Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Band of Brothers. I have the utmost respect for the men of Easy Company and all those that have served. I mean no disrespect to those men. This story is for entertainment purposes only and is based only off the portrayal of the actors from the mini-series

Chapter 1.

"You people, are at the position of attention." Captain Sobel barked at the men of Easy Company walking through them, eyeing anyone that he saw a flaw in. First picking out one trooper and reprimanding him for apparently blousing his pants, "finding" dirt in another trooper's gun, and pulling a piece of thread from a chevron on another man's shoulder. Setting to his left, he started to walk toward another man, but then someone else caught his eye and he made his way to the far right.

"Most of the men quickly noticed where Sobel was making a beeline to. As their Captain stopped in front of a fourth trooper, he stood even taller and glared down to the private in front of him.

"Private Murphy," Sobel started. "Why in God's name do you think you should even be here?'

The trooper in question started to answer before being interrupted by Sobel.

"Because I can see no reason why any one would see fit that a woman would be any asset in war except as a nurse or as entertainment. Is that what you really came here to do Miss Murphy. 'Entertain and distract my men?' Because if so, I will have you kicked out of here so fast your little brain wouldn't begin to understand what happened."

Private Jean Murphy stayed silent, waiting for her berratment to be over, knowing that it would soon pass.

"Private Murphy, I repeat, why are you here?" Sobel barked.

"To become a paratrooper and serve my country, sir." Murphy quick responded.

"Paratroopers are the best, and my company will be nothing but the best. You Miss Murphy are not and will never be a true part of this Company."

He then leaned in so only Jean could hear and said, "I will find a way to get you out of this company. You will not make it out of this, I promise you that."

Private Murphy just started ahead, doing her best to block out the words of her commanding officer.

Sobel turned away and continued to yell at the men, letting them know that thanks to the men who had offenses and to Miss Murphy holding back the company, that they all had their weekend passes revoked. A few men rolled their eyes while others held in noises of anger as their captain laid out orders to change to PT gear and start their next run up the mountain.

As the men were dismissed by their platoon leader, Winters, they all ran back to the barracks to change to PT gear.

Jean Murphy quickly ran to her bunk and took off her jacket and pants, having her PT gear under her clothes for a faster and more private change. A few men looked at her quickly before averting their eyes while one man, George Luz, a radioman if she was correct, gave her a half smile before heading out the door.

After being at Camp Taccoa a few weeks, Jean had only ever spoken with the other men when it was necessary or she was responding to an officer. She understood when she started that she would be tough since she was to be a woman training for combat, not just a nurse like most woman that were in service. But in the Army's strive for gaining any upper hand in the war, she was chosen from a small group of well-trained nurses to join various groups of the armed forces to see how women in the forces would work. She and the 5 other nurses from her group that were chosen were also told that they would provide assistance to the medics and at least be a great morale booster for the men.

Jean was never a fan of the reasons the Army told her she was serving, but instead ran with the idea that she was training with the best of men and so far, was making the cut. No matter what Sobel said, she new she has the muster to get through it no matter what he tried to throw in her way.

As Jean made sure that her hair was secure in her tight bun, she followed the last of the men out of the barracks. She heard the men bantering with another company as they passed them on their way to Currahee and smiled as they made jibs at one another.

But her smile quickly fell off of her face as she felt one of the men in the other company slap her backside as she ran by and say "Nice ass on that one!" to the rest of his friends. Jean immediately stopped jogging and was about to turnaround and go back when she felt two pairs of hands grab her arms and shoulders and turn her around so fast she almost fell down trying to keep step with them.

"Don't bother with those guys, their CO is already on his way out, and I'm sure he'll give 'em more hell than you." The man on her left, Guarnere, said quickly.

"They ain't worth a breathe, we'll get them back some other time. Sobel will use anything against you, gotta keep your head down," said the other man to her right, releasing her arm that he has been holding.

Jean looked to Guarnere and the other man with a small glare, but realized that they were right. She would be kicked out if she started anything with another trooper, and she could hear Dog companies CO barking at the men from where she was about respect and getting passes revoked.

Jean nodded, still with a grimace on her face, "Yea, I guess. Thanks."

"Ain't no problem, Murphy. We all gotta stick together." Guarnere said with a toothy grin before breaking away from her side to go run beside someone else.
"Jean picked up her pace and followed in line with the rest of Easy company as they made their way to the top of the mountain.

