Lots of love and I hope you enjoy!

~Chapter Twelve: Through the Hedgerow~

The atmosphere was drenched in death and its piercing stench. The earth was flooded and the mud sucked at Essie's boots. She was leaning heavily against Nixon as they neared the Aide Station. Sweat drenched her brow and her mouth begged for water. Men wrapped unsympathetic chains around the dainty legs of perished horses that laid motionless as a roadblock to tanks and jeeps. The earth around them was stained red with blood.

Essie pushed away from Lewis and limped over to a cream colored cow, and cautiously put her trembling hand to the sleek bridge of her nose. She cooed a gracious moo in her throat as another pair of boots trudged through the muck. The cow's eyes ached and her supple round ears drooped. Esther looked over her protruding hip bones to find a lifeless calf with the exact same coloring as the face in her hands. Nixon stood impatiently behind her. Her eyes grew misty, her throat burned.

"What the hell are you doing playing with the cows?" Ronald Speirs spat as he walked past, blood lust in his eyes. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, gave the mourning one last stroke and join Nixon's side.

"Sorry."

He took a gulp from his flask, "Don't be."

The makeshift hospital stood before them, swarming with men with red crosses on their arms. She strained her eyes, hoping she would see Eugene and praying no men from Easy were wounded in there.

"Sergeant, I'm glad to see you." Winters shook her still bloody hand. She offered him a weak smile.

Esther recoiled deeper into Nixon's arms when a multitude of shots were heard coming from the road. Speirs blood lust had been satisfied.

"There's Easy's girl!" she pulled away from Nixon's arms, her apology once again being disregarded.

Guarnere drew her into a tight hug as Malarkey beamed before her.

"Damn glad to see you're here, Essie… Holy shit! Your leg!" White panned over Malarkey's freckled complexion.

Essie coughed, "You should see the Kraut who shot me!"

Nixon took a step forward, "Hey, fellas. I still gotta take her to Gene. You seen him?" They did not take their eyes from her bloodied pant leg but still jerked their heads in the direction of the building. Nixon offered quick thanks and manually placed her arm around his shoulders for support.

Eugene became an even paler shade of white when he saw her. He did not say anything but simply pointed towards bales of hay with a sheet draped over it. Nixon patted her on the arm after easing her down and turned to leave.

"Hey, Nix… thank you. I thought I would die out there… and well, thank you."

He gave her a solemn nod and left the building with a Lucky in his lips. Essie straightened out her elbows and closed her eyes as Doc cleaned the wound.

"Barely got my feet on the goddamn ground and I had to get shot- Ouch!" Eugene pushed down on her upper thigh while he dug a tool into the gash. "That hurts!"

Eugene's expression remained unchanged from exhaustion. He continued to work, ignoring her whimpers of pain. She pulled a Lucky from her pocket, thanking God she left the cellophane on so they did not get wet.

The instant the smell penetrated Roe's nose he finally broke and gave her a disapproving glare.

"What?" she snapped but in a teasing manner. "I think I deserve it."

With that he gave a final tug and pulled the slug from her flesh. She bit down on her lip and felt her teeth break through the thin skin. Eugene triumphantly held it in front of her face, "My first bullet!"

"Glad I could award you with such an achievement…"

He threw it in a white pan and began dressing the hole. The morphine kept the throbbing and burning to a minimum and brought her relief. She leaned back on her elbows and listened to her surroundings.

"Come on, you heard the word, let's move, let's move!" Lipton addressed all the men standing around a table. Esther sat up as fast as her body would allow her to, to find Eugene stuffing his shoulder bag with bandages.

"Hey! Where the hell are they going? Where the hell are yougoing? We just got here for Christ's sake!" Eugene pushed her down, but she stubbornly shot up again.

"They're takin' sum Kraut batteries."

"Great, I'm going."

Eugene protested and shook his head, "You need rest miss Essie. Ya can't be out fightin'."

