toccoa man only shook his head as he allowed Charlotte to take the lead.
" Webster, mind if I cut in?" a voice asked, and the two turned to see that it was Speirs.
" Of course, sir." Webster said, pulling himself from the girl. Charlotte was surprised to see the man standing there. She looked up at Speirs through the dim light, reminding her all the way back to her Toccoa days when she first met Speirs at the outpost Sobel had ordered her to watch. Charlotte noticed Speirs didn't move, so she reached forward, and wrapped an arm around his waist, as she placed his hand to do the same to her, before she grasped his other hand, and clasped it in hers. Speirs looked down at the girl with his soft brown eyes, a gentle smile coming over his features as he watched, eyes transfixed on the beautiful woman in front of him.
" You seem nervous, sir, it's just me." she said softly. Speirs faltered slightly from the comment. Truth was he was nervous. He'd become more intrigued everyday by the young medic, and the way she carried herself, and it made him falter sometimes. But Speirs didn't let that bother him. He took lead of the dance, and Charlotte smiled, biting her lip, as Speirs led the dance, the two swaying back and forth eyes never leading each other's. The two grew closer, and now Charlotte's eyes remained on the medals on Speirs' uniform. She realized he smelled good, and his hand was soft, and he was so gentle. She eventually laid her head against his chest and let her eyes close slightly as she did so. Speirs looked down at the girl, finally peaceful, and not thinking about the war, but making sure she was safe. Charlotte felt Speirs' gently rub his thumb back and forth along her knuckles as he held her hand gently in his, and she smiled softly. She gently opened her eyes. She wanted this after the war. She wanted to be able to dance with someone and think about nothing but the moment she was in. Nothing but happiness free from the war they were trapped in. She pulled back and looked up at Speirs who she found was already looking at her.
" Thank you." she whispered softly.
" You're welcome." he whispered back, " Are you ok?"
" I'm just happy, sir, really. I haven't had this much happiness in those months of hell we endured." she said, and looked around happily at everyone dancing quietly and the soft music.
" I needed this so much sir, thank you, really." she said softly, and Speirs smiled.
" Of course, sunshine." he said gently. The song ended, and as she left Speirs who went over with the other commanders, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks warm further up to the tips of her ears. She collapsed in a chair and lugged her heels off her feet.
" I miss my jump boots." she groaned, rubbing her sore ankles.
" I'm surprised you danced that long, sunshine, especially in those. I barely made it through that one song with ya." Malarkey said, sipping his beer.
" Me too." she sighed, rubbing a hand over her tired eyes.
" How was it with Speirs?" Malarkey asked her.
" Peaceful, for once." she said softly.
" I'm glad, really, sunshine. We all need something peaceful once in a while." Malarkey said, and she smiled wide. She talked with the guys a little bit more before heading back over to the WAC and Nurse girls before waving good bye and promptly leaving the hall. She headed into the billet she was assigned, noticing all the men were still out at the hall celebrating, but she'd grown too exhausted by this point and needed sleep. Double checking to make sure no one would be coming in the billet anytime soon, she carefully pulled her skirt down and pulled up the PT shorts. She took her uniform coat off, before taking a glance and removing the undershirt and pulling the large PT shirt on herself. She neatly folded her uniform, before crawling into bed. She clicked the light out and after that, quickly fell asleep. When many of the men came back, they didn't even realize the tiny girl, curled up in her blanket and her pillow, eyes shut lightly, her arm gripping the pillow. Her nose twitched every now and then, but as the guys prepared for bed they found it adorable. The time after their USO dance consisted of Easy training an replacements that happened to come along, resting, eating, light PT training from Winters that was nothing compared to Sobel's, and down time, to write letters, read, and talk. Charlotte was glad for the time, finally able to open the letters from friends and family that she'd gotten.
