By Coral & Jenna
Disclaimer: Okay, theoretically we don't need
one here! Oh no - wait - Eye is a real place, and it belongs to whoever may own
it... World War II belongs to history...
Notes: This story dates back to when Jenna and I first
"met", so to speak... she asked someone to help her write a story.
Guess which idiot (uh, helpful person, I mean...) jumped at the chance? Yup...
you guessed it...*glares witheringly* No, not Brannon Braga...
Loosely based on the idea of a past life for everyone's favourite Captain and
Commander, this story was born... and lets just say that it was a
"labour" of love... *ignores groans*
The dance hall was filled with a choking haze of thick smoke and G.Is swaying with their current girl to the beat of 'The Century Bombers', a band borrowed from Thorpe Abbotts airbase for the night. Catherine was pulled through the crowd by her friend Kate Ellis, who didn't seem affected by the noise and general confusion that was everywhere. In fact, Catherine would have said that Kate almost seemed to revel in it.
"Kate, slow down," coughed Catherine as she caught a mouthful of stale cigar smoke. "You're going to pull my arm off." They passed a table full of rowdy Americans who started up a chorus of wolf whistles and catcalls; the pair were definitely eye-turners.
"Hey sweetheart, you wanna come sit over 'er wiv us?" one called. Catherine just ducked her head and tried to pull Kate away.
"Oh, come on, Cath," Kate protested. "It could be fun." Kate smiled in the group's direction and it sent them into another frenzy of yells.
"You go if you want," Catherine answered, "But I'm definitely not."
Kate shrugged. "Suit yourself," she said, and left. Catherine couldn't believe it; Kate was supposed to be her best friend and she'd deserted her. Sulking, and looking for all the world like a petulant toddler, she moved away and accidentally bumped into another American.
"Jeez I'm sorry miss, I guess I jus' didn' see ya there," he apologised, glancing her up and down. "Anyways, what's a pretty girl like you doin' wiv out a date?"
Catherine wanted to roll her eyes, that had to be the worst pick up line she had ever heard. "I'm without one voluntarily I can assure you."
He looked thoughtful for a moment before breaking out into a grin and saying "Shoulda guessed that, girl like you woulda had all the guys after her. Anyways I would still like to buy ya a drink so whadda ya say miss.....?"
He paused trying to get her name out of her. Oh why, not she thought, "Stokes, Catherine Stokes, and you are...?"
He grinned. "Captain Charles Danson at yer service ma'am." He motioned for her to follow him as he pushed aside people to allow her to move to the bar. He whistled, a quick sharp sound and the bar tender came up smiling.
"Hello Charlie; haven't seen you in a while! What'll it be?"
Charlie gave the bartender a quick return smile before saying, "I'll have one of them warm English beers since you don't have no proper stuff."
The bartender chuckled mirthfully. "You Americans and your beer. I don't know how they serve beer in America but in England we serve it warm okay?"
The G.I grinned before turning to Catherine. "What do you want?"
She considered it for a moment before answering "A small glass of red wine."
The bartender nodded to her and set off to find the drinks. Charlie turned to her as they waited. "So Cathy, where'bouts you live?" he asked casually.
She noted he'd shortened her name and decided she didn't mind as much as she might have expected to. "Eye, near the market place," she answered - not quite believing she was telling him. She'd heard the stories about G.Is and the kind of things they got up to with women and she knew exactly how she'd be classed as soon as she was seen even talking to a G.I.
@@@
Catherine quietly opened the door to the small house she shared with Kate. For once, she was the last in - Kate, party girl that she was, had made it back before her.
Catherine smiled to herself as she checked that all the blackout curtains were in place before lighting a candle to go upstairs. Despite her initial misgivings, the evening had passed like a dream - something Catherine was half-inclined to believe it was. She'd never imagined spending such a night with someone she'd never even met before. And Charlie hadn't lived up to a GI's reputation at all - he hadn't tried to make any moves... with the exception of a goodnight kiss that Catherine had permitted. She smiled again as she looked in the mirror, wondering if the somewhat goofy grin would ever go away. She felt as if she was walking on air as she walked upstairs and dropped gratefully into her bed to fall asleep instantly.
@@@
"Catherine... Catherine... CATHERINE!!!"
Catherine opened her eyes slowly, squinting a little against the bright light that was streaming merrily into the room.
"Boy, Cath, what time did *you* get to bed last night?" Kate asked with a grin, pulling her gas mask out from under the bed. "I've got to be at work in ten minutes, and you've got about half an hour!"
Catherine sat up suddenly, swinging her legs round and getting to her feet in a hurry. "Half an hour? Is that all?"
Kate laughed as she slipped her shoes on. "You've got it easy, hon! I've got ten minutes, and I'm going to miss the bus at this rate..." She leaned closer to Catherine. "So... what's he like?"
Catherine looked up at her with wide-eyed innocence as last night's memories came flooding back. "What's who like?"
