Hold The Line

Flo stood up in her trench ready to move off on her rounds. She winced from the pain in her frozen body, her thin coat barely contained any heat and with her period cramps she felt ready to quit.

She slowly managed to push her body forwards and moved into the forest to reach the next foxhole. They were trapped in the Ardennes forest, they had been surrounded very quickly by the Germans. This meant there were little to no medical supplies and Flo hated doing it, but they had to scrounge from the men.

Gene was away looking through 3rd battalion for scissors, 'bless him' she thought, out of all the things he could look for he looks for something to help other people. This put a small smile on her face as she approached Perco and Skinnys foxhole. As the 2 jokers saw her approaching they moved over calling out "Hiya Fizz". She slid in and cuddled into Skinnys side while he pulled the blanket a bit towards her, but she pushed it away.

"You need it more" she said about the blanket and then continued "do you have any supplies boys? Any sulphur, morphine, bandages or scissors?" she asked thinking of Gene and the wounded she hadn't been able to help as much as she wanted to.

Perco looked through his satchel "Here you go fizzy, got a thing of morphine but nothing else. How are you holding up Floss?" he asked with a frown etched on his face. The men knew the toll the constant barrage and conditions was taking on the young girl, she was no longer seen with an easy smile or a quick joke couldn't make her laugh as loud as it used to. She seemed a completely different person since Paris and this concerned the boys. They wouldn't let her be broken.

She shrugged her shoulders "I'm alright, I'm worried for you boys though, are you keeping as warm as you can?".

Perco and Skinny exchanged glances while Skinny with a small cough said "Erm Floss we heard you being sick last night". Flo raised her eyebrows and gave a small smile "Don't worry about me, it's just a little womens issue, nothing to worry your pretty little heads about". They gave little laughs at that and she hugged them and left to go to the next foxhole, this happened to be Babe and Julian. She slid in next to them and gave them both kisses on their foreheads.

"Hey lads, you got any medical supplies? Morphine? bandages? Sulphur?" she asked with hope in her voice.

"I'll have look Fizzy" Babe said sorting through his bag and checking his pockets. He looked up after looking and shook his head "Nothing, I'm sorry fizzy. Did you hear Muck and Penks argument last night?" he said smiling slightly.

She smiled in return and replied "Yeah, I don't understand why they started discussing what type the trees are? Their both a pair of divs aren't they".

Julian then piped up "I'm surprised the krauts didn't hear them and start firing at us again" he rolled his eyes. She could see the stress of their situation was beginning to wear thin on the replacements. The toccoa men (and woman) were used to rough situations and they knew how to be tough and pull together to get through. They learned that lesson early on in their training with Sobel, it's why their so close to each other. Flo knew the replacements, unless they had come early on like Babe or Ramirez were struggling with not having a strong connection to the others or the experience to deal with the situation. Flo tried to spend a bit longer with the replacements and try to provide them with some friendliness and comfort, but some of them were wary of her because of her 'fame' in the ranks.

They felt like she wasn't a proper medic or was there for promotion, mind you they got a slap on the head if they did or said anything hurtful to her from her boys. They soon saw that she was the real deal, but the newer ones were unsure of how to act around her.

Flo nodded to Julian and said "If you need me lads give me a shout" and crawled out of the foxhole and crouch walked to Cobb and Ramirez. The other day Ramirez had spoken to her about how difficult he found Cobb, she had given him flavoured boiling water and sympathy, but she couldn't do much else.

"Hey boys you got any medical supplies?" she asked while breathing into her hands to try and warm them. Her fingerless medic gloves did little to stem the cold.

Cobb immediately shook his head. While Ramirez actually looked through his bag and pulled out a small line of bandage."Here you go Floss, I'm sorry its not much" he said apologetically. She felt tears welling up in the way he said it, "thank you" she said almost choked. She gave Ramirez a kiss on the forehead and a hug before she spotted Gene reporting to Winters. Flo hurried over and put an arm around Genes shoulders. She had to stand on her tiptoes to do it, but he looked so cold and tired, she wanted to give him a small form of comfort.

He smiled at her and popped his arm around her waist. She then looked at Winters who was shaving, she started chuckling at the sight and Winters turned and gave her a soft smile in reply. "There's no harm in looking your best Florence" he said with amusement lacing his tone. She chuckled again and replied "I quite agree Sir, I think your behaving admirably and keeping the standards of the 101st Airbourne up" she said in a fun tone, to which Winters and Nix who had appeared started laughing at.

