Chapter 5- Just You
Summary: An unexpected resistance to a German attack causes Liebgott an injury. The experience brings emotions to head between you and Liebgott.
A/N: Mature audience, Joe LiebgottxFem!Medic, post D-Day, She/Her Pronouns, Y/F/N, Y/L/N, Cursing/Swearing, Derogatory Slurs, Womanizing Comments, Confrontation, Military Terminology, 1940’s slang, Inappropriate Nicknames, Band of Brothers References, Mentions of Weaponry, Descriptive Wounds/Injuries, Blood/Gore, Smoking, Angst, Banter, Pining, Consensual Physical Contact/PDA, FOREVER FLUFF 💚
Chapter takes place 1x5 Crossroads
*I have loved you for several hours now, and every second more. I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than any woman has ever loved a man, but a half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then. There is no room in my body for anything but you. * -The Princess Bride, William Goldman
*These stories may not fall entirely in accordance with the TV series timeline. I do not know the real soldiers the actors portray in this series, so please understand I show no disrespect. Some or most of historical events and character interactions in my fanfics are fabricated purely for the sake of the enjoyment of fiction*
~~~~~~~
October 1944
Easy Company set up in an abandoned barn as a headquarters and aid station in Schoonderlogt, Holland. Most of Easy Company had been inside awaiting the return of the reconnaissance patrol that left at sunset to see if any Germans were near the village. Liebgott leading the mission had been gone for several hours.
Eugene insisted you get some sleep, but you only sat in the bunk, your mind too busy to even close your eyes. Talbert with his newfound companion, Trigger (a German Shepard ironically), was a nice distraction while Joe was gone. As you were petting the dog, the barn door burst open alarming everyone and bringing everyone to their feet.
“Penetration!” one of the soldiers called out carrying another soldier injured.
“It’s Alley!” Talbert yelled.
“Alley’s hurt!” Liebgott shouted.
“Boyle, get Doc.” Winters instructed then looked at Liebgott, “Where?”
“Crossroads.” Liebgott replied. You notice he took a dressing and pressed it against his neck.
“Liebgott-” you called to him, but another soldier interrupted you.
“Well, if it wasn’t for your loud mouth-” he started to accuse Joe.
You tried again but louder, “Lieb-”
“-Hey, you know what? Back off!” Liebgott shot back as Roe pushed through the gaggle.
“Get the boots off, elevate...Lieb use the sulfur...” Doc directed.
“JOE!” You barked over the commotion.
“Goddam it, WHAT?” He snarled back at you with a heavy look of annoyance.
“Get over here and let me look at your neck.” you directed sternly.
“It’s just a scratch.” He dismissed.
You huff audibly, losing your patience and giving him a side glance.
“Joe, let her take a look. We got this over here.” Doc insisted.
Liebgott sighed reluctantly rolling his eyes and made his way to you.
He stood tall in front you, refusing to look you in the eyes as you gently directed his head by the chin to his left to expose the injured site where he still held the dressing. You know he was trying to hide how bad it really was, so you decided to kill him with kindness to get him to do what you needed to do to help him.
Your voice sweet and subtle, “Joe...”
He hummed in response.
“Move your hand. Please?”
He quickly looked down at you, no smile or any real sign of emotion, just searching your eyes for something unknown to you. You feel your eyes widen as this unexpected attention from Joe unnerved you. It’s not a look that you experienced from him before. He almost looked like a ravenous animal.
You stood your ground, staring back at him expectantly waiting for him to remove his hand from his neck.
His hand slowly dropped without breaking eye contact.
You make your hands busy with the messy dressing on his neck and see an angry laceration, but not deep enough to make it life threating. You were less worried, but it still needed attention.
“You’re lucky.” You stated.
“Am I?” he replied curtly.
You ignored his cold response.
“It wasn’t deep enough to affect the artery, so you won’t bleed out, but I’m still going to dress it right so you don’t get an infection.” you explained.
“Great.” his tone unenthusiastic and sarcastic. Again, you chose to remain silent. You weren’t going to give him the satisfaction by taking his bait to argue.
“Ok, Joe, you’re good.” you tell him, running your thumb affectionately along his jawline.