"You know who I'm talking about... Danson. Charlie Danson! The guy you spent last night with! The guy that practically every girl in the village wants to go out with!"
Catherine shot her an acid look. "I did not 'spend the night' with him," she corrected. "We went for a walk by the lake, if you want to know."
"Uh-huh. Did you kiss him?"
"So what if I did?" Catherine asked, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Cath, I'm your *best friend*," Kate reminded her. "You're supposed to tell me about stuff like this!"
"Look, *nothing* happened between us, if that's what you're thinking. And you've missed the bus."
An unladylike curse slipped from Kate's lips as she dashed out of the room and down the stairs, drawing a semi-shocked glance from Catherine, who followed at a more sedate pace.
"Have a good day..." she added uselessly as Kate ran down the road, leaving Catherine to shut the door behind her.
@@@
Catherine loved spring mornings. The whole world seemed energised and reborn, from the soft sunshine and gentle breeze to the cats roaming the streets and the children playing. Sunlight danced between the shadows and puffy white clouds floated in the blue sky above. Everyone's gardens were showing signs of growth, though not many flowers. Most people had planted vegetables the past few years, as part of the war effort. Even so, some of the plants had blossom on them, and even the leafy greens were beautiful to her eyes. If it hadn't been for the obvious signs of air raids and safety precautions, one could almost forget that there was a war on.
She pushed the post office door open and walked into the slightly dark shop. One of the windows was covered in black tape and another was boarded up after having been broken in the last raid. Catherine shivered as she remembered it - the Luftwaffe had attempted a rare daytime raid on the airbase, and she's been working here at the time. She'd never been so terrified in her life, but she was proud of the fact that she'd managed to keep her head and get everyone into the back room before anyone was hurt.
"Morning Maureen!" she called out cheerily to the woman behind the counter, shrugging off the bad memories along with her coat. "How's the morning been so far?"
"Not so bad, duck, not so bad. Just keep an eye out for those Blarne kids. They've already tried pinching sweets behind my back today; honest to God I do believe they're getting worse! It's all because their folks don't go to church, you know, love. What they're thinking, I *don't* know. And mind you keep an eye on those GI's too. I'm not sure I trust all these foreigners, even if they are helping us in the war. Just give me an Englishman anyday! Least you can trust them. Now, you remember that, lass. Don't go getting mixed-up with any weird folk. And, did I tell you about..."
Taking her place behind the counter, Catherine let Maureen's stream of chatter pass over her like water off a duck's back. She'd long ago worked out that the best thing to do was let Maureen talk until she ran out of breath or found something else to do. Not that it happened quickly, mind, but Catherine was used to it now.
Tidying up behind the counter as Maureen talked, Catherine let her mind start to wander back to last night. She'd never expected to enjoy the dance, much less love the evening as she had. Maybe she should have taken Kate's advice sooner, but she'd heard the horror stories, like everyone else. But Charlie had been every bit the gentleman.
The corners of her mouth turned upwards once more at the memory. She was still smiling ten minutes later, when Cassie entered the post office, letter in hand.
"Good morning, Catherine," Cassie called her a bright smile, her blond hair, which she'd just grown out, long and naturally curly and falling around her shoulders. She was a petite young girl of fifteen, although she often seemed much older than that, and was teaching part time at the local school. Catherine and Cassie had been firm friends for years, with Catherine coming to look on Cassie as her ersatz daughter of sorts.
"Hello Cassie. Sleep well last night?"
"Fine thanks, Catherine," Cassie smiled back, handing a letter over. "It's going abroad."
"Neil again?" Catherine asked with a teasing grin.
Cassie blushed. "I got his letter yesterday. I wrote back straight away - I don't want him worrying about me," she explained, fingering her bag nervously.
Catherine smiled sympathetically. "Don't panic, Cassie. I'll get this sent right away for you."
"Thanks Cath. Where's Maureen today?"
Catherine looked around in surprise. "I could've... I'm *sure* she was here a minute ago... she probably went out the back and I didn't notice."
"You did seem pretty deep in thought," Cassie acquiesced with a grin. "What's up? Problem?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, hon," Catherine assured her. "Just... thinking, that's all."
Cassie leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice. "Anything to do with that hot GI you spent last night with?" she asked in a conspirital whisper.
"What!" Catherine almost shrieked before remembering to keep her voice down at the last minute. "Where did you hear *that*?" she added in a hiss.
"Ssh, the walls have ears..." her friend reminded her with a grin. "Laurie mentioned it to me, and I think she'd heard it from Edith, who'd heard it from... from Mary, I think she said, and Mary'd heard it from Peg, who I think had heard it from... from... uh, I think it was Kate."
"Kate," Catherine moaned, burying her face in her hands. "I am *never* going to live this down!"
"You didn't?" Cassie asked in surprise.
Catherine shook her head. "We danced, we talked... that was all. What kind of girl d'you think I *am*?"
"Well," Cassie admitted, "I didn't think it sounded like you."