Nix looked terrible, as he usually did these days unfortunately. He always had a flask of what she guessed was VAT 69 about his person, once she had tried to hide his flask in her med satchel but he had ordered her to tell him where it was and she couldn't disobey. Despite that they still had a close relationship and tried to look out for each other.

As Winters was about to ask the 2 medics for a situation report, Strayer came into the 'gazebo' and told them Mcauliffe who was acting battalion Co and Col Sink were coming in. Flo sighed and wiped her sleeve on her runny nose, she pushed her helmet above her eyes and studied Gene. He had been a god send the past weeks, making sure they took shifts so even though Flo didn't sleep more than an hour or 2, she always had time to sit and think. Gene also looked after her when she was sick and kept her as warm as he could night and day, but she could see the exhaustion and numbness in his face, his red nose, red rimmed eyes and bags under them told her a story......it didn't look like it was going to be a happily ever after.

As she thought all this she looked away from Gene and toward where the truck had stopped. Mcauliffe and Sink stepped out and Mcauliffe immediately asked Strayer "Tell it to me straight".

Strayer started "We've been taking ground in one position General, lost it in another and now it looks like a standoff. We're digging in on the edge of the forest".

Winters then continued on "We're under sporadic artillery fire General and we're taking a lot of hits and we have no aid station". Mcauliffe then glanced at the 2 medics standing there looking broken, he nodded in response and motioned for Winters to continue We've run out of food, we have no winter clothes and we have little or no ammo. The lines spread so thin, the enemy wanders into our CP to use our slit trenches, Sir. We can't cover the line".

Nix then pipes up " Sir I took a walk last night about 0300, I got lost and eventually tied up with 2nd platoon but we aren't covering the line".

Mcauliffe nods but then shrugs and says "We're doing the best we can. Hold the damn line" he then walks away with Sink back to their truck.

Flo looks at he rboys dejected faces and takes a chance. She hurries over to Mcauliffe and Sink before Gene or Winters can stop her "Sir!" she runs before they start the car. "What is it Hilton?" he asks.

She starts her little speech "Sir, I have little to no medical supplies. Men who we could save are dying and even though when I or Doc Roe are runners to Bastogne we try and scrounge around no one has anything. Sir do you have any morphine, bandages of sulphur for us. It would be much appreciated" she asks in a neutral tone. Mcauliffe looked at the young girl and was impressed, she had more substance than he had given her credit for. "I've heard stories about you Hilton, all praising your bravery and dedication. I must say for once the stories ring true. You keep this up there could be a medal" he says smiling.

Flo shook her head and replied "I don't think so Sir, I'm only doing my job. Same as Doc Roe, Doc Spina and all the other medics. Nothing special about me".

He smiled slightly and took a syrette of morphine out of his bag. He dropped it into her hand and then left the forest.

She walked back over to Winters, Nix and Gene and their faces were a picture. Winters and Gene looked concerned while Nix was laughing and saying "You never fail to surprise me Florence Hilton".

She shrugged, smiled and then walked to Winters who was signalling her and Gene to follow him.

He then started talking "1st battalion have pulled out of Foy. We're in a very precarious situation. I need you two to be on it and prepared. Try and keep spirits up, Florence I know that's your strong point. Now how are you both hanging with supplies".

Flo jumps up and down a little trying to keep herself warm but she starts coughing and Gene has to pat her back while he replies to Winters as ranking medic " No plasma, couple of bandages. Practically no morphine. In fact I tried to find my way to 3rd battalion looking for supplies, but lost my way". Winters nods and takes a syrette of morphine out of his coat pocket.

"Here you go doc, if you can't get over to 3rd hook up with Doc Ryan, he'll fix you up with what he has to spare" Gene nods and gives a forced smile which only Flo notices is forced.

Winters then turns to Flo "What about you Fizz, how're you doing?"

She shrugs and says "I'm doing all I can sir, my main concern is the men as they have to do all the fighting. Except sir, do you have any pain meds?" she asks a little timidly. Gene knows it's for her stomach cramps and puts a protective arm around her shoulders. Winters looks at her with sympathy but comes from looking in his bag empty handed." I'm sorry Fizz I don't, try and get some rest and something for your cold, I know it's hard but keep going". She nods and turns to walk back to the medic foxhole with Gene.

