He’s tired. They
all are, granted, but for the moment he’s finding it difficult to see past the end of his own nose. He won’t think too hard on it, lest he wind up feeling guilty on top of tired.
He’s still got a company to look after, and they seem to cause more trouble when the USO brings girls in than they do on the battlefield. Despite the tired, despite the wracking cough that sets his chest on fire and the fever that won’t let him top shaking, he knows he’s still got to keep alert. Keep an eye out.
They’d swarmed her as soon as her show’d ended, and he’d almost wanted to take her by the arm and rush her away before they could. But where would he have taken her? She seems at ease, or as at ease as she can be at the epicenter of a hurricane of paratroopers all trying to get an eye full and vying for her attention.
But there’s something in the glance she casts in his direction that speaks of a deep-seated unease he can’t say he doesn’t entirely understand.
So he shoves away from the wall, away from the dark corner in which he’s ensconced himself, and he starts shifting through the crowd, clapping men on the shoulders and steering them back and away saying over and over again, ‘Alright, alright. Let Miss Walker alone. Back to your post.’
It’s only his reputation and his quiet authority that sees them following orders, and only then with no small amount of complaining and grumbling.
But they’re soldiers, and soldiers will grumble, and it’s almost too soon he’s left standing alone on a hastily constructed platform with Diana Walker. Pride of Hollywood and America’s new ideal.
If he said his heart didn’t quicken just a little, he’d be lying.
‘You alright, Miss? I’m, ah, sorry about them. They’re good men, but... Sometimes I think they’ve forgotten what civilization looks like.’