@@@
"Katherine Ellis!!!!" Kate practically jumped out of her seat, dropping the book she'd been reading.
"Catherine, you made me lose my place," she snapped. Then she saw the look on her face "Uh...did I do something?"
Catherine stood in the doorway looking about ready to hurl Kate out the nearest window. "What exactly have you been telling people I did with that G.I?" she said in a dangerously quiet voice.
Kate swallowed "I ONLY told Peggie you'd come home late because you were out with Charlie 'I'm too good looking to live' Danson. What are you yelling at me for? You're the most envied girl in the village!"
Catherine covered her face. "She thought you meant I'd spent the night with him."
Kate ventured to ask, "Did you?"
Catherine glared at her. "Like I already told you NO! "
Kate held up her hands in mock defeat. "Sorry! Anyway I wouldn't mind if people thought I spent the night with someone that good looking."
Catherine turned to her "Yes you would, you'd mind as much as I do if not more."
Kate flushed realising what Catherine was saying was true. "Okay, okay I'm sorry all right?" Trying to be casual Kate asked, "Do you happen to know who that blonde G.I your boyfriend hangs around with do you?"
Catherine chucked a pillow at her "He's NOT my boyfriend ok? And no I don't" she got up and started to walk away before she felt a pillow make contact with the back of her head. Spinning round she launched a full-blown attack on Kate using the sofa cushions as her ammo.
@@@
Catherine hurried into the shop throwing a quick smile to Maureen "Why hello thought you might not bother to turn up today you're so late." Maureen sniffed obviously displeased.
Catherine tried to look apologetic "I'm sorry the bus was late, a jeep crashed out by the school."
Maureen shook her head "GIs again! Can't they do anything right? Not only are they damaging our roads but their corrupting out young girls too!! I mean that poor little Cassie gets harassed so much by those, those devils! Luckily, she has Neil, now there's a nice young man!" She shot Catherine a glance. "I saw your young friend Katie Ellis talking to some shifty looking G.I earlier today."
This caught Catherine's attention. "Was he blonde?" she asked curiously, thinking about Kate's comment yesterday.
Maureen looked thoughtful. "Yes, yes I think he was and he had blue eyes. Awfully close together they were, ever so close. You can always tell a person who is up to no good by their eyes, that's what I say! You tell Kate to watch out, she's a pretty girl and, well, with all them GI's sniffing round her could go to her head."
Catherine stifled a giggle at the way Maureen put her words. A second later all urge to laugh left her. Charlie was in the street... and heading toward the shop. She turned around, desperate to get out of the way before he came in.
The shop bell tinkled.
Too late.
She turned to see Charlie glance around the shop, his gaze stopping when it reached her.
"Cathy sweetheart, you didn' tell me ya worked at the post office." He grinned at her. She prayed that Maureen hadn't heard.
Glancing over it was clear she had. There is no God, thought Catherine bitterly.
"Can I help you, young man?" Maureen's waffling voice made them turn
"Gee, I was hoping to send a postcard to my folks in the States. You got any wiv a picture a that interestin' statue in the market place?" he asked politely. No! thought Catherine.
Maureen bristled. "That statue is of our town's founder Harold the Elder. I suggest you learn about this town before you barge in, messing up our nice clean community with your drink and your casual using of our girls. Catherine, I don't see how you could even consider...." Maureen stopped briefly to shudder at the thought of Catherine going out with a G.I. "Haven't I taught you anything at all?" Maureen accused.
Charlie looked confused and embarrassed. "Look, ma'am, I didn't mean no harm...."
Maureen just gave him an icy look and turned to Catherine. "Your mother will hear about this!" she proclaimed before stalking into the back room.
"Jeez Cathy, what did I do?" he turned to her imploringly. She shook her head. "It's not you, it's just practically every other G.I around."
Charlie nodded understanding. "I guess I know what ya mean. I wouldn' like the idea of a girl like you goin' out wiv well... a guy like me, I guess."
Catherine sighed. "You're a nice guy, Charlie. I just don't see how we're going to be able to see each other with everyone looking down on us like this."
Charlie gave her a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, baby we'll figure it out. Anyways, stop by the dance this Saturday, I wanna let everyone see me wiv my gal. See ya!"
With a wave and a cheery smile, he was gone. Catherine stared after him. Baby? she thought.
@@@
With more life in her than had been in weeks, if not months, Catherine pulled on her new dress. It had taken her months to make, and was the result of much scrimping and saving. With a wide smile, she pulled the sash tight and looked in the mirror at her figure with an appreciative look.
"Kate!" she called, grabbing her handbag, "Are you ready yet?"
"Almost!" the cry came back, followed by a pattering of heels, then Kate's head sticking around the door. "*Nice*, Cath. I'm sure Charlie will approve," Kate said teasingly.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Will you please shut up about Charlie?"
"Cath, you are such a spoilsport," Kate grinned with a smile. "You tease me about my boyfriends."
