" No matter how difficult life becomes, there is always hope."

- Drew Pinsky

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Catherine sat on a stool in the CP wide awake.

Peacock had come by the CP after dinner and seen the girl, sitting worriedly, and asked if she wanted to go back to the foxhole, but she'd declined. But everyone else was on edge and awake as well.

Winters was awake, and sipping bland coffee, Nixon had scrounged up a cigarette and was smoking it to take off the edge that never really overwhelmed him, but did now. Harry was asleep nearby, he was the only one that had managed some rest at the moment, after he had reassured the group multiple times she'd be ok.

That Hazel would be ok.

Lip had visited until it was so late that he grew exhausted and cold by the 3rd visit, but he was worried for Hazel. Dike was nowhere to be found, but everyone had figured as much; he was never where he was supposed to be.

Instead, Liebgott had made a few frequent visits. The first time, him and Catherine talked, and the second time as well. By the third time, he was anxious that she wasn't back yet, but Catherine had told him to get rest and they'd see her in the morning.

Catherine was still awake at the moment. She was biting her frozen finger, worriedly, her heart racing.

Hazel may not know it, but she was kinda of the only stable one among the girls at the moment, even if she didn't think it. Lizzie was getting sick, and sicker by the day, and Catherine, herself, was distraught over Julian. Hazel however, whatever had been stuck in her mind, had turned her into one of the warmest people out here, remaining optimistic and positive among the group. Catherine was so thankful for her in that way and for the sisterly love she provided.

Catherine couldn't lose Hazel to the bullet of a German and neither could the men or the women. No one could. Catherine kept her eyes out towards where she had led Hazel towards when her patrol had first started. She knew Hazel could do this though; she'd trained hours for this, days, over 2 years.

This was her moment.

Then she began to see a figure, a tiny figure's outline in the shimmering of the moonlight, and a body on the figure's back. They stumbled a few times, they tripped, but their grip on the person remained strong and determined. Catherine slowly rose from her stool.

" It's Hazel," Catherine whispered. Winters looked up from his mug and Nixon slowly rose. Harry shook himself away.

" Hazel," Catherine repeated, as Hazel came into view, her nose bright red, black rings under her eyes from exhaustion, her face pale white, her lips blue, her fingers white and shriveled from snow and cold. Catherine turned and raced out of the CP and hurried towards Hazel and the body.

When Catherine came upon Hazel, the girl's face was calm, even though she was straining to hold the boy's body upon her shoulders. Catherine felt relief fill her system as Hazel had to let the boy fall gently to the ground. Hazel swayed on her feet as she looked at Catherine. The two girls wrapped each other in a tight hug and Catherine had to shut her eyes, from letting out a cry.

" Hazel," a voice said and the two girls broke apart to see it was Winters and Nixon and Welsh coming towards the two.

" Sir, I know you said not to bring the body and report back, but I couldn't do that," Hazel said softly, " I couldn't leave him." Winters looked at Hazel in the early hours of the day, maybe 0300 in the morning, exhausted and tried but with the person they had initially wanted, the body they needed.

" I don't care about that, Hazel," Winters said gently to the young girl," all that matters to me is that Private Julian's family with receive his belongings." And Hazel smiled, lighting up her face softly as she did so.

" Thank you for what you did," Winters told her with a smile and Hazel's face lit up in the darkness. She nodded.

" You can head back to your foxhole, we can take care of this from here," Catherine said. She didn't want Hazel to worry about dealing with the body. She wanted Hazel to get some rest.

" Ok," Hazel said and smiled to the group before turning and heading away moving towards the foxholes. Her head felt frozen, even with the helmet on her head, and the fact it was night time , with icy blasts hitting the bare spots around her wrists. She crossed her arms over her chest and just prayed that soon she'd be under a blanket and warmed.

Hazel slowly walked over to where she knew Liebgott and Alley's foxhole was. When she opened the tarp, she expected to see both of them sitting under there asleep. Instead Alley wasn't there, and it was just Liebgott who was awake.

" Hey, Lieb," Hazel said, and Joe looked up at the sound of her voice.

" Hazel!" Joe said, sitting forward, his eyes shining as he watched her crouch by the side of the foxhole. She grinned softly, sniffling a bit, as she looked at Joe's eyes.

" C'mere," Joe said shifting over and patting the spot beside him. Hazel slowly slid inside, crawled in beside Joe and setting her weapon to the side, before looking up at Joe with soft eyes.

" You don't know how happy I am that you're back," Joe said, watching as a smile spread on her lips.

" Were you worried, Lieb?" she said with a soft giggle watching him. Joe smirked softly at her as she looked away and adjusted her OD coat in the front of herself. Joe's smirk fell and he watched Hazel with the softest gaze. She looked cold.