Dear Charlie,
I heard about your brother Char, and I'm heartbroken. We've both lost loved ones, but I won't let you grieve alone. You're my best friend, and the most important thing in the world to me is that you are happy. Leroy would be proud of you, you know. We saw those clips from Bastogne, all the nurses and I out here, and I can honestly saw Easy Company gave us the best laughs. Seeing you there, smiling and happy, even though it looks miserable, made me feel happy that you were still there. The guys seem great and I'll be excited to meet them all when the war's done. I think everyone will. I've been in contact with Louis, and I'm really glad he's ok. I wrote a very lighthearted card with some of our jokes to hopefully brighten his day. Clyde and I've been talking a lot, and he's grown close to me out here. He's really been my rock to help me through what's happening here and at home. I miss you so much, Charlie. I hope this war's over soon so we can finally see each other again! Hugs and kisses!!
Love,MJ
Charlotte smiled at the letter. She was glad that MJ had gotten in touch with Louis. Charlotte had debated opening Louis' letter, knowing her heart would be absolutely crushed, but she would open it anyway. It was her brother, someone she was related to and loved.
Dear Charlie,
I can still see your face. The day you left and we all departed from Mom and Dad. I saw the fear, and the compulsion written behind your bright blue eyes. The same type of determination from your 5th grade field day when you won against won of the fastest boys in the school. Your articles are everywhere. In every hospital room, every street corner. It's amazing how big of a deal my lil' sis has become, and I'm nothing more than proud. I'm healing up, my leg's not botched anymore, and I'm slowly starting to not hear that constant ringing. My eyesight's back to the closest of normality it'll come to and the pain in my chest is disappearing. I'll get better. I love you, sis, and don't forget it. America's close, we're so close. You just hang in there for those final strides.
Love, Louis
She could see Louis' face to, and the broad smile that had covered his lips as well. She couldn't help but feel like a proud younger sister. But that's when all the nightmares shortly arrived. She'd see her brothers, being blown to bits, or her lost friends, like Muck, Penkala, Joe, Bill or Hoobler, dead in front of her face for hours or their limbs, with blood, everywhere. She'd shoot up, one of the guys shaking her from her sleep or vise-versa when she heard the soft crying. She'd never see them cry really, it was dark most of the time, and by morning it was cleared up and they forgot all about it, except the puffy red eyes, but they'd thank her quietly somewhere alone where no one else would hear and she'd give them a soft smile. She had eaten a bowl of oatmeal that morning, then went for a small jog to keep her muscles warm before showering and changing back into some fresh ODs. She glanced at the Sergeant symbol, and still marveled over that new reality or her ranking. Her and Gene were equals, but Gene remained the ranking medic because of seniority, but she didn't care. She liked having power, but not too much. The girl was stopped by Vest, a letter in his hands. She turned with a small smile, confused, but took the letter anyway. Vest left, and she stood in the middle of the day staring at the front, her heart dropping. She wasn't at lunch, and she never showed for dinner, and the guys noticed her absence.
" I'll go get her." Webster said, standing, and thoughtfully placing down his napkin, before running a hand over his head and making way to their barracks.
" Hey, Sunshine?" Webster called as he headed slowly up the two steps. He didn't hear anything, but then he heard the sniffles, coming from somewhere in the room. The girl wasn't on her bed, her pillow and blanket skewed everywhere and in this moment he realized that no one must've been in here all day. Webster stepped forward slowly and then saw her, curled against the bed between her own and his, a letter clutched in her hands, tear free falling down her face, in her PT shorts and shirt.
" Charlotte." he whispered, crouching near the end of the bed, and looking at the girl with his big eyes. She opened her mouth to try and speak, but no words came out. Webster shuffled over to the girl, sliding next to her and wrapping his arms around the girl, as she clutched his chest. Her breathing was labored, and felt the tears gently falling from her eyes, but what he feared worse was if there'd me an onslaught of tears to follow. Webster felt the girl squeeze him tighter, almost to try and comfort herself. He wanted to speak, but his mouth remained closed like a zipper. He didn't move a muscle. Charlotte knew that Webster knew he brother was dead, hell the whole damn Battalion might've known by now, but it only made the pain worse.
" I got a letter." she whispered, sniffling to follow. " From my brother." Webster prayed it was the one who'd been injured. She didn't really know how to say the next part, or if she'd just break right there.