He felt goosebumps rise on his skin from your soft touch and shot you a look of confusion. His eyebrows furrowed and his mouth slightly open, you thought he was going to say something. He thought he was going to say something too, but he stood there gaping at you, breathing heavy again searching your face for something unknown to either of you. You meet his perplexed look with one of your own and squint your eyes at him wondering what it was you did wrong to earn such a response from him.
His jaw tightened as he closed his mouth and softened his eyes. No smile, no sign of affection, he nods to you then turned on his heel to collect his gear when Winters announced they were heading to the crossroads to re-engage with the Germans there to gain control of that position.
You were utterly dumbfounded by how Joe treated you. You know he can get moody and explosive when his adrenaline races like that. He had a deep-rooted hatred for the Germans and was probably pissed he got nicked by one of them in the field, and now he was out for revenge. His anger clouded his judgement, and you suffered the blunt end of his attitude even though you had nothing to do with it.
And it had nothing to do with you. He felt terrible for not at least saying ‘thank you’ before he left. He turned his back on you after you cared for his wound so gently and attentively, and he hated himself for it after walking out of that barn. He had hurtling thoughts of doubt, regret...sentiment. He couldn’t turn back now, though. He was on his way to deal with the Krauts that had the audacity to attack him and his team that day.
~~~~~~~
Easy Company took victory at the crossroads the following morning. The Germans fled leaving dozens of their comrades killed or seriously wounded. Eleven of them are captured. The Americans on their side count one dead and 22 wounded.
Winters approaches an angry Liebgott taking potshots at the still-living Germans crawling over the bodies of their dead comrades, trying to escape the field.
“Joe?”
Liebgott continued to pick off Germans like a turkey shoot.
“-Joe, knock it off!” Winters ordered
“Goddam it, what?” Liebgott barked back.
Winters noticed his neck bandages were saturated with his own blood.
“You’re bleeding.” Winters identified.
“Ah, it's nothin', Cap.” Liebgott replied bluntly.
“Take these prisoners to CP and get cleaned up.” Winters instructed.
Liebgott looked a little too eager, “Yes, sir. Come on, Kraut boys.”
Believing that a furious Liebgott can't be trusted, Winters orders him to drop all his ammo and removes all but one round from Joe's rifle telling him that killing one prisoner will prompt the others to attack and possibly kill him and escape.
“I want all prisoners alive.” Winters reminded.
Joe paused before replying, “Yes sir,” resentfully.
~~~~~~~
Liebgott burst through the barn door, obviously still fuming he had to babysit German prisoners and not get any extra hits in. It was more than they deserved even if they did surrender.
You were finishing up some wound care on another soldier when Joe had come in. Even in his intimidating state, you were exhilarated to see him alive. You rush over to him and notice his neck bandages saturated in red. Your joy quickly turned to panic as you went to touch his arm.
He turned around viscously shrugging your hand off him and met your stare with horror after he realized he had almost hurt you. His chest heaving, and eyes wild, it took him a few seconds to regain his bearings.
You were actually frightened at first but didn’t back away too much from him since he still needed medical attention.
“Joe?” you ask cautiously.
He swallowed hard then softened his stance, “I was told to get this fixed up.” He replied as he gestured to his neck.
You nod, “Ok, Lieb, over here.”
You lead him over to a more secluded space in another part of the barn that you used to triage patients. After his little ‘floor show’ you decided he needed a safe space to decompress. He slumped down on the cot in the room with a huff and stared at his boots.
You went to the shelves with the supplies you needed, grabbing clean dressings, gauze, and peroxide. You sat yourself next to Joe and prepared everything to tend to his neck. He winced when you pulled the partially blood encrusted wrapping.
“I’m sorry.” You whispered. He only side eyed you as a response.
You soaked the gauze with the antiseptic, then pressed it to his wound. He hissed from the sting.
“Sorry, Joe. I have to make sure it’s clean.” you explained.
“Mmhm.” He hummed, “Just do it.” he added in a low voice.
You continued working on him quietly. The air was heavy in the room. You hoped he would open up to you. It was clear he had been bottling something up. He won’t even offer a glance to acknowledge you.