" Here," Joe said, gently bringing the blanket on his body over hers a bit, covering her tiny legs and tiny body, as he gently tucked it in around her. He noticed she had looked paler and colder when she entered. Hazel slowly glanced up at Joe with a tired grin, as she adjusted beside him.

" Thanks Joe," she said, cuddling under the blanket and giving off a tiny shiver, a slight chatter of her teeth following.

" How was it?" Joe asked her, and she glanced up at him. Hazel let out a sigh and shrugged.

" Just seeing his body there," Hazel said shaking her head, " it wasn't what I expected to see. You know, I was just thinking of what his parents are going to think when they get his dog tag." Joe looked at her.

" He was only a year younger than me," Hazel said, shaking her head.

" I know I'm not the most sentimental type, Hazel, but I know when something's bothering you. You know you can talk to me, I am your best friend. I hate to think you'll keep it on your chest," Joe said as he looked her way. Hazel's heart warmed. Hazel smiled at him, and Joe noticed her dimples show up. They always did when she smiled. She curled her knees up to her chest and let out a sigh.

" Thank you, Joe," she said quietly looking at him in the silence of the snow falling outside and hitting the top of the tarp. The two looked at each other, as Hazel's eyes seemed to shine in the night. Hazel gently took his hand in hers and began gently curling and uncurling his fingers. Joe watched her, his heart pounding faster and faster by the second and she didn't even know.

" You're still wearing this?" she said with a slight giggle, touching the bracelet she had given Joe, which lay on his wrist.

" Of course I am," Joe said, as he watched Hazel smile.

" You just have a little piece of me," she said, her fingers like ice on his skin, and Joe watched her smile. Then she looked up at him and her smile grew, like a child in a candy store.

" What?" she asked, noticing him zoned out.

" Nothing," Joe said shaking his head and looking back down at his hand in her grasp, " just zoned out for a second."

" Tired?" she asked him with a tiny smile and he nodded, before a smirk grew on his face.

" You know," Joe said, " I remember back in Aldbourne, how quiet you first were." Hazel met his gaze with a slight smirk.

" I was quiet wasn't I," she said, sighing, it felt like such a while ago.

" Sometimes the quiet ones are the best ones," Joe said and winked at her.

" What? Did you tell that to the girls you courted back home?" Hazel said with a smirk his way.

" Nah, figured I'd save it for you," he said and Hazel laughed.

" You're lying," Hazel said and Joe looked towards her with a raised brow.

" How do you know that?" he said cockily.

" Joe Liebgott, I know things," she said and crossed her arms letting out a shiver.

" Oh really?" he said, " Yeah right."

" Oh yes," Hazel said smirking at him.

" You're a sneaky one, Tiny," Joe said, then leaned down to her ear, " I like sneaky ones." She punched him in the arm, as Joe laughed.

" Shut up." she muttered through a yawn.

" Someone's tired," Joe said and she nodded yawning wide again.

" Get some rest," he told her.

" You sure?" she asked.

" Yeah, go ahead, you need it," he said. She smiled softly. Joe gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, letting her cuddle into his fairly warm side, and burrow in like a little bird, letting the world fall away for a night, and the wonderful, blissful feeling of sleep encapsulate her.

Lizzie slowly stumbled towards the medic foxhole, shivering, her mind a boggled mess. She slowly knelt down by the side of the tarp and pulled it up, before noticing the 3 men inside; Spina, Babe and Gene, all curled up together. It was snowing harder. Lizzie slowly slid down into the foxhole and pulled the tarp closed over them again, instantly feeling warmer than she had been. She was careful, hopeful to not brush against Gene, but she did and she thought she woke him up.

" Lizzie?" Gene said softly and Lizzie looked up to meet his gaze. She nodded in the darkness.

" Did you just get in?" he whispered softly. She hesitantly nodded. Gene slowly sat up a bit and placed a hand on her forehead.

" You're freezing." he said softly as Lizzie watched him with sad eyes.

" C'mere." he said softly, shifting a bit over into Babe. Lizzie nodded and slowly moved the medical satchel from her shoulder and crawled under the blanket into Gene's side. Instantly, Lizzie attached herself to Gene, curling into his side, curling her arms against her body as she snuggled into his body. He was so wonderfully warm.

" I lost track of time, checking on the boys." she whispered softly, her voice trembling as she spoke, shivering madly, craving for any bit of warmth Gene might be able to provide her.

" Try and rest, cherie," Gene said softly, making sure the blanket was tucked in around her freezing figure. She nodded gently beside him, coughing a few times before shutting her eyes in Gene's blissful warmth. She was asleep within minutes.