"He is NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Catherine snapped.
Kate eyed her critically. "Well, you're well-dressed for someone with no one to impress... Cath, you have to learn that you can't keep these things from me. We've known each other too long."
"Okay, so maybe he's good-looking..."
"Very good-looking..."
"...But that doesn't mean I'm in love with him! He's nice, funny, sweet, handsome and a gentleman, but I'm not in love."
Kate looked at Catherine with a rapidly spreading grin. "Cath. Take it from an expert... you're in love."
@@@
Timidly, Catherine stepped through the door into the dancehall, her eyes searching for Charlie desperately. Beside her, Kate suddenly gasped and started weaving her way through the crowds. With a small smile, Catherine noted that her target seemed to be the much-discussed blonde GI.
"Cathy?"
Catherine spun as she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Charlie!" she exclaimed, a bright smile on her face.
The handsome GI swept her into a warm embrace. "How's my gal tonight?"
"I'm... I'm alright," Catherine said, pulling back out of the hug. "I - I, er, brought you something along." She reached into her bag that contained her gasmask and pulled out a piece of card. "I know you wanted a postcard, so I got you one. If you want to give it to me when you've written it, I'll post it for you."
Charlie took it with a smile. "Thanks baby. Look, I'm real sorry if I caused any trouble for ya. I didn' mean to, honest."
Catherine shook her head sadly. "It's all right, really it is. Maureen's always been like that. She's very... opinionated, and she's not afraid to say what's on her mind. I've learnt to live with it."
The GI's worried expression faded a little. "I'm real glad to hear that, Cathy. I'd hate to cause ya any trouble. I don't want nuffin' happ'nin' to my baby."
Catherine smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Charlie. I - I appreciate that, really, I do."
The GI dug in his pocket. "And I got somethin' for you, Cathy." He drew out a small plain box and handed it to her with a wide grin.
Hesitantly, she took the box and gently opened it to reveal a necklace, a delicate gold chain with a small heart pendant on it. Tears started to fill her eyes as she looked up into Charlie's eyes. "It's so pretty... It must have been so expensive, Charlie. I can't - I can't accept this."
"But Cathy, I *want* ya to."
Cathy sighed and looked at the necklace as it glittered in the soft lights of the dance hall. It must have been so expensive; it would be rude to refuse the gift now. She'd make it up to him, she promised herself.
@@@
One of the plaintive melodies the Century bombers were so famous for filled the dance hall and Catherine was content to sway with Charlie. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Kate was dancing very, very slowly with the blonde GI She also noticed the jealous looks she was getting because she was dancing with Charlie. For a split second, she felt possessive over him, like she didn't want these women looking at him especially not Annie Hansen from the Bakers.
Touching a hand to the locket she now wore, she reminded herself she was the one dancing with him not them. And she added after a moment's thought like I told Kate he's not my boyfriend. But she was convincing no one - especially not herself. Smiling slightly she relaxed and let herself enjoy the dance.
@@@
"...And his father owns a string of department stores in America. And those eyes! There as blue as any I've ever seen and he's blonde!!! We don't get many blonde boys around here do we? And he said my eyes were beautiful and he called me sweetheart." Kate paused for the first time in about a half-hour. "Charlie calls you sweetheart doesn't he? I heard him!" Catherine's only response was to chuck the first thing that came to hand at her, which happened to be her bag. Kate ducked expertly. "Ooh touchy!" she teased. "Anyway, me and Jamie are going down the lake for a picnic this afternoon - want to come?"
Catherine looked blank. "Huh? Who's Jamie?" Kate sighed over dramatically and spoke in the kind of tone a parent uses for an unintelligent child, "Jamie's the guy I've been going on about weren't you listening?"
Catherine grinned. "No, I switched off after the first few hours." Kate stuck her tongue out. "My, aren't we getting childish." commented Catherine serenely.
Kate smiled sweetly. "Anyway, Jamie's already invited Charlie so you'll have to come."
Catherine looked dismayed. "Kate! Will you stop interfering with my private life! Now you have your own you should concentrate on that."
Kate didn't answer; she was humming as she brushed her hair. Catherine sighed, secretly admitting to herself that a day with Charlie wouldn't be so bad and she was curious about Kate's new boyfriend.
@@@
Catherine smiled as Kate led the way to the prearranged picnic site, chatting away. She was obviously excited but still found time to stop and talk to every single person she knew.
"Cassie!" Kate yelled, waving madly at the blonde-haired girl. Cassie only just managed to pull her bike to a stop in time to avoid running Kate over. Their friend smiled, her cheerful calmness in complete contrast to Kate's current exuberant mood.
"Catherine, Kate, it's nice to see you," she said softly.
"You too," answered Catherine sincerely. With Kate in her current hyperactive state, she needed the calming influence of her young friend.
Kate launched into an explanation of where they were going "... you really should come out with us some time Cassie. I'm sure Jamie has a friend he could fix you up with."