"I might not be able to fight, but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and wait. I can handle being at least a nurse," she argued with the Cajun. "Spina isn't here yet anyway. You'll need the help."

"Essie, yo crazy. A wounded soldier taking care of the wounded?" He grinned, but dramatically brought his face back to its normal frown. "No."

Essie glared at him, and as he began to walk out to follow the rest of Easy she snatched his bag pulling him back. "Let me go." He protested once more. "I feel fine," she fired back. Doc let out a loud frustrated noise.

"If I let ya go, do ya promise to shut up, and rest when we get back?" Essie took her index finger and made a cross over her heart and silently nodded in satisfaction. Gene rolled his eyes and threw her her M1, and tossed a few bandages and morphine boxes into her arms.

"Rifleman… er, Riflewoman first, Nurse second. Got it?" he asked in a miffed Cajun accent. She nodded quickly, causing the oversized helmet to rattle on her head.

B.o.B.

Winters could be seen crouching down, giving hand signals to Buck Compton. More soldiers ran quickly and quietly past her and Eugene as they waited for a cry for a medic. When she looked out and across to see a beat up cabbage field, her fingertips itched to fire her weapon. Some time had passed as Winters gave precise orders, and made sure Lipton knew that the TNT was crucial. Multiple shots rang out from Compton, and they drowned out the Germans' small talk. When the silence was broken, all hell broke loose.

Essie jumped when she saw Guarnere, Buck and Malarkey chuck three grenades over the thick line of trees. This instantly destroyed the battery, yet the battle had only just begun. Essie saw Popeye crawling out from the trench, and she immediately sprung up from her and Eugene's spot. Her oversized boots tore through the soft dirt as she ran powerfully towards Buck. One hand was clasped around her M1 and the other held down her helmet. Many bullets nicked the top of the trench she ran along.

She turned and ran up behind Winters. They came up to a group of loud Germans. They shouted in words neither of them understood. As she watched the man scream his surrender with arms up, she didn't even notice Toye coming up from behind her. The next thing she saw was the begging German on the ground with a split lip. Essie looked over, and saw Joe clutching brass knuckles around his own. She looked up to him and gave a quick grin.

"I guess you did need those."

Winters tapped her back and with force pointed down the trench. She nodded and continued down, dodging large clumps of dirt. Losing her footing, Essie fell into Guarnere. "Fuck, Essie!"

"Sorry, Bill." She guiltily added. "What the hell?" Malarkey clambered up the edge of the trench, and sprinted to a dead German.

"Christ, they must think he's a medic or something!" Petty exclaimed, as they astonishingly noticed that he wasn't getting shot at.

"Hell, he's gonna need a goddamn medic!" Bill angrily cried. Malarkey skidded and fell as the bullets now rained down on him. Dirt from the missed shots flew up around him. Once he safely and finally reached the trench, and Essie released her fury at him.

The sounds of the war waned out and time slipped away.

"What the hellwere you thinking, you Mick! You could have gotten killed, goddamn it!"

Malarkey, Winters, Hall, Guarnere, Essie and Petty were gathered in the round dugout where the cannon was located. Lipton, who was caring for Popeye's ass, now didn't have the chance to set off the TNT that Winters needed. Hall, trying to fit into Easy, instantly gave up his.

Popeye Wynn was carrying on on the other side of the hill, "My ass, my goddamn ass." Essie crawled out to find Lipton cutting away at the blood-soaked material.

"Sir, I'll take care of him!" Essie yelled over the gunfire.

Lipton stood as she ripped open a packet of sulfur powder. "I fucked up, Essie. We just barely got here."

Her legged throbbed at the sight of his own wound, "We'll have to go AWOL together, Pop."

"I have no way to set it off, sir!" the kid cried, shoving the stick into the destroyed cannon. She concentrated on the blood before her, not listening to her surroundings. Winters scrambled about, digging through German boxes trying to find a Kraut grenade.