When her eyes fluttered open the following morning, all she could see was a dark space, but there was a bit of light peaking out as well. And there was a rather warm limb holding her close, and plenty of body heat. She shifted, a bit, groaning at her sore muscles, and cracking her eyes open more, looking around more with her eyes.

Everyone was sleeping still.

Then she felt the violent urge to cough. Her throat felt clogged with mucus, her nose was running, her eyes were watery and her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls. She was cold, and shivering. If anything, she nestled into Gene's side even more, as the kid nipped at her bare and exposed head. That's when Gene shifted, jumping awake, like he were in the middle of a nightmare. His eyes caught hers and they stared at each other softly.

" You okay, Gene?" she whispered softly, watching his eyes remain wide and frantic.

" I'm fine, I should be asking you though, you're pale." he whispered. Lizzie reached up to touch her face, and looked away. She knew she was getting sick. Lizzie squeezed her eyes shut and sighed.

" We should probably getting moving for morning rounds." Lizzie said quietly as Gene watched her, worriedly in that sense. But then he nodded. Lizzie slowly crawled out from the warm blanket and up and out of the tarp into the fresh fallen snow. Her bones and muscles ached once she took a breath of fresh air in the new light. She slowly crawled out before pushing herself to her feet and watching Gene crawl out behind her. Lizzie stopped to watch the sky, curiosity hitting its peak when she saw the faintest hint of blue.

A swirl of the oddest feeling filled her stomach; was it homesickness, nostalgia, excitement, she couldn't describe it, but it wasn't despair for once. Once her and Gene started moving through the snow, she couldn't keep her eyes from the sky which peaked through pine tree peaks. Then she found the sunshine pouring down onto her through the trees.

And blue sky.

Actual color!

Lizzie couldn't stop looking at the sky, that she didn't even realize the rumbling of a plane roaring overhead. Her eyes widened. The supply drop. They'd get a supply drop. And suddenly there were people running past her, and cheering. She met Gene's eyes and she saw a bit of hope in his vision. Then he took off towards the open field nearby, running with the others. But Lizzie was still staring at the sky, a tiny smile falling over her lips.

There was hope.

Lizzie then ran, pushing her legs through the snow towards the open field that lay ahead of them. Her eyes were on the sky and the trees and the incoming planes. They were on everything and she couldn't contain her excitement and amazement. As she stood there, she glanced up towards the sky and watched with shining eyes as the planes came towards them, flying overhead. Chuck came up to her side and looked up towards the sky next to her. The two smiled at each other and Lizzie felt warm for once.

But then gunshots from the sky echoed above them. Lizzie turned, looking towards the sky and her eyes widened; the planes were shooting at them. Chuck grabbed her hand and yanked her back and away and she stumbled over her feet as she fell into the cover of trees. The men started firing back with their weapons and Lizzie watched as the planes flew by. She could hear Lip yelling for a cease fire.

" They must've thought we were the Germans," Lizzie said quietly as Chuck looked to her. Then the two looked up and saw planes flying overhead.

" C-47s." Chuck said quietly, as Lizzie looked up towards them, through the trees.

" It's a drop," Lizzie said, as her eyes widened. Supply drop. Medical supplies. She shot up like a bullet from Chuck's side, eyes scoring the group of men for Gene.

" Gene!" Lizzie called, her voice hoarse and scratchy. She watched as he turned towards her and found her eyes.

" Lizzie!" he said as she arrived at his side.

" It's a drop, Lip's got a truck coming for us," he said.

" Let's go," she said. The truck drove into Bastogne, and they could see people walking the streets, rubble still covering the area, and a few care packages lying around as well. When they pulled up in front of the church that was being used for an aid station, Lizzie's eyes saddened. Skinny was probably still here.

" Alright, help the Docs." Lip called to the replacements he had called to join them and gather supplies. Gene made sure Lizzie got out of the truck, by gently taking her hand, before the two hurried into the aid station. Lizzie took off one direction as Gene went another. Lizzie stooped down at an area designated for the medics to get supplies. Lizzie felt her nose drip and she reached up to brush at it, and pulled back and realized her nose was bleeding. She ignored it and stocked a box up with supplies.

Calls for a medic suddenly rang nearby and Lizzie spun around on her feet, remaining crouched and watched the chaos as a herd of medics began hauling a body in and nurses began calling out in French. She saw Gene moving right towards it. He had it, she knew he could take care of it; she knew Easy Company need medical supplies, so that's what she focused on. Lizzie listened to the chaos that seemed to go on in the other room, but she forced herself to get supplies She knew the medics in Easy Company needed that supplies, that if any of the men got injured there, they'd need this supplies to survive or else they'd die.