Cassie shook her head. "Kate, you know I'm engaged to Neil."
Kate screwed up her nose, showing exactly what she thought of Neil. "But he's sobering and you've known him your whole life. Where's the excitement? Where's the fun?"
Cassie smiled slightly. "I know it maybe difficult for you to understand Kate but if you ever fall in love with someone you'll understand."
Catherine smiled gently feeling very motherly toward her. Cassie and Neil were very young and were going to have to be engaged for a few years before they could actually marry but seeing the way Cassie looked at Neil was enough to let you know how she felt about him. It had been hard for her, having him away fighting. She knew by the way that Cassie had taken to haunting the post office, everyday walking in and asking, tentatively, hopeful if Neil's letter had come yet. And the look on her face if the answer was no was enough to make you cry. Kate didn't understand Cassie because she'd never loved anyone. But, reasoned Catherine, neither have I, but I suppose I'm just more sympathetic than Kate is.
"It was nice to see you." Cassie voice penetrated her thoughts.
"Bye Cassie," they waved as she cycled away. Kate pulled on Catherine's arm, impatient.
@@@
When the two girls finally arrived at the lake, the sun was shining brightly overhead, casting pleasant shadows and reflecting beautifully off the calm water, causing dancing patches of light that just begged for attention. A lone duck floated calmly on the surface, seemingly happy to drift until it stopped. At the far end of the pond, weeping willows swayed gently in the breeze, the ends of their branches bobbing lightly in the water, setting up small ripples. On the green banks around, children played happily.
Catherine sighed with pleasure. "If it wasn't for the gas masks and GI's around, you'd hardly know there was a war on," she commented to Kate, but Kate wasn't listening anymore. She'd spotted Charlie and Jamie underneath one of the leafy trees, already laying out food on the piece of blackout cloth that they'd brought along.
"Jamie!" she shrieked and set off at a run.
Catherine merely rolled her eyes and followed at a slightly more sedate pace. She arrived a few minutes after Kate did, and was not surprised to find her friend already in Jamie's arms, leaning back against the broad tree trunk, her eyes half closed in bliss.
"Cath? That you?" she asked lazily.
"Yes," she said, and sat down on the edge of the cloth, careful to sit in the shade, where the breezes coming off the lake were coolest.
"Hiya sweetheart," Charlie greeted her, moving over so he was next to her. "Good day?"
"Not too bad," she replied, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her head on them in an attempt to ignore Kate's smug smile at being proven right. Her long hair blew slightly in the breeze, and her face was calm. "You?"
"Couldn't wait to see ya babe," Charlie said sincerely. "All we did this mornin' was a load of borin' drills."
Catherine smiled sympathetically, although she had no idea what he was really talking about. She was content simply to listen as he told her what he'd been doing all morning. "I see ya're wearing the necklace."
"Too pretty to waste," Catherine told him softly.
"It suits ya, darling..."
@@@
The day passed quickly and, before Catherine realised it, the sun was setting and the sky was alight with pink and purple streaks. Charlie looked up at the sky and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Catherine asked. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"No clouds," Charlie commented. Kate and Jamie had long since left, and Catherine had more than a niggling suspicion of what they might be doing, if not where.
"What's wrong with that?" she asked in surprise, shivering a little as the breeze started to pick up.
"It'll be a clear night for the Huns," the GI said, tearing his gaze from the sky to look at her. "But they'll probably stay away from here. Don't worry 'bout it. Are you cold?"
Catherine nodded a little, and Charlie swept the blackout cloth off the ground and draped it round her shoulders, then pulled her close to him. "Is that better?" he asked softly, and Catherine nodded gratefully, leaning her head back on his shoulder, content merely to watch the sunset.
It wasn't until the first stars peeked out from the heavens that Charlie nudged her. "I don't know about you, Cath, but I've got to get back to the base for the night. They'll be expecting me back soon."
Cath opened her eyes; she'd been close to falling asleep, she was so comfortable in his arms. "Yes, I suppose I ought to head back before it gets too dark to see. Blackout must be in about ten minutes," she commented as she stood up, brushing the grass from her skirt and giggling a little as Charlie helped.
Their eyes met suddenly, and Charlie pulled her into a kiss. Catherine started to return the kiss, pulling him deeper into it, when suddenly a loud wailing interrupted them.
They pulled apart immediately, carefully concealed fear in their eyes.
"Where's the nearest shelter, Cathy?" Charlie asked, and Catherine racked her brains as the wailing sirens cut through the night air.
"There's one - there's one at the end of the road that leads back to the village... it's near the park gates..."
Charlie nodded. "I saw it on the way in, I think." He grabbed her hand and started running towards the park gates. Stumbling a little, Catherine ran faster than she ever had before, as the siren provided a ghastly background to her mental terror. She pulled the blackout cloth tightly around her, the wind, which was beginning to pick up, chilling her to bone and whipping her hair into her eyes as she ran. She was grateful for Charlie's hand pulling her along; otherwise she would easily have fallen and given up by now.
