" The birds of hope are everywhere, listen to them sing."

- Terri Guillemets

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" Hazel?" the voice called, as Hazel cracked a slightly bleary eye upward.

" Hazel!" the voice called again in a whisper. She opened her eyes fully and slowly sat up with a rather pissed off expression.

" Who is it?" she asked quietly, as she reached up to rub her eyes.

" Who do you think?" the voice whispered and she realized it was Tab. She grumbled to herself and slowly stood up, throwing the blanket over the other sleeping girl and stood up pulling herself out of the foxhole, up into the chilly night air. She looked towards Tab in the dark, with large bags under her eyes.

" What?" she asked.

" Winters wants you out on the road, with your sniper, scope out if you see Bull and Lizzie showing up or something." Tab explained.

" What time is it?" Hazel mumbled as she yawned again, glancing up towards the moon and the stars as another blast of night air hit her.

" About 2330," Tab said glancing at his watch. She sighed to herself before standing and pulling her helmet on her head and shouldering her rifle.

" Your arm ok? Heard you took some shrapnel to it." he said in the moonlight as he glanced at the two women sound asleep.

" It'll be fine, that's what Gene said." she said with a tired smile up at him.

" That's good," Tab said, " I'll take you up there."

" Ok," Hazel said as she gave one more glance towards the two girls before following after Tab.

" What do they want me to do again?" she asked yawning, and Tab smirked as he took off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair before situating his helmet on his head again.

" Looking out for Bull and Lizzie, possibly Germans, stuff like that." Tab said.

" Boy do I love being a sniper." Hazel said with a laugh, before stifling another yawn.

" Ah you know you love it." Tab said wrapping an arm over her shoulder as she chuckled.
" Yeah, yeah I do." she said. Tab led her to a position, above the dike, where she concealed with some bushes, facing the town of Nuenen.

" Someone will be here to trade off with you at about 0400, but Winters wanted you to start out for the midnight shift since he trusts you a lot with the sniper and all, plus you have a scope." Tab explained, as he glanced at his watch.

" Well," Hazel said as she adjusted herself down onto the gravel ground against the bushes, and set up her scope, " looks like I better get comfy." Tab smirked at her.

" I'll see ya around, good luck," he said quietly, before disappearing over the dike again and into the group of foxholes. Hazel sighed to herself, as she turned to her better viewing scope that she could use in the darkness. She rested her cheek against the pad on the sniper and let her look through the scope in front of her toward the town.

She let her scope score the edge of the town, as she continued to see smoke billowing up above the town and every so often a bit of flame appear somewhere. She felt weird being alone in the middle of the night in the darkness. The day had already been so long and endless feeling so now as she sat there the exhaustion was as heavy as ever. She caught herself a few times as she almost fell asleep on the sniper, but she shot herself awake again, shaking herself awake or rubbing her eyes. She sighed to herself and soon the exhaustion overpowered her so much that she numb to falling asleep and felt like she was now permanently awake. She already didn't get a good amount of sleep last night, and now this was just not exactly enjoyable laying here, half awake it felt.

Hazel's eyes began to hurt from squinting and she had to wiggle around a bit to shake her slightly numbed body awake a bit. She couldn't stop yawning and it was slightly boring just lying here, forcing herself to be awake. She did see tanks moving, but they went down an opposite road, and would not disturb the sleeping paratroopers. The explosions she heard, she figured out was where the Germans were bombing Eindhoven.

Her heart felt heavy as she glanced back and saw the smoke and explosions. She tried to ignore the nagging in her head. The time clicked by slowly into the next day and she couldn't help but tell herself to sleep for a few minutes. But then she told herself no and to stay awake. It was like her own mental battle to stay awake. Hazel, near 0200, was wide awake at this point, the fight to not fall asleep long behind her. She enjoyed listening to the sounds of the night wind against the long grass, and the crickets that seemed scattered about.

There was a big open sky above her, filled with stars and the moon that twinkled down on her and she felt she wasn't as alone as she felt.

As 0400 neared, Hazel had seen virtually nothing as she had laid there, and she was just hoping to get at least 2 or 3 hours of sleep. When she heard the footsteps crunching toward her, she sighed in relief before glancing over her shoulder and finding Lip coming toward her.

" Hey, Lip." she said as he approached, and gently crouched down by her side.

" Hey there, Tiny." he said as smiled at her.

" My shift over?" she asked, hopefully.

" Yeah, you're done." he said and he heard Hazel sigh with relief as she slowly got to her knees, and collapsed the rifle a bit. He could tell she was exhausted, but he knew she had taken a hit to the arm earlier today, and was now out here for almost 5 hours on watch with the sniper.

" Try and get some rest." Lip said gently to her as she looked at him.

" Of course," she said with a nod. Lip smiled before moving into her position and setting up his weapon. Hazel slowly stood to her feet and adjusted her rifle on her shoulder.