"Fire in the hole!" Winters warned, but it fell upon deaf ears. It failed, and sent shrapnel amongst the men. Hot metal ripped through her neck, forcing her back against the hard trench wall. Through squinting eyes she could see Winters running towards the other battery.

Essie screamed in pain, and brought her still crimson hand to her gushing neck. The sharp piece of metal was lodged in her neck. Essie swallowed hard and ripped the burning piece out from her flesh. Catching her breath, she looked over to find Guarnere still by her side. He looked at her as if she was a ghost; uncertain what to do with her.

"I'm fine, Bill," she said, yanking a scarf from his neck without permission. She gave a reassuring smile and turned to continue to hush Popeye. Interrupting her working hands, Winters came by, telling them to go back to battalion. She looked up into the sky in absolute relief. It was relief for herself and relief for the soldiers on Utah beach.

B.o.B.

Essie was in the back of a covered truck with the men she felt safest with. Across from her was Malarkey who was cooking up some putrid smelling slop. Even though she was still furious with him for earlier, she still cracked a grin when he made a joke about Buck's reservations. The boys still had a memory of life at home. Liebgott poked his head through the flap.

"God, get me some air." Winters noticed him, and he made his way over to the reeking truck. Essie was fortunate enough to have a CO that respected her but did not offer special attention. "What died in here?" Winters asked, bringing his hand up to his nose.

"Malarkey's ass," Guarnere answered, good naturedly.

"How is your neck, Sergeant Fusillade?" Winters asked Essie, with a genuine concern in his voice.

"Fine, sir. Thank you, sir." She croaked as she was caught in the middle of exhaling a draw. She was seated between Buck and Toye. Joe crossed his arm over her weary body, offering Winters a drink from the rancid bottle. He surprised all of the truckload by taking it without hesitation.

He swallowed hard, taken aback by the harsh liquid. "You drink, don't you Guarnere?"

"Yes, sir." And Bill took the bottle, and placed his lips where the 'Quaker' just had. You could cut the tension with a bayonet.

"Carry on. Oh, and Sergeant? I'm not a Quaker…" Winters pulled his head from the truck, and they all laughed until tears came to their eyes.

"Eh, he's probably a Mennonite!" The laughter continued. Her heavy chuckling caused her fresh wounds to throb.

"Essie, babe, you should eat. I know its shit, but you gotta eat something."

"No thanks, Don. I don't feel like eating." Malark decided to make it all a joke, "Ah c'mon! You can't still be mad at me from earlier!"

"I'm not, but I do need to get out of here." Essie stood up, and Joe's heavy arm slid off from her shoulders. Esther lifted the flap, and sucked in a gasp of the cool air as she bent over.

"First-class ass!" Guarnere called, but Lipton hushed him. Essie rolled her eyes and stuck her head back in the truck.

"Get your ass out here, Bill."

She wanted to talk to him about whatever he was talking to Johnny about. Hell, that was only a little more than 24 hours ago. Esther felt she had lived a lifetime since then.

Essie's boots made the damp gravel crunch. It was glowing from the overhanging moon. She heard the gentle and familiar sigh of a horse. Upon walking, or rather limping, closer- she sees steam rising off its damp coat.

She runs her fingers under the harness lathered in sweat, "What have they done to you?"

"You wanted me, cowgirl?" a south Philly accent called, taking swaggering steps towards her dark figure.

Esther did not look away from the soft eyes of the steed, "Bill, are you alright?"

"Yeah, why?" he responded almost angrily.

"I saw you talking with Johnny before the jump. Your face…"

There was a heavy pause.

"My brother was killed…"

Finally she turned her attention away from the horse, "Bill, I'm so sorry." He draped a hand over her shoulder. "I shouldn't have asked."

"It's ok, Es. It's given me something to fight for."

She lit two cigarettes simultaneously and handed one to Bill. She stroked the horse from arms length, keeping the smoke from its flared nostrils. They stood in silence for a moment.

"Why was Winters giving you that look in there?"

"Because I killed a bunch of Krauts and Kraut horses without his permission after we landed." He said it plainly and casually took a drag.

