| This story is for fanfiction purposes only and not for profit. The Combat characters we have come to know and love belong to ABC, but this story plot belongs to Linda Hubly aka Ranger. Copyright 2004. Enjoy.
A Cherished Moment Sergeant Saunders kicked the front door of the small farmhouse in at the same time as Kirby came through the back door, BAR in the firing position. Caje came in right behind the Sarge. The occupants that were sitting at their kitchen table eating a sparse dinner had an astonished look. The old man jumped up from his chair but was warned in French by Caje to remain seated. Kirby and Saunders checked the rest of the rooms. Finding everything clear, Saunders went to the door and waved Doc and Billy into the house. A few minutes later the two entered carrying a stretcher holding Littlejohn. “Over there, Doc.” Saunders said as he pointed towards a little sofa placed in front of a very large fireplace. It had been misty and cold most of the week they had been out on recon. Just this morning on their way back to headquarters they had run into an enemy machine gun nest. Littlejohn had been on point and took the first hits, getting struck in the shoulder and calf. Saunders and Caje, who had been in the rear of the squad, had been able to move to within striking distance of the nest without being detected. Within minutes their grenades had done their handiwork. But the damage had been done. Littlejohn needed help and fast. Doc did all he could do for him. Doc, Billy and Kirby gently transferred Littlejohn from the makeshift litter to the too small sofa. The best they could do was to prop the private’s head with a pillow and with knees bent over one side his feet were propped up on a wooden chair. Doc began to remove the old bandages and clean the wounds with the hot water from the kettle hanging on the rod in the fireplace. Gently he swabbed the wounds, added more sulpha and re-bandaged his patient. Meanwhile Caje had gone back to stand next to the Sergeant. “Caje, ask them if they’ve seen any Germans.” “Okay, Sarge. Caje answered. Then turned to the five people sitting at the table still distressed that these strangers were in their house. A woman around age twenty-three spoke up in English before Caje had a chance to ask the question. “I speak English. I was sent to England for school as a youth. We have not seen any Germans around here for over a month now.” Saunders questioned her, “Is this everyone that lives here?” The girl answered, “Yes. I am Michelle. This is Mama, Pappa, my younger sister Ami and my little brother Raphael. You are welcome to share what food we have left for dinner, Sergeant.” Noticing that they did not have much on the table the Sergeant quietly replied, “Thank you, Michelle, but the men have their own rations they can use. Tell your family that we will be here as long as it takes to get our wounded man in shape to travel.” Saunders continued, “Doc will stay in here with Littlejohn. The rest of us will bed down in the barn.” “Oui, Sergeant. I will tell them.” Michelle stated. “Caje, Kirby. Check out the barn.” Saunders ordered. “Nelson, go back the trail aways and keep an eye out.” “Okay, Sarge.” Billy answered as they all exited the farmhouse. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The family went back to their eating. The father suspiciously watched Doc work on his patient. He did not want trouble for his family and thought that having these American soldiers in his home would put them at risk if the Germans or French collaborators found out. Doc was almost finished bandaging Littlejohn back up. He was listening to the family speaking French and understanding nothing of what was being said. He was busy putting his medical supplies back into his ruck when he heard the melodic voice of Michelle behind him. “Doctor, would you like some coffee?” she asked him. Doc turned to face her. It was the first time that he had really looked at any of the family members. He was taken aback by her beauty and youth. She had lovely dark hair and eyes that went with her softly rounded face just perfect. Her voice was like a warbler back in his Arkansas. He stumbled with his voice as he said simply, “yes.” She poured him a cup of coffee and sat down on the floor next to him. “You are a Doctor? How is your patient?” Doc made that cute little smile of his and his eyes twinkled as he replied, “No. Not a real Doctor but a combat medic. I just try to stop the bleeding and bandage them and hope we can get the wounded back to the aid station to the real doctors in time.” There, he had said some sentences without stumbling and he was satisfied that maybe this could go somewhere. He asked Michelle about her family and her schooling especially going to England. She had told him this farm had been in her pappa’s family for four generations before him. It was a farm of about one hundred acres and that they raised chickens for consumption and eggs and goats and cows for milk and cheese for the villagers. It was hard work. Up early in the morning to late at night. Her pappa traveled into the village four times a week so that the villagers would have fresh food. Michelle was telling Doc that her pappa and her mama would be going to the village tomorrow and that she would be staying behind to work the farm with her younger brother and sister. She asked him now, “The Sergeant said you had your own food. Would you not like to have some bread and cheese to go with