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Daniel sighed fidgeting with his jacket even though he knew it looked perfect. He watched his hand in the mirror as he traced the chevrons shining on his collar. Exhaling he dropped his hand, eyes landing on the medals lined up one after another, weighting his chest down.
As his eyes fell on the last medal pinned to his chest he felt bile rise in the back of his throat, memories best forgotten rising to the surface.
The shelling was defining and continuous. All they could do was stay down, duck and cover. Daniel glanced over at Rich on the other side to the foxhole. Meeting his eyes, Rich smiled tiredly. “Just another day in Bastogne,” he said, Daniel reading his lips more than actually hearing him.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Daniel shouted over the noise. “This is the life.” Rich grinned, the one that lit up his face and never failed to make Daniel smile as well. Just then there was a noticeable change in the shelling. Carefully Daniel peaked up over the bulwark, getting a couple of shots off at moving figures across the field, one going down as he watched.
Ducking back down Daniel slid over, clasping Rich’s shoulder and squeezing. “I’m going to check on everyone, stay put. And keep your head down.”
“Aye aye Captain,” Rich said jokingly, but covered Daniel’s hand with his own reassuringly. Daniel smiled grimly at him before slipping out of the foxhole. Staying low to the ground he made his circuit, checking on each man, making sure they had all the ammo and water he could give them. Finally he slipped back into Rich’s foxhole.
He had to suppress a groan when he saw that Sergeant Murray had joined him. Murray was a good man but he wasn’t the brightest. Exchanging an exasperated glance with Rich he didn’t think to listen for the telltale whistle of a shell, didn’t realize that his world was seconds away from changing forever.
The moment that the shell landed Daniel threw himself at Murray, tackling him to the ground just as the world exploded.
Rich, where was Rich? Daniel glanced frantically around, finally catching sight of an unmoving body laying outside the foxhole. No, no this couldn’t be happening he thought, mind too consumed with getting too Rich that he didn’t think about his surroundings. Standing he only made it a few steps before he felt a searing pain from his leg. Crumpling to the ground he let out an ear piercing scream, leg on fire.
Panting he rolled his lips together fighting against the pain. He needed to get to Rich. slowly he crawled along, pulling himself with his arms since his legs wouldn’t hold him. Crawling up to Rich Daniel felt a sob building up as he saw Rich’s sky blue eyes gazing blankly up at the grey sky.
“No!” Daniel cried, pulling himself from his memories. An overwhelming wave of anger swept over him filling his senses. His hand flew up, grabbing the medals, ready to rip them off before he came to his senses. With shaking fingers he jerkily unpinned the Silver Star, tossing it away as fast as he could.
Breathing rough, he wiped away the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. Giving himself a moment to gather himself he met his red rimmed eyes in the mirror. Just as suddenly as the anger had come it drained away, leaving him empty.
Glancing around the room he spotted the medal, half behind the toilet, glinting in the light. Crutching over to it he awkwardly lowered himself onto one knee, gently scooping it up. Sighing he took it back to the mirror, pinning to his chest again.
Peggy walked into the bathroom smiling at the sight of Daniel standing proudly in his service uniform. The smile dropped off her face however when she saw the look on his face and the way that he was fingering the Silver Star hanging from its ribbon. Quietly she came up behind him, meeting his eyes in the mirror. “Everything alright darling?” she asked gently.
Daniel smiled, sadness radiating from every pore of his body. “No, but it will be,” he said. “Memories,” he added off of her worried look. “Those who aren’t with us anymore.”
Smiling understandingly Peggy reached up brushing her thumb across his cheek. Unable to think of a response to that, she just brushed a light kiss over his lips and tangled their fingers together.
And they would be fine, they had each other now after all.