A distant throbbing sounded overhead.
"Bombers!" Charlie shouted to her over the rising wind - even so, she could barely hear him. Somewhere within herself, she found a last ounce of strength, and the two rushed out of the park gates and straight into the public shelter, only to make it into the shelter just before the door closed.
Catherine collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
"That was close," Charlie commented in a whisper, and Catherine started to cry, the shock of the last few minutes finally catching up with her.
Charlie held her close to him, his strong arms clasping her close to his chest.
They waited.
@@@
"Cath! Catherine!"
"Kate!"
The two girls ran down the street to each other and met in a warm embrace, tears of relief flowing down their faces. "Oh, Cath! I was *so* worried about you! I thought you were..."
"Me too," Catherine whispered back. "But we made it to the shelter near the park gates. Jamie?"
"Fine, fine... We were near the school at the time, so we went into the shelter there," Kate explained, finally releasing Catherine from the hug. "But, Cath, someone didn't make it..."
Fear shot through Catherine's heart and her knees went weak. "Who?" she asked, struggling to make her voice rise above a whisper, but failing. "Who?"
"Cassie... didn't make it..."
Catherine felt the tears again. "Cassie? Are you sure?" she asked, unwilling or unable to believe it. Not Cassie. Not Cassie! She'd been so busy worrying about Neil that she'd almost forgotten that Cassie was in danger here too. She shuddered at the thought of the letter that she would have to write.
Kate nodded wordlessly. There was nothing more to say as the two girls headed for their house.
@@@
Catherine sat in her darkened room tears running down her cheeks. She'd kept up a brave face in front of Kate being her comforter as she'd cried. Kate had bounced back though, as she always did. Nothing kept her down for long because she moved on. How Catherine wished she was like that at this moment.
But she couldn't push it away; she couldn't forget Cassie it wouldn't be right. Reaching into her bedside drawer, she pulled out Neil's heartbroken letter. He'd loved Cassie so much; they had shared a special bond that Catherine could only hope she'd possess with someone someday. Neil and Cassie had planned to marry as soon as she was old enough, Catherine had so often listened to Cassie plan her future with Neil, their children, their names, the fact they would buy the beautiful cottage on Elm road and basically live happily ever after. Like an old-fashioned fairy tale; and Cassie had deserved that fairytale. Now it had been snatched away from her in a second. She'd only been fifteen years old. Catherine put her head in her hands and sobbed. It wasn't right, it wasn't fair. Glancing up her eyes fell on a photo taken a few years back. In the photo, a young Catherine of about fifteen was hugging the child Cassie, so pretty with her long gold ringlets. Kate sat nearby hair in pigtails scowling at the camera and Neil... Neil stood to one side proudly showing off his new catapult. They were children in this picture and by rights, they should still be children but they had been forced to grow up by the war. Neil was only eighteen and he was fighting in a distant country and had lost the one person he cared about to the war. She struck out hitting the pillow with all her strength. Damn the war! There was no bloody point to it all anyway. It made her so angry... and frightened.
Cassie was dead which meant she could die, Kate could die, and even her parents could die. Or Charlie. Catherine squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to unthink that awful thought but she knew it was true. And she also knew he was far more likely to die than any of them. He flew missions over Germany almost daily flying through something called 'flak', which brought your plane down out of the sky. She shuddered. She didn't know much about planes but she did know they could easily fail or get shot down or something. Suddenly she stood up; she had to see Charlie. She needed someone to talk about this with and he would understand.
@@@
Charlie took another swig of his gin and looked again at his cards. Gerald was going to regret the day he took on Charles Danson. He was sitting in a room kept solely for recreation on base. Over in the corner their ball gunner Lt. Frank Dial was drooling over the women in the latest issue of 'Yank' along with Benny ' Romeo' Banks a member of the ground crew. In another corner, JK Freeman was ribbing Bobby Sampson about his moustache again. JK was a great co-pilot but one hell of a joker. Jamie Lewis was looking through technical manuals with the tail gunner arguing about whether B-29 Liberators or the B-17 Flying Fortress was better. Sgt. Broach was happily drinking his way through a case of something in one corner. Whatever it was, it was definitely highly alcoholic. Charlie grinned as the Sgt. burst into 'You are my sunshine'.
"Hey Charlie," their small almost rodent like Bombardier Joshua Minahan poked his head in and continued, "There's some gal here to see ya named Catherine. Classy lady."
Josh grinned and whistled in appreciation making some of the guys laugh. Charlie threw in his hand and collected his winnings leaving the young Gerry cursing his bad luck before heading outside. Catherine was standing there looking red eyed. Charlie had heard about her friend and he knew what it was like to lose someone you were close to. Just last week his friend John Alfcroft had been reported missing in action. But he was a pilot, he was trained and fighting in this war, he expected to lose a few friends along the way but she wasn't a soldier or a pilot. She was just a woman who was trying as hard as she could to continue her life in the face of invasion by Nazis. He felt a fierce wish to protect her from all this but he knew it was impossible.