" Bye, Lip." she said before offering a smile, and turning back towards the foxholes. Hazel moved towards her foxhole and happily discarded her weapon and helmet and tucked in next to Catherine, before falling fast asleep, easily, this time.

The next time Lizzie awoke, a few birds were chirping and there was light streaming into the barn through windows or peaked caved in spots of the roof. Bull was awake beside her.

" We gotta get moving." Bull said to her as he realized she was awake. She nodded. He slowly stood and then crouched beside her.

" Think you can stand?" he asked her. She nodded. Bull held out his hand and Lizzie shakily grasped it, letting out a pained cry as Bull pulled her to her feet. Her leg pulsed and ached all at once. Lizzie leaned against Bull before pushing up from him to stand on her feet. Her leg gave way and she collapsed into Bull again.

" I can't stand, my leg's numb." she whispered, her voice filled with horror.

" Here." Bull said and wrapped her arm over his shoulder, so she could at least hop on her one good foot. Bull slowly guided her out of the barn and into the bright light of the outside, morning world of Holland. The sky was filled with clouds as well as the pale blue it always was, and smoke blew around the entire town, where fires had once burned. Bull stopped their walking at a certain point and Lizzie looked down to see it was James Miller, one of Bull's replacements. Lizzie looked away and let Bull look at him for a moment in silence.

" Let me grab his tag." Bull said as he slowly placed Lizzie down against the little foot bridge nearby. Lizzie watched as Bull reached forward and pulled his tag from his neck. Bull watched Miller for a moment before suddenly the sound of a jeep, an Army jeep was heard. Lizzie looked up and a small smile etched onto her tired and pained features. She watched Bull stand and raise his weapon in the air, to show they were in fact Americans. The jeep stopped and Bull glanced back at the sight of the barn briefly before helping Lizzie up again. She groaned, a pained, exhausted groan as her and Bull slowly moved towards the jeep.

" She's injured." Bull called as they approached. The man on the machine gun of the jeep, jumped down to get on Lizzie's other side and help her toward the jeep. Lizzie let out a grimace as she was helped into a seating position next to the driver, her hand flying to her leg.

" What happened to you, ma'am?" the gunner asked her.

" Just a bullet wound." she muttered out in pain with a grimace. Bull slowly sat beside her and glanced towards her.

" You ok?" he asked her.

" Yes." she answered with a nod, grimacing, " I will be." The jeep started moving, driving off down the road toward where the company was. They rounded a corner and Lizzie watched through her eyes as she saw about 5 soldiers ahead of them; American soldiers. One raised his weapon in the air as the jeep slowly approached and pulled to a quick stop. She smiled when she saw Hoobler, and Webster, and Hashey and Tony, and begrudgingly Cobb. Hoobler let out a laugh as he approached and saw the medic and the Bull.

" Where the fuck you two been?" Hoobler said as he approached them. Lizzie smiled slightly.

" Glad to see you boys." Bull said.

" Not as glad as us." Hashey said.

" Bet you thought we'd given up on you there, huh, boss?" Cobb said as he leaned forward and Lizzie frowned.

" Shut up, Cobb." Hashey said.

" What?" Cobb said.

" I think we should go back now." Webster said from behind and Lizzie glanced at him with a smile.

" Hop in." Lizzie said and the group of 5 boys smiled. Hazel woke up to the sun beating down on her, or at least that's what it felt like. She opened her eyes more and glanced over to see Catherine wasn't there. She looked up and saw the girl sitting outside of the foxhole eating. Hazel slowly stood to her feet, yawning widely and sticking her head out of the foxhole.

" Good morning, sleepyhead." Catherine said to her as Hazel smiled and yawned again.

" Winters had me go up and do watch from 2330 to 0400 last night." Hazel said.

" Damn, really?" Catherine asked and Hazel nodded.

" Come on out, eat some food, you'll feel better." Catherine said, holding out her K-ration.

" Thanks." Hazel said as she slowly hopped out of the foxhole and sat with her.

" Bull and Lizzie still missing?" Catherine asked and Hazel nodded.

" Thought they would've shown up by now." Catherine said sadly. Suddenly the noise of a truck entering the area where the paratroopers had their foxholes rolled in with a group of soldiers in the back. Hazel's eyes lit up at the sight.

" It's Bull and Lizzie!" Hazel said, as she hopped up quickly, as Catherine looked over with wide eyes.

" Bull! Lizzie!" Catherine called as the truck pulled to a stop. Bull stepped out, but was the one to help Lizzie out. Lizzie didn't step out on her own.

" Hey, guys." Lizzie said.

" Lizzie you're hurt." Hazel said stepping forward to wrap her arm over her shoulder.

" I'll be ok, always am." Lizzie said, and then grimaced as she shifted it, " it hurts a bit."