it? We do have enough cheese. My parents barter for the bread at the village tomorrow. We try to deliver most of our farm goods to the village so we do not keep much for ourselves. Our countrymen have got to eat also.” Doc said, “That’s a right fine noble thing to do, Michelle.” Doc could have kicked himself for sounding so stupid. She smiled at him and reached out and touched his face. Then stood and looked down at him, “Thank you. I did not catch your name Doctor.” “Doc. Everyone just calls me Doc.” He looked up staring at her beauty once again. She smiled at him and then left to go clean up after the dinner. Mama had already started washing the dishes. Pappa and Raphael had gone to the barn to tend the animals. When they had finished with the dishes Mama had retired to her room out of the way of the Americans. Michelle moved a chair over to the fireplace and stirred the fire. “Doc? How long have you been in France?” “Since Normandy.” Trying to make the conversation light he talked about France being a very pretty country. He said that he probably would never have visited here had there not been the war. In a way he was glad he was seeing the country but he did not like to see all the fighting, bloodshed and destruction of the land, the people and the buildings. “I think it will take a long time to rebuild this country after the war. But with people like you and your family I know that it can be accomplished.” They sat there talking back and forth into the wee hours of the morning. Pappa and her brother had come in a long time ago and retired to their rooms. Michelle had made some soup and had brought the bread and cheese over and they dined a late dinner together in the soft candlelight. Doc took a deep breath as he caught the glow of Michelle’s beauty once again in the glow of the candlelight as she stooped to stir the remains of the fire and add another log or two. Michelle then said, “It is time I also go to bed. You will be comfortable here?” If you need anything for Littlejohn help yourself. Mama and Pappa will be up very early to leave for the village.” She then walked past Doc placing her slender left hand on Doc’s shoulder as she left the room. Doc rolled out his bedroll next to the fire and fell asleep dreaming of the night. He awoke a bit chilly and just in time to catch the fire. Leaving Littlejohn for a few he went outside to stretch and collect water to make coffee. He ran into the Sarge washing at the well. “Sleep well Doc?” Sarge asked seeing the smile on Doc’s face. “Sure. Didn’t you?” Doc replied. “I guess so. If you call sleeping with clucking chickens, mooing cows, meowing cats and a bray of a goat here and there silent sleep.” Saunders quipped through bleary eyes. Doc laughed, “well it was quiet in the house and I did get some good sleep. Her parents are taking some food into the village this morning.” “Doc you must have really slept. They left about an hour ago.” Saunders said. “The boy is in the barn milking the cows and goats now.” Doc looked a bit surprised. He was usually pretty alert to noises while he slept. He didn’t realize he had slept through three people walking by him early that morning. “Oh. Well I have to bring the water in. I’ll have coffee for you all in a bit. I’ve got to check Littlejohn too.” “See you in a few, Doc,” Sarge said. Doc entered through the kitchen door and found Michelle had already drawn the water and started the coffee. She also had two huge cast iron skillets going frying up some eggs. “I am sorry we do not have more bread for toast or bacon for the eggs. You will be happy with just the eggs and coffee? I mean your Sergeant and his men too.” Doc was not too surprised at this; thinking that Michelle seemed to be one of a kind. “That will be fine Michelle. I’ll let them know when it’s ready. I have to check on Littlejohn right now.” Michelle came around the corner to find Doc hovering over Littlejohn. “May I assist you?” “Sure.” Doc answered handing her the bandage. They worked hand and hand cleaning and re-bandaging. Doc kept peeking over at Michelle. Her long dark hair falling over her cheeks and down over her shoulders. Darn she’s pretty. Michelle could feel the medics eyes on her and her cheeks blushed. She smiled to herself and began to hum a sweet tune. “I have to check on the breakfast again.” “It is ready.” Michelle called out to Doc as she set the table for the men and her siblings. Doc went out to tell Sarge of the breakfast. Saunders called to Caje and Nelson to go in and eat. He and Kirby would eat later. Sarge looked at Doc quizzically, “you alright?” Doc was taken was puzzled at the question, “Yea. Why?” Sarge smiled as if he knew something the Medic didn’t know, “You look a little too relaxed Doc. Sorta like your’e home.” Doc shook his head, “I’m fine.” He then walked back to the farmhouse wondering what the Sarge meant by that. Breakfast was over for most of them. Nelson and Caje went out to relieve Saunders and Kirby. Michelle sat on a chair by the fireplace and busied herself pretending she was doing some needed knitting while the guys ate. Her siblings were out caring for the animals. She kept glancing over to Doc who had eaten and now sat by Littlejohn’s side. This didn’t go unnoticed by the two left at the table. Caje looked up at Sarge with a big cat grin and twinkling eyes as he nodded towards Doc and Michelle. Sarge nodded in the affirmative with a sly grin on his face. Finished eating Sarge stood up and