" He must've sent the letter before he d-died," she cried, sucking in a breath next to him. Webster gripped the girl tighter as she trembled. If anything, Harvard never prepared him for this. Webster knew of her brother, the one in the Pacific who'd been killed, thanks to Cobb back in Haguenau. But now the situation only worsened. It looked like she had finally come from the darkness that had swirled through the entire time she'd been in Haguenau, but it looked like it had reappeared. He really didn't know what to say. He reached forward cupping her left cheek and attempting to brush the stray tears from it.
" I'm sorry." she whispered.
" Hey, hey, hey, don't be sorry." Webster said quietly, pulling the girl to him.
" It's just, I-I, he's-he's dead, I've known for over a month, and now I get this letter that I didn't even expect, and I don't even think I could read it." the girl continued to ramble, the slow onslaught of tears, turning into hiccups and whimpers then into full fledge cries. Her sobs were heart breaking. Webster had missed a few months with Easy, so he hadn't seen the girl's other breakdown moments, but this made him feel horrible.
" It's gonna be ok." Webster whispered, lying to even himself, as he gently kissed the girl's head, and pulled her close. She clung to him, the raw cries escaping from her lips, muffled by the man's ODs as she sobbed her heart out. She never thought she'd still not be completely over her brother's death even after so many weeks later. But she cried for Muck and Penkala, Hoobler, Buck, Joe and Bill. She cried for each of them, the sobs becoming heavier and more innocent and vulnerable sounding. Her trembling increased as Webster held the girl in his arms, and he slowly began to rock the girl back and forth to hopefully calm her, like a small child. Webster knew the girl was young, only the peak age of 19, and having already lost her brother, and been away from her parents this long.
" It's ok, it's ok." Webster whispered quietly, rocking the girl in his arms, trying his best to comfort the girl the best he could. She slowly stopped sobbing, only quiet hiccups and sniffling now, with a few quiet whimpers, but she'd settled down. And Webster held the girl. She pulled back, looking with tear filled eyes at the letter in her hands, debating if she should read it.
" If I read it, can you stay?" she asked, her voice hoarse as she looked up at the man.
" Of course." he whispered, pushing a few strands of hair from her eyes as well as tears. She nodded and slowly opened the letter her heart pounding. She needed to read it, for her own good.
Dear Charlie,
I really miss ya, sis. Thinking about you over in Europe, sitting, freezing in the cold, pains me, but I know you have Easy company as your brothers, which makes me remind myself you are safe. I'm healthy, mon dieu, and my buddies and I have started placing these bet pools for when the war will finally finish. I said maybe May, a few others agreed, while some said not for another year. I'm just excited for the family to be back together again, where we can all sit down for a Christmas meal, or even just a MEAL meal. I've missed ma's coq au vin, and the burst of flavor that it always brings every time I eat it. I met someone, and I really like her. Her name's Mary Jenkins, and she's beautiful. She really is. And not just the way she looks, no, her humor, makes me laugh out loud, and her personality makes you immediately happy once she walks into the room, even when something bothers her, she tells you the truth and she lets you know it. She reminds me of you, I love her. I never thought I'd be the one to fall in love in the war time Charlotte, I figured it'd be you, but at the same time, I know you don't need any man. You are enough. You, yourself is enough and you don't need a man. Things have gotten rough over the past few months, but I want you to know, I want you happy. That's all I've ever wanted for everyone in the family, all my siblings, is for them to be happy. If you find someone, you run with it, you show them how much you love them, Charlotte, because time runs out sometimes and you won't be able to show how much you love them anymore. I'll write soon, I love you sis.
Love, Leroy
Charlotte had to let out a laugh, sure it was weak and tear filled, but reading words that her brother wrote made her smile. She imagined his face and his voice and his eyes lighting up. She didn't think about the sadness, she only thought about the happiness that had been his last letter. Webster smiled softly at the girl, as her tear filled eyes read the words on the page. He rubbed the girls shoulder as she neatly folded the letter and stuck it in her pocket. She sniffled again, before sighing and laying her head back on Webster's shoulder.
" Can you read to me?" she whispered softly. She needed a distraction and Webster knew that. Webster reached up and pulled " A Tree Grows in Brooklyn " from his bag.
" Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New York." Webster read softly, his voice lulling the girl to sleep.
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thanks for reading!