"We're not all that bad." Jean heard from behind her.

Looking over her shoulder, she saw George Luz coming up on her left as he continued on.

"I mean, yea, we smell, cuss, and say a lotta shit we don't mean, but we're the good guys." Luz said with a smile.

Jean just nodded, not fully comprehending that another member of the company was actually starting a conversation with her.

"I mean, Sobel's a dick, but there are a few of us that are just plain wonderful." he continued with a wink.

Jean snorted a bit about his comment of Sobel and nodded.

"Hey," he said, elbowing Jean in her arm, "You do gotta forget what those guys in Dog said. They just want a rise outta you. That's what they do with the other girls too, but they let it get to them and left. You ain't gonna do that."

"Oh yea? And why shouldn't I? It'd be easier to just quit and get out. I've been here 3 weeks and those Dog comments are more words I've heard from anyone in my own company except this conversation now." Jean huffed, not used to talking while running.

"Cause you just can't quit. You're in Easy. You're one of us, and we won't let you quit." George started. "Besides, we've seen how you keep your cool with Sobel and still kick our asses in most of our runs and PT."

Jean scoffed and started to say more before George cut her off.

"Besides, not like you've ever talked with any of us. Always sit by yourself at meals and never play cards with us. You're not the only one that gets weekend passes revoked and sits in the barracks. We just all figured you didn't want to talk since you never say nothing."

Jean stumbled a bit over a large rock and George grabbed her upper arm and kept her running.

"Thanks," She said quickly.

"Ain't no problem, like I said, we ain't letting you go so easy." He said with a wink before dropping his hand.

"Thanks for that too. Really." Jean said softly as she could with her panting breath.

"Course. But now that I know you can talk, you gotta play cards with us since we're all out of passes for this weekend anyways."

Jean smiled, "Sounds like a plan."

George nodded and huffed, "You might as well take off now, I know you've been dying going as slow as me!"

Jean smiled at George and nodded, "See you at the bottom."

George smiled back and waved her on with his hand as he kept his pace.

She took larger steps and passed a few more men as she got to the top of the mountain. She slapped the top as she made eye contact with Sobel who stayed quiet as she was in the first to the top and was making great time.

As the company made their way down the mountain, they came to a stop and got in formation as Sobel came barreling after them, saying something about abysmal times and being the best, even though they had just set a new record for their Company.

They were dismissed by Winters and as they walked to their barracks, Jean looked over to the Dog Company barracks and saw the men doing PT, led by their CO who had reprimanded them earlier. Jean smiled as at least there was a bit of justice for their unwanted hands.

After the men showered and came back to the barracks, Jean took it as her queue to head over and get clean before dinner would be served. Grabbing her towel and fresh set of clothes, she took off to the shower facility.

Upon getting the showers and thankfully not finding anyone there, she quickly stripped her clothes off and jumped in the now cool water.
"Damn men taking all the warm water," she said to herself.

Scrubbing herself quickly, she rinsed off and started to dry. No longer were the days of showering and relaxing. Now they were filled with quick movements and her always being on edge in case she heard anyone coming into the showers.

After getting new clothes on she looked at herself in the mirror. The girl she saw was still her, but very different from just 3 weeks ago. Gone was the pale, unblemished skin and bit of extra weight on her hips and chest. She now has constant sun burn on her nose with tanned arms and legs. And any of her "baby fat" as her grandma put it was gone. She still stood quite tall for a woman at about 5'7", but felt taller since her back was now used to being at attention. She knew she had gained muscles that were there before, especially in her arms, and her legs more more toned than ever. She has run track in school, but that was nothing compared to this. Her hair was the same, still a dark brown with a few more highlights from the sun. And her eyes were the same. Same brown eyes staring back. She smiled at the face in the mirror and turned to the door to head back to the barrack.

As she walked through the door, she heard Luz call out her name.

"Murphy! Hey, you'd better be good at cards! I gotta spot over here with your name on it."

Jean smiled and nodded, "Be right over!"

She put her dirty clothes in her hamper in her foot locker and began to walk over the large group near Luz cot and sat down.

"Okay," Luz started, "Now the game is 5-card stud. Buy in is 2 cigarettes. Ready?"

Jean looked around at the faces she had once seen as strangers and was met with no hostility, just smiles or curious faces since she really hadn't talked with anyone since she got there. Maybe this could get easier, she thought to herself. Maybe she just needed to give them a chance so they could give her one back.