Lizzie bit her lip as she continued to take her fill, still leaving supplies for the other medics. They needed supplies as well. Lizzie finally stood with her filled box and sucked in a shaky breath before glancing back to where the man who was injured, the nurses and Gene had gone. They weren't there anymore. It was just a sheet covering a body. Lizzie felt her breath hitch. Lizzie slowly walked up the steps out of the aid station and towards fresh air and stepped outside. She looked over and saw that Gene and the the pretty nurse were sitting together talking it seemed. Lizzie turned away searching for Lip. She found him directing the group of replacements they brought along.

" Lip!" she called as she walked over and he turned at the sound of her voice.

" Hey, Lizzie," he said as he hurried forward to take the box from her. Catherine had told him a few days ago she wasn't feeling well, but now her voice sounded clogged and hoarse. She did sound sick.

" You feeling ok?" he asked her as she walked by his side to the truck that waited nearby.

" Yeah," she answered with a nod, even though he knew she was lying. She smiled up at him, but Lip could see the sickness in her eyes.

" Are you sure?" Lip asked her as he handed the box over to a replacement who took it to the truck.

" Yeah, positive, why?" she asked, as had to suck in a cough. She hated hiding her sickness, but she knew it was getting around that she was sick. But she always hid her sickness. Lip glanced at the replacements before turning Lizzie away and gently placing an arm over her shoulder. She felt warmer instantly.

" Mack came to me the other day, she said you weren't feeling well," Lip told her softly. Lizzie looked up at Lip and sighed.

" It's just a cold." Lizzie said as she turned and stood in front of him.

" Does Gene know?" Lip asked her.

" Kinda I guess," Lizzie said. Lip raised a brow at her.

" Lip, I'm fine, I promise," she said quietly. Lip could tell she wasn't, between the cold and stress, her eyes were lifeless almost. Lip gently brought his hand up to feel her forehead and she looked up at him biting her lip.

" You feel warm," he said looking at her. Lizzie let out a sigh, as she felt tears well up in her eyes. It was a fever, she knew it waking up this morning. The light-headed walking, the tripping over her feet, the loss of appetite, everything. She knew she was getting sick and that if she didn't take care of herself better it'd get worse. But being a medic, she had to take care of the others before herself.

" I hate being sick," she whispered, as she looked up at Lip with tear filled eyes of sickness and pain. Lip gently hugged her as she wrapped her arms around his chest, and fought to hold back her tears. Lip always cared for everyone in the company and he was the resemblance of father figure to her in a way, even out here.

" Make sure you get your temperature checked." Lip told her softly. She nodded against him sucking in her sniffles and tears. Lip leaned back and gently wiped at a tear on her cheek. She smiled sadly at him and he nodded to her.

" What's going on?" a voice asked and the two turned to see it was Gene with his box in hand. Lizzie sniffled and met Gene's eyes. Lizzie looked at Lip and he nodded before turning and walking away. Gene gently put down his two boxes and then looked at Lizzie, worry spreading across his entire face. Lizzie stood in front of Gene and bit her lip. She stood there, eyes welled up with tears.

" Lizzie, what's going on?" Gene asked her. She felt she were going to cry, full on, breaking down in front of him. She didn't know why she was emotional.

" I just think I'm getting sick, and I want to help all the men who get injured, but I just can't keep the sickness from me, and I'm just overwhelmed." she said quietly. Gene looked at her. He knew she had been getting sick, and he knew she wasn't feeling great, and now she was realizing it. She was taking into account her own health.

And now, he could see it in her eyes, he wasn't sure if it was feverish or sickness, but she looked exhausted. Gene opened his flap and took out a thermometer. He gently placed it on her lip and she stared at him worriedly as he looked back waiting for the temperature to go to its position. When Gene took back the thermometer he sighed.

" You're at 99.8, which means you probably have a fever coming," Gene said to her and Lizzie sighed.

" You know I hate being sick, Gene," Lizzie whispered, " especially half way across the world."

" I know," Gene said as he stepped forward to hug her.

Gene wasn't one to show much affection, in more of a physical touching way, it was more with his smiles or the way his eyes twinkled.

But she gratefully hugged him back.

Lizzie stared out over his shoulder, towards the devastation of the little town, but had to suck in a breath and shove her eyes into Gene's shoulder and pray for peace, for this stupid war to just end.

" What if you get sick, Gene?" she asked him.

" I won't," Gene said before pulling back and looking at her. She smiled with a nod.

Gene would make sure of it, that's she's ok and that the other medics are ok, as well as the men and women of Easy Company.

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hey! another chapter!! :) so lizzie is finally realizing she is sick, something i really wanted to wait for to show the length she'll go to before acknowledgement. i hope you all enjoyed this chapter, especially with more soft!joeliebgott HAHA!!!

thanks for reading!