"Cathy honey. What's wrong?" She looked at him her eyes red and her cheeks tear stained. She looked so frightened, so innocent that he walked up to her and put his arms around her hugging her tight "Its okay sweetheart," he whispered as she cried. Jamie walked out of the hut interrupting them "Oops, sorry Captain!" He held up his hands before focusing on Catherine. "I gotta go see Kate. She's yer friend right?" Catherine nodded still in Charlie's embrace. "She tell yer we're going down to London for the weekend?" Catherine realised with a start Kate had told her but she hadn't absorbed the information. She remembered now Kate had told her to tell her parents she had just popped out if they called. Despite her sadness, she almost smiled. Jamie lifted his cap to her before strolling off whistling.
Catherine looked up at Charlie. He smiled at her. "Come on, I want to introduce you to my plane."
Catherine looked confused for a moment, but then she smiled wanly. "You want to 'introduce' me to your plane? Okay, fine... I'd love to meet it."
Charlie smiled; he'd successfully distracted her. "Her - not It."
Catherine rolled her eyes as Charlie led her to the runway where his plane was. The first thing she noticed was the painting on it. Turning to Charlie, she raised her eyebrows.
He blushed "It's...it's to distract the German Fighter pilots," he offered, grinning. On the side of the plane were the words 'Heavenly Body' and beside them was a beautifully painted woman who had wings and a halo but was devoid of clothing. Her arms were crossed across her breasts and a cloud around her waist stopped the painting from being too scandalous.
"Erm...who thought of the name?"
Charlie grinned. "Jamie and he painted it."
Catherine looked surprised. "He didn't strike me as the artistic kind. It's very good."
Charlie nodded. "Jamie does most of the plane paintings on this base. Course he spent most time on his ship 'Little Lady' you think this is good you oughtta see that."
Catherine smiled. "I'd like to but it's too cold and it's getting late."
Charlie nodded. "Look...I'll get a pass."
Catherine stared at him a moment "What?"
He repeated, "I'll get a pass, so I can stay with you. Look Cathy, you're in no shape to be left on your own."
She smiled gently "How will you be able to get one this late?"
Charlie grinned and produced a handful of pound notes. Catherine gasped. She hadn't seen that much money before. "Its amazing what a little money can buy." Charlie answered.
Catherine stared at him. "A little??? God, Charlie, where did you get that much money?"
Charlie looked genuinely puzzled "I won it at poker."
Catherine gasped "I knew you Americans had money but..." she shook her head amazed. Charlie grinned and put his arm round her waist "It might seem like a lot to ya Cathy but on this base it don't buy ya too much. But it will successfully bribe Sgt. Broach especially now he's drunk." Charlie flashed a grin and disappeared into the hut.
Re-emerging he waved his pass triumphantly.
@@@
"I'm sorry it's not very big," Catherine apologised as he stepped over the threshold into the house. She bent down and picked a strip of blackout cloth up from off the floor where Kate had left it that morning, the corner of her mouth turning up slightly. "Kate's not very tidy," she said by way of explanation.
"S'alright, Cathy, nice house. Real English."
She looked at Charlie quizzically. "Do you really think so?" she asked, taking his jacket from him. "It's just home to me," she added with a shrug.
"How long have ya lived here?"
She thought for a moment. "Kate and I moved in here just after the war broke out, I think." She paused to hang up the jacket and usher him into the kitchen. "Must have been four years ago now. Would you like a cup of tea? I'm afraid there isn't much else to drink except water at the moment."
Charlie grinned. "Tea'll do me fine, honey."
He continued to look around the large room awkwardly as she busied herself setting the water to boil on the stove. Despite his long stay in England, he hadn't spent much time in any English houses, and this one was typically so, with a large oven and pretty stonework, unlike many of the prefabs that were around at the moment. Charlie hated those with a vengeance, although he understood their usefulness at this time of many shortages and many homeless. Prefabs were quick and easy, at least, and with the Germans as active as they were...
He shook off the morbid thoughts to stare at Cathy instead, enjoying her slight blush as she noticed.
"I-I suppose I'd better go and make up Kate's bed for you for tonight. Kate won't be using it, and I'm afraid there isn't anywhere else for you to sleep," she explained apologetically, but Charlie brushed it off.
"I'll sleep on the couch, that'll be less work for ya," he said easily.
"If you're sure," she said, her sense of propriety offended by the thought of making her guest sleep on the sofa.
"Sure," he said, flashing her a grin that showed his dimples in full force, and Catherine's heart fluttered. Forcing herself to focus, she poured the water into the teapot.
"Do you take milk and sugar?" she asked as she did so.
"Both, please," he said, taking a seat at the table, running his hand along the carved edges.
"Sugar spoils it," Catherine said, with the air of one who has had a lot of experience.
"Is that so?" Charlie asked playfully. "Well, how could I ignore such good advice? I'll have it without sugar, then."