As she walks she plays with her daisy and grandmother's necklace in her fingers thinking about the people she misses. She wonders whether Speirs is back from rehab yet. She hopes not. She hopes her family is curled up in front of the fire not thinking about being cold, she hopes James is with his friends and not living in fear, she hopes Alicia is safe in her job and isn't near the front and she hopes Libby and Juliet remain safe from the knowledge of what happens in war.

Gene leaves her side muttering about going to see Doc Ryan. This snaps Flo to attention and she starts back on her rounds. She spots Bill coming back to his foxhole, she walks over and puts the best smile she can on her face "Hiya Bill, how's your leg?" she asks scanning him to look for any obvious injuries".

"Hey Fizzy, my legs fine but I got another issue, I'm pissing needles, doc roe came by but he seemed stressed and was off before I could ask him properly"

She nods and crouches next to his foxhole "I'm really sorry Bill but I don't have any pain meds for you, no penicillin or anything. All I can say is try and keep warm, cuddle up to Joe. On my next run to bastogne I'll try and find another blanket for you but....." she struggled with what to say but Bill seeing her predicament waved her off.

"Fizz don't worry I know it's not your fault. Your keeping us going, but you can't fix everything. It'll be fine in a couple of days I'm sure"she smiled at him as he got comfy in his foxhole. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and said a quick thanks before walking to the next one.

She comes across Lieb and Alley next, "Hey lads she says as she scoots in and cuddles into Liebs side" you got any med supplies?".

Alley looks around but doesn't have anything" Sorry fizz". Lieb on the other hand "I've got my med kit if that's any help Fizzy?". She looks at him and kisses his forehead, "Lieb your a dream" she says and gives Alley a quick hug and then she's on her way again.

Suddenly she hears an explosion, she dives on the floor and screams "Artillery! Everyone into your foxholes!". She sees them all scrambling in and can see Lieb and Alley motioning and calling her to get into theirs. She starts crawling forward towards them but then hears the dreaded "MEDIC!".

She stands and runs towards where she thinks the sound came from, she weaves in between the trees and artillery. At one point one lands a bit front of her which throws her back, but she's up again in less than a minute and stops to listen again for the call.

"Come on, come on, come on" she mutters to herself.

"MEDIC!" She hears again and this time she recognises it. "Penk" she whispers and runs to his foxhole.

She comes onto the scene and notices its his leg and Gene is trying to get him to take his hands off the wound. She dives next to Gene and starts saying in a calm voice "Alex let me and Gene take a look at it and we can fix it" when he still doesn't take his hands off she starts to feel anxiety bubbling inside her. Penk keeps saying "It's the artery, I know it is. I can feel it" he almost whimpers.

Gene is starting to get stressed and annoyed so Flo puts a hand on his shoulder and shoves him back a bit and she sits next to Penk and puts her hands on his over the wound.

He's crying "I'll bleed to death Floss if I take my hands off, I'm not going back to an aid station" he says looking at Flo.

Gene then snappily replies "Your in luck Penkala, we ain't got no aid station". Flo gives Gene her 'shut up and help me' over her shoulder and he immediately sighs and helps her getting the sulphur ready.

"Penk I'm going to take over, so you can take your hands off" she says in an authorative voice. He looks like he isn't going to so she says again "Do you trust me Alex?", he nods and takes his hands off. Immediately as a team Flo and Gene pour sulphur on the wound and wrap a tight bandage around his leg. As she is tying the bandage Flo suddenly knows she is about to be sick, she let's go of the bandage and dives as far from the 2 as she can and throws up.

She hears Penk ask if she's okay, to which she snaps "I'm fine". Then she replies softer "I'm sorry Alex, yes I'm fine, just got a sore stomach. It'll be fine in the morning". He nods and gives her hand a squeeze. Gene finishes the bandage and tells Penk he's gonna be fine.

Gene walks Flo back to the medic foxhole and sits down next to her, with an arm wrapped round her and the thin blanket covering them.

Gene studies her and notices the black bags under her eyes, the red nose and eyes, pale face and her baggy uniform showing she's lost a lot of weight 'too much' he thinks.

But all Gene can do is provide her with the comfort of an arm wrapped round her shoulders.