Fic: Saving a Life

[sgteam14283]

Title: Saving a Life
Author: sgteam14283
Rating: G
A/N: This is my Memorial Day fic; for those who have served and given their lives for their country.

They made sure that the TARDIS was parked a good distance from the beach; they didn’t want anyone wondering why a police call box was on the Normandy coast, no matter the fact that they had more important things to worry about. Also that way it wouldn’t catch a stray shell or bullet and the three of them would be stuck in the 1940s.

The weather was cold, windy and cloudy. Max hadn’t thought that it would be as windy as it was, but then again she had never been to the Normandy coast before; much less when D-Day was happening. Despite having a pea coat on she shivered and was inwardly jealous of both Evan and the Doctor who seemed to be doing just fine with their lack of outerwear. But her discomfort was eclipsed by the fact that she was watching D-Day happen in real life. No movies or programs about the event, everyone down there was real and they all were making history.

“Amazing huh?” the Doctor asked as the three of them stood on top of a hill, watching the Allied fleet come in. The boats were barely visible while the smaller crafts that actually carried the troops were just specks on the water. “The largest land assault to ever be launched; all the might of the combined forces of the US, Britain and free French to find a chink in Hitler’s might along Europe.”

“This was the beginning of the end for the war in Europe.” Evan replied, still slightly awestruck that he was actually by Omaha beach in person and that everything was happening for the first time. He was still getting used to traveling with the Doctor and all the possibilities that were available to them.

Max was silent while Evan talked, watching the events on the beach unfold; the first transports were starting to land and all hell was breaking loose. The Germans were firing on the troops as they were trying to make their way onto the beach and those who able to make it to shore were trying to pick off those who were firing on them. She had mixed feelings about being here; true she had begged the Doctor to take her the first time that she had traveled with him (it had actually been on their list of historical events) and now that Evan was with them, she thought that it would be something for him as well. But now that she was actually here....

Evan noticed that Max was silent and wondered what was going through her mind. “Isn’t it incredible? They almost didn’t pull it off, but in the end they managed to take the beach and start to fight their way towards Paris.”

“It is, but so many died here to make it happen.” Max replied, moving closer to Evan, shivering slightly. “My grandfather was in the war, didn’t see any fighting in Europe or the Pacific since he was an engineer but still...he could have. If he had seen combat and was killed...” Max trailed off as she smiled slightly. “Puts everything into perspective for me.”

Evan was slightly surprised at the revelation; he had known that her grandfather had been in the war. That he had helped with the reconstruction of Tokyo after the War and that he had been hesitant to talk about his experiences after the fact, but he had no idea that Max had thought about the fact that had he been on the D-Day landing or had Truman decided on a land invasion of Japan instead of dropping the atomic bombs then they might not be having this conversation.

He opened his mouth to reply, however before he could do so the Doctor piped up, “Oy you two, come over here. They’ve started to really fight!”

Max smiled and pulled Evan as she moved forwards, “C’mon I want to see them scale the cliff!”

As they moved towards the cliff Evan was amazed that they were actually watching the Normandy invasion and wondered what else would happen while they were here.

--

Henry Pierson ducked at a bullet flew past his head, not that it would have done much if the bullet had actually hit him, and stared at the cliff that loomed up in front of him. His heart pounded with excitement and nerves- his Ranger unit had been assigned the task of climbing up the cliff in order to take out the German machine gun nest that needed to be taken out in order for the rest of the operation to go on without the worry of being sunk. On paper it had sounded easy, but in reality it was harder because they had to first deal with getting to the base of the cliff alive then throw their hooks up while hoping they sunk in- all while dodging bullets.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Once they got their lines up, the going was slow because every so often they returned fire or threw a grenade up to clear the path. So far it wasn’t working and more than a few of Henry’s friends hadn’t continued their climb.

Shifting his hold on the rope Henry wondered if the next bullet would have his name on it or a German would grab his rope and cut away at it so he fell down to the beach and his death.

“Look out!”

The exclamation drew Henry out of his thoughts and looked up in time to see a large rock heading towards him. Moving quickly, he swung out and to the side of the cliff just as the rock came bounding down. Glad that he had survived that encounter; Henry looked for the source of the voice because now that he had time to think he realized that it had belonged to a woman. Scanning the top of the cliff as he continued to climb, he wondered what the hell a woman was doing on a German fortification.