You unravel the new dressing placing the padded part to his wound, then lean in closer to loop the ends around his neck like a scarf to secure it in place. As you repeat this action, you were required to keep nearing his face with yours. Still refusing to look at you, he remained looking at his boots and you admired how long his lashes were as he looked down. You finish the wrap tucking the end in, and you couldn’t stop yourself,
“Joe, look at me.” you requested.
He sighs irritably, rolling his eyes and meets your concerned gaze.
You study his face, bringing your hand to his forehead to gently sweep away his hair. He looked you up and down skeptically, unsure what was happening. A new concoction of emotions simmered inside him when he felt your fingers combing his hair back out of his face.
Angst...elation...hunger...want...need...He had no idea what was happening with him. And it seemed to intensify while he was sitting there with you. Even in the midst of combat he doesn’t feel this level of fight or flight response. His breath hastened as his heart rate accelerated. He straightened up and faced you, bringing his hand to yours, softly grabs your wrist pulling it away from his hair not taking his eyes away from your face.
Your breath hitched in your chest as your heart pounded so hard you were sure he could hear it as well. Your eyes widened seeing his eyes dark and blown out from something deep beneath the surface unknown. The small space between you is intense and unnerving.
Joe’s POV
*“Look at her... Even after how I’ve treated her, she’s still being so good to me. I don’t deserve this...I don’t deserve her. Every time she touches me it's like electrical currents shocking my entire body. How does she do it? What I wouldn’t do for her to just grab my face and just lay one on me and never pull away. Jesus Christ get it together, Liebgott, she probably hates you now. But if I leave now, anything could happen and neither of us would know...anything. I won’t leave her until I know.”*
“Joe?” you wave your free hand he wasn’t holding in front of his face. He shook his head snapping out of his thoughts.
“You’re all cleaned up now. You can go back to the guys or take a few minutes and stay to regroup.” you suggest.
You stand to leave but Joe doesn’t release your hand. You furrow your brows confused.
“You need something else?” you ask.
Joe stood gripping your shoulders to face you square with him. His mouth curled into a slight grin. With intent behind his eyes and urgency in his touch, he finally speaks directly to you.
“Just you.” he purrs.
Your jaw slacked from shock. You look up at him through your lashes, your iris's doe-like and glistening. Words as well as breath failed to leave your mouth. You felt dizzy and faint, your entire sternum burning like you had just taken a swig of Vat 69. You feel Joe steady you as you slightly sway backward. He kneaded your arms affectionately making you a melting mess in his strong slender hands.
“-me?” you choked as you placed your hand over where your heart was ready to explode from.
He nodded deliberately and slowly, “-only you.”
Your skin and insides tingled causing you to tremble. You take a deep breath trying to regain your composure.
“Where is this coming from, Joe?” you finally ask.
He shrugged, “It’s always been there. Buried deep down and just grew bigger every day. I just can’t keep it down anymore, you know?” he explained.
You beam at him, partially lost in your own thoughts calculating the situation you found yourself in with him at that moment. You avert your eyes downward releasing a soft chuckle. You shake your head,
“Joe, I-”
“-Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same, Y/N.” he dared.
You meet his eager stare, “Of course I do, Joe,” you respond in a desperate breathy voice, “I have spent this past year worrying myself sick about you, and at first, I couldn’t figure out why! I have been fighting it every single day and I am exhausted from it. I lose sleep when you’re on patrol without me, and the few hours I can get, I have night terrors that you return to me maimed and bloody, scaring me wide awake! I swear I have more gray hair from this.”
You went off on this tangent, pacing back and forth in the small room not realizing how much you just confessed, but Joe once again remained silent just mesmerized by you absorbing every word you say.
“So, you do feel the same.” he confirmed standing taller with a gratifying smirk.
You turn to him, your eyes beginning to gloss over with tears, “Joe, *I have loved you for several hours now, and every second more. I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than any woman has ever loved a man, but a half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then. It goes on and on, Joe. There is no room in my body for anything but you. *”
Each of you standing opposite the other, you're practically panting from the overwhelming flow of emotions and lack of breath you forgot to take. You await the next venture to unfold.
Without a word, Joe swiftly closed the gap between you, and before you could even gasp, he pulled you in by the back of your head locking his lips onto yours.
~~~~~~~
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