Easy's Leading

Back in their old position at Foy, Flo felt like they were a tennis ball, going back and forth but never any further than the court. They were doing okay for med supplies these days which gave the medics some relief as they tried to settle down to get some rest.

Gene and Flo still had discussions about how they could get extra blankets or socks for the men. Pneumonia was Flos biggest concern as they were no where near getting proper beds and warm food where they could recover properly and if she didn't keep them as warm as possible then Flo felt she would be responsible for their deaths. This was what she signed up for, to protect the men from dying from natural causes. And she would even if it killed her.

Every night she went around and ensured the men were as covered as possible and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. At the moment that piece of comfort is all she could give them.

***

"Im worried about Don" Flo announced as she was sat with Lip in a foxhole looking over at Malark on his own.

Lip looked over and put his arm around her "I know, Winters agrees he could use a few days off the line. He wants me to ask him to be his runner for a few days"

Flo shook her head "He won't do that, Bucks leaving today isn't he?"

Lip nodded and gave her a knowing look "Alright Fizz, I'll go ask him"

Flo gave Lip a small smile and kissed his cheek "Thank you"

Flo then watched Lip and Malark walk back to battalion to say goodbye to Buck.

***

Flo was putting another bandage on Bull's foot as he said his boots were starting to rub when a man came up to her shaking and said "Sergeant said I had to come and see you"

Flo frowned "Okay what's the matter private?" she said finishing off Bull's bandage and helping him slip his boot back on.

"I don't really know Doc, I was digging a foxhole and was told to come and see you"

Flo studied him carefully while wiping her nose with her sleeve, he looked dazed and as she looked him over she noticed his hands were filthy and his nails looked ripped to shreds 'what had he been doing?' she thought to herself.

She smiled kindly at him and sat him down with his back to a tree "Okay I'm just going to pour some witchazel onto your nails private just to ensure there's no infection and try to keep them as clean as possible for me" she said in a gentle voice.

He winced as she cleaned his nails "Sorry" Flo said continuing with her work, the man then said "Doc, do you ever get scared?"

She glanced up at him "Sometimes, but then I remember what I signed up for, to protect the men who are protecting home"

He nodded "Your a brave person doc, I think...... I think I'm scared"

Flo took his hand properly in hers "I'll let you into a secret private, you see the Toccoa men and you think they're not scared. They are. I've known them for almost 3 years and they are definitely scared, they're just better at hiding it. You mate need to process it, so you're going sit here until I say otherwise and hold my hand, close your eyes".

He closed his eyes and they sat there in silence for almost 2 hours.

When he re opened them, he gave a small smile and said "Thank you Hilton, I feel peaceful", she smiled and nodded and watched him walk off.

"Please God protect him" she whispered to herself.

***

As Flo was walking to the food, Lieb came up and swung an arm around her "Hey Flo Flo you hear Easy's gonna be leading the attack on Foy"

She rolled her eyes "No shit sherlock, Easy always leads, I agree with Perc, battalion doesn't like us"

Lieb smiled and gave her a squeeze before going on to spread his gossip. The next person to come up to her was Bull "No risks Fizz, we've lost enough men these last couple months"

She gave a nod and went to sit with Gene. She started asking him what he knew about the attack "Come on Gene, your the bloody ranking medic they need to keep you informed"

Gene rolled his eyes and sighed "Just cause your my favourite, one medic in the attack, and one in support to come down if there's any trouble"

Flo nodded "I'll go down with the first push", Gene immediately grabbed her arm "No! Flo I am going" he said sternly and with a serious expression on his face.

"Gene, I cannot sit there and watch the people I love go into battle with that dickhead in charge. I am going in, you can be in support. Final"

Flo then stood up and stalked off. Babe then came over to Gene and gave a small laugh "She's a handful isn't she".

Gene shook his head and glanced at Babe "You have no idea".

***

The next morning the men and Flo were gathered by the treeline in front of Foy, they had a large open field to cross and Flo noticed Winters giving foxhole Norman a good going over of the plans.

She closed her eyes and layed her back against a tree and was undisturbed until a voice she had missed said "Private Hilton we meet again"

She smiled and opened her eyes "Captain Speirs I'm glad we have" she said standing up and saluting.

He scoffed "No need for formality Florrie, how are you?"

Flo shrugged "I'm okay, have a bit of a cold but its unsurprising, why are you here?"

"Dog are in support of Easy, Happy Birthday by the way, I didn't get a chance to tell you when you were in the foxhole"

She gave a small smile "Well you certainly did your best to scare the poor lads out of their wits"

He laughed and then patted her arm "Stay safe for me Florrie, no heroics while I'm here watching please"

She gave a jaunty salute "Of course Captain, I always do as I'm told"

He mumbled "Yeah right" under his breath and with one final dazzling smile he walked over to where the plans were being explained.

Christenson immediately came over to her "Flo does he not terrify you"

She laughed "No chris he doesn't, he's a good soldier you all need to get over yourselves"

He was about to reply when Gene waved her over "Right Flo, you'll go in with 2nd platoon, Winters has begrudgingly agreed for you to be part of the assault team"

She nodded and gave Gene a quick hug "Take care Gene" she whispered, before walking over to where Lip had gathered 2nd.

Before she knew it Flo was following Lieb into Foy and everything was going okay, they were moving fast across the open space and the Germans had not yet prepared their mortars.

Suddenly she heard a voice that sounded petrified shout "Hold up!"

Flo used to listening to orders stopped in the middle of an open field, 'what on earth, we're sitting ducks' she thought as then she heard Lip shout "Keep moving"

Flo moved over to hide behind a chicken coop and Chuck joined her. She then watched as Lieb and Bull blew up a shed killing 3 Germans inside. But as Lip had to follow orders he eventually told everyone to find cover as Dike was shouting at them to hold.

Flo whispered furiously to Chuck "What does he think he's doing, they're gonna mortar us"

Chuck whispered equally as angry to her "I heard him say that he can't  see 1st platoon, well maybe if he opened his eyes he would be able to, we need to move forward or hook up with Lip so he can tell us what to do"

Flo was thinking but then the mortars started, "Bloody hell!" she shouted. Chuck tapped her on the shoulder and she saw Johnny and Foley from 1st running over to where she suspected Dike was hiding.

"Thank goodness there have been no calls for a medic" Flo shouted to Chuck as he was busy observing the surroundings.

He finally shouted to her "We need to get over to Lip"

Flo nodded and prepared herself as Chuck counted "1,2,3!". They started running like hares towards the haystack, the sniper trying to catch them. Chuck tripped over and Flo caught him by the hand and dragged him up with her.

As she was pulling Chuck, Flo felt a familiar thump on the side of her head and it was only Chucks hand on her that kept her upright as her helmet fell to the snow. The two skidded behind the haystack and Lip gave the two a relieved look.

"What on earth is going on" Flo said, her braids exposed.

Although, she quickly evaluated the situation as Luz was shouting at Dike telling him Winters wanted to talk to him over the radio and Lip was asking for orders. With everyone shouting at him dike looked frozen, so Flo clapped her hands in front of him and said in a dangerously calm tone "If you don't talk to Winters and get us moving I will motivate you to move by kicking you up your arse, do you understand?"

Evidently he did not as he still sat there unmoving and as Flo looked around at the mortars, she felt helpless.