took his plate into the kitchen and returned to ask, “Doc. Can Littlejohn be moved yet?” Doc shook his head, “Not for a while Sarge. Maybe tonight or tomorrow would be even better.” “We have to get moving as soon as we can Doc. Just let me know.” Sarge replied as he turned and headed out the kitchen door with Caje in tow. Once outside Caje couldn’t hold it any longer. “Did you see that Sarge? I think our Doc is smitten with her.” With a grin but caution in his eyes he replied, “yea. Let’s hope it doesn’t get in our way though.” “Sarge, let Doc have some fun. His business in this war is very sad for him at times. He needs some happiness some of the time.” “You might be right.” Sarge said, “lets get going. I want you to check the farm in a perimeter circle this morning. Take Nelson with you.” “Right on it, Sergeant.” Caje was on his way in seconds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Littlejohn had fallen back to sleep and the room was quiet except for the crackling of the fire. Doc stood up and Michelle instantly did the same. She laid her hand on his. “Must you leave here so soon?” Doc was all mixed up now. His emotions lay in all directions. He had a duty to his country and his squad for fighting this war. He didn’t want to be here in the first place but now he was. He was seeing the destruction first hand in lives and property. Some of that destruction constantly fell apart at his hands as he tried to stop someone from bleeding or bandage a soldiers stumpy leg or arm. Never in all his time of being over in France had it ever occur to him that he could fall in love with someone in this country. Without thinking of the consequences he took Michelle and his arms and hugged her. She placed a kiss on his cheek. Had Littlejohn not been on the only sofa in the house the two of them probably would have sat on it together. Arm in arm just gazing into the fire. Doc pulled himself out of the embrace. “Michelle this can’t work. I’ve got to leave with the squad when Littlejohn is ready. You have your family and the farm to think of.” Michelle teary eyed looked up at Doc, “All my life I have been waiting for the right man to come along. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be someone from another country. I have fallen in love with you, Doc.” Doc stepped back a few feet to open some distance between the two of them. “I’ve fallen for you too, Michelle. I also did not think this could happen to me over here. I care for you deeply in just the short time I have known you. But it won’t work.” Their conversation came to an end when they heard the team of horses returning to the barn. “Mama and Pappa must be back from the village. I will make everyone a big dinner tonight. We will have bread.” Michelle said as she raced out to the wagon to help her Mama. Doc turned and was muttering to himself about the events of the last 30 hours. How could this be happening to him. The Sergeant and his men were invited into the house to share their meal. It was a meal that Michelle had cooked. She knew this would be the last dinner she would share with Doc and she wanted it to be special. After the meal when everyone had left for their rooms, the barn or guard duty, Doc and Michelle found that they were once again alone together with a sleeping Littlejohn. They sat on the floor in front of the fire and talked. Doc talked about his home in Arkansas and growing up near the woods and a river similar to Michelle’s farm country. The time would come early enough tomorrow when the squad would have to leave the little farmhouse. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saunders was up earlier than the old farmer. He hustled the squad together. They needed to move along now. Time was running short. Caje had reported a German platoon camped across the river the night before. Too close for comfort. He entered the house to find Doc preparing Littlejohn for travel. “Saddle up Doc, it’s time.” Doc glanced over to Michelle who was holding back tears. “Okay, Sarge. Give me about ten minutes.” “Make it five Doc.” Sarge said as he left the room to get Nelson in to help with the litter. Mama watched as her daughter walked over to where Doc was finishing up. Michelle planted a kiss on him and said, “I will miss you. Be safe.” Doc became flustered. “I’ll miss you too. I hope you and your family the best. Maybe I can see you again after the war ends.” Michelle softly said, “I would love that.” The squad said their goodbyes and thanks and took off over the hill towards home. They were moving slowly with the litter and Littlejohn. They didn’t seem to get very far when they heard rifle fire from where they had just been. Doc dropped his end of the litter so fast that it almost knocked Littlejohn off of it. He started to run back to the farmhouse when he heard Saunders order him to halt. Turning with anxiety in his eyes he pleaded with the Sergeant. “Sarge we’ve got to go back. They’re in trouble.” Saunders shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He stared back at the trail they’d just come up. Trouble clouded his eyes. He had to make a decision. Damn decisions. All the time a life and death decision. Kirby and Caje were at the ready for whichever decision the Sergeant made. The Sergeant shook his head. “Okay let’s go. Nelson stay here with Littlejohn.” Nelson went to say yes but the squad was already trotting down the trail towards the farmhouse. Caje was at point, Doc right behind him, Saunders