She paused her fingers on the velvety muzzle of the steaming horse, "What?"

Guarnere's eyes flashed remorse as he avoided her eyes and looked back at the wagon the horse was tethered to. "I was real heated, Essie. You can't be mad at me."

"SOUP'S ON!" Malarkey hollered out the back of the truck.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat, cowgirl?" Bill continued to avoid her damp eyes as he snuffed out his smoke. She felt sick to her stomach and offered no reply. Her silence sent out the desired message to Bill. "Fine then, see you around."

Esther turned and buried her face in the sweet smelling heat of the horse's muscled neck. She saw the yellow light coming from the tent reflect on the glistening flanks of the animal. Though still feeling unforgiving towards Bill, Essie was reminded of her own sibling waiting for her in Nebraska because of him. With a final pat, she left the bay horse to rest.

She pulled a slightly damp piece of paper and a nub of a pencil from her chest pocket. Leaning against a short brick wall that was overlooking a scene of bombings, she began to write with haste. They had an hour to rest before taking another French town with a name only the officers could manage to pronounce.

My Dearest Dixie Ann,

I miss you so much, and I think of you every day. You are always in my heart. I know I haven't written since I got my JumpWings, and a lot of exciting events have happened. We landed in Normandy, France last night. I was injured, but the memory of you kept me strong and a brave man named Nixon rescued me. Today I took part in another battle. I cannot do this without the thought of you held close in my heart.

I will write to you whenever I get the chance. I love you and I miss you more than words can describe.

Love from,

Sergeant Esther Fusillade,

Easy Company, 101st Airborne, 2nd Battalion, 506 PIR

XOXO

"I didn't know you were the type to sign your letters with X's and O's." A voice came up behind her. She abruptly lifted her head, but winced as it stretched her scabbing over skin. "I've sure been seeing a lot of you, Sergeant." It was true; she felt she could never get away from the mysterious man.

"Not under the best circumstances, Nix. Thanks again for this morning."

He smirked with a dark expression, "Thanks for making sound like a hero to your kid sister."

"You're a snoop."

He winked and drew his infamous flask from his back pocket. "How's the leg?"

Essie lit a cigarette in reply.

"Here," he offered his flask, noticing her watering eyes. "Take a swig."

Essie snatched it and put it to her lips. She noticed the harsh taste of the liquor mixed with the taste of Nixon's lips.

"Helps, doesn't it?" She silently nodded while wiping her burning lips on her sleeve. There was still grime coating her mangled hair. The paint from the jump could still be faintly seen, and she didn't have a fresh set of fatigues. She looked chaotic.

"So many men are missing…"

Nixon lit up his own cancer stick. Essie looked up to find his thick black eyebrows knitted together. His handsome face was illuminated by the orange light of the flip top lighter.

"They'll show up, sergeant. Who are you worried about?"

She turned and looked at the bombing that refused to let up, "Talbert and Grant. They were beside me in our stick and I didn't see them when I landed. What if there were more Germans than the one that shot me?"

Lewis scoffed and turned to leave, "Esther, we're in a war with Germany. There are Germans everywhere."He suddenly had a turn of expression after she mentioned Talbert.

"Thanks for that reminder, Nix."

Silence hung as they took turns taking drags from their cigarettes. Esther quietly watched the beaches but felt Nixon carefully staring at her.

"I need to go meet up with the officers. I'll see you around Esther, hopefully not because you've been shot again."

He turned to leave, leaving a trail of blue-grey smoke behind him. Essie stared after him as he strolled away and out of eye sight. Both Guarnere and Nixon had left her to wallow in worry as she watched the bright bursts of deathly explosions beneath her.

I struggled a bit with this chapter because I couldn't decide if she would be in the first battle… I mean, she just got shot, so it would be hard for her to fight. So Eugene in this is kind of my thought process. Anyway, this is all kind of farfetched, but I should remind myself and others that this is simply FanFiction.

Thank you for reading and reviewing!