I Remember Everything
Pairing: Eugene Roe (Shane Taylor) x fem!reader
Contains: Getting hurt + Angst.
Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT A FANFIC ABOUT THE REAL EUGENE ROE. This is strictly about the character Shane Taylor portrays. I completely respect the real-life Eugene Roe, who served as a medic in WWII over 80 years ago. None of the following is based on him, just the character in the show.
word count: ~1117
———————————————————————————
You weren’t sure if signing up as a nurse during the Second World War was your smartest decision, but you didn’t regret it for a second.
Seeing all the men you could help and heal warmed your heart.
You liked helping people. You’d always wanted to be part of something bigger ever since you were little, and now you finally had that chance.
You knew being a nurse came with risks, bombings on the aid station, men going mad from shell shock, and the very real possibility of being shot.
But you didn’t care anymore, because deep down, you knew you were doing the right thing.
Your mom used to tell you that she thought you had a special healing power. Just the touch of your hands could calm someone down, and the way you moved fast to treat wounds made soldiers feel like they’d be back in action the next day.
After a few months of training in Louisiana, you were sent straight to an aid station in Bastogne. A run-down church, now converted into a triage center, became your new home. Your first few nights were sleepless, rats running around your cot, soldiers crying out for their mothers in their sleep. But as the cold weeks went on, you didn’t even get the chance to pray before bed, you were too exhausted.
Eventually, you fell into a routine: waking up, a quick cup of coffee and rations, helping transport wounded soldiers into the church, tending their injuries, and collapsing into sleep.
You didn’t mind the repetition. In this kind of place, change wasn’t always a good thing.
But soon enough, everything did change—after you saw him.
It took you a while to place him, but then it hit you, high school.
He used to sit in front of you in science class. Always quiet, kept to himself, never really social with anyone. You remembered how his voice would sometimes shake when asked a question, but his posture never faltered, always straight, always firm.
You’d only spoken to him once, when he saved you from Otto, the school’s so-called “bully.” Otto had threatened to hurt you if you didn’t get into his car to “take a ride,” but before you could answer, Eugene came running and punched him square in the face, breaking his nose. Otto sped off in his convertible and never bothered you again.
You tried to thank Eugene over and over, but he just smiled weakly and said very little. After that, you found yourself scanning every hallway, every lunch period, just hoping to catch sight of him. You didn’t admit to yourself that you liked him until your friend John asked you to prom, and you realized how disappointed you were that it wasn’t Eugene.
Seeing him now, in uniform, felt surreal. The red cross patch on his shoulder didn’t surprise you. Of course Eugene became a medic, not a soldier. He protected you once, why wouldn’t he protect others?
You set a crate of supplies down on a nearby table and walked over to where he stood in the doorway to the main part of the church, trying to slow your heartbeat.
“Eugene? Eugene Roe?” you said hesitantly, hoping not to startle him.
He looked over, confused at first, but then his expression softened. “Yes, ma’am.”
You smiled. “Do you remember me? We went to the same high school in Louisiana.”
“I sure do. (Name), right?”
You sighed in relief, glad you hadn’t embarrassed yourself. “Yes! I remember you from science class. You saved me from Otto.”
He stared blankly for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. “Oh, yeah. I remember that.”
He seemed different now. This was the longest conversation you’d ever had with him. He also looked tired, understandably, after everything he must’ve seen.
“How long have you been stationed here?” he asked.
“About a month. You?”
“Same. I’m just picking up supplies for the boys at the front. We’re almost surrounded by the Krauts, and our lines are thinning,” he sighed.
You gave him a sympathetic look. “I can help you find what you need.”
He nodded, smiling faintly. “That’d be great, ma’am.”
You helped Eugene gather everything on his list, morphine, dressings, bandages, and he thanked you before heading back out to the front lines. You watched him go, letting out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.
In the weeks that followed, Doc Roe showed up regularly. Sometimes he came in for morphine, other times, he’d come rushing in, rambling about scissors.
Some days, he just appeared out of nowhere, “looking” for more rationed bandages. But you knew there was no way he needed that many supplies. There hadn’t been any new attacks.
Eventually, you had to cut him off. He didn’t argue, he knew he didn’t need them. Not really.
Everything changed the following Sunday.
You woke up around 7 a.m. and stepped out behind the church to toss out a bucket of dirty laundry water.
You didn’t even have time to react before you heard the high-pitched whistle, and then you were on the ground.
Your ears rang. Your vision went white.
The church was sideways. No, you were.
You tried to move, but your legs wouldn’t respond.
Someone was shouting. Maybe. It was hard to tell.
Then, you felt hands on your face, firm and steady.
“(Name).”
Your name.
Said low. Rough. Not panicked, but urgent.
You blinked and tried to focus.
His face appeared above you. Snowflakes caught in his hair. Blood on his neck. His breath misted as he leaned closer.
“Eugene…” you murmured.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “You’re alright.”
You tried to sit up, but pain slammed into your side.
“Don’t move,” he said quickly, hand bracing your shoulder. “Shrapnel. In your side.”
“I’m—” You tried to laugh, but it caught. “I was just tossing out old water.”
“I know.” His voice cracked. Just a little. Enough for you to notice. “Stay with me, (Name).”
“I’m not going anywhere,” you smiled weakly. But your eyelids were heavy.
“No.” His tone sharpened. “Don’t close your eyes. Look at me.”
You did.
And he was terrified.
“You used to sit one row behind me in science,” he said suddenly, voice shaking. “Homeroom. You’d hum to yourself when you thought no one was listening.”
You blinked. “You remember that?”
“I remember everything,” he murmured. “Just, stay awake.”
You tried to smile, but it faded. “Are you going to save me?”
He hesitated.
Then: “Of course I am, (Name). I’d do anything for you.”
Your vision blurred.
The last thing you saw before passing out was his face, a sad smile, tears running down his cheeks.
——————————————————————
(dw ur not dead lmao, just wounded)