and then Kirby taking up the rear. Approaching the farmhouse Caje held them up til the Sarge studied the situation. It didn’t look like the whole platoon, just a small squad. Maybe they had broken up and gone separate ways. Calmly, Saunders ordered Kirby go right, Caje left and he would go up the middle. Kirby rounded the corner of the barn and slid in the doorway. He tripped over something and looking down it was the body of Michelle’s father. He closed his eyes for a brief second and said a small prayer and then took his position by the barn door. Caje was ready at the outside of the kitchen door. Saunders had slowly crept up to the well and was now about twenty paces from the front door of the farmhouse. Two sentries were exchanging cigarettes. He needed a diversion. He turned to see where Doc was and was amazed to see Doc standing at the edge of the clearing, hands held high over his head. What the heck is he doing? With a sudden impact of knowledge, Saunders knew exactly what Doc was doing. He was decoying the sentries past the well to give the Sergeant an edge. Saunders prepared for the Krauts to move passed him and when they did he called out for them to stop and drop their weapons. His Tommygun pointed directly into the spine of the closest soldier. They did as they were told. He marched them right up to the front door. Kirby had seen what happened and was now approaching the farmhouse to Saunders left. Doc was hid behind the well till they had the household back in their control. Saunders had the soldier open the door. As they entered the first soldier went to swing back on the Sergeant. He missed but Saunders didn’t. He hit him with the Tommygun knocking him out cold. It was enough though that rifles barked within the home. Doc went a running forward. Everything happened so quickly. The Germans that had been inside had the family sitting at the table and when the soldiers had come in with Saunders behind them they had begun firing. Caje had come in from the kitchen door and was doing the same. He had a clear view of where the Germans were located. There were three inside near the fireplace and table. He shot two within seconds at deadly accurate aim. The remaining soldier took one last shot and it was directed at the family mother. Michelle moved to push her out of the way and took the bullet herself. Saunders jumped over the fallen Germans reaching and catching her just before she fell to the floor. He sat down on the carpeted floor and held her tight, “Get Doc. Fast.” he ordered. Doc flew into the room, his legs moving as if they had wings. He came to a screeching halt upon seeing Michelle and the red blood flowing down her blue dress. He kneeled beside her fumbling furiously through his ruck searching out the needed medical supplies. Saunders saw the tremble in Doc’s hand and the look of horror in his eyes. “Doc.” Sarge said quietly as he tried to calm his medic down. “Concentrate, take a deep breath. She needs you now.” Doc looked at him tears flowing down his cheek. “I’m not a doctor. I told her that when I first met her.” Saunders still holding Michelle in his arms just said, “She needs you now. You’re a medic and the best we have. You’ll do fine.” With his confidence building again, Doc probed the wound. Saunders heard Doc sigh in relief and mutter almost incoherently. “I think she’ll be fine. The bullet looks like it didn’t hit any vital organs.” Doc finished cleaning and bandaging Michelle. Finally finished he collapsed into a sitting position next to Saunders. Saunders gently picked Michelle up and moved her to the sofa by the fireplace. He then strolled over to Doc and tapped his shoulder. “Good work Doc.” Looking over to Caje he told him to tell the family to hitch up the team and they’d take them to the village where they’d be safer and Michelle could see the village doctor. They’d pick up Littlejohn and Billy on the way. Kirby and Caje buried the father. The boy led the cows and goats out of the barn and tossed hay down from the loft. He put some straw in the wagon and drove it up to the front door. Doc carried Michelle out to the wagon and laid her gently on the blankets. Soon the squad and the family were headed away from the farmhouse. At the village, Doc got Michelle to the local doctor. Saunders made sure the family had someplace to stay while in the village. In the meantime, an ambulance passing by coming from elsewhere on the frontline had picked up Littlejohn and taken him back to an aid station. The squad was ready to leave the village and head back to Lieutenant Hanley and company headquarters. Saunders went back into the Doctor’s home to get Doc. “Doc, it’s time.” Looking over towards Michelle he said, “Take care of yourself.” Michelle replied, “I will. I thank you and your men and wish you well.” Saunders waved goodbye and stood outside with Caje, Nelson and Kirby waiting for Doc. The Medic stood to leave. He took Michelle’s hand in his and kissed her goodbye. “I’ll miss you. You make sure you follow the doctor’s orders. Maybe we will get a chance to meet another time.” “Thank you Doc. I am so going to miss you. You take care of yourself.” She said. Taking a small pendant from her neck she handed it to Doc. “Carry this with you to remember me by. Will you?” Doc clasped it in his hands and with a lonely smile said goodbye to Michelle and walked out of the house to rejoin the squad. The End |
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