The Spirit of the Corps » Band of Brothers

28: She's A Tough One, Eh?

The small French town on the outskirts of Carentan was bustling with activity before it was even light outside. Intelligence personnel sent orderlies to and from each other, officers hurried from building to building to communicate with each other, and NCOs started getting their men together long before the officers gave the order to.

Charlie hadn't been able to sleep. She'd slept too long earlier in the day when she'd fallen asleep on Floyd - which, incidentally, sent a raging blush flaming to her cheeks whenever she thought about it, and her brain decided to remind her of the event often - and spent the few hours she was allocated to sleep that night tossing and turning. She wasn't sure she even wanted to sleep; every time she closed her eyes, bloodstained faces screaming in agony flooded her mind and made her wish she hadn't bothered.

The field hospital was abuzz with activity as they prepared for the coming battle along with the soldiers outside. They'd be remaining there while the battalion pressed forward into Carentan, keeping back from the action and providing somewhat of a safe haven for the wounded to be transported back to.

The beds for wounded which had been pushed against the wall of the restaurant yesterday now dominated the space. Each nurse's allocated table with two chairs was pushed closer to the wall. Primarily, their orders were to assist surgeons, a direct contrast to what they'd had to do on the beaches of Normandy. Where were the surgeons then?

Each company had been allocated two contract surgeons, civilian doctors whose help had been enlisted overseas especially for the war effort. Charlie first met the two she'd be working with about five minutes before the soldiers of Second Battalion left for the assault on Carentan.

Lieutenant Maddox gathered Charlie, Mabs, Autumn, and Boo together to introduce them.

"This is Doctor Whitlock and Doctor Remington, the two surgeons we'll be working with for the duration of our time in combat. Lancaster and Vogel," Maddox said, looking between Charlie and Autumn respectively, "you'll be assisting Doctor Whitlock." She indicated the man on the left of the two surgeons. He was tall and thin with thinning grey hair and thick eyebrows. He smiled as he looked between Charlie and Autumn, inclining his head in a greeting to them. Charlie tried to smile politely back.

Maddox then turned to Mabs and Boo. "Edison and Hollister, you're with Doctor Remington." She spared the surgeons a final nod and looked back to the nurses. "Get set up. The troops'll be heading over right about now."

As Lieutenant Maddox left to confer with the commanding officers of Dog and Fox Companies' nurses, Charlie and Autumn headed over to properly meet Doctor Whitlock.

He smiled again as he watched them approach. "Leonard Whitlock," he introduced himself, sticking out a hand for them to shake. He was likely in his mid-fifties, which was promising - he had to have had at least twenty years' experience, compared to their one day's worth - though Charlie could tell by the way he looked between her and Autumn that he didn't really respect either of them.

"Lieutenant Vogel," Autumn said, shaking his hand once, firmly, before dropping it and stepping back. She was being curt and formal. She must have also gotten the impression that Doctor Whitlock thought of them as little more than decoration.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Vogel," he said, confirming both of their suspicions.

"Lieutenant," Autumn corrected him. She didn't smile, didn't laugh when he chuckled awkwardly, she just stared back at him coolly. "Lieutenant Vogel."

"Right." Whitlock nodded and turned to Charlie. "And you are?"

"Lieutenant Lancaster." Charlie shook his hand as firmly as she could. She didn't smile at him either.