" We'll get you up there." Hazel said as Catherine stepped back from hugging Bull.

" It's good to have you back, Bull." Catherine said.

" Thank you, Lieutenant." Bull told her and she smiled with a nod and wink. Catherine then came over to Lizzie's other side and began moving up the side of the mountain to where Gene would be most likely awaiting.

" Lizzie!" a voice called and the trio of women stopped and saw George coming towards them, a wild smile upon his face.

" Hey, George!" Lizzie said as George approached them. Hazel and Catherine let Lizzie stand for a moment and it seemed George didn't hesitate to pull the young medic into his arms in a tight hug. Lizzie fell against him in a hug and let out a quiet sigh into him. Hazel smiled softly. Lizzie stumbled back, hopping on her good foot a bit as George held his one arm on her shoulder.

" You ok?" George asked, eyeing her leg.

" Bullet wound." Lizzie confirmed as everyone looked at her.

" Bullet wound? Elizabeth!" George said as Lizzie smirked slightly.

" I'm fine, I'm shot up with morphine." Lizzie said as the women and George looked at her.

" Oh you're shot up alright." George commented and Lizzie snickered a bit, and then grimaced as she shifted a bit.

" Let's get you to Gene, alright?" Hazel said, as she slide up Lizzie's arm again.

" Yeah," Lizzie said, as Catherine came to her other side.

" You think you'll be taken off the line?" George asked her. Lizzie bit her lip.

" Hopefully not," Lizzie said, but she knew she would. It was a bullet wound and it was probably infected. George looked at her hopefully and nodded stepping back.

" I hope not." George called as the trio headed off in search of Gene.

" Lizzie!" a voice called and the girls looked up to see Gene rushing forward, removing his helmet, eyes already on Lizzie's wound, and the poorly wrapped bandage that was hanging from it.

" What happened?" he asked as Catherine and Hazel let Lizzie stand.

" Bullet wound, I got it out though." Lizzie told him; that didn't erase the worry from his face though.

" Here, let me get you to a truck, alright?" Gene asked her and she nodded, letting her arm wrap over his neck as she hobbled a bit. Lizzie glanced at the looks upon both Catherine Hazel's faces.

" I'll be ok." Lizzie said with a nod, " I promise."

" Stay safe." Hazel said softly with a nod and Lizzie smiled slightly.

" I promise." Lizzie said as Gene led her away towards a truck. Hazel and Catherine looked at each other.

" She'll have to be taken off the line." Catherine whispered softly running a hand through her hair and sighed. Hazel let out a quiet sigh and nodded, as she bit her lip worriedly, something was had caused her to constantly do now.

" She'll be ok though, remember that, Lizzie's tough." Catherine said wrapping her arm over Hazel's shoulders and Hazel nodded with a tiny smile.

" Yeah, she always is." Hazel said, convincing herself that with a small smile. Everybody was loaded up onto trucks, and moving out away from Nuenen, which was left up in smoke and flames. Hazel could see Winters looking toward the town from where she sat on the truck turning onto the road. She bit her lip, only before seeing him look over towards the truck and seeing Bull and Lizzie there with Gene, Bull's arm and shoulder wrapped up, Lizzie sitting beside Gene. Hazel could see the tiny nod Winters offered and she smiled to herself.

Catherine walked a little behind Nixon and Winters, knowing that what Nixon had just discussed wither her, was being discussed with Winters. They were most likely heading into more tanks, more soldiers and the need to find another way to get into Germany. She smiled a bit, as she looked over and saw Skip by her side. The war over by Christmas wasn't an option and it was clear that Holland and most of Europe was still swarming with Krauts.

" How you doing Lieutenant?" Skip asked her as the two walked in step a bit behind Winters and Nixon. Catherine smiled softly, glancing towards the trucks that slowly pulled away one after the other. Even if the war wasn't going to be over by Christmas, and they might have to fight for a few more months, that didn't matter in this moment. They had Lizzie and Bull back, two beloved members of Easy Company, and Catherine felt, for now, on this day, that's all that mattered. Catherine turned to Skip who smiled fondly at her.

" You know what, Skip," she said, wrapping an arm over his shoulder and looking towards him with a picture-perfect grin, " for now, I'm okay. We all are."

' MARKET GARDEN' was a high risk operation that failed. The Allies plan to end the war by Christmas 1944 was not to succeed. Easy Company's Regiment, the 506th, lost 180 men while 560 were wounded, including Elizabeth Elliot.

Of the entire 101st Airborne, 750 were killed and 2,100 injured. At Arnhem, the British 1st Airborne lost nearly 8,000 men.

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hello! we've finished episode 4 and POOR LIZZIE :( girl is going through it but at least our queen is staying positive as she can be, and it's only a minor wound!! episode 5 is up next and let me just say that, it'll be fairly long i feel if i can remember correctly - and they only get longer from here :)

thank you!!