After they managed to get rid of all the Germans defending the post, which as it turned out wasn’t completely finished making all their work and loss to get up there pointless, Henry took the opportunity before they moved out to rejoin the rest of the Army to do some recon and hopefully solve the case of the mysterious female.

--

Max felt like the world might end at any moment. She knew the consequences of messing with the timeline; when she had first started traveling with the Doctor he had warned her that there were certain times and events that could never be messed with under any circumstances- there were fixed points in time that time itself hinged on and this was one of those times. Nothing could be changed about the invasion; and Max felt that she had done just that.

She hadn’t meant to do it, call out to the soldier to warn him of the boulder that was headed towards him, but it just happened. Now she wondered what kind of consequences there would be.

Fortunately Evan or the Doctor didn't know what she had done; they had only stayed for a little while then went back to the main part of the beach to watch the landing force. Knowing that the Doctor would be able to figure everything out, Max made sure that no one was around to see her and started towards the beach.

“Hey!”

Max broke into a run when someone shouted and cursed the flat land; there was nowhere for her to hide.

Henry gave chase and managed to catch the woman. Grabbing her arm, he pushed her to the ground and aimed his rifle at her.

“Hey, let me go!” Max exclaimed.

Henry ignored Max and opened to mouth to start questioning her when out of nowhere two fellows appeared in clothing he’d never seen before.

“Sergeant!” the Doctor said, pulling out his psychic paper and showing it to Henry. “Thank you for finding my pilot!”

“Pilot?” Henry asked, confused. “Since when do women fly planes?”

Max opened her mouth to protest, but the Doctor continued before she could. “Just for this mission. Very hush-hush, important to the whole operation so we’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to your commander.”

Henry glared at Max, clearly not happy at letting her go, but snapped to attention and saluted the Doctor. “General.”

The Doctor sketched a salute and turned around to leave. Max quickly scrambled up and followed along. “General?” she asked the Doctor as they moved quickly towards the TARDIS. “What would a general be doing at the landing point; wouldn’t that be pushing it a bit?”

“Well...why not? A general needs to make sure that his orders are being followed.” the Doctor said with a smile as he opened the TARDIS door.

--

Those who were able made their way across the ocean once again, this time in an airplane and not on a battleship. The children and grandchildren of those who had lived on the coast once again welcomed those who had liberated their town from the Nazi regime with open arms, flags and thanks.

They all gathered on the beach to remember those who had fallen in order for those who had survived to do their job and help liberate Europe. The ceremony was solemn one; each veteran remembering friends and fellow solders who had given their lives in service to their country.

Max, Evan and the Doctor stood at the edge of the huge crowd, not wanting to draw attention to themselves but wanting to silently thank those who had served. Afterwards, Max let the crowd swallow her and slipped off towards the graveyard near the beach; where those who had died had been laid to rest. Slowing walking along the markers, she found the one she was looking for, a friend of her grandfathers, and laid a single rose by the headstone.

“Miss!”

Max looked up at the call and saw a vet making his way towards her. Straightening up, she wondered who the man was. “Yes?” she asked as he got closer.

The man’s face broke into a smile and he took her hand while exclaiming, “It is you!”

“I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else.”

“No, I’ll always remember the face of the first female pilot I ever met.” Henry replied, smiling. “Although my mind must be going because you haven’t aged a day since I last saw you.”

Max’s heart started pounding when she realized who the man was but managed to keep a calm expression and smiled, “You must mean my grandmother.”

Henry chuckled at the statement, “Of course, of course. Well, make sure that your grandmother knows that I thank her for saving my life all those years ago. Without her I’m sure that I would’ve died when that boulder came bounding down. I owe her my life.”

Max was speechless but then managed to nod her head, “I’ll let her know. And I’m sure that she’d want to thank you for your service. Without men like you Europe wouldn’t have been able to break free.”

Henry patted Max’s hand and said, “I was just a cog in a wheel, m’dear. Just a cog in a wheel.” And with that he turned around and made his way back to where the rest of the crowd was in order to see if any from his unit had been able to make it back for the ceremony.

Max watched him leave and realized that she had done the right thing that day; when she had saved his life it was meant to happen and everything was right with the world.

"Max!"

She looked up at the sound of Evan's voice and saw him standing on the edge of the graveyard. "Yeah?" she called out as she moved towards him.

"You ready to go? I think the Doctor said something about England and King Arthur." Evan replied once she was close enough.

Max looked behind her shoulder for one last glance at the beach and the crowd that was there. Taking Evan's hand she smiled and said, "I'm ready."