"I didn't mean it that way," she apologised.
"Don't worry hon, I'll have it without anyway. Sugar's rationed something bad." He took her hand. "I don't wanna deprive you."
"It wouldn't be..." she protested lamely, feeling like she was melting under his steady, teasing gaze.
The doorbell sounded, and Catherine hastily pulled away and walked to the door, mumbling as she did so, "I wonder who that could be?"
She opened the door and froze. "H-Hello, Maureen... what brings you here at this time of night?" she asked faintly, hoping that Maureen wouldn't insist on coming in.
"Cath, you look like you've seen a ghost. Have you been sleeping properly? Working too hard? Staying up too late?" Maureen asked in her whirlwind way.
Catherine shook her head dumbly.
"Well, I came over to see how you were anyway, and to ask if you've seen Kate this evening. Her mother came looking for her at the Post Office a few minutes ago. Very shook up. I think that one of her family's gone," Maureen explained. "She was in no state to come over here herself, not with the blackout and all, so I told her I'd come over and ask if you'd seen her. Where is she?"
Catherine went wide-eyed. "I think she said - said that she was - staying over a friend's house," she stuttered nervously, not wanting Maureen to know that Kate was in London.
"And leaving you all alone?" Maureen sniffed. "Just like Kate. So unthoughtful! Really, she's so unlike Cassie and you. Well, I suppose I'd better phone the guesthouse where her mother is staying. Can I use your phone?" he asked, and without waiting for Catherine's answer, barged into the house, and straight to the kitchen.
Resigned to her fate, Catherine followed slowly, praying for a miracle to get her out of this one.
@@@
Charlie turned to see the woman from the Post Office - Maureen, wasn't it? - sweep into the kitchen like a hurricane. Catherine followed a few steps behind, and looked absolutely devastated.
Charlie couldn't blame her.
"You!" Maureen accused. "I don't believe it, Catherine, I really don't. I thought that you at least had more sense than Kate!" Charlie looked at Catherine, who offered an apologetic shrug as Maureen continued, "I suppose I couldn't expect anything else from a GI, but you, Catherine! I am mortally disappointed in you, child!" She shook her head in frank disbelief.
"He's just staying for the evening..." Catherine protested weakly.
"So, *that's* what he told you, is it?" Maureen sniffed, talking to Catherine but turning her accusing eyes on Charlie. "Well, mister, you may be able to get around poor Catherine with that story, but not me!"
Catherine took Maureen's arm. "Didn't you want to use the telephone?" she asked desperately.
With another sniff that seemed to indicate that Charlie was beneath her contempt, the woman nodded. "Indeed I do. But first, young lady, I want the *truth* about where Kate is."
The surprise in Catherine's eyes gave her away at once. She hung her head and admitted, "She went to London."
Maureen's eyes flashed. "With that young GI she's been hanging around with, no doubt!" she concluded triumphantly. "Do you know whereabouts?"
Catherine shook her head, but Charlie nodded. "Jamie said something about her sister's house?"
"I suppose you have a number?" Maureen asked Catherine, ignoring Charlie.
"Yes, it's on the emergency list," Catherine said.
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd prefer to call Kate's mother in private."
Charlie took the initiative and led the distressed Catherine out of the room and into the small living room, leaving Maureen to call Kate's mother.
"I'm sorry, Charlie," Catherine apologised immediately. "I can't stop her."
"I know it's not ya fault, Cathy," Charlie said, sitting down on the sofa and indicating that she sit too. She did so gladly, curling up against his body.
"Even so..." she said, shaking her head slightly. "She doesn't have to be like that. I know you're just trying to help, but she can't see that!" Her voice rose in frustration.
"Hey, calm down baby," Charlie soothed, stroking her cheek gently. "She's just lookin' out for ya. You should be glad."
"It's my life, Charlie," Catherine murmured softly, feeling tired and comfortable.
@@@
Eventually Maureen left, with a few more derogatory comments about GI's, and Catherine breathed a guilty sigh of relief. "I thought she'd never leave," she admitted to a grinning Charlie as she handed him his long overdue cup of tea, then went to the larder to find something for supper.
"Forceful gal," Charlie grinned in agreement. "Can I do anythin' to help ya cook?"
Catherine shook her head. "No, but thank you for offering. We'll just have something easy anyway, I'm tired." She stared at the half-empty larder. "Not that there's much choice here, of course," she added with a scowl. "Hm, scrambled eggs?"
"Sounds great Cathy."
"Scrambled eggs it is, then," she smiled, taking out a packet of egg powder and emptying it into a bowl. "I told Kate we should keep chickens, but would she agree? No, too much bother, she said. But it would be worth it for fresh eggs," Catherine mused. "Maybe we'll get some soon."
"You could feed Kate nothing but egg powder for a week, then see if she wants hens," Charlie suggested wickedly.
Catherine smiled at him, feeling relaxed once more after the tense evening.