1700

Flo stormed out ahead of all the men and came upon Speirs and Winters looking over the river.

"Did intelligence give you any information on the CP?" Winters asked as Flo came and stood beside Speirs.

"Third house on the left" he replied and then looked over to see Flo looking at the house as well.

"Soon as our men are in the boats, I want a quad 50 opening up" Winter said then smiled at Flo "Fizz, what do you think?"

Flo nodded "As long as the men aim straight, then covering fire would be amazing" she smiled as the two captains smiled in return.

"I mean it when I say this Florence, I want you as far back from the line as possible, we're too close to the end for you to get hurt" Winters said as Speirs nodded his head "If I find out you put yourself in unnecessary danger then I'll block you going in to any more action" Speirs said firmly and Flo laughed before coughing violently and only just holding onto the box.

Winters and Speirs looked at her in concern and Speirs opened his mouth before being cut off by Jones standing behind them "Capt. Winters? About the patrol. I feel that I should go on the patrol, sir. I know I could use the experience", Winters and Speirs looked at him like he was an idiot, and Flo agreed he shouldn't be pushing to lead the patrol, not with her boys who were so close.

"Denied. Anything else?" Winters said with authority and Speirs added in "You're not gonna lead that patrol, Lt. Jones", Flo felt a small smile creep on her face, she loved it when Speirs scared the men, it always made her giggle.

"Permission to speak sir" Jones pushed.

"Go on, Lieutenant" Winters said with disbelief that he was still going, it seemed to Flo like Jones was gonna annoey Winters and Speirs into letting him go. Jones then made a point that Flo had to admit she had thought about "It looks like Sgt. Malarkey could use a break. I've discussed it with him, he said he didn't mind if I took his place on the patrol." this made Flo giggle and she had to hold back laughter when Winters replied "That was nice of him".

Vest then appeared behind Jones and it made her laugh at the contrast between the two, the less senior was so comfortable and informal around the captains, while Jones acted like he was in front of the headmaster.

"Capt. Winters" he said and Winters immediately replied "Yes", "I'd really like to be on that patrol, sir. If it's true Krauts are finished...I haven't really done anything except deliver mail...

...and type morning reports" he said and Flo smiled at him, bless him, she loved Vest they were around the same age so they had always gotten along well, she would have to keep an eye on him tonight.

"Absolutely", "Thank you, Captain" Winters agreed immediately, knowing although Vetst hadn't really been in combat he had enough experience to not do anything stupid.

"He's got a point about Sgt. Malarkey" Winters said half turning to Speirs who replied helpfully "Yeah. A point" Flo rolled her eyes as Winters turned to her "Fizz?", Flo was truthful even though she felt better about someone experienced leading "He's right, Malark could use a break, I'm worried about his mental state if he doesn't" and Winters nodded.

"Fine you can go, briefing 1700 CP" Winters said turning back to the river, as Speirs said "Who'd you have in mind to lead the patrol in not Sergeant Malarky?" while Winters just looked down and thought about it while keeping his arms tightly wrapped around him from the cold.

While Winters deliberated, Speirs turned to Flo and looked at his watch "Florrie, you've got 5 minutes, you'd better go get that box sorted" he half smiled as she nodded and said "See you Cap Winters", he looked up and smiled "See you Fizz" he then went back to thinking intently.

Flo hurried across to the med hut to where Shifty was sat there while Gene was doing something to his foot.

"Shifty! What's wrong" Flo said dumping the box and quickly walking to look at what Gene was, "Hey Flo Flo, nothing to worry about just a few blisters"

"Oh lovely, I'll deal with this Gene you go and have a sit down or do some other task if you need to" Gene gave her an eyebrow, "Flo we both know that Captain Speirs is gonna be in here in a minute, you should get to bed, this will only take me a minute"

"Exactly, so it'll only take me a minute, now get gone" she smiled tiredly up at him and in that moment he didn't have the heart to argue with her.

Flo was just finished bandaging Shiftys foot when she looked up and saw Speirs in the door with a cheeky smirk on his face "Sir, I'm coming now I am" she smiled back as she gave Shifty a pat on the shoulder as he left laughing at the argument that was about to occur.

"Are you really Florrie?" he said still in the same position "Yep" she said then eyeing the med box she hadn't put away "Can I just do this one last thing please" she said darting to the other side of the room but he was quicker and threw her over his shoulder fireman style "You still got a hold of your helmet?" he laughed as she let out a yelp and luckily was cluthing her helmet.

"Yes, thank you Sir" she said trying not to laugh but it was too funny as they walked out the hut and the mens faces were pictures.

Winters and Nix looked out of the window of the building they were in to see them and Nix chuckled "If they're not together by the end of the war I won't drink for a week"

Winters smirked "I'll take that bet. I think'll it'll be after the war is declared over"

***

Speirs dropped Flo gently on her feet just before the door to where Lip was supposedly sleeping, Flo opened the door gently and peered in and was confused cause there Lip was sleeping but he had told Vest.....

"Oh well" she whispered to herself "I'm going mad"

"Right Florrie, rest until briefing, you've got a good 6 hours" he whispered smiling gently at her now no one was here to see.

"Thank you Sir" she smiled back and kissed his cheek "Thanks for forcing me to sleep" she said taking her helmet off and taking her still wet hair out of braids.

"Sleep well Fizz" he smiled and then half closed the door but he saw once she thought he'd left he saw her take a long drink of her canteen and saw her barely able to take off her satchel and boots without going to sleep, she was exhausted. He shook his head at the thought of her going on patrol tonight.

***

"Floss wake up" she heard a voice pull her from her dream. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Skinny towering over her, she groaned and shoved her head back in the pillow "What time is it?" she asked him grumpily, she heard him giggle "It's 1630, come on open wide" he said pushing the thermometer towards her face, she groaned while openeing her mouth and closed her eyes as Skinny took the thermometer and checked, he clicked his teeth "Oo Floss 102°, coming down slightly which is good" he smiled and held out a hand for her to get up.

Reluctantly Flo pulled on her boots and shoved her helmet on her still slightly damp hair, standing up she grabbed her med satchel throwing it over her shoulder.

She walked out with Skinny throwing an arm around